Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones holds a press conference Monday, Aug. 11, 2014, to release more information about the recent bank robbery and police shooting that ended with the death of two suspects and the hostage Misty Holt-Singh in Stockton, Calif.SAN FRANCISCO – A hostage kidnapped during a Northern California bank robbery was killed by police in an ensuing chase and shootout, likely during a final gunbattle where the lone surviving suspect used her as a human shield, authorities said Monday.
The results of a preliminary ballistics report show that police in the city of Stockton fired the 10 bullets that struck Misty Holt-Singh, 41, and all her wounds likely came during a final burst of gunfire, Stockton Police Chief Eric Jones said at a news conference.
Three men robbed a bank July 16, taking hostage Holt-Singh, a customer whose 12-year-old daughter was waiting in the car, and two bank employees, police said. Officers gave chase when the robbers, armed with three handguns and an AK-47, fled with the women in an SUV owned by one of the employees. They survived by either jumping or getting thrown from the SUV as it sped through town.
“We wanted, but never had the opportunity for, hostage negotiations,” Jones said.
Jones said 33 officers fired at the vehicle, most of them during the final shootout. Officers were under constant fire and were concerned the suspects would kidnap other hostages, take over businesses or even a school.