Public announcements from the Florida sheriff's office or local government

Fort Myers SWAT Sniper Kills Hostage-Taking Bank Robber at Bank of America

Jun 10, 2024, 02:28 PM

In February, a 36-year-old man named Sterling Alavache was fatally shot by a SWAT sniper during a hostage situation at a Bank of America branch in Fort Myers, Southwest Florida. Alavache had taken two people hostage at knifepoint and made bomb threats. The sniper, aiming through a computer monitor, shot Alavache in the center of the forehead, killing him instantly. The dramatic incident was captured on video, which has since been released by the Florida sheriff's office. The special ops footage shows the precision and coordination of the SWAT team in resolving the dangerous situation without harm to the hostages.