Dantzler kills himself, hostages free

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - The suspect allegedly involved in Thursday's seven slayings and standoff situation has died at the northeast-side home after shooting himself in the head, police said.

The hostages are free and safe, investigators added.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said suspect Rodrick Dantzler had been threatening to kill himself and the others, including officers, before turning the gun on himself. Watch the video, at left, to hear his closing comments.

------------

After a police chase down U.S. 131 on Thursday evening, Dantzler -- who was wanted for allegedly shooting to death seven people in two separate Grand Rapids homes -- left his vehicle and ran into a northeast-side home, police said.

Belk fielded questions from reporters about two hours later, saying it appeared Dantzler had no connection to the house that he targeted, in the 3200 block of Rickman Avenue NE.

The 34-year-old was holding three hostages, Belk said, but one -- a 53-year-old woman -- was released around 9:30 p.m. She was later identified as Joyce Bean, according to her brother, Tom Bean. Tom said Joyce's long-time significant other, Steve Helderman, and a friend of hers were the other hostages.

Belk wouldn't identify these people, but said it appears Dantzler targeted the home just because it was just off the embankment where he left his vehicle after the chase.

Joyce Bean was held at a command post. The other two were released after the suspect shot himself, around 11 p.m.

Police were in contact with Dantzler over the phone, and officials tried to negotiate with him, so the remaining hostages made it out safely. Another woman was brought to the scene by a Rockford police car. During Belk's 10:10 p.m. update, he wouldn't comment on her role, or get into further details -- in order to maintain safety.

This was a stressful situation, Belk said, but his officers are trained for situations such as this. He added, this was better than having Dantzler on the loose.

Originally, the home was reported to be an apartment complex. But it is a single-family residence, Belk said. When Dantzler entered, he fired three shots and kicked in a back door. None of the home's occupants were hurt.

The No. 1 goal of police was to reach a peaceful resolution. Officers evacuated several neighbors and informed them of the situation, the chief said.

Police wouldn't say what exactly Dantzler wanted in the negotiations, if anything, Belk said.

In addition to the seven people killed earlier Thursday, two others were shot. Both suffered minor, nonlife-threatening injuries.

One person was shot near the intersection of Fulton Street and Division Avenue by someone inside a vehicle likely driven by Dantzler, witnesses told 24 Hour News 8.

The victim is a woman who was likely caught in crossfire, police said. She was taken from the downtown scene in an ambulance, suffering from a gunshot wound to her arm, investigators said.

Four bullet holes were left in a Grand Rapids police car in the area of that shooting. It doesn't appear any officers were shot, Belk said.

The other shooting victim Thursday afternoon was identified as someone who was in a "road rage incident" likely with Dantzler, Belk said. The two probably didn't know each other, he added.

The victim was shot around 3 p.m. in the area of Godfrey Avenue and Oxford Street SW. The bullet was fired out a back window. The victim took himself to Spectrum Butterworth.

During the highway chase that happened around 7:15 p.m., police believe it was Dantzler alone in a white Suburban. He may have had someone else in the SUV earlier, Belk said, but he's not positive on all the details.

Dantzler likely merged onto U.S. 131 after tearing through the downtown area. When police started to catch up with the vehicle, the driver cut across the freeway median and started driving against traffic.

Westbound I-96 at Plainfield Avenue -- along with several other intersections and streets -- were closed due to this situation, Michigan Department of Transportation said in a written release. Many reopened around midnight.