Childhood Pals Charged in Oak Lawn 'Takeover' Bank Robbery

Photo: Bank surveillance footage of alleged robbers before they donned masks.

A relative of a man accused in an Oak Lawn bank robbery recognized him and his childhood pal and turned them in, according to a federal criminal complaint.

The men, Terrell M. Norwood, 18, and Xavier C. Baker, 19, have each been charged with one count of bank robbery, in what the FBI is terming a “takeover” robbery of the US Bank branch on Aug. 27 at 10720 S. Central Ave., Oak Lawn.

Both men were arrested the next day after a relative of Norwood’s recognized the men from the surveillance photos on the news, authorities said.

According to the federal complaint, two men later identified as Norwood and Baker, were seen unmasked on surveillance video walking past the front doors of the bank immediately before the robbery. Moments later, around 9:30 a.m., “Robber A” and “Robber B,” as they are identified in the federal complaint, walked into the bank wearing masks.

According to a bank teller’s statement, she was assisting a bank customer when she saw two masked men enter the bank. The teller became nervous and turned toward the kitchen area of the bank.

As she was headed for the kitchen, she heard one of the robbers say, “where did she go,” the FBI said. She then ran toward the other side of the bank where she tried to escape through an emergency exit door. As she was attempting to open the emergency door, she heard a voice say, “where do you think you’re going?”

When she turned around, she saw the black muzzle of a gun pointed directly toward her face. She was escorted to the teller drawers by Norwood, who authorities said was brandishing the handgun. Norwood ordered her to fill a black backpack with money from the top and bottom drawers, the complaint alleged.

The FBI said one of the robbers then asked who had access to the back area. The teller volunteered to take them to the vault. This time Baker, who was not carrying the gun, escorted her to the vault.

As she filled the robbers’ backpack with money, Baker told her not to pick up the money that fell on the floor. She continued stuffing the bag while Baker picked up the cash from the floor, according to the complaint.

Witnesses told the FBI that the robbers left the bank with $114,038. Within hours, law enforcement released surveillance photos of the alleged robbers to the news media, with and without their masks.

“Robber A” was wearing a black hoodie with the words “Dream as if you Lived Forever” written across the front, with the hood pulled up over his head, and dark gray pants. “Robber B” is observed wearing a light blue hoodie with “NYC” written on the front, black pants and a black hat, the FBI said.

The teller told the FBI that both men were “African American, tall and skinny.”

The next day, Aug. 28, the FBI interviewed a witness who claimed to recognize the men from a news story about the robbery on the 10 o’clock news.

According to the FBI, the relative recognized Norwood from his “Dream as if you Lived Forever” sweatshirt. Norwood’s relative also identified the other man as Norwood’s childhood friend, Xavier Baker.

The relative -- whose gender is not identified in the federal complaint -- told the FBI that Norwood and Baker grew up together in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. The relative estimated Baker to be 18 years old, the same age as Norwood.

The FBI alleged the relative was “100 percent certain ”the man wearing the black “dream” sweatshirt was Norwood, because he had been wearing the same hoodie for over a year.

Norwood’s relative further stated that after getting home around 5 a.m. the day of the bank robbery, Norwood was already awake. Norwood left the residence, where the relative also lives, around 7 a.m., the FBI said.

According to the complaint, Norwood told his relative that he was going to a job fair. The relative said Norwood was wearing gray pants, a white shirt and tie. At approximately 10:30 a.m., after the bank robbery occurred, Norwood texted that he was on his way home.

The relative told the FBI that Norwood arrived home wearing white shorts, a t-shirt and gym shoes, stating he had changed clothes because he was hot, authorities said. The relative also found Baker on the back porch of the home wearing gray pants and a white t-shirt.

The FBI said that the relative ordered Baker to leave the home immediately. After moving Norwood and the rest of family to a new neighborhood, the relative explained that Norwood was ordered not to associate with his friends from the old neighborhood, including Baker.

Norwood had stopped hanging out with his Austin friends -- except Baker, the complaint read.

The relative granted the FBI permission to search the residence. Authorities found the clothing that Norwood wore to rob the bank under his bed, the complaint said.

Norwood and Baker both appeared before Magistrate Judge Jeffrey T. Gilbert, where they were each charged with bank robbery and released to home confinement.

Baker’s next court date is Sept. 30. Norwood’s next court hearing has not yet been determined.