Ski-masked man prompts swarm of law enforcement at Southern California bank

A man wearing a ski mask prompted a massive law enforcement response at a bank branch Thursday in South Los Angeles, authorities confirmed to KTLA.

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department descended on the Wells Fargo Bank branch in the 1100 block of East. Florence Avenue, between S. Central and Hooper avenues, at around 4:30 p.m. after bank employees called authorities about the man.

Aerial footage of the scene captured by Sky5 showed a massive law enforcement response outside the bank, along with firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Crowds of onlookers watched, as well as bank employees who were evacuated, as deputies with guns drawn swarmed the scene.

An elementary school located just blocks away was forced to bring all the children on the playground back inside as the scene unfolded and officers had guns drawn.

Early reports suggested that at least one person has been taken into custody, though that turned out to be false.

Deputies could also be seen sweeping the bank parking lot where two people were taken out of their cars and escorted away in handcuffs. Those individuals were released a short time later.

No further information was provided.

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