A suspect with a criminal history stormed a bank in Florida and took 11 hostages during a standoff that lasted hours before he surrendered, police said Thursday.
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Nicholas Daquan Humphrey, 23, pointed his gun at hostages' heads and made a series of demands, investigators in Jacksonville said. Sheriff Mike Williams told reporters the demands included money and bringing family members to the scene at the Community First Credit Union.
This is the mugshot of bank hostage suspect Nicholas Daquan Humphrey from a February arrest https://t.co/xwXZ8v99lb pic.twitter.com/ilFnBk6Xfq
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One of the hostages texted a friend to say the suspect appeared nervous, Fox 30 reported.
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It was unclear whether anybody was hurt. Investigators denied initial reports that people were shot. Officers used a battering ram to break down the bank's front door as the standoff ended.
Humphrey was likely to face charges including armed kidnapping and robbery, the sheriff added, saying the suspect did not work at the bank. He brought a dog inside, Williams said, adding that the animal was safe after the standoff.
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Police had arrested Humphrey at least twice earlier in the year on charges including domestic violence and driving on a suspended license, Fox 30 added.
Aerial video showed several hostages slowly walking out of the bank some two hours after the standoff began. The hostages apparently included employees and customers.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office acknowledged that the sheriff identified the wrong man as a suspect shortly after the standoff ended Thursday.
Latasha Sherman told Fox 30 her 18-year-old son was working inside the bank -- and that hours after she started trying to call him, he texted her back saying he was safe. She said he'd been working at the bank for just a few months.
Law enforcement officers ordered people to evacuate the area while the hostage situation was under way.
Two 911 calls initially came in -- one reporting a robbery, and one reporting gunfire, Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda told reporters.
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