Criminologist Ray Corrado says the suspects in an armed jewelry store heist at the Oakridge Centre mall earlier this week appeared panicked and disorganized. "It looked, very easily, that someone could have been killed," he said.

Corrado reviewed surveillance footage taken during the Thursday night robbery, noting that the suspects appeared to take pre-set positions as they approached their target, Montecristo Jewellers.

But their behaviour from that point indicated "a level of disorganization that's somewhat atypical of a well-organized gang," he said.

One of the suspects entered the jewelry store while two others attacked a security guard and discharged pepper spray in the mall. Corrado said the situation appears chaotic, intense and violent; at least one suspect fired his gun, a typically rare occurrence.

"To me it looked … like he was firing almost in a panic," he said. "I would say he's had very little experience with weapons."

The fact that the suspects even brought pepper spray suggests they didn't intend to hurt anyone, Corrado said, but the gunfire indicates they were aware the situation could have escalated. "Nothing ever goes as planned," he said.

Corrado was surprised how long the suspect spent in the store, and that he was abandoned by the others who had been doing surveillance outside.

Three suspects managed to flee the scene in a red van, but a 15-year-old, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was arrested outside the mall.

He has been charged with assault with a weapon, possession of stolen property over $5,000, possession of a restricted firearm, pointing a firearm and using a firearm in commission of an offence.

If convicted, Corrado says it's highly unlikely his punishment will be a slap on the wrist. "It's such a serious violent act," Corrado said. "It's inconceivable to me that there'd be a minor sentence. It's even possible that Crown Counsel will request and adult-length sentence."

The three other suspects, including the driver of the getaway van, have not yet been found.

A red 1993 Plymouth Grand Voyager, which police believe was used in the robbery, was found in southwest Vancouver overnight and turned over to forensic investigators.