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Athony Scott Searles-Harris

Age : 41

Gender : Unknown

Race : Unknown

Date : 06/03/2026

Location : 1515 17th St

City : Bakersfield

County : Kern

State : California

Agency : Bakersfield Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Gunshot

Event : Killed by police during hostage standoff

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

On 06/03/2026, police responded to a hostage situation at a downtown office building at 1515 17th Street in Bakersfield. The building housed a Chase Bank branch and offices of the Kern County Superintendent of Schools. Anthony Scott Searles-Harris allegedly entered the building on the afternoon of June 2 and held 10 people hostage while claiming to have explosives attached to himself and some of the hostages. Police and FBI negotiators remained in contact with him during a standoff that lasted approximately 15 hours. Two hostages were released during negotiations while the remaining hostages stayed inside overnight. Authorities stated that some hostages were tied up and that devices believed to be explosives were observed. Around 4:20 a.m. on June 3, FBI personnel entered the building after authorities reported concerns about Searles-Harris's behavior and the condition of a hostage. Police and FBI personnel opened fire, killing Searles-Harris. All hostages were recovered alive. The FBI is leading the investigation into the shooting.

SOURCE LINKS :

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-bank-bakersfield-chase-possible-hostage-situation/
https://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/downtown-bakersfield-police-incident-prompts-lockdown-at-city-hall-other-buildings-kern-county-california
https://apnews.com/article/bf4cf78abb0f06cc4bb2c9a92d799d34
https://kesq.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2026/06/03/suspect-who-took-10-hostages-is-dead-after-hourslong-bomb-threat-at-california-building-authorities-say/