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Bank Robbery Suspects Identified; Pair Owned Airsoft & Tactical CenterWYOMING, Mich, Oct 14, 2011 (WXMI-TV - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Police have identified the two men who led police on a chase through three counties after a bank robbery, killing a Walker Police officer. Police say 37-year old Kris Cheyne and 32-year old Derryl LaFave Jr. were shot by officers after the chase and car accident. Federal investigators searched the mens' homes, both in Wyoming, after their shootout with officers. They also searched Urban Chaos, an airsoft gun supply and training facility in Grand Rapids. Friends said they had trouble getting a loan to start it up, considering their criminal records. They've both spent years in prison. In the late 90's, Cheyne was sentenced to 13 years in prison for bank robbery. In a separate case, LaFave got 10 years on a stolen weapon charge, but was acquitted on a bank robbery charge in that case. Neighbor Serina Little said LaFave and his girlfriend were model neighbors, and she never saw guns of any kind. "They never brought them outside or acted inappropriately in any way to make me worry," said Little. Susan Garbow is a LaFave family friend. She said the two of them told her they watched each other's back in prison. When she heard from family that "DJ" was involved, she knew who the other suspect was. "When they said it was him for real," said Garbow. "In my mind I knew his buddy that he was closest with, Kris." Police are investigating whether the two men are responsible for similar bank robberies in Allegan County in September and June. Those heists were also at a rural bank, with robbers who had rifles, dark masks and dark clothes. "He just wanted to get ahead in life and try to show his Dad that he could do something," said Garbow of LaFave. LaFave's father Derryl Sr. told FOX 17 that he went to Walker Police headquarters to personally apologize to officers there about the loss of their friend. ___ (c)2011 WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Visit WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids, Mich.) at www.fox17online.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |