Man killed after bomb threat prompts evacuation of Orange County bank

A suspect was killed after a bomb threat prompted the evacuation of a Fullerton bank Tuesday night.

Fullerton police responded to reports of a bank robbery at a Wells Fargo located on the 100 block of West Bastanchury Road at around 5:09 p.m.

The male suspect, believed to be in his 70s, had entered the bank and demanded money from the teller, police said. He reportedly told the teller that he had a bomb while showing a “white box that appeared to contain an explosive device.”

He then threatened to detonate the device, authorities said. At the time, the bank was still
open and there were employees and a customer inside.

They were immediately evacuated as officers, bomb squad members and SWAT team personnel swarmed the shopping plaza and surrounded the bank.

Witness video captured the hectic moment as people were running from the building. The suspect eventually exited the front entrance while holding the box and other items in his hands. That’s when he was fatally shot by officers.

A witness who saw the encounter play out recalls feeling scared for her safety.

“Police had their guns drawn and the door to the bank opened and the [suspect] came out,” recalled Jessica Serne, a witness. “They said, ‘Drop!’ but he didn’t listen, so they shot him. One shot and that was that.”

“Officers arrived within two minutes and began attempting to evacuate employees,” explained Sgt. Ryan O’Neil with Fullerton police. “Witnesses inside the bank stated the suspect produced what appeared to be an explosive device. Upon exiting the bank, an officer-involved shooting occurred.”

The man, who was seen lying on the ground near the front doorway, was unresponsive as bomb squad technicians from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department sent in a robot and drone to investigate the white box and several items found near him.

Eventually, a remote-controlled robot was seen picking up a portion of the suspicious items and bringing it back to officers for analysis.

Several more drones and robots were seen entering the bank to clear the scene before officers eventually entered. Robots and a police K-9 investigated a parked car that may have belonged to the suspect.

Officers cordoned off the entire shopping plaza as the investigation remained ongoing. No employees or officers were injured during the incident, police confirmed.

The witness said she was stunned that such an incident could happen in Fullerton.

The suspect’s identity was not released. The Orange County Coroner will confirm his identity pending the notification of the next of kin.

The deadly incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Fullerton PD Detective N. Kaprielian at 714-738-6763.

Anonymous tips can be provided to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227 or online at occrimestoppers.org.

Footage of the scene can be viewed in the video player above.

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