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Man kills Alabama bus driver, holds child hostage underground
(CNN) -- A gunman boarded a school bus in Alabama, killed the driver, took a 6-year-old boy hostage and hours later was still holding him in an underground bunker, police said.
The incident started Tuesday afternoon and continued Wednesday morning with authorities still desperately trying to free the young child.
Late in the evening Tuesday, the man had the child in some sort of underground bunker or storm shelter, and authorities were communicating with him through a PVC pipe, CNN affiliate WSFA reported.
"We will continue to work diligently through the night in an effort to bring closure to this incident as quickly as possible," the Dale County Sheriff's Department said late Tuesday.
Adding to the tension was the fact that the child needs medication that has to be taken daily, CNN affiliate WDHN reported.
Overnight, authorities were able to send the child's medication down the pipe into the bunker and also determine that the boy had not been physically harmed, WDHN reported.
The incident started at about 3:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. ET) near a church in Midland City, Alabama, in the southeastern corner of the state.
Michael Senn, a local pastor, told WSFA that he spoke to several students who had been on the bus.
He said a girl described the shooter getting aboard.
"He told most of them to get off the bus," Senn related. "And then he grabbed a little boy and shot the bus driver four times." The driver's body was removed from the bus early Wednesday, WDHN reported.
Mike Creel, the suspect's neighbor, said he also talked to some of the children who escaped the bus. It was a terrifying scene, Creel told the affiliate.
The suspect initially demanded two children, Creel told WSFA.
"The one child he got ahold of actually fainted," said Creel. "That was the reason he was able to grab him. And now he is hidden in his homemade bomb shelter."
Creel said the suspect had been living in the area for about two years and began building the shelter right when he moved in.
Authorities have not released the name of the suspected gunman.
Early in the morning, local authorities allowed the FBI to take the lead in the hostage situation, WDHN reported.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/30/us/alabama-bus-man-shot/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
The incident started Tuesday afternoon and continued Wednesday morning with authorities still desperately trying to free the young child.
Late in the evening Tuesday, the man had the child in some sort of underground bunker or storm shelter, and authorities were communicating with him through a PVC pipe, CNN affiliate WSFA reported.
"We will continue to work diligently through the night in an effort to bring closure to this incident as quickly as possible," the Dale County Sheriff's Department said late Tuesday.
Adding to the tension was the fact that the child needs medication that has to be taken daily, CNN affiliate WDHN reported.
Overnight, authorities were able to send the child's medication down the pipe into the bunker and also determine that the boy had not been physically harmed, WDHN reported.
The incident started at about 3:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. ET) near a church in Midland City, Alabama, in the southeastern corner of the state.
Michael Senn, a local pastor, told WSFA that he spoke to several students who had been on the bus.
He said a girl described the shooter getting aboard.
"He told most of them to get off the bus," Senn related. "And then he grabbed a little boy and shot the bus driver four times." The driver's body was removed from the bus early Wednesday, WDHN reported.
Mike Creel, the suspect's neighbor, said he also talked to some of the children who escaped the bus. It was a terrifying scene, Creel told the affiliate.
The suspect initially demanded two children, Creel told WSFA.
"The one child he got ahold of actually fainted," said Creel. "That was the reason he was able to grab him. And now he is hidden in his homemade bomb shelter."
Creel said the suspect had been living in the area for about two years and began building the shelter right when he moved in.
Authorities have not released the name of the suspected gunman.
Early in the morning, local authorities allowed the FBI to take the lead in the hostage situation, WDHN reported.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/30/us/alabama-bus-man-shot/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
There was an update on the news about this tragic situation last night. They believe the man is actually taking care of the boy. Police have been allowed to send toys and crayons down, plus food & medication. I sure hope this little boy is ok. My heart absolutely aches for his parents - they would have to lock me up if this was my child - I cannot imagine having your child just taken from you by a madman. How absolutely terrified they must be. My thoughts and prayers are with this little boy, and I hope this man does the right thing.
Update as of three hours ago.
State Rep. Steve Clouse, who met with authorities and visited the boy's family, said the bunker had food and electricity, and the youngster was watching TV. He said law enforcement authorities were communicating with the gunman, but he had no details on how.
At one point, authorities lowered medicine into the bunker for the boy after his captor agreed to it, Clouse said. The lawmaker said he did not know what the medicine was for or whether it was urgently needed.
Mike and Patricia Smith, who live across the street from Dykes and whose two children were on the bus when the shooting happened, said their youngsters had a run-in with him about 10 months ago.
"My bulldogs got loose and went over there," Patricia Smith said. "The children went to get them. He threatened to shoot them if they came back."
"He's very paranoid," her husband said. "He goes around in his yard at night with a flashlight and shotgun."
"Everybody up the hill tried to avoid him," he said.
