SWAT team shoots gunman in bank, rescues hostage

A gunman who had been holed up with a hostage inside a Buena Park bank was shot and wounded by SWAT team members who entered the building just after 3 p.m., authorities said.

"The suspect is wounded, I don't know the extent of his injuries," said Buena Park police Cpl. Andy Luong.

The female hostage was safely rescued and the suspect was taken into custody, Luong said.

He said the gunman had remained uncooperative.

Sgt. Bill Kohanek said the gunman was about 45 years old and of Korean descent. In an interview before police entered the bank, Kohanek said authorities had some contact with the gunman, but his demands were unclear.

"It sounds like a very angry person," Kohanek said.

In contrast to earlier reports that the gunman had ordered bank customers and employees out, Kohanek said the gunman allowed them to leave at the request of police. He did, however, keep the bank manager, described as a Korean woman, as a hostage, Kohanek said.

The SWAT team is still clearing the building to determine whether any other people are inside.

The incident began just after 11 a.m., when police received a call that a robbery was in progress at the bank.

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Photo: The suspect in the Buena Park bank hostage standoff was shot and wounded. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times