Thread: {BoA mentioned} FBI agent dies in possible friendly

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FBI agent dies in possible friendly fire at N.J. bank

2 men captured after shooting; cops hunting for third suspect

BY KARA L. RICHARDSON AND MARTIN C. BRICKETTO
GANNETT NEW JERSEY
Friday, April 6, 2007

3 Comments
READINGTON -- An FBI agent was killed Thursday, apparently by the accidental discharge of a fellow agent's gun, when confronting three suspected bank robbers at a local bank.

Two of the three suspected robbers were caught shortly after the incident at the bank. A third suspect, Francisco Herrera-Genao, 22, of New Brunswick, remained at-large as of 10:30 p.m., with more than 300 state, local and federal law enforcement officers, police dogs, helicopters and a plane, searching for him in the woods near Raritan Valley Community College in Branchburg.

"We're maintaining our presence through the night," State Police Lt. Col. Drew Lieb said at a news conference Thursday night. "The chase is still on."

Lieb said Herrera-Genao is considered armed and dangerous, and cautioned residents to be be extra vigilant.

A criminal complaint released earlier Thursday evening charges Herrera-Genao; Wilfredo Berrios, 28; and Michael Cruz, 21, all of New Brunswick, with the attempted robbery Thursday of the PNC Bank in Readington.

A fourth suspect, Efrain Lynn, 21, also of New Brunswick, was also arrested Thursday on a warrant, unrelated to the bank robberies. Lynn will be charged with a March 16 armed robbery of a Bank of America branch in South Brunswick.
After his arrest, Cruz identified Lynn as a gunman wearing a ski mask and trench coat in the March 16 robbery, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The suspects are believed to be part of a group who robbed several other banks. They will be charged with attempted armed robbery of the Readington bank, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison; and the use and carrying of a firearm during a crime of violence, which adds a consecutive, mandatory 10 years, the U.S. attorney's office said. Lynn also is charged with armed bank robbery, which carries the maximum 25-year prison sentence.

There was a break in the case nearly three weeks ago that led a task force, including the FBI, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and local police, to identify a group of suspects that included the three men men from New Brunswick.

"A lot of people were working to avoid this scenario," said the official. "We were waiting and waiting and waiting (to make arrests), and then they kill one of your own -- this is the worst ending."

Herrera-Genao is described as heavyset, black or Hispanic, with a tear-drop tattoo near his right eye and possibly carrying an assault rifle or handgun. He is wearing a tan, hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and one shoe.

Each of the three arrested today is in FBI custody and will likely be held over the weekend, the U.S. Attorney's office said. A court appearance is not expected until Monday in U.S. District Court, Newark.

The FBI issued this statement at 8 p.m. Thursday:

"Special Agent Barry Lee Bush, assigned to the Newark FBI Office, was shot and killed today while working a criminal investigation into a series of armed bank robberies.

One subject is still being sought and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is being conducted.

Preliminarily, information suggests the agent may have been fatally wounded as a result of the accidental discharge of another agent's weapon during a dynamic arrest situation.

As in any case where agents are involved in a shooting, a team of investigators from the FBI's Inspection Division is dispatched to the scene to conduct a comprehensive review.

The Inspection Division and the Newark Office of the FBI will be coordinating their efforts with state and local authorities in New Jersey. The investigation is continuing."

Bush, 52, joined the FBI in August 1987, serving in Kansas City and then transferring to Newark in 1991. He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

"This FBI special agent was a faithful and dedicated public servant," U. S. Attorney Chris Christie said in a statement. "His death is an unspeakable tragedy for his family. My prayers and the prayers of the entire law enforcement community are with his loved ones and his colleagues at the FBI."

FBI Acting Special Agent In-Charge Pedro Ruiz declined to answer several questions a Thursday night's news conference on what compelled Thursday morning's confrontation and how the friendly fire incident may have happened.

Bush and his team were pursuing what the FBI called heavily armed serial bank robbers who are believed responsible for four bank robberies.

"In two of those robberies, the suspects, armed with assault weapons, fired rounds while inside the bank," according to the FBI statement.

