Update: Houston-Area Bank Robbery Hostage Standoff Ends Peacefully

Update: A five-hour hostage ordeal at a Houston-area bank ended peacefully Friday afternoon when the gunman and remaining hostages walked out of the bank unharmed. The Houston Chronicle reports:

The nightmare began around 11:30 a.m. when a witness saw two men in ski masks enter the Chase Bank at 1915 N. Main St., in Pearland, and called 911. The first police officer responded within a couple minutes, police said. At some point, the robbers were trying to exit the bank when shots were fired.

One of the two gunmen surrendered or was captured and the other gunman held at least seven hostages inside the bank. Five hostages were released shortly after 2 p.m. and the gunman held two others until the end of the ordeal around 4 p.m.

The bank’s manager was injured when he was struck by one of the robbers, police said. The manager escaped and was treated for his injuries.

"We're trying to resolve the situation peacefully," said Pearland Police Lt. Onesmio Lopez.

More than 50 police officers, assisted by the FBI, surrounded the bank and sealed off surrounding streets.

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PEARLAND, Texas (AP/Yahoo) – Authorities say two armed robbers are holding hostages at a bank in a suburb of Houston.

Pearland Police Lt. Onesmio Lopez says the assailants struck and injured the manager of the Chase Bank in Pearland just after entering the building Friday morning. Lopez says he doesn't know how many hostages are inside the building and that police are negotiating with the robbers to try to end the standoff peacefully.

The Houston Chronicle reports that more than 50 police officers have surrounded the building and sealed off nearby streets.

Employees of stores near the bank told the newspaper they heard gunshots.

FBI spokeswoman Pat Villafranca says agents from the Texas City office are assisting police.

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