By JIMENITA SWAIN, NG Senior Reporter, jimenita@nasguard.com

A daring daylight robbery at Scotiabank, East Street and Soldier Road, led to four people being shot — two suspects, a police officer and a customer. No one was fatally wounded, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hulan Hanna, who, spoke to reporters on the scene yesterday.

Hanna explained that around 12.15 p.m. the security officer on duty observed two armed, masked men running on the outside of the bank. One of the suspects had a handgun while the other possessed a shotgun, he said. " As a result of that he (security officer) closed the bank's glass door entrance, went inside and took refuge along with some of his colleagues," Assist. Com. Hanna explained.

"The gunmen approached the door and opened fire, shattering its glass. They went inside and jumped over the counter, where they proceeded to take money," he added. After the men withdrew cash from the teller stations, they encountered two female police officers from the Wulff Road Police Station, who were in the area in a vehicle. One of the armed men fired at the police car, causing one of the female officers to receive gun shot pellet injuries to the left side of her face. That officer, a police corporal, was treated and discharged, he said.

The injured officer drove a safe distance along East Street South before she switched places with her partner who drove her to the hospital for treatment. During the encounter on the inside of the bank a male customer received a gunshot injury to the foot, but his injuries appear to be minor. It was unclear how many shots were fired inside the bank, Hanna said.

Praising the quick response of plain clothed and uniformed police officers, Asst. Com. Hanna said, "We were able to take down the three suspects. During this altercation two of them were shot."

The police have in their possession the three suspects, two handguns, a shotgun and a bag of money believed to be the property of Scotiabank.

"This has been a very good day for law enforcement and I want people in this country to know that we are committed to policing this country with everything that it takes, to make sure that the few misfits who create problems in this country will be dealt with. It's a harsh reality that the law will prevail in this country," he said.

The junction at Soldier Road and East Street near the bank was cordoned off with police crime scene tape and no traffic was allowed to pass. Persons haphazardly pulled vehicles to the side of the street as nearly 100 locals flocked to the area to get a glimpse of the suspects. A caravan of two ambulances and at least 10 police vehicles passed near to the scene, which sent onlookers into a frenzy. The crowd shouted, "They get 'em, they get 'em," and applauded. It was later confirmed that one of the suspects was being transported in one of the ambulances. Uniformed and plain clothed police officers moved in and out of the bank, while a few employees huddled together at the bank's parking lot entrance.

Police did not say much about the suspects or how they were apprehended, only that they were known to police. Assist. Com. Hanna assured members of the public that it was safe to conduct business at the bank. When asked if bank officials throughout the country needed to increase security, he said, "There is always a need for more security, but this should not cause any bank official to become paranoid."

Meanwhile, Barry Malcolm, Managing Director of Scotiabank Bahamas, was at the scene and explained that counselors would speak with traumatized staff members after officers completed their investigations. About the staff, he said, "They are pretty badly shaken up, but thank God none of them have been hurt and we pray they will be okay with counseling." Malcolm said the bank is expected to re-open today after repairs were completed overnight.

Commenting that East Street and Soldier Road was one of their busiest locations, Malcolm assured customers that very intense security measures were in place - the evidence of that was the quick apprehension of the three suspects.

About 14 staff members were inside the bank during the robbery.