U.S. Attorney announces further charge

U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren has revealed that Bennie J. Herring who has already been charged with armed bank robbery and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime, has now had a further charge laid against him. The new indictment has added a charge of attempted air piracy.

Herring is accused of robbing a bank and forcing hostages to go to an airport in their underwear. He is currently in hospital after being shot by police while allegedly trying to commandeer the plane.

Herring is accused of ordering the bank's assistant manager and five other hostages to strip to their underwear and drive him in a van to the airport. Prosecutors said Herring fired two shots at police from the van.

If convicted, he would face no less than 20 years in prison for the attempted air piracy alone.