FBI ends hostage crisis
FBI fatally shoots suspect, ending hostage situation at California bank building
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FBI agents fatally shot a man who had been holding hostages for roughly 12 hours inside a downtown Bakersfield, California office building on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, according to Associated Press. The standoff ended around 1:00 AM Wednesday after the suspect barricaded himself inside a four-story building at 17th Street and Chester Avenue — home to a Chase Bank branch and the Bakersfield City School District offices. All remaining hostages were rescued unharmed.
Two hostages were released during negotiations before the FBI moved in. The suspect — whose name has not been officially released — was the only casualty. CBS News reported that no officers or hostages were injured in the final confrontation.
Bomb Threat Triggers 12-Hour Downtown Lockdown
Bakersfield Police got a call about a confirmed bomb threat at the Chase Bank building at 1:00 PM Tuesday, according to CBS News. Officers arrived to find a male suspect barricaded inside with hostages. Within minutes, authorities locked down the entire block. Bakersfield City Hall — both its north and south buildings — and the Bakersfield Police Department headquarters were evacuated, The Guardian reported.
BPD Sergeant Eric Celedon told reporters, "We have every single resource at our disposal out here to bring this to the safest resolution possible." Witness and livestreamer Jacob Davidson, who streamed 12 continuous hours from a nearby tattoo shop, called it "the biggest police presence I've ever seen in this town," according to CP24. Twelve or more police cruisers, armored vehicles, SWAT teams, and bomb technicians flooded the scene.
Hostages Released One by One Before FBI Stepped In
The first hostage walked free around 5:30 PM after hours of talks with negotiators, LA Times reported. A second hostage was released near 9:00 PM. BPD said the people still inside were in "good health" at that point. Negotiators worked through the night trying to end the standoff peacefully.
But around 1:00 AM Wednesday — roughly 12 hours after it started — FBI personnel made their move. Agents fatally shot the suspect. Al Jazeera reported that all remaining hostages were then found unharmed and given medical care on the scene. The FBI's Sacramento Field Office, which covers the Bakersfield region, led the final response.
Suspected Motive Tied to Child Protective Services Dispute
Bakersfield police have not officially named the suspect or given a motive. But community reports and livestreamer Jacob Davidson, known online as "Dad's Gone Live," suggested the man was driven by a grievance over a CPS — Child Protective Services — case, according to Newsweek. CPS is the government agency that handles child welfare investigations. Authorities have not confirmed this.
The building's role as a school district office lends some weight to that theory. The Bakersfield City School District runs its administrative offices on the upper floors of the same building where the Chase Bank branch sits on the ground floor, Houston Chronicle reported. Questions are now being raised about how the suspect was able to enter a building housing school district leadership.
FBI Shooting Triggers Review; Downtown Shut for 15 Hours
Under standard rules, the FBI's Inspection Division will investigate the use of deadly force. The Department of Justice is also expected to review whether agents followed federal use-of-force policies. The specific agent who fired the fatal shot has not been identified, Al Jazeera reported.
Downtown Bakersfield — a city of about 380,000 people — was shut down for more than 15 hours. City Hall and nearby government offices missed a full day of work. JPMorgan Chase spokesperson Peter Kelley said "the branch is currently empty and we are working with authorities." Mayor Karen Goh urged residents to stay away from the area and asked for "prayers for the victims," according to LA Times.
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