Harrowing scenes from an attempted bank robbery in Virginia were caught on video one day after at least five were killed at a Louisville, Kentucky bank.
(Video: WUSA9)
Members of the Arlington County Police Department responded shortly after 3 p.m. Tuesday to a Wells Fargo bank and the scene of what they believed to be an armed robbery. According to a press release, the suspect was identified as 30-year-old Oscar Gonzalez Allarenja of Durham, North Carolina, and, though carrying no weapon, had convinced patrons and employees alike that he was armed.
“The preliminary investigation indicates the suspect entered the bank, grabbed an employee, indicated he had a firearm and demanded cash before walking behind the counter. Responding officers established a perimeter and worked to safely resolve the incident as the suspect remained barricaded inside the bank with employees and patrons,” ACPD said.
— Eric Sutton (@EricMSutton) April 11, 2023
“During the course of the incident, members of the Emergency Response Team approached the bank, gave the suspect commands which he complied with and took him into custody without incident. The patrons and employees, four adults and one child, then safely exited the bank,” the statement continued. “All were evaluated on scene by medics as a precaution and no injuries were reported.”
https://twitter.com/SpredsheetNinja/status/1645885834930049025
guy being taken away in handcuffs @alanhenney pic.twitter.com/TtjLqpZhCo
— Eric Sutton (@EricMSutton) April 11, 2023
Footage shared by WUSA9 was reportedly taken from within the bank by one of the people who believed they were being held hostage and others could be seen spread out face-first on the ground.
Speaking with The Washington Post, a man who said his wife had been inside the bank with their young daughter described how she had reached out to him and told him to call the police. “It’s very scary,” he told the outlet. “I’m happy to see my family.”
Following his arrest, the suspect was brought to Arlington County Detention Facility where he was being held without bond following charges of Bank Robbery and Abduction. ACPD explained, “No cash was reported stolen and no weapon was located on scene.”
In their own statement, Wells Fargo expressed, “The safety and security of our customers and employees is our most important priority, and we are incredibly relieved and grateful that the situation has been resolved with no physical injuries to any of our employees or customers. We are appreciative of the work of the Arlington Police Department in reaching a peaceful resolution and will continue to do everything we can to assist authorities as they investigate the situation.”
The incident occurred just one day after an employee of Old National Bank in Louisville was said to have opened fire after learning he was expected to be released from his position. The latest updates have included the release of the bodycam footage as law enforcement entered the building to stop the suspect and a comment from the parents who denounced their son’s “senseless acts of violence.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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