Bank robber fatally shot a supermarket customer

[Frosty]

Feel sorry for the guy & family/friends but as far as I'm concerned it's not my money, banks are insured & I'm not a LEO. Unless he started shooting people in the bank I will watch him walk away.

WASHINGTON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania bank robber fatally shot a supermarket customer who ran after him and tried to stop his getaway car, police said.

South Strabane Township police identified the dead man as Vincent Kelley, 46, of Washington, Pa.

Kelley and his friend Jared Cameron, 21, were shopping at the Giant Eagle in Strabane Square when police said the man robbed an in-store Citizens Bank branch about 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

"I saw him with his umbrella open, and it looked suspicious. It caught my eye," Cameron said of the robber. "I just kind of ignored it for a minute and then I heard a scream from the bank."

The robber, dressed in black and disguised by a mask and a large, light-colored floppy hat, jumped back over the bank counter with a duffel bag full of money over his shoulder and Kelley gave chase, Cameron said.

"The guy pulled the gun on Vinnie right outside the store, and Vinnie didn't stop. He just kept going and I followed right behind him," Cameron said. The robber started driving away while Kelley jumped into the car and grabbed for a knife he kept on his belt.

"When he reached for his belt, the guy reached up behind his head over the seat and shot off six rounds out of his gun," Cameron said.

Kelley fell out of the car as the suspect drove away — though police believe the white compact car should be easy to identify because a red dye pack hidden in the money exploded.

"I certainly applaud a citizen's efforts to help society, but you see the ramifications," police Chief Donald Zofchak said. "It cost him his life."

Kelley's 19-year-old daughter, Sierra, said she has planned to have a Father's Day meal with him later that day.

"He's a hero for what he did today. I don't know what happened, but this is Father's Day and he's supposed to be with me," Sierra Kelley told reporters. "I want whoever did this to know how much it hurts."

Police released a photo from the bank's surveillance camera, hoping the robber's get-up might help the public recognize him, but the suspect's face cannot be seen in it. Police were reviewing the surveillance video for additional clues and said they may release it Tuesday.

[Solus]

Just a note...

Money given to welfare recipients and others on the dole isn't your money either...

Just like taxes, the cost of stolen money will find it way out of your wallet....maybe not as directly as a payroll deduction and maybe not to the amount of the entitlement bite, but it will get paid by the consumer.

[fightingquaker13]

Still, a dumbass. A heroic one, but a dumb ass. Back in the day before FDIC when it was yours and your neighbor's savings riding out of town with the James Gang never to be seen again? Then hell yeah to what he did. But now? WTF?

[tombogan03884]

This guy was an idiot .
What is rule #1 ?

Don't take a knife to a gun fight .
This was not a case where he HAD to defend himself with what he had.
He jumped into the middle of a passing situation thinking he was Rambo .

[Strider]

As a former LEO and trainer, I have always advocated being a good witness. Unless you have a duty to apprehend, and no IMMEDIATE threat is present, you will escalate the situation by stepping in and have no justification for doing so. While heroic on the surface, his actions endangered others as well as getting him killed. A tragic outcome. I applaud his grit and feel sad for his passing the lesson remains.

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

As a former LEO and trainer, I have always advocated being a good witness. Unless you have a duty to apprehend, and no IMMEDIATE threat is present, you will escalate the situation by stepping in and have no justification for doing so. While heroic on the surface, his actions endangered others as well as getting him killed. A tragic outcome. I applaud his grit and feel sad for his passing the lesson remains.

From what I read, I agree.  The guy didn't pull a gun till he was being chased..so no immediate threat to folks.

But what would we do in this case.

You see a guy knock an old lady to the ground and take off with her purse...say he is running right towards you....do you try to become a good witness or try to save the lady's valuables?

[tombogan03884]

From what I read, I agree.  The guy didn't pull a gun till he was being chased..so no immediate threat to folks.

But what would we do in this case.

You see a guy knock an old lady to the ground and take off with her purse...say he is running right towards you....do you try to become a good witness or try to save the lady's valuables?

Apples and oranges, the old lady's purse is not insured by the FDIC.

[Solus]

Apples and oranges, the old lady's purse is not insured by the FDIC.

I was speaking to Strider's post.  He makes no mention of insured/uninsured.   Just about having a duty to respond or to stop an immediate threat...none of which apply to the old lady's purse snatcher.

And, remember, when the customer gave pursuit, there was not evidence of a weapon involved.  The weapon was presented after he engaged the robber.

Same might happen with the purse snatcher.

[tombogan03884]

Solus, you need to reread the article.
There was never any threat of harm to any one until the asshole chased the robber.
The robber then threatened said asshole with a gun .
When the pursuer continued his attempted knife attack the robber did the same as any sane person would.
He shot the attacker.
If he hadn't been in the act of robbing a bank I would say "well done".

[Solus]

Solus, you need to reread the article.
There was never any threat of harm to any one until the asshole chased the robber.
The robber then threatened said asshole with a gun .
When the pursuer continued his attempted knife attack the robber did the same as any sane person would.
He shot the attacker.
If he hadn't been in the act of robbing a bank I would say "well done".

I saw and understood that...and stated that no weapon was presented till the customer started chasing the robber.

I was spekding to Strider's post.  He made a general statement about getting involved...that is what I was questyioning