FBI Shoots and Kills Suspect in California Hostage Standoff
Did the Bakersfield standoff end thanks to skilled negotiations or decisive deadly force?
Above: A view near a bank branch in Bakersfield, California, on June 3. Image credit: Jon Putman/Contributor/Anadolu/Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Thankfully, the Bakersfield standoff ended with the hostages saved and the suspect neutralized after a horrifying ordeal. FBI SWAT units and hostage negotiators played a key role in ensuring that a volatile standoff didn't end in a much worse situation. This is an example of an effective, high-stakes law enforcement operation.
Narrative B
With this horrifying standoff now resolved, attention turns to uncovering the motives and capabilities of the deceased suspect, Anthony Scott Searles-Harris. The dynamics of his prior convictions and military discharge, and his reported intent to use Improvised Explosive Devices, will be investigated in detail in the days and weeks ahead.