Two men who robbed an armoured truck in Mill Woods early Friday were armed with pepper spray and a gun, CBC News has learned.
One suspect was shot and killed by one of the two guards. The man was shot while facing the guard, who is unlikely to face criminal charges, sources tell CBC.
Police responded to the call at about 12:45 a.m. this morning at the TD Canada Trust near 25th Avenue and Hewes Way in southeast Edmonton, where they found a man dead on the ground a few hundred metres from the bank.
Police responded to the scene of the shooting at TD Canada Trust near 25th Avenue and Hewes Way early Friday morning. (Lydia Neufeld/CBC)
Jan Whitelock, who lives in an apartment facing the scene, said she was asleep when she was awakened by two
“pops” sounds.
“I thought they were gunshots but I listened for a bit,” she said. “Then (I) heard two gentlemen running.
“One yelled at the other, got into a vehicle and didn’t speed off, but slowly, quietly left.”
She said the voices sounded like young men maybe in their teens or early 20s.
“I heard the voice. One said, ‘Come on. Let’s go’.”
Stan Falkenberg, who lives in a condo building near where the body was found, said he heard noises, but didn’t think much of it.
“I heard this bang, bang, bang, and being that it was July 1st not that long ago, I thought it was just kids letting off firecrackers,” he said.
Police tape off an area east of the bank, where the man’s body lies. (Lydia Neufeld/CBC Edmonton )
Police say the suspects had approached the armoured truck guards, pepper sprayed them and demanded cash.
It’s not known whether guards were taking cash into or out of the bank.
Police have yet to determine whether any cash was taken. Police were seen photographing bags of cash on the ground.
A search for the second man is underway.
“This early in the investigation, any tips from the public would be critical,” said spokesperson Scott Pattison.
The two guards were treated on scene for pepper spray, but were otherwise unharmed. Their employer, Garda World, provided the following statement to CBC Edmonton:
“Following an attack on our operations this morning, our crew is safe and we are providing support to them and their families, as well as to our employees at the Edmonton branch,” reads the written statement.
“The incident is under investigation and we are fully cooperating with the Edmonton Police Department. We cannot provide any additional information at this time.”
Crime scene investigators take photos of bags of money near where two men attempted to rob an armoured truck early Friday. (CBC)