Update 10 a.m. Friday with information from the police report.
A 23-year-old gunman came into the Community First Credit Union in Northwest Jacksonville shortly after it opened Thursday morning with a dog, dog food and a gun and took 13 hostages, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
At times, the alleged gunman, Nicholas Humphrey, put a gun to their heads of the hostages and threatened to kill them. The police report says he fired a shot after locking the front door behind him and forced the hostages into a back room.
About two hours later, when two people who had been hiding under desks make a run for a door, a SWAT team swarmed the building from the rear and freed the rest of the hostages, taking the gunman into custody. There were no injuries.
Sheriff Mike Williams said Humphrey surrendered as soon as he saw the SWAT team.
Williams said the distraction of two people the gunman didn't know were there, running to the door, gave the SWAT team the opportunity to rush the gunman inside the credit union on Edgewood Avenue West.
“(SWAT) placed themselves between the hostage taker and the hostages, in essence rescuing those hostages.” Williams said. “We were able to take him into custody without incident and save the lives of those hostages.”
A man who was hiding inside described how he survived.
"Yes, it was scary," hostage Frank Brown said. "He said, 'I want the cell phones of everybody in here. I'm going to shoot them.'"
Brown said he stayed on the floor in a cubicle rather than being taken into a back room from with the other hostages.
"I know one thing; he wasn't going to let in that room. I was not going to be led in that room and shot like a sitting duck."
Williams said the decision to enter the building was made by SWAT command as the situation escalated inside the building with the hostage taker threatening the hostages at gunpoint.
“Those guys work and train hard every single day for days like today,” Williams said. “And it paid off today. We were able to not only resolve it but resolve it peacefully through some really professional expertise to be able to make the right decision at the right time.”
Hostage situation unfolds
The situation began at 9:03 a.m. Thursday when officers responding to a reported bank robbery at the credit union and called for backup and the SWAT team.
Williams said SWAT members arrived and made contact with the hostage taker, who made some demands, including that he wanted some family members to be brought to the scene.
Williams said the hostage taker let a few hostages go during negotiations with SWAT members, but continued to threaten the people inside the bank, leading SWAT command to decide to storm the bank at their next opportunity.
Williams said the hostage taker will face charges ranging from bank robbery, to armed kidnapping and aggravated assault, depending on the outcome of the investigation. The dog was turned over to animal control.
During the incident, loved ones of those inside the bank gathered outside the perimeter anxious for any information about the people inside.
A woman who said her sister was working inside the bank said she watched, relieved, as her sister was escorted across the street by police after the standoff ended. The woman said she hadn't been able to speak to her sister yet, but that she looked OK.
“It's sad," the woman said. "You have to grab your family and let them know you love them, because you never know.”
Another woman whose sister also worked in the bank said she had been scared all morning as the situation unfolded.
“This morning I was really scared and nervous just thinking that something could have happened to her at her place of employment," she said. "Once I saw her it was a relief to know that God brought her out of this situation. Not just her but everybody who was in that bank.”
Latasha Shuman said her 18-year-old son was working in the bank, and just after 9 a.m., she began receiving calls from friends and relatives about someone being held hostage in the bank.
Just before 11 a.m., she said her son texted her to say "Mama, I'm safe."
"I'm just so relieved," Shuman said.
Shuman said her son has worked at the bank for two to three months and has never had any issues or problems at work.
The freed hostages were reunited with their loved ones and interviewed by police at a nearby library.
“It’s a blessing, just a blessing to know she’s OK," said Clara Crews, whose daughter was among those held.
Edgewood Avenue West near Lem Turner Road and other area roads remained blocked all morning. The immediate area, including nearby businesses, was evacuated during the standoff, and officers asked everyone to stay away from the bank and to not take any photos or videos of SWAT positions, as it could pose a danger.
About two hours later, when two people who had been hiding under desks make a run for the front door, a SWAT team swarmed the building and freed the hostages, taking the gunman into custody. There were no injuries.
