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SWAT sniper kills knife-wielding suspect during hostage situation inside Florida bank

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating an attempted bank robbery in southwest Florida that ended when a SWAT sniper killed the suspect.

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Several law enforcement officers responded during a standoff at a Bank of America in Fort Myers on Tuesday.

Investigators said 36-year-old Sterling Alavache was armed with a knife and claimed he had a bomb.

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Police said Alavache took several people hostage who were inside of the bank.

At one point, he also held a woman in a headlock with a knife to her throat.

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Investigators said Alavache was a convicted felon with a long criminal history.

None of the hostages were physically hurt.

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