Suspect dead after police chase

A man suspected of attempting to rob a Las Vegas bank and shooting an armored-truck guard in the head was found dead Wednesday in Northern California from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a high-speed police chase, authorities said.

Police said Charles Edward Lucas, 35, also was responsible for a January 2006 robbery and shooting of a security guard at the Gold Coast casino.

Deputy Jim Wells of the Mendocino County, Calif., sheriff's office spotted Lucas about 9:45 p.m. Wednesday on state Route 101, near Ukiah, Calif., about 130 miles north of San Francisco.

Wells tried to stop Lucas, but he drove away and was weaving in and out of his lane at about 50 mph, the sheriff's office stated.

Officers following Lucas said they saw his vehicle veer off the road and roll. Officers found Lucas at the scene with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, the sheriff's office stated.

Lucas was wanted in Las Vegas for the June 12 attempted armed robbery of a Wells Fargo bank at Eastern and Tropicana avenues. During the incident, Lucas, wearing all black, walked up to a teller and demanded money, according to a warrant issued for his arrest.

When the teller asked him if he was serious, he showed her a handgun in his waistband, the warrant stated.

The teller ducked behind a bulletproof barrier and didn't give Lucas any cash.

With no money in hand, Lucas walked toward the bank's entrance as an armored-truck security guard, Douglas Kaya, entered.

Lucas walked up to Kaya, grabbed him and pushed him down, the warrant stated. Lucas then fired two rounds into the back of Kaya's head, the warrant stated.

One of the bullets exited through Kaya's face and a second is lodged in his head, authorities said. Kaya remains hospitalized and may be permanently blinded.

"It's a miracle he's alive," said Sgt. Al Cervantes of Las Vegas police's robbery unit.

A tipster told authorities that Lucas was the suspect in photos of the attempted robbery broadcast on television.

Police confirmed Lucas' identity.

Sgt. Chris Tomaino, of the Las Vegas police's robbery unit, said police have linked Lucas to the Jan. 10, 2006, Gold Coast robbery. During that incident, Lucas, wearing a baseball cap and wig, robbed the "cage" cashier at the casino, authorities said.

As he was fleeing in the parking lot, Lucas dropped money and fired shots, hitting a security guard in the leg.

Lucas may have been arrested before but didn't have any felony convictions, Tomaino said.

Although the attempted robbery and shooting at the Wells Fargo branch surprised many in the community, Tomaino said it's not uncommon for robberies to escalate into violence.

"It's the nature of the crime," he said.