Michigan Gunman Kills Himself After Shooting 7

Suicide ends Grand Rapids standoff
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jul 7, 2011 11:52 PM CDT
Michigan Gunman Rodrick Dantzler Kills Himself After Shooting 7
Grand Rapids police cordon off an area in northeast Grand Rapids, Mich., where a gunman was holding hostages.   (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

A gunman opened fire in two Michigan homes today, killing seven people before leading police on a high-speed chase through downtown Grand Rapids and taking three hostages. The standoff ended when the suspect, 34-year-old Rodrick Dantzler, killed himself with a gunshot to the head, authorities said. The hostages were released unharmed. Authorities have not disclosed the gunman's relationship with those he killed.

The manhunt for Dantzler began after four people were found dead in one home and three were discovered in another across town. Two of the dead were children. Following the discovery of the bodies, Dantzler led officers on a chase, crashed his car and then forced his way into a home and took the hostages, police said. Two other people were shot when the suspect fired at police during the chase, but their wounds were not considered life-threatening. (More Michigan stories.)

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