Houston, Texas

From Houston’s ABC13.com of September 16, 2005

Guard shoots mask-wearing bank robber

Houston police are searching for several suspects after a bank robbery at the Southern National Bank on Post Oak. One of the robbers was shot twice in a gunfight with security guards.

Investigators believe two people went into the bank to try to rob it. One of those suspects was shot, but police are still looking for one other suspect.

The robbery happened at around 1:30pm Friday. Police say two people wearing masks -- at least one was a Halloween-type mask -- went in to try to rob the bank. But there was a Fort Bend County sheriff's deputy inside working a second job as a security guard.

The deputy spotted the men, and they apparently tried to get his gun. In the struggle, Deputy Johnny Cantu ended up shooting one of the suspects. Cantu -- a member of the force for about a year and a half -- was visibly shaken by the incident.

The other suspect took off out the door. The wounded suspect ran to a nearby apartment complex, where he was apprehended by police. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

"I got down, as soon as they came out of the bank after the shots were fired. I got down on the ground," recalled Eyewitness John Robertson. "Then I hear this sound over my head and that landed on the ground behind me. His gun hit the ground, a shot went into the window, he picked up his gun and ran."

"I think any time you have a suspect enter a place of business, recognize that that place of business has an officer inside and then decides to go in furtherance of their crime and try to disarm the officer -- I think you have some pretty hardened criminals," said HPD Capt. Dwayne Ready.

Police are using K9 units and a search helicopter to try to find the remaining suspect. They say he is armed and considered dangerous. Police have obtained a surveillance camera tape and are using it for additional information.