Crime & Safety

'AK-47 Bandit': Bomb-Making Materials, Guns Seized From Suspect's Home

Authorities believe Richard Gathercole is the man they call "the AK-47 bandit," suspected of carrying out bank robberies in five states.

HELENA, MT — FBI agents seized bomb-making materials, seven guns and ammunition from the Montana home of a man they suspect of carrying out bank robberies in five states.

An inventory of the property seized from Richard Gathercole's home in Roundup shows that agents also took sheriff's badges and patches, a sheriff's vest and an ammunition vest, a military style helmet, an organic chemistry book and material to make identification badges.

The inventory list was filed with U.S. District Court in Billings on June 27. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

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Authorities believe Gathercole is the man they call "the AK-47 bandit" who held up at least six banks since 2012.

Gathercole is being held in Lexington, Nebraska, where he is accused of stealing a truck and guns and firing on a Kansas state trooper last month.

Find out what's happening in Billingsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

By Matt Volz, Associated Press

Photo credit: FBI via AP

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