TAMPA, Fla. – A man suspected in yesterday’s armed robbery at Grow Financial CU was found dead with a bullet to the head after a SWAT team stormed a house he was hiding in late yesterday afternoon.
Tampa police say it is unclear whether the suspect killed himself or was shot by police during their brief standoff and exchange of fire.
The dead man was one of three suspects police think robbed a South Tampa bank earlier in the day, a crime that triggered school lockdowns and a helicopter chase as tips rolled in.
The robbery occurred around 12:30 pm, prompting police to ask schools to hold students inside while they searched for the suspects.
A police helicopter began tracking a maroon Ford that authorities believed was the getaway car. They followed it to Ybor City, where someone got out. As officers closed in, three men got out. Two were apprehended, and the third went into the house. That began the standoff that ended in the suspect's death.
Police think this may be connected to a string of robberies by bandits who have worn some bizarre disguises, most notably holding up a pawn shop while wearing beauty shop sinks over their heads.
