Bus removed from kidnapping, shooting site

DALE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - The bus involved in a tragic deadly shooting and kidnapping Tuesday, January 29 has been removed from the site.

Folks throughout the area around the Midland City standoff are keeping the little boy in their prayers.

During a candlelight vigil Thursday night, the community not only prayed for the child, but remembered Charles Poland, the bus driver authorities said was shot and killed moments before the child was snatched.

Sharon Deloney said she lives near Poland’s home and knows his wife. She said Poland was a kindhearted man.

“Very caring, very giving, very gregarious and friendly and outgoing just a genuinely nice, nice man,” said Deloney.

As you drive through nearby Pinckard, you'll see signs saying 'Pray for Ethan.' Locals said that's the name of the little boy the suspect took hostage inside of an underground bunker.

As of Friday, February 1, authorities said it seems the alleged gunman, identified by neighbors as 65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, was no closer to surrendering. Officials released a photograph of Dykes Friday afternoon.

FOX10 News spoke to a man who lives across the street from the suspect.

The man is quoted as describing the suspect as being really 'weird'. He said the suspect would patrol his yard late at night with a flashlight and gun.