3 teens arrested in violent, armed Markham bank robbery
York police have arrested three teens in connection with an armed bank robbery in Markham on Wednesday night where one employee was seriously hurt and three others were injured.
The robbery happened at an RBC branch in the area of 16th Avenue and Markham Road, according to York Regional Police Staff Sgt. Marc Hilliker. Officers were called to the branch at about 8 p.m.
Police said in a news release that three teens arrived at the bank in a vehicle, and then walked in armed with knives and guns.
"The suspects ordered everyone onto the ground and demanded cash from the safe," the news release reads. "Two employees of the bank were stabbed and two people had been kicked in the face."
Of the two who were stabbed, one suffered injuries that Hilliker described as serious. Paramedics took all four employees to hospital. All of their injuries are considered non-life-threatening.
Hillkier said the trio "ran away from the bank and went north through a wooded area" before ending up in a residential neighbourhood.
Police dogs, escorted by York police's tactical unit, found them in a townhouse under construction.
"Within 45 minutes our officers had coordinated the capture of all these armed individuals," Hillkier told CBC News.
Two guns were also recovered, police say. According to the news release, the car the teens were using was stolen on Feb. 10 in a violent carjacking in Toronto.
A 16-year-old of no fixed address, a 15-year-old of no fixed address, and a 13-year-old from Mississauga were all arrested. They are now facing charges including robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault, and possession of property obtained by crime.
Police say they have found evidence that connects the trio to other robberies in the Greater Toronto Area. Their investigation is ongoing.
Witnesses are asked to call York Regional Police or to contact Crime Stoppers.
