Hostages released, hours-long standoff ends at Minnesota bank

Several hostages were released after an hours-long standoff with the police and FBI at a bank in Minnesota.

The incident took place around 2 p.m. Thursday at a Wells Fargo bank in St. Cloud, Minn., after suspect Ray Reco McNeary became upset about a transaction, St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson said at a press conference the same day.

Anderson said it is not clear if the suspect had a gun or any sort of weapon and an investigation into the matter is still ongoing. 

“A peaceful resolution, the best outcome we could have today,” Anderson said.

There were five hostages at the scene of the standoff, during which McNeary asked for the FBI.

The FBI arrived at the scene and worked with local authorities to resolve the incident. 

“That collaborative effort, those relationships … those were valuable to us today,” Anderson said.

Four hostages were released while one more ran for the door, making it out as law enforcement entered the building. No one was injured during the incident, according to a report from CNN. 

McNeary was arrested without incident and is being held on charges relating to kidnapping and robbery.

A spokesperson for Wells Fargo told a local outlet that the incident was a “traumatic” moment for the community. 

“We recognize this is a traumatic moment for the community and our colleagues. The safety and security of our customers and employees is our most important priority,” the spokesperson said Thursday.