armed citizen/bank robbery
My glass is raised to this guy...
Gun-Toting Citizen Stops Killer At Alabama Bank
wiat.com
Bessemer, AL 5-14-07
Two people are dead, three wounded and scores of family and friends are in anguish after a morning robbery in Bessemer. A gunman opened fire around 9:00 a.m. Monday at the Wachovia Bank on 9th Avenue.
It was a violent and frightening few minutes. Eight Wachovia bank employees were inside the building at the time.
Witnesses say the bank robber stormed the tellers and started shooting. He killed employees Sheila McWane and Eva Hudson, two other employees were wounded. LaToya Freeman and Anita Gordon are recovering at UAB Hospital. Freeman is listed in stable condition, Gordon is in serious condition.
The man then tried to make his way out of the bank with cash, but an armed bystander prevented him from escaping. "He recognized what was happening, he ran back to his vehicle, he got his gun, as the perpetrator was coming out, he drew down on him and told him you're not coming out," said Bessemer Mayor Ed May.
As the robber attempted to take a female employee hostage by gunpoint, a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy arrived and shot him in the leg.
The FBI, Bessemer Police and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office poured over the scene for several hours Monday. Wachovia employees who survived the botched robbery were brought to the Motel 6 behind the bank, to help authorities sort out just what took place during the violent encounter. Investigators also pulled surveillance video from the motel and bank, to make sure the gunman worked alone.
Family and friends of the bank employees gathered at the Bessemer Civic Center to learn the fate of their loved ones. They were accompanied by police officers and paramedics. Some people were able to breath a sigh of relief, others fell to the ground in grief, including a child of one of the victims.
Robert Everett attends church with the child's mother. It's hard to believe that today, you're working in a bank and you don't know what's going to happen," said Everett. He said the woman was a single mother. "The other day she was talking about wanting to change jobs and go back to teaching," said Everett."
A relative of another bank employee is grateful that her sister Emmanuel Eaton lived through the ordeal. "She said the guy came in and he started shooting, she went and got into the bathroom and locked the doors," said Judy McCloud.
The bloodshed has shocked many people in the community. "You can't go to work to make a living for your family without being killed, that's really messed up," said Wanda Radford of Mothers Who Want the Violence to Stop.
Wachovia Bank Corporation released this statement: "The safety and security of our employees and customers is our top priority. We have a number of processes and procedures to protect our branches and facilities. This is a tragic and unfortunate situation, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families."
Gun-Toting Citizen Stops Killer At Alabama Bank
wiat.com
Bessemer, AL 5-14-07
Two people are dead, three wounded and scores of family and friends are in anguish after a morning robbery in Bessemer. A gunman opened fire around 9:00 a.m. Monday at the Wachovia Bank on 9th Avenue.
It was a violent and frightening few minutes. Eight Wachovia bank employees were inside the building at the time.
Witnesses say the bank robber stormed the tellers and started shooting. He killed employees Sheila McWane and Eva Hudson, two other employees were wounded. LaToya Freeman and Anita Gordon are recovering at UAB Hospital. Freeman is listed in stable condition, Gordon is in serious condition.
The man then tried to make his way out of the bank with cash, but an armed bystander prevented him from escaping. "He recognized what was happening, he ran back to his vehicle, he got his gun, as the perpetrator was coming out, he drew down on him and told him you're not coming out," said Bessemer Mayor Ed May.
As the robber attempted to take a female employee hostage by gunpoint, a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy arrived and shot him in the leg.
The FBI, Bessemer Police and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office poured over the scene for several hours Monday. Wachovia employees who survived the botched robbery were brought to the Motel 6 behind the bank, to help authorities sort out just what took place during the violent encounter. Investigators also pulled surveillance video from the motel and bank, to make sure the gunman worked alone.
Family and friends of the bank employees gathered at the Bessemer Civic Center to learn the fate of their loved ones. They were accompanied by police officers and paramedics. Some people were able to breath a sigh of relief, others fell to the ground in grief, including a child of one of the victims.
Robert Everett attends church with the child's mother. It's hard to believe that today, you're working in a bank and you don't know what's going to happen," said Everett. He said the woman was a single mother. "The other day she was talking about wanting to change jobs and go back to teaching," said Everett."
A relative of another bank employee is grateful that her sister Emmanuel Eaton lived through the ordeal. "She said the guy came in and he started shooting, she went and got into the bathroom and locked the doors," said Judy McCloud.
The bloodshed has shocked many people in the community. "You can't go to work to make a living for your family without being killed, that's really messed up," said Wanda Radford of Mothers Who Want the Violence to Stop.
Wachovia Bank Corporation released this statement: "The safety and security of our employees and customers is our top priority. We have a number of processes and procedures to protect our branches and facilities. This is a tragic and unfortunate situation, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families."
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Good news.
I hope the armed citizen doesn't get charged with some sort of weapons violation.
Anyone know if you can lawfully keep a loaded handgun in your car in Alabama?0 -
From CNN: Police Chief Rutledge said a passer-by also tried to intervene when the gunman left the bank, but he did not elaborate.
No mention On MSN.com or News networks about Passer-by.
Press sure can be selective.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
Good news.
I hope the armed citizen doesn't get charged with some sort of weapons violation.You can bet that his biggest problem will be a sore back from having it patted so much by everyone, including the authorities.
This guy opened fire in there on what were, in all probablity, completely cooperative victims. There's no telling what more would've happened had this mad dog been allowed to leave and become cornered in an even more public area.0 -
well we all know if it happened at Walmart, and someone got hurt or killed and didn't do anything it would be all over the news, but since only a person or so was killed, and several woounded, and A CITIZEN took the law into there own hands, then its not news to the news. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Txs
"We have a number of processes and procedures to protect our branches and facilities."
I, for one, love comments like this....yep, those processess and procedures sure did work well. I'll bet the next lunatic that decides to go on a rampage within your bank will think twice when he sees those processes and procedures in action.
Just a guess, but I imagine they are something like this:
Step 1) Take no measures to intervene with a gunman
Step 2) Lie down on the floor and comply with his demands
Step 3) If he begins to randomly kill people, remain still and play dead. Hopefully he will run out of ammo.0 -
[8D]-Step #4) Call Chuck Norris--
--[xx(][xx(]--JIMBO0 -
quote:Originally posted by Rack Ops
quote:Originally posted by Txs
"We have a number of processes and procedures to protect our branches and facilities."
I, for one, love comments like this....yep, those processess and procedures sure did work well. I'll bet the next lunatic that decides to go on a rampage within your bank will think twice when he sees those processes and procedures in action.
Just a guess, but I imagine they are something like this:
Step 1) Take no measures to intervene with a gunman
Step 2) Lie down on the floor and comply with his demands
Step 3) If he begins to randomly kill people, remain still and play dead. Hopefully he will run out of ammo.
"We have a number of processes and procedures to protect our branches and facilities."
Notice he didn't actually address the issue of protection for employees or customers.0
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