BAKERSFIELD – An armed robbery suspect, 26-year-old Leland Smithson of Lancaster, died after an officer-involved shooting that followed a Bakersfield bank robbery Tuesday morning.
Smithson sustained a gunshot wound to his head, but “it is unknown at this time whether the round that struck Smithson was fired from the officer’s firearm or self-inflicted,” said Sgt. Joe Grubbs, public information officer for the Bakersfield Police Department.
The bank robbery was reported around 10:18 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, at the Wells Fargo Bank branch located at 1300 22nd Street in Bakersfield, Grubbs said.
“Investigation revealed that the suspect, 26-year-old Lancaster resident Leland Smithson, who was armed with a handgun and wearing a mask over his face, contacted an unarmed bank security guard outside and ordered him into the bank,” Grubbs stated. “Once inside, Smithson ordered the guard to the ground and made entry into the vault. Smithson exited the bank, entered a white Chevrolet Impala and fled eastbound on 23rd Street where a Bakersfield police officer spotted him.”
Smithson led officers on a chase through downtown Bakersfield before crashing into a tree in the 1000 block of East 18th Street, according to Grubbs.
“After the collision an officer-involved shooting occurred. Smithson sustained a gunshot wound to his head,” Grubbs said, adding that it is not yet known whether Smithson shot himself or was shot by police.
“A loaded firearm was seized at the scene,” Grubbs said. “Currency taken from the bank was recovered from the vehicle.”
The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation and review by the Critical Incident Review Board, according to Grubbs.
–
UPDATE: FATAL SHOT DETERMINED TO BE SELF-INFLICTED
According to a statement provided May 22 by Bakersfield Police Department’s Public Information Officer Sgt. Joe Grubbs: “The gunshot that struck and killed Leland Smithson in the officer-involved shooting was determined to be self-inflicted. The officer who fired at Smithson, 15-year veteran Isaac Garcia, did not strike him.”
Karl Smithson says
Leland was scared, broken hearted, and desperate. What he did was entirely wrong if only he could have got help, this would have never happened. Even in the end He never wanted to hurt anyone else and thank God he didn’t. May he finally rest in peace.
purplegirl says
My first concern is a 26 year old male, who as u say (damion) had the mental capacity of a 12 year old, how he managed to get a drivers licence, learned to drive, managed to get a gun with bullets to match and was able to rob a bank with such authority, doesn’t sound much like a 12 year old that knoe, a 26 year old yes but a 12 year old come on. Damion how well did u know him and how old is ur mental capacity? Just asking!
High desert Jim says
No sorrow wasted on armed bank robbers. Live by the gun and a lawless life and you will die in the gutter.
Turn your life around, make your community proud of you.
Life in the margins is not living.
Damion says
I knew Leland and he had the mental capacity of a 12 year old boy. He used to eat at the homeless centers in Lancaster. He was a really nice guy and he never stole anything from anyone. There is more to this story than you guys know about because I heard lots of rumors on the streets a year before this happened and I know what caused him to do that. Some old lady gave his name out to someone who mistaken Leland for someone else who is really skinny and picks up pennies off the streets and this skinny guy was talking smack about himself and people thought that he was Leland because that old lady gave out the wrong name in her confusion and word got back to Leland but by that time it was too late and the false rumors had already spread because of the actions of that skinny idiot who was born with the brain of a hamster. Leland was furious, hurt and paranoid that someone was coming after him to steal what he didn’t have and then he does that out of anger for the lies he was hearing about himself.
Damion says
The moral of the story is that people should not spread lies or rumors anymore because it only brings about more problems.
kay says
A 26 year old boy was killed. That’s what you have to say? [removed] the police. They probably took some of that bank money for themselves and their partners. We need police for the police and less citizens that put all their faith in a failing police department. Shame on you.
I knew him says
lol don’t try to make this about the cops. Leland was an idiot. He wanted to go out like that. They haven’t updated the story on here but the corner determined suicide. He shot himself. The cops were doing their job because he ROBBED A BANK. Don’t even try to pull that crap.
Yes_Yes says
26 Year old Boy? LOL
Most people would tend to think a 26 year old is a full grown Man who is responsible for their own actions. Guess he must be one of those “special” kind of Thugs who if Obama had a son would be just like him.
Derrick says
Leland was white so Obama would not claim him as a son, nice try troll.
Prunella says
A 26 yr. old boy? Do you believe in Karma? Someday you’re going to need the police, and they may not be there because people like you are making their jobs so difficult and so dangerous. The “boy” was robbing a bank. He was pointing a gun and threatening others. He then went on a car chase, probably putting more lives at risk. It hasn’t been determined if the “boy” killed himself or was killed by the officer. And, you have no idea what the “boy” was doing to get himself shot. Shame on YOU, Kay.
Tim Scott says
The on the job fatality rate among garbage collectors is substantially higher than it is among police officers, so spare us the “their job is so dangerous we should just let them get away with anything” nonsense please.
And I promise you, the vast majority of people get through their life just fine without ever “needing” the police. And of those who do think they need the police, almost all of them would be better off not calling the blue demons into their lives.
Prunella says
What a sad outlook on life. You probably voted for Obama too.
Tim Scott says
Was this supposed to relate to the topic at hand in some fashion? Because I don’t see it.
mitazwelby says
I’m hoping everyone is listening….? we are born alone, live alone, die alone. not being alone is an illusion, only being surrounded by people’s true friendships and true love give us moments that make us feel, we are not alone. these drugs that are going around are messing with our kids heads, all they want is everything they really don’t want to be. hustling is very glamorized,nobody will tell ya there isn’t any room to care, if you do YA GONNA GET GOT! the amount of time we put into are children as they grow up is exactly wut we get back
mitazwelby says
everyone!,,we need to “SPEAK LIFE” TOBEY MAC …..WE SPEAK LIFE WITH THE WORDS WE SAY GOOTTA HEAR THIS SONG ….WE BECOME WHO WE HANG AROUND
Yes_Yes says
Where can we send donations to help defer the cost of ammo used by the officer to reduce the CA Thug population by one? Hopefully there is no bag limit.