Gunman killed after attacking Dallas police headquarters

A man suspected of spraying the Dallas Police Headquarters with gunfire early Saturday is dead, police confirmed, although authorities said they have not yet identified him.

Police Chief David Brown said an officer shot the suspect who was holed up in a van in a parking lot in the Dallas suburb of Hutchins. The man had told police he had explosives in the van, Brown said.

He said investigators believe the man, who identified himself as James Boulware, acted alone in the early-morning attack, despite previous witness reports that others may have taken part. Police said they recovered two explosive devices near the building.

The chief said officers had not yet been able to confirm the man’s identity, but he added that police had previously responded to three incidents of domestic violence involving a man with that name.

Police said conflicting witness accounts made it difficult to immediately determine how many shooters were involved, and authorities were trying to determine a motive. No injuries were reported.

Brown said during a news conference that the shootout began about 12:30 a.m., when a suspect or suspects parked in front of the building south of downtown and began firing. He said at least one of the suspects fled the scene in a van that rammed a police cruiser before leading police on a chase that ended in a standoff at a parking lot in Hutchins, where additional gunfire was exchanged.

Brown said the suspect driving the van has told officers that he blames police for losing custody of his son, and "accusing him of being a terrorist." The gunman also said he had explosives in the van, which appeared to be outfitted with gun ports in the sides.

Officers said that they also found two explosive devices near police headquarters, and that all suspected packages have been cleared. Nearby residents were evacuated as a precaution.

A video of the incident on social media showed a police officer approaching a black van with a flashlight as two other police cruisers pulled up behind the vehicle. The officer then abruptly turned and ran away and then a volley of gunshots could be heard.

In another video, the van could be seen ramming a police cruiser before gunfire rang out and the vehicle drove off.

Wire services