Authorities have identified an armed bank robbery suspect who was shot and killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers in San Bernardino last week, and released new details about the incident.
The suspect killed in the shootout Thursday was identified Monday as 48-year-old Mike Smith of San Bernardino.
On Thursday, Smith attempted an armed robbery at a Grand Terrace Bank of America, located at 22377 Barton Road, the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department said. However, the bank was closed and when Smith forced entry into the building, an alarm alerted sheriff’s deputies to the situation at 3:42 p.m., authorities said.
Smith did not take any cash from this location, the Sheriff’s Department said. The bank’s location had been temporarily closed prior to the robbery attempt, according to Bank of America.
Smith then went to a Chase Bank in Colton, located about two miles away at 2005 E Washington St., and committed a bank robbery, authorities said. It wasn’t immediately clear if Smith successfully took any money or if anyone was injured in this incident.
After the robbery, officers with the Colton Police Department encountered Smith and a pursuit ensued, the Sheriff’s Department said. It wasn’t immediately clear where or when officers found Smith or how long the pursuit lasted.
The pursuit ended in San Bernardino where Smith ran a red light at the intersection of 5th and D streets and crashed into another car, sheriff’s officials said. It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone else was injured in the pursuit or the crash.
Smith then pointed his rifle at law enforcement officers and opened fire, prompting officers to return fire and fatally strike him. The Sheriff’s Department was investigating how many shots Smith fired and which officers fired at him, authorities said.
The rifle was recovered at the scene, officials said.
In addition to the Sheriff’s Department and the Colton Police Department, officers with the San Bernardino Police Department assisted in the investigation.
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