A suspect has been arrested in connection with a violent bank robbery over the weekend in Toronto’s west end that left two people shot and wounded.
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Staff Insp. Mike Earl confirmed that the suspect was arrested in Brampton on Monday. Police are still looking for a second suspect.
The robbery took place at a TD Canada Trust near St. Clair Avenue and Runnymede Road on Sunday at around 12:30 p.m., after two men entered the bank and ordered everyone to the ground.
A bank employee and customer were shot during the robbery.
The 22-year-old female employee was shot in the leg. The customer, 54-year-old Toronto resident Carl Fraser, was shot in the abdomen after he chased the suspects out of the bank as they fled the scene.
Both of the injured victims were taken to hospital, where Fraser underwent surgery.
On Monday police released surveillance video of the robbery. In the video, one man is seen vaulting over the bank counter wearing a quilted vest and another man, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, is seen holding a firearm.
Police are still seeking the suspect who was holding the gun, Earl said.
A reward of up to $100,000 was offered on Monday for any information leading to an arrest. The reward was provided by the Canadian Bankers Association.
Andre Palmer, 26, of Brampton, was arrested by police on Monday afternoon. He is set to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon to face a number of charges including armed robbery, attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of stolen property.
Earl said forensic evidence at the scene was linked back to Palmer.
“At the time of Mr. Palmer’s arrest there was evidence on his person that links him back to the bank robbery,” he said, adding that Palmer also had property stolen from the bank on him at the time of his arrest.
Investigators are now looking into Palmer’s associates to see if they can find any leads on the second suspect, Earl said.
“We want him off the streets,” Earl said of the second suspect. “Obviously this individual fired a loaded handgun in a bank robbery, injuring two people, we want to apprehend this guy as soon as possible.”
Police are asking for anyone with any information about the case contact them at 416-808-7350 or at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
