Bank robber who took two people hostage in Florida was shot and neutralized by a sniper

Footage released by Florida police shows the moment a sniper fatally shot a bank robber, the bullet passing through a desktop computer.

The incident began on February 6, when a 36-year-old man tried to rob the Fort Myers Bank of America and took two people hostage as a result of police intervention. The suspect said he had a bomb on him and was using the hostages as human shields.

The police took action when the robber threatened a hostage by holding a knife to his throat. In the video released by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, SWAT teams can be seen taking position and the sniper puts his rifle on the shoulder of another officer. The sniper pointed his rifle at the suspect, barely visible over the computer monitor.

While the negotiator continued talking to the suspect, the sniper pulled the trigger and the bullet pierced the computer monitor and hit the suspect. The hostages escaped safely while the suspect collapsed.

Police officers entered the office to check that the suspect had been neutralized and the hostages were safe. “Snipers train regularly for these types of critical incidents,” said Lt. Todd Olmer of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. “Due to the suspect’s limited visibility, the sniper made a premeditated shot, hitting the suspect in the middle of his forehead, killing him instantly,” he added.