FBI Believes Violent Bank Robbers Are The Same 'Scream' Mask Robbers
SHERIDAN, Colo. (CBS4) - Police are investigating a bank robbery, carjacking and shooting that left two people injured and two or three suspects on the run. At least one of the suspects was wearing a "Scream" mask during the robbery.
Two people were shot, one at his home in the 3300 block of Vance Street and another at the Sheridan Recreation Center located at 3325 West Oxford Avenue in Denver. Police arrested one suspect and were searching for two or three other suspects.
The shootings happened between 11 a.m. and noon on Wednesday. It is unclear the extent of the injuries to those victims but Steve Davis with Lakewood police said they aren't life-threatening.
Police say the crime spree started at 11 a.m. as a bank robbery at 1stBank located at 1940 South Kipling in Lakewood. The bank employees were put inside a vault while the suspects took money from the bank.
At least one of the suspects was wearing a "Scream" mask possibly two, similar to a bank robbery in Lakewood on Sept. 30. The FBI says the suspects had the same kind of violent techniques, same takeover style as the robbery at the US Bank on Carr Street.
The FBI says the robbers got away in a stolen Jeep Liberty but abandoned that vehicle and got into a Chevy Tahoe. That SUV went off the road and they got stuck.
The suspects then carjacked a vehicle from in front of a man's home on Vance. The suspects shot a man and then stole his silver Chrysler van.
"Out in front of his residence … he was getting ready to leave in a silver Chrysler van; they shot that man and took his van," Davis said.
The suspects drove the van to the Sheridan Rec Center where they shot a person at random outside the rec center. The suspects assaulted another person outside the facility. It is unclear whether there was an altercation between the victims and suspects.
"It was a total random shooting, it was nobody that was involved in any of this," Davis said.
Several police, SWAT and crime scene investigator vehicles were at the recreation center after the shooting including officers from Lakewood and Jefferson County. Officers searched a two-mile radius surrounding the rec center that included Sheridan High School.
Davis said it's unclear whether there are two or three suspects. The identity of the suspect in custody has not been released.
Anyone in the area of the rec center is asked to stay inside their home and lock doors and windows. If driving through the area keep windows rolled up.
"Anybody that's living in the neighborhood here, I would ask them to really be cautious -- to lock the doors, close the windows," Davis said.
The Sheridan Municipal Building and all five schools in Sheridan were placed on lockout due to the active shooter in the area. All after school activities were canceled.
Littleton Public Schools were also placed on lockout along with Mullen High School. Littleton lifted their secure perimeter a little after 1 p.m. Students from Mullen were released at 2:40 p.m.
Parents were urged to stay away from the schools and not pick up their children until directed.
Sheridan High School and Fort Logan Northgate students were bused to St. James Church about 4 p.m. where students will be reunited with their parents and guardians. Students from ECC and Alice Terry Elementary schools were released from the school.
Additional Information from Sheridan Police:
A tip line has been set up for the shooting in Sheridan. If you have any information pertaining to the incident call 303-734-8268.
