Suspected Bank Robber Shot By Police Had “Ample Time” to Drop His Gun

Evanston police say eyewitness statements and video evidence will show that a suspected bank robber ignored multiple commands to drop his weapon and had ample time to react before police shot and killed him Monday afternoon.

After the suspect robbed a Chase Bank at 901 Grove St. Monday, numerous police officers responded to the area, searching for the suspect, according to Evanston Police Cmdr. Jason Parrott. They cornered a man who matched the description of the suspect outside Bennison’s Bakery, where he could be seen holding a gun. When he ignored multiple police officers’ commands to drop the weapon, at least five police officers fired shots, according to Parrott. 

To stay up to date on this and other Evanston news, sign up for our free newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. 

“The police do not want to have to use force,” he said. “The police reacted to his action and his action was to hold onto that weapon and not comply with the officers’ demands to drop his gun.”

Police have identified the suspected bank robber as Kevin Ross, 29, of Evanston.

According to department protocol, police are justified in using force even if someone is not pointing a gun directly at somebody specific, since it can take only a second for a criminal to lift and fire a weapon, according to Parrott.  

“He was given ample time [to drop his weapon] based on witness statements and officer statements at the scene,” Parrott said, adding that video cameras from police cars on the scene would also support those statements. 

When police fired shots, there were people out on the street, but nowhere near the man, as well as inside the bakery and inside Gigio’s Pizzeria at the time, according to Parrott. He said the fact that the man was backed up against a brick wall—rather than against the glass windows of the bakery—contributed to police officers’ decision to shoot their weapons.

While numerous police officers were on scene, the five officers who were directly involved are now on paid leave while the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Unit conducts an investigation, according to Parrott. That’s standard procedure under the Evanston Police Department’s use of force policy.

The Illinois State Police Investigation could take up to a week, according to Parrott, and the department will conduct its own internal review of the situation as well. 

“The officers have to be interviewed, they examine the witness statements and any video in the area to make the ultimate final decision,” he said. “Preliminarily, everything does appear to be justified.” 

Evanston police are working with the FBI to determine whether Kevin Ross was involved in other criminal activity in the area. He is believed to have robbed a TCF Bank at 4355 N. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago on Thursday, Dec. 12, according to Bandit Tracker Chicago.

“Based on what we know and what the FBI told us, it appears that he may have been involved in other bank robberies,” Parrott said. 

Police recovered $3,000 in cash and a loaded handgun from Ross at the scene.