A man was fatally shot after he held 10 school staff members hostage and asserted that he had rigged explosives to himself. Law enforcement authorities intervened at a building in Bakersfield, California, in the early hours, resolving a nearly 16-hour standoff where the suspect restrained half of the hostages and claimed to have placed explosives on them and himself, according to police sources.
The Kern County Superintendent of Schools employees, who were the hostages, were discovered unharmed within the building that also accommodates a Chase bank, as stated by Bakersfield Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Blakemore. Blakemore expressed gratitude for the safe resolution during a press briefing on Wednesday, acknowledging the families’ anxiety throughout the night.
The individual involved was identified as Anthony Scott Searles-Harris, 41, and he was fatally shot around 4:20 am, confirmed Sid Patel, special agent in charge at the FBI’s Sacramento office. Searles-Harris, an Army veteran with a dishonorable discharge and a history of legal issues, was also listed as a registered sex offender.
The suspect had informed law enforcement of possessing a bomb while barricading himself on the building’s second floor, as disclosed by Blakemore. Although authorities were examining the devices that Searles-Harris claimed to be explosives, Patel reassured that they did not pose a threat.
One of the hostages managed to communicate with law enforcement using her phone until the battery drained, mentioned Patel. Given her diabetic condition and lack of medication, officials were aware of the heightened risk she faced during the ordeal.
Blakemore highlighted that while the motive behind the standoff remained undisclosed, Searles-Harris had made demands related to a prior case, expressing concerns about its handling and aftermath. Records from the California Department of Justice and courts revealed Searles-Harris’ status as a sex offender due to convictions in 2014, leading to his release in 2018.
FBI officials disclosed that Searles-Harris served briefly in the Army before an honorable discharge in 2007 for being AWOL. Court documents from Kern County indicated his involvement in domestic violence prevention proceedings, divorce, and custody battles over the years.
Blakemore acknowledged the existence of videos where Searles-Harris criticized law enforcement and claimed innocence regarding his prior criminal convictions. However, there were no plans to investigate the innocence claims at that time.
The reason behind Searles-Harris targeting the school district office remained unclear. The incident, described as a frightening experience, was recognized for the exceptional composure exhibited by the employees throughout the ordeal, as stated by John Mendiburu, the county schools superintendent.
The standoff commenced on Tuesday afternoon following a bomb threat report at the Chase Bank building in Bakersfield. The police’s crisis negotiation team successfully secured the release of two hostages on Tuesday night, while nearby buildings were evacuated during the situation.
Over 100 FBI personnel, including SWAT teams, bomb technicians, and crisis negotiators, were involved in the operation. A hostage rescue team was dispatched from the East Coast to assist in the resolution. Livestream footage captured by Jacob Davidson, known as Dad’s Gone Live, depicted the unfolding events near the building, including the police intervention and hostage reactions.