'Aviator' Bank Robber Apprehended, Second Suspect Shot Dead, Police Say

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Officials have confirmed that the suspect in custody following a bank robbery and police-involved shooting in Baltimore County is believed to be the man known as "The Aviator," who was sought by the FBI for several bank robberies in the Baltimore area. Charges against him are pending.

"The Aviator" was apprehended after police responded to a bank robbery reported at Wells Fargo in the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road in Pikesville at 1:08 p.m.

The Aviator and another suspect allegedly robbed the bank and took off in a vehicle, then were shot at in the area of Old Court Road near Falls Road, according to the Baltimore County Police Department.

Once notified about the bank robbery, authorities said they immediately cut off access to roads that were likely escape routes, and at 1:20 p.m., a law enforcement officer saw a Ford Taurus leave the line of traffic stopped on eastbound Old Court Road. When the Taurus pulled across the center lane and drove toward him, the officer shot at the vehicle and struck the driver through the front windshield, police said.

The vehicle continued on, crossing through the intersection of Falls Road before proceeding onto Ruxton Road and hitting a citizen's vehicle, which then crashed into another vehicle, according to police.

After 10 p.m., Falls Road was still closed at Ruxton Road for police investigation, WJZ reported.

Inside the Taurus, officials said they recovered money and bank property from Wells Fargo in Pikesville.

The driver, who has not yet been identified, was pronounced deceased, according to police.

The surviving suspect — allegedly wanted for multiple bank robberies — sustained injuries that authorities said were not believed to be life-threatening. He was identified by police as "The Aviator," for whom the FBI had issued a lookout Thursday after he had allegedly robbed three banks so far this month.

"Witnesses describe him as a black man in his 40s, who is about 5’9” tall and has a salt and pepper beard. He wears a baseball cap, long-sleeved shirt/hooded sweatshirt and aviator sunglasses. While talking on his cell phone, the suspect approaches the counter, hands the bank employee a note announcing an armed robbery, and demands money. After receiving money, he flees the location on foot," according to the FBI.

This month the Aviator was suspected of robbing Wells Fargo in the 7600 block of Harford Road in Baltimore on Sept. 20; BB&T in the 5400 block of Harford Road in Baltimore on Sept. 9; and Wells Fargo in the 1600 block of Merritt Boulevard in Dundalk on Sept. 1.

The officer who shot at the vehicle has been placed on administrative status, which is standard procedure as the department investigates the case. The department's spokesman told WJZ the officer was a sergeant who fired multiple rounds at the vehicle.

While police said there was an officer at the scene wearing a body camera, it was not on the officer who fired his weapon, as only 100 of the 1,400 officers in the Baltimore County Police Department have been issued the devices since the police body camera program launched in July. The rest of the officers will be issued cameras starting in July 2017.

At 1:08 p.m., police responded to a call about a bank robbery at Wells Fargo in the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road, officials said.

Police shot and killed one suspect, while a second sustained injuries not believed to be life-threatening, according to officials. The suspects were shot in the area of Old Court Road at Falls Road, officials reported.

The second suspect was wanted for multiple bank robberies, police said.

Photo of "Aviator" courtesy of the FBI.