[url]www.kron4com/Global/story.asp?s=1022308[/url]

Posted: November 21, 2002 at 1:34 p.m.
Updated: November 22, 2002 at 8:46 a.m.

BERKELEY (KRON) -- A female Brinks guard shot dead during a robbery at a Wells Fargo bank in Berkeley never drew her weapon, police said.

The woman and another male guard were shot at about 1 p.m. Thursday during the robbery that occurred on a side entrance of the bank located at 2929 Seventh St. Capt. Bobby Miller said it is unclear whether the robbers were targeting the bank or the Brink's truck, but he described the robbery as fast and well organized.

"The female's weapon was still in it's holster. I saw that," he said.

The second guard is in surgery at Highland Hospital, Miller said. He did not know if the male guard was able to draw his weapon or fire any shots at the robbers.

A third guard reportedly jumped in the truck during the robbery and drove it back to the Brink's headquarters in Oakland, Miller said. A spokeswoman for Brink's refused to comment.

Miller said they have recovered a bank bag inside a late model white Ford Explorer that is believed to have been the getaway vehicle. It was found abandoned about a half a block from the bank in the parking lot of Orchard Supply Hardware store on Ashby Avenue. He said the bag's contents have not been examined.

At this point, Miller said they know that at least one AK-47 assault rifle was used during the robbery and that shell casings were found both inside and outside the bank. He said firefighters are cutting holes in the bank's walls to recover bullets.

Miller said they are slow to release information about the robbery because the murder is the first priority of the investigators.

Miller said they are looking for two black men who are about 5 foot 10 inches tall, about 200 pounds and dressed in dark clothing.