This incident breakdown, provided by Florida’s Lee County Sheriff’s Office and narrated by Lieutenant Todd Olmer, covers a SWAT callout wherein a sniper takes down the suspect by putting a round through a computer monitor and striking him, threading the proverbial needle between two hostages.

The suspect was attempting to rob a Bank of America on February 06, 2024, holding the two hostages at knifepoint while also claiming that he had a bomb. When the hostage taker presented a threat of deadly force to one of the hostages, a SWAT sniper neutralized him.

At 01:03, we see the sniper setting up to take the shot. He’s impressively using one of the other SWAT operators to fire in a supported position. While snipers and spotters working together is commonplace, this is a kind of teamwork I haven’t seen before in a SWAT setting. He lines the .308 shot up through a computer monitor to strike the suspect in the forehead, cleanly neutralizing the threat with minimal risk to the hostages.

At the risk of editorializing as a Floridian- my home state has an incredibly checkered history when it comes to the efficacy of its law enforcement. It’s regrettably the home of the acorn shootout (Different county, it has to be said, but still...). But this incident right here showcases a Florida Sheriff’s Office doing everything right. This team had the right training and equipment, and applied the right kind of force at the right time to keep innocent people safe, and even in a time when every move police officers make is critiqued and quarterbacked, it’s hard to find fault with the application here. Just flawless work.

 

About the Author

 

       

     

Cole Simms

     

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.

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