FORT MYERS, Fla. — Update (Feb. 7): The Lee County Sheriff's Officer released new body camera video showing the moment where they shot and killed the bank robbery suspect.
In the video, you can hear the hostage negotiator trying to talk to Alavache, encouraging him to keep talking to them. Deputies say when Alavache became physical and put a knife to a hostage's throat, that's when the sniper shot and killed him.
The hostages were not physically hurt.
Update: The attempted bank robbery suspect has been identified as 36-year-old Sterling Ramon Alavache. According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, Alavache was a convicted felon who had an extensive criminal history that includes drug trafficking, aggravated assault, and carrying a concealed firearm from several states.
During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno called the scene at Bank of America "chaotic".
Sheriff Marceno says multiple hostages were held up inside of the bank location in Fort Myers on Tuesday morning.
The sheriff says the male suspect entered the bank armed with a knife and claimed he had a bomb.
As others were able to run out of the building, hostage negotiations began as two people were held captive by the suspect.
The sheriff says that's when the suspect became physical - even holding one of the victims in a headlock with knife to her throat.
Sheriff Marceno says that's when an LCSO sniper shot and killed the suspect; Both hostages are safe.
Update: The suspect is dead, according to LCSO.
US 41 in both directions has reopened. We're expecting an update from LCSO within the hour. Details are limited at this time.
A large police presence at the Bank of America location at Bell Tower shut down traffic in both directions of US 41 near College Parkway in Fort Myers on Tuesday morning.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office considers this a "critical incident", and we are waiting for confirmed details from deputies.
LCSO has not confirmed any details just yet.
Traffic is blocked at US 41 from College Parkway to Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office is on scene.
This is a developing story.
