FBI: Violent Serial Bank Robber Strikes Again
By Elizabeth Scarborough
POSTED: Thursday, October 9, 2008
HOUSTON -- A man believed to be responsible for three violent bank robberies has struck again, investigators told KPRC Local 2.
The latest robbery happened in the Heights in broad daylight on Wednesday.
FBI agents said the man went straight to the counter inside the Compass Bank on W. 19th Street, pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot the teller if he didn't give him cash.
"That teller filled the bag," said Sgt. David Ryzo with the Bank Robbery Task Force. "He demanded more cash. A second teller came up and he pointed a gun to her head then demanded more money."
Customers said they were shocked that a robbery like that could happen in the middle of the day.
"That is just insane," customer Beth Puryear said.
"This is the Heights. Never thought it would happen here," customer Robert Orozco said.
In one surveillance photo, the robber's finger can be seen on the trigger.
"We don't normally see this level of violence," said Ryzo. "Each time he's becoming more aggressive."
Detectives said they believe the robber is the same man who took hostages while robbing three other banks in Houston
The robber wore different clothing during the latest robbery, officials said. There was a No. 2 on his shirt, which tellers said they thought was supposed to represent KPRC Local 2. The shirt he wore was not an official station shirt. He also wore a hard hat, officials said.
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