Standoff in Wheaton bank ends with suspect's death, hostages safe

Police aren't certain what made Michael Ray Long snap Friday afternoon.

But they said he sparked an intense standoff involving hostages in a downtown Wheaton bank that ended nearly three hours later when the 41-year-old local gunman apparently committed suicide.

Ten of the estimated 12 hostages inside Wheaton Bank & Trust already had been released. The other two hostages still were in the bank at 4:15 p.m., when police heard a gunshot and stormed the building entrance.

Authorities said the drama began to unfold at 1:28 p.m. Friday when Long called 911 on his cell phone to report a fake hit-and-run accident in the bank's parking lot at 211 S. Wheaton Ave. His black 2003 Mitsubishi later was found nearby.

A veteran Wheaton police officer who was nearing the end of his shift responded.

As the officer inspected the parking lot, police said, Long grabbed him from behind and placed an open blade knife to his throat. A struggle ensued. Authorities said Long grabbed the officer's weapon and then ran into the bank lobby and ordered about a dozen people inside onto the floor.

"First, I didn't think it was real," bank customer Marianne MacAdam said. "I thought it was like a fire drill for banks, for like bank robberies. And when I saw him pointing the gun at everybody, I knew that it was not. And I was very scared."

"He was very calm, said that he wasn't going to hurt anybody, it was just that he was having a very bad day," said Marianne's husband, Kevin.

Outside, the police officer immediately sought cover, radioed for backup and cleared the surrounding area of passers-by. He suffered a minor cut on his forearm during the scuffle.

Within minutes, the city's normally peaceful downtown was under siege.

Members of several police SWAT teams dressed in tactical gear and carrying large-caliber weapons scaled rooftops as dozens of squad cars, fire trucks and ambulances converged on evacuated city streets. The FBI also assisted.

All trains and traffic were rerouted. Shopkeepers said police emptied their stores or ordered businesses on lockdown. Crowds gathered blocks from the cordoned-off downtown.

Attorney Katy Sikich, 26, of Naperville worked in one of the businesses located in the four-story building.

"One of the partners came and told us we were on lockdown," she said. "I didn't see or hear anything. When the police came, it took us a while to get out of there. We had to go down the back stairs. But I'm fine. I'm ready to go home."

Jamar Simpson, a 23-year-old bank employee, said he was out on his lunch break. Nearly all the hostages were bank employees.

"I'm glad everyone's safe," Simpson said. "The people inside are the brave ones. I got lucky."

Wheaton Deputy Chief Thomas Meloni said hostage negotiators had phone contact with the armed man, later identified as Long, throughout the ordeal. Meloni said they were able to easily negotiate the safe release of most of the hostages and all the employees on other floors of the building.

Meloni said the 911 call of a hit-and-run accident was a ruse.

"It was a phony call to draw an officer there," the deputy chief said.

At one point during the hostage negotiations, police said Long closed window blinds and then cut off all phone contact.

About 4:15 p.m., a single gunshot was heard, and SWAT officers forced entry into the bank. Police said they found the suspect with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Meloni said police never discharged their weapons.

None of the hostages was physically harmed.

Bob Krzyzewski, a chiropractor whose office is next to the bank, witnessed much of the police activity. He credited bank executive Ruth Ann Carlson with putting her employees' safety before her own.

"She's a real hero," he said. "She was keeping the people calm, cool and collected. She was the last person to leave the bank."

Bank president Bob Hutchinson said the bank would be closed until Tuesday.

"On behalf of our employees and customers, we regret this happened," Hutchinson said. "We feel for the family of the victim."

Authorities were unclear what sparked the violence. Long did not have any other weapons, besides the knife and the officer's duty weapon, when found. Long, whose last known address is on Cantigny Way in Wheaton, had a few scrapes with the law years ago but only traffic offenses recently.

They had obtained warrants late Friday to search his car and home. An autopsy is set for today.

"We're just grateful there was no other loss of life," DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said. "The investigation will center on not only trying to determine the events that occurred but also what motivated this, if that's possible."

The hostages and other building employees gave police written and oral statements after being bused to nearby Egg Harbor Cafe.

"We were happy to stay open and let them in," said Doug Hager, a restaurant manager. "(The hostages) are our customers. It was good to have them here. We served them beverages and let everyone calm down. It gave them some safety."

The DuPage County sheriff's office is the lead agency handling the investigation since it involved a Wheaton officer, which is standard police procedure. Colleagues of the Wheaton police officer credited him for his quick thinking.

Early in the day, business owners described the unforgettable scene.

"Police advised me there was a hostage situation at the bank and we needed to evacuate the restaurant," said Antonia Arellano, an owner of the nearby Cafe Galicia. "All of the downtown on both sides of the tracks have been evacuated."

"There's a huge crowd gathering to watch all of this," added Stephanie Bingham, a clerk at Running Ambitions, shortly after the situation unfolded. "I guess people find it interesting because nothing ever happens in Wheaton."

• ABC 7 Chicago and Daily Herald staff writers Nancy Gier and Jake Griffin contributed to this report.

Lockdown: Bank executive gets credit

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