Ocala police have identified three suspects who allegedly robbed a local bank and led law enforcement on a car chase, which ended with a crash and an officer-involved shooting.
At around 12:50 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, Ocala Police Department officers responded to TD Bank located at 2437 SE 17th Street #101 in reference to a robbery. The officers were informed that an armed man had entered the bank, demanded money, and left the financial institution with nearly $7,000, according to the arrest report.
An officer noted in the report that the suspect’s vehicle – a 2011 GMC pickup truck – was spotted traveling eastbound on E Fort King Street, and law enforcement attempted to conduct a traffic stop as the vehicle approached the intersection of SE 36th Avenue.
The report stated that the pickup truck stopped behind another vehicle at the intersection, and a nearby officer drew their service weapon, pointed it at the female driver of the pickup truck, and ordered the vehicle to stop.
However, when the vehicle that was blocking the pickup truck moved out of the way, the pickup truck proceeded to continue fleeing eastbound on E Fort King Street. According to the report, officers were able to observe a total of three occupants – a female driver and two male passengers – inside the pickup truck.
During the pursuit, the occupants of the pickup truck continued to flee police on SE Maricamp Road and SE 44th Avenue before their vehicle rolled over into a retention pond in the 4300 block of SE 38th Street. The report said that the accident occurred when the driver of the pickup truck swerved to avoid another vehicle that was stopped in the roadway.
One of the pickup truck’s passengers, identified by police as 37-year-old Randall Lee Williford, allegedly exited the vehicle through a shattered rear window and began to run north through the retention pond. OPD stated that Williford “brandished and pointed a pistol” at two officers who were on-scene, which resulted in shots being fired at Williford.
Williford sustained a gunshot wound to his right wrist, and he was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injury. The report mentioned that he remains hospitalized.
An officer said in the report that “two large stacks of U.S. currency” were found in the pockets of Williford’s pants. In addition, a note demanding money was allegedly also found in one of his pockets.
The other two occupants of the pickup truck were apprehended by police, and they were identified as 34-year-old Amanda Jean Bishop and 36-year-old Andre Javon Baker. Due to the rollover crash, both suspects were hospitalized as a precaution.
Officers interviewed a bank teller who advised that a male suspect, identified as Williford, had allegedly pulled out a handgun while saying, “Give me all the money.” The teller advised that Williford gave instructions to “stay quiet,” allegedly adding that he was “not afraid” to use the firearm, according to the report.
The teller told police that a box containing around $7,000 – later determined by police to be $6,946 – was handed to Williford. He then allegedly instructed the teller to walk outside the bank with him, threatening that he had “nothing to lose” if she failed to follow instructions.
After the teller begged Williford to “let her go,” Williford allegedly began to run away, and the teller quickly headed back inside the bank.
Williford, Bishop, and Baker were placed under arrest and charged with robbery with a firearm. In addition, Baker is being charged with fleeing to elude a law enforcement officer, and Williford is being charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and tampering with evidence.
“We commend the quick actions of our officers in handling this dangerous situation,” said OPD in a media release on Friday, May 9. “Their great work ensured the safety of the community, and we are grateful that no innocent individuals were harmed during the incident.”