Patricia Smith said her children told her what happened on the bus: Two other children had just been dropped off and the Smith children were next. Dykes stepped onto the bus and grabbed the door so the driver couldn't close it. Dykes told the driver he wanted two boys, 6 to 8 years old, without saying why.
According to Smith, Dykes started down the aisle of the bus and the driver put his arm out to block him. Dykes fired four shots at Poland with a handgun, Smith said.
"He did give his life, saving children," Mike Smith said.
Patricia Smith said her daughter, a high school senior, began corralling the other children and headed for the back of the bus while Dykes and the driver were arguing. Later, Smith's son ran inside his house, telling his mother: "The crazy man across the street shot the bus driver and Mr. Poland won't wake up."
Patricia Smith ran over to the bus and saw the driver slumped over in his seat. Her daughter used another child's cellphone to call 911.
Another neighbor, Ronda Wilbur, said Dykes beat her 120-pound dog with a lead pipe for coming onto his side of the dirt road. The dog died a week later.
"He said his only regret was he didn't beat him to death all the way," Wilbur said. She called animal control, who came out and talked to Dykes, but nothing else happened. "If a man can kill a dog, and beat it with a lead pipe and brag about it, it's nothing until it's going to be people."
Dykes had been scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to face a charge of menacing some neighbors as they drove by his house weeks ago. Claudia Davis said he yelled and fired shots at her, her son and her baby grandson over damage Dykes claimed their pickup truck did to a makeshift speed bump in the dirt road. No one was hurt.
"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 laundromat and he seen me when I was getting in my truck, and he just stared and stared and stared at me."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57566577/suspected-alabama-gunman-holed-up-with-boy-in-bunker-after-school-bus-shooting/
State Rep. Steve Clouse, who met with authorities and visited the boy's family, said the bunker had food and electricity, and the youngster was watching TV. He said law enforcement authorities were communicating with the gunman, but he had no details on how.
At one point, authorities lowered medicine into the bunker for the boy after his captor agreed to it, Clouse said. The lawmaker said he did not know what the medicine was for or whether it was urgently needed.
Mike and Patricia Smith, who live across the street from Dykes and whose two children were on the bus when the shooting happened, said their youngsters had a run-in with him about 10 months ago.
"My bulldogs got loose and went over there," Patricia Smith said. "The children went to get them. He threatened to shoot them if they came back."
"He's very paranoid," her husband said. "He goes around in his yard at night with a flashlight and shotgun."
"Everybody up the hill tried to avoid him," he said.
Patricia Smith said her children told her what happened on the bus: Two other children had just been dropped off and the Smith children were next. Dykes stepped onto the bus and grabbed the door so the driver couldn't close it. Dykes told the driver he wanted two boys, 6 to 8 years old, without saying why.
According to Smith, Dykes started down the aisle of the bus and the driver put his arm out to block him. Dykes fired four shots at Poland with a handgun, Smith said.
"He did give his life, saving children," Mike Smith said.
Patricia Smith said her daughter, a high school senior, began corralling the other children and headed for the back of the bus while Dykes and the driver were arguing. Later, Smith's son ran inside his house, telling his mother: "The crazy man across the street shot the bus driver and Mr. Poland won't wake up."
Patricia Smith ran over to the bus and saw the driver slumped over in his seat. Her daughter used another child's cellphone to call 911.
Another neighbor, Ronda Wilbur, said Dykes beat her 120-pound dog with a lead pipe for coming onto his side of the dirt road. The dog died a week later.
"He said his only regret was he didn't beat him to death all the way," Wilbur said. She called animal control, who came out and talked to Dykes, but nothing else happened. "If a man can kill a dog, and beat it with a lead pipe and brag about it, it's nothing until it's going to be people."
Dykes had been scheduled to appear in court Wednesday to face a charge of menacing some neighbors as they drove by his house weeks ago. Claudia Davis said he yelled and fired shots at her, her son and her baby grandson over damage Dykes claimed their pickup truck did to a makeshift speed bump in the dirt road. No one was hurt.
"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 laundromat and he seen me when I was getting in my truck, and he just stared and stared and stared at me."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57566577/suspected-alabama-gunman-holed-up-with-boy-in-bunker-after-school-bus-shooting/
In general I would not want my mental health records released. However for some positions to be eligible that woule be required. I would not have a problem with this as part of a background check. The state I live in is phasing in laws that would prohibit gun ownership to people who at any time have had active suicidal or homicidal ideations. I think that is a realistic way to address it. However many people who engage in these activities have not been diagnosed yet. Thats why more preventative mental health care is needed. Also there are other causes than mental health reasons to this type of horrific event so there is no easy solution. However that one way to help.
Another way is better policing and crime prevention overall and the city I live in through community policing has markedly reduced crime as have other cities that copied this specific model.
Another way is better policing and crime prevention overall and the city I live in through community policing has markedly reduced crime as have other cities that copied this specific model.
