Bakersfield Chase Bank hostage suspect shot dead by FBI, all hostages rescued unharmed

The suspect holding community members hostage at a California bank while threatening to detonate a bomb was shot dead by FBI agents overnight — and all of the hostages were released without injury.

Police in Bakersfield, a city 113 miles north of Los Angeles, said “several community members” were trapped inside a building that houses a Chase Bank and school district office for about 15 hours until the suspect was shot and killed just after 4 a.m. Wednesday morning.

“All hostages were located unharmed and received medical evaluation and treatment at the scene,” police said.

The suspect, who had claimed to have a bomb strapped to his body, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not confirmed his identity or shared a motive.

The standoff began Tuesday afternoon after police responded to reports of a bomb threat at the bank around 1 p.m. Nearby buildings were evacuated and roads were closed off as such.

Two of the hostages were released on Tuesday, but it remained unclear how many people total were hostage.

Authorities say their investigation is ongoing and that they will be providing an update at 10 a.m. local time.

Details about the suspect remain unclear

Authorities said the suspect who held multiple people hostage in California overnight was killed — but have shared few other details about him.

The suspect reportedly entered a building that houses Chase Bank and a school district office around 1 p.m. Tuesday and claimed to have a bomb.

Bakersfield police then responded to the hostage situation and were able to negotiate the release of two people late Tuesday.

The suspect was reportedly barricaded inside the building with several hostages. Authorities have not said how many people were held hostage.

Authorities have not shared the name of the suspect or a potential motive.

Suspect was killed in 'officer-involved shooting' with FBI

The suspect holding people hostage in a California building that houses a bank was killed in an “officer-involved shooting,” police said.

The Bakersfield Police Department specified that the suspect was killed in the shooting by FBI personnel, not a local officer.

Road closures remain in effect as police warn of traffic delays

Several roads in Bakersfield will remain closed off on Wednesday, even as the hostage situation has concluded.

Police warned on social media that traffic closures are in effect between Truxtun Avenue and 18th Street, as well as between H Street and K Street.

“Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area for the next several hours and seek alternative routes. Delays are expected until sometime this afternoon,” police said.

Suspect dead and hostages released

The suspect holding people hostage inside a Chase Bank building in California has been killed, and all of the hostages have been released, authorities said Wednesday morning.

The hostage situation concluded at approximately 4:20 a.m. with an officer-involved shooting involving FBI personnel, the Bakersfield Police Department said in an update.

All of the hostages were found uninjured. They received medical evaluation and treatment at the scene, police said.

Authorities have not shared how many people were being held hostage or the identity of the suspect involved.

Additional information will be released at a 10 a.m. press conference, authorities said.

Road closures remain in place Wednesday

Several road closures in Bakersfield remained in place Wednesday morning.

Closures are currently in effect between Truxtun Avenue and 18th Street, and between H Street and K Street, police said.

“Please avoid the area if possible and allow extra travel time this morning,” police said.

Number of family members gathered by the scene Wednesday morning

Family members were gathered waiting for their loved ones to be released from the hostage situation early Wednesday morning, CBS Mornings reported.

Two hostages had been released overnight, authorities said.

It was not immediately clear where the situation stood early Wednesday morning, and authorities have not said how many people remain trapped inside the building.

Suspect reportedly said 'it's a bad day to be at the bank'

A witness at the California Chase bank, where several people are being held hostage, apparently heard the suspect say, “It’s a bad day to be at the bank” when he entered the building.

Officials have not shared how many people are still being held inside the building. Hostage negotiators were able to secure the safe release of two people overnight.

Police and members of the Crisis Negotiation Team remain in contact with the suspect via telephone.

No arrests have been made, and police said there have been no demands made by the suspect, KGET reported.

Police urge public to avoid downtown area

“Please stay out of the area. All of the buildings in the surrounding area have been evacuated. There’s a very active scene,” Bakersfield Police Sgt. Eric Celedon says in an Instagram story Tuesday night.

In a follow-up post, Celedon noted that police have “every single resource” available to handle the situation.