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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Ten hostages are safe after a tense 15-hour standoff at a downtown Bakersfield bank ended early Wednesday with the death of the suspect, authorities said.
Local and federal investigators remained at the scene as they worked to determine a motive behind the incident.
The situation unfolded inside a Chase Bank building, where 10 people – identified as employees of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools – were held against their will overnight.
“Throughout the night their families questioned whether or not they would be seen again, but we are very grateful for the outcome,” said Jeremy Blakemore, assistant chief of the Bakersfield Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as 41-year-old Anthony Searles-Harris. Investigators said he claimed to have a bomb strapped to his chest and another device attached to one of the hostages.
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, engaged in hours of crisis negotiations. During that time, the suspect tied up five of the hostages, though officials said all 10 were ultimately unharmed physically.
“He had tied up five of the hostages, but there were 10 hostages in there, and they were all unharmed physically. I’m sure there’ll be mental scars that they’ll be living with, and we’ll have our victim specialists to help them,” said Sid Patel, a special agent with the FBI’s Sacramento field office.
Authorities were able to secure the release of two hostages Tuesday evening. Officials said one of the individuals, who is diabetic, required medication, prompting urgent action.
“We knew that this was a loss of life situation for that particular hostage that was taken if we didn’t act sooner than later,” Patel said.
By Tuesday night, the FBI had taken over the investigation and deployed its hostage rescue team from Quantico, Virginia. Around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, the team entered the building, fatally shooting Searles-Harris and freeing the remaining hostages.
“They’re our version of Special Forces for the FBI. They’re the best of the best, and they come out for situations like this,” Patel said.
Investigators said Searles-Harris had prior contact with law enforcement, including convictions for violent offenses and a sex crime involving a minor. He was also dishonorably discharged from the Army in 2007 after going absent without leave.
Officials said social media posts from the suspect suggest possible frustration over past criminal cases and a desire for notoriety. Authorities also noted Searles-Harris requested to speak with federal investigators during the incident.
“My assumption would be by targeting a bank federal institute, there’s a greater chance to have, like, a like a bank robbery, if there was the case, to have a federal intervention in that case,” Patel said.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement officials have searched the suspect’s Bakersfield home. Authorities said they are still working to determine whether any evidence recovered will help explain a motive.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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