Another instance where an obviously mentally deranged person took advantage of having a gun. This is why I cannot understand ANYONE being against thorough background checks. You might not be able to get their exact medical history but there could be a way to verify if they are a stark raving lunatic willing to shot someone several times and put another child at threat.
A gang banger signs up for that ****. A child on a bus does not.
A gang banger signs up for that ****. A child on a bus does not.
No one who left this forum trashed anyone without hreading something here 1st. It started with a post from someone about it was so quite here, and it continued after that.
And I may be mistaken but were you not the 1st person to comment on that forum post rivll?
And I may be mistaken but were you not the 1st person to comment on that forum post rivll?
Should say "I believe there are ..."
Well, this thread certainly has gone off topic. Back to the discussion of what happened on that bus, I believe there is (or at least there can be) major differences between a gun attack and a knife attack. For one thing, a knife attack requires the attacker to get in close to a victim who may also be armed. For another thing, a knife-wielding attacker can attack only one person at a time whereas a person with a gun can hold a whole lot of people at bay.
If that is true then I apologize for not getting back to you. I generally respond to all correspondence.
Mike
Mike
I know mike.... I know. I've tried to straighten things out with you, but you never got back to me. And that's okay.
You seem delusional brice. I don't have any idea what you're trying to say.
You should try and regroup and figure out what is going on in your head and straighten it out.
You should try and regroup and figure out what is going on in your head and straighten it out.
Run and hide.... shame on Brice and you take no responsiblity yourself? Common theme, but you don't see that?
If it wasnt you it was OH, so sorry about the med thing if its true.... Other than that, everything else I said is accurate and if MrsP can stand by her comments, I'll stand by mine... of course if its okay with you.
OMG! I am not on meds nor was I when I communicated with you..now I am getting worried about you...
I treated for HCV and one of the meds made me irritable (OKAY WORLD YOU ALL KNOW NOW) but that was before the mess you are taking about.
I have never ever discussed mike's health or anyone else to you.
The exception is myself which I did since this is true confessions-thanks to you I asked you for advice regarding depression.
Whatever kindness and wisdom you share with me is for naught now because by talking about me publicy you have betrayed me and yourself.
Shame on you, brice, shame on you,
I treated for HCV and one of the meds made me irritable (OKAY WORLD YOU ALL KNOW NOW) but that was before the mess you are taking about.
I have never ever discussed mike's health or anyone else to you.
The exception is myself which I did since this is true confessions-thanks to you I asked you for advice regarding depression.
Whatever kindness and wisdom you share with me is for naught now because by talking about me publicy you have betrayed me and yourself.
Shame on you, brice, shame on you,
So what? You've done it before. Was it okay when you did to me? Two faced cry baby..... Cant stand it, eh?
Rivll, you felt hurt? Because you keep putting yourself in a defenseless position? Well, sheesh..... The fact is, the truth hurts and its coming out and that offends you.
People were behaving hatefully rivll because you say one thing and do the other. You were upset with me for what I said to mike but you wouldnt say a thing to him about him always picking fights with the conservatives..... That $ucks rivll... You did it to you. You could treat everyone the same. If any of my friends are out of line, I'll tell them. Do it all of the time. You won't. You protect them and therefore side up with them. It's okay... we know.
Rivll, you felt hurt? Because you keep putting yourself in a defenseless position? Well, sheesh..... The fact is, the truth hurts and its coming out and that offends you.
People were behaving hatefully rivll because you say one thing and do the other. You were upset with me for what I said to mike but you wouldnt say a thing to him about him always picking fights with the conservatives..... That $ucks rivll... You did it to you. You could treat everyone the same. If any of my friends are out of line, I'll tell them. Do it all of the time. You won't. You protect them and therefore side up with them. It's okay... we know.
ARRRGGHHH!!!!
You don't know if I have ever defended you or not...in fact I have...but it is beside the point
Dang brice you just went waaaayyy over the line with this nonsense..
I do defend friends but I have defended others here, even our "bad boys"
I stopped when you all left CE for that bit and started trashing everyone. I felt hurt. PPl who I felt great affection for despite our differences where suddenly behaving just hatefully. I was shocked.
The only one who did not seem to engage in that behavior was sm and adgal.
I have always owned up to my misbehavior.. I am as guilty as ng for my snipes and sarcasm.
I know this will never end but if we are to continue as a group and have any sort of real discussion we have got to try to rein it in. I thought you were doing really well at that today until you brought that stuff up. oye.
I don't know. I ahve to recover from your last post, I am still flabbergasted by what you said. Geeeesh!
You don't know if I have ever defended you or not...in fact I have...but it is beside the point
Dang brice you just went waaaayyy over the line with this nonsense..
