Posted on 01/25/2006 7:18:25 PM PST by Jim Robinson
Edited on 01/25/2006 7:20:38 PM PST by Jim Robinson. [history]
We have a bank robbery in progress at Exeter, CA, a small town south of Fresno. One armed suspect is holding five Bank of America employees hostage. Three bank customers were released earlier. Local police were joined by a swat team to attempt to control the situation. A negotiator is in communication with the suspect. The suspect allowed some of the bank employees to contact their families by cell phone. No injuries have been reported. This all started at about 5:00 pm this evening.
Prayers up for the hostages. Is your family all accounted for?
Yup. Exeter is about an hour or so south of Fresno.
Thanks, just checking as I'm not that familiar with your area. Keep us posted.
Any links to live media feeds??
Thanks..
My wife was born in Exeter
Don't know of any live feeds other than local TV. Channel 30 moved on to a game show (LOL), but KSEE24 is now on it live.
Fox now.. Greta has a local TV host on phone re: situation.
Greta's caller is Tony Lee w/KMPH-TV
single gunman, hold up in south part of building with five hostages.
Prayers up for hostages!
Man holds four hostage at Exeter bank
By Tracey La Monica
Staff writer
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS01/60125003
EXETER — A man carrying a briefcase walked into the Exeter branch of Bank of America as it was closing today and held four people hostage.
Police and sheriff’s deputies quickly surrounded the bank, at 100 E. Pine St.
A customer who said she was released because she had a 15-month-old baby with her described the hostage-taker as about 40 years old.
The witness, Margie Riportella of Exeter, said the man was carrying a briefcase but she saw no weapon.
She said the bank manager, a teller and two customers remained inside with the hostage-taker. Another two customers were released.
“He’s got everyone in the middle of the room,” Riportella told reporters. “It was totally weird. He was ‘out there.’ ”
She said she meant that he appeared to be unstable.
Originally published January 25, 2006
conflicting info on number of hostages still being held.
may be 4 not 5.. not sure.
Fox and Greta off to new story.
Now on CNN.
KSEE 24 now reporting one hostage just released. Four female hostages remaining in bank.
Thanks
Looks like 5 hostages, local paper just updated story..
---
Five hostages remain in Exeter bank
By Tracey La Monica
Staff writer
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060125/NEWS01/60125004
EXETER — Authorities are saying a total of five employees are being held hostage tonight by a man who they say is armed inside the Exeter branch of Bank of America.
The armed man, walked into the bank as it was closing this afternoon, taking nine people inside hostage, said Tulare County sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Douglass.
Four of hostages — a woman and her 15-month-old baby and a couple that had been opening up an account — were released as police and sheriff’s deputies quickly surrounded the bank, at 100 E. Pine St.
At the request of Exeter’s chief of police, the Tulare County Sheriff’s SWAT team has taken command of the incident, Douglass said.
And have a county sheriff’s negotiator in talks with the armed man by phone, said Tulare County sheriff’s Lt. Keith Douglass.
Authorities have not yet released information on what the armed man’s demands.
Family members of those being held hostage have been lingering in the bank’s downtown area and are reportedly receiving phone calls from loved ones inside the bank.
The woman who said she was released because she had a 15-month-old baby with her described the hostage-taker as about 40 years old.
The witness, Margie Riportella of Exeter, said the man was carrying a briefcase but she saw no weapon.
She said the bank manager, a teller and two customers remained inside with the hostage-taker. Another two customers were released.
“He’s got everyone in the middle of the room,” Riportella told reporters. “It was totally weird. He was ‘out there.’ ”
She said she meant that he appeared to be unstable.
Gunman has demanded a vehicle, which will not happen per officials.
1 hostage released, 4 hostages held.
The gate way is 3 rivers,up 198, 10 or so miles. Another month for the spring flowers. Prayers for all.
Gunman holds five hostage in bank during police standoff
The Associated Press
http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/5857011p-5872278c.html
EXETER, Calif. (AP) - An armed man took at least five people hostage in a bank during a standoff with police Wednesday night, as officers outside negotiated with him.
A Tulare County Sheriff's Department SWAT team and police officers surrounded the Bank of America branch in downtown Exeter late Wednesday and evacuated neighboring businesses.
The man entered the bank around 5 p.m. and demanded money, authorities said. He then took at least five people hostage after employees alerted police to the attempted robbery.
The suspect released one hostage during the standoff; at least four women remained inside.
Authorities could not say whether the man had a gun, but did say he was armed with some type of weapon.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Chris Douglass said some of the hostages have been able to speak with family members.
Authorities said the man has demanded a car and negotiations were continuing.
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