Bank robbery suspects captured

GASTONIA, N.C. -- What started off like any ordinary Friday quickly changed for folks in one Belmont neighborhood off McAdenville and Johnston roads.

"Yes, yes. I'm scared right now," said resident Allison Haun.

Haun was among many who watched in stunned disbelief as an onslaught of law enforcement officers filled the streets -- guns ready -- in search of two suspects who had just tried to rob the Fort Financial Credit Union in Gastonia.

But their plan was foiled.

"They did not get into the bank. They got into the foyer area. When employees saw them coming, they locked the door and the suspects fled back out," Belmont Police Chief David James told NewsChannel 36.

From there the men took off down Interstate 85 closely followed by Gastonia police. The suspects crashed their car at Exit 26 and fled on foot into a wooded area that borders the nearby subdivision.

"At that time we set up a perimeter in the area," James said.

SWAT team members, K-9 units and heavily armed officers from five different jurisdictions quickly closed in on them.

"We're still actively searching for them at this time and just had notification that the long gun and pistol have been found. So, hopefully they're not armed but we're still going to search at this time," James said.

"I'm not even going to try to get in my house because if they're out, who knows?" Haun said.

SWAT team members, K-9 units and heavily armed officers from five different jurisdictions quickly closed in on them. First, they found a long rifle and handgun the pair had been spotted carrying behind a house. A short time later, both suspects were in custody. Police said one was found hiding under a car.