'Leprechaun' robbery suspect shot dead

A man dressed as a leprechaun was one of two bank robbery suspects reportedly killed in a shootout with Tennessee police on St Patrick's Day.

According to The AP, police spokesman Sgt Bill Storment claimed that the First State Bank in Gallatin was robbed at 12.28pm by a man in green leprechaun garb holding a large-calibre gun.

The man - wearing a fake brown beard and wig as well as a green vest, top hat and shorts - had reportedly entered the adjacent Fifth Third Bank moments earlier.

Bank manager Sharon Riehemann said: "He started to come in, then looked at his watch, then turned around and left."

She added that she saw the suspect walk towards the other bank before running away from it minutes later holding a blue bag.

Police claimed that two men in a car sped away from the scene and fired at officers during the chase, disabling a police car.

The men left the vehicle and were later killed while reportedly exchanging fire with officers in a nearby field, No officers were hurt in the shootout and no injuries were reported at the bank.