A Hatfield Township man is facing an attempted murder charge after he allegedly robbed a bank in Perkasie Borough then attempted to shoot a state trooper who was investigating.
Christopher LaRue, 42, of the 1900 block of Welsh Road, has been charged with second-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault, robbery, prohibited possession of a firearm, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and related offenses in connection with the Monday morning incident.
According to a release by the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, police were dispatched to the QNB Bank located along the 600 block of West Chestnut Street in Perkasie Borough at 8:19 a.m. for a report of a bank robbery. The release states that the robber — later identified as LaRue — produced a handgun and took two cash drawers from a safe. LaRue then unsuccessfully attempted to lock the employees in the safe, and then fled the scene, police said.
Several hours later, a state trooper who was investigating the robbery learned that the currency bag that was stolen from the bank had allegedly been located inside a mobile work trailer along the 400 block of Schuylkill River Road in Upper Merion Township, according to the criminal complaint. Upon arriving to the scene and making contact with LaRue, police observed a backpack in LaRue’s locker that matched one that was used during the robbery, the report states.
Police then attempted to place LaRue in handcuffs, at which point a struggle ensued, police said. During the struggle, LaRue allegedly pulled out a firearm from his locker, threatened to kill the trooper and repeatedly pulled the trigger, but the gun didn’t fire, the report states.
The trooper was able to gain control of LaRue, at which point he was disarmed and taken into custody.
“This trooper literally came face to face with his would-be killer, and overcame the defendant in a battle for his own life,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said. “I thank God that he and the bank employees were not harmed. They all got home safely to their families today. This is a shining yet terrible example of the risk that our police officers willingly place themselves in to protect us every day.”
LaRue was arraigned on Oct. 19 by Magisterial District Judge Lisa Gaier, who set bail at 10% of $1 million cash. LaRue was then remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage.
(All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.)
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