A man who held several people hostage at a California bank building has died, and after a standoff that lasted about 15 hours, police announced Wednesday that all the hostages were freed.
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The suspect barricaded himself inside a building at Chester Street and 17th Avenue around 1 p.m. local time Tuesday, sparking a massive law enforcement response that involved crisis negotiators and the FBI.
Bakersfield Police said in a statement that a man was pronounced dead at the scene after an officer-involved shooting with FBI agents.
The suspects were holding “several local residents” hostage. Two of the hostages were released on Tuesday. The remainder were found unharmed inside the building and were treated at the scene.
It was not immediately clear how many people were taken hostage. Police say the investigation is still ongoing.
The incident began when police received a report about a bomb threat. Officials had previously said there were no reports of injuries and the hostages were in “good health.”
A Chase Bank spokeswoman said Tuesday night that the branch in the building was vacant and was not involved in the standoff. JPMorgan Chase spokeswoman Megan Durant said in an email statement Wednesday that the branch is on the first floor and is cooperating with authorities.
The building also houses other offices not affiliated with Chase Bank.
The area around the building remained closed off since Wednesday morning. Police urged people to avoid the area and allow extra travel time.
Bakersfield is located at the southern end of California’s San Joaquin Valley, approximately 113 miles north of Los Angeles. Mayor Karen Go said she was monitoring the situation closely and asked the community to keep those involved in their prayers.
