‘The Shootist’ Bank Robber Sought by FBI
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SANTA ANA — The FBI is looking for a prolific bank robber who has stolen about $540,000 in cash from 33 banks in south Orange County, San Diego and Texas. His most recent heist was in Laguna Niguel last month.
The bandit is known as “the Shootist” for the way he jumps on a bank counter to announce a robbery and then fires a .38-caliber revolver into the ceiling.
The holdups began in 1986, when the bandit took $7,000 from First Texas Savings in Dallas. The most recent one was on Jan. 10, when he stole $12,808 from a Bank of America branch in Laguna Niguel.
Authorities believe the robber strikes when his money begins to run out. The FBI has taken precautions by widely distributing his photograph and contacting banks likely to be hit.
The bandit usually wears a fake mustache, beard and baseball cap, and approaches one or two tellers before fleeing.
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