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Alabama kidnapper dead and boy saved after police raid | Alabama kidnapper dead and boy saved after police raid |
(35 minutes later) | |
A kidnapper in the US state of Alabama has died after police raided his bunker, saving a five-year-old boy held captive inside for six days. | A kidnapper in the US state of Alabama has died after police raided his bunker, saving a five-year-old boy held captive inside for six days. |
FBI agent Steve Richardson said agents had gone in after negotiations with Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, deteriorated. | FBI agent Steve Richardson said agents had gone in after negotiations with Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, deteriorated. |
Dykes 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. | Dykes 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. |
Daryle Hendry, who lives about a quarter of a mile (0.4km) 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 (0.4km) from the bunker, told the Associated Press he heard a boom followed by a gunshot on Monday 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. | 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. |
"We were certainly concerned for the safety of the child," he said. | "We were certainly concerned for the safety of the child," he said. |
Fearing the child, Ethan, was in imminent danger, officials raided the bunker at 15:12 local time (21:12 GMT), he said. | Fearing the child, Ethan, was in imminent danger, officials raided the bunker at 15:12 local time (21:12 GMT), he said. |
A local law enforcement official told Reuters a stun or flash grenade was detonated as part of the operation to free him, but did not release other details. | A local law enforcement official told Reuters a stun or flash grenade was detonated as part of the operation to free him, but did not release other details. |
It was unclear how Dykes had died. The child was said to have been unharmed and taken to hospital where he was reunited with his family. | It was unclear how Dykes had died. The child was said to have been unharmed and taken to hospital where he was reunited with his family. |
"I have visited with Ethan. He is doing fine: he's laughing, joking, playing, eating - the things that you would expect a normal 5-to-6-year-old to do," the FBI agent told reporters. | "I have visited with Ethan. He is doing fine: he's laughing, joking, playing, eating - the things that you would expect a normal 5-to-6-year-old to do," the FBI agent told reporters. |
"Family members say he is doing well, he is unharmed and it's just a really happy reunion," Alabama State Senator Harri Anne Smith told BBC News. | |
Ventilation pipe | Ventilation pipe |
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. |
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 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 Dykes and delivered medication and toys to the boy through a 4in (10cm) ventilation pipe. | During the six-day standoff, officials talked to Dykes and delivered medication and toys to the boy through a 4in (10cm) ventilation pipe. |
Officials did not elaborate on what the navy veteran wanted during negotiations. | Officials did not elaborate on what the navy veteran wanted during negotiations. |
"Based on our discussions with Mr Dykes, he feels like he has a story that's important to him, although it's very complex," Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson said on Monday. | "Based on our discussions with Mr Dykes, he feels like he has a story that's important to him, although it's very complex," Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson said on Monday. |
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. | 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. |
People who live nearby 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 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. |
Court records showed 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. |