A would-be robber held three people hostage inside a New York City check-cashing store, even pointing a gun at one victim’s head, during a two-hour standoff with police on Saturday night.
The incident occurred at Darwin Money cash check store on Irving Avenue in Bushwick around 7:45 p.m. The suspect entered under the pretense of a transaction before announcing the robbery. Two employees and a customer were inside; one employee managed to escape and call 911.
Police arrived to find the front door barricaded with chairs. Hostage negotiators engaged with the suspect, who pointed a gun at officers and held it to a hostage’s head. After two hours, the suspect climbed out a rear window and surrendered. His weapon was later found to be fake.
The suspect hyperventilated while in custody and received EMS treatment before being hospitalized. The hostages, unharmed, were also taken to the hospital for evaluation. No charges have been announced.
