Wachovia Bank Hostage Update: Gunman Shot Dead, Police Swarm Cary, N.C. Bank
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(CBS/WRAL/AP) Dozens of police officers and an armored vehicle have swarmed a Cary, North Carolina bank where an armed man took four people hostage.
TV footage showed the suspect being shot as he walked out of the bank with a gun to the head of a hostage. CBS affiliate WRAL reported that none of the hostages or officers was shot.
Two ambulances pulled up to the Wachovia branch in Cary around 6:15 p.m. Thursday after what sounded like gunfire.
A robbery attempt brought police to the scene within minutes Thursday afternoon, authorities said.
Cary is about 10 miles west of Raleigh.
Officers were at the bank within two minutes of the robbery report, Bazemore said.Police were able to talk to the gunman immediately after the robbery attempt, but had limited contact after that, said town spokeswoman Carrier Roman said.
Earlier, officers ordered customers and employees in nearby businesses to stay inside and lock their doors, said Melissa Lopes, manager of a CVS Pharmacy next door to the bank."The whole shopping center is surrounded with cops," she said. "Everybody is locked in. Nobody can get in or get out."
Police were helping to evacuate about 100 children from the nearby Kids R Kids daycare to a safe place where their parents could pick them up. Officers also closed the entrance to a nearby apartment complex, officials said.
Four schools near the bank were also on lockdown, Wake County schools spokesman Greg Thomas said.