Gary bank robbed during Obama visit

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Apr 10, 2008 at 8:45 PM EST

Story Updated: Apr 10, 2008 at 8:45 PM EST

GARY, Ind. (AP) — Two men robbed a bank in Gary on Thursday while Sen. Barack Obama was making a campaign appearance at a school about three miles away.

One of the men shot a security guard at the Harris Bank while the other vaulted the counter and took money from the teller drawers, said Special Agent Wendy Osborne, an FBI spokeswoman. The men, described as black and wearing oversized jumpsuits, hooded sweatshirts and white masks, then fled in a red and gray pickup truck which was later recovered.

Osborne did not know the condition of the guard, who was taken to a hospital. Authorities did not say how much money was taken.

The robbery occurred about 11 a.m., the same time Obama was scheduled to speak at Roosevelt High School a few miles to the south.

Gary Mayor Rudy Clay had pledged that police would provide tight security for the Obama visit. "We'll have security tight as a drum," he said.

Osborne said there was no reason to think that the suspects might have staged the robbery to coincide with a time when police might be occupied with Obama's visit.

"I have no information or evidence to suggest that at all," she said.

Phone messages seeking comment were left Thursday with Gary police.

The crime was the latest in a string of bank robberies in the area, Osborne said.

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