3 security guards killed at U of Alberta

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EDMONTON, Alberta, June 15 (UPI) -- Three security guards were fatally shot and a fourth wounded in an armored car robbery Friday at the University of Alberta campus, Edmonton police said.

The shootings of the guards took place after midnight in the university's HUB Mall, which houses residences for students and shops, CBC News reported.

There were no reports of students being harmed.

Police were searching for one or more suspects Friday morning.

"Whether it is one suspect, two suspects, numerous … we have no details of that at this time," said Scott Pattison, an Edmonton police spokesman. "You could call it a manhunt."

The three guards who were killed -- two men and a woman -- were employees of G4S Security, a company spokeswoman said. A fourth security guard was in a hospital in critical condition, company spokeswoman Robin Steinberg said. All the guards would have been armed while on the job, she said.

CBC News said the victims were reportedly found by volunteers from Safewalk, an organization that provides escorts to students on campus at night.

The volunteers said they heard a thud, then found a wounded man behind a locked door beside a bank of ATMs in HUB Mall and contacted campus security.

Ian Breitzke, 21, said he saw police break down the door and pull out bodies and one man who was wounded.

A university administration said the school is "saddened about those who lost their lives last night, and we extend our condolences to their loved ones."

The university said counselors would be available to residents of HUB Mall.

"The safety and security of our students and staff is our first priority, and our campus protective services are working closely with Edmonton police," the statement said.

The statement said if residents leave the HUB Mall, they won't be allowed to return until it is reopened.

CBC News said other parts of the campus were operating normally.