Police have made public video footage and 911 audio recordings capturing the events leading up to a fatal officer-involved shooting outside a Wells Fargo bank in Fullerton. The incident took place on March 26, when officers responded to a bank robbery near Bastanchury Road and Harbor Boulevard.
According to the 911 call made by a bank employee, 57-year-old Scott Thompson was seated at a banker’s desk holding a bomb in a white box and demanding money. The employee reported that Thompson had requested $58,000, with a strict deadline of three minutes for compliance.
The employee conveyed Thompson’s threat, stating, “He said if he sees anything, he’s going to detonate the bomb so if they could not come because he can see out the window on Bastanchury Road.”
In response to the situation, Sergeant Ryan O’Neil, the Public Information Officer for Fullerton Police, shared, “About 10 minutes into the incident, the employee informed the officer that bank personnel would place $58,000 in a box marked with DPS, and Mr. Thompson would be leaving the bank soon after.”
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As Thompson exited the bank holding the white box, officers immediately commanded him to raise his hands and stop. Body camera footage captured moments of tense confrontation as officers repeatedly issued directives to Thompson. Regrettably, he failed to comply.
Concerned that Thompson might re-enter the bank with an explosive device, and as he neared the bank doors, an officer-involved shooting took place, resulting in Thompson’s death.
Fortunately, all seven employees and one customer inside the bank safely escaped unharmed.
Following the incident, bomb squad specialists examined the device and determined that it posed no threat.
Sgt. O’Neil provided additional insight into Thompson’s background, stating, “He had an extensive criminal history and was under federal probation for armed bank robbery at the time of this incident. Moreover, he had prior federal convictions for armed bank robbery and escape, as well as a state conviction for robbery.”
As the investigation continues, the released video footage and 911 audio serve to shed light on the events leading to the tragic outcome of the Fullerton bank robbery and subsequent officer-involved shooting.
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