OC attempted bank robbery: Suspect claiming to have bomb fatally shot by police

FULLERTON, Calif. - Southern California authorities said an attempted robber who claimed to have an explosive device inside a Fullerton bank was shot and killed by police Tuesday.

Officers with the Fullerton Police Department responded to the Wells Fargo bank on the 100 block of W. Bastanchury Rd. around 5:10 p.m. regarding a robbery in progress. 

Fullerton PD officials said a man wearing a mask entered the bank and demanded money from the teller, adding that he said he had a bomb. According to Fullerton Police Sgt. Ryan O'Neil, people inside the bank told police the man "produced what appeared to be an explosive device."

Images from SkyFOX showed a SWAT BearCat and robot outside the business. 

Investigators said the bank was still open and employees and another customer were inside the business at the time of the attempted robbery.

When officers arrived, the suspect was walking out of the bank. 

"They had their guns drawn and then the door to the bank opened, and the guy came out, and they said ‘Drop,' and then he didn’t listen, so they shot him," said witness Jennifer Serna. "One shot and then that was that." 

He was declared dead at the scene. The suspect's name has not been released by authorities pending next of kin notification. 

Officials confirmed the customer and all the bank employees were safely evacuated, and no one else was hurt.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad also responded to the scene due to the suspicious device. They later declared the device in question was constructed to resemble a facsimile device. 

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Fullerton PD Detective N. Kaprielian at 714-738-6763.