Armored Truck Guard Shot, Robbed
HOUSTON -- An armored truck guard is recovering from a gunshot wound to the leg after a group of men robbed him in southwest Houston, the FBI said.
The robbery happened around 11a.m. in front a check cashing store in the 5900 block of South Gessner Road.
The Loomis armored truck guard was walking toward the check cashing store, carrying a bag with several thousand dollars in cash, when the group of men opened fire with a rifle and a handgun, said Shauna Dunlap, an FBI spokeswoman.
Witnesses heard at least eight gunshots. One of the shots struck the back of the guard's legs. Another struck a car full of children.
One horrifed customer watched, she said, as one of the men ran toward the guard and robbed him.
"They didn't even attempt to rob this individual without violence," she said. "They saw the guard, shot first, firing multiple times, when the guard dropped the money, they picked up the money and took off."
This is the second time this year a group of armed men has targeted the Loomis armored truck company.
On August 7, two armored truck guards were robbed while loading a Bank of America automatic teller machine in southeast Houston. One of the guards, in that robbery, was shot in the leg and the head.
Dunlap said the FBI wasn't sure if the same men were responsible for Saturday's robbery in Southwest Houston.
Agents spent much of the day speaking with customers caught in the crossfire and analyzing surveillance video.
"For five years nothing has happened to that store," said Jasmine Mazariegos, an eyewitness. "And just now it did."
The armored truck guard was reportedly in stable condition at Ben Taub General Hospital. There were no other injuries.
Eyewitnesses said the suspects were last seen heading south, on South Gessner, possibly in a silver-colored Chevy Malibu. The FBI said it considered them armed and extremely dangerous.
Crime Stoppers has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to their capture.
