Alabama Standoff Enters 7th Day: New Details Emerge in Hostage Situation
The standoff in Alabama between Jimmy Lee Dykes and authorities has now entered its seventh day. Dykes boarded a school bus last week while it was stopped and took a 5-year-old boy hostage; they have been holed up in Dykes' bomb shelter. Now new details about the boy and Dykes have emerged from witnesses.
"He said he was going to kill us, going to kill us all," Tarrica Singletary, 14, told ABC News. "The bus driver kept saying, 'Just please get off the bus,' and Dykes said, 'Ah, all right, I'll get off the bus.' He just tried to back up and reverse and Dykes pulled out the gun and he just shot him, and he just took Ethan."
Ethan has ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome, which requires medication. Thankfully police were able to deliver the necessary medication to Dykes and Ethan through pipes into the bunker. They have also delivered "Cheez-Its and a Hot Wheels car" both requested by Ethan, according to the Associated Press.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Dykes has not harmed the child, and authorities have been in constant communication with him. They have not gone into the bunker yet to try and rescue Ethan due to the fact that they are unaware of what weapons Dykes could have in the area.
"It gives them more time to study this bunker," former FBI profiler Brad Garrett told ABC News. "Does Mr. Dykes have any explosives? Has he booby trapped the doors if ever they tried to get in?"
Dykes is a Vietnam veteran whom some have described as "paranoid" and a "doomsday prepper," which explains the homemade bunker. He was due in court to stand charges of threatening his neighbors during an altercation, but instead took Ethan hostage and has remained holed up.
Meanwhile, Midland City residents buried the bus driver they call a hero for protecting the other children aboard the bus. Chuck Poland was shot four times as he tried to prevent Dykes from leaving with more children. A vigil was also held for Ethan and attended by hundreds of people.
"Our mission is to resolve this situation peacefully for both the child and Mr. Dykes," FBI supervisory agent Jason Pack told Reuters. "We continue to maintain an open line of communication with Mr. Dykes. He continues to make the environment as comfortable as possible for the child."
