Police tie second heist to robbery suspect who killed himself

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A 17-year-old boy was among the suspects charged after the PNC Bank in the Highlands was robbed Thursday afternoon. According to Louisville Metro Police, the juvenile's confession helped them tie another robbery to the alleged getaway driver who killed himself when confronted by officers in Cherokee Park.

Lucas Ohnimus died at University of Louisville Hospital Thursday night, barely 45 minutes after police said he shot himself in the head after officers cornered his Nissan Xterra.

Ohnimus' former co-worker, Limil Hull, knew the Ohnimus who wanted to be seen as suave, the life of the party.

"He always make people laugh; brought a lot of joy to people," Hull said. "If he had a spell of getting into trouble? I mean I was completely shocked."

[PREVIOUS STORY: Bank robbery suspects identified; 2 surviving suspects charged]

Officers believe Ohnimus, along with Bradley Scarbrough, 19, and a 17-year-old boy had robbed PNC Bank's Highlands branch shortly before 5 p.m.

"Two of the suspects got out of the vehicle, our officers were able to detain them immediately," said LMPD spokeswoman Alicia Smiley following the incident. "Our officers did command he (Ohnimus) put the weapon down. He refused to do so."

Friday, investigators confirmed they suspect Ohnimus was responsible for another robbery weeks earlier.

"The mask, the bags, the vehicle - very similar to a robbery at PNC on Southern Parkway December 26," said Sgt. Eric Black of the LMPD Major Crimes Robbery Unit.

Officers believe Ohnimus committed that robbery by himself.

"I'm led to believe that he came across a bad situation," Hull said. "Bad influence around him and led him to do certain things."

Hull said he's never met Scarbrough or the juvenile charged in the PNC Highlands robbery who police said both confessed their roles in the crime.

Nobody answered the door at Scarbrough's home in Pleasure Ridge Park on Friday. A man offered a firm "no comment" when reached by phone, but off-camera, neighbors readily identified photos of Ohnimus as a friend of Scarbrough's. They also said the two often shouted and tried to provoke hostile reactions.

"He (Ohnimus) was always trying make people laugh - trying to work something," Hull said.

Hull credits Ohnimus with help landing a job in direct sales. Ohnimus' Facebook page lists several such jobs since his graduation from Atherton High School in 2011. However, Hull said Ohnimus walked away from his last job shortly before Christmas.

"He'd made excuses – that his father had fallen and broken his hip," Hull said. "Maybe he did. But he cut communications."

"I even texted," Hull continued. "I said 'are you okay?' Nothing. So he kind of cut his losses, found another way out, I guess."

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