Reply #159: Even the police act when someone says they are armed [View All]

[rl6214]

http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/636702/bank-robbery-suspect-unarmed-according-to-cary-police

CARY, N.C—Cary police announced Sunday afternoon that the suspect in Thursday's hostage situation was unarmed.

Police said Devon Mitchell, 19, held seven hostages for three hours at the Wachovia Bank in Cary before police shot and killed him. It was through the ongoing investigation that Cary police discovered Saturday night that suspect Mitchell was unarmed when he held up Wachovia bank on Thursday afternoon.

Cary Police Chief Pat Bazemore said it is unclear why Mitchell wanted everyone to believe that he had a gun and was willing to use it.

"Why Devon set this all in motion, why he wanted us all to believe that he had a weapon and was prepared to kill with it are questions we will never have the answers to," said Bazemore. “He told the hostages he had a gun and the hostages believed he had a gun. He indicated to the hostage negotiator that he had a gun."

Police also believed Mitchell had a gun when he finally exited the Wachovia bank after a three hour hold up, with a hostage in front of him. According to Bazemore, the officers involved followed protocol when they fired numerous shots, killing Mitchell outside the bank.