Eunice bank robbery suspect identifed as Eunice man

By Harlan Kirgan
harlan.kirgan@eunicetoday.com
Eunice police captured the suspect to the armed robbery of the St. Landry Bank and Trust in Eunice Thursday morning within six minutes of being dispatched to the scene, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
Officers were dispatched at 9:11 a.m. to the bank and the suspect, who has been identified as Benjamin D. Guillory, 21, of Eunice, was apprehended at 9:15 a.m. about in alley between 2nd and 3rd streets about a block and half north of the bank Fontenot said.
Guillory was charged with armed robbery and illegal use of a weapon.
Guillory’s bail has been set at $500,000.
“We recovered a hand gun which we believe was the hand gun he was using at the bank,” he said.
“Nobody was hurt, but there was a shot fired inside the bank into the ceiling as he was leaving the bank” Fontenot said.
A .25-caliber semi-automatic pistol was used, he said.
After the robbery police were seen searching the grounds of the bank at 101 N. 2nd St.
“I think we’ve recovered all the money,” he said.
The amount of money stolen was not disclosed.
“We do have video from the bank,” Fontenot. That includes surveillance video from inside and outside the bank, he said.
Police do not believe a vehicle was used in the robbery.
“He was seen walking up to the bank and left the bank on foot too,” Fontenot said. “And, when he was captured he was on foot.”
Fontenot said Eunice police were assisted by St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies and Louisiana State Police troopers.
Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arrived to assist with the investigation, he said.
“I want to thank the people that were in the downtown area that helped out officers by pointing out his direction of travel and his location,” Fontenot said. “They were very helpful i helping us apprehend him. And, also to the other departments that responded to assist us. That allowed us to free up some officers for less serious stuff. “
After vehicles attempted to access the bank’s drive-through window, 2nd Street was blocked by a police car. The street is one-way.
Megan Daigrepont, who works at Pelican Credit across from the bank, said she happened to look up and a man walking toward the bank caught her attention.
“About 20 minutes ago I saw a black gentleman, white sweatshirt, long sleeves, and some long, like some sweat pants, and a knit cap, not covering his face and some long dreadlocks,” Daigrepont said.
The man’s head was down and he walking fast, she said.
“He walked into the bank and it just looked fishy and that’s when I told my manager something is going to happen,” she said.
“About a minute later there were cops everywhere,” she said.
“I didn’t see a vehicle, I just saw him,” Daigrepont said.
She believed the man ran north on 2nd Street, but was not sure of that.
Another woman on the scene, who did not want to be identified, said a woman she talked with had been in the bank at the time of the robbery.
“She said she was inside and he did shoot up in the air and the casing was on the floor of the bank,” she said.
Another woman across the street from the bank asked, “I wonder if he got any money.”
Daigrepont said the man appeared to be in his mid- to late-30s.
A police officer said he believed the suspect had been taken to the Eunice Police Department office.