I am glad to see that the Midland City, AL hostage situation is over!  Around 3:00 pm on Monday; FBI agents breached the door to the bunker and removed the child. The boy was rushed from the bunker and placed in a nearby waiting ambulance.  The agents feared for the child’s safety after Jimmy Lee Dykes was seen holding a gun.  Dykes was killed when the FBI agents entered the bunker.  Many people are relieved that this situation is now over!

All of this started a week ago when Jimmy Lee Dykes entered a school bus and demanded the driver hand over two children.  The driver, Charles Albert Poland Jr., refused, blocking access to the bus’s narrow aisle as at least 21 children escaped out of the back emergency door.  Sadly Dykes shot and killed Charles Poland, Jr.  Please remember his family and friends because it will take a long time to recover!

From Dale County School System.

Dykes took 5 year-old Ethan and barricaded himself and the boy inside a nearby bunker he had built.  Over the last week the police have communicated to release the boy.  And today, they rescued the boy who has Asperger’s Syndrome.  He was taken to a hospital and is said to be laughing, joking and eating!  Please remember Ethan and his family.  They are going to go through a lot of counseling and therapy to recover from this.  Ethan’s birthday is on Wednesday and they are asking people to send Ethan birthday cards.  You can mail them to: NFPD c/o Lt. McDaniel; 400 Headquarters Street; Napier Field, AL 36303.

Related articles

• Neighbor of Midland City hostage-taker says it will take ‘lots of prayers’ for her to be able to return home, feel healed from experience (al.com)
• Ethan laughing, eating with family at hospital, after Alabama hostage standoff ends, official says (al.com)
• Hostage Crisis Over: Child Safe, Alleged Gunman Dead (whnt.com)
• CNN: Alabama hostage standoff over (abc15.com)