Police Shoot and Wound Suspected Bank Robbers

By Lookout Satff

June 30 -- Santa Monica police shot and wounded two suspected bank robbers in the parking structure of a Marina del Rey shopping mall Wednesday morning after they emerged from their SUV with bags full of money, police said.

The two men, who have not been identified, were arrested and charged with armed robbery, said Lt. Alex Padilla, a police department spokesman.

They were taken to a local hospital, where they were listed in stable condition, Padilla said.

The incident began shortly before 10:30 a.m., when police responded to reports of an armed robbery in progress at the First Federal Bank on Main Street and Ashland Avenue, police said.

“Witnesses reported that one of the suspects was armed with a black handgun and had been seen fleeing the bank and entering a black SUV,” Padilla said..

Officers responding to the bank robbery spotted the getaway vehicle at Lincoln and Venice boulevards in Venice a short pursuit ensued, Padilla said.

The suspects drove into the parking structure of the Villa Marina Market Place, where the vehicle came to an abrupt stop, he said.

The two suspects got out of the vehicle and allegedly made ``furtive movements and refused commands,'' resulting in a brief foot pursuit that ended with the gunfire wounding both suspects, Padilla said.

``At the time the suspects exited the vehicle, they had bags of money in their possession,'' police Chief James T. Butts told reporters at the scene.

``The money blew out around the parking structure,'' he said. ``One of the suspects reached into his waistband. Police, having been informed the robbery had been committed with a handgun, feared for their safety and opened fire.''

The shooting took place as a group of preschoolers and their parents were arriving at the shopping center for a field trip.

``Someone yelled out to a parent, `There's a gun, there's a gun!' We hear shots and ... we just dropped them (the children) and dragged them to the floor,'' preschool director Eboni Heard told ABC7.

Following routine procedure, the officers involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative duties while the department conducts an investigation, police said.

Anyone having additional information should call the Robbery-Homicide Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8451 or the Watch Commander’s Office at (310) 458-8426.

Callers who wish to remain anonymous may also call the WeTip national hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).

The suspects, who were not immediately identified, were hospitalized in stable condition, Padilla said. No officers were hurt.