UPDATE: Ronnie Wessinger was located in Greenville, South Carolina Tuesday night about 8:35pm and was taken into custody.
Wessinger is facing charges of Attempted Robbery with a Dangerous Weapon, Second Degree Kidnapping, and Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
He will be held at the Greenville County, SC, Detention Center, pending his extradition back to Johnston County.
BENSON – Benson Police are currently searching for a suspect involved in a bank robbery attempt last week following his release from WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh.
Ronnie Hiram Wessinger Jr., 46, of Rita Street in Gaffney, South Carolina, was taken to WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh on April 2nd following an attempted armed robbery at the PNC Bank at 400 South Wall Street in Benson.
According to reports, Mr. Wessinger entered the bank around 4:45pm armed with a handgun and a hooded sweatshirt drawn tight around his face. As he was pulling the gun from his waistband, he was wounded when a civilian at PNC produced a handgun of his own and fired two shots — hitting Mr. Wessinger in the hip and ankle area.
Mr. Wessinger dropped his gun and exited the bank where he was later found less than a block away along West Woodall Street. Benson Police, Benson Fire, Johnston County EMS, and Johnston County Sheriff’s deputies were on scene at this time.
After assessing his injuries, EMS transported Mr. Wessinger to WakeMed Hospital.
The Benson Police Department filed for a warrant later the same day — April 2 — charging Wessinger with attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and second degree kidnapping.
On April 3, a Benson officer attempted to interview Wessinger at WakeMed. Wessinger indicated he did not want to make any statements without an attorney present. As documented, before leaving the hospital, Benson Police spoke briefly with his nursing staff regarding his injuries and to inquire about a time frame for his release. Local law enforcement in Wake County were also notified of the outstanding arrest warrant.
A second warrant was taken out on Mr. Wessinger today (April 9th) for possession of a firearm by a felon.
At approximately 9:56am this morning (April 9th), Benson Police learned that Wessinger had been released from WakeMed without the outstanding warrants being served on him.
The Benson Police Department said they are currently working with other state and local law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend Mr. Wessinger.
