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Bank robber killed
in Union City shootout
By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com
An armed bank robber was shot
and killed Tuesday morning after he exited a bank in Union City and fired
at a Fulton County police officer who pursued him, police said.
Officers later caught on foot a second suspect they believe was driving
the getaway car, said Union City Police Chief Mike Isome. That man had
ditched the getaway vehicle and was trying to get away on foot when he
was apprehended on Ga. Highway 138 near the Cracker Barrel restaurant,
Isome said.
No names had been released at press time.
The incident began when one of the suspects entered the RBC Centura Bank,
which is on Hwy. 138 in front of the Wal-Mart in Union City, between 10
and 10:30 a.m., Isome said. The robber had a gun and ordered people to
the ground, putting money in a valise he was carrying. The robber apparently
did not notice that a uniformed Fulton County police officer also was
present in the bank.
The suspect ran from the bank and was pursued on foot by the officer through
the bank parking lot and into the Wal-Mart parking lot, Isome said.
During the chase, the suspect shot at the officer, who returned fire,
Isome said. At least one of the officer’s shots struck the robber,
killing him on the spot, Isome said.
“We’ve had three bank robberies here in the past three months
and all of them have been apprehended on the scene,” Isome added.
Although stray bullets from the gunfire struck several cars, no one was
hurt, Isome said.
The bank remained closed and the scene of the shooting was blocked off
by police so the investigation could continue Tuesday afternoon.
Isome said apprehending the getaway driver was difficult because of the
numerous descriptions of the suspect that were originally put out.
“At first we weren’t sure if we were looking for a white guy
or a black guy,” Isome said, able to laugh about it once the suspect
was in custody.
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