Bridgewater resident Josh Bavosa, 35, a general manager for XG Power Wholesale Warehouse on Route 22, was at the PNC bank making a business deposit when he said he heard a series of gunshots.

He saw agents rush into the woods behind the bank and run across the street to Arvine's Garden Center. There, Bavosa said, authorities pulled two men out of a white car.

Bavosa said he tried to leave, but an FBI agent stopped him at the door. That's when, Verbosa said, he knew "something was wrong."

"I heard a bang, bang, bang, bang, like three or four times," said Maynor Veliz, 19, of Somerville, an employee at Arvine's Garden Center.

Veliz's boss called him to the front of the store, he looked across the street and saw a white car with a shattered window and a person on the ground.

Back at the bank, the bank manager ushered Babosa and eight other people into a conference room where he couldn't see the aftermath that ensued.

Bavosa waited there for two and-a-half hours while he, other customers, bank tellers and the bank manager called family and friends to say they were safe. Many of those called already knew from television and radio broadcasts about the situation at the bank, according to Bavosa, who added that, people in the room mostly remained calm.

"We didn't know what was going on," Bavosa said.

In fact, it wasn't even clear that a sting operation was under way to nab the would-be robbers. The experience left him a bit shaken.

"I'm upset the FBI agent lost his life," Bavosa said. "He saved us. I'm grateful for what he did."

In the meantime, dozens of state and local police cars threaded through traffic on Route 22 and up Lamington Road.

Authorities blocked off an area of approximately five square miles. Police filed through traffic, lights and sirens blazing, as choppers criscrossed the sky above the scene and circled repeatedly.

Numerous roads in and around routes 22 and 28, as well as Interstate 78, were closed or blocked for hours Thursday.

Among those caught in traffic jams and detours were Millington residents Tim Sommer and his wife, Kim, who were trying to get to their office, Branchburg Commons Chiropractors. The Sommers were turned back by police on both I-78 and Route 22.

"We have clients that we can't get to," Tim Sommer said. "Maybe they can't get to us."

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /704060374

Fugitive bank robbery suspect captured in Branchburg

Friday, April 6, 2007

BRANCHBURG (AP) -- The fugitive bank robbery suspect believed to be involved in the incident leading to the shooting death of an FBI agent Thursday was captured this morning, authorities said.

State Police Lt. Gerald Lewis said the suspect was captured at about 8:10 a.m. in Branchburg.

Police have identified the fugitive as Francisco Herrera-Genao, 22, of New Brunswick.

Lewis said additional information wasn't immediately available.

Special Agent Barry Lee Bush, 52, assigned to the FBI's Newark office, was shot as agents closed in on three men in two vehicles outside a PNC Bank branch on Route 22.

"Preliminarily, information suggests the agent may have been fatally wounded as a result of the accidental discharge of another agent's weapon during a dynamic arrest situation," the FBI said in a statement released Thursday night. Investigators from the agency's Inspection Division have been assigned to investigate the shooting, the FBI said.

About 300 law enforcement officers spent Thursday night and this morning searching for Herrera-Genao, focusing on a wooded area near the Fox Hollow Golf Club. He was captured about mile from the scene of Thursday's shooting in Readington.

Ham DeSai, an employee of the Red Mill Inn Motel off Route 22, said the man was arrested behind the hotel's property near a small house.

Gunshots were fired about noon Thursday as an FBI stakeout team moved in to make arrests outside a Readington bank along Route 22. Two suspects, Wilfredo Berrios, 28, and Michael Cruz, 21, also of New Brunswick, were captured at the scene.

After his arrest, Cruz admitted the men were preparing to rob the Readington bank, according to a criminal complaint released by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Cruz also said he, Berrios, Herrera-Genao and Efrain Lynn, 21, of New Brunswick, had robbed a bank in South Brunswick on March 16.

Lynn was arrested Thursday on a bench warrant unrelated to the bank robberies, federal prosecutors said.

Bush joined the FBI in August of 1987, serving in Kansas City and transferring to Newark in 1991. He is survived by a wife and two grown children, the FBI said.

He is the first FBI agent to be killed in the line of duty in New Jersey, according to profiles of the agents killed on duty posted on the FBI's Web site.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dl ... /704060383

Bush's chosen people.

Dixie