Two armed robbers wearing “Scream” masks held up a Lakewood bank Wednesday morning, brandishing their weapons and threatening tellers’ lives.
The robbery happened about 9:10 a.m. at US Bank, 1414 Carr St., according to an FBI media release.
The pair of robbers “shoved guns in the faces of bank tellers,” the FBI said. One teller was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The robbers fled in a Jeep, which had been stolen. They ditched the vehicle nearby in the area of West 14th Avenue and Garrison Street before getting into a black SUV and taking off.
Lakewood police set up a perimeter and used dogs but were not able to find the robbers.
Also in Lakewood on Wednesday morning, at about the same time, a man wearing a skeleton mask and brandishing a gun held up a 7-11, 1110 S. Pierce St., the release said.
In that incident the gunman ordered everyone to the floor and fired two shots into a wall.
Investigators suspect the store incident may have been a planned distraction to slow police response to the bank robbery.
Anyone with information on either incident or on possible suspects is asked to call 720-913-7867 (STOP).
Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering a $12,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction in the case.
Tips can also be texted to: 274637 (CRIMES), then title DMCS and enter a message. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822, knicholson@denverpost.com or @kierannicholson
