A robbery suspect who held two people hostage at knifepoint inside a Florida bank was shot and killed by a law enforcement sniper during a tense standoff, authorities said Tuesday.
The suspect, identified by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as Sterling Ramon Alabash, 36, had a lengthy criminal history that included drug trafficking, aggravated assault and carrying a concealed firearm from multiple states, officials said. said.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told reporters that he and the FBI responded to a Bank of America branch near the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers shortly after 11 a.m. for a report of a bank robbery that took several hostages. Deputies said they were called to action in response.
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As staff rushed inside the bank to secure the scene, dozens of people ran outside, Marceno said.
Sterling Ramon Alabash, 36, was shot and killed by a sniper while holding two people hostage during a tense standoff with law enforcement inside a bank in Fort Myers, Florida. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
“I was immediately confronted by a male suspect who was armed with a knife,” the sheriff said. “He also claimed he had a bomb.”
Marceno said there were two hostages in Aravache and authorities were trying to start negotiations. At one point, he allegedly put one of the hostages in a headlock and held a knife to his throat.
“When he displayed such deadly force, our SWAT sniper shot and killed the suspect,” Marceno said. “We feared for her life and safety.”
Both hostages were said to be safe. The SWAT sniper will be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.
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“This is a sad day when innocent lives are put at risk due to the senseless actions of others,” Marceno said in a statement later posted on social media. “Today, my family had to make the difficult decision to neutralize an active threat to our people in a highly volatile situation.
“Let this be a reminder of how important it is to remain vigilant. I am extremely grateful that there were no casualties or injuries to my team today.”
