Officer shoots armed bank robbery suspect at busy Rock Hill shopping center

ROCK HILL, S.C. — An armed bank robbery suspect was shot by an officer at about 7:30 p.m. Monday at a shopping center in Rock Hill, police said.

Earlier at about 6 p.m., police said someone with a gun robbed the PNC Bank on India Hook Road and fled after getting some cash.

“The teller advised Massie advised for her to approach the teller line and told her that this was a robbery,” said Rock Hill officer Kris Quate.

“The teller stated Massie leaned on the counter and pointed the gun at her, then left the bank quickly,” Quate added.

Later, officers saw 45-year-old David Herbert Massie, who matched the suspect’s description, at the Millwood Shopping Center on Herlong Avenue at Ebenezer Road.

Officers tried to stop Massie, who was on a bicycle. He got off and showed a handgun. That was when officers fired their weapons and struck Massie in the hand.

Massie dropped the gun and fell to the ground. Officers took him into custody and he was taken to a local hospital.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division said Massie was booked into the Rock Hill jail.

Solomon White was working inside the nearby Jimmy John’s.

“I went to grab the garbage and to open the door, and I just heard a bunch of shots,” White said. “Probably about a handful of shots. Probably a cluster at once.”

Several evidence markers were placed in the parking lot where shell casings dropped.

“I ran inside once I heard the shots, initially, just so I could make sure everyone was good because we didn’t if it was an active shooter or not,” White said.

A woman working at a nail salon told Channel 9 officers stopped in after the shooting.

“They just came in and made sure we were OK and then they went back out and now they’re escorting us out to our cars,” she said over the phone. “It’s just been a lot of cars around. It seems like it’s a lot of stuff going on so we’re just trying to figure out what’s going on.”

No officers were injured.

“It’s interesting seeing this side of things, but I just hope everyone, they said all the officers are fine,” White said. “So I pray for everyone’s safety. If anyone was hurt, I pray for their family.”

Massie is facing charges of armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.

During his bond hearing Tuesday, Massie told a judge he was sorry.

“I’m very regretful and remorseful of my actions that led me to be in front of you today,” he said. “I had a very, very momentary lapse of judgement.”

He said he’s a nomad and was traveling through town on a bike tour.

“I’m definitely not a danger to the community,” Massie said. “This is why I was on the Unity Bike Trail. I was just desperate and hungry, that was it.”

He said that hunger influenced him to make a bad choice.

“The gun in question had bullets in the chamber, but it wasn’t cocked. I had no intention of causing any harm to anyone,” Massie said.

In court, the judge decided against giving Massie a bond, saying he could be a flight risk.

The incident was the first officer-involved shooting in Rock Hill this year and the 37th in South Carolina.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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