Orange County bank robber who stole $31K and opened fire on teller remains at large

A bank robber who opened fire on a teller at a Chase bank in Lake Forest and took off with $31,000 is still at large two days later, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies were dispatched to the bank located off Portola Highway and Bake Parkway at 12:03 p.m. Thursday for a reported robbery in progress involving an armed suspect, sheriff's officials said. With his face entirely covered, the robber is seen in photos released by the sheriff's department with his arm stretched out and holding up a gun. 

"The male suspect reached over the counter and fired a round from the gun towards the feet of the bank teller," the O.C. Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "The round did not strike the bank teller, and no one was injured."

He fled the scene with thousands of dollars before deputies arrived.

The FBI has now joined the case, working with local law enforcement to investigate whether the suspect is linked to other heists.

On Saturday, around 3:45 p.m., O.C. Sheriff's Sgt. Frank Gonzalez said investigators were still searching for the robber and had collected some articles of clothing from an area that was canvassed so it can be analyzed as potential evidence.

A day earlier, he said deputies searched an area behind the bank on Thursday evening, returning to the scene hours after the robbery and discovering a few items that were taken in for forensic analysis.

"So last night, our investigators were able to go back out and really canvass the area," Gonzalez said. "They found a couple of items that they believe may be connected to this bank robbery. We've sent those items over for processing, for DNA processing, to see if there is a connection."

He said the hillside behind the Lake Forest bank is being searched as detectives believe that's where the suspect fled.

"Our investigators believe that the suspect may have gone through that trail up into the park area," he said. "So we are searching that exact area, which is filled with a lot of greenery, a lot of bushes, a lot of grass. So there are hidden spots."

Deputies climbed onto the shrubbery-filled hillside and used tools to cut through brush and scour the terrain.

Sheriff's officials have described the suspect as male and standing between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a black mask, bucket hat, yellow hoodie, tan pants and gloves, and he was carrying a silver revolver style handgun, officials said.

Investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward and tips can be called in to the sheriff's department at 714-647-7000. Those wishing to remain anonymous can reach Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.