Man held to answer for two South San Francisco bank robberies

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – A 48-year-old San Francisco man has been held to answer on all charges related to a pair of bank robberies late last year in South San Francisco, prosecutors said.

Damon Shoemaker is charged with two counts of first-degree robbery, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Shoemaker was held to answer following a preliminary hearing Tuesday. His defense attorney, Ross Green, did not present any evidence, while two victims and two South San Francisco police officers took the stand for the prosecution.

The bank robberies were reported on Nov. 28 and Dec. 28 at the Chase Bank on McLelland Drive. In both cases, Shoemaker allegedly displayed a semiautomatic handgun and demanded cash from a bank teller, according to the district attorney’s office.

Between the two robberies, Shoemaker made off with roughly $3,400, prosecutors said.

Video surveillance collected by investigators showed a gray van leaving the scene of one of the robberies. Shoemaker, the registered owner, was then identified as a suspect.

Authorities arrested Shoemaker on Jan. 19. A search of his van turned up a black replica firearm that matched the handgun used in the robberies as well as clothing worn by the suspect during the alleged crimes, according to the district attorney’s office.

A judge set Shoemaker’s superior court arraignment for July 12. He remains in jail on $100,000 bail.