F.b.i. Agents Kill Gunman (Press, 24 August 1972)
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Summary: F.b.i. Agents Kill Gunman (Press, 24 August 1972)
On 23 August 1972, an intense hostage situation unfolded at a Chase Manhattan Bank branch in Brooklyn, New York. Two armed men, one identified as John Wojtowicz, robbed the bank of $529,000. Following the robbery, they took nine bank employees hostage as police arrived. As the situation escalated, the gunmen were reportedly trying to flee the country on a private jet waiting for them at Kennedy Airport. The ordeal lasted for over 14 hours, during which the gunmen made specific demands, including the release of Wojtowicz's male "wife," a patient at a psychiatric ward. Wojtowicz, who had claimed to the police on the phone that he would kill hostages and believed he could rely on legal loopholes, returned to the bank's premises when he ordered pizzas as a part of their negotiation. As the pizzas arrived, one of the female hostages was able to exit the bank to collect the food. In a peculiar moment, one of the gunmen threw cash out the door as payment, inadvertently interacting with an FBI agent who was managing the situation. Despite efforts to negotiate, the situation turned violent when FBI agents intervened at the airport, resulting in the death of one of the alleged bank robbers while the other was apprehended. Thankfully, the seven hostages remained unharmed and were safely released. John Wojtowicz's mother was present near the bank during the standoff, expressing her distress and describing her son as troubled but not violent. She noted his struggles following his Vietnam service, a failed marriage, and his mental health challenges. The identity of Wojtowicz's accomplice remains unconfirmed, and it is unclear who was killed during the FBI operation. The incident drew a large crowd of onlookers, captivated by the unfolding drama.
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