Security guard shot during downtown bank robbery
CHICAGO (CBS) -- There was chaos downtown Thursday afternoon when a bank heist led to a shootout between a suspected robber and a security guard.
As CBS 2's Marissa Perlman reported, the gunman shot the guard – and took off. Now, the FBI is on the hunt to find him.
The robbery happened at the Fifth/Third Bank branch at 1 S. Wacker Dr. at Madison Street, according to the FBI.
The bank branch is on the ground floor of a prominent office high-rise designed by Helmut Jahn. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange building is located right across the street, and the Civic Opera House is located kitty-corner.
But on Thursday afternoon, the revolving door at the entrance to the bank was left with six different bullet holes. The other bank windows were also shot out.
Broken glass littered the ground in front of the bank, and police put down markers for at least a dozen shell casings.
Following the robbery, Chicago Police tore through the heart of the downtown business district just as the afternoon rush got under way.
Police said at 2:59 p.m., the suspect walked out of the bank branch and the 59-year-old security guard confronted him.
The suspect fired shots and the security guard was grazed in the right hand, police said. The security guard took out his own gun and fired at the suspect, but he was not struck, police said.
The security guard declined medical attention, police said. Police initially reported the guard was shot in the left shoulder and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition, but later said this information was not correct.
Police said the security guard had the proper license to carry the service weapon he fired.
Meanwhile, the suspect ran off east on Madison Street. Video showed the bank robbery suspect leaving a trail of money as he fled.
During the robbery and shootout, witnesses also reported seeing money flying inside the lobby of the bank. Others heard the gunshots from 20 floors up.
It all amounted to some scary moments for people who work in the building, who said they heard between 20 and 25 shots, and ran outside to figure out what was going on.
"All you heard was the first boom – just like, boom!" said Christopher Newson, "and it's like, what's that?"
The people in the building started getting messages on what was happening on the ground level.
"Oh, there's a bank robbery going on at 1 South Wacker," Newson said. "We're all upstairs, you think about it – wait, we're om 1 South Wacker!"
"And we heard a bunch of loud gunshots," said Abby Gasick, "and I thought it was thunder. It was not."
Police said the suspect fled east on Madison Street, which was closed between Franklin Street and Wacker Drive after the incident.
But soon after the robbery, police cars raced in the other direction on Madison Street amid a report the suspect may have gone that way. There were reports that the suspect had run into Ogilvie Transportation Center – which is west of the crime scene on the other side of the river.
Metra said Ogilvie was briefly shut down, but a sweep by Chicago Police determined the suspect was not there – and the train depot later reopened.
Late Thursday, the FBI issued a surveillance photo of the bank robber.
The suspect is described as a Black male standing 5 feet 7 inches tall with a medium build. He was wearing a black hooded jacket, a mask, winter gloves, and blue jeans – and the photo shows him holding a gun.
In a statement, Fifth/Third Bank said: "At this time we are not able to speak to the details of the incident, but the safety of our employees, customers and the public is our utmost concern. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities."
Tips on the suspect can be submitted (312) 421-6700 or tips.fbi.gov. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
