Eyewitness News at Noon - March 27, 2026

Breaking news at noon, bank robbery after

math, a robbery in Raleigh ending in a

multi-vehicle crash near I-40 an

army of law enforcement and first

responders rushing to the scene, two

people taken to the hospital, we have

live team coverage. Right now, live

coverage from your local news leader,

today's top stories you need to know

and your first alert forecast. Here's

what's happening where you live. This

is ABC 11 eyewitness news.

Thanks for you for joining us here

this Friday at noon. I'm Amber

Rupente and I brought Brighips and

we begin with that breaking news.

Many of you saw it unfolding about

two hours ago live on eyewitnesses

at 10, a massive police investigation

covering two major scenes. We know

it started with a bank robbery at

the Wells Fargo on Western Boulevard

in Raleigh, the suspect handing a note

to the teller when making off with

the cash a minutes later, the suspect

was spotted by the highway patrol on

I-40, the suspect then crashed into

another car after exiting

Jones, Salsa Road to people, the

suspect and the driver that other

car now being treated at the hospital,

we have live team coverage from both

scenes, just 13 miles apart, Cindy

Bay. It's live with the scene of the

crash, Penelope Lopez is live at the

bank, the scene of the crime was

going to Cindy first, Cindy. What's

going on?

Well, Barbara and Amber, everything

unfolded in minutes. I'm going to

show you how this all played out

starting with the black Audi that you

see there. That's where officials say

that the suspect traveled in. So the

suspect in the Wells Fargo bank robbery

was driving this black Audi sedan

that you see here. Then I'm going to

cross over just the damage after the

troopers say the driver went up the

ramp, crossed the grass median and

then slammed into a silver car. Now

that impact set off a chain reaction

causing a second crash. One car

stopped suddenly and another couldn't

slow down in time. So a total of two

people, including the suspect, were

rushed to wake med with serious

injuries. First responders had to

pull the suspect from the black car.

The arms robbery happened at 919 AM

this morning. That's when authorities

say that it was reported and then

highway patrol says a trooper spotted

the suspect within 10 minutes.

You know, this was a situation where

timing just worked out in in everyone's

favor. This robbery took place at 919

AM. At 929 AM, our trooper picked up

this violator on I-40 near South

Saunders Street. That trooper attempted

to catch up to the violator and get

them stopped. This person was driving

in a very reckless manner.

And so right now the scene is still

active investigators are currently

working to get a search warrant for

the suspect's vehicle. So that's going

to remain there. They say that the

vehicle has a GPS tracker and so the

investigation is still active. We're

going to continue to bring you more

details in the next half hour in

Raleigh, Cindy Bay, ABC 11. I witness

news. Wow. A very active scene there

behind Cindy Bay. A lot of folks all

this on the road today, too.

Absolutely. All right. Thank you, Cindy.

Let's go now to the other scene of this

situation. Penelope Lopez is at the

bank where this all started. Penelope,

what's happening there?

Good afternoon. It is no longer an

active scene here. That was very

different when we arrived here at 10,

30, 10, 45 this morning when we arrived,

we saw multiple police vehicles more

than five police officers and tape was

wrapped around this entire perimeter.

I went over to the construction crew

that was next door. They told me that

when they arrived at around 7 7 30 in

the morning, they did not see the tape.

Then I went over and I to another

company and they said that when they

arrived here at work at 9 30, they saw

the tape. So we were connecting the

dots now. Officials are telling us

that just 20 minutes after this bank

open, that's when the robbery happened.

He walked in. He gave the teller a note

and then he left off to where Cindy

was at right there. I'm told from other

people who work here that this is a quiet

neighborhood. I want to show you what

the scene looks like right now because

it's a complete difference than what

it was at around 10 in the morning.

As you can see, the Wells Fargo is

closed, but the ATM is open and we were

able to speak with someone who cashed

a check two minutes after police officers

left the scene. I was cashed in a check

for work. You're depositing a check

and there's no one here. I didn't think

anything of it. And then you guys rolled

up and told me there was stuff going

down just a few minutes ago. So I just

kept depositing the check and honestly

kind of wanted to get out of here just

in case something's going to happen again.

Yeah, he was in complete shock. He did

not know that a bank robbery happened

and after he left multiple people

also were cashing a check. So it seems

like there's a lot of people who were

not aware that this happened as you can

see. It's not an active scene. It looks

like a normal day at this moment. We

do know that the suspect was hurt and

we're still trying to get more

information. For now, live in

Raleigh, I'm Penelope has ABC 11. I

witness news. I don't blame him. I think

I'd be a little bit rattled too. Yeah.

All right, glad to know no one is hurt

there. Penelope, thank you. All right,

let's turn now to the weather and the

record breaking heat this Friday. These

are some pubs out enjoying the

parking millbrook exchange with their

humans. Some of those pubs probably

looking for the shade and some water.

