VENICE, FL -- At least six people who were held hostage by gunmen are safe after managing to free themselves from a TJ Maxx store late Tuesday night.
Witnesses told authorities that two men with masks stormed the store off U.S. 41 around 9 p.m. and tied up as many as six people inside the store.
What happened next is not clear, but the Sarasota Sheriff's Office dispatched a SWAT unit to free the hostages.
As a crowd of about 100 people, including some who had relatives inside the store, gathered in the parking lot. SWAT members pulled victims out of the store.
The crowd cheered as one SWAT member dragged a woman through the store's entrance.
"The one woman you saw had to be assisted out. She was shoved to the ground by one of the suspects. She was not severely injured," said Sarasota County Sheriff's spokeswoman Wendy Rose.
"From what I understand, they (the hostages) were hiding in separate locations throughout the building, just not knowing whether it was safe to come out," Rose said.
Some of the hostages had their wrists tied together.
Once the store was cleared, around midnight, it became apparent the gunmen had disappeared. It's believed they intended to rob the store.
The Sheriff's Office released few details about the incident, but they were glad the situation was resolved. "I don't want to speculate on the intent. I just know that this could have been a very violent situation and could have been a very sad ending to this event and we're just very glad that everyone has come out safely", Rose said.
The gunmen remain on the loose.
