Suspects used fake gun in Stuart bank robbery

STUART, Fla. - Detectives have identified the suspects involved in Thursday's deadly confrontation with law enforcement in Stuart after a bank robbery and police pursuit.

Just before two in the afternoon Thursday, 36 year-old Kevin Cyr and 30 year-old Sarah Gauvin went into the Chase Bank at US-1 and Monterey Road. Cyr gave a note to the teller and in the bank surveillance photo, he has his hand on what appears to be a gun.

After leaving the bank with about a thousand dollars, the couple got into a silver Mustang and led police on a short pursuit.

During that time, the weapon was pointed at Stuart's police chief and assistant chief. The Mustang then crashed into an unmarked Martin County Sheriff's SUV.

Lt. Kenneth Pickering, a 22-year veteran behind the wheel, fired a number of shots from the shotgun inside his vehicle.

Another deputy sheriff got out of his car and fired shots from his .45-caliber Smith and Wesson.

Gauvin was shot dead and Cyr was taken to the hospital. The gun Cyr was holding turned out to be a fake, but even to the trained eye, it would be hard to tell.

Stuart police Sergeant Marty Jacobson showed off a weapon similar to the suspects.  It's called an Airsoft and looks nearly identical to the .45 caliber Glock he carries.

"Here a person used it. Placed someone in fear of their lives, committed an armed robbery. Threatened two police officers," said Sgt. Jacobson.

The replica is so true to form, the officers real accessories fit right on them. In fact, the weapons are used in police training.

"The only difference is it fires a plastic projectile rather than a bullet. Even when it fires a plastic projectile, we're wearing protective clothing because it hurts," said Sgt. Jacobson.

Cyr is expected to be released from the hospital soon. A newspaper in Worcester, Massachusetts is reporting the couple may have been involved in a robbery there last month.