FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —Today at approximately 2 p.m., a team three masked men entered the First Community Bank at 15 S. Main Street and attempted to rob the bank. The Community Police Department arrived on the scene in time to trap the robbers inside the bank. The Department's SWAT team arrived shortly thereafter.
At the time of the SWAT team's arrival, the robbers had already killed two people inside the bank. After one of the robbers fired a shot out the bank window at police, on-scene commanders made the decision to move in on the robbers. In the ensuing gunfight, two robbers were killed and a third was mortally wounded. The third robber succumbed to his injuries en route to Community Valley Hospital. One civilian who was hiding under a counter at the bank was also injured in the gunfight; he was transported to Community Valley in stable condition. No other injuries were sustained by police or other civilians. However, the wall-mounted control panel for the bank's vault was damaged in the firefight and five people who were locked into the vault during the robbery have been trapped inside.
A technical team from the vault's manufacturer is expected to arrive on scene soon. Company officials have said it will take the team approximately one hour to get the vault open and have assured the department that there is enough oxygen in the air-tight vault to sustain the trapped victims until the vault is opened.
Family members of all of the trapped, injured and slain victims, as well as the robbers, have been notified. However, the department will not be releasing any names until the bereaved have time to make notifications within their own families.
The investigation is ongoing. The department will take no questions at this time and will release all future information through written press releases.
