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FBI Doubles Reward for Info on Bank Robber Who Shot at Police

The FBI and Somerville police have doubled their reward to $20,000 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the "armed and dangerous" man who allegedly robbed a bank and fired a gun at police last week.

State and local police responded to the Middlesex Federal Savings Bank in Davis Square just before 10 a.m. on May 1 after they received a report of an active shooter.

According to the FBI, the man entered the bank holding a black Webley Revolver, Mark IV, fired one round into the ceiling and demanded money from the teller. After a uniformed Somerville police officer in the vicinity was alerted to the possible bank robbery in progress, the officer entered the bank and the suspect fired a round at the responding officer before fleeing the bank on foot. The officer was not injured.

A bystander who was headed to work at the time heard police yelling and stepped in to try to help apprehend the fleeing suspect. The suspect evaded police and the bystander, but dropped a backpack that contained a firearm.

Following an extensive search, authorities said the suspect was no longer in the area. They are now relying on surveillance images to help them locate and identify the robber.

The suspect is described as male in his 30s who has a medium build, weighs approximately 175 pounds and is between 5'7" and 5'11" tall. He was last seen wearing a blue beanie, a dark glove on his left hand and a hooded camouflage jacket with a Nike logo on the left side above his chest. He also wore blue jeans, black sneakers and carried a black-and-red backpack.

"We’re doubling the reward to $20,000 in an effort to generate new leads about the identity and whereabouts of the suspect," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Given the clarity of the photos and video, we believe someone out there must know who this man is and we’re asking them to contact us so that he can be apprehended before anyone gets hurt."

Anyone with information is urged to call the FBI Boston Division's Violent Crimes Task Force at 857-386-2000. Tips can also be submitted electronically at tips.fbi.gov.

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