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Manhunt Launched After Pregnant Teller Shot

Police Question, Release Two Teens

Posted: 10:31 am MDT April 22, 2008Updated: 9:18 pm MDT April 22, 2008

A bank teller pregnant with twins was shot in the stomach during a robbery Tuesday morning, but both the teller and the fetuses survived the attack, authorities said.

The gunman came into the Huntington Bank branch around 9:30 a.m., jumped over the counter screaming and shot the teller, Lt. Jeff Duhamell said. He then fired another shot as he was running out of the bank, Duhamell said.

The bullet entered the abdomen of Katherin Shuffield, 30, who is five months pregnant, but missed both fetuses, Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said.

"Angry is really what I am. This is just brazen," said Ballard.

Shuffield was hospitalized in critical but stable condition, police spokesman Sgt. Paul Thompson said.

"This is senseless. Some poor lady, trying to make a living, pregnant, shot by a man without any provocation," said Indianapolis Police Chief Michael Spears.

Police detained two teenagers who were trying to enter a nearby high school about two hours after the attack, but both were released to their parents and were no longer considered suspects, Thompson said.

According to police, the juveniles were found loitering outside Warren Central High School, where they are students. Authorities said the teens attempted to go into school, which was locked down following the robbery.

One customer and three employees were inside the bank at the time of the shooting, authorities said. None of them resisted during the robbery.

Police are looking for the robber, described as black, 6 feet 2 inches tall and about 215 pounds. He was wearing a blue stocking cap, a dark face covering, a gray jacket, blue jeans, and dark shoes with light-colored heels, witnesses told police. Police said he also wore sunglasses, teal surgical gloves and was carrying a 9 mm gun.

A block to the west of the bank, at least one person saw the gunman enter the passenger side of a gold, late-model Dodge Intrepid with dull, worn paint, according to police. Officers are also looking for the driver of that car and the occupants of a bright blue Honda Pilot SUV, which a witness said followed the Intrepid. Descriptions of the other people police are looking for were not available.

Officers said witnesses told them the man fired his gun soon after entering the bank and fired more shots as he left.

IMPD and Indiana State Police set up a perimeter in the immediate vicinity of the bank in an effort to find the shooter and other males. The Indianapolis office of the FBI also is involved in the search. As many as 150 officers were involved, Ballard said.

"We have sent out agents as well as task force officers," said Wendy Osborne, of the FBI. "This is a dangerous individual. He needs to be brought to justice."

Several officers pulled over a Dodge Intrepid about an hour after the shooting, but the occupants of that vehicle were not believed to have been involved.

Police said the robber got away with cash, but an exploded dye pack was found.

All Warren Township schools north of Washington Street were locked down following the incident. Parents were told that they cannot pick up their students until the lockdown is lifted.

"It does affect many students who have half-day schedules and would normally be leaving at noon time," said David Randall, of Warren Township schools.
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