Father and son bank robbers both died from gunshot wounds following a tense six-hour standoff with Connecticut police after claiming to be armed with explosives and refusing to surrender.
Key Takeaways
- Shaun P. Fallon and his son Zachary W. Fallon robbed Chelsea Groton Bank on June 12, passing a note to a teller and implying they had weapons.
- After being tracked to a Super 8 Motel, the pair refused to surrender during a six-hour standoff, claiming to possess firearms and explosives.
- Police evacuated the motel and nearby businesses as a safety precaution before gunshots were heard from inside the suspects’ room.
- Both suspects died from gunshot wounds at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital – Zachary on June 13 and Shaun on June 16.
- No explosives were found when bomb technicians searched the room, though police have not specified what weapons were recovered.
Bank Robbery Turns Deadly
What began as a typical bank robbery at Chelsea Groton Bank on Gold Star Highway in Groton, Connecticut, on June 12 quickly escalated into a tragedy that left both perpetrators dead. The father-son duo, identified as Shaun P. Fallon and Zachary W. Fallon, entered the bank wearing medical masks and approached a teller with demands for cash. According to police reports, the pair implied they had weapons and fled with an undisclosed amount of money, leaving in an unidentified vehicle. Law enforcement’s swift investigation led them to the Super 8 Motel in Groton, where the suspects had taken refuge.
“It was reported that during the robbery, two suspects inferred a weapon and passed a note to a teller demanding cash. Both suspects were wearing medical masks. They were described as white males who fled the scene in an unknown vehicle with an undisclosed amount of cash,” said the police
Tense Standoff at Super 8 Motel
When police located the suspects at the Super 8 Motel, what followed was a dangerous six-hour standoff that put law enforcement skills to the test. The situation intensified when the Fallons refused to surrender and made alarming claims about their arsenal. “After a brief exchange, the suspects advised they were armed with both firearms and explosives and refused to surrender,” police reported. These threats prompted authorities to evacuate the entire motel and a nearby business as a precautionary measure. A full tactical response was mounted, including SWAT teams, bomb technicians, and specialized negotiators who attempted to resolve the situation peacefully.
“This was an extremely dangerous and volatile situation, and I want to commend the bravery and professionalism of all the law enforcement personnel involved in bringing it to a close,” said Groton Police Chief L.J. Fusaro
The standoff took a dramatic turn around 11:05 p.m. when officers heard two gunshots from inside the suspects’ motel room. Law enforcement, using a drone to assess the situation, discovered that both suspects had suffered gunshot wounds. Emergency medical teams were immediately dispatched to the scene. First responders transported both men to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in serious condition, where the younger Fallon, Zachary, succumbed to his injuries on June 13, followed by his father, Shaun, who died three days later on June 16.
Investigation Continues
After securing the scene, bomb squad specialists thoroughly searched the motel room but found no explosive devices, contrary to the suspects’ claims during negotiations. Police have not disclosed what weapons were recovered from the room or provided details about who fired the fatal shots. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not yet released the official cause and manner of death, noting that “further studies” are required. This suggests a comprehensive investigation is underway to determine whether the deaths resulted from self-inflicted wounds or other circumstances.
“Both suspects were incapacitated by apparent gunshot wounds,” said police, using carefully chosen language that avoids speculation about how the injuries occurred.
Authorities continue to investigate all aspects of this case, including the bank robbery, the subsequent standoff, and the events leading to the deaths of both suspects. Groton police have asked anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist with their ongoing investigation. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of how quickly crime can escalate to deadly consequences, particularly when desperate individuals make poor decisions that put themselves and others at risk.
