Gunman Opens Fire on Dallas Police Headquarters (UPDATED)
A gunman opened fire on the Dallas Police Department HQ last night and police were in a standoff for hours before snipers shot at the man’s car. Authorities believe the suspect is dead.
Police Chief David Brown said earlier today that no officers were injured after this individual drove up to the police headquarters in an armored vehicle and opened fire.
During negotiations, the gunman had reportedly expressed serious anger with the police, accusing them of calling him a terrorist and taking his child away. He had said he planned to blow up the police vehicle, and not only did the police find at least one pipe bomb placed outside the building.
The suspect––reported though not confirmed to be James Boulware––rammed a police car and led them on a chase to a Jack in the Box parking lot, where there was a standoff for a few hours. SWAT team snipers showed up and shot at the suspects’ car. The suspect is believed dead, and as of this posting the police have a bomb robot inspecting the vehicle.
The Dallas PD posted lots of information and images online about the situation:
0507 PD Sniper shot @ suspect through front windshield of van. Suspect may be hit.
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
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
Initially, witness said there might have been 4 suspects. @DPDChief says we believe that one suspect shot from various locations.
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
.@DPDChief says, "We barely survived the intent of this suspect." #Dallas police officers literally dodged bullets.
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
There are no injured officers. Some say #Dallas PD officers are lucky, @DPDChief says #Dallas PD officers are blessed.
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
Here are some pictures of the damage at HQ. pic.twitter.com/ic18axSTPO
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
Our Explosive Detection K-9 unit is at the scene at HQ. pic.twitter.com/55MHEAtO2U
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
Picture of squad car that was shot at. No officers were injured. pic.twitter.com/vfT2nCiJzP
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
Update- 1:53 pm EST: Dallas authorities found two more pipe bombs in the suspect’s vehicle, and the police department confirmed on Twitter that the suspect is dead, though they haven’t completely confirmed his identity:
#Breaking We can now confirm that the susp in the van is deceased but unable to confirm ID pending Med Ex. identification #DallasPDShooting
— Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015
Update- 2:31 pm EST: The suspect’s van is currently on fire:
The van is on fire. Sound like pop corn popping. @NBCDFW pic.twitter.com/dzX58zJbCO
— Jose Sanchez (@DFW_JSanchez) June 13, 2015
Suspect's van is now on fire. We hear crackling like live rounds are going off #DallasPDShooting pic.twitter.com/C4StcEti76
— Tim Ciesco (@TimCiescoNBC5) June 13, 2015
Update- 3:25 pm EST: The suspect had also threatened judges and the police contacted the judges in response to those threats.
You can watch footage someone shot of the shootout here:
And you can watch WFAA’s ongoing live coverage here:
