ROCKFORD (WREX) — Rockford Police say the hostage situation at the Heritage Credit Union is over.

Rockford Police say the woman held hostage was an employee at the bank and they do not believe the suspect knew her. She was taken to the hospital to be checked out.

The two were seen walking out of Heritage Credit Union after a more than 6-hour stand-off Friday night.



The two walked out with their hands up in the air. The woman who was held hostage was taken to another area, and the man was taken to the ground and handcuffed.



Police immediately went inside the building.

BREAKING NEWS: Two people taken from Heritage Credit Union, scene remains active.Rockford Police still on scene at Heritage Credit Union for a hostage situation. Police believe there is one hostage inside the credit union. Posted by WREX-TV on Friday, January 3, 2020

A media briefing happened around 7 p.m. Friday, several hours after the standoff started. Before, police could not specify how many people were inside the building, but later confirmed one person was being held hostage.

Police were called to the area around 2:30 p.m. Friday. By 3:30, Police Chief Dan O'Shea held a news conference to say an armed gunman was inside the building and had at least one person hostage. He also said the area would be shut off for the forseeable future.



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.



O'Shea said the gunman was barricaded inside and that crisis negotiators were working to end the situation peacefully.