All right. All right. The heat's not

going to stick around for long. We

can see some actually freezing

temperatures this weekend.

Me and I'll just see stewards in the

first floor. I know just to keep me

the weather. Keep me on my toes. That's

the plan here. Yeah, we up and down

temperatures are going to continue

for a little bit longer. Well, again,

typical this time of year looks good

that we have a lot of high clouds out

there right now. Should get up in the

mid 80s. If we get to 87, that will

tie your record at R. D. U. dry during

the day. We'll have showers as we go

into the evening hours. Maybe some

isolated thunder, but mainly just

rain and the low temperatures and I

don't know what to do. We're going to

get down to around 43 degrees. It's

Sunday morning that we could see

some frost or even a freeze yesterday

was 81. So we're going to be up

around 87 today 20 degrees above

our normal high. And that will be

tying the record set back in 2007.

And that deficit continues to grow.

There you see the showers to the

north. There's a front that's going

to be settling southward and that'll

move through later on. Again, not a

lot of rain when you add it all up.

We'll get showers around as we get

into the evening hours likely for

most after sunset a little bit early

during the day. We'll continue as

we get into the early morning hours

and eventually that's going to clear

and we're back to sunshine and a lot

colder tomorrow. Again, not a lot

here, probably less than a quarter

inch at any one location. Right now

that we're looking pretty good out

there at North Hills cars out there at

six forks with a breeze at 12 miles

an hour 78 that seven degrees warmer

than this time yesterday. Do points

up a little bit and around 60 widespread

temperatures in those upper 70s.

Southern Pines now the lone 80 degrees

and 70s. We're going to be

going to be up to the evening and

79 now. Notice the evening

planter. That's when we have that

risk of a shower. Maybe some

isolated thunder if you have

plans this evening, you're

thinking it's warm and you're

going to be out late. Have the

jacket numbers are going to fall

fast as we go through the evening

and a lot cooler for the upcoming

weekend. More on that coming up

in the 74 cast rollercoaster. I

continue to see. Thank you. We

as he will sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents.

They've been going unpaid for weeks now.

As you know, with many calling out,

leading to those long airport security lines

at some airports, especially the larger ones.

In the dead of the night, the Senate passed a bill

to end this by this partial government shutdown

as long lines stretch at airports across the country.

The bill ultimately passing without the reforms,

Democrats spent weeks demanding,

including requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras

and banning face masks,

although body cameras have already been funded

from the big beautiful bill.

Hours before the vote,

the president ordered DHS Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin,

who was sworn in just days ago

to immediately pay TSA agents

to address this emergency situation,

Sean Coffey with local reaction to the deal,

and how to get TSA agents back to work with pay.

That vote is the most progress we've seen

in this standoff over DHS funding

in more than a month now,

and it now heads to the house

where it could pass as soon as today.

It comes amid a growing strain at U.S. airports

as TSA agents and other critical personnel

have been working without pay for nearly a month and a half,

leading to resignations and sickouts

that have resulted in long lines at major U.S. hubs.

After President Trump said he would sign

an executive order this week paying DHS employees

and with the congressional Easter break approaching,

political experts say pressure was mounting

to get a deal done.

They were getting ready to go back to their home districts

and hear about it.

So it was not only seeing the pictures of lines

that major airports hearing the discussions of TSA agents,

it was the reality that they were gonna hear it

from constituents.

This funding package does not include funding for ICE,

though I still will continue to get money

from cash in the one big beautiful bill.

If and when this bill gets passed

and signed by President Trump,

those paychecks for airport workers would start to kick in.

At R.D.U. Sean Coffey, ABC 11, eyewitness news.

Sean, thank you.

Well, now to the latest on the war with Iran

and the video appearing to show

an American fighter jet in a close call

with an Iranian missile aiming to shoot it down.

Dramatic new video appears to show the moment

an Iranian missile came dangerously close

to striking an American F-18 fighter jet.

U.S. Central Command posting on X Thursday quote,

no U.S. fighter aircraft have been shot down by Iran,

but one source tells ABC News and F-18 operating

in the region did narrowly dodge an Iranian missile

over southern Iran in recent days.

And this comes as Operation Epic Fury stretches

into its fourth week with new reports.

The Pentagon is weighing a sending

an additional 10,000 ground troops to the Middle East.

This is we've learned more than 300 American troops

have been injured in the conflict.

In the meantime, the President extending a deadline

for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in 10 days.

Iran, though, has not signaled any willingness publicly

to accept the deal as it is.

Well, happening now with memorial services taking place

in Raleigh for the former president

of one of the state's oldest HBCUs.

We have a live look here at that memorial service.

This is at Wake Chapel Church on Tarheal Club Road

in Raleigh.

It's for former St. Augustine University's president,

Dr. Christine McFail.

