A person of interest has been taken into custody following the fatal shootings of two U.S. Bank employees during a robbery in Berea, Kentucky, a state trooper confirmed on Friday.
Details of the Incident
The suspect, described as a man wearing a gray-white hoodie, gloves, and a mask, entered the U.S. Bank branch on Thursday and shot a male and a female employee, according to Kentucky State Police. Trooper Justin Kearney stated that the individual is "believed to be involved" in the robbery.
Law enforcement launched an extensive search involving helicopters, drones, and dogs, going door-to-door for information and surveillance footage. The Lexington Police Department, county sheriff's offices, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives all participated in the operation.
Community Response
"This was a team effort," Kearney posted on social media Friday morning, without providing further details. Area schools implemented lockdowns on Thursday until campuses were deemed safe. Students were not allowed to take buses home and had to be picked up by parents, state police said.
U.S. Bank expressed deep sorrow over the incident. "We’re deeply saddened by the tragic event that took the lives of two of our employees at our Berea, Kentucky branch earlier today," the company stated. "Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, our colleagues, and the entire Berea community."
Berea is located approximately 36 miles (58 kilometers) south of Lexington. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not released further information about the person in custody or the victims.
