Updated 3:30 p.m. Friday: A gunman who tried to rob a bank in downtown Silver Spring was fatally shot by a Montgomery County police officer in an alley near the bank Wednesday morning, county police said.
Police have identified the man as Mikyas Mehary Tegegne, 31, of no fixed address.
Police said the man walked into the manager’s office at a BB&T Bank branch at 1100 Wayne Ave. about 10:48 a.m., pulled a handgun, claimed he had a bomb in his backpack and demanded $20,000.
The man fled before getting cash and was confronted by a county officer in an alley behind the building on Ramsey Avenue near the Silver Spring Metro station, Assistant Police Chief Marcus Jones said during a mid-day news conference.
The officer shot and disabled the suspect, police said, and he was taken to Holy Cross Hospital where he died. Police said they found a handgun on his body.
The backpack was left in the alley where Fire and Rescue Services workers were called to check to see if it contains explosives.
Authorities said a device in the backpack “did not have explosive capabilities but was made to appear as an explosive device.”
Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security reported all lanes of Colesville Road between Georgia Avenue and East-West Highway and some side streets were closed for several hours as the police and bomb squad investigated.
Media representatives for BB&T Bank responded to a request for comment on Friday.
“We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our associates to work in, and where our clients can conduct their banking business,” BB&T Bank spokesman David White said in a statement.
Police identified the officer as Christopher LaPointe. He is currently on paid administrative leave, as is customary while an investigation continues.
This story will be updated.
