OKLAHOMA CITY -- NewsChannel 4 HD is learning more about the woman who died Saturday while trying to rob a northwest Oklahoma City bank.
Police say 56-year-old Barbara Lewis was fatally shot by a security guard while her ex-husband, 56-year-old Samuel Lewis, was waiting outside the bank in a getaway car. Authorities say Samuel was wounded by the guard in a shootout. Barbara's family says they liked Samuel and thought the couple was happy together.
They don't believe Barbara was pressured into the robbery. However, they say her mental health may have influenced her fatal decision. "I have no idea," says Barbara's mother, Marcia Hatley. "This has just come as a complete shock to me." Marcia says Barbara didn't need any money and was on top of the world when Samuel, the father of her four children, came back into her life last year. "This has just hit us so hard, because this is not Barbara's character."
Tina Hatley, Barbara's sister, calls the robbery attempt "unfathomable." "How do I take and ingest that?" she says incredulously. Tina remembers Barbara being a happy person who loved her dogs, gardening and her family. She blames Barbara's actions on her bipolar disorder and says when she was off her medication, her manic-depressive side came out.
"Because it was so out of her behavior, out of her norm," Hatley says, "I have to believe that this was a mental health crisis." Deenita Watts, Barbara's cousin, remembers a woman who would never hurt anyone. "She was happy," Watts says. "She was content with her life. She was very friendly." Barbara was an occupational therapist, but had to have her license reinstated while serving a 10-year suspended sentence related to methamphetamine convictions. Her family says Barbara wasn't perfect, but shouldn't have met Saturday's fate. "I haven't cried," her mother Marcia says. "I grieve on the inside. My heart's crushed."
Samuel Lewis was released from a hospital and booked into the Oklahoma County jail Tuesday. Oklahoma City Police say he'll be facing a first-degree murder charge for being involved in the felony. He'll also face charges of attempted robbery and shooting with intent to kill. The bank security guard, 64-year-old Jim Shepherd, did not want to comment on the robbery.
They don't believe Barbara was pressured into the robbery. However, they say her mental health may have influenced her fatal decision. "I have no idea," says Barbara's mother, Marcia Hatley. "This has just come as a complete shock to me." Marcia says Barbara didn't need any money and was on top of the world when Samuel, the father of her four children, came back into her life last year. "This has just hit us so hard, because this is not Barbara's character."
Tina Hatley, Barbara's sister, calls the robbery attempt "unfathomable." "How do I take and ingest that?" she says incredulously. Tina remembers Barbara being a happy person who loved her dogs, gardening and her family. She blames Barbara's actions on her bipolar disorder and says when she was off her medication, her manic-depressive side came out.
"Because it was so out of her behavior, out of her norm," Hatley says, "I have to believe that this was a mental health crisis." Deenita Watts, Barbara's cousin, remembers a woman who would never hurt anyone. "She was happy," Watts says. "She was content with her life. She was very friendly." Barbara was an occupational therapist, but had to have her license reinstated while serving a 10-year suspended sentence related to methamphetamine convictions. Her family says Barbara wasn't perfect, but shouldn't have met Saturday's fate. "I haven't cried," her mother Marcia says. "I grieve on the inside. My heart's crushed."
Samuel Lewis was released from a hospital and booked into the Oklahoma County jail Tuesday. Oklahoma City Police say he'll be facing a first-degree murder charge for being involved in the felony. He'll also face charges of attempted robbery and shooting with intent to kill. The bank security guard, 64-year-old Jim Shepherd, did not want to comment on the robbery.
