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Alabama police kill kidnapper and save boy Alabama police kill kidnapper and save boy
(35 minutes later)
Police in the US state of Alabama have killed a hostage-taker after a six-day standoff, saving the five-year-old boy he abducted. Police in the US state of Alabama have killed a kidnapper, saving his five-year-old boy captive from the bunker where he had been held for six days.
FBI agent Steve Richardson told a news conference police shot Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, after negotiations deteriorated. FBI agent Steve Richardson told a news conference Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, was killed after negotiations deteriorated.
He had been keeping the boy, Ethan, in a storm shelter since last Tuesday after abducting him from a school bus and shooting dead the driver.He had been keeping the boy, Ethan, in a storm shelter since last Tuesday after abducting him from a school bus and shooting dead the driver.
The 66-year-old bus driver's funeral was held on Sunday.The 66-year-old bus driver's funeral was held on Sunday.
An ambulance was seen driving away, without sirens or emergency lights. Daryle Hendry, who lives about a quarter of a mile from the bunker, told the Associated Press he heard a boom followed by a gunshot on Monday afternoon.
Daryle Hendry, who lives about a quarter of a mile from the bunker, told the Associated Press he heard a boom followed by a gunshot this afternoon. Mr Richardson said negotiations between officials and Dykes had deteriorated over the past 24 hours, and that the abductor had been seen holding a gun.
Fearing the child was in imminent danger, officials raided the bunker at 15:12 local time (21:12 GMT), he said.
The incident began in Midland City on Tuesday afternoon when the bus driver refused to hand over the child, whom Mr Dykes apparently snatched at random.The incident began in Midland City on Tuesday afternoon when the bus driver refused to hand over the child, whom Mr Dykes apparently snatched at random.
According to witnesses, the kidnapper pounced when the school bus stopped to let off two children.According to witnesses, the kidnapper pounced when the school bus stopped to let off two children.
Mr Dykes grabbed the door so it could not close and came on board, demanding two boys aged six and eight. Dykes grabbed the door so it could not close and came on board, demanding two boys aged six and eight.
When the bus driver, Charles Albert Poland, blocked the bus aisle with his arm, witnesses said Mr Dykes fired four shots, killing him. When the bus driver, Charles Albert Poland, blocked the bus aisle with his arm, witnesses said Dykes fired four shots, killing him.
During the six-day standoff, officials talked to Mr Dykes and delivered medication to the boy through a 4in (10cm) ventilation pipe. During the six-day standoff, officials talked to Dykes and delivered medication to the boy through a 4in (10cm) ventilation pipe.
According to court records, Mr Dykes had been due to appear in court last Wednesday for menacing neighbours as they drove past his home some weeks ago. According to court records, Dykes had been due to appear in court last Wednesday, accused of menacing neighbours as they drove past his home some weeks ago.
Other neighbours said he had once beaten a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm. People who live nearby said Dykes had once beaten a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.
Court records showed Mr Dykes was arrested in Florida in 1995 for improper exhibition of a weapon, but the charges were dismissed. Court records showed Dykes was arrested in Florida in 1995 for improper exhibition of a weapon, but the charges were dismissed.