Suspect in Lake Forest Bank Robbery Shot After Pursuit

Two men authorities believe have robbed a slew of Orange County banks—including one in Lake Forest—are in police custody after one was shot today by a Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy after a high-speed pursuit from Placentia to Paramount.

The pair, dubbed the "Market Duo" bandits, is suspected in a slew of Orange County robberies at bank branches in grocery stores, .

FBI investigators believe the Market Duo bandits held up the Wells Fargo branch in a Stater Bros. grocery store, 1111 Imperial Highway, in Placentia at about 2:15 p.m. today, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said. They are believed to have held up the same bank branch Nov. 21, she said.

"We believe it's the Market Duo based on the same MO and same description,'' Eimiller said.

Placentia police pursued the suspects, following them on the 91 freeway, Eimiller said.

One man was shot by a deputy at about 2:45 p.m. in the 8100 block of Century Boulevard, said Deputy Benjamin Grubb of the Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau. 

The shooting apparently happened when the suspects' vehicle came to a stop. The man who was shot survived and has been hospitalized, according to a sheriff’s spokesman.

After the shooting, authorities set up a perimeter and combed the area before locating the second suspect at about 7 p.m., according to the spokesman.

In past months, the Market Duo bandits are also suspected of robbing a U.S. Bank branch at 2101 W. Imperial Highway in La Habra on Oct. 25 and another U.S. Bank branch at 1101 Pacific Coast Highway in Seal Beach on Nov. 3, according to FBI Special Agent Chris Gicking.

The names of the suspects have not yet been released.

A is not believed to have any connection to the Market Duo.

--City News Service