Gunman Slain in Foiled Robbery of Armored Truck

Gunmen dressed as women tried to rob an armored truck courier in front of a supermarket here Monday, and during a shoot-out one robber was killed and the courier was critically wounded, police said.

Two robbers escaped and were still at large, Corona police said.

Witnesses said the attackers appeared to be men dressed in women’s clothing, Cpl. John Burns said.

The courier, whose identity was withheld, had picked up money from an Albertson’s market at Sixth Street and Lincoln Avenue about noon and was walking out to an armored truck parked in front when he saw one of the robbers pulling out a handgun, Burns said.

The courier pulled out his gun and shot several times at the robber, who was struck and died at the scene, Burns said.

But another robber, apparently unseen by the courier, fired a number of shots, hitting the courier in the left arm and lower torso. The second robber fled in a car, possibly with an accomplice, Burns said.

The dead bandit, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, was wearing a woman’s wig, a jumpsuit and makeup on his face, Burns said.