MIDLAND CITY, Ala. An unidentified man boarded a school bus, shot the driver several times, then escaped with a 6-year-old passenger, prompting an hours-long standoff with police that remained unresolved early Wednesday.
The Dale County Sheriff says the man shot the driver in Midland City on Tuesday after he refused to let the child off the bus. The driver later died of his wounds. His identity wasn't released.
The shooter took the child to an area behind a nearby church, and police were negotiating with him, authorities said.
Midland City police would not comment, and a call to the Dale City Sheriff's office was not answered Tuesday.
Authorities from multiple agencies were on the scene and nearby residents were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure, said Rachel David, a spokeswoman for the police department in the nearby town of Dothan.
"Authorities also confirmed the presence of a child at the scene but are giving no further information at this time," David said in a news release late Tuesday.
CBS Dothan, Ala. affiliate WTVY-TV reports the hostage is male and was being held in a storm shelter at the alleged gunman's home.
The station says the FBI has been called in, and area schools have cancelled Wednesday classes.
Child hostage drama in Ala. after gunman kills school bus driver
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Child hostage drama in Ala. after gunman kills school bus driver
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Child hostage drama in Ala. after gunman kills school bus driver