She died March 1st at the age of 80 after battling cancer.

McFail was appointed in 2020 to replace her late husband

who died from COVID.

The eighth eye witness news.

We are local news weeknights four to 630 and 11.

Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead back from the nation's

Capitol where he was one of five witnesses asked to testify

before hearing on the role of local officers

and immigration enforcement.

Elena Athens is live in Durham,

force Elena.

You just spoke with the sheriff about his testimony.

Yeah, Sheriff Clarence Birkhead said when we met just about

a half an hour ago meeting one-on-one that he was honored

to testify before Congress.

He prepared for it, did mock sessions,

and he thought the line of questioning would actually be

a lot harder.

Birkhead returned to the triangle just yesterday.

He testified on Wednesday at the Senate Judiciary Committee

hearing on sanctuary city policies.

Birkhead declared during his opening statement

that Durham County is not a sanctuary county.

The sheriff is a Democrat and there were some tense moments

with a Republican Senator John Kennedy.

Here is some of that exchange and what Birkhead told me

when we spoke one-on-one.

Do you need some water?

Because I think your pants are on fire.

Contrary to what Senator said, my pants were not on fire.

If we have individuals who are living in North Carolina

who are documented or undocumented and they break the law,

particularly in Durham County,

we're going to hold them accountable.

Birkhead also said during our meeting

that he does not agree with some of the immigration tactics

being used right now in our country,

calling them illegal and disturbing.

Live in Durham, Elena Athens, ABC 11, I witness news.

Elena, thank you.

New at noon, Governor Josh Stein,

highlighting his commitment to rural infrastructure

and all rural North Carolinians.

At today's rural summit in Raleigh,

the governor focusing on halene recovery,

clean water, food safety, and internet for rural communities.

The governor's appearance comes after his recent launch

of a listening tour gathering feedback across the state.

Well, the stunning departure of NC State's former head

basketball coach.

We continue to follow the fallout from Will Wade's shocking exit

we'll have the latest.

Plus, we're following our local teams

in the NCAA tournament.

More on that, coming up.

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Right now at noon, we have some new pictures here

capturing low weights, stunning exit from NC State.

The head basketball coach heading back to LSU

after just one season and Raleigh fans tracked a private flight,

which took way back to Baton Rouge,

where the Tigers posted this video,

welcoming him with open arms.

Weight is now the shortest tenured coach

for the men's basketball team in NC State program history.

The departure comes just days after UNC

also made the decision to part ways

with head coach Hubert Davis leaving two of our triangle men's

basketball teams looking for new leadership

and the search is on for both of those positions.

Meantime, there is a lot of excitement,

of course, on the campus of Duke University,

the men's and women's basketball team,

still dancing in March Madness.

Both set to play tonight in the sweet 16.

The Duke men will try to make it back to back,

elite eights with a win tonight.

To keep the madness alive,

Blue Devils need to get through a tough St. John's team.

It's playing some of the best basketball this season.

The winner of tonight's game at Capital One Arena

in Washington will have their work cut out for them as well.

They'll face the winner of three seed Michigan State

and number two, Yukon, for now that Dukeies say

they're dialing in for a tough test.

I feel like our focus right now is on the preparation.

The game is important, but what just do before the game

to get you ready?

That's the most important for us right now.

And having two guys back is huge for us, hopefully.

So, and making sure that we have our energies,

making sure that we're locked in an hour in game.

Game execution is gonna be key for us.

All right, Duke and St. John's matchup is tonight.

The 7-10pm look for live reports from DC on eyewitnesses.

Over in the women's bracket, both Duke and UNC

are still alive and their sweet 16 games are today.

At five o'clock, four seed Carolina,

taking on number one overall seed Yukon in Fort Worth, Texas.

And then at 10 to night, three seed Duke faces

number two seed, LSU.

And you can watch both those games

on our sister network ESPN.

And of course, it all leads up to the women's

championship game on Sunday, April the 5th.

That's in Phoenix, Arizona, tip off for that.

It's 330 right here on ABC 11.

You're watching a game last night, weren't you?

It gets kind of exciting.

It gets pretty exciting.

I know, you just can't stop.

It came down to the wire last minute for Duke one.

Yeah.

With 0.7 left on the clock.

That's why they call it madness, right?

Yeah, it's a big shot, absolutely, yeah.

Wish I could stay up tonight to watch the Duke game.

So, I'll have to watch it on YouTube in the morning, yeah.

All right, listen, if you're heading out,

look at the tree pollen.

It's in the very high category for today.

No surprise there.

Weeds and grass are really low.

And that's again, common this time of the year.

But that tree pollen is up there.

That bothers you, just keep that in mind.

Right now, though, downtown looking good.

We got some high clouds out there.

Otherwise, and just expect temperatures

to be up there close to records today.

Showers come in tonight.

