Officers in shooting put on leave

MOBILE, Ala. - Disguised in a black mask and yielding what looks like a semi automatic handgun, police said James Hill robbed the RBC bank on Old Shell Road.

Police said the 46-year-old suspect is no stranger to violent crime.

Officer Christopher Levy said, "He does have an extensive criminal history including robberies from Louisiana and Texas. Mostly out of Texas he's got burglaries, thefts and escape."

He lived in Louisiana but died in Mobile. He was killed in a hail of gunfire after a high speed chase.

"During the pursuit he did actually produce the weapon. He showed it to the officers that were pursuing him. He did throw money from the vehicle and a mask," said Levy.

Police surrounded him after he waved a GAMOV-3 air pistol.

Levy added, "It's an air pistol that's commonly used for target shooting. It's very difficult to tell the difference between the handgun he was holding versus an officer issued weapon."

They're still investigating whether Hill actually fired a shot, but the air pistol prompted several officers to open fire. FOX10 News counted at least 30 bullet holes in the suspect's car and evidence markers well into the forties.

"The children were on the playground in the back. It would've taken just one bullet to hit a little child in the head. What would that have been against somebody's money being stolen from a bank?" said one woman at the daycare.

Police said it appears appropriate force and reaction was used.

Levy added, "One way to avoid the whole situation, was he didn't have to commit the robbery. Police asked him to stop by using lights and sirens on the roadways. He put many people including police in danger by committing the offense from the get go."

Hill died in the driver's seat of his car. The autopsy was completed on him Friday morning. FOX10 News spoke with the Medical Examiner, Dr. Staci Turner, and asked how many times he was shot. She said she couldn't comment on an ongoing investigation.