Police: No 3rd suspect in bank robbery, shootout

YORKTOWN, Ind. (WISH) - Police now say a reported third suspect in a bank robbery and shootout at a Yorktown bank on Tuesday never existed.

Yorktown Town Marshal Richard St. John confirmed that though suspect Malcom Crim, Muncie, had initially told police there was a third person involved in the robbery at First Merchants Bank in the 1500 block of Nebo Road, he later admitted – after police searched for hours for the purported suspect - that was a lie.

Police said the other suspect, James Cole, Muncie, opened fire on officers with an assault rifle, and officers fired back. Cole was injured and taken to an area hospital, police said. Crim was also armed with two handguns, St. John said.

All the money stolen from the bank was recovered, St. John said, and police were investigating whether the assault rifle was stolen.