Armored truck driver killed, another wounded during robbery attempt in Chatham
CHICAGO - An armored car driver was fatally shot and another was critically wounded during a robbery in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood Monday morning.
The shooting happened about 10:21 a.m. at a Bank of America in the 200 block of West 83rd Street, the Chicago Police Department confirmed.
The drivers with GARDA World security services were loading an ATM machine when two to four armed males wearing all black clothing and masks approached them and demanded cash, according to police. The gunmen opened fire, striking one of the security guards multiple times, police said.
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LaShonda Hearts, 47, was shot six times and was in "traumatic arrest" when paramedics arrived, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt said. A 46-year-old male security guard was shot twice in the abdomen, police said.
LaShonda Hearts | Courtesy of Legal Help Firm
Both were transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, police said. Hearts was later pronounced dead.
The gunmen, who were at-large, did not take any of the cash, according to a spokeswoman for the FBI, which was handling the investigation.
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Employees at a home remodeling store next to the bank said they heard a few rounds of gunfire. They said witnessing gunfire is unfortunately becoming routine for them.
"We’re getting used to it," said an employee who asked not to be named. "The worst part is these shootings aren’t happening at night, you know, they’re during the day. It’s scary."
Ald. Howard Brookins Jr. (21st) has a ward office near where the shooting happened that he shares with state Sen. Elgie Sims, Jr., D-Chicago and Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore. The released a joint statement calling the shooting "yet another senseless act of gun violence."
"We are facing a crisis moment in our communities. We are aware of the violence happening in Chicago and in other marginalized communities. We remain committed to protecting our communities and making them safer. True public safety will happen when we begin to reimagine our approach" they said in the statement.
Not long after the robbery, a car smashed into a tree about four miles away near 87th and Saginaw. A man was found dead behind the wheel and another occupant died later at the hospital.
Police are investigating whether the men and the car are connected to the armed robbery, as well as another robbery that happened at a cellphone store around the same time.
An employee of Garda Security who does not want to be identified said loading ATM machines is one of the riskiest things they do.
Police investigate Monday where two armored truck guards were shot at a BMO Harris Bank branch in Chatham. (Sun-Times)
"ATMs are one of the most dangerous things to be worked on, to be serviced. As an armored car professional this is probably the most dangerous operation we do," they said.
The two security guards were employed by GARDA, which released a statement saying two of its employees were critically wounded in a "foiled robbery attempt."
"At this time, we are focusing on supporting them and their immediate families," a Garda spokesperson said in a statement. "We are working closely with the authorities in their investigation to find the perpetrators."
Nobody is in custody and Area Two Detectives are investigating.
Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.