Audio By Carbonatix
Don’t. It’s closed. Per Dallas PD a little while ago, officer were serving warrants on two aggravated robbery suspects when one ran … all the way into the Giants of the Savanna exhibit, where he remains at large. Per DPD’s note, SWAT’s been sent in.
When the incident occurred shortly after 10:30 this morning, folks in the part of the zoo were evacuated — most of them, kids on field trips. Dallas PD says it’s not sure whether the man’s armed or not; some who were there tweet that he did have a gun, but, again, not clear. (Wrote one woman who was there: “I hope the lions and cheetahs attack.”)
NBC-Channel 5’s eye in the sky is carrying live video from the manhunt. Riveting? Updates forthcoming from Intern Alex, who is on the scene. At least, outside the gate.
Update at 1:02 p.m.: Intern Alex reports back that the DPD and zoo officials just gave the all-clear, which means you’re free to roam the Dallas Zoo again. According to Gregg Hudson, the zoo’s exec director, the suspect was never in any of the exhibits, but in the back of the zoo — toward the animal medical facilities. There were 4,000 at the zoo at 10:15, when the incident began, 3,000 of whom were school children. Says Alex, “Two suspects entered south side by jumping a wall. Confirmed via sweep of the area” reveals he’s no longer there.
Also: DPD’s not sure if the suspect was armed, but certainly treated it as though he were. Alex also notes: “The suspect was spotted in south via an observation tower, but by the time DPD got down he was no longer there.”
