Suspect in California standoff dead, hostages freed

A man who took several people hostage at a California bank building is dead and all hostages have been freed, police said Wednesday following a roughly 15-hour standoff.

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The suspect had barricaded himself inside the building on Chester Avenue and 17th Street around 1 p.m. Tuesday local time, prompting a massive law enforcement response that involved crisis negotiators and the FBI.

He was pronounced dead at the scene following an officer-involved shooting with FBI personnel, Bakersfield police said in a statement.

The suspect had taken “several community members” hostage. Two of the hostages were released Tuesday. The rest were found in the building unharmed and received medical care at the scene.

It was not immediately clear how many people had been taken hostage. The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

The situation began when police received a call about a bomb threat. Officials had said earlier that there were no reports of injuries and the hostages were “in good health.”

A spokesperson for Chase Bank said Tuesday night that the branch in that building was empty and not involved in the standoff. Meghan Durant, a spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase, said in an emailed statement Wednesday that the branch is on the ground floor and that they were working with authorities.

The building houses other offices not connected to Chase Bank.

The area surrounding the building remained closed Wednesday morning. Police urged people to avoid the area and allow for extra travel time.

Bakersfield is about 113 miles north of Los Angeles on the southern edge of California’s San Joaquin Valley. Mayor Karen Goh said she was monitoring the situation and asked the community to keep those involved in their prayers.