This morning, newsreaders learned from newspapers that a particularly brazen armed robbery went down yesterday at a west-end TD Canada Trust branch. Reports described how a bystander, 54-year-old Carl Fraser, tackled one robber in an attempt to thwart the crime – the first of its kind in Toronto since 1999, according to Insp. Mike Earl – but ended up getting shot in the stomach. The suspects got away.
As badass as this looks, yesterday’s events are proof as to why you should never try to tackle armed robbers. Not only did the robbers shoot Fraser in the stomach and get away, but a young bank employee took a bullet in the leg when the robber shot and missed the would-be hero. If the bank employee had been killed, I’m betting Fraser wouldn’t be too proud of his decision to play vigilante. Even if you’re willing to put your own safety at risk as Fraser evidently was, it’s not fair to endanger the lives of others over what amounts to a paltry loss for the bank. Both Fraser and the bank employee are recovering in hospital and expected to be okay.
The suspects are still at large and police are offering $100,000 for information leading to their arrest. Police say that if you see them, don’t approach them and definitely don’t try to tackle them. Call 911.
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Michael Kolberg is The Sprawl Editor at Toronto Standard. Follow him on Twitter for jokes @mikeykolberg.
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