Pair Charged After Homewood Bank Robbery
HOMEWOOD, Ill (STMW) - A pair of alleged bank robbers accused of stealing $104,500 from a Homewood bank threatened to kill a witness whose 911 call led to their arrest, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Wednesday.
Jones remained at South Suburban Hospital Wednesday, recovering from a bullet wound to the shoulder after police shot her as she tried to get away.
But McCallister made his first appearance before Magistrate Judge Young Kim, who ordered him held until his bail can be set at a hearing Monday.
According to the complaint, McCallister, armed with a Tec 9 gun, told a witness who fled the bank as the robbers arrived at 11:30 a.m. "Get in the back before I shoot you."
But the witness instead escaped and dialed 911, waiting outside until police arrived, according to the complaint.
McCallister and Young then spent five to seven minutes ordering 10 customers and bank staff into the vault while bank staff filled two backpacks with cash, the complaint says.
Police from Homewood and Hazel Crest were waiting for them and arrested them when they left the bank.
Both defendants have confessed, the complaint adds.
A total of $112,066.62 was missing from the bank, but police recovered $77,200 from one bag abandoned in the parking lot, and $27,319.27 from another, the complaint says. No explanation has been given as to where the other $7,500 is.
Three guns were recovered, including the Tec 9. McCallister — wearing a white disposable prison jumpsuit — spoke during Wednesday's hearing only to confirm his identity and that he understands the charges against him.
If convicted, both he and Jones face up to 20 years behind bars and fines of up to $250,000.
A third suspect who drove a getaway car remains at large, police said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
