Armed Bank Robber Escapes After Massive Santa Monica Manhunt

SANTA MONICA, CA — Shelter-in-place orders were lifted in Santa Monica Tuesday afternoon after police conducted an hours-long search for an armed suspect, only to come up empty-handed.

A suspect wearing a Day of the Dead-type mask armed with a long-barreled firearm robbed a Wells Fargo bank branch in Santa Monica Tuesday, prompting a nearby elementary school to go on lockdown while police conducted a widespread search. However, the suspect was not found.

"We understand this has been very stressful on the community and appreciate your patience and understanding," the Santa Monica Police Department tweeted."We will continue to provide updates should any additional information become available."

The crime occurred about 9:51 a.m. at 900 Montana Avenue, the Santa Monica Police Department said.

In addition to the mask, the suspect was wearing all dark clothing, including a hoodie and gloves and fled on foot after demanding cash and getting between $3,000 and $5,000, according to Santa Monica police Lt. Candice Cobarrubias.

"The suspect was last seen jumping a wall to the rear of the bank ... in the 800 block of Ninth Street," Cobarrubias said.

No additional description of the suspect was immediately available.

Officers set up a perimeter between Lincoln Boulevard and 11th Street, from Montana to Washington Avenue. Nearby Roosevelt Elementary School was placed on a precautionary lockdown, and police instructed residents in the affected area to shelter in place.

Around noon, police specifically ordered residences near Ninth Street and Idaho Avenue to stay indoors with their windows and doors closed and locked.

Roosevelt Elementary was on lockdown, but all students and staff were safe, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District tweeted.

By about 3:30 p.m., police said the shelter-in-place order was lifted, although the suspect had not been found.

No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the suspect was urged to call SMPD Detective Haro at 310-458-8432 or the department watch commander at 310-458-8427.

City News Service contributed to this post