North Carolina Truck Driver Charged After Bank Robbery and Shootout with Police
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — A North Carolina truck driver with a lengthy criminal history was federally charged after allegedly robbing a bank while threatening to detonate explosives and engaging in a violent shootout with law enforcement officers. Willie Edward McGee Jr., described by authorities as a repeat offender, is facing charges of bank robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence following the December 26 incident.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, McGee entered a First Citizens Bank branch in Zebulon, North Carolina, and demanded money from a teller while claiming to possess C-4 explosives. The teller complied, handing over $3,234, after which McGee fled the scene in his semi-truck.
Law enforcement agencies swiftly coordinated a response. Officers located McGee’s truck parked in a Hobby Lobby parking lot in Rocky Mount. Surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts indicated that McGee exited the vehicle armed with a Ruger AR-style 5.56 rifle and opened fire on responding officers. Police returned fire, striking McGee, but no law enforcement personnel or civilians were injured during the exchange.
Authorities recovered the rifle used in the shooting along with a handgun found on McGee’s person. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The FBI Charlotte Field Office and local agencies participated in the operation.
McGee’s criminal record spans more than two decades, with charges across Duplin, Wake, and Durham counties, according to local reporting by WRAL-News. Federal prosecutors characterized the incident as an act of domestic terror. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “As alleged, this defendant didn’t just rob a bank — he threatened innocent civilians with explosives and then opened fire on police officers. That is not desperation, it is domestic terror.”
Blanche praised the professionalism and courage of law enforcement officers who safely apprehended McGee and warned that the Department of Justice will aggressively pursue those who bring violence into communities or target public safety officers. The investigation remains ongoing, with federal authorities continuing to gather evidence.
This case underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in responding to armed suspects who escalate threats by claiming possession of explosives. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is involved in the investigation given the weapons and explosives claims.
McGee’s arrest and charges come amid heightened scrutiny of violent crime and public safety efforts in North Carolina and nationwide. The swift multi-agency response and absence of injuries highlight the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement operations in high-risk situations.
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