2 Dead, 2 Injured After Eufaula Bank Robbery, Shootout With Troopers

Thursday, January 21st 2016, 11:31 am

By: Tess Maune

Two people are dead after a bank robbery in Eufaula Thursday morning.

It happened at the Bank of Eufaula at 102 North Main.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says shots were fired inside the bank during the robbery and one person was killed and another was injured.

A McIntosh County deputy told News On 6 the deceased man is Randy Peterson, the bank president.

The suspect, 39-year-old Cedric Lamont Norris, was a man dressed in women's clothing, and he entered the bank about 9 a.m. and shot and killed Peterson, the FBI said. After shooting Peterson, he approached a bank teller and demanded money, according to the FBI.

FBI Special Agent Terry Weber said Norris attempted to take a bank employee hostage as he left, but she resisted and was shot by the suspect.



Norris was seen leaving the bank with a woman in a white SUV, and initially, both of them were considered suspects.



Weber said an OHP trooper intercepted them as they were driving north on Highway 69 at Road 3 near Checotah. Investigators said the SUV was stolen.

OHP Lt. Jon Vincent said a tactical vehicle was used to stop the SUV in a short chase, then Norris drew a gun and began shooting at law enforcement officers, he said. Norris was killed in the shootout with several agencies, troopers say.

Detectives say the woman who was with him was shot multiple times as the exchange of gunfire took place. She later was able to tell investigators she was taken hostage at the bank and was not a part of the robbery. Her injuries were non-life threatening.



Weber said the other woman shot at the bank is also out of surgery and is expected to survive.



The RV park where Linda Paschen's lives sits less than 100 feet from where the shootout took place along the highway.

"I was in a deep sleep and I heard gunshots," Paschen said. "I hit the floor. My gut instinct told me to hit the floor."

She is shaken up by the crime scene just her front door, and said she is numb knowing lives were lost in a crime that happened so close to home.

"I'm just in shock right now," she said.

OHP says no law enforcement officials were harmed in the incident, and several agencies assisted, Vincent said.

Officials said Norris is not from the Eufaula. His last known address is in Texas.

Residents are holding a prayer service starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Lighthouse Christian Center. They say everyone is invited to support the victims, families, loved ones, emergency personnel and the whole community.