Second hostage walks free as Chase Bank crisis enters new phase

3 Jun 2026 • 5:18 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Second hostage walks free as Chase Bank crisis enters new phase

  • A hostage situation is ongoing at a Chase Bank in Bakersfield, California, where a man has barricaded himself inside and is threatening to detonate a bomb.
  • The incident began around 1 p.m. on Tuesday and has continued for over 12 hours, with police, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security on scene.
  • Two hostages have been released so far, and authorities report that the remaining "several community members" inside the bank are in good health.
  • Crisis negotiators are in contact with the suspect, whose demands have not been publicly revealed, as efforts continue to resolve the situation peacefully.
  • The area around the bank, including city hall and police headquarters, has been locked down and evacuated, with officials urging the public to avoid the scene.

IN FULL