Police: Suspect in bank robbery kills himself in getaway car

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Published Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 | 10:39 a.m.

Updated Friday, Nov. 13, 2015 | 2:13 p.m.

An armed robber shot and killed himself behind the wheel of his getaway car after holding up a Bank of America branch this morning, according to Metro police.

The robbery happened about 9:30 a.m. at the Bank of America at 3680 East Flamingo Road. The man, who was armed with a handgun, fled the scene in a blue Ford Focus, police Lt. Jack Clements said.

A patrol officer in the area spotted the suspect car “driving recklessly” near Pearl Street and followed it west on Flamingo Road, though the officer did not turn on his emergency lights or siren, Clements said.

“He was waiting for another officer and our aviation unit to show up so then we could conduct a stop,” he said.

The cars came to a stop in traffic near Pecos Road, but when the light turned green and other vehicles started moving, the suspect car did not move, Clements said.

The officer heard a “pop” and saw the man slumped over, Clements said.

When the officer got out of his car to check on the man, he saw that he had shot himself in the head, he said. Officers found a handgun in the man’s lap.

Metro’s robbery unit and the FBI are investigating the bank robbery.

The Clark County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the man.