Sheriff: Suspect in credit union hostage-taking charged

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — After an armed robbery suspect put a gun to the back of one hostage's head, SWAT team members resolved at the first chance they had Thursday to storm a north Florida credit union where nearly a dozen people were being held, authorities say.

That moment came, they say, when two people hiding inside the Jacksonville building, unbeknown to the suspect, made a run for it, distracting the man. SWAT team members stormed the credit union and put themselves between the gunman and the 11 hostages, ending a two-hour standoff, said Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams.

"We were able to take him into custody and save the lives of those hostages," Williams said Thursday, about an hour after the hostage ordeal had ended. "We were not only able to resolve it, but resolve it peacefully."

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office identified the suspect on social media as 23-year-old Nicholas Daquan Humphrey, of Tampa. He was charged Thursday evening with one count of armed robbery and 13 counts of kidnapping. Jail records didn't list an attorney for Humphrey.

Shortly after 9 a.m., an initial 911 call reporting a robbery at the credit union in a northwest Jacksonville commercial district came in. Patrol officers responded quickly, and then SWAT team negotiators were summoned.

Williams described a tense scene as threats escalated and SWAT team members positioned outside. He also said none of those held hostage were shot and that initial reports saying otherwise were erroneous.

SWAT team members were able to talk to the suspect, who asked for money and made demands for some family members to come to the bank, Williams said. A couple of hostages were released through negotiations, Williams added.

"We have verifiable information that he was putting a gun to the back of a hostage's head," Williams said.

At that point a decision was made.

"Based on that, those threats and that activity escalated, it became more and more intense, reviewing that, the SWAT command made the determination to, at the next opportunity, they would make entry into the bank," he added.

Televised news coverage showed a group of freed hostages being taken out by heavily armed and helmeted SWAT team members. Williams described the hostages afterward as "shaken up."

The credit union's chief said the SWAT team did "a fine job" ending the hostage situation.

In an unusual touch, the suspect came into the Community First Credit Union with a dog, according to the sheriff. The dog was unharmed and in the care of animal control services, said Williams, who offered no further explanation.