Thornhill, Ontario, Canada – A gunman fleeing a jewelry store heist opened fire on a cop in a yeshivah schoolyard and then led police on a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle with two hostages inside.
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It all began to unfold after a call of an armed robbery at a jewelry store in the Promenade Mall at Bathurst and Centre Sts.
When officers arrived they joined security guards in the chase, Const. Laurie Perks said.
The pursuit continued into a park behind Leo Baeck Day School, a private elementary school for Jewish children. At that point, the perp turned and opened fire on police, forcing at least one officer to return fire.
Nobody was hurt in the melee but terrified kids, who were outside for gym class, ran for their lives into the school when the gunfire erupted. Their school and another next door were locked down following the ordeal.
The perp then ran to the garage of a home and carjacked a minivan with two females in it, Perks said. Police chased the Toyota Sienna, with help from their helicopter, northwest into Vaughan, where the perp lost control and crashed at Keele St. and Hwy. 7.
The 30-year-old Toronto perp was taken into custody and charges are pending, Perks said. [Sun]