News

Brazen repeat robber fires shot in bank

SEATTLE — A brazen robber fired a shot inside a South Seattle bank Wednesday before getting away with cash.

It happened at the Washington Federal Branch in the 9300 block of Rainier Avenue South.

No one was hurt, but investigators told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Amy Clancy that they believe the same suspect might be responsible for other similar bank robberies, including one at the Key Bank a block away.

Tanisha Jones was outside the bank right after the armed robbery around 12:30 p.m.

“There was nothing but a whole bunch of police coming from out of nowhere, and then there were helicopters everywhere,” said Jones.

According to the FBI, the man walked in, demanded money and fired a single shot.

The Seattle Police Department told KIRO 7 that six schools in the area sheltered in place as officers searched for the suspect , who wasn’t found.

Police described the man as a black in his 30s, 5-feet 2-inches, around 140 pounds, wearing a curly wig, tan jacket and dark pants, armed with a handgun.

The incident concerned Joseph Mitchell, who works nearby.

“Shots were fired? That puts a different spin on things. Yeah, that’s pretty scary,” Mitchell said.

Minutes after the robbery at the Washington Federal Wednesday, a KIRO 7 photographer captured the “closed” sign going up.

Troy Finlason said it all happened just before she entered the bank’s drive-through.

“We were just coming here to make a deposit and they said that we need to go to another branch,” Finlason said.

Anyone with information that can help identify the robber is urged to call the FBI at 206-622-0460 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).