SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A hostage situation at a bank in Saginaw Township ended Friday evening with the female hostage escaping unharmed and the suspect fatally shot, according to WJRT.
The standoff began shortly after 5 p.m. at the Mercantile Bank branch located at 5444 State Street. For nearly four hours, the building was surrounded by a heavy presence of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies as a gunman barricaded himself inside with the woman, WJRT said, adding authorities have not yet released details about what led to the incident. Negotiators worked for hours to resolve the situation peacefully.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., witnesses saw the woman running from the bank as tactical officers rushed inside. Moments later, the suspect, who has not been identified, was shot. He was pronounced dead at the scene, though police have not confirmed who fired the fatal shot, WJRT said.
State Street was shut down between Center and Weineke roads throughout the standoff. Dozens of police vehicles, armored units, and officers from multiple jurisdictions, including Saginaw Township, the city of Saginaw, Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office, Bridgeport, Midland, and the Michigan State Police, responded.
An FBI sniper was observed positioned on a nearby rooftop with a rifle aimed at the bank entrance. Saginaw Township police confirmed the area was secured and the road reopened around 9 p.m., WJRT said.