A father of four was killed during an armored car robbery outside a Comerica Bank on Detroit's east side Wednesday morning.Gerald Kikos, 36, worked for Guardian Armored for three years.
Family members say he had talked to them about the dangers of the job.
On Wednesday, the father of four girls -- one a newborn -- was shot during a routine pickup around 3:30 a.m. at the Comerica on Gratiot, south of Eight Mile Road, according to police.
Kikos and two other guards were making a pickup from a deposit box located near the automated teller machine, Local 4 reported. When Kikos and one other guard got out of the Guardian Armored truck, a car drove by and opened fire with a high-power rifle, the station reported. The gunman also reportedly fired one round at the truck.
"(The) guy came around the corner already firing with a rifle, striking the two guards who were outside the vehicle. He also fired a shot at the driver of the vehicle through the windshield," said Detroit Police Commander Craig Schwartz.
Kikos was the only guard armed with a gun. Police say it appeared he didn't have time to return fire.
Kikos was pronounced dead, while a second guard was rushed to St. John hospital in critical condition, according to Local 4 reports. The driver of the armored truck was not injured.
He is reportedly talking to police to help them in their search for the suspect.
The gunman, who was said to be wearing a ski mask, escaped the scene, but police found his vehicle abandoned, but still running, about six blocks from the bank, Local 4 reported.
Inside the car was a money bag and a pair of binoculars, according to police.
"There is some indication that there was some preplanning that went into this," said Schwartz.
Police found 25 shell casings on the ground where the ambush took place, the station reported.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on the shooting to call Detroit police.