Reward Raised and Weapon Identified in Taunton Christmas Eve Robbery
By Matt Blanchette
@mattblanchette
A second reward is now being offered for information on the bank robber who terrified tellers during a robbery on Christmas Eve in Taunton.
It’s being called one of the most violent bank robberies police in Taunton have seen.
The handful of employees that were working that night at the First Citizens Credit Union were just a half hour away from joining their families on Christmas Eve, when a robber walked in, said Merry Christmas and tuned an assault rifle on them.
First Union Federal Credit Union CEO Peter Muise describes the difficulty his employees are going through. after this man walked in, demanded cash and fired a lone shot.
Police now identifying the rare weapon they think he used, a polish PPS–43C rifle.
“We believe this could be the key because of the unique style of the rifle. That someone is going to recognize the or could possible recognize the unique style of this rifle,” Lt. John Joyce of the Taunton Police Department said.
On Monday the FBI issued a 10 thousand dollar reward for information that leads to an arrest.. On Wednesday Muise and First Citizens added another five thousand.
“Whatever we can do to make sure that the next case the Taunton police have with this individual is nothing worse,” Muise said.
ABC 6 News spoke with an employee who was there the night of that Chirstmas Eve robbery. He said the suspect fired a single shot into the wall without warning after one of his coworker moved slightly at the drive up window with her back turned she didn’t even know the man had entered.
“I think its very concerning that during this robbery a shot was fired,” Joyce added.
Anyone with information should call the FBI at 617-742-5533 or the Taunton Police Department at 508-821-1475. Tips can also be electronically submitted at tips.fbi.gov.
