OCALA, FL – The quiet streets of Ocala were shaken by a dramatic bank robbery and subsequent high-speed chase that ended in gunfire. This chaotic scene unfolded at a TD Bank on 17th Street, where 37-year-old Randall Williford allegedly stormed in, brandishing a handgun and demanding cash. The incident marks an alarming turn of events for a community not accustomed to such violence.
Eyewitness Alyssa McCall, who was in the bank’s parking lot, recalled the unsettling moment she noticed a man with a suspicious demeanor. “He just popped out from the corner and started a fast walk,” she said, recounting her gut feeling that something was amiss.
Inside, Williford reportedly forced a bank teller to accompany him to his vehicle, ominously stating that he had nothing to lose. However, the teller managed to convince him that there were no cameras, pleading for her release. Williford relented, fleeing the scene with approximately $7,000 in cash.
The escape was short-lived. Authorities identified Amanda Bishop, 34, as the driver of the getaway vehicle, with 36-year-old Andre Baker also inside. Baker, no stranger to law enforcement, is currently on probation for a prior methamphetamine charge and has a history of armed robbery.
The chase reached speeds up to 90 mph, careening through city streets and narrowly missing other vehicles, before ending in a dramatic rollover crash. As police closed in, Williford emerged from the wreckage with a firearm, prompting officers to shoot, wounding him in the wrist.
Court records reveal Williford’s extensive criminal past, including a recently completed ten-year prison sentence for another bank robbery. His record is dotted with offenses ranging from grand theft to drug possession.
The community is left grappling with the aftermath of this brazen daylight crime, with local residents expressing concern over their safety. One witness, a pregnant mother, worried aloud about the potential danger, “What if he decided that he needed my car to get away?”
The TD Bank, which was targeted twice in less than a week, remains closed as it ramps up security measures. The Ocala Police Department confirmed that two officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
This incident underscores the precarious balance of safety and crime in suburban communities, prompting discussions about preventive measures and community vigilance.