Armed man is shot and killed at a Romeoville bank after standoff
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (CBS) -- A man stormed into a Romeoville bank, started shooting, and took hostages Tuesday afternoon, only later to be shot dead by police.
But the gunman was not robbing the bank.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, the drama unfolded at Fifth Third Bank at 275 S. Weber Rd., beginning at 3:40 p.m. Romeoville police came to the scene after a call from inside the bank.
Bank employees were ordered to call 911 at the demands of an armed man inside. Dispatch audio also indicated the man requested a chair in front of the door.
"It was chaos out here today," said Lisa Coleman, who lives nearby.
The Will County Sheriff's office SWAT team that also responded kept Lisa Coleman and neighbors in the Creekside Townhomes away too.
"I came out and I saw the two SWATs standing over here with a rifle on them. It was very scary, because it's too close to home," Coleman said. "This is happening way to close."
If neighbors were scared, just imagine the worry of the bank employees.
The gunman never asked for money. He barked orders at gunpoint and let off several rounds inside the bank, but he never shot anyone.
The hostages he took in the bank were eventually released, the moment Romeoville police and Will County SWAT arrived.
But the gunman refused to come out. He stayed locked inside the bank alone. More than two hours later, SWAT saw an opportunity to take the man down, and they fired.
"There was one gunshot. Everybody started ducking," Coleman said. "The police wouldn't let us get any closer, because, you know, bullets don't have any names."
The suspect was rushed to the hospital, where he later died – bringing the frightening ordeal to an end.
No bank employees were injured. About eight were reportedly inside the bank at the time.
Illinois State Police are leading the investigation since a Will County Sheriff's officer fired the shot that killed the barricaded man.
Police remained on the scene investigating as of 10 p.m.
