Police officer shoots, kills suspected bank robber in downtown Milwaukee

A Milwaukee police officer shot and killed a man who fired at officers Friday afternoon. It all happened minutes after the man, identified as Shante Alford, robbed the Guaranty Bank at the Shops of Grand Avenue.

Police were called to the bank robbery -- Alford apparently held up employees at gunpoint and took off. Bank employees apparently gave police a solid description of Alford and his weapon.

Officers searched the neighborhood and some citizens nearby pointed out where Alford ran. They confronted Alford around 3:30 p.m. in a parking lot near Old World Third St. and Wells St.

Alford refused officers' commands to drop his gun. At one point, Alford turned around with a handgun and fired at officers. One of the officers returned fire and fatally struck Alford.

No officers were hurt in the shootout.

Alford was on parole for bank robbery. He was in prison since 2002 and was just released this year. He was wanted for robbing the M&I Bank on North Ave. on September 28 and the US Bank on Farwell on November 9.

The 37-year-old officer who fired the fatal shot is a four-year veteran of the Milwaukee Police Department. He's now on administrative duty -- which is standard procedure.