A 30 degree drop in tomorrow's temperature are from today.

So it's going to be a lot colder tomorrow.

Warmer week, though, we get back to the 7 of these.

Most days, I think, will be in the lower to middle.

80s.

But there are signs now that we can see

a bit of a pattern change later in the week

that'll introduce some rain chances coming away.

As the front gets closer, some moisture out ahead of it

could bring some rounds of rain, maybe as early as Wednesday.

But it's more likely Thursday and Friday

and possibly heading into next weekend.

We need it, too.

I mean, look at our deficit.

Six of the last seven months have kind of looked like this

with big time noticeable deficits.

We had one tiny little surplus last month, and that's about it.

Now, so we're looking as we go, late Wednesday

into Thursday, we'll start ratcheting up those rain chances.

Later in the week.

Now, look what happens today is that front comes in.

These temperatures up there close to record high temperatures.

The cold air starts to push in later on this evening.

And with that, we'll get some showers as well.

But don't expect a lot of rain here.

We're looking at generally less than a quarter inch of rain

in any one location.

Maybe we'll get a little bit more in our northern counties.

As we get going, here's six, seven o'clock.

So likely close to sunset or after sunset,

we'll get some showers around.

Here's where the front's going to be.

So this is what we call and a frontal precipitation.

We get not necessarily expected severe weather here

just showers in the wake of the front.

And that could last until around two or three in the morning.

Rain's going to taper off.

And then a lot of cold airs would go into the day tomorrow.

78 in the north hills with a breeze at about 12 miles an hour.

Widespread up are 70.

Is there's an 80 in southern pine, 79, Sanford in Clinton

and also 79 up in Roxborough.

Heading out to see David Spade tonight.

Well, listen, take a jacket.

You won't think you needed it when you head there

because it'll be around 70, but a lot chillier

when you head back to your car.

And there could be a shower thunderstorm as well.

Just keep that in mind that walk to and from depack

might be a little bit on the damp side.

65 is to go into our Sunday near normal high temperatures.

And then another bump up, nearly 10 degrees warmer again

is to go into Monday.

And we'll keep stair step in those temperatures up.

So later today, we'll get some showers coming in from north

to south, but likely it'll be closer to sunset.

Day time should be dry and quite warm.

Maybe some record highs were in the 40s tonight.

Evening showers tapering off around two, three o'clock

in the morning, upper 30s up in Roxborough

for a low temperature.

Firstly, seven a.m. tomorrow.

Maybe some morning clouds, they won't last long.

We'll get lots of sunshine, but much cooler.

And that breeze out of the north,

you're going to want a jacket tomorrow.

The crop walk on Sunday should be fine

after some morning frost, but a mild afternoon.

And then day by day, the temperatures keep warming up.

April 1st, I have to say maybe there's a spotty shower.

The year old's a little bit bullish on that.

Most of the guidance in agreement though.

Now, we could get showers around for Thursday and Friday.

And we need it.

It's been way too dry.

All right.

Thank you, Steve.

It has indeed.

Coming up, Brugaloo controversy.

Breweries pull out as a new festival step send offer

and alternative for beer fans in the triangle.

And the CEO of one of the biggest burger chains

in the country gives a major bonus to employees nationwide.

This being locations only turns at Jackson Huat.com slash 149.

And alternative to the popular Brugaloo festival,

Raleigh Brewing hosting the Y'all means all beer festival

on April 25th.

It's the same day as Brugaloo.

And it comes after some transphobic statements online

from Jennifer Martin, who is behind the shop shop local Raleigh,

the group which organizes Brugaloo.

Despite an apology for Martin, more than a dozen breweries decided

to pull out of North Carolina's largest beer festival

with some joining the new one.

At a time when rights are being stripped away

from the LGBT community, it's sort of an alarming rate.

We want to make sure that we had an event that was safe

and welcoming for everyone in the community.

The Y'all means all festivals expected to feature live music,

food trucks, craft vendors and 16 breweries.

Moles may be making a comeback.

Recent data shows foot traffic.

Moles are up four and a half percent.

Gen Z reportedly leading the way on that,

looking for more in-person experiences.

Market research from Serkana says that the data shows

18 to 24-year-olds are doing more buying in-person

than people 25 and up.

All right, the five guys CEO is giving workers $1.5 million

in bonuses, fortune reports that that's after they bore

the weight of an overwhelmingly popular 40th anniversary deal.

Jerry Morrell tells the outlet that he had no idea

that the buy one get one offer would cause some locations

to run out of food.

The chain says it tried to make it up to customers

with so-called 40th after-party deals earlier this month.

A Wake County intersection remains closed this noon

after a multiple car crash following a bank robbery

and a chase in Raleigh.

And you see from Chopper 11 live

with her Jones Sausage Road in I-40,

coming up new at 1230, what we're learning

about the robbery suspect now in custody.