A man known as the "AK-47 bandit" was arrested in Lexington and has been linked to armed bank robberies across the country as well as the shootings of a California police officer and a Kansas state trooper, authorities announced Tuesday.
Richard Lee Gathercole, 39, of Roundup, Mont., was arrested by Dawson County Nebraska Sheriff's deputies and is being held in Nebraska, according to a press release from the Omaha Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI made the announcement in conjunction with representatives of the police department from Chino, Calif., where an officer was shot and severely wounded following a robbery there in 2012.
On June 19, Gathercole was pulled over by a Kansas State Trooper before fleeing in his vehicle and leading authorities on a high-speed chase while firing at the trooper with an assault rifle, the release states. After fleeing the area, he crashed his vehicle, then stole a truck from a nearby farm and drove to Nebraska, investigators say.
On June 24, multiple agencies served a search warrant at Gathercole's home in Montana, recovering several "improvised explosive devices," or IEDs, the press release states. During the search, investigators said they found evidence believed to have been used in the bank robberies. Authorities also noted that Gathercole had access to vehicles matching those described at each of the robberies, the release states.
Investigators suspect Gathercole may be responsible for the series of six bank robberies during the span of three years in the states of California, Washington, Idaho, Nebraska and Iowa, according to the press release.
"The bank robberies attributed to the AK-47 series began in 2012 when the bank robber shot and wounded a police officer in Chino, Calif., following a bank robbery," the release states.
The investigation of the AK-47 Bandit bank robbery series is being conducted by the Chino Police Department; the Rexburg Police Department; the Musselshell County Sheriff's Department in Montana; the Seattle Safe Streets Task Force; the King County Sheriff’s Office in Washington; the Vacaville Police Department; the Sacramento Police Department; the Nebraska City Police Department; the Greater Omaha Bank Robbery Task Force; as well as FBI Field Offices that cover each of the jurisdictions where robberies occurred (FBI Los Angeles; FBI Sacramento; FBI Seattle; FBI Omaha and FBI Salt Lake City).
Due to the various crimes alleged and jurisdictions involved at various levels of government, investigators continue to consult with prosecutors regarding applicable charges. This investigation is being conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies. The investigation of the shooting at a Kansas State Trooper is being conducted by the Kansas Highway Patrol; Kansas Bureau of Investigation; the Lexington Police Department; and the Atwood Police Department.
Below is a summary of each of the bank robberies authorities believe were committed by Gathercole, as provided in the joint press release:
Chino robbery, attempted murder of officer (Feb. 29, 2012)
During a robbery that occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012, at the California Bank & Trust on 5455 Riverside Drive in Chino, California, the suspect was described by witnesses as a white male, 25-40 years old, with a stocky build. Following the armed bank robbery, a police officer patrolling the area came upon the bank robbery suspect who was fleeing the bank he had just robbed with the assault rifle. The suspect fired upon the officer and seriously wounded him. During and following the robbery, the suspect wore body armor over a dark-colored collared short-sleeved shirt and blue pants, as well as a ski mask covering his face. The suspect was seen leaving the scene in a vehicle described as a dark gray Nissan Maxima with four doors and tinted windows.
Prior to the bank robbery, a threat was called into the 911 dispatch center from a payphone in the general vicinity of the bank by a male caller. Investigators believe the suspect employed a diversionary tactic in an attempt to delay officers responding to the bank robbery.
Northern California robbery, attempt (March 12, 2012)
On March 12, 2012, a bank robbery occurred at the Bank of the West on the 1000 block of Helen Power Drive in Vacaville, California. The same suspect was also linked to an attempted robbery three days prior on March 9, 2012, of the Tri Counties Bank on the 1700 block of Challenge Way in Sacramento, California. The suspect is believed to have used the above-described Nissan Maxima in both the Vacaville robbery and the Sacramento attempted robbery.
Washington robbery (July 6, 2012)
On July 6, 2012, a similar takeover-style robbery occurred at the Chase Bank on Mt. Si Boulevard in North Bend, Washington. The suspect was armed with an AK-47 style rifle equipped with a drum magazine. He had a loud, deep voice with no obvious accent, and threatened to shoot the tellers if they did not hurry. The suspect carried the cash by hand as he did not bring a bag. A dirty, reddish-orange Jeep Patriot or Liberty was parked out front of the bank as a getaway vehicle. It may have had out-of-state license plates with a prominent blue stripe across the top.
Idaho robbery (Nov. 7, 2012)
On November 7, 2012, a robbery took place at the East Idaho Credit Union in Rexburg, Idaho. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the suspect entered the bank with what may have been an assault rifle and ordered the employees and customers into the vault. After obtaining the money, the suspect fled in a dark blue sedan with tinted windows and a red and blue license plate. He was last seen headed south on South Yellowstone Highway.
Nebraska robbery (Aug. 22, 2014)
On the afternoon of August 22, 2014, a bank robbery took place at a First Nebraska Bank in Nebraska City, Nebraska. During the robbery, the suspect carried a duffel bag and an assault rifle with a drum magazine similar to the weapon seen in his earlier robberies. The suspect proceeded to remove cash from victim tellers’ drawers and directed employees to comply with his demands. The suspect fled the bank with the stolen cash.
Iowa robbery (July 28, 2015)
A similar robbery occurred in Mason City, Iowa, and is the last known robbery linked to the AK-47 series. On the morning of July 28th 2015, a bank robbery occurred at the Heartland Community Credit Union in Mason City, Iowa. The suspect was armed with an AK-47-style rifle fitted with a large-capacity drum magazine, matching the M.O. of previous bank robberies that the AK-47 Bandit committed. During the Mason City robbery, the suspect used an improvised explosive device to threaten victim tellers.
