A Lee County Sheriff’s Office sniper neutralized the armed man who had taken two hostages during an attempted bank robbery, according to recently released CCTV footage.
The footage also showed how the sniper blasted through a computer monitor, splintering the two captives the suspect was holding, and striking the suspect in the head, instantly killing him.
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Facebook released the heavily altered footage on Saturday. Additionally, it features Sheriff’s Office personnel elucidating the circumstances surrounding the decision to fire.
The message further said that the suspect claimed to be carrying a bomb and had a knife. The alleged robbery attempt took place at the Bank of America branch in Fort Myers on February 6.
In the video, the suspect is seen holding two hostages, one of whom is restrained by an armlock and has a knife around her throat.
Members of the Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, a Hostage Negotiations Team, and the Patrol Bureau occupied the bank and its outer ramparts; some of them were wearing tactical gear.
A sharpshooter who had placed his rifle on the shoulder of another security officer was also visible in the footage.