Police officers respond after an armed robbery occurred at Canadian Western Bank in South Edmonton Common in Edmonton, Alta. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012. An officer involved shooting occurred and ASIRT will be taking over. The suspect sustained life-threatening injuries. Codie McLachlan/QMI Agency

EDMONTON — An armed bank robbery suspect is clinging to life in hospital after police opened fire during an armed bank heist in south Edmonton Tuesday.

The man was shot just before 2 p.m. at a branch of the Canadian Western Bank and Trust in South Edmonton Common.

The investigation has been handed over to the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).

Clifton Purvis, ASIRT executive director, said two uniformed officers responded to the bank after receiving reports of an armed robbery in progress.