Security guard fired 16 shots during attempted bank robbery, sources say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Channel 9 has learned a security guard involved in an attempted robbery at a University City bank fired 16 shots at the suspects but ended up hitting nothing.

Sources said the armed guard confronted the men inside the lobby of the State Employee’s Credit Union Monday morning, firing several shots inside. The guard continued to fire as the suspects ran away.

No one was hurt, and officers said the guard didn’t hit anything.

Police are still looking for the two suspects.

[PHOTOS: Attempted bank robbery in University City]

The UNC Charlotte Police Department issued an alert around 10:50 a.m. on Monday notifying students and staff of an attempted robbery at the State Employee's Credit Union on University City Boulevard.

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According to a NinerAlert, UNCC police said the suspects -- including a man who may have been wearing a mask and armed with a shotgun -- tried to rob the credit union.

"I get out of my car -- next thing I know is I hear gunshots," a witness, who did not want to be identified, said.

"The security guard standing his ground at the bank," the witness said.

Some customers told Channel 9 they questioned the guard's actions, believing he could have hurt an innocent person.

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Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the scene Monday and could see dozens of officers surrounding the bank with crime tape roping off the entrance.

Several bullet casings were also seen on the ground.

Officials said nobody in the bank was injured.

Armed guards are the least trained in North Carolina when it comes to law enforcement type jobs.

The state requires police officers to have at least 616 hours and ongoing education.

Special police have to meet the same Basic Law Enforcement Training standard but not the same follow-up requirement.

Armed guards have the lowest standard -- 35 hours of training.

"That's his job to make sure everybody is safe, so I think he was doing his job," customer James Simmons said.

We first updated WSOCTV news app users with a notification just after 11 a.m. Monday that a man tried to rob the credit union and that shots were fired. Download the WSOCTV news app for your smartphone and get updates on this developing story as they come in.

A witness reported that the suspect's vehicle, possibly a green Honda Accord or Civic, may have been seen on W.T. Harris Boulevard getting onto Interstate 85.

In the NinerAlert, police said the suspect was possibly headed toward campus, near Chancellor's Place, but in a follow-up alert said they do not believe there was a threat to campus.

No other information has been released.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates on this story.

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