3 Arrested After 5 Killed At Nebraska Bank

Four Victims Were Bank Employees, One Was Customer

NORFOLK, Neb. -- Police say three men are in custody, suspected of holding up a bank and gunning down five people.

The police chief in Norfolk said the investigation is focusing on the men.

Chief Bill Mizner said they were stopped about three hours after the shootings. They were driving a stolen pickup in O'Neill, Neb., a ranch town about 75 miles from Norfolk.

Denver television station KMGH reported Thursday afternooon that a "be on the lookout" alert has been issued for three Latino men possibly wearing gray clothes and stocking caps.

Four employees and a customer were shot and killed at the bank. A sixth person -- identified as a customer -- was treated for a gunshot wound to her shoulder, and released from the hospital.

Police say there were two other bank employees in the building at the time. They weren't hurt.

A woman who was near the bank when the robbery happened said it appears the robbers shot everyone in the bank, and then shot their way out through the doors.

The suspects allegedly fled on foot and stole a 2003 white Subaru Outback with in-transit tags in the window, instead of license plates.

Authorities believe the three suspects broke into a house near the bank and found the car to escape in.

The US Bank branch, located just off a major highway, was robbed shortly before 9 a.m. CDT.

The FBI was called in to help investigators.

Schools in Norfolk were locked down as authorities searched for the bank robbers. Students were only allowed to leave school buildings in the city if they are escorted by their parents.

"This is one of those things where everyone in town is going to know at least one of the victims of this tragedy," WMAJ radio News Director Susan Risinger said.

Randy Volquardsen was working at the Carquest auto parts store across the street from the bank when the shooting happened. He said he didn't hear gunshots but saw a window of the bank was broken. Police cars, firetrucks and ambulances were at the scene, he said.

Police are hoping the bank's security tapes will help them determine exactly what happened.

Windows in the bank were shot out and the drive-thru window at the nearby Burger King was shattered by gunfire.

The owner of the Burger King, Vicki Uhlir, said that everything outside the area is roped off. She said that many town residents are out on the highway driving around to help find the robbers.

She described Norfolk as a quiet little town.

"We personally know all four of the bank employees that were killed. They're our customers. We see them every day. I think we're just basically in mourning, we're in shock -- hating to see anyone have to go through this, their families," Uhlir said.

Uhlir said this robbery is not a really big shock, citing a drug problem in the town that has been extensively covered in the local media. She said the killings are what is shocking. She said she thinks the town needs more police.

Bad weather is kept state police from using their aircraft to search for the suspects.

Norfolk is about 120 miles northwest of Omaha.

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