Heartwell: How Dantzler changed GR

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - It began at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, 2011, with a 911 call from "...an employee at Metro Health hospital whose son we believe has killed his wife and possibly somebody else."

Rodrick Dantzler ended up killing seven people, leading police on a wild chase through the streets of Grand Rapids, holding three hostages before killing himself with a single gunshot wound.

A year later, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell reflected on how it affected the community and how it changed the city.

"I want to point to the acts of heroism on the part of our Grand Rapids police officers, the amazing things they did that literally saved lives during that incident," Heartwell told 24 Hour News 8 Friday. "I want to remember the compassion of the people of our city, of the outpouring of love and concern from the families that were involved in this awful thing, and the way we rallied as a people. You know, to say this happened here, you can't deny it, but that doesn't define us. It's not who we are as a people in this city, in this part of the state.  

"So a year has passed. Are we different? I think somehow we are, and it took some of the perhaps naïveté out of those who were wildly optimistic. On the other hand, it was a powerful reminder of the goodness that exists here in this part of our state."

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Dantzler killed his wife, Jennifer Heeren, their 12-year-old daughter Kamrie, and Jennifer's parents at one location.

Police revealed a suicide note that, at least in part, explained his motive . He apparently wanted to kill his mother-in-law for coming between Jennifer and him. But there was no explanation of why he killed his daughter or three members of the Emkens family at a home on Plainfield.

As police tried to find Dantzler, hours passed. Nearly four hours later, around 7 p.m. , April Swanson called 911:

"The guy who's doing all the shootings is behind me. He's a friend of mine. I know him. He's following me right now...The white truck's behind me. He's very crazy looking. He's just out of his mind."

Police said four officers traded shots with Dantzler during the 12-minute chase before Dantzler abandoned the SUV and ran to a home.

Four hours after taking three hostages and with SWAT team members inside the home, Dantzler took his life with a single, self-inflicted gunshot.

None of the hostages was hurt.