More in depth article
Bank robbery witness praised
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Authorities say `good Samaritan' bought deputies time
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
ROBERT K. GORDON and RAHKIA NANCE
News staff writers
The clock inside Chris Chappell's SUV read 9:03 as he pulled into the Wachovia bank branch Monday morning on Bessemer's Ninth Avenue.
He had visited his mother at Medical West hospital, dropped in at Wal-Mart and then made a quick stop at the bank to get $40 in change to take to work in Adger in west Jefferson County.
Just after Chappell entered the bank, another man walked in.
He was wearing a sky blue shirt, striped tie, khaki pants, baseball cap, sneakers and sunglasses, police and witnesses say.
William Merriweather Jr. also was carrying a 9 mm Glock semi-automatic pistol. He took money. He took lives. But he didn't get away.
Here's what witnesses and police investigators say happened during a terrifying six minutes.
As the bank opened its doors about 9 a.m., eight employees were inside, just beginning a new work week. One of the teller windows was empty because one person was on vacation.
About a dozen customers were there first thing, ready to do their banking business - Chappell among them.
Merriweather, a 1994 Jackson-Olin High School graduate who also attended Alabama State University, came in with a mobile phone pressed to his ear. Police think he walked to the bank, using an access road from the Lawson State Community College campus, where he had once taken classes.
Chappell handed a teller a few bills, and the teller collected the coins for him. Shots rang out. Chappell glanced up and saw that the teller at the next window, Eva Lovelady Hudson, had been fatally shot.
Merriweather continued firing down the line of tellers, Chappell said, killing Sheila Prevo. Customers and employees ran for cover.
At the counter, Merriweather demanded money and keys. No one is sure whether that demand came before or after he fired his gun, or if it was during the barrage.
Merriweather then dashed behind the counter and grabbed teller LaToya Freeman by the hair and ordered her to open the vault. Another teller, Anita Gordon, tried to protect her co-worker, but Merriweather turned and shot Gordon in the face and neck. Freeman fell to the floor, leaving some of her hair in Merriweather's grip. Merriweather fired shots at Freeman, blowing off the tip of her right index finger.
Amid the rampage, Chappell and at least one other customer fled the bank.
Chappell was carrying his own gun, for which he has a concealed weapon permit. He took cover by his sport utility vehicle just outside the front doors, drew his weapon and waited.
Inside the bank, with Freeman wounded and no longer able to comply with his demands, Merriweather grabbed bank manager Myron Gooding and forced him to open the vault. Merriweather then grabbed a bag of money and exited the bank.
He found Chappell waiting.
"I was prepared to shoot him," Chappell said.
Returned with hostage:
Merriweather threw his hands up and turned to go inside after seeing Chappell. He returned to the doors a second time only to go back inside the bank. But when he returned a third time, he had taken Gooding hostage.
At the same time, sheriff's deputies Ray Sorenson and Randy Davis were passing by the bank when they spotted a woman falling. She fell, rolled, got back up and kept running.
The deputies, who serve outstanding warrants, quickly turned around to investigate. That's when they spotted Chappell standing outside, his gun drawn. Chappell screamed that an armed man inside had shot "two or three people."
"I'm very surprised that the guy he held hostage didn't get his head blowed off," Chappell said.
The deputies called for backup.
At 9:06 a.m. Bessemer police were notified that there was a disturbance at the bank.
Meanwhile, Chappell and the deputies cornered Merriweather, who faced them with a gun pressed to Gooding's head. Merriweather and Gooding stumbled.
"He knows he's fixin' to get shot," Chappell said of Merriweather. "And he's not crazy. A crazy man don't have sense enough to be scared. And he was scared."
As Merriweather stood up, he reached for his gun and was shot by Deputy Alan Rhea. Merriweather hardly acknowledged being shot, Chappell said, only letting out a grunt when he was wounded in the groin.
Bessemer police arrived at 9:09 a.m.
"I don't think you had time to be scared," said Chappell, who had never used his gun to subdue anyone. "I prayed to God that I wouldn't have to use it."
Still holding bag:
Deputies and police moved in to arrest the wounded Merriweather, who was still clutching the money bag and trying to get away. He didn't let go until he was handcuffed.
Authorities praised Chappell.
"It's certainly commendable," Sheriff's Sgt. Randy Christian said. "It's obvious he played a key role in keeping the guy there until we could get there. It's a great testament of someone willing to take action."
Bill Veitch, chief assistant district attorney, agreed.
"He kept him from escaping, and he gave deputies time to get to the scene," Veitch said.
Bessemer Mayor Ed May called Chappell a "good Samaritan and a brave individual," but added: "I would not encourage anyone to do that."
Chappell said he was only doing the right thing. "I know what's right and what's wrong. There wasn't nothing I could do differently. I'm always going to do what I think is right," Chappell said.
