NC police say they shot man who fled in 18-wheeler after bank robbery, bomb threat
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Willie McGee faces robbery, two attempted-murder counts and firearm charges.
- Officers shot McGee after he allegedly fired at Rocky Mount police in a parking lot.
- Zebulon K-9 tracking, video and carrier records led police; SBI found no explosives.
The suspect in a Zebulon bank robbery will be charged with robbery and attempted murder after an altercation with Rocky Mount police.
Willie McGee Jr., 42, of Rocky Mount, is still hospitalized after a shootout with police, Rocky Mount police said in a Saturday afternoon statement. McGee is in stable condition. He will face one robbery charge and two counts of attempted murder, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm and one count of discharging a weapon to incite fear.
Zebulon police responded to an armed robbery at First Citizens Bank on 101 Wakelon St. Friday morning, Rocky Mount police said. During the robbery, they said, McGee allegedly gave a written note to the bank employee stating he had explosives in his truck.
A Zebulon police dog, Koda, tracked McGee to his last known location, which was confirmed by surveillance video.
Investigators contacted the trucking company that owned the vehicle McGee used, a white 18-wheeler, to get his location information, Rocky Mount police said. Zebulon police tracked McGee to a Hobby Lobby parking lot at 760 Sutters Creek Blvd. in Rocky Mount and requested help from Rocky Mount police to arrest McGee.
Rocky Mount officers came to the parking lot around 4:15 p.m., Rocky Mount police said. They approached McGee, who got out of the cab of the truck and fired shots at the officers, police said. Officers fired back and struck McGee.
The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation bomb squad came to the scene to search the vehicle for explosives, Rocky Mount police said. The SBI search found no explosives.
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