Raleigh Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Armed Bank Robbery After Firing Gun Inside Bank
FBI and Raleigh police arrested suspect minutes after robbery at First Citizens Bank
RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh man who fired a gun inside a bank during a robbery and threatened employees has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, according to federal prosecutors.
Christopher Antonio Gilmore, 34, received the sentence after pleading guilty to armed bank robbery stemming from a violent incident at a First Citizens Bank branch in Raleigh.
Authorities say the robbery could have ended in tragedy after a bullet fired by Gilmore narrowly missed a bank manager.
Gunshot Fired Inside Bank During Robbery
According to court records, Gilmore entered the bank wearing a mask and sunglasses while carrying a loaded firearm.
Moments after entering the bank, he fired a shot. The bullet struck a cabinet outside the bank manager’s office. The manager was seated inside the office at the time, and investigators say the cabinet stopped the bullet before it could hit her.
Gilmore then pointed the gun at two bank tellers, ordering them to place money inside his backpack.
The tellers complied, placing more than $20,000 in cash into the bag — along with a GPS tracking device.
During the robbery, Gilmore ordered employees to the floor.
“Everybody get in the back! Heads down or I’ll start shooting again!” he yelled, according to court records.
He also forced the bank manager out of her office and onto the floor with the other employees.
Unbeknownst to Gilmore, another bank employee had hidden in the breakroom and called 911.
Arrested Minutes After Robbery
Gilmore fled the bank but was quickly located by officers with the Raleigh Police Department.
Police tracked him to a nearby tire shop, where he was arrested within minutes of the robbery.
Officers recovered:
- the stolen firearm used during the robbery
- the backpack containing the stolen cash
- a high-capacity magazine
Long Criminal History
Prosecutors said Gilmore is a convicted felon with a criminal history spanning nearly a decade.
Previous convictions include:
- 2015 – Attempted identity theft
- 2019 – Breaking and entering and larceny
- 2023 – Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury
- 2023 – Discharging a firearm into an occupied property
- 2023 – Possession of a firearm by a felon
Federal Prosecutors Condemn Violence
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle for the Eastern District of North Carolina said the violent nature of the crime justified the lengthy sentence.
“Thank God he didn’t kill any of these citizens, though he recklessly tried,” Boyle said. “We will continue to prosecute and remove threats like this so our communities can live without fear.”
Reid Davis, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, called the robbery reckless and dangerous.
“To barge into a bank where people are conducting business and endanger their lives is ruthless and reckless,” Davis said.
Federal Investigation
The case was investigated by the FBI Raleigh-Durham Safe Streets Task Force and the Raleigh Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by:
- First Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Aubart
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Jaren Kelly
Court records related to the case are available through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.