‘Please hurry I think he’s gonna shoot me!’ Man says in 911 call used as ‘ruse’ for bank robbery

BUTLER TWP. — UPDATE @ 10:45 a.m. (Dec. 30):

Newly-obtained 911 calls describe the police response to Miller Lane on first reports of a shooting at a hotel which later was determined to be a distraction for an armed bank robbery.

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The first call was received around 1 p.m. Wednesday about a shooting inside the Drury Inn hotel on Miller Lane. A man said he was inside a room when someone busted down the door and started shooting.

“I need you at the Drury Inn. I’m scared, I don’t know if he’s going to try and turn the gun on me. I’m locked in the bathroom,” the caller said in the 911 call obtained by News Center 7 in a public records request.

“A guy just busted in the door, he shot his wife,” the caller said.

Dispatchers attempted to get more information about the location of the shooting before the caller hung up.

“Drury Inn. Miller Lane...I’m on the third floor. Please hurry I think he’s gonna shoot me!” the 911 caller said.

The caller stopped answering questions after saying he thought he was about to be shot.

“Listen to me. Third floor. And he already shot his wife?...Sir? Did he already shoot his wife?...Sir, answer me!” dispatchers said in the 911 call.

Moments after the shooting was reported and while police and medics were responding to the hotel, dispatchers received a second 911 call, this time from employees at the Day Air Credit Union on York Commons Boulevard reporting they had just been robbed.

“He did have a gun. He had on a Walmart vest,” the employee of the credit union said in the 911 call. “He acted like he was gonna do a transaction. He stood in line and then walked up to the teller.”

The robber was able to make off with about $8,000 from the credit union before he ran from the area. Subsequent searches with a K-9 officers were unsuccessful and police are still looking for the suspect.

Butler Twp. Police Chief John Porter said it was determined quickly the shooting report was a distraction for the robbery and no victims were found. No injuries were reported in the robbery.

Police describe the suspect as a man between 5-feet 8-inches and 5-feet 10-inches tall, medium build, wearing dark colored clothing including a vest, believed to be an older-style Walmart vest, police said. The suspect was also wearing a light blue ski cap, glasses, gray knit gloves and blue and white gym shoes.

If you have information that can help police you’re asked to call Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937-222-7867 or email Butler Twp. police at police@butlertownship.com.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

PREVIOUS REPORT (Dec. 29):

A report of a shooting victim at a Miller Lane hotel was determined to be a false report and a distraction for police while a man robbed a nearby bank of approximately $8,000, according to Butler Twp. police.

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Officers and medics were first called on a reported shooting at the Drury Inn on Miller Lane around 1 p.m. Within minutes of the shooting report, officers were then called to the Day Air Credit Union on York Commons Boulevard, a short distance away from the hotel, on reports of an armed robbery, Butler Twp. Police Chief John Porter said in a media release.

“It was immediately determined that the shooting call was a ruse to draw crews away from bank,” Porter said.

The robber entered the credit union, displayed a handgun, and demanded cash, Porter said. The robber was last seen running south through a parking lot. Police attempted to track the suspect with a K-9 officer but they were not successful in locating the suspect.

Police describe the suspect as a man between 5-feet 8-inches and 5-feet 10-inches tall, medium build, wearing dark colored clothing including a vest, believed to be an older-style Walmart vest, police said. The suspect was also wearing a light blue ski cap, glasses, gray knit gloves and blue and white gym shoes.

If you have information that can help police you’re asked to call Miami Valley Crime Stoppers at 937-222-7867 or email Butler Twp. police at police@butlertownship.com.

We’ll update this story as we learn more.

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