Thursday, July 7, 2011

Breaking News Developing; Gunman Shoots Seven People Including At-least One Child

DEVELOPING: Michigan police say the suspect who they believe was involved in a brazen, mid-day shooting that left seven people dead, including a child, is currently barricaded in an apartment with two hostages.
Rodrick Shonte Dantzler, 34, called police and said he took hostages after he reportedly gunned down seven people in two Grand Rapids locations. Police consider Dantzler armed and dangerous.

Rodrick Shonte Dantzler, 34, called police and said he took hostages after he reportedly gunned down seven people in two Grand Rapids locations. Police consider Dantzler armed and dangerous.
Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said officers were communicating with Dantzler, who is holding a man and a woman as hostage. Neither have been injured.

The highway chase ended when Dantzler crashed his vehicle in a ditch and fled on foot while he was pursued by Special Response Team members, the Grand Rapids Press reports.

A police SWAT team truck headed toward what appears to be the location where the suspect is believed to be hiding.
Earlier Thursday, police believe Dantzler entered an apartment by kicking down the back door, the Grand Rapids Press reports. 


Police found bodies Thursday afternoon at two separate but nearby locations. The victims were described as five women, a man and a small child. They were found at two separate locations, reported the station.
Sandra Powney lives across the street from one of the homes where the shootings happened and said she had seen Dantzler at the ranch house where she said a couple, who have been there for more than 20 years, lived along with their two adult daughters.

"I've seen him there. He would come periodically," she said.
Powney said she had been at home all day and didn't realize anyone had been killed until police converged on the cul-de-sac about 3 p.m.
"For a while we couldn't come outside," she said. "They didn't know if there was someone still inside the house."
A friend of a victim told the Grand Rapids Press that the shootings likely stemmed from domestic issues.
Dantzler has previous felonies that include felony burglary, felony damage to property in 1997, and felony assault with intent to do great bodily harm in 2000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Read more plus a video: HERE< SOURCE: FOXNEWS.com

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