Sacto 9-1-1

The Elk Grove Police Department seeks the public's help identifying two suspects involved in an armed bank robbery Wednesday morning.

A security guard fired at robbers as they fled the Chase Bank in the 8700 block of Elk Grove Boulevard. It is not known whether he hit either of the men or their car as they sped away about 9:30 a.m. According to witnesses, both men were armed with handguns, police said.

Upon entering the bank, one robber ordered customers to get on the floor, while the other vaulted the teller counter. A security guard inside the bank confronted the robber who had ordered patrons to the floor and a physical struggle occurred, said Officer Christopher Trim, police spokesman.

The suspect was able to disarm the security guard. But as the suspects left the bank, the one who had disarmed the security guard ejected the magazine from the guard's firearm and threw both parts of the gun across the room, according to a Police Department news release. The suspects then left the bank and ran into the parking lot.

The security guard was able to recover and load his weapon, and fire four rounds at the suspect's vehicle as it was driven away. The vehicle was described as a white Honda or Toyota sedan. It was driven behind a nearby restaurant and last seen traveling west on Elk Grove Boulevard.

One suspect was described as black, 30 to 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches tall with a large build. He was wearing a black baseball hat, dark sunglasses, black jacket with a white shirt underneath, blue jeans, white athletic shoes and gloves. The other man was described as black, 20 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall, with a thin build. He was wearing a black knit cap, dark sunglasses, a black hooded sweatshirt, dark pants with black athletic shoes and blue gloves.

After canvassing the area, investigators recovered several pieces of clothing believed to have been worn by the suspects behind a nearby business. Officers also recovered a handgun that had been discarded along Highway 99 just north of the Elk Grove Boulevard onramp. Police said a records check revealed the automatic firearm had been reported stolen.

Anyone with information regarding the robbery is asked to call the Elk Grove Police Department Detective Bureau at (916) 478-8060 or Crime Alert at (916) 443-4357. Callers to Crime Alert can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Tips can also be sent via SMS text message by entering 274637 on a cell phone, followed by Tip732 and the message.

Bee staff writer Cathy Locke contributed to this report.