Man faces charges for North Carolina bank robbery, semi truck shootout, feds say

A man is facing federal charges after allegedly robbing a bank, fleeing in a semi truck, and engaging police in a shootout, authorities say.

Willie Edward Mcgee, Jr. has been charged with bank robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Authorities allege that on December 26, 2025, Mcgee robbed the First Citizens Bank in Zebulon, North Carolina, of $3,234 in cash by threatening the tellers with exploding C-4, and then fled the scene.

From the U.S. Attorney’s Office:

“Officers responded to the bank and began investigating the robbery. Surveillance footage depicted Mcgee leaving the scene of the robbery in a semi-truck. Later that day, Rocky Mount Police located the semi-truck in a Hobby Lobby parking lot in Rocky Mount. Police officers were surveilling the semi-truck when Mcgee exited the semi-truck armed with a Ruger AR 5.56 rifle. Mcgee immediately began firing at the officers. Officers returned fire and struck Mcgee. While taking Mcgee into custody, officers recovered the AR rifle he used to shoot at officers and a handgun from Mcgee’s waistband.“

Police reportedly found several items worn by or used by Mcgee during the robbery inside the semi truck.

No police officers or members of the public were injured in the shootout.

Bomb technicians responded to the scene and confirmed that there were no explosives present.

If convicted,  Mcgee faces up to 20 years in prison on the bank robbery charge and a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, on the discharging a firearm charge.

“As alleged, this defendant didn’t just rob a bank – he threatened innocent civilians with explosives and then opened fire on police officers,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. “That is not desperation, it is domestic terror. Thanks to the extraordinary courage and professionalism of our law enforcement partners, he is alive, in custody, and facing decades in federal prison. Let this serve as a warning: if you bring violence into our communities or target the men and women who protect them, this Department of Justice will meet you with the full weight of the federal government and ensure you are removed from the streets for a very long time.”

“When bad guys shoot at our law enforcement partners, we will aggressively pursue federal charges against them. Brave officers in Rocky Mount, and across the nation, regularly put their lives on the line to protect and serve,” said United States Attorney Ellis Boyle. “We honor them and will do everything we can to make sure that they go home to their families at the end of each shift. We intend to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt that this man robbed a bank and shot his gun during and related to that crime of violence. God bless the brave men and women who responded, and rest assured, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of North Carolina has your back.”

Assisting agencies include the FBI, ATF, NC SBI, Zebulon Police Department, and Rocky Mount Police Department