Armored car guard shot, robbed at mall: In critical condition after attack in Cal City

An armored car guard picking up daily receipts from MarshallField's in Calumet City was shot and robbed Monday while in thevestibule of the mall, "a brazen act in broad daylight," police said.

The 26-year-old guard for United Armored Services was undergoingsurgery Monday night at St. James Hospital and Health Centers inOlympia Fields for what's believed to be a single gunshot wound tothe neck, authorities said. He was in critical condition.

The guard, a five-year veteran of the company, had just picked upthe receipts and was heading back to his truck shortly after 1 p.m.,said Calumet City Police Chief Patrick O'Meara. As he entered thevestibule on the south side of the River Oaks shopping center, a manwith a gun approached and -- possibly without uttering a word --opened fire, grabbed the money bag and fled, O'Meara said.

NO GUNMAN FOUND

"It appears it was just boom, take the money, but we're still inthe process of reviewing video [surveillance tapes] and everythingelse," O'Meara said.

It was just the two of them in the vestibule, although shopperswere nearby and witnessed the incident, police said. In fact, itappears the guard's partner, who was in the armored car about 50 feetaway, also witnessed it, although police would not reveal how thatguard reacted.

Officials with United Armored, based in Broadview, would notcomment, other than to say a statement will be issued "at a latertime."

Police conducted a two-hour air and ground search but were unableto find the shooter.

The mall remained open, but security was increased as aprecaution, a spokeswoman said.