A gunman took at least two people hostage Wednesday during an attempted bank robbery outside Chicago, authorities said. Dolton village spokesman Sean Howard said officers had communicated with people inside the Heritage Community Bank and had the area surrounded.

There was at least one gunman and "at least two to three possible hostages," he said.

Authorities blocked off several streets around the bank as police from at least three towns and FBI agents worked to resolve the situation.

Jorge Hernandez, 21, an employee at nearby Pepe's Tacos, said two bank employees came in around 11 a.m. (noon ET), saying their manager had told them to get away. He said they told him a gunman was in the bank vault with at least two hostages.

"They were scared more than upset," Hernandez said in a phone interview. "They were scared for their co-workers."

Hernandez said he and other employees were locked inside the restaurant on the instructions of police, who also told him to stay away from the windows. He said the two bank employees were escorted out by police.

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