This is a developing story.
An active hostage situation is unfolding in Bakersfield, CA.
Reportedly, a man who allegedly has a bomb strapped to his chest has taken an unspecified number of people hostage at Chase Bank in the downtown area.
Streets nearby are closed, and evacuations are underway as law enforcement responds to the scene.
Here’s what we know:
🚨 JUST IN: Hostage Situation in Bakersfield, CA.
Police are currently negotiating with an armed suspect who is holding hostages inside the Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield. The suspect is making bomb threats.
Officers have the area locked down. Heavy police presence on… pic.twitter.com/vxRqiMD0Rv
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) June 2, 2026
JUST IN: Hostage Situation in Bakersfield, CA.
Police are currently negotiating with an armed suspect who is holding hostages inside the Chase Bank in downtown Bakersfield. The suspect is making bomb threats.
Officers have the area locked down. Heavy police presence on scene. Public is urged to stay clear of the area.
Reportedly, police are attempting to negotiate with the apparent terrorist.
Footage from the scene is being shared online:
JUST IN| | Hostage Standoff at Bank
Police are negotiating with a suspect who may have an explosive and is holding a hostage at a Chase Bank. Get real-time updates with Citizen 📲📍Bakersfield, California pic.twitter.com/vEh93hNULP
— Citizen (@CitizenApp) June 2, 2026
The Bakersfield police also released a video warning residents to avoid the area as they handle the situation.
Watch it here:
SITREP: Active Hostage Situation with Bomb Threat at Chase Bank, Bakersfield, CA at 17th Street and Chester Avenue 🐸
A male suspect has barricaded himself inside the bank. He claims to have one or more explosives strapped to his body and is making bomb threats. Police confirm… pic.twitter.com/PS74dd2oqc
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) June 2, 2026
Local news outlet KBAK provided the latest update on what’s unfolding:
Crisis negotiations with a man continue in downtown Bakersfield after a hostage situation with a bomb threat at Chase Bank. Police said he barricaded himself inside the building with “several community members.”
The Bakersfield Police Department said on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at around 1 p.m., officers were called to a bomb threat at the Chase Bank on 17th Street and Chester.
Police confirm that there is an active hostage situation.
Police said the suspect is a man, making bomb threats. Police said he apparently had a bomb strapped to his body.
Police confirmed he had barricaded himself inside the building with “several community members.” Police did not confirm how many people.
Before 5 p.m., police said that, with the cooperation of the crisis negotiations team and the assistance of the FBI negotiations team, they were able to negotiate the safe surrender of one of the hostages.
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CBS Evening News covered the developing story further in this clip:
BREAKING: A man with a bomb allegedly strapped to his chest has taken at least one hostage inside a Chase Bank in Bakersfield, California, prompting lockdowns nearby. Police say they are actively negotiating. pic.twitter.com/vUNyLIxBiO
— CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil (@CBSEveningNews) June 2, 2026
We’ll continue to bring you any further updates as they come in…
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