Police Arrest One, Looking for Two More in Wells Fargo Robbery

Gwinnett County police are looking for two men suspected in the armed robbery of a Wells Fargo bank in unincorporated Lawrenceville.

The men, Marcus Rutledge, 24, and Thomas Birdsong, 41, both have active warrants for their arrests in connection with the Dec. 28 robbery near Lilburn. Another man, 26-year-old Jamar Terrell, is in custody at the Gwinnett County Detention Center and charged with armed robbery.

Terrel is suspected of being one of two armed men who entered the bank, located at 3065 Lawrenceville Highway, about 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 28. Rutledge is suspected as being the second armed robber inside the bank, and Birdsong is believed to have acted as the lookout for the crew, police said in a press release.

The two men who entered the bank were described as wearing masks. One was armed with a handgun, and the other has a shotgun, according to witnesses.

Police said two suspects held employees at gunpoint and forced tellers to fill a bag with money. They fled the scene in a silver Pontiac Grand Prix, police said, escaping with nearly $12,300 in cash and checks.

When police arrived, they encountered the getaway vehicle near the bank. There was a brief chase, but the suspects abandoned the vehicle and headed for the woods on foot.

Despite an extensive search, police were not able to locate the two men. But, inside the Pontiac Grand Prix, police recovered a bag with about $10,400 in cash and checks, a handgun and a shotgun.

The Pontiac was later tied to Terrell, who was questioned and subsequently charged with armed robbery. He remains in custody without bond. The investigation then led to identifying Rutledge, also known as "Bankhead," and Birdsong, also known as "T-Bird," as being involved.

In addition, police believe that Birdsong acted as a lookout in another vehicle, believed to be a silver 1992 Honda Accord.

Anyone with information on the suspects, or the Honda Accord driven by Birdsong, are asked to contact Robbery Unit detectives at 770-513-5300 or Crime Stoppers at 404-557-TIPS (8477). Anyone encountering these suspects should call 911.