Digital News Report- A second person has died in an Oregon bank bombing that occurred Friday night at the West Coast Bank in Woodburn about 30 miles south of Portland. Woodburn Police Chief Scott Russell was listed in critical condition at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital. Another bank employee suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said early today that a multi-agency investigation involving federal, state, county and city police agencies have begun to identify suspects. Lt. Gregg Hastings has said that the ATF and FBI are offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the individual responsible for the crime. He describes the suspects as “very dangerous.”
West Coast Bank president, Bob Sznewajs said an employee saw a device in the bushes near the bank and called the authorities. When authorities arrived they decided to move the device inside the branch. It is believed that the bomb went off as they were scanning the object.
West Coast Bank has 63 branches in 40 cities across Oregon. It was originally organized in 1925, but didn’t change it’s name to West Coast Bank until 1999.