Video: Dallas police HQ attacker shot dead by sniper after dramatic chase & standoff

A Dallas police sniper has killed an attacker who had earlier fired automatic weapons and left explosives at the city’s police headquarters. Police have confirmed that the suspect is dead.

#Breaking We can now confirm that the susp in the van is deceased but unable to confirm ID pending Med Ex. identification #DallasPDShooting

— Maj. Max Geron (@MaxDPD) June 13, 2015

Dallas police were in a standoff with one or more armed men in a van, who had fired several shots at the local police department and left several bags of explosives near it.

A bystander uploaded this video of the incident (warning: strong language).

There was gunfire in front of the Dallas Police Department headquarters as a suspect rammed police cars and attempted to flee. The standoff at Interstate 45 that followed involved a SWAT team. After the attack, several bags were found near the headquarters building. Some of them discovered to contain homemade explosives. One of the bags exploded on its own, Dallas Police Major Max Gerontweeted.

#breaking As the Explosive Ordinance Robot attempted to move one of the bags @DallasPD HQ, the bag exploded on its own #DallasPDShooting — Maj. Max Geron (@MaxDPD) June 13, 2015

Another suspicious package was found under a police truck at the department’s parking lot. All the discovered explosives and suspected explosives have been disarmed. To block the van, police had to shut down Interstate 45. A police representative initially said there might have been up to four suspects in the van.

The latest evidence indicates there was only one attacker shooting from several spots. The name he had given police during negotiations is connected to several earlier cases of domestic violence. Police say they can’t confirm whether the suspect gave his real name. The 50-year-old man blamed the police for losing custody of his son, and claims they accused him of being a terrorist.

This is the first time DPD HQ has been under attack. — Dallas Police Depart (@DallasPD) June 13, 2015

Dallas Police Major Max Geron says no officers were injured during the attack, chase or standoff. The attacker was shot through the windshield of the van with four .50 caliber rounds, but the police were cautious to enter the vehicle to ensure he was dead, fearing there might be more explosives inside. “We just woke up to a few pops and thought somebody was on my balcony, and then looked outside and saw the van crash into the car,” Anita Grendahl, who lives opposite the police headquarters, told AP.

The suspect’s van was intercepted near the town of Hutchins. Police are still cautious to enter the van, saying they have to check it for explosives first. Dallas police chief David Brown said at a news conference that with the help of a camera-equipped robot, officers inspected the van with C4 explosives that the suspect left at the parking lot of the headquarters building, AP reported. Brown added that the reports from eyewitnesses concerning the number of attackers were apparently mistaken. Initial accounts said there may have been four, but it later turned out that just one person was responsible.

Source: RT