Local authorities in the United States reported this Wednesday that the people who had been held hostage in a bank branch in the state of California for about 15 hours have finally been released, while the alleged perpetrator has died after an armed confrontation with agents.
"On Wednesday, June 3, at approximately 4:20 AM, the hostage situation concluded following a shooting involving FBI agents," the Bakersfield Police Department indicated in a statement.
According to the police note, the hostages were found "unharmed" and received "medical attention." "The suspect involved in this incident was pronounced dead at the scene," the security force added, emphasizing that investigations into what happened remain open and that a strong police presence will be maintained in the area for the next few hours.
The armed individual had locked himself inside a building located between Chester Avenue and 17th Street, which triggered a large security operation involving specialized negotiators and FBI personnel. Previously, police had been alerted to the possible existence of an explosive device at the scene, which increased security measures.