Police said the gunman fled in a silver vehicle as FBI agents joined the investigation.
CHICAGO, IL — A Brinks armored truck driver was shot twice during a robbery outside a Chase Bank in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood on Tue., Dec. 23, and investigators said the gunman fled with bags of property and the guard’s firearm.
The shooting put a spotlight on the risks of cash pickups at neighborhood banks and drew a response from both Chicago police and the FBI. Authorities said the 49-year-old driver suffered gunshot wounds to both legs and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious to critical condition. No arrests were announced, and investigators said they were reviewing surveillance video and witness accounts to identify the robber and trace the getaway vehicle.
Police and fire officials said the robbery happened in the late morning outside the Chase branch in the 4300 block of South Archer Avenue, near Kedzie Avenue. The driver was outside the bank when a man approached and pulled a gun, authorities said. The suspect fired and struck the driver in each leg, then moved between the victim and a vehicle while gathering bags, according to witnesses. The call to police came in just before 10 a.m., officials said, and patrol officers quickly closed off the area behind the bank with crime scene tape.
Chicago police said the driver, an armored truck employee working a scheduled pickup, collapsed near the bank after the shots. Paramedics took him to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition by fire officials and initially described as critical by police. Authorities said no other injuries were reported. The FBI said agents responded to the scene and were assisting local law enforcement, a step often taken when robberies involve armored carriers and interstate commerce. By early afternoon, investigators remained in the parking lot and alley area behind the bank, marking evidence and interviewing employees and nearby residents.
Witnesses described the encounter as fast and targeted. Jesus Recendiz, who said he looked out a window as the commotion started, told reporters he saw the suspect fire, step away to load bags into a car, then return and fire again. “The guy puts in one shot. He goes to the car, puts in one bag, two bags, comes back and puts in the other shot,” Recendiz said. Another neighbor told local media he saw a man believed to be the suspect tossing multiple bags into a silver car before speeding away. Police did not release the victim’s name or say how long he had been working the route.
Investigators said the gunman drove away in a silver vehicle, heading south on Troy Street and then east on 44th Street. Police did not immediately release a license plate number or a detailed description of the suspect, including clothing or height, and authorities did not say whether any security cameras captured a clear image of the driver’s face. Fire officials identified the victim as an armored truck security guard, and police said the robber took the guard’s gun during the encounter. Authorities did not publicly say whether the suspect fired additional shots while leaving or whether the driver was able to use a radio to call for help before officers arrived.
Officials also did not disclose how much money, if any, was taken. Authorities described the incident as an armed robbery involving the armored truck, but they did not say whether the robber grabbed currency, bank deposits, or other valuables. Investigators typically try to determine whether a robbery was planned by tracking the timing of the pickup, the suspect’s movements, and any prior surveillance of the location. Police said Area One detectives were assigned to the case, and federal agents also responded. The bank branch sits along a busy commercial stretch of Archer Avenue, where traffic and nearby businesses can provide additional cameras and witnesses.
The shooting occurred as armored carrier robberies and bank-related holdups continue to draw heightened attention from law enforcement in Chicago. Brighton Park, a Southwest Side neighborhood of homes and small businesses, has seen periodic spikes in street robberies and thefts, and investigators often rely on a mix of surveillance footage, vehicle tracking, and witness tips to identify suspects who flee by car. In this case, authorities focused early attention on the silver vehicle’s route south on Troy and east on 44th, a path that could intersect with residential streets, traffic cameras, or license plate reader systems if available. Police did not say whether they had recovered shell casings, fingerprints, or any of the bags seen by witnesses.
Cook County Crime Stoppers announced a $1,000 cash reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for the robbery, according to a report from CBS Chicago. Police assigned the incident a report number, and investigators said they were seeking any video or photos that might show the suspect approaching the bank, loading items, or driving away. Authorities did not say whether the driver’s firearm had been recovered. The FBI and Chicago police did not announce a timetable for releasing additional details, such as surveillance images or a suspect description, and no court records were immediately available to indicate charges had been filed.
By Thu., Dec. 25, authorities had not reported an arrest, and investigators continued to treat the case as an active robbery and shooting investigation. The driver remained hospitalized, officials said. Police and federal agents said they expected to keep reviewing camera footage and canvassing the neighborhood as they worked to identify the gunman and locate the silver vehicle.
Author note: Last updated Thursday, December 25, 2025.