Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- A suspect in a wild bank robbery yesterday that led to police coming under fire and the suspect shooting himself dead has been identified today by the police.

And a third suspect -- a 32-year-old woman -- has also been named.

In a press release today, the police said Aress Byrd, 33, fired at a police officer's car, then later turned the gun on himself, ignored police commands to drop his weapon, and shot himself dead.

Another suspect was caught yesterday. He was identifed in the press release today as
Anthony Gardiner, 37, of 388 Public St., Providence.

Gardiner was arraigned this afternoon in Providence District Court on charges of first-degree robbery and conspiracy. Magistrate Joseph Ippolito ordered Gardiner held without bail. A bail hearing was scheduled for Aug. 8.

The police said a third suspect, Yolanda Briggs-Kujabi, was also scheduled for arraignment this afternoon, but information was not immediately available on an arraignment involving her.

According to Deputy Police Chief Paul J. Kennedy, the episode began at 11:15 a.m., when two men carrying handguns robbed a branch office of Bank of America at 1473 Broad St., in Washington Park, of an undetermined sum.

During the subsequent chase, Byrd, allegedly fired shots at an officer. The officer was unharmed, but Byrd later turned his gun on himself.

The police say they followed a trail of money to the Public Street House where Gardiner was apprehended.

Briggs-Kujabi approached police, saying she was Byrd's girlfriend. After a questioning, she was arrested and charged.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

 Tags  bank robbery Providence

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.