Armada bandit suspect kills himself after pursuit

Authorities have identified the robbery suspect known as the “Armada Bandit” as Riverside resident Michael Buller, officials said.

Buller, 53, killed himself Friday after a pursuit with police ending in Dana Point that afternoon, police said. Orange County Coroner’s identified Buller, whom federal agents sought in connection to bank robberies in Orange County.

Federal agents gave Buller the moniker of Armada Bandit as he performed most of his robberies while wearing a baseball hat with an eagle crest with in an oval shape, authorities said.

Two of the suspected robberies occurred at the First Bank in Costa Mesa, one of which happened Wednesday afternoon, police said.

He reportedly hit the same bank earlier in the year, federal authorities said.

After a botched robbery attempt of a bank in Anaheim Friday, Buller led police on chase, ending by of the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, Orange County Sheriff’s Department said. He shot himself once in the head, authorities said.

Buller was on the FBI Los Angeles Division’s top eight “most wanted” bandits list, according to the website.

— Kelly Strodl