Two U.S. Bank Employees Killed in Berea, Kentucky Robbery as Manhunt Continues

Two U.S. Bank employees — a man and a woman — were fatally shot during a robbery at the bank's Chestnut Street branch in Berea, Kentucky, on April 30, as Kentucky State Police and federal agencies launched a widening manhunt for the armed suspect, who remained at large as of late that day.

The Details

Kentucky State Police said the robbery occurred around 2 p.m. at the U.S. Bank branch on Chestnut Street, according to WKYT. The suspect was described as approximately 6 feet 3 inches tall, wearing a light-colored hoodie, a mask, and gloves, and fled the scene as officers converged on the area, WLKY reported, citing state police.

Madison County Coroner Jimmy Cornelison told Kentucky Today that one victim died at the scene, while the second died at Saint Joseph Berea Hospital. Kentucky State Police Trooper Scottie Pennington addressed reporters at a news conference shortly after the shooting.

"This is a terrible day for Berea. They're our people that work in our community, and they're no longer with us," Trooper Pennington said, according to CBS News. At a separate briefing, he said authorities were pursuing the suspect with urgency. "We're trying our best to bring this evil person to justice," Pennington said, as reported by Kentucky Today.

U.S. Bank issued a statement acknowledging the deaths. "We're deeply saddened by the tragic event that took the lives of two of our employees at our Berea, Kentucky branch earlier today," the bank said in a statement provided to CBS News.

Authorities had not publicly confirmed whether the suspect escaped with money from the bank or disclosed a possible motive as of late April 30, according to CBS News and Kentucky Today. Trooper Pennington described the suspect as armed and dangerous, according to WLKY.

Context

The FBI, ATF Lexington, and U.S. Marshals were among the federal and law enforcement agencies assisting Kentucky State Police and local officers in the search for the suspect, according to Kentucky Today and CBS News.

Nearby schools and Berea College were briefly placed on lockdown during the manhunt while officers worked to locate the suspect, CBS News, WKYT, and WLKY reported. The lockdowns were lifted after the immediate search phase concluded, though the suspect had not been apprehended.

What's Next

The investigation remained active as of late April 30, with multiple law enforcement agencies — including the FBI, ATF Lexington, and U.S. Marshals — continuing to assist in the search, according to Kentucky Today and CBS News. No arrest had been announced and no motive had been publicly identified. Authorities said the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous, per WLKY.