By Steve Vogel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 6, 2008

A man who allegedly robbed a bank in Bowie yesterday morning was killed by police after leading officers on a chase through Prince George's County and raising a handgun when they caught up with him, police said.

Seven officers, four from Prince George's County and three from Bowie, fired "multiple shots" at the 54-year-old suspect, who was in a stolen Toyota Sequoia on Annapolis Road in Bowie, according to Cpl. Diane Richardson, a county spokeswoman.

The man, Fred Perkins of the 12000 block of Chasemount Court in Bowie, was taken by helicopter to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. A handgun and money were recovered at the scene, Richardson said.

The incident began shortly after 9 a.m. when Perkins allegedly robbed a Chevy Chase Bank branch in the 10000 block of Annapolis Road at gunpoint and fled with the keys to the manager's green Sequoia. A bank employee managed to slip a dye pack in with the money, Richardson said.

A county police officer patrolling the area was immediately suspicious when he noticed the vehicle driving rapidly out of the shopping center. As he followed, the officer saw the dye pack explode inside the Sequoia.

At the same time, a call came in to police from the bank reporting the robbery. More officers joined the chase and pursued the Sequoia for about 20 minutes, according to Richardson, who said she did not have information about the speeds traveled or the route taken.

The vehicle eventually circled back to the 13000 block of Annapolis Road, where it "became disabled and came to a stop," Richardson said. When police approached Perkins, Richardson said, they saw he was armed.

"He raised a handgun, and that's when the officers" fired, Richardson said.

She said an initial investigation does not indicate that the suspect fired his gun, but added that police will conduct a ballistics investigation. Traffic on Annapolis Road was diverted for several hours while detectives investigated the shooting.