Raleigh Bank Robbery Leaves 1 Dead, Another in Jail

Thirty-two-year-old Bruce Womack has been arrested on three charges of armed robbery.

Just before 10 a.m. Raleigh police received a call about a robbery underway at the Centura Bank at 3625 S. Wilmington St.

Two women who were outside the bank saw the gun in the alleged robber's hand as he left the bank and jumped into a getaway car. The witnesses said they were terrified.

"It was scary for the gunfire," Karisa Teator, a witness, said. "You didn't know where it was coming from."

The car sped away, followed by Raleigh police officers. The vehicle ran off the pavement along a sharp curve on Tryon Road, about a mile away.

The woman driving the getaway car, Teresa Ann Nance, 25, of 1614 Oak Ridge River Road in Fuquay-Varina was found shot, and was transported to WakeMed. Nance was declared dead at the hospital.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the woman was shot by the suspect or by the officers.

In a struggle between Womack and two officers -- during which the suspect tried to grab one of the officer's gun -- two shots were fired. Neither the officers nor the suspect was hit.

"The officers responded to the bank. As the officers were arriving at the bank, they observed the suspect...get into the car. They followed the car from Wilmington Street to (Tryon Road)," said Capt. M.R. Kielty.

Officers interviewed bank employees, none of whom was injured.

As is routine in such situations, the SBI has come in to help with the investigation; the SBI becomes involved any time a local law enforcement officer fires a gun.

The two officers involved, T.L. Hairston and Jamie Privette, have been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the review.

Officers said the gun used in the robbery had been stolen Tuesday from a local pawnshop. Police say Womack is responsible for a string of robberies starting in July and faces over 100 new charges.