DALLAS – Dallas police were in a standoff early Saturday with at least one gunman in an armored van that fled the scene of a bizarre attack on Dallas police headquarters with gunfire and planted explosives.
Police chased the vehicle to a restaurant parking lot in the community about Hutchins, where it was surrounded and "disabled, with a .50 caliber rifle, according to Dallas police.
Dallas police chief David Brown told reporters that a suspect— before cutting off negotiations — indicated that the incident involved a child custody issue.
#DallasPDShooting
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD)
June 13, 2015
#breaking As the Explosive Ordinance Robot attempted to move one of the bags
@DallasPD HQ, the bag exploded on its own
#DallasPDShooting
— Maj. Max Geron (@MaxDPD)
June 13, 2015
Following the gun battle, the suspect led officers in a high-speed chase down Interstate 45, ending in the parking lot of a Jack in the Box in Hutchins, Brown said. The suspect and officers again exchanged gunfire, during which no officers were hit.
The Dallas SWAT team took over negotiations with the suspect, who identified himself as James Boulware. Brown said they have not confirmed if this is the suspect's identity.
Dallas shooting
pic.twitter.com/UUq3AWsjZE
— janin ruiz (@janinruiz1)
June 13, 2015
"He said we took his child and we accused him of being a terrorist and that he is going to blow us up," Brown said. Police have not confirmed the suspect's motive.
Officials have found that a man named James Boulware has had previous interactions with the police involving family violence. Investigators are following up on those leads.
Brown noted that police officers around the country have been threatened in recent months, specifically referencing the December attacks that left two officers dead in New York City. But the Dallas police has not previously received threats, he said.
Doug Stanglin and Jessica Estepa reported from Washington, D.C.
Suspect who shot at DPD headquarters is in a van near Hutchins. SWAT on the way. Here is the scene.
pic.twitter.com/5mLdWpa2PC
— Rebecca Lopez (@rlopezwfaa)
June 13, 2015
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/13/dallas-police-shooting/71166038/