ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A suspect in reported St. Johns County bank robbery was shot by a retired JSO officer immediately after an alleged bank robbery at a Compass Bank in Julington Creek.
Michael Kellam, 40, was sitting in the drive-through and and observed the suspect, idenified as David Duong, running fom a side entrance of the Compass Bank.
Kellam took chase after Duong. According to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, Duong attempted to draw a weapon from his waistband, at which point Kellam drew a gun and shot Duong at least twice, hitting him in the arm and face.
"He [Duong} had this thing planned out," said St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar. "What he didn’t plan on was a citizen giving chase like he did."
Kellam was bruised in the chase, but is expected to be OK. The entire incident unfolded just before noon in the expansive Bartram Oaks development, a high-end commercial plaza that was filled with mid-day shoppers.
"No one has been hurt except for the suspect," said Shoar. "With as many people that are here, with weapons involved, bad things could’ve really happened."
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said Duong had a large amount of currency on his person, along with a note demanding money.
Duong was taken by air ambulance to UF Health, where he is listed as having serious injuries. He was alert when he was being treated on the ground in front of dozens of people.
SJSO is continuing to investigate, and the FBI's Violent Crime Task Force was also notified.
WJAX