I do defend friends but I have defended others here, even our "bad boys"
I stopped when you all left CE for that bit and started trashing everyone. I felt hurt. PPl who I felt great affection for despite our differences where suddenly behaving just hatefully. I was shocked.
The only one who did not seem to engage in that behavior was sm and adgal.
I have always owned up to my misbehavior.. I am as guilty as ng for my snipes and sarcasm.
I know this will never end but if we are to continue as a group and have any sort of real discussion we have got to try to rein it in. I thought you were doing really well at that today until you brought that stuff up. oye.
I don't know. I ahve to recover from your last post, I am still flabbergasted by what you said. Geeeesh!
I will say this without hesitation.
Personal messages are just that - they're personal and should not be paraded out here on a public board. That is a betrayal of trust, bad manners and flat out wrong. I have learned long ago that you keep personal matters personal. Exposing personal information is really creepy and it probably says more about a person than anything they can tell you.
Personal messages are just that - they're personal and should not be paraded out here on a public board. That is a betrayal of trust, bad manners and flat out wrong. I have learned long ago that you keep personal matters personal. Exposing personal information is really creepy and it probably says more about a person than anything they can tell you.
Well, you didn't actually admit anything.
Mike, so you're in agreement? Good, at least you found the decency to admit something....
You most certainly did, and you commonly excuse yourself because of your meds....
Yes, I was wondering about that because I haven't been sick in years.
Well, that sure is a great example of the pot calling the kettle black.
and then she tried to excuse mike from doing because he had been ill. Rivll took further offense when I called her out on that in a PM.
WHAT?????
I never said anything about mike being ill!! He is not ill what are you talking about???
I couldn't even red the rest of what you wrote just now...What??
If you are referring to when you said something about his translplant and what you thought were the reasons I was angry-but it was OH that let you have it about the reasons for that , not me.
I NEVER discuss ppls personal lives with others!
WHAT?????
I never said anything about mike being ill!! He is not ill what are you talking about???
I couldn't even red the rest of what you wrote just now...What??
If you are referring to when you said something about his translplant and what you thought were the reasons I was angry-but it was OH that let you have it about the reasons for that , not me.
I NEVER discuss ppls personal lives with others!
I find this whole board out of line. So many people here claim to want decency towards each other and at the same time will take offense to something someone said, yet use the same words and expect no response. Childish.....
Nobody here needs to defend anyone. We're assumed to be adults here and opening picking a side puts you in direct opposition of other people here. And it that move that is leading some of you to be upset.
A while back, mike and I weren't getting along too well. Rivll ran to mikes defense. Rivll was mad because I was using the same tactics mike used, and then she tried to excuse mike from doing because he had been ill. Rivll took further offense when I called her out on that in a PM. From that point, our relationship changed and it was of her own doing. All I asked for was fairness. If she was going to bring this issue to me, she should have brought it to mike and she outright told me that she wouldn't. That's fine...
Moving on, it find it difficult to believe that most people here seem to be concerned with the facts. When the facts are provided, (especially with this gun issue or politics) the facts are quickly discounted because it goes against the grain of what the offended person believes??? You can't have it both ways. Your entitled to your opinion, but it isn't a fact because it is your opinion.
It ***** that some people have labeled what we argue about as debates. It only stands as a debate to those people if they feel they are winning. When they aren't winning, its either a fight or an argument.
Its stupid to even talk about this anymore. Too many of you are hiding behind a veil and won't take responsibility for your part in this, all in the order to be right. Be disrespectful and be disrespected right back.... its not so fun, is it. Too bad some of you dont take it so well....
Nobody here needs to defend anyone. We're assumed to be adults here and opening picking a side puts you in direct opposition of other people here. And it that move that is leading some of you to be upset.
A while back, mike and I weren't getting along too well. Rivll ran to mikes defense. Rivll was mad because I was using the same tactics mike used, and then she tried to excuse mike from doing because he had been ill. Rivll took further offense when I called her out on that in a PM. From that point, our relationship changed and it was of her own doing. All I asked for was fairness. If she was going to bring this issue to me, she should have brought it to mike and she outright told me that she wouldn't. That's fine...
Moving on, it find it difficult to believe that most people here seem to be concerned with the facts. When the facts are provided, (especially with this gun issue or politics) the facts are quickly discounted because it goes against the grain of what the offended person believes??? You can't have it both ways. Your entitled to your opinion, but it isn't a fact because it is your opinion.
It ***** that some people have labeled what we argue about as debates. It only stands as a debate to those people if they feel they are winning. When they aren't winning, its either a fight or an argument.
Its stupid to even talk about this anymore. Too many of you are hiding behind a veil and won't take responsibility for your part in this, all in the order to be right. Be disrespectful and be disrespected right back.... its not so fun, is it. Too bad some of you dont take it so well....
"I think that profanity is not appropriate here"
I agree! and for using profanity, I apologize...
I agree! and for using profanity, I apologize...
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