Failed Bank Heist Lands Suspect in Las Colinas

A woman accused of taking part in a failed bank heist in University City in which an alleged accomplice was shot and wounded by a security guard is in custody at Las Colinas women's jail in Santee and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

Laura Joyce Elshire, 42, allegedly handed a demand note to a teller inside a Wells Fargo Bank branch in the 8400 of Genesee Avenue shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday. In the written message, she and an accomplice claimed to be armed with a gun, according to San Diego police Lt. Kevin Mayer.

Elshire's alleged cohort, 27-year-old Casey Allen Wilson, then told the teller to hurry and repeated the demand before switching on an electric stun gun he was carrying, police said.

A bank security officer realized what was happening, identified himself and told Elshire, who was wearing a blond wig and carrying a blue bag, to lie down on the floor along with Wilson, police said. Instead, the male suspect turned and began striding quickly toward the guard, prompting him to fire two shots, according to the SDPD.

Wilson then ran out of the building with wounds to his face and one of his arms, and got into a waiting car, which sped off, police said. The getaway vehicle, a teal-colored 1999 Honda Civic, was allegedly driven by 28-year-old Robert Hodge.

Inside the bank, while the two male suspects fled, the security guard again ordered Elshire to surrender. She allegedly refused  and replied, "shoot me," then tried to flee. The guard hit her over the head with the butt of his gun, tackled her and took her into custody, police said.

About 45 minutes later, the Civic pulled up in front of Sharp Memorial Hospital. Wilson got out, and the man behind the wheel drove off. Wilson was admitted to the trauma center and remains there under guard. He's expected to survive and may also be arraigned in the case today, Mayer said.

Elshire was treated at a hospital for a minor head injury and then booked into the Las Colinas women's jail in Santee.

Preliminary evidence suggested that the security guard's responses to the attempted robbery broke no laws, the lieutenant said.

Photos released by SDPD Thursday show Hodge to be white, with short brown hair and brown eyes. His neck is heavily tattooed. The pictures reflect that he occasionally wears a mustache.

Anyone with information about Hodge's whereabouts was asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Police advised anyone spotting Hodge to regard him as armed and dangerous, not to approach him, and to call 911.

-City News Service