Alabama school bus kidnapper shot dead, 5-year-old boy freed

USPA News - A child abductor who kidnapped a 5-year-old boy last week, was shot and killed, ending the ordeal on Monday, local authorities said. Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, had boarded a school bus and shot the driver dead before taking the 5-year-old boy, identified simply as Ethan.

He then hid in his underground bunker in Midland City, Alabama last Tuesday. On Monday afternoon at around 3:15 p.m. local time, the bunker was raided in an FBI operation in which Dykes was reportedly killed. The boy was reported safe and healthy, although he was taken to a local hospital for examination. FBI Special Agent in Charge Steve Richardson confirmed the incident, saying the decision to raid the bunker was made after negotiations with Dykes had broken down and was seen holding a firearm. The killed bus driver, identified as Charles Albert Poland Jr., had refused handing over children as hostages, reportedly standing in the bus`s aisle in order to block Dykes. It was then when Dykes shot and killed him. As a result of Poland`s brave efforts, 21 children were able to escape the bus through the back door during the initial ordeal. Dykes had served in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1969 in aviation maintenance administration.