Chief calls guards' deaths 'assassination'

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Philadelphia police Thursday conducted an intensive manhunt for a solitary gunman who killed two armored truck guards in a robbery attempt.

"It was an assassination," said Police Commissioner Sylvester Johnson in describing the shooting deaths of the two Loomis guards who were retired police officers.

Both victims had more than 20 years on the Philadelphia force when they retired, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. A third person, the armored truck driver, was grazed by flying glass.

Mark Clark, vice president of communications at Loomis' corporate office in Houston, the three were servicing an ATM machine at a Wachovia Bank branch. Following procedure, Clark said, two men worked on the ATM while the third remained inside.

Clark said the assailant shot and killed the two at the ATM, then fired at the vehicle.

"We have not had a employee shot and killed for many, many years," Clark told the Philadelphia newspaper.

Police recovered an empty money bag not far from the scene.

Preliminary reports indicated police were searching for two men and two women who may have either participated in the crime or witnessed it. During a briefing, police said they were searching for only one gunman.