Florence Daily Feed

By Matthew Wilkins, Editor-In-Chief

VENTURA - A quiet Friday morning in downtown Ventura was shattered when an explosion ripped through a local bank during a robbery, sending workers and passersby running for cover.

Police say the robbery happened around 8:20 a.m. at a Ventura Bank branch, where the suspect reportedly used some kind of explosive device to break in or escape. The blast caused panic but, thankfully, no serious injuries were immediately reported.

By the time officers arrived, the suspect had vanished. One man was detained inside the bank — he was armed, police said, but they later determined he wasn’t the robber.

Late in the morning, the block around the bank was still sealed off with yellow tape. Bomb technicians and investigators moved cautiously through the scene, while stunned employees waited nearby, some comforting each other as they watched the police work.

“This was a dangerous and chaotic situation,” a Ventura Police spokesperson said. “We’re just grateful everyone got out safely.”

The suspect remains on the run, and detectives are asking anyone who saw something unusual near the bank this morning to contact authorities.

Photo: Reynland Press

MILANO - What began as a quiet early morning turned tragic when a panic alarm went off around 1:03 a.m. at Strike Point Gun Dealer. When officers arrived, they found two of their own lying on the cold asphalt - a detective from the State Investigations Bureau and a deputy with the Hayward County Sheriff’s Office. Both had been shot.

The detective was still alive when help reached him, but he died moments later at the scene. The deputy was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition, fighting for his life. Police spent the night combing through the parking lot for evidence, their flashlights sweeping over shell casings and shattered glass. So far, investigators haven’t shared what led to the shooting or whether a suspect is in custody.

Officials have declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. For now, a community is left in shock -  and two law enforcement families are facing an unthinkable loss.

Photo: David Zander / ZUMA PRESS