Alabama School Bus Hostage Situation: Man Fatally Shoots Driver, Kidnaps 6-Year-Old Passenger
MIDLAND CITY, Ala. -- An unidentified man boarded a school bus, shot the driver several times, then escaped with a 6-year-old passenger, prompting an hourslong standoff with police that remained unresolved early Wednesday.
The Dale County Sheriff told WBMA-TV (http://bit.ly/WthpQh) that the man shot the driver in Midland City on Tuesday after he refused to let the child off the bus. The driver later died of his wounds. His identity wasn't released.
The shooter took the child to an area behind a nearby church, and police were negotiating with him, authorities said.
Midland City police would not comment, and a call to the Dale City Sheriff's office was not answered Tuesday.
Authorities from multiple agencies were on the scene and nearby residents were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure, said Rachel David, a spokeswoman for the police department in the nearby town of Dothan.
"Authorities also confirmed the presence of a child at the scene but are giving no further information at this time," David said in a news release late Tuesday.
Quoting rfurlongg:
Frightening. Hoping for the beat resolution possible.
This is sad. Why did the man shoot the bus driver? Imagine, the bus driver was a innocent victim, right?
Standoff: Man shoots Ala. bus driver, takes child
In this Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013 photo, residents look over the school bus where a... (AP Photo/The Dothan Eagle, Danny Tindell)
The man boarded the stopped school bus in the town of Midland City on Tuesday afternoon and shot the driver when he refused to let the child off the bus, Dale County Sheriff Wally Olsen told WBMA-TV (bit.ly/WthpQh). The driver later died of his wounds. His identity wasn't released.
The shooter took the child, authorities said.
County coroner Woodrow Hilboldt told The Associated Press the overnight standoff continued early Wednesday with tactical units, negotiators and other officers at the scene near a church. He said the suspect was believed to be in an uderground shelter on his property.
"That's what has been described to me as an underground bunker. Someplace to get out of the way of a tornado," Hilboldt said.
The coroner said the victim, who was in his mid-60s, died of multiple gunshot wounds. He wouldn't release a name until family had been notified.
Midland City police would not comment, and a dispatcher at the Dale City Sheriff's office told The Associated Press early Wednesday that the agency was not releasing any immediate details.
Authorities from multiple agencies were on the scene and nearby residents were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure, said Rachel David, a spokeswoman for the police department in the nearby town of Dothan.
"Authorities also confirmed the presence of a child at the scene but are giving no further information at this time," David said in a news release late Tuesday.
Michael Creel, who lives on the road where the shooting happened, said he went outside after his sister heard gunshots.
"Me and her started running down the road," Creel told the Dothan Eagle (bit.ly/TWgc5T). "That's when I realized the bus had its siren going off. Kids were filing out, running down the hill toward the church.
"Claudia Davis, who lives on the road where the standoff was taking place, said early Wednesday that she and her neighbors can't leave because the one road was blocked by police.
Davis, 54, said she has had run-ins with the man suspected as the shooter.
"Before this happened I would see him at several places and he would just stare a hole through me," Davis said. "On Monday I saw him at a laundry mat and he seen me when I was getting in my truck and he just started and stared and stared at me."
"Authorities also confirmed the presence of a child at the scene but are giving no further information at this time," Rachel David, a spokeswoman for the police department in the nearby city of Dothan, said in a news release late Tuesday.
Michael Creel, who lives on the road where the shooting happened, said he went outside after his sister heard gunshots.
"Me and her started running down the road," Creel told the Dothan Eagle (bit.ly/TWgc5T). "That's when I realized the bus had its siren going off. Kids were filing out, running down the hill toward the church."
"That's when I realized the bus had its siren going off. Kids were filing out, running down the hill toward the church."
Other kids were on the bus - (so they witnessed the shooting & everything)? So sad.
*sigh* yet more young children traumatized by a crazy man with a gun killing someone in front of them. :(
Quoting free1:"That's when I realized the bus had its siren going off. Kids were filing out, running down the hill toward the church."
Other kids were on the bus - (so they witnessed the shooting & everything)? So sad.
My first thought is what if this man is his dad? Custody cases make people do CRAZY things.
Update:
ABC 33/40 has learned that the bus driver has died from gunshot wounds sustained during the incident.
According to a report from DothanEagle.com, the shooter has been identified as Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, who was arrested on December 22 for pulling a gun on a man and charged with menacing.
The shooting and hostage situation took place at the intersection of
US 231 and Private Road 1539 in Dale County, and the suspect is holed up
in a bunker with the 6-year-old hostage behind his residence on the
road. He has told police that he will not hurt the child.
The Dale County Sheriff's Office issued the following news release Tuesday:
"The Dale County Sheriff's Department has established a command post location at the intersection of 231 North and Private Road 1539 in Dale County, Alabama following a shooting. Multiple agencies are present assisting with the incident. Authorities say a call was received regarding a shooting involving a Dale County School Bus at 3:36 p.m.
"At this time limited details are being released however the Sheriff's Department has confirmed one adult male was shot and the suspect is not in custody. Further details will be released as they become available.
"School System Authorities have confirmed that all Dale County and Ozark City Schools will be closed on Wednesday January 30, 2012."
Update #2
As of 11:50 p.m. Tuesday, the suspect has yet to surrender to police or release the child as the standoff continues in Midland City.
Holder to investigate....Holder
- annabl1970
on Jan. 30, 2013 at 1:19 AM