California bank suspect identified after being shot dead by FBI as details emerge of hostage ordeal

The man who held 10 people hostage in a California bank building while threatening to detonate explosives has been identified as Anthony Scott Searle-Sharris.

Searle-Sharris was a 41-year-old who served in the U.S. Army but had an extensive violent history, authorities said.

He was discharged for the Army for going AWOL, officials added.

Ten people were held hostage in the Chase Bank building after a suspect barricaded himself inside and said he had explosives on his body, authorities confirmed during a press conference Wednesday.

“We are incredibly relieved to report that all of the hostages involved have been safely recovered,” Bakersfield Assistant Chief of Police Jeremy Blakemore said.

Five of the hostages were tied up by the suspect, but all 10 were released without harm.

The Bakersfield Police Department is set to hold a press conference starting at 10 a.m. local time.

Authorities said additional information would be released as it becomes available.

About 50 SWAT members swarmed the building where a suspect was holding people hostage overnight and brought a man outside, according to a report.

Witnesses told NBC LA that they saw SWAT members enter the building around 2:30 a.m. before bringing a man — possibly the suspect — outside.

Video seen by the outlet showed officers escorting a group of about seven people out of the building.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.