Alabama police in standoff with suspect in fatal school bus shooting who kidnapped 6-year-old child, authorities say

(CBS/AP) MIDLAND CITY, Ala. - Police, SWAT teams and negotiators were at a rural property Wednesday morning where a man is believed to be hiding in a homemade bunker after fatally shooting a school bus driver and taking a 6-year-old passenger hostage, authorities said.

The hours-long standoff with police remained unresolved early Wednesday after an unidentified man boarded the stopped school bus in the town of Midland City on Tuesday afternoon. The Dale County Sheriff said the man shot the driver when he refused to let the child off the bus.

County coroner Woodrow Hilboldt said the driver, who was in his mid-60s, died of multiple gunshot wounds. The victim's name a has not been released until family members are notified.

Authorities said the shooter then took the child.

Hilboldt told The Associated Press the overnight standoff continued early Wednesday with tactical units, negotiators and other officers at the scene near a church. He said the suspect was believed to be in an underground shelter on his property.

"That's what has been described to me as an underground bunker. Someplace to get out of the way of a tornado," Hilboldt said.

Authorities from multiple agencies were on the scene and nearby residents were evacuated from their homes as a precautionary measure, said spokeswoman Rachel David for the police department in the nearby town of Dothan.

"Authorities also confirmed the presence of a child at the scene but are giving no further information at this time," David said in a news release late Tuesday.