Police continue searching for 2 suspects in Culver City bank heist; 2 in custody

Police in Culver City are searching for two of the four suspected bank robbers who opened fire during a Thursday morning heist.

The four suspects opened fire during the 9 a.m. robbery at One West Bank on Jefferson Boulevard, but no one was injured, according to Culver City Police Lt. William Browne. It was not immediately clear if the suspects opened fire inside the bank, or what they were shooting at.

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A vehicle that fled the robbery scene was discovered a short time later, and one of the suspects was captured nearby, Browne said. A second suspect was captured inside a T.J. Maxx store a half-mile from the bank, according to Browne.

The names of the two suspects taken into custody were not released because police are still searching for the two outstanding suspects, police officials said.

Police from Culver City, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills were searching for the other two suspects in an area near Malat and Vera ways around noon, Browne said.

Two nearby elementary schools were placed on lockdown while authorities tried to locate the suspects.

El Marino and El Rincon elementary schools were both placed on modified lockdowns around 10:30 a.m., Browne said. Students at both El Marino and El Rincon were all “safe and accounted for,” the Culver City Unified School District said on Twitter.

Students at El Rincon were required to remain inside the classroom, according to a statement posted by the principal on the school’s website.

“Children were able to use the restroom, and we provided lunches to each classroom,” the statement said. El Rincon will reopen for classes on Friday.

At some point in the day, El Marino received an all clear, and after-school programs continued as scheduled, according to the Culver City Unified School District.

Follow @JamesQueallyLAT on Twitter for crime and police news in Southern California.

Times staff writer Matt Hamilton contributed to this report.

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