Inside the Dantzler hostage house

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A man is accused of fatally shooting seven people, including two children, before taking his own life during a hostage situation on Thursday.

The last gunshot occurred during the late evening hours at a home at 3232 Rickman Ave. NE in Grand Rapids.

Rodrick Dantzler is the suspect, police said, and he had connections to at least some of the victims. After he allegedly shot them, he led police on a wild car chase in and around the city, shooting at officer and hitting at least two citizens, who survived, with bullets.

Dantzler then broke into the Rickman Avenue home and took three people hostage, police said.

Joyce Bean owns this house. Her brother, Tom, confirmed to 24 Hour News 8 that Bean, her significant other, Steve Helderman, and a third person were the hostages. Bean was released as Dantzler negotiated with police. The other two hostages were released after Dantzler shot himself around 11 p.m., police said.

24 Hour News 8 got a look inside the home after police cleared the scene early Friday morning. Several half-gallon bottles of what appear to be alcohol were seen on a counter in the kitchen. Many cabinets and drawers were pulled and left open. No other rooms were in disarray.

Tom Bean said he was Grand Rapids Thursday after hearing of the danger in his sister's neighborhood. He talked about the intensity of waiting this situation out as police did their jobs and worked with Dantzler to release his sister and the other hostages to safety.

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Inside WOODTV.com -- The Rodrick Dantzler case