Sheriff Mike Williams said the gunman, later identified as Nicholas Humphrey, surrendered as soon as he saw the SWAT team. News4Jax crews at the scene watched as the hostages were escorted out safely by SWAT officers.
Williams said the distraction of the people who the gunman didn't know were there running to the door gave the SWAT team the opportunity to rush the gunman inside the credit union on Edgewood Avenue West.
“(SWAT) placed themselves between the hostage taker and the hostages, in essence rescuing those hostages.” Williams said. “We were able to take him into custody without incident and save the lives of those hostages.”
A man who was hiding inside described how he survived.
"Yes, it was scary," hostage Frank Brown said. "He said, 'I want the cell phones of everybody in here. I'm going to shoot them.'"
Brown said he stayed on the floor in a cubicle rather than being taken into a back room from with the other hostages.
"I know one thing; he wasn't going to let in that room. I was not going to be led in that room and shot like a sitting duck."
Williams said the decision to enter the building was made by SWAT command as the situation escalated inside the building with the hostage taker threatening the hostages at gunpoint.
“Those guys work and train hard every single day for days like today,” Williams said. “And it paid off today. We were able to not only resolve it but resolve it peacefully through some really professional expertise to be able to make the right decision at the right time.”
Hostage situation unfolds
The situation began at 9:03 a.m. Thursday when officers responding to a reported bank robbery at the credit union and called for backup and the SWAT team.
Williams said SWAT members arrived and made contact with the hostage taker, who made some demands, including that he wanted some family members to be brought to the scene.
Williams said the hostage taker let a few hostages go during negotiations with SWAT members, but continued to threaten the people inside the bank, leading SWAT command to decide to storm the bank at their next opportunity.
Williams said the hostage taker will face charges ranging from bank robbery, to armed kidnapping and aggravated assault, depending on the outcome of the investigation. The dog was turned over to animal control.
During the incident, loved ones of those inside the bank gathered outside the perimeter anxious for any information about the people inside.
9:03 a.m. | JSO responds to call about a possible hostage situation and heads to the Community First Credit Union on Edgewood Avenue West. | |
9:45 a.m. | Police confirm suspect contained inside credit union; sources say he took hostages. | |
Before | Hostage taker releases a few hostages during negotiations, demands for family members to be brought to scene, threatens remainin hostages at gunpoint. | |
10:30 a.m. | JSO asks media to turn off live cameras because they don't want suspect to see tactical maneuvers. | |
About 10:45 a.m. | 2 people hiding in bank try to run, distracting hostage taker and giving SWAT opportunity to storm bank and rescue hostages. | |
Just before | Suspect taken into custody; Hostages escorted out safely by SWAT team. | |
12:30 p.m. | Hostages reunited with family members at nearby library |
A woman who said her sister was working inside the bank said she watched, relieved, as her sister was escorted across the street by police after the standoff ended. The woman said she hadn't been able to speak to her sister yet, but that she looked OK.
“It's sad," the woman said. "You have to grab your family and let them know you love them, because you never know.”
Another woman whose sister also worked in the bank said she had been scared all morning as the situation unfolded.
“This morning I was really scared and nervous just thinking that something could have happened to her at her place of employment," she said. "Once I saw her it was a relief to know that God brought her out of this situation. Not just her but everybody who was in that bank.”
Latasha Shuman said her 18-year-old son was working in the bank, and just after 9 a.m., she began receiving calls from friends and relatives about someone being held hostage in the bank.
Just before 11 a.m., she said her son texted her to say "Mama, I'm safe."
"I'm just so relieved," Shuman said.
Shuman said her son has worked at the bank for two to three months and has never had any issues or problems at work.
The freed hostages were reunited with their loved ones and interviewed by police at a nearby library.
“It’s a blessing, just a blessing to know she’s OK," said Clara Crews, whose daughter was among those held.
Edgewood Avenue West near Lem Turner Road and other area roads remained blocked all morning. The immediate area, including nearby businesses, was evacuated during the standoff, and officers asked everyone to stay away from the bank and to not take any photos or videos of SWAT positions, as it could pose a danger.
