11:45AM EST: A man has just barricaded himself inside the First Commercial Bank, at 6945 N. Clark Street. He is armed, wearing a bulletproof vest – and has taken people hostage. There are also reports of shots being fired. A massive police response is on the scene including SWAT teams, K9 Units, Aviation etc. Yeshivaworld has been informed that this bank is the most widely-used bank in the Frum community of Rogers Park. YW is working with our local sources to bring you further details.
UPDATE 1:00PM EST: Boruch Hashem, there are no Yidden involved in this nightmare.
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19 Responses
It is certainly not the ‘most used’ bank in the Frum community because it is not in the frum community, let’s just be mispallel that it ends well with no injuries.
I wouldn’t say that it is the most widely used bank in the frum community. It is about 2 miles East of where the frum community begins. This bank has another branch on Touhy and Kedzie, which is more part of the community. The bank was owned by a frum gentleman in the community, until it was sold a couple of years ago, although the frum former owner maintains an executive position and an office there.
Incidentally, the owner donates his time to teach a business class in Telshe Yeshiva High School.
lots more info here
http://www.nbc5.com/news/14011962/detail.html
click on picture for more pictures
This is not the branch frequented by the frum community. However, the former owner (who is frum and is still involved to some degree) often spends time in the Clark office. Not sure if he was there today though
This bank is over a mile away from the frum community so I do not believe there are that any frum people who bank there.
i just saw a video of escaping hostages (found on link i posted above)
2 of them were wearing black pants and white shirts, couldnt see any detail
Never heard of anyone driving as far as Clark Street for their bank …
The link says he’s alone in the bank, wearing a bulletproof vest.
Sounds like a death wish.
the latest from NBC chicago
The source confirms all bank employees are out and accounted for and SWAT teams are checking the scene, NBC5’s Charlie Wojciechowski.
“All the hostages have been accounted for,” said Alderman Joe Moore of the 49th Ward. “There are no hostages, no one was hurt, and no one other than perhaps the gunman is inside the bank right now.
standoff ended peacefully
Black pants and white shirts? Must be the frum bank that the editor was talking about.
thanks for the background information midwestener
Glad to know that Telse gives a business class in their high school, do not think that is the normal for the metro area???
Feivel–anyone running away wearing blue shirts, or beige dockers? Just curious, of course!!
Well, the situation is over. All the hostages have gotten out of the bank. And no one has any clue what happened to the robber! Doesn’t inspire much confidence in Chicago’s finest. We’ll see how it unfolds.
RE: Boruch Hashem, there are no Yidden involved in this nightmare.
Besides the frum gentelman who has a position in the bank – there is at least one Jewish woman who was there. She can be seen on the link as lead hostage getting out. In any case – the bank itself and it’s President are very much ba’alei Tzedakah and strong supporters of Chicago’s Jewish mosdos.
As a regular depositor at the other (Touhy and Kedzie Avenues) branch of First Commercial Bank of Chicago, I would like to thank the Frum Jewish executive for the excellent service they are providing. As I do not know his name, can someone please post it. Thank you.
UPDATES????????
The name of the former owner who no longer donates his time to teach a business class in Telshe Yeshiva High School is John Hurwith according to http://www.thefirstcommercialbank.com/directors_officers.htm
he is diector of the bank, first commercial. The branch in question is very close to a kosher butcher shop, Romanian.
Telshe Yeshiva honored Mr. Hurwith at their 43rd dinner, in Dec 2003.
Did the guy get away with any $$$?