North Carolina Man Who Held Branch Manager Hostage Faces Federal Charges

Kevin Lailiberte says he wants to go to federal prison; his wish will likely come true.

In September, a North Carolina man walked into a branch of the $40.8 billion State Employees Credit Union, drew two semi-automatic pistols and held the branch manager hostage.

But Kevin Francis Lailiberte didn’t demand cash. Instead, he told the branch manager he was holding him hostage because Lailberte wanted to go to federal prison, according to new court documents filed by federal prosecutors on Dec. 27 in U.S. District Court in Greensboro, N.C.  

Lailiberte may get his wish. 

A North Carolina federal grand jury indicted Lailberte for possessing a firearm as a felon. Lailiberte had been barred from owning a firearm since his 1991 conviction for manslaughter, for which he was sentenced to ten years in prison. 

On Sept. 12, Laliberte entered the SECU branch in Pittsboro, approached the teller counter and asked to speak with the manager. He then drew two Kel-Tee, model P-32, semi automatic pistols and told everyone to leave the branch except for the manager.

Frustrated that employees and members were not leaving the branch fast enough, he fired two shots into the ceiling. After they exited the branch, Laliberte told the branch manager he didn’t want to harm him and instructed him to call 911, court documents show.

While on the phone with local authorities, Laliberte repeatedly asked to speak with North Carolina State Trooper Rodney Cook.

Several days prior to the branch incident, Cook had pulled over Laliberte for speeding.

During the hour-long hostage standoff, Laliberte repeatedly asked for Trooper Cook and threatened to commit suicide. Laliberte said he only trusted the state trooper to take him into custody safely, federal prosecutors said in court documents.

While Laliberte was speaking to Cook over the phone, the branch manager was able to walk out of the branch unharmed. Shortly after that, Laliberte surrendered to police.

After he was taken into custody and questioned, Laliberte said he had additional weapons at his residence where investigators found two guns and ammunition. 

He was charged with 15 counts of discharging a weapon into occupied property, two counts of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of second-degree kidnapping and one count of injury to real property.

However, those charges were reportedly dropped by the Chatam County District Attorney because of the federal indictment, according to the Chatam News+Record, a local news site. 

Laliberte pleaded not guilty to possessing a firearm as a felon and remains in federal custody.