 Dallas SWAT officer walks near a bank that was robbed in south Dallas, Tuesday. (AP Photo) |
By Scott Goldstein and Dan X. McGraw
Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — A masked gunman who burst into an east Oak Cliff bank Tuesday afternoon was killed in a shootout with a security guard that set off an hours-long standoff.
Several Chase Bank customers and employees fled the building in the 4400 block of South Lancaster Road without suffering serious injuries. The guard and a woman remained holed up in the bank for a short time, uncertain of the man’s condition.
SWAT officers surrounded the bank across from the Dallas VA Medical Center as dozens of onlookers gathered.
But the man – who was still unidentified late Tuesday – was found dead behind the bank counter when officers entered.
“This thing probably went down in just a matter of seconds,” Dallas police homicide Sgt. Larry Lewis said. “Apparently he entered with a mask, which immediately caused everybody’s alarm, and then he started ... waving a weapon around, demanding everyone leave the bank.”
The guard was grazed by a bullet in the shootout with the suspect. He was treated and released Tuesday night, police said.
Investigators were questioning witnesses Tuesday night.
Copyright 2008 Dallas Morning News