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Ocala officers open fire after bank robbery leads to pursuit, crash into pond, police say

Robbery happened at TD Bank on SE 17th Street

Ocala bank robbery (Ocala Police Department)

OCALA, Fla. – Ocala police officers opened fire Thursday afternoon after a bank robbery led to a pursuit and crash into a retention pond, according to the police department.

The robbery happened at TD Bank on SE 17th Street.

According to the Ocala Police Department, Randall Lee Williford, 37, entered the bank with a weapon around 1 p.m. and demanded money before leaving in a black pickup truck with two other suspects, Amanda Jean Bishop, 34, and Andre Javon Baker, 36.

Officers found the vehicle and a pursuit followed. Police chased after the vehicle and “during the police pursuit, the suspects’ vehicle rolled into a retention pond.”

Officers said the pursuit reached speeds as high as 90 mph. Officers also opened fire during the incident.

The department said after the crash, Williford got out holding a gun, forcing officers to fire.

“Three suspects were involved in the robbery and pursuit. During the incident, one suspect sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the wrist and is expected to make a full recovery,” police said in an update.

No officers were injured.

Watch video of the police pursuit in the player below or by clicking here.

Police said the suspect who entered the bank has an additional kidnapping charge for taking the teller outside and then getting released before the suspect entered his vehicle.

Williford faces charges of robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and tampering with evidence. Bishop faces charges of robbery with a firearm and fleeing and eluding police while Baker faces a charge of robbery with a firearm.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will conduct an investigation of the shooting.


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