DALLAS — Police said the suspect in Saturday's lengthy standoff is likely dead after having no contact with the suspect for over four hours.
Just before noon, officials blew up the armored van after extensive preparation for a safe detonation. Police said at least two more pipe bombs were found in the suspect's armored van, in addition to two other explosives found near Dallas Police headquarters in the attack that began overnight.
A suspect driving the armored van rammed a Dallas police car and opened fire on the department's headquarters before leading officers on a chase to Hutchins, about 10 miles southeast.
Starting around 9 a.m., bomb units began "planned detonations" to safely check for explosives and render the vehicle safe. The armored van was "disabled" by police at 5:40 a.m.
Sources told News 8 that the suspect in the armored van may have been injured in an initial shootout Saturday. Police had not communicated with the suspect for quite some time.
Police used robots to examine the suspect's vehicle before the planned detonations.
The South Side on Lamar apartment complex in the 1400 block of South Lamar was evacuated as a precaution after one or more bombs were discovered outside police headquarters.
Just after 6 a.m., Dallas Police Maj. Max Geron said on Twitter that officers were clearing the station.
"Not 'evacuating' but getting officers to clear in service from the station," he said in response to a tweet.
Dallas police Chief David Brown said four suspicious bags were found outside the building. Two explosive devices were found and detonated, while the other two ended up being trash, according to Maj. Geron.
One bag exploded as a bomb squad robot tried to move it. Another explosive, found under a police vehicle, was detonated in a controlled explosion around 5:45 a.m. No officers were injured in the detonations, Geron said.
A suspicious bag found near the Northeast substation was cleared just after 7:30 p.m.
WFAA received multiple calls referring to bomb in the suspect's vehicle Saturday morning. Those calls came from an individual or multiple individuals speaking with a disguised voice.
Police were investigating those calls.
Police alerted other law enforcement agencies in the region to search for any suspicious devices. It could still be several hours until residents were able to return home, police said, due to the continued search for additional explosives.
The situation began at 12:30 a.m. Saturday when gunfire was reported outside police headquarters.
"Witnesses observed what they believed to be multiple suspects firing guns at the Dallas Police Department's headquarters," Chief Brown said. "The suspects were parked in front of police headquarters. As police officers arrived, the suspects rammed Dallas police officers' squad cars and began shooting at the officers, striking the squad cars but missing the officers."
Nearby residents reported hearing automatic gunfire and video posted to social media shows what appears to be an armored van with gun ports on its sides ramming Dallas police squad cars and exchanging gunfire with police before fleeing the area.
Twitter user Janin Ruiz (@janinruiz1) posted video of the shooting from a nearby building (Warning: this footage contains offensive language):
Officers chased the suspects to a Jack in the Box restaurant on the Interstate 45 service road in Hutchins. The time was 12:44 a.m.
"While in the parking lot, there was another exchange of gunfire between the suspects and the officers," Brown said. The suspects refused to exit the vehicle, at which time the officers set up a perimeter.
Dallas police sources told News 8 they were concerned there could be explosives in the van. Brown said the man threatened to "blow them up" before cutting off contact with negotiators.
According to Chief Brown, no Dallas police officers had been injured at either scene.
Police believe there could be as many as four suspects involved in the attack, based on eyewitness reports. One suspect identified himself to police as James Boulware, according to Dallas police.
Brown did say police negotiators have been talking to the suspect via cell phone, and the man told them the police "took his child" and "accused him of being a terrorist."
News 8 learned that the armored van was once a government vehicle, possibly from the Pickens County Sheriff's Department in northwest Georgia. The van reportedly sold for $8,250 on eBay on June 1.
Brown said officers were expanding a perimeter around their headquarters building after the existence of explosives was confirmed. Chief Brown urged the public to steer clear of the Cedars neighborhood until the situation is resolved.
Police have requested in public help in providing them any video they may have through the department's social media sites. Here is a link to DPD's Twitter account, and here is a link to their Facebook page.
Twitter user @madwho12 caught the suspect's van ram a police vehicle as shots ring out in front of the station (Warning: NSFW language):
Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement late Saturday morning in support of Dallas Police.
"The attack on the Dallas Police Department and its officers is a dangerous reminder of the unpredictable threats our men and women in law enforcement face every day," the statement read in part. "Led by Chief David Brown, the department's response has been professional, working to end this situation as quickly, and as safely, as possible."
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