Surviving suspect ID'ed in deadly Calif. bank robbery, rampage

STOCKTON, Calif. - A gang of bank robbers who took three women hostage during their getaway attempt and waged a deadly, high-speed gun battle with police were heavily armed, had ammunition magazines taped or strapped to their bodies and intended to kill, police said Thursday.

Two of the robbers were killed Wednesday afternoon along with a hostage who police said was used by the only surviving suspect as a shield. Police identified the surviving suspect Thursday as Jaime Ramos, 19, of Stockton, California. Police said the other robbers, ages 27 and 30, were gang members, also from Stockton.

"In my over two decades of law enforcement I have never seen or experienced this type of total disregard for human life," Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones said.

Ramos has been booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on homicide, attempted murder, kidnapping and robbery charges, reports CBS Sacramento.

The drama began Wednesday when the men held up a Bank of the West branch in Stockton, a city about 80 miles east of San Francisco, and took two bank employees and a customer hostage. It ended in a hail of gunfire after police shot out the tires of the getaway vehicle.

During the hour-long chase through the streets, two of the hostages jumped or were thrown from the stolen SUV, one of them while the vehicle may have been going more than 50 mph. At least one suffered a gunshot wound. Both were expected to survive.

It was not clear whether the hostage who died - the bank customer - was shot by police or by the robbers.

"What we've got to remember is what and who started this very deadly incident. It's three armed and very violent suspects," police spokesman Joe Silva said.

Police said that they recovered at least three handguns and an assault rifle.

"It was such a chaotic ... fluid situation, really one of the most dangerous, tense situations that a police officer could go through," Jones said. He added: "There was a lot on the line and the officers responded appropriately."

Fourteen police cars and many homes along the chase route were peppered with bullets, Jones said.

"The firing never stopped," Jones said. "They were trying to kill (the officers), no doubt."

Jones said there were a few instances in which it appeared that the suspects lay in wait for the officers in a surprise attack, reports CBS Sacramento. No officers were struck during the attack.

Witnesses said the shootout that brought the episode to a close looked like a war.

One witness told CBS affiliate KOVR he heard five minutes of non-stop gunfire.

At one point during the pursuit, the SUV - taken from a bank employee - stopped around a corner and turned to face the direction officers were coming from, in what would have been an ambush, police said.

One of the gunmen was leaning out, taking aim with a rifle, police said. An officer shot at the gunman, and the SUV took off again.

When the SUV's tires were shot and the vehicle came to a stop, officers exchanged fire with at least one of the robbers, police said.

When it was all over, the last hostage was found dead in the SUV along with one of the gunmen, police said. A second gunmen died later at a hospital.

Jose Maldonado, who said he saw the robbers taking the women out of the bank, said the men had rifles slung over their shoulders and didn't seem to care that there were police all around.

"They were not afraid. They weren't going to take no for an answer. These poor women, they were screaming, they were so distraught, so scared," Maldonado said.

Police did not say how much was taken in the bank robbery. During the holdup, the gunmen also tied up a security guard.

More than 20 officers were placed on administrative leave after the incident, reports CBS Sacramento - the most ever for the department at one time.