Video: Police shoot bank robbery suspect

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SEATTLE – Seattle Police opened fire on a suspect in Downtown Seattle this morning who they say robbed a West Seattle bank wearing black shoe polish on his face and a wig.

That suspect is now in critical condition.

Police say the robbery happened around 10:10 a.m. at a Wells Fargo Bank in the 2300 block of California Avenue in West Seattle.

The FBI says the suspect, armed with a gun, ordered everyone around and jumped the counter. He took off with a large sum of money. No shots were fired at the bank.

Initial reports say the man was wearing a dress, but the FBI now says that's not the case.

A witness named Robert saw the man go inside from his neighboring store.

"About 45 seconds to a minute later, he exited the bank… he got in the SUV as it was pulling away and they sped off north on California Avenue," said Robert.

Police began pursuing the beige Jeep Cherokee being driven by a second man across the bridge all the way to Capitol Hill then back towards downtown. At First Avenue and Yesler Street, the driver bailed out and was later arrested.

Tim Rice

Seattle Police keep their guns drawn on a suspect inside an SUV in Downtown Seattle who they say was involved in an armed bank robbery on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.

The initial robber continued the chase in the SUV made a wrong turn that ended the pursuit instantly at First Avenue and Spring Street.

"The guy just chose the wrong street. He came up Spring and there's a bunch of construction. He had to stop," said Ken White.

With nowhere to drive, the chase instantly turned into a standoff with police and SWAT swarming the street.

"There was at least 100 cops allover the place. Guns pulled. Big guns. They were ready for a shoot out," said Tyler Hansen.

"There were some positioned on vehicles below him, on the side of him and then just in the alleyway down there below our window," said White.

Moments later, the sound of gunfire reverberated.

"He was surrounded by police and he would not drop the gun and he started getting out of his car with his gun and they shot him," said another witness.

Police say since the man refused to drop his gun, they had to fire to protect officers and bystanders.

"There were at least five shots that first time and then at least three or four shots the second round. They fired again at him," said White.

Officers moved in to pull the 50-year-old suspect out of the jeep.

Witnesses say they were shocked to see him still alive.

"He sat there on the ground for quite a while but then a leg moved. and then a hand moved," said White.

Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske says the suspect who was shot has a violent criminal history which includes at least one other bank robbery.