UPDATE:
12:20 PM (EST) – Police snipers have shot and killed a man after he attacked the police headquarters in Dallas and planted bombs.
Officers from the Dallas Police Department’s specialised SWAT unit shot the suspect in Saturday’s attack through the front windshield of the armoured van he used in his attack, then shortly afterwards opened fire on the man, local police chief David Brown said.
A post on the department’s Twitter feed said the suspect was presumed dead, after there had been no contact with the man for four hours.
Police sent in a bomb disposal robot to examine the vehicle and determine whether the suspect was dead. “After the robot clears the van and we’re able to identify the deceased, what we believe is the deceased, inside the van,” technicians will collect evidence, Brown said.
10:45 am (EST) – Dallas PD just tweeted that they are going to use the .50 cal rifle to “strategically take out the windshield.” This follows an attempt to take out the windshield with an explosive breech. The controlled explosion had no effect.
10:35 am (EST) – Several news outlets are now reporting that the suspect has been shot by a sniper and is likely deceased.
The standoff still continues however as officers are being held back from approaching the vehicle as it is believed that there are explosives left in the vehicle. During the 9:30 a.m. press conference Chief David Brown said they were approaching the vehicle with an EOD robot.
Sending in robot to confirm. If suspect is deceased, EOD will be deployed to inspect vehicle for explosives.
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
Earlier witness statements indicated that there were multiple suspects that fired shots at Dallas police headquarters from several positions. It is now believed that there is a single suspect, the self identified James Boulware. Here is live helicopter footage of the ongoing incident: Earlier story below. Here are the facts as we know them at this time [6:15 am EST]: Multiple suspects including one claiming to be James Boulware, a 5’10” 200lb white man launched an attack on Dallas Police HQ around 1:00 a.m. early this morning. Shots were fired at the headquarters from what is being described as an armored vehicle. At some point the suspects planted two bags of explosives, on containing what Dallas Police Chief David Brown described as pipe bombs. When an Explosive Ordinance Robot attempted to move one of the bags, it exploded.
This is where the Explosive Ordinance Robot attempted to move one of the bags. #DallasPDShooting pic.twitter.com/mgbgytBhWv — Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
Officers surrounded the building and the suspect rammed a police car before leading police on a chase that ended after Dallas SWAT disabled the vehicle with a .50 cal rifle according to Dallas police. At this time the suspects are in a standoff with police in a fast food parking lot. Boulware has claimed to have been shot. According to USA Today, witnesses stated that there may be up to three other suspects involved with at least one other in the van and one in the surrounding area. Chief Brown said that witness statements indicate there may have been multiple assailants firing from elevated positions.
Picture of squad car that was shot at. No officers were injured. pic.twitter.com/vfT2nCiJzP
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
The reason for the attack is not known, but James Boulware has claimed that this was revenge for police taking his child and labeling him a terrorist.
No officers have been injured according to Dallas police.
We’ll update the story throughout the morning.
Good job Dallas PD. Got that nutjob. He deserved everything he had coming. Blaming you for losing his soon? He didn’t think that maybe his ex wife , her attorney or even the judge had anything to do with it!?
What an idiot!!