Police Exchange Gunfire With Would-Be Shadyside Bank Robber

A Pittsburgh police officer exchanged fire with a man they said was involved in the attempted robbery of a Shadyside bank Thursday afternoon.

The attempted robbery took place at the National City Bank at the intersection of Walnut and Ivy streets, police said.

According to police, the man aroused suspicions because he wore his hood tied tightly around his face with only his eyes and nose visible.

When the officer on-duty as a bank guard yelled, “Stop,” police said the man pulled out a silver handgun and fired three times, and the officer fired back twice.

"When he spotted the off-duty police officer, the actor had his hand in his pocket," said Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper. "It was shaking. Then he ran back out the door, telling the officer, 'Don't even try it.'"

The officer pursued the suspect on foot toward Myrtle Way.

"Next thing, I heard four or five gunshots," said witness Ravi Reddy. "I didn't realize they were gunshots. That kind of thing doesn't happen here in Shadyside."

However, after police found a substantial amount of blood at the scene, they believe the man was hit before fleeing in what a witness described as an older model silver Toyota sedan.

"My colleague actually saw him run with a silver weapon in his hand," said Reddy.

Police have not identified a suspect at this time.

They have alerted Pittsburgh-area hospitals to be on the lookout for gunshot victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.