ONTARIO, Ore. (AP) - Oregon authorities say they have a name and sketchy background information about a man who fatally shot himself after a bank robbery, and they’re appealing for help to find his relatives.
Oregon State Police said Monday the man was 71-year-old as Joseph Thomas Johnston, reported living most recently in a Mohave Valley, Ariz., mobile home park.
The police said he drove to the Pacific Northwest in March to see a friend named “Paul” who was reported ill.
Police said Johnston shot himself after he was pulled over by an officer investigating a robbery April 10 at Bank of the West in Ontario, Ore.
Johnston is described as diabetic and having unspecified ties in several states: Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, Maryland, and Florida.
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Contact information for Oregon State Police Detective Javier Marquez: 541-889-6469, ext. 752; Javier.marquez@state.or.us.
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