Seminole County school lockdowns lifted after armed bank robbery

Authorities search for bank robbers in Altamonte Springs neighborhood

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Seminole County school lockdowns have been lifted on Friday afternoon after an armed bank robbery in the area prompted a search for the culprits.

Altamonte Springs police said the robbery occurred at the Fifth Third bank at Sandlake Road and State Road 434 on Friday afternoon. One bank worker was pistol-whipped and was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Two people police believe were involved in the bank robbery are in custody. One was caught on the scene and the other was caught in a car about 20 minutes later after crashing into an Altamonte Springs patrol car.

Seminole County Sheriff's Office spotted the suspect vehicle, which led them on a brief pursuit before the culprit bailed out of the car in the Spring Oaks neighborhood.

The gun has been recovered along with the money that was taken as well.

The search for the culprits locked down Forest City Elementary School, Annuciation Catholic School and Lake Brantley High School, both holding students inside. The lockdown was lifted shortly after.

All other schools in the area were impacted because the buses at Lake Brantley also transport students from other schools, causing transportation delays, officials say.

"There was an announcement we were in code red. My teacher put us in the corner, locked the doors, and turned down the blinds so no one could see through," said Lake Brantley High School student Jeremiah Carbonell. "I was worried for my mom because she was home during the time and it took place on the road we live on."

Watch Local 6 for more on this story.


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