UPDATED: Guard Fired Four Shots at Elk Grove Bank Robbers

An armed security guard fired four shots into an Elk Grove parking lot after two men with handguns robbed a bank this morning, police said. No one was hurt, and one of the suspect’s weapons was dumped a short distance away.

The two suspects entered the Chase Bank at 8725 Elk Grove Blvd. about 9:30 a.m. armed with handguns, and ordered employees and customers to get down on the floor, according to Elk Grove police. The first suspect confronted the security guard, an unidentified employee of U.S. Security Associates, and pointed a gun at the guard’s head. This suspect stayed near the entrance to the bank and was able to disarm the guard after a brief struggle.

The other suspect jumped over the counter and removed an undisclosed amount of cash from teller drawers. As the two left the bank, the first suspect ejected the magazine from the guard’s firearm and threw both parts of the gun across the room.

Both suspects fled the bank on foot and ran into the parking lot. The guard was able to recover his weapon and load the magazine. The guard went outside the bank and fired shots at the suspect’s vehicle as they drove away. The suspects were in a white Toyota or Honda sedan, and it’s not known if any of the shots hit the suspects or the vehicle.

The vehicle drove behind the neighboring Denny’s restaurant and was last seen travelling west on Elk Grove Boulevard. Police spokesman Christopher Trim said the parking lot was “fairly packed,” with passersby and vehicles, but there’s no indication that anyone in the area was struck by the rounds fired by the security guard.

Police sealed off the parking lot behind the bank, combing the area to look for bullets or shell casings. A police forensics team found at least one scraped sign believed to be struck by a bullet.

The first suspect was described as an African-American male, 30 to 40 years old, 5’8” with a large build. He was wearing a black baseball hat, dark sunglasses, black jacket with a white shirt underneath, blue jeans, white athletic shoes and gloves.

The second suspect was described as an African-American male, 20 to 30 years old, 6’0” with a thin build. He was wearing a black knit cap, dark sunglasses, a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants with black athletic shoes, and blue gloves.

After canvassing the area, investigators recovered several pieces of clothing believed to have been worn by the suspects behind a nearby business. Officers also recovered a handgun that had been discarded along Highway 99 just north of the Elk Grove Blvd. onramp. A records check revealed that the semi-automatic firearm had been reported stolen.

It is unknown if the recovered weapon had been used by one of the suspects involved in the robbery.  

Trim said the security guard was being interviewed to determine the justification for the shooting.

“It’s very unusual for a guard to shoot at suspects in Elk Grove,” he said. “That’s not something we see on a regular basis. In fact, I can’t remember any previous bank robbery where an armed guard has fired at suspects, in the five years since this department formed.”

He said the guard was legally armed and had a right to defend himself if he felt threatened.

“I don’t know what the security company or bank policies are on shootings,” Trim said.

U.S. Security Associates, a nationwide private security firm, didn't respond to phone calls. Chase Bank spokeswoman Eileen Leveckis said the bank couldn’t comment on an ongoing robbery investigation.

Sarah Richter, a hostess at Stagecoach Restaurant in the same shopping center, said she heard gunshots in the parking lot, but didn't understand it was a bank robbery until after police arrived.

"We thought it was cars hitting other cars," she said. "It's scary to think that was happening."

Anyone with information regarding this bank robbery is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department Detective Bureau at (916) 478-8060 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP (4357).  Callers to Crime Alert can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00.  Tips can also be sent via SMS text message by entering CRIMES (274637) on a cell phone, followed by Tip732 (agency identification number) and the message.