May 12, 2023 - Fresno Police Department officials report that on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at 12:51 P.M., the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a call of an armed carjacking of an AT&T van. After the robbery, the suspect fled with the stolen vehicle towards the highway. Madera SO provided a broadcast to allied agencies in the area.

At 12:56 P.M., Northwest officers responded to a 9-1-1 call regarding a male with a gun walking onto Bullard High School Campus (5445 N. Palm Avenue). Officers immediately responded to the location, cleared the school and determined the call to be a hoax.

At 1:17 P.M., Northeast officers responded to Central Valley Community Bank at 8375 N. Fresno Street regarding an armed commercial robbery. A male suspect arrived at the location in an AT&T van. He approached the bank teller, demanding money from the location, claiming he had a gun. In fear of being harmed, the victim complied with the suspect’s demands. The suspect fled the location in the AT&T van.

Detectives assigned to the Career Criminal Auto Theft Team (CCATT) located the AT&T van near Lexington Avenue and Audubon Drive. The suspect fled the vehicle when additional officers arrived. With the assistance of air support the suspect, Marcus Banksbey, was taken into custody a short time later.

Officers located evidence connecting Banksbey to all three incidents including calling in the hoax call of an armed subject at Bullard High School. Banksbey was never on campus and evidence suggests that it was a diversion call as the suspect was on his way to commit the bank robbery.

Marcus Banksbey was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail on numerous charges related to this investigation.

Source & photo: Fresno Police Department

Related: Sacramento Man Arrested for Felony Carjacking After Assaulting a Clovis Man and Stealing His Work Van in Madera