A gunman who invaded a day care centre in Texas released the last adult captive and a little girl but still held his own son and stepson hostage as the stand-off entered a second day.

ABC News reporter describes the gunman's frame of mind (58")

The Rigsbee Daycare Centre siege began after a bungled mugging in the car park of a nearby bank in Plano, an affluent suburb in Dallas, Texas.

Relatives identify the hostage-taker as James Monroe Lipscomb Jr

The man, identified by relatives as James Monroe Lipscomb Jr, the husband of a centre worker, released 60 children and three adults shortly after the stand-off began on Wednesday.

His wife, Kris, fled the building.

"He wanted to talk to his wife. He kept saying, `Let me talk to Kris,'" said day care centre worker, Denise Anderson, who was released on Wednesday.

An anxious wait for a mother

Ms Anderson said he wasn't necessarily threatening, but he was angry, pacing the halls saying he "meant business."

Ms Anderson identified the released toddler as Mr Lipscomb's two-year-godchild.

She said his seven-year-old stepson and his five-year-old son were still inside the Rigsbee Child Development Center, a converted house on a residential block.

Worried parents wait for news

Police quickly surrounded the daycare centre. Officers carried some of the released children to safety as anxious parents stood at a roadblock and tried to get information. Others stood in small groups and prayed.

Carl Duke, a Plano police spokesman said the negotiations were continuing.

"We're here for the duration," he said. "We're going to keep trying to talk him out."
 

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