Lee’s Summit Man Indicted for Bank Robbery

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Lee's Summit, Mo., man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for robbing an Independence, Mo., bank after a bank customer attempted to stop him from fleeing.

James K. Kerr, 54, was charged with one count of bank robbery in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today's indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Kerr on Oct. 23, 2024.

The federal indictment alleges that Kerr robbed Hawthorn Bank, 17430 E. 39^th Street in Independence, on Oct. 21, 2024.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Kerr was wearing a black hood over his head, a hooded sweatshirt with the hood down, a winter hat, sunglasses, a medical mask, and gloves when he walked into the bank at about 10:39 a.m. As Kerr walked behind the teller counter into the employee-only area, the affidavit says, he withdrew a black handgun, which appeared to be an air pistol, from the pocket of his sweatshirt and held it up in the air.

Kerr began yelling at the employees while hitting the counter, according to the affidavit. The victims reported hearing Kerr yell phrases to the effect of "Let's do this!" and "100s and 50s no bait money!" Kerr went to all three of the victim tellers' stations and obtained money while holding the handgun. Kerr then fled from the bank and got on a motorcycle parked nearby.

A customer, who was in the drive-through lane at the time of the robbery, followed Kerr as he ran toward the motorcycle. The witness got out of the car and pushed Kerr off the motorcycle. Kerr threatened the customer with a gun, the affidavit says, and fled from the scene on the motorcycle. Another witness was nearby during this altercation and filmed part of it with a cell phone.

Employees of the bank told FBI investigators they recognized Kerr as a customer of the bank.

The next day, investigators established surveillance at Kerr's residence and saw him leave on his motorcycle. Investigators followed Kerr, whom the affidavit says was driving erratically, until he stopped at a gas station, where he was arrested. Investigators found a Daisy air pistol, which was consistent in appearance with the handgun displayed in the bank robbery, in a saddle bag of the motorcycle. Investigators also found articles of clothing that matched those worn during the bank robbery.

The charge contained in this indictment is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Smith. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.