BEREA, Ky. — Kentucky State Police have arrested a suspect believed to be connected to Thursday’s deadly bank robbery that resulted in the shooting deaths of two U.S. Bank employees.
Trooper Justin Kearney announced Friday that authorities have detained someone who is “believed to be involved” in the fatal incident that occurred at the Berea branch.
According to state police, the gunman entered the U.S. Bank location Thursday dressed in a gray-white hoodie, mask, and gloves before opening fire on a male and female worker.
The manhunt involved multiple law enforcement agencies conducting house-to-house searches for evidence and video footage, while helicopters, drones, and K-9 units scoured the area. The investigation included personnel from the Lexington Police Department, county sheriff’s departments, FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
“This was a team effort,” Kearney wrote in his Friday morning social media post.
The trooper declined to release additional information about the arrest.
Local schools were placed under lockdown protocols Thursday as a precautionary measure until officials confirmed campus safety. State police reported that bus transportation was suspended, requiring parents to personally retrieve their children from school.
U.S. Bank officials released a statement expressing their cooperation with investigators and commitment to assisting the victims’ loved ones and staff members.
“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 financial institution stated. “Our hearts go out to the families of the victims, our colleagues and the entire Berea community.”
Berea is located approximately 36 miles south of Lexington.
