Police rescue hostage during armed standoff, suspect killed by SWAT sniper

Published by RawNews1st

Maryland – A Florida SWAT sniper fatally shot 36-year-old Sterling Alavache, ending a bank hostage standoff in February 2024. Alavache held hostages at knifepoint, claiming to have a bomb at a Bank of America near Fort Myers.

The sniper fired when the suspect held a knife to a hostage’s throat, rescuing two people unharmed.

Authorities raced to the scene of a Bank of America branch in Fort Myers, escorting people out of the building and deploying a robotic dog.”Shortly after 11 a.m., we received a call of a bank robbery in progress, with multiple hostages,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.

The sheriff identified the suspect as 36-year-old Sterling Alavache, saying he claimed to be carrying a bomb and armed with a knife.”He started to put one of the hostages in, like, a headlock, and he had the knife to her throat,” Marceno said.

 The suspect had an extensive criminal history. The sheriff said the sniper feared for the hostage’s life, that’s when they fired. Both hostages were unharmed.