[TKR]

Just reported -- man who kidnapped the little boy and killed the bus driver has (apparently) committed suicide and the child is ok and free. Just thought this was good news and worth reporting -- thank God!
PennyG

[wireweiners]

That's terrific news that the boy is free and physically unharmed but I can only imagine the psychic injuries that poor child has suffered.

[RainyDayRide]

So glad to hear that. The wait-him-out approach rather than storming the place worked!

[Mara]

Glad the guy is dead.

[ReSomething]

This has been bothering me ever since it started, I am thankful the child is alive and I hope is able to cope with the emotional issues. Thanks for posting, I've been somewhat avoiding the topic.

[RainyDayRide]

News reports now saying the kidnapper was killed rather than that he committed suicide... obviously conflicting reports flying around.

[Gloria]

Umm if he committed suicide, I sure hope it wasn't done in front of the child...

[cmdrcltr]

I've been following this story from the start; so thankful that the boy is alive and able to be reunited with his parents.

[Louise]

There was just a brief news conference, giving the facts but no questions allowed. There will be a full blown press conference later this evening in which more will undoubtedly be learned. Thank goodness that child is safe and in a local hospital.

[rmh_rider]

I am in Bama. Glad to hear this is over. Think I will check out the news.

Hope the child didn't see ANY of this violence, but I bet he did.

At least there will now be no wasted money on a trial, or incarceration of the idiot.

[TKR]

From what little has been revealed to the public, the communication broke down this AM and they could observe (somehow?) the guy was holding a gun. So, they decided the child was in danger and went into the bunker and rescued the child. So, now it sounds more like they killed the idiot. They have promised more information later and to answer questions. Whichever way it happened -- that child was exposed to the violence. God has blessed him and his parents with him getting out safely. Hope he can get past this experience.
PennyG

[MHM]

I have not been following this closely. Was there ever a reason given about why he took that particular child? Or was it just random?

Thank goodness it's over!

[2bayboys]

I have not been following this closely. Was there ever a reason given about why he took that particular child? Or was it just random?

Thank goodness it's over!

He apparently took that child at random. Thank God it's over!

[furlong47]

I have not been following this closely. Was there ever a reason given about why he took that particular child? Or was it just random?

Thank goodness it's over!

He went on the bus apparently to take random children. When he shot the driver, most of the kids ran off the bus and hid behind the church. The boy he ended up taking had fainted and was probably just easiest to grab.

[Horse with No Name]

Oh my, so glad the little boy is safe.

[JanM]

From reports the man boarded the bus, demanded two children or all of them (not sure of the details, from conflicting reports), the bus driver blocked him, and that's when the driver was shot to death. The rest of the kids escaped out the emergency door, but the captured boy fainted, and that's how he was captured.

From local reports, shortl after communicaiton with the man broke down today, the FBI agents saw that he had a gun, and they broke down the door. The boy was freed without injury, and the man was shot to death by the FBI agents. It took a lot of courage to try the rescue, because the kidnapper was some kind of anti-government loon, and they didn't know if he had booby trapped the bunker.

[dani0303]

I also heard that the boy is autistic? I'm glad he's safe.

[TKR]

The little boy has Aspergers (sp?) syndrome which is a form of autism, less extreme. He liked to sit at the front of the bus, so he was further from the escape door and of course, by fainting and being near the main door, he was most accessible to the kidnapper. Can't imagine what it was like for the parents. Glad it's over, the kidnapper is out of his misery and that he caused others and the little boy was not physically harmed. I can't believe it went on so long and still had this outcome!
PennyG

[JLD]

Breaks my heart to think that little boy was so scared that he fainted. It breaks my heart. That bus driver was a hero. Blocking the aisle so those others could escape. God bless that child.

[rcloisonne]

Breaks my heart to think that little boy was so scared that he fainted.

If the reports that the child has autism are true, the child most likely just sat there staring into space while everyone else was running and screaming. Autistics tend to shut down completely when stressed. Very unlikely he fainted.

And I think that the FBI knew the perp had at least one gun from the beginning He shot the bus driver, didn't he? Then he has his own personal bunker. Probably had an small arsenal in there.

As bad as it was, this could have been so much worse. Far, far too many nutbags with guns in this country.