ATF, Police Closely Investigating DPD Shooting
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) -- The Dallas Police Department confirmed that an armed man is dead after a multi-hour standoff that began with a gunman opening fire on police headquarters in downtown Dallas early Saturday. The gunman -- reportedly James Boulware -- was shot and killed by a police sniper after being cornered in a Jack in the Box parking lot in Hutchins.
Chaos was unleashed just after midnight when the gunman, driving an armored van, unleashed a barrage of gunfire at the Dallas Police Headquarters on Lamar Street. Suspect James Boulware then led police on an intense gunfire-riddled pursuit to Hutchins, beginning the standoff that temporarily shut down I-45 and I-20.
The South Side on Lamar apartments were evacuated after police found two explosive devices near DPD headquarters. One exploded when an ordinance robot attempted to move it; the other was found under a car in the parking lot of DPD headquarters and detonated by police. At least two pipe bombs were found in the gunman's van. No injuries were reported; police say all suspected packages have been cleared.
Video above shows the suspect's van being detonated at noon Saturday.
Video from the scene obtained by CBS DFW (above - Video Credit - Lynda Herndon)
Lamar Street was closed as ATF agents, FBI agents, and police officers were investigating the headquarters as a classified crime scene well into Saturday night.
In a press conference Saturday morning, Dallas Police Chief David Brown said the suspect called 911 before the attack. Boulware claimed he was driving was rigged with C-4 explosives.
Chief Brown said one officer almost tripped over an explosive device in the dark. Brown said if the officer would have hit the device he would have been killed, "We barely survived the intent of this suspect," said Brown. "This has been a very chilling moment, especially as you transition to the investigative process."
Video from the scene obtained by CBS DFW (above - Video Credit - Twitter/@madwho12)
The video above shows the van accelerate and ram a Dallas Police cruiser. The suspect began "shooting at officers, striking the squad cars," according to police. After shots were exchanged the van drove off.
VIEW MORE IMAGES - #DallasPDShooting
Despite reports of up to four gunmen, Dallas police confirmed there is only one suspect.
The suspect's father, Jimmy Lee Boulware, 73, told CBS 11 James was at his Carrollton home Friday to cut the front lawn.
He says James purchased the armored vehicle used in the attack on eBay; it was described as a "zombie apocalypse assault vehicle".
Police and ATF agents were at his home this evening.
Authorities performed a safe, controlled detonation of gunman's van this afternoon.
During a press conference, Dallas Police Department Chairman Frederick Frazier stressed the need for better protection and armored vehicles for police officers, "There's always a problem, or a fallback, that it's too expensive; but what's too expensive when it involves a human life?" Frazier said.
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