California hostage drama: FBI kills man holding hostage at Bakersfield bank branch | Today’s news
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Wednesday (local time) shot and killed a man who had barricaded himself inside a building along with hostages in Bakersfield, California. The building houses a bank branch and a school district office, police said.
The Bakersfield Police Department said in a statement that the suspect was killed in an “officer-involved shooting involving FBI personnel,” adding that the standoff ended about 12 hours after police were called to the building.
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A standoff in downtown Bakersfield began Tuesday afternoon when officers responded to a bomb threat call at the Chase Bank building.
Police said the man barricaded himself inside with several people, adding that at least two were released Tuesday after dealing with authorities.
Here’s what we know
Bakersfield police said in a news release Tuesday that they received a call about a bomb threat at the Chase Bank building at the corner of Chester Avenue and 17th Street around 1 p.m. During the investigation, it was reported that the subject was a male and was holding several members of the community hostage. However, there were no injuries.
While police identified the location as a “Chase bank building,” a Chase spokesman said Tuesday that the branch is empty and not involved in any standoff. The building houses unrelated offices as well as a Chase Bank branch, which has prominent branding on the site.
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Officers responded to the scene and set up a perimeter around the building and surrounding businesses to ensure the safety of the public. Some community members managed to evacuate. In the meantime, officers and crisis negotiation team members remained in telephone contact with the subject.
Bakersfield Police Sgt. Eric Celedon said Tuesday, “We have every single resource here to bring this to the safest possible resolution.” He added: “The SWAT team, the bomb squad, the gang team, the gang unit, the negotiators, the drone team. Every single asset that we have to bring to a conclusion is here right now.”
A JPMorgan Chase spokesman said the bank’s branch is on the ground floor of the building and is currently vacant. Nearby buildings, including City Hall and police headquarters, were evacuated and some roads were temporarily closed during the hostage situation.
The livestreamer describes the standoff
Jacob Davidson, a live streamer known as Dad’s Gone Live, was a block from the bank at his family’s tattoo shop when he got a bomb threat call.
“I walked into the garage of the bank and watched the officers come into the back of the bank. That’s the biggest police presence I’ve ever seen in this city,” Davidson said.
His live feed caught a woman swinging back and forth through a window in the building on Tuesday evening before crouching under the window. They were later seen waving two hands.
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The mayor of Bakersfield responds
Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh said she was monitoring the situation and asked the community to keep those involved in their prayers.
Speaking to KBAK, Goh added: “The best way the public can help at this time is to avoid the area and give the police, negotiators and other trained professionals the space and opportunity to carry out their duties safely.”
Widely recognized for its deep roots in country music and western culture, Bakersfield is located on the southern edge of California’s Central Valley, roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles. The city is home to about 420,000 residents, a size comparable to Tampa, Florida, while its metropolitan region is the ninth largest in California.
