Authorities are searching for a suspect who escaped with over $30,000 from an Orange County bank.
On Oct. 17, deputies responded to reports of an armed suspect at a Chase bank near Portola and Bake Parkways in Lake Forest at around noontime.
The masked suspect entered the bank armed with a handgun and headed directly toward a teller. He then reached over the counter and fired a round from his gun toward the bank teller’s feet, deputies said.
The round did not injure the bank teller or any bystanders. He ordered the tellers to hand over any cash and fled the location with around $31,000, officials said.
Arriving deputies, along with a helicopter, searched the area for the man but couldn’t find him.
“Due to the believed direction of travel of the suspect, a nearby elementary school was placed on lockdown for a short period of time while the search was conducted,” Orange County sheriff’s deputies said.
Authorities are searching for an armed suspect who escaped with around $31,000 from a Lake Forest bank on Oct. 17, 2024. (Orange County Sheriff’s Department) 
A gunshot was fired at during a robbery at a bank in Orange County Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, causing a nearby elementary school to be placed on lockdown. (Sky5) 
Video from Sky5 shows deputies searching the hillside near the plaza where the bank is located with K9 units. Authorities were also seen speaking with people, who appeared to be bank employees. 
Video from Sky5 shows deputies searching the hillside near the plaza where the bank is located with K9 units. Authorities were also seen speaking with people, who appeared to be bank employees.
On a trail near the bank, investigators found several items possibly connected with the bank robbery.
The suspect is described as a man around 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a bucket-style hat, a black facemask, a yellow hooded sweatshirt, tan pants, gloves, and a silver revolver-style handgun.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Anonymous tips can be provided to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227 or online at occrimestoppers.org.
