Toronto police are searching for two suspects after a violent daytime bank robbery that sent a man and a woman to hospital Sunday afternoon.
According to witnesses, the double shooting occurred after two male suspects entered a TD Canada Trust branch, at 2555 St. Clair Ave. W., shortly before 12:30 p.m. and ordered employees and customers to get on the floor.
The suspects ordered bank staff to hand over cash.
"A bunch of us got down. One guy wouldn’t and an altercation started," said a customer who was inside the bank when the suspects entered.
Police said the men became angry when one of the patrons wasn’t moving quickly enough.
“To me it looked like he wasn’t as fast as some of the other customers to begin with and that probably sent some anger to these individuals which caused them to step up their level of violence,” Staff Insp. Mike Earl said.
Moments later, a 22-year-old female bank teller suffered a gunshot wound during the altercation inside the building, located near Runnymede Road.
As the suspects fled, a man chased the pair outside and was shot and wounded.
According to police, the man suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
"Basically, the guy, he chased them out there. The bravest guy I’ve ever met in my life," the witness told CP24. "And then he ended up getting shot out in the parking lot."
The suspects fled in a vehicle after the man was shot. Both victims were taken to hospital by paramedics.
Police said the approach of the suspects was unusually brazen.
“This is a brazen, cowardly act to take over a bank like this armed with fully loaded weapons,” Earl said. “And then to fire the weapons in the bank is very rare.”
It is not known if the suspects got away with any cash. Witnesses said a dye pack exploded as the suspects fled. Banknotes that appeared to be stained with dye were seen on the ground after the incident.
Hours later, police impounded a green Honda Civic connected with the robbery after it was found in the city’s northwest end.
However the suspects themselves remain at large.
The suspects are described as black males in their early 20s, each with a medium build.
One was wearing a quilted winter vest overtop a light-coloured hoodie and light jeans. He was armed with a rifle.
The other was wearing a Chicago White Sox hat, a black hoodie and light jeans. He was carrying a semi-automatic handgun.
Police believe the suspects are armed and dangerous. If spotted, police advise people should call 911 and not approach the men.
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