In Bakersfield, California, a hostage situation unfolded at a bank where Anthony Scott Searles-Harris, 41, took 10 employees of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools hostage. Over the course of nearly 16 hours, Searles-Harris claimed to have explosives strapped to himself and the hostages, tying up half of them during the ordeal. The standoff concluded when police stormed the building, resulting in Searles-Harris being shot dead around 4:20 a.m. Authorities confirmed that all hostages were found unharmed. Searles-Harris, an Army veteran who had been dishonorably discharged, had a history of legal troubles and was a registered sex offender. Although he claimed to have bombs, the FBI stated that the devices did not pose a threat. This incident highlights the complexities and dangers associated with hostage situations and the critical response of law enforcement.