The bank robber who strapped a bomb to himself and held 10 hostages for up to 15 hours inside a Bakersfield bank before authorities shot him dead has been identified as a US Army veteran and sex offender.
Police named the suspect as 41-year-old Anthony Scott Searles-Harris, who was dishonorably discharged for going AWOL on duty.
He is also a registered sex offender who was charged with sex acts with a child under 14 in 2014, police said.
Witnesses revealed that Searles-Harris offered a chilling statement when he began the robbery.
“It’s a bad day to be at the bank,” he said, according to KGET.
His reason for committing the act remains unclear. During hostage negotiations, he spoke with police about food and water, as well as certain materials he wanted to see concerning his court case, authorities said.
