SALINAS - It could happen to anyone at any time. That's how Salinas Police are describing a brazen shooting outside of a bank that sent a business owner to the hospital.
Officers said during closing time at the Bank of America at Northridge Mall a business owner walked towards the ATM to deposit money with a bag filled with money.
"In this particular case, the business owner arrived in the parking lot and was carrying a bank bag and presumably that's why this individual may have been targeted," said Commander Dave Crabill of the Salinas Police Department.
Targeted because it appeared he was carrying a lot of money.
Police said even with the potential of hundreds of witnesses, a gunman shot the victim in his leg.
"It appears that the suspect was bold," Crabill said. "He did this crime in broad daylight where certainly there was a lot of traffic in the area."
In many cases, private security can only do so much.
"They are limited. They do not have peace officer powers, but certainly they do have the deterrent aspect," Crabill said. "Their presence could be a deterrent for someone maybe attempting to commit a crime."
Police said when people approach a bank, they should pay close attention to their surroundings.
If something doesn't feel right, they're advised not to even get out of their car.
"Potentially concealing a bank bag on a person wouldn't be an overt invite or tipping the suspect someone's carrying cash," Crabill said.
This time it was and the gunman took off with the cash.
