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Cabarrus County officials investigate if bank robbery, bomb threat are connected

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — Students and staff at Hickory Ridge High School in Cabarrus County for after-school activities were evacuated Wednesday afternoon after officials said there was a bomb threat.

[ALSO READ: Investigators concerned about new bomb threats across Charlotte area]

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the school on Raging Ridge Road in Harrisburg around 3:30 p.m. and saw several patrol cars lining the parking lot.

Officials said classes had already been dismissed when the threat was made around 2:09 p.m.

The Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office said it's investigating whether the threat is connected to a robbery at the BB&T Bank on Main Street just minutes later. The robbery call came in at 2:12 p.m.

A man walked in with a letter and demanded money, detectives said.

A customer said she pulled up to the teller drive-thru with her children in the backseat and interacted with a teller as the robbery was unfolding.

”She mouthed ‘lock your doors’ and ‘police,’ so I kind of drove up past the teller kind of in shock and assumed they were being robbed. As I was dialing 911 a male suspect ran out,” the customer said.

Nearby Hickory Ridge Middle School was placed on lockdown, as well.

Investigators said a suspect left the bank in a white SUV with a tan stripe.

“I’m kind of nervous because, like I said, this is my bank,” customer Emani Wells said. “I hope they find the guy.”

Check back for updates on this developing story.