Guard Delivering Cash Killed in Holdup at Beverly Hills Bank

A gunman shot and killed a Brinks armored car guard Tuesday as he delivered a bag of money to a Manufacturers Bank branch in Beverly Hills, police said.

A witness told a television station that the guard was shot in the head at close range. Authorities identified him as Dennie Plese, 60, of Valencia. The gunman apparently lay in wait, ambushing Plese about 8:40 a.m., before the bank opened, the witness said. Plese died in the lobby of the building at 9701 Wilshire Blvd.

The gunman escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash, Lt. Frank Salcido said. Plese’s partner remained in the truck and was unaware of the shooting until told by the witness, the lieutenant said.

Salcido described the suspect as white, in his early 30s, between 5 feet, 9 inches and 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with black hair and a black mustache. The gunman has a long, narrow face, a medium build and was wearing a dress shirt, tie and dark pants, Salcido said.

A witness told a television station that he opened the lobby door, “and there’s a guy with a bullet hole in the back of his head and blood all around. It looked professionally done . . . close range, right in the back of the head.”

The witness said he had always felt safe in Beverly Hills, but Tuesday’s killing “just throws off your world.”