Bodycam Footage Shows Thornton Police Officers Shooting at Bank Robbery Suspects

 Thornton, Colorado — December 27, 2022

On the afternoon of December 27, 2022, at approximately 1:00 p.m., Thornton Police Department officers were dispatched to the Wells Fargo Bank located at 12040 Colorado Boulevard. The emergency call was in reference to an armed robbery in progress. Witnesses reported that a male and female suspect had entered the bank displaying firearms, threatening employees and customers.

Responding officers quickly arrived in the area to contain the situation and locate the suspects. One officer observed a vehicle speeding away from the vicinity of the bank shortly after the robbery occurred. The suspicious vehicle matched the description provided by witnesses, and additional Thornton police units responded to intercept it.

As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects refused to comply, initiating a high-speed pursuit. The chase extended into neighboring Commerce City, where the vehicle continued driving recklessly. It was later confirmed that the suspects' vehicle had been reported stolen prior to the robbery. The pursuit reached a dangerous turning point at the intersection of 88th Avenue and Highway 2, where the fleeing suspects drove against the flow of traffic.

During the reckless maneuver, the suspects’ vehicle collided head-on with another civilian car. The driver of that vehicle sustained minor injuries and received medical attention on the scene. Following the crash, the situation escalated rapidly.

The male suspect exited the crashed vehicle and an exchange of gunfire occurred. During the confrontation, both the male and female suspects were injured. Despite his injuries, the male suspect fled on foot, attempting to carjack another nearby vehicle in a desperate effort to escape law enforcement. However, officers were able to intervene quickly and take both suspects into custody before any further harm occurred.

Emergency medical personnel responded promptly, and both suspects were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment of their injuries. Two firearms were recovered at the scene of the incident—believed to be the same weapons brandished during the robbery.

The suspects were later identified as Angel Matthew Gallegos and April Destiny Martinez. Gallegos, the male suspect and driver of the stolen vehicle, was formally charged with a series of serious crimes, including second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, aggravated robbery, second-degree assault, vehicular eluding, and menacing, among other charges related to the pursuit and attempted carjacking.

Martinez, the female suspect, also sustained injuries in the incident and was still receiving medical treatment at the time charges were being processed. She is currently facing federal charges stemming from her involvement in the armed robbery and related criminal conduct. Authorities have indicated that additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.

The Thornton Police Department has stated that the quick coordination between law enforcement units and the swift response by officers helped prevent further injuries to civilians and brought a highly dangerous situation to a close. The investigation into the robbery and the series of events that followed is being conducted in cooperation with state and federal agencies.

Officials emphasized the seriousness of the crimes and commended the professionalism of responding officers who faced an armed confrontation following a chaotic vehicle pursuit. The department also acknowledged the civilian who was injured in the collision, confirming that their injuries were not life-threatening.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by armed robberies and vehicle pursuits, both to law enforcement and the public. Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the robbery, the pursuit, or the crash to come forward with any additional information or video footage that could aid the ongoing investigation.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dashcam Shows Fort Worth Officer in a Shootout With Armed Suspect

Image
On the evening of Sunday, May 19, 2024, at approximately 8:19 p.m., a Fort Worth Police Department officer assigned to the East Division was involved in a violent encounter during a follow-up investigation related to a recent shooting. The incident began when the officer identified a vehicle suspected to be involved in a shooting that had occurred the day prior, on Saturday, May 18, in the 4800 block of Miller Avenue. }; As the officer began to follow the vehicle in question, he had not yet activated his emergency lights when the situation escalated rapidly. According to a witness who later spoke with investigators, the suspect pulled his car over on his own and exited the vehicle with his hands raised. This gesture initially appeared to be a sign of surrender, and the officer began to exit his patrol vehicle to approach the individual. }; However, what seemed like a routine traffic stop quickly turned dangerous. As the officer got out of his patrol car, the suspect suddenly re...
Read more

Fontana Pursuit Ends with Police K9 SuperDog Duke Jumping into Action / Corona CA 12.20.19

Image
CORONA, CA — A high-speed pursuit that began in the early hours of the morning ended dramatically in the city of Corona with the suspect being apprehended by a police K9. The chase started just after midnight when officers from the Fontana Police Department attempted to stop a pickup truck for unknown reasons within city limits. The driver, however, refused to pull over, prompting a lengthy and dangerous pursuit. The suspect led officers westbound on the 10 Freeway, speeding through several cities. The chase continued onto the southbound 57 Freeway as it moved into Orange County. Rather than slowing down, the suspect then transitioned to the eastbound 91 Freeway, entering Riverside County. As the vehicle approached the city of Corona, the suspect remained determined to flee and merged onto the southbound 15 Freeway. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) joined the pursuit and was able to successfully deploy a spike strip, which disabled at least some of the vehicle’s tires. Shortly ...
Read more

Troup County, Georgia — Deputy and Armed Man Wounded in Intense Shootout During Welfare Check

Image
  A dramatic shootout between a Troup County Sheriff’s deputy and a suspect was captured on dash camera video and has sparked discussions on law enforcement response and mental health crises. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Monday, July 22, 2024 , during what began as a routine welfare check on Jackson Street in Troup County , Georgia.Deputy Michael Hockett was dispatched to the residence after the suspect’s father contacted authorities. He reported that his adult son , Jeremy Edmondson , appeared to be undergoing a severe mental health episode and may have been armed. Deputy Hockett arrived on scene and activated his dash cam , which would later document a terrifying and chaotic exchange of gunfire.As Hockett approached the property, he issued multiple verbal commands to Edmondson, urging him to drop the weapon. In the video released by the Troup County Sheriff’s Office , Hockett can be heard yelling, “ Drop the gun now! ” The situation quickly deteriorated. Inst...
Read more