http://twitter.com/#!/annalaynewest13/status/298551552258473985

Here’s some badly needed good news. The 5-year-old boy who was held hostage in an underground bunker in Midland City, Ala., is alive and well and free tonight. His captor,  65-year-old Jimmy Lee Dykes, who murdered a school bus driver last week, was killed. A relatively happy ending to the seven-day standoff that captivated the nation lit up Twitter.

PHOTO: Dale County Sheriff Wally Olson briefing the press on the end of the Alabama hostage standoff twitter.com/michaelhayes/s…

— Mike Hayes (@michaelhayes) February 4, 2013

#Ethan is SAFE! #hostagestandoff is over. Jimmy Lee Dykes is deceased. twitter.com/WDHN/status/29…

— WDHN (@WDHN) February 4, 2013

The little boy who was being held hostage is finally free! twitter.com/SBroadie/statu…

— Sharon Broadie (@SBroadie) February 4, 2013

County in which little boy had been held hostage asked for prayers. twitter.com/Herald_City/st…

— Laura Martinez (@Herald_City) February 4, 2013

Thank God Ethan is alive and free! #midlandcity #Alabama twitter.com/Kiwialabama/st…

— Kim Williamson (@Kiwialabama) February 4, 2013

Praise the Lord! Ethan is SAFE! #sohappy twitter.com/Bama_Belle10/s…

— Amber Hope Nance ❤ (@Bama_Belle10) February 4, 2013

Liberato Ethan twitter.com/PePsGrasso/sta…

— Giuseppe Grasso (@PePsGrasso) February 4, 2013

Retweet this great story. Ala. child hostage standoff ends after 7 days bit.ly/VzUvDO #WAFF48GoodNews twitter.com/waff48/status/…

— waff48 (@waff48) February 4, 2013

Many took the news as an opportunity to give thanks and offer prayers.

https://twitter.com/ricklance/status/298586970119077888

ethan is out and free in the big city of midland city alabama!

— maci english (@OG_brUnette) February 5, 2013

Thankful that the Midland City Crisis is over and Ethan is safe. Thank you law enforcement and local officials for your hard work.

— Luther Strange (@lutherstrange) February 4, 2013

#MidlandCity There are 10,000 things that could have happened. It took a precise plan to raid successfully. Again, brilliant work today.

— Ben Stanfield (@Ben_Stanfield) February 4, 2013

The hostage, known only as “Ethan,” was taken to a hospital for treatment but was said to be uninjured. He will celebrate his birthday on Wednesday.

Good News!5 year old Ethan will be home for his birthday… Alabama kidnapper dead… Little boy is OK!!!

— Vinnie Politan (@VinniePolitan) February 4, 2013

So glad Ethan is home! Just in time for his 6th birthday! 🙂

— Jennifer Cook (@jencook80) February 5, 2013

Thank you Lord for prayers answered! What a wonderful birthday present for little Ethan!

— Teresa Reeves (@mommatree) February 4, 2013

Ethan is out and safe…awesome birthday present #GodIsGood

— Tyler Friesen (@jtfriesen4) February 4, 2013

My now 7 y/o brother just told my mom he got the best birthday present ever cause “Ethan gets to see his mom on his birthday too!” #sosweet

— Whitney Wilkins (@whitttpaige) February 4, 2013

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2013/02/04/child-hostage-in-alabama-released-without-injury-freed-in-time-for-sixth-birthday/