FBI Searches for Man Accused of Robbing Phoenix Bank In Black Panther-Like Mask

Phoenix Bank Robbery

FBI officials said the man fled the bank on a scooter after getting his hands on an undisclosed amount of cash. (Image courtesy of the FBI)

The FBI Violent Crimes Task Force is asking for the public’s help in locating a man suspected of robbing a Phoenix bank in a Black Panther-like face mask on Monday.

The unidentified suspect strolled into the BBVA Compass Bank shortly before 10:30 that morning wearing a black jacket, black pants, a black shirt, black gloves and black shoes, according to FBI spokeswoman Jill McCabe. The man was also seen wearing a green head cover and a Black mask with white lines, similar to the one seen in the blockbuster movie “Black Panther.”

The man reportedly threatened bank employees and patrons with a weapon and demanded money from tellers. He then fired at least one shot into the air before fleeing the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash. Surveillance footage from the bank shows him ride off on a motorized scooter.

No one was hurt in the incident, McCabe said.

The suspect is described as a white male in his twenties, standing about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a medium build. Authorities said he’s considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call FBI at 623-466-1999, Silent Witness at 480-948-6377, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.

Democracy needs journalism it can trust.

This election season, the stakes are higher than usual — and so is the pressure on newsrooms to soften their coverage, stay quiet, or just disappear. Independent reporting, the kind that answers to readers instead of advertisers or political pressure, matters more in a moment like this, not less.

For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed independent and reader-funded. We have no corporate owner and no shareholders telling us what to cover or how to cover it. That independence is also our biggest vulnerability: nothing protects it except readers choosing to fund it directly.

Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under in a moment like this, it's rarely the independent, reader-funded ones that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top