Attempted armored truck robbery turns into shootout outside Country Club Hills Walmart: FBI
Suspects at large after carjacking 'elderly person,' fleeing in their vehicle
COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. (WLS) -- An attempted robbery turned into a shootout in the southern suburbs on Monday morning, officials said.
Country Club Hills police said officers responded to 4405 West 168th Place for reports of an active shooter just before 10:30 a.m.
Armored truck personnel were conducting business at the Walmart there, and that's when a sedan pulled up, an FBI spokesperson said.
There was an exchange of gunfire between the armored truck personnel, a Walmart security guard and the would-be robbers, police said. An FBI spokesperson said they believe one of the suspects was struck by gunfire.
The suspects then crashed their sedan, got out and carjacked an "elderly person" before fleeing the scene in their vehicle, an FBI spokesperson said.
Police scanner audio earlier indicated the carjacked vehicle may be a red Chevrolet impala, but that has not been confirmed by officials.
The Walmart has been closed for the day, and there were still several vehicles within the perimeter there around 4 p.m., presumably belonging to customers who had to leave them behind while the investigation continues.
An FBI official also said agents had responded to a bank robbery at a U.S. Bank, located at 4350 Lincoln Highway in Matteson, minutes earlier.
Shots were fired in that incident, and no injuries were reported, the FBI said. It was not immediately clear if the incidents were connected.
This is at least the fourth robbery or attempted robbery of an armored vehicle in the southern suburbs in the last month and a half.
ABC7 Law Enforcement Expert Ed Farrell said the crimes appear to be an escalation of a recent pattern of street robberies by teams of offenders.
"It's a direct threat to public safety, not only from the security guards, but it's a Walmart parking lot. There's people and patrons coming in and out of there," Farrell said.
The FBI said they are reviewing them to see if they are connected, and they are offering a $20,000 reward for any information that can lead them to the suspects in any of those cases. At this point, no description has been offered of those involved.
