LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Sheriff's deputies are looking for a man who fired at least one shot inside a bank before fleeing in a stolen car on Wednesday.
Jefferson County Sheriff's office spokesman Jim Shires said no one was injured but it wasn't immediately know if any money was stolen from the Bellco Credit Union. All the people in the bank, including employees and patrons, were brought out after the SWAT team did a final sweep inside.
The first call about shots fired was received at 9:11 a.m.
Sandra Sagehorn, vice president of customer service, said one shot was fired but it didn't appear to be aimed at anyone in particular. John Wyckoff, the credit union's security consultant, said the gunman walked in shortly after the bank opened, opened fire and ordered everyone to get on the floor.
Shires said there were conflicting reports about how many shots were fired.
Initially, there were also conflicting information about whether a second suspect was in the bank, but no one else was found inside, sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said.
While the building was being secured, sheriff's deputies staked out positions around the credit union, aiming guns and rifles at the building. Deputies forced cars driving by to turn around.
Shires said deputies would have immediately entered the building if shots had been fired inside.
"When someone walks into a bank and fires a shot it shows that the suspect is more willing than others to take whatever means he feels are necessary to accomplish his goals. It's very dangerous situation," he said.
Authorities issued a reverse-911 alert to residents within a half-mile radius of the credit union and warned people to keep their doors closed.
Kelley said the people who were inside the bank at the time of the shooting will be interviewed by investigators.
She said there were reports of "questionable" behavior by some of the bank patrons but she could not give details. She also said their behavior does not imply they did anything wrong.
"These people have not done anything wrong," Kelley said. "They were put through an extremely stressful situation this morning."
Kelley said the man who fled left in a car belonging to a credit union employee or patron. Kelley says the car is a 2006 silver Dodge van with Colorado plates that was found unoccupied nearby.
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