The Associated Press with Journal Star staff reports
NORMAL, IL —
Policesay a gunman suspected of robbing several banks last month was shotMonday afternoon after leading officers on a high-speed chase aroundNormal.
Authorities say the man robbed the Check 'n Go currency exchange onWest Market Street in Bloomington at gunpoint on Monday and fled in hisvehicle.
In a news release, Bloomington police said officers responded atabout 1:30 p.m. to the robbery report and pursued the suspect vehicle,which proceeded into rural McLean County and then onto Interstate 39southbound from Hudson.
Police began a high-speed chase about 3 p.m. on Interstate 55. Speeds exceeded 90 mph.
Police used "stop sticks" to try to end the chase, but the vehicle,then southbound on I-55, continued despite two flat tires to mile post163 before crashing into the concrete median barrier.
Witnesses say the man jumped out of the vehicle near the Peoria exitonto Interstate 74 just north of Normal Community West High School,leaped over a concrete barrier and showed a gun.
He was shot and taken to BroMenn Regional Medical Center in Normal.
Police said he was confronted by Bloomington and Normal police aswell as members of the McLean County Sheriff's Department, the U.S.Marshals Task Force and state police.
According to police, northbound I-55 at 162 was closed for policeinvestigation after the shooting until about 9 p.m. A detour had beenin place from Market Street to Mitsubishi Parkway to I-74 East to I-55.
Police say the gunman is a suspect in four earlier armed robberies.
The US Bank branch at 1401 S. Main St. in Normal was robbedWednesday by a man who displayed a black handgun and fled on foot withan undisclosed amount of cash.
The Cash Store at 1700 Parkway Plaza Drive also was robbed Wednesday.
The US Bank branch also was robbed at gunpoint Dec. 9, and theNational City Bank branch at 1331 E. Empire St. in Bloomington wasrobbed Dec. 3.
