US: Robbers ambush armoured vehicle in California, shoot guard

Several robbers ambushed an armoured vehicle in broad daylight and opened fire on the armed guards, injuring one critically in a Southern California casino's parking lot before fleeing with cash, police said.

At least two suspects, armed with handguns and a rifle, remained at large hours after the shooting in Gardena on Thursday, a city about 24 km south of downtown Los Angeles.

The guard is expected to survive, according to Gardena Police Lt. Chris Cuff. The other guard was not shot but was taken to the hospital for cuts sustained during the violence outside the Hustler Casino.

The armoured vehicle is operated by Loomis US, a cash-handling company; a representative did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Thursday's robbery occurred just weeks after thieves broke into an unattended Brink's tractor-trailer parked at a remote rest stop and stole millions of dollars' worth of jewellery and gemstones after the vehicle's two armed guards walked away.

That theft occurred early July 11 in the unincorporated community of Lebec, about 121 km north of downtown Los Angeles.

Both crimes are considered to be rare.

On Thursday, the suspects waited for the armoured vehicle and immediately began shooting shortly after 10 am, Cuff said.

"As soon as they got out of the car, they were met with gunfire," he said.

The guards returned fire but it was not immediately clear whether any of the suspects were struck. Police have recovered one getaway vehicle but are not sure if any others were used to flee.

Detectives are looking into whether the unknown amount of cash was stolen from inside the armoured vehicle or from the guards themselves. No one in the casino was robbed, Cuff said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)