LCSO releases new video of Bank of America hostage incident

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday released new video of the deadly hostage situation at the Bank of America in south Fort Myers that occurred earlier this year on February 7.

During the incident, 36-year-old Sterling Alavache robbed the bank and claimed he had a bomb. The video shows Alavache taking two people hostage at knifepoint and the LCSO negotiating with Alavache to release the hostages and surrender.

Due to the threat to the hostages, a special forces sniper fired a planned and deliberate shot through a computer monitor, according to LCSO.

After the sniper fired the shot, the video shows officers entering the bank and throwing stun grenades to rescue the hostages and ensure that Alavache was no longer a threat.

Fox 4 has reached out to the district attorney’s office and asked for a statement on the reason for the shooting and the status of the investigation, but has not yet received a response.