A man brandishing a semiautomatic handgun robbed the U.S. Bank on Puritas Avenue in Cleveland Monday, commanding everyone to the floor, according to the FBI.
The suspect entered the bank at 14701 Puritas Avenue at around 10:12 a.m. and after ordering people down climbed over the counter and allegedly commanded two tellers to empty their money drawers.
He fled the bank on foot at around 10:14 a.m. and headed west on West 147th Street.
The suspect met a second man carrying a blue backpack with orange markings when he left the bank. Witnesses report seeing a silver vehicle leaving the area at around 10:15 a.m.
Authorities describe the suspects as black men wearing dark front-zipped hoodies and gray sweatpants. One of the suspects was wearing a maroon scarf.
These men are also suspected of being responsible for an attempted bank robbery the same morning at the Huntington Bank located at 4932 Turney Road in Garfield Heights, according to the FBI.
Their attempt was unsuccessful, though, because employees triggered the alarm when they saw them with a weapon.
But the suspects did allegedly rob a customer waiting in line before fleeing the bank. It was after this that they reportedly entered the bank on Puritas.
Authorities believe the two suspects were also involved in the armed robbery on April 25 at a Huntington Bank in Maple Heights.
Tips can be provided to the Cleveland FBI at (216) 522-1400, the Cleveland Police Department or the Maple Heights Police Department. Authorities state that tips can remain anonymous. Reward money is available for information leading to the successful identification and prosecution of these two individuals. Additional reward money is being offered by Huntington Bank, up to $10,000 for information leading to their successful identification and prosecution. Authorities advise that tips be provided to law enforcement and not directly to Huntington Bank.
