A SWAT sniper took down an attempted bank robbery after holding hostages at knifepoint and claiming to have a bomb at the Bank of America in Fort Myers, Florida, on Tuesday.
According to police, Sterling Ramon Alavache, 36, displayed aggressive behavior and put one of the hostages in trouble while negotiators were trying to get him to talk to him.
A sniper fired his weapon, killing Alavaci instantly while holding a knife to a woman's neck. No hostages or victims were injured.
“We received a phone call that there was a bank robbery with multiple hostages,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said during a news conference Tuesday afternoon.
Marcino added: “I am proud to say that the two hostages are safe.” “Their safety was of the utmost importance.”
ABC 7 reported:
A man was killed and two hostages were released after a tense situation and standoff at a south Fort Myers bank Tuesday afternoon.
In a standoff inside the Bank of America at the Bell Tower along US-41, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, along with FBI agents, responded to a report of an armed robbery.
Outside the bank, deputies closed US-41, causing serious traffic congestion in the area.
The situation escalated inside the bank, where the suspect, Sterling Alavache, 36, died and two people were taken hostage, according to Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
A video shows moments of tense negotiations between Naib and Alavachi in the bank lobby.
ABC7 spoke with a witness who was inside the bank who recounted the moment they say a young man jumped over the counter claiming he had a bomb.
He watches:
