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Bay Shore Bank Robbery Ends in Police Chase, Woodbury Crash

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Two Bay Shore bank robbery suspects following a police chase crash in Woodbury on Weds., Jan. 13, 2016, police said. (Photo by Rashed Mian/Long Island Press)

Two accused Bay Shore bank robbery suspects who led police on a chase were arrested after crashing their getaway vehicle in Woodbury on Wednesday morning, prompting Syosset schools to be on lockout, authorities said.

The armed suspects, Murray Hawkins and Kevin Highland, both of Queens, allegedly flashed a pistol when they robbed the Capital One Bank outside South Shore Mall on Sunrise Highway in Bay Shore at 9 a.m., authorities said. Following a police chase, the suspects crashed at the last exit of Route 135, where the expressway meets Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury.

Hawkins and Highland were both charged with first-degree robbery. Highland was also charged in the armed robbery of a Capitol One bank in Babylon on Dec. 29.

“We do not believe any shots were fired,” Suffolk County Police Deputy Tim Sini told reporters during a news conference.

Police said two officers suffered minor injuries during the pursuit. One was arrested near the Eagle Rock apartment complex and the other was arrested while running across the expressway, police said. Out of precaution, authorities had searched the area for a third suspect, but only Hawkins and Highland are believed to be involved, police said.

“At their request and as a precautionary measure, we have instituted lockout procedures at all of our school buildings,” the Syosset Central School District said in a statement on their website shortly before 10 a.m. “This means we will not allow any persons in or out of our buildings until the police have issued an all clear directive.”

Police said the money bag was recovered from the 2015 Ford Escape used in the chase. Highland, who was behind the wheel of the vehicle, according to police, was also charged with unlawful fleeing a police officer.

Both men will be arraigned Thursday at First District Court in Central Islip.

This post was updated on Jan. 14 to include the identities of the alleged suspects and their charges.

-With additional reporting by Timothy Bolger