ST. CLOUD, Minn. – This is how the bank robbery and hostage situation unfolded at a St. Cloud bank, as told by police and witnesses:
> Just before 2 p.m., Thursday, the manager at a Wells Fargo bank branch called police about a disgruntled customer. The customer was upset about possible fraud on his account. The manager took the man, later identified as Ray Reco McNeary, into his office to find the man’s account, which appeared not to exist.
> McNeary, angry, forced the manager to the vault. An employee activated a silent alarm. The manager placed a large amount of cash in a bag and gave it to McNeary. At one point, McNeary grabbed the manager’s hand sharply, causing his watch to cut into his wrist. The manager told police he felt McNeary press an object into his back.
> After receiving the money, McNeary threw the bills all around the bank lobby. He then took employees’ phones, slamming them dead or dumping them in water.
> A police tactical team with an armored vehicle arrive.
> Customers had all fled, but McNeary had four hostages, all bank employees, in the lobby. A fifth employee hid in an office, locked the door, and spoke with police on his phone until his battery ran out. Eventually McNeary got a key card, found the employee in the office, and forced him to the lobby with the others.
> McNeary told the hostages he wanted a “big show” and for the incident to “go viral” and grab FBI and media attention. He also told them he wanted to be a “martyr” and he’d take the victims “with him.”
> As the hours wore on, McNeary’s behavior escalated. He threatened to use the bank manager as a shield and they would “die together.” At one point, McNeary put a pair of scissors to the bank manager’s neck and said, “I will have to shiv you.” McNeary then pushed him to the ground and said, “If you move, I swear to God I’ll stab you.”
> Nearly six hours into the ordeal, an employee pushed past McNeary and escaped the building. Another person was allowed to leave because of medical problems. Two others were later released
> About 10:30 p.m. the last hostage, the bank manager, broke away and escaped. McNeary was taken peaceably.