Hostages released, suspect dead after hours-long standoff at bank: Police
All 10 hostages have been released, and a suspect is confirmed dead on Wednesday after an hours-long standoff at a bank in California, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
The hostage situation ended at about 4:20 a.m. on Wednesday after an FBI officer-involved shooting, police said.
All hostages were found "unharmed" and received medical evaluation and treatment at the scene, according to police. They have since been reunited with their loved ones, Jeremy Blakemore, assistant chief of the Bakersfield Police Department, said at a press conference on Wednesday.
The suspect, identified by the FBI as 41-year-old Anthony Scott Searles-Harris, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
The suspect does not appear to have targeted the bank or bank employees in the attack, but he had concerns related to how a previous case of his had been handled and his sentencing, officials said Wednesday.
During the standoff, the suspect demanded to see his daughter, but no communication was made between him and his daughter, Blakemore said.
The suspect barricaded himself on the second floor and attached explosives to himself and additional explosives to some of the hostages, Blakemore said. The suspect also tied up five of the 10 hostages.
The standoff began after a reported bomb threat at a Chase bank in downtown Bakersfield at around 12 p.m. Tuesday, Blakemore said.
Two hostages were first released after hours of ongoing negotiations with a suspect, according to authorities.
As the hostage situation continued, negotiations stalled, according to Blakemore.
Crisis negotiators were in contact with the individual over the phone, according to police. Investigators were also in touch with a hostage who had their phone until the phone died, officials said.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security are assisting, and other resources are coming in from throughout the state, police said.
Investigators revealed the suspect had requested the involvement of the FBI, according to officials. The FBI assumed control over the situation at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Blakemore said.
FBI personnel made entry into the building after making an assessment, taking into consideration that one of the hostages was diabetic and needed medical attention and the erratic behavior of the suspect, Sid Patel, the FBI special agent in charge at the Sacramento Field office, said at a press conference Wednesday.
The suspect was killed at around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, Patel said
Several buildings in the surrounding area were evacuated, police said. The Chase Bank is located at Chester Avenue and 17th Street.
"This is a horrific event," Patel said.
Searles-Harris served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2007, before being dishonorably discharged for going absent without leave, Patel said.
In 2014, Searles-Harris was charged with sex acts with a child under 14 years old and is a registered sex offender, Patel said.
The investigation remains ongoing with a significant law enforcement presence to remain in the area for the next several hours, police said Wednesday morning.
Patel applauded the work of the Bakersfield Police Department, calling them one of their "strongest allies."
"Bakersfield PD did an amazing job with this," Patel said. "They have an amazing workforce here."
Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area, with traffic closures currently in effect between Truxtun Avenue and 18th Street, and between H Street and K Street, police said. Delays are expected into the afternoon local time.
