VENTURA : Suspect in Bank Robbery Identified
A man who was run over by a truck after allegedly robbing a Ventura bank was identified Friday as Chris Smith of Los Angeles, FBI officials said.
Smith remained in serious condition in the intensive care unit of Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, a nursing supervisor said. He has been there since Tuesday, when the accident occurred on California 126.
Smith is one of three people accused of entering the Bank of America branch on Main Street in Ventura, holding about 20 customers at gunpoint and fleeing with an undisclosed amount of money.
The three drove to Fillmore and abandoned the car, then fled on foot. All three were arrested after Smith was hit by the tractor-trailer rig while running across the highway. The money was recovered.
Gary Auer, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Ventura office, said Smith and a 15-year-old youth are believed to be members of Los Angeles street gangs. The youth is being held in Juvenile Hall.
The third suspect, Shoente Lynn McKinzie, is suspected of driving the getaway car.
She made an initial appearance in federal court Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Willard McEwen in Santa Barbara and is expected to be indicted on federal bank robbery charges, Auer said.
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