In a 12-hour standoff at Tensas State Bank, police shot and killed 20-year-old suspect Fuaed Abdo Ahmed early Wednesday after he killed one hostage and injured another, USA TODAY reported.
Col. Mike Edmonson of the Louisiana State Police said the two hostages were rushed to the hospital following gunshots and were in critical condition. The Associated Press reported afterwards that one of the hostages died.
Earlier in the night, a third hostage, identified as Patricia Davis, was released by Ahmed unharmed. St. Joseph is a small town with no more than 1,200 residents.
"I wouldn't expect something like that to happen here,'' said Mayor Edward Brown. "It's just bizarre."
Ahmed's family owned a convenience store in Mississippi River town, according to Edmonson. Family members told The News Star that Ahmed had given officials 10 hours to comply with his demands, which were not reported.
The News Star said that around 4 p.m. CT, a family member drove through a police perimeter and toward the bank. He was subsequently arrested. Officials said that Ahmed suffered from schizophrenia. After searching his home, they found a note about the attack, a book on hostage negotiations, and other planning materials. A negotiator spoke to Ahmed throughout the incident, but Ahmed often hung up the phone. It is not believed by officials that robbery was his motive.
"He was mad at people he said were mean to him," Edmonson said. "He heard voices in his head and wanted a thing in his head removed."
Around midnight, police decided to raid the bank after Ahmed told them he was going to kill his two hostages. No officials were injured during the incident.
"This is certainly not the way I wanted this to end, but I believe his mind was set from the beginning," Edmonson said.
During the hostage situation, more than 100 law enforcement officials, made up of the FBI, U.S. Marshal Service, bomb squad, and four sheriff's deputies congregated to assist the negotiation. A no-fly zone with a radius of 5 miles and up to 5,000 feet was enacted by the bank. Highway 128 was also blocked by police.
