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Suspect surrenders after taking hostages at Jacksonville bank

A robbery suspect surrendered after holding 13 people hostage inside a Jacksonville bank on Thursday, according to police.

Jacksonville sheriff Mike Williams said the suspect, later identified as 23 year old Nicholas Daquan Humphrey, surrendered after SWAT team members forced their way into the bank around 11:05 a.m.

Police were called to reports of a bank robbery at the Community First Credit Union on Edgewood Avenue at 9 a.m.

SWAT team officers were called to the bank after patrol officers saw what looked like a bank robbery in progress.

Police learned there were between 10 and 13 hostages inside the bank. Jacksonville Sheriff's Office later clarified that there were 13 hostages. Eleven were rescued and two were escaped on their own. Community First Credit Union said the two people who escaped on their own were an employee and a credit union member.

Police said the suspect put a gun to the back of hostages' heads and threatened to kill them.

He fired his gun during the standoff and ordered all the hostages into a back room, according to police.

During negotiations, the suspect requested family members come to the scene. He released a couple of the hostages but continued to threaten them.

SWAT team members forced their way inside the bank after two hostages distracted the gunman by fleeing the bank.

SWAT team members used a battering ram to break in and placed themselves between the shooter and hostages.

The gunman then surrendered inside the credit union.

There were reports that someone was shot during the standoff but police said no one was injured.

Lake Forest Elementary School was on lockdown for about 20 minutes during the standoff.

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office originally released a name of the hostage suspect but said it was incorrect.

Humphrey, 23, has ties to the Tampa area. He has been arrested in Florida at least twice in 2016. In February in Hillsborough County, he was arrested on a domestic violence charge and released without bond. He was arrested in Jacksonville in September for driving with a suspended license.

Humphrey was booked into the Duval County jail at 5:38 p.m., JSO said. According to JSO's online Inmate Information Search, he is charged with 13 counts of kidnapping, one count of armed robbery and one count of theft of a motor vehicle.

Sheriff Williams said at a Thursday afternoon briefing that it's not yet known why Humphrey picked that location for the robbery. Williams commended the professionalism of the officers that responded to the scene and were able to get hostages out safely.

Williams said the suspect was not cooperative with investigators earlier today and that mental illness may be a factor in the robbery.

Community First Credit Union released a statement about the hostage situation:

Community First said the Edgewood Avenue branch will remain closed Friday and reopen Monday. Hirabayashi released an updated statement Thursday night:

"The Community First Credit Union family of employees and members is grateful for the safe rescue and release of 11 people taken hostage by gunpoint this morning at our Northside branch on Edgewood Avenue. Seven of them were our devoted employees and four were our members.

"I have personally met with all our Edgewood employees, their families and the members involved. It was a very tough day for everyone on the scene and for our entire credit union family. All our employees, members and their loved ones have been reunited and we extend our support and appreciation to them while they recover. We will extend crisis counseling and have activated our employee assistance program (EAP) to further help our branch employees in their emotional healing.

"Our Northside Branch will remain closed until Monday, December 5 so we can repair the physical damage done by both the suspect and the law enforcement intervention. The nearest branch is located at 11907 Lem Turner Road.

"I am personally grateful for the amazing professionalism and strength of our branch team who had to endure a situation we've not seen in many years. An active shooter is something we all know can happen and we hope never does, but these employees used their training to save lives today. We are also appreciative of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office's quick response and intervention that prevented physical injuries. This is the best possible outcome.

"I'm proud of our Community First Credit Union family today more than ever. And I'm thankful beyond words that this situation ended peacefully with the suspect in custody. We graciously ask for the community's understanding and respect of our employee's privacy while they heal."

UPDATES: SWAT team broke into the bank while the gunman was distracted by fleeing hostages. Police said the suspect put a gun to hostages' heads, threatened to kill them: http://bit.ly/2gbHOAn

Posted by Action News Jax on Thursday, December 1, 2016

What we know:

  • The bank robbery suspect has surrendered. Eleven hostages were taken out of the bank.
  • Police are investigating a bank robbery at Community First Credit Union on Edgewood Avenue.
  • There are reports of multiple people inside the building with the suspect.
  • Jacksonville police received a call that someone was shot, but police can't confirm if anyone is hurt.

Update at 11:05 a.m.: 

The gunman has surrendered and eleven hostages were evacuated from the Jacksonville bank.

CHOPPER VIDEO: Eleven hostages freed from Jacksonville bank after standoff with gunman: http://bit.ly/2gbHOAn Watch live on Facebook: Jacksonville sheriff Mike Williams to give update at 11:45 a.m.

Posted by Action News Jax on Thursday, December 1, 2016

Update at 10:55 a.m.:

Police seen breaking door down at Jacksonville bank.

Update at 10:50 a.m.:

A mother told Action News Jax that she is nervous because her 18 year-old son works at the bank.

The mother said she's been trying to call her son all morning.

First Report: 

The bank robbery is at the Community First Credit Union on Edgewood Avenue, which is near Fernandina Avenue.

JSO SWAT and hostage negotiators are on scene.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said there is at least one suspect.

The suspect tried to commit a robbery to the bank, police said. There are multiple people inside the building.

The suspect is inside the building, JSO said.

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There are reports of about 11 people inside the building. Action News Jax is working to confirm the area with authorities.

Police said they received a call that someone was shot, but can't confirm if anyone is hurt.

Jacksonville Police evacuated the immediate area and are asking people to stay away from the area as authorities investigate.

Action News Jax has multiple reporters on scene. Watch Action News Jax and follow us on Twitter @ActionNewsJax for the latest. 

WATCH LIVE: A suspect has surrendered and all hostages have been released from the Community First bank on Edgewood. JSO says that NO ONE was shot. The very latest information: http://bit.ly/2gbHOAn

Posted by Action News Jax on Thursday, December 1, 2016

Update: #JFRD "Active Shooter" protocol being implemented with #JSO at safe location. Additional Rescues requested. Estimated 11 people inside of the building at this time.

Posted by JFRD Incidents on Thursday, December 1, 2016