Suspect in 10 South Bay Bank Robberies Arrested
A 26-year-old man reportedly responsible for 10 bank heists over the last nine months in the South Bay area was arrested Wednesday by Torrance police officers.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received a phone tip Saturday that Felix Nicholas Medina of Inglewood might be the man known as the “Shoot First Bandit,” given that nickname because he often goes into a bank, fires a warning shot, and then robs the facility.
Officials from the Torrance Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI worked to stake out the home of Medina for two days. They arrested him Wednesday morning.
They also arrested Manuel Alejandro Rendon, 21, believed to be Medina’s accomplice in the robberies that took place from Sept. 15 to May 23 in Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes and Torrance.
Los Angeles Sheriff’s Det. Debi Jones said both suspects were booked at the Lomita sheriff’s station and were being held in lieu of $50,000 bail each.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
