Victims in bank robbery released from faulty vault

Just before 9 p.m. today, victims trapped in the First Community Bank vault after the access panel was damaged in a shootout between police and three robbers, were finally released.

The three robbers, Darrin Hume, 44, Fred Lapidus, 37 and Ben Winslet 34 entered the bank around 2 p.m. and quickly moved patrons to the vault, which was at the back end of the bank.

Once there, the robbers forced Bank Manager, Chuck Pace to open the vault and ordered all the patrons inside. Five patrons were in the vault when Pace struggled at the door with the robbers, and was shot. A bank employee was also shot, after reacting to Pace's shooting.

Police were quickly on the scene and by the time SWAT arrived the two were dead. The police and SWAT entered the bank after being shot at by the robbers.

In the firefight bank employee Bob Carlyle was shot by police who believed he was another robber.

"As police officers we strive to conduct our jobs with the utmost respect to community safety," said Police Chief Nora Young. "While it appears as though Mr. Carlyle's death was the result of a tragic accident that occurred in the midst of our officers' efforts to stop three robbers...it is important that we complete the vital and transparent process of determining what could have prevented this terrible circumstance."

One of the victims trapped in the vault was Community High School Bulldog's star quarterback, Sharaf Jarrah, and the big game was cancelled in light of the situation.

"Today has been an incredibly trying day and I want nothing more than to put it behind me," Jarrah said. "I'll be ready to play football again next weekend."

Robbers names released by police

Police Chief Nora Young released the names of the three men who attempted to rob First Community Bank today.

Darrin Hume, 44, Fred Lapidus, 37 and Ben Winslet 34 were shot by police after they had killed Chuck Pace, bank manager and another bank employee.

According to Young, the three men had prior criminal records.

In Jan. the three men were found guilty of robbing a local diner. They were caught on Community Island Bridge three days after this robbery, when their van crashed.

The three men were sentenced to 15 years in prison for the diner robbery, by Judge Kristine Hubler.

Star quarterback believed to be trapped in bank vault

During an attempted robbery and shootout at First Community Bank today, the access panel to the vault door was damaged, leaving several patrons trapped inside.

The Star Security System has dispatched technicians who will be arriving shortly to assess and remedy the situation.

However, the high school football game has been cancelled, as their star quarterback, Sharaf Jarrah of the undefeated Community High School Bulldogs is trapped inside the vault.

"My family and I extend our deepest sympathies to the people who were killed in today's bank robbery," said Omar Jarrah, father of Sharaf. "We have spoken to our son, Sharaf, and he is doing well, but is eager to be released from the safe."

In a recent profile by the Courier of Sharaf Jarrah, reporter Paul Delante learned a few things about the athlete described as extraordinary, Sharaf Jarrah is claustrophobic.

All three robbers confirmed dead

After a shootout at the First Community Bank today, police officials have confirmed that all three armed men who entered the bank at 2 p.m., attempting to rob the bank, are dead.

After killing two people in the bank, a robber shot at police and SWAT waiting outside the bank. The on-scene commander seized the opportunity to enter the bank and take the robbers down. When moving in, police shot and killed two of the robbers, with the third being wounded.

However, in a press release, police stated, "The third robber succumbed to his injuries en route to Community Valley Hospital."

One other civilian was injured in the gunfight and was taken to Community Valley, and latest reports find him in stable condition.

Star Security Systems dispatched

After discovering that the First Community Bank vault doors would not open after a shootout with robbers today, police dispatched Star Security Systems technicians to come open the vault doors, however, they aren't expected to arrive on the scene until 6 p.m.

In a press release from Star Security Systems it stated that despite the fact that the vault is air-tight, they are confident that the people trapped will have enough oxygen to last through the rest of the evening.

"The team is expected to arrive no later than 6 p.m. and company officials believe that the vault will be opened by 7 p.m.," the press release said.

However, according to the Affiliated Press, Star Security Systems filed for federal bankruptcy protection, just after a judgement had been brought against them by several other banks, saying that their vaults had malfunctioned.

The company agreed to fix the malfunctioning computerized vaults.

"But the waiting list is hundreds of banks long and Star acknowledges that it could be several years before all the vaults are fixed," according to the Affiliated Press.

Robbery unsuccessful, hostages still locked in bank vault

An hour after a team of armed men entered the First Community Bank at 15 S. Main Street, police released a statement stating that they believed that all the robbers were dead.

The robbery turned fatal, left several hostages locked in the bank's vault. One hostage, Jimmy Rodriguez was able to make a call to the Courier.

"There's five of us in here and two of the other people are on the phone with 911 operators," Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez there were three or four armed men who pushed patrons to the back end of the bank. There they forced the bank manager to open the vault doors and locked everyone inside.

The bank manager, however, was shot when he struggled against the door, according to Rodriguez.

According to Johny Springfiled, an employee at the Mad Monkey Deli across the street from the bank, there were two shots fired, and three people holding shotguns in the bank.

"A big van showed up and all these SWAT officers in black suits came rushing out of the back," Springfield said. "And then, within minutes, there was more gunfire."

Police believe that in the struggle the bank manager activated some sort of security feature, that locked the vault down.

In a press release from the Police Department they stated, "The vault is now malfunctioning, possibly as a result of the computerized control panel being damaged during a firefight between the robbers and police officers. The Community Police Department is seeking any locksmiths or other citizens who believe they may be able to help disable the vault's computerized locking mechanism."

Robbery at First Community Bank

Police were called to First Community Bank on 15 S. Main Street at 2:05 p.m. today, with reports that a robbery was in progress.

Only three minutes after arriving on the scene shots were fired.

All officers on duty were called to report to the scene, as well as SWAT. Though SWAT has not yet arrived, they are expected to arrive on scene momentarily.

Community Police Department spokeswoman, Amber Reyes, was unavailable for comment on the situation.

More information will be posted as details come out.