UPDATED 7:55 p.m. FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019
ROCKFORD (WREX) � Rockford Police say that they believe there is one hostage inside Heritage Credit Union with a gunman.
Earlier, police could not specify how many hostages were inside the bank but just clarified there is one hostage inside.
ORIGINAL STORY
ROCKFORD (WREX) � Rockford Police Chief Dan O'Shea says authorities are responding to a hostage situation at Heritage Credit Union in Rockford.
O'Shea says an armed gunman is inside the credit union along with one or more employees and customers.
O'Shea says a call came in around 2:30 p.m. Friday about a reported bank robbery. Police later learned that the gunman entered the credit union and demanded people leave. However, not everyone was able to exit the building and are still inside.
The suspect has barricaded himself inside the credit union, O'Shea says.
The people who were able to leave the area are on scene and working with police. Crisis negotiations are working to make contact with the armed subject.
A large police is swarming the area of East State Street and Mulford Road.
Rockford Police are asking for people to avoid the area. They say traffic in all directions will be blocked off for an unknown amount of time.
Police about the incident around 2:45 on Friday.
Witnesses told 13 WREX they've seen multiple different law enforcement agencies from different jurisdictions in the area.
