US News

Incredible footage shows Florida sniper shoot hostage-holding bank robber through a computer monitor

By
Alex Oliveira
Published June 9, 2024
Updated June 10, 2024, 6:57 a.m. ET

Newly released footage from Florida police shows the incredible moment a sniper shot a bank robber, with the bullet traveling through a desktop computer and between two hostages before fatally s♔triking the suspect.

The scene unfolded February 6 when a 36-year-old man attempted to rob a Fort Myers Bank of America, and took two people hostage inside aꦍn office of the bank af♚ter police closed in on him.

The suspect had told cops he had a bomb on him and crouched behind the hostages — using them as human shields — as a negotiator tried to get him to surrender.

But the robber suddenl💦y put one of the hostages into a headlock a🅰nd held a knife to her throat, prompting officers to spring into action.

Footage from the scene released by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office showed SWAT officers in position outside the bank’s doors while a sniper steadied his rifle on the shoulder of another officer.

The sniper aimed at the suspect, whose head could barely be seen over the top of a computer monitor across 🤪the room.

“Keep talking to me, keep talking to me, I want to know what’s going through your head right now,” the negotiator said.

Moments later, the sniper pulled the trigge༺r and a shot rang out.

The hostage hid behind two hostages and held a knife to the throat of one before officers shot him dead
The hostage hid behind two hostages and held a knife to the throat of one before an officer shot him dead. LCSO

Inside the bank office, the bullet went through the computer monitor♏, leaving a hole, and struck the ro🐻bber, who was hunkered down behind the two hostages.

The video shows the suspect crumpling to the floor as the hostages scatte൲r for cover.

Officers charged into the office and tossed flash grenades as they checked that the suspect was incapacitated ꧒and the hostages were safe.

The sniper rested his rifle on the shoulder of another officer and shot the suspect through a computer monitor
The sniper rested his rifle on the shoulder of another officer and shot the suspect through a computer monitor. LCSO

“Shooting positions like these are trained regularly by snipers for time-critical incidents like these,” Lt. Todd Olmer of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office explained alongside the video, describing the shoulder-steadied shot.

“Due to the suspect’s limited exposure, the sniper took a planned and deliberate shot through a computer monitor, striking the suspect in the center of the forehead, killing him instantly,” he said.

“Firing through barriers is a trained and routinely practiced skill by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office special operations unit snipers,” Olmer continued.

“The .308-caliber bullet used is specifically selected due to its known ballistic reliability traveling through intermediate barriers.”

With Post wires