A sniper killed a Florida financial institution robber as he held a knife to a hostage’s throat
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A robber at a Florida financial institution took hostages after regulation enforcement arrived and was killed by a sheriff’s sniper as he held a lady in a headlock with a knife to her throat, authorities mentioned.
Negotiators tried to defuse the scenario Tuesday at a Financial institution of America department in Fort Myers, however the suspect as an alternative took two hostages within the constructing, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno mentioned.
“We have been in worry for her security,” Marceno advised reporters. “That is precisely what we practice for. We practice for worst-case situations.”
The suspect was recognized as Sterling Ramon Alavache, 36. Not one of the hostages was injured, and there have been initially extra individuals within the financial institution, however they escaped as soon as deputies arrived. Alavache had a knife and claimed to have a bomb, however authorities didn’t instantly affirm that.
The sheriff’s workplace response included a robotic canine, drones, a battering ram and a SWAT crew.
“It was a chaotic scene,” Marceno mentioned.
Brett Sands told NBC 2 he works on the fifth ground of the constructing for a consulting agency.
“It wasn’t till the police got here and began banging on doorways that we realized that it was one thing extra critical than simply somebody coming and threatening to rob the financial institution,” Sands mentioned, including that he and others needed to take an Uber residence as a result of their automotive was nonetheless behind yellow police tape.
Charlie Lopez, a neighborhood radio host, mentioned he was getting lunch close to the financial institution. He watched the sniper capturing from his automotive and supplied particulars to his followers on Fb.
“I’ve by no means seen any of this earlier than,” Lopez told Fox 4 News. “I didn’t even know the county had this. You see, within the video, it virtually appears like they carry up the sniper within the air. Then they’ve a battering ram. I’ve by no means skilled seeing all of Lee County’s arsenal. They’d drones, they’d cameras.”
The deputy who killed the person was positioned on administrative depart, pending an investigation, which is regular division coverage.
