Oklahoma Highway Patrol identifies Kansas bank robbery suspect killed in shootout
WELLINGTON, Kan. (KWCH) - Update: The Oklahoma Highway Patrol on Tuesday identified a man who died last week near Perry, Okla. after a shootout with OHP troopers. The OHP said 25-year-old Rosendo Rivero, suspected of robbing bank in Wellington before a high-speed chase in Oklahoma, died at the scene Friday, March 24, after shooting at troopers who then returned fire.
Update: Wellington Police Chief Tracy Heath released more details Friday evening regarding a bank robbery that ended with the suspect dead in Oklahoma.
Chief Heath said shortly after 12:40 p.m., officers responded to the robbery at Impact Bank, located at 206 East Harvey. When they arrived, bank officials told them that around 12:30 p.m., a man dressed in a dark-colored jacket, light-colored pants, and wearing a surgical mask entered the bank and handed a note to a clerk demanding money. The clerk complied and the man left the bank with an undetermined amount of cash.
Impact Bank Chairman and CEO Jared Brown said employee and customer safety are most important and he’s glad they’re okay.
“Nobody ever wants this to happen, but we trained for it. And, people followed that training, and we got everyone out and kept everyone safe,” said Jared Brown, CEO of Impact Bank.
Heath said officers obtained a description of the suspect’s vehicle and shared it with local law enforcement in the surrounding area.
Less than an hour later, Wellington police learned Oklahoma authorities had been involved in a high-speed chase and officer-involved shooting with the suspect vehicle on southbound I-35.
Impact bank’s drive-thru stayed open throughout Friday. The lobby will reopen on Monday.
Wellington police, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and FBI are all investigating the case.
A bank robbery suspect is dead after a shootout with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Friday afternoon.
Trooper Foster with the OHP said the incident started when the Kansas Turnpike Authority spotted a vehicle matching the suspect’s crossing into Oklahoma. KTA confirmed the suspect was fleeing from a bank robbery in Sumner County. 12 News has confirmed it was Impact Bank in Wellington, Kan.
Trooper Foster said an Oklahoma port of entry officer saw the vehicle and radioed it in. Troopers located the vehicle and a short pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, gunfire was exchanged. The pursuit ended at Highway 412. That’s when the suspect fled from the vehicle and ran into a wooded area. He turned and pointed the gun at troopers and was shot and killed.
Trooper Foster said no troopers were hurt.
OHP tells News 9 in Oklahoma City that the bomb squad has also been called out to the scene because the suspect claimed to have had a bomb in the vehicle.
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