An alleged bank robber is dead after being shot by police, following a high speed pursuit in Prince George's County.

The suspect has been identified as 54-year-old Fred Perkins of the 12000 block of Chasemont Court.

Officers say they chased the alleged crook from a Chevy Chase Bank branch to the 13000 block of Annapolis Road in Bowie, and that's where county and state police fired the fatal shots.

Bowie resident Henry Eaton watched police riddle a Toyota Sequoia with bullets from across the street.

"All the sudden it was like Vietnam Delta pop pop pop," said Eaton.

"Within 15-20 seconds it was 15-20 shots and then it was over," said Bill Gallagher who witnessed the shooting.

An abrupt ending to what began less than two miles away at a Chevy Chase bank. There, police say, an armed suspect robbed a teller, and raced from the scene in the bank manager's car.

"Officers saw a vehicle leaving the bank at a high pace of speed," said Captain Rob Nealon of Prince George's County Police.

Witnesses describe an onslaught of police cruisers following after the suspect in a high speed chase that wound through Bowie, and ended in police gunfire on the corner of Old Annapolis Road and 450 .

This individual began to get out of the vehicle, was armed and at that point the officers took measures to protect themselves, and so they discharged their firearms," said Chief Melvin High, Price George's County Police Department.

Perkins was shot and flown to Prince George's Hospital, where he later died.

"Its just a very violent situation down there," said witness David Harding.

One witness was too disturbed to talk at length about what he saw, and with six dozen police cars on the scene, others wonder if such an extensive response was warranted.

"I cant believe they would respond to a bank robber like that. Let me put it like that because it puts too many people at risk and it eliminates all of those other people out there that need coverage," said Eaton.