Everything is back to normal at the West Gate Center shopping complex located at 19th Street and Quaker Avenue after Monday’s Happy State Bank robbery and bomb threat. Police are now combing through surveillance video from surrounding businesses to see if they can get a better image of the suspect.
The device at the bank is being described as a “non-functioning device” by police. Police couldn’t go into further details Tuesday about what the device was.
Employees from surrounding businesses were evacuated and are still shaken up from Monday’s incident.
“The cops came in real quiet and then he put down his sunglasses and said ‘We need to get everyone out of the building,'” said Summer Durham, an employee of La Madeleine Cafe.
She describes the moments police evacuated the restaurant due to the possible bomb threat, just feet away from their own business.
“They’re already going around and telling people ‘Get out! Get out! Get out!” said Durham.
The suspect allegedly ran into the bank, took an undisclosed amount of money and left a bag, shouted it was a bomb and then fled the scene on a bicycle.
“I was pretty scared,” said Durham. “I could have been in here and working and I had no idea. I didn’t know how serious those things are. That’s crazy that it’s just two doors down.”
Police were able to secure the device that the suspect left with the help of the LPD bomb squad.
“They didn’t tell us anything. They didn’t tell us there was a package over there or anything,” said Durham.
The suspect is still on the run. LPD warns to not approach this person if you see them.
“We are asking the public to keep an eye out for this suspect,” said LPD spokesperson Kasie Whitley. “We ask that the public does not approach him.”
The suspect is being described as being in his late 20s or early 30s. He was wearing a beanie, sunglasses, and has a beard. If you have any information that can help lead to an arrest, call the crime line at 741-1000, and if you see the suspect, call 911.
