2 Gastonia banks robbed 80 minutes apart; 2 suspects in custody

GASTONIA, N.C. — Police said two men have been arrested after two banks were robbed less than two hours apart Thursday morning in Gastonia.

The first robbery happened at 9:15 a.m. at the Wells Fargo on East Franklin Street, and the second one happened at 10:35 a.m. at the BB&T on Union Road.

No injuries were reported in either robbery.

Police said the suspect in the first robbery, identified as 57-year-old Jean Pierre Gendron, went up to a teller and passed a note which implied that he was armed. He took an undisclosed amount of money and left the bank in a vehicle that he had previously stolen, according to authorities.

Gendron was arrested at around 12:30 p.m. Friday in Charlotte, and charged with robbery and larceny of a motor vehicle.

The suspect in the second robbery was later identified as Franklin Earl Lawrence Jr., 48, of Gastonia. Police said he went up to a bank teller, showed a gun and demanded money. Once he got an undisclosed amount of money, he left the bank.

At around 11 a.m., Lawrence was found in a wooded area not far from the bank with a handgun. Police charged Lawrence with robbery with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.

It’s unclear if the bank robberies are connected.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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