5 officers interviewed after shootout

MOBILE, Ala. - Five police officers were involved in a shootout with bank robber James Hill on Thursday.

It happened near Kidz Korner Childcare in Tillman's Corner, which was struck with one bullet.

"The children were in the playground in the back. It would've taken just one bullet to hit a little child in the head," said grandparent Brenda Kirk. "What would that have been against somebody's money being stolen from a bank?"

At least 30 shots were fired. Some parents were upset with that number and Mobile Police say it's understandable.

"There is room for concern here. I mean I'm concerned. I think anybody should be concerned," said Deputy Chief James Barber.

Barber says officers only use deadly force as a last resort. Investigators say Hill pointed his weapon at officers first.

"There are no restrictions placed on an officer as to how many shots he can fire," Barber said. "The officers can fire and use deadly force continuously until the threat ceases. You have to realize what we're trying to do is protect a person or an officer from being seriously injured or killed as well."

Barber also says officers stopped Hill in the parking lot because he was heading straight for the congested intersection of Highway 90 and Three Notch Road.

"Intersections are the most dangerous places to approach when you're chasing someone who's driving irrespective of traffic laws," he said. "In other words, he's not stopping for red lights, other drivers or anything else."

Hill was shot and killed by multiple gunshot wounds. Police say he was a 46-year-old career criminal from Louisiana.

"I don't want in any way make it sound like this wasn't a dangerous situation," said Barber. "It was a very dangerous situation. Not just the shots that were fired, but the chase itself. At the end of the day there were no serious injuries, no one else was killed so it was a successful operation."

Barber says all five officers are being interviewed and will go through the proper procedures. Police are still investigating how many shots were fired.

Investigators have also released surveillance video of Hill robbing a Mobile bank.

Police say he threw money out the window as he was being pursued. They say he was also waving a gun outside his window as he was being chased.