US

Shooting Rampage in Grand Rapids Kills Seven, Including Child

Seven people including a child were shot dead in Grand Rapids, Michigan, after two related shooting incidents authorities said. The suspect is reportedly still at large.

UPDATE: Police are looking for suspect 34 year old Rodrick Dantzler:

The Detroit Free Press reports:

GRAND RAPIDS — Grand Rapids Police are on multiple crime scenes on Grand Rapids’ northeast side.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk told WZZM-TV on the scene that a total of seven people are dead, including one child. Four bodies were found in the 1200 block of Brynell N.E. All four were adults. Three were women.

At a second location in the 2000 block of Plainfield N.E., three bodies were found including one child.

WZZM also is reporting that he has a criminal history.

Other news outlets report the shootings may be related to a domestic issue.

Police said they are looking for a suspect, Rodrick Shonte Dantzler, 34, who may be armed. He is described as 6-foot-2, 260 pounds. Authorities also are looking for a car, a cream or tan 2003 Lincoln Town car, license plate BWK 2308.

Police helicopters have been dispatched from Lansing to search for the vehicle.

The Grand Rapids Press is reporting that a suspect matching Dantzler’s description has been spotted at Westgate Bowling Alley in Comstock Park, just north of Grand Rapids.

WZZM-TV is reporting that police are involved in a chase and that the suspect’s car is down to its rims.

The Press is reporting that a pedestrian was struck in Grand Rapids during the chase.

Shooting Rampage in Grand Rapids Kills Seven, Including Child

UPDATE:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) – Dozens of police officers with guns drawn have descended on a Grand Rapids, Mich., neighborhood in pursuit of suspect wanted in seven shooting deaths.

State police Lt. Col. Gary Gorski says officers believe they have the suspect surrounded but warned residents to stay in their homes as a standoff developed. Gorski says the suspect, who led officers on a chase that tore through the city’s downtown, has proven to be very mobile.

A police SWAT team truck headed toward what appears to be the location where the suspect is believed to be hiding.

The manhunt began after four people were found dead in one Grand Rapids home and three were found in another across town. Mayor George Heartwell says police are seeking 34-year-old Rodrick Shonte Dantzler.

UPDATE provided by ABC:

Police in Grand Rapids, Mich., are in an armed hostage standoff with a suspect they believe is connected to seven killings at two other locations.

Late this evening, the suspect released a female hostage from the house unharmed, The Associated Press reported, citing police.

Authorities believe Rodrick Shonte Dantzler, 34, had been holding holding at least two people hostage at the home on Rickman Avenue in Grand Rapids, Police Chief Kevin Belk said at a news conference. Belk said it appeared the people were being held against their will but have been injured.

“We believe, at this point, it was a random house that he ended up exiting his vehicle and ran to the first house that he came to,” Belk said.

Police had been after Dantzler in connection with the earlier shootings at two locations that left at least six adults and a child dead, officials said.

“We don’t have a motive, at this time,” Grand Rapids Police Sgt. John Wu said, according to ABC News Radio. “We do know that the victims in the two separate addresses did have a personal relationship with Mr. Dantzler.”

Police later chased a vehicle believed to belong to Dantzler along Interstate 96 in the north end of Grand Rapids, resulting in the car crashing in downtown Grand Rapids after shots were fired at police, Belk said. The pursuit continued on foot until Dantzler entered the standoff house.

Police have been communicating with Dantzler since he entered the house, Belk said.

As the standoff continued, nearby residents were evacuated.

Witnesses said police exchanged gunfire with someone in the house, ABC News’ Tom Campbell in Grand Rapids reported. Campbell said the person in the house opened fire on police vehicles with five to seven shots, and a woman in a red SUV was caught in the crossfire and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Comments (138)

  • The Big Pickle
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:06pm

    Abraham Lincoln said in 1859….

    “I have concieve no greater calamity than the asslimilation of the ***** race into White culture as our social and political equal”.

    SEGREGATION NOW!

    Report Post » The Big Pickle  
  • stevoschmidt
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:04pm

    grand rapids this could’ve been in anyone of our communities. goes to show everyone needs a firearm in their residence so A-HOLES like this dont make it through the front door. reminds me “they can’t keep you safe, but they can investigate your death.” we are responcible for our own safety and cases like this present the sad truth.

    Report Post »  
  • jim
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:02pm

    Another Obama supporter bringing “hope and change” to his neighborhood.

    Report Post » jim  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:01pm

    He won’t make it to the jail.
    If we’re lucky.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
  • HeavyMetalRooster
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:01pm

    It’s cause duh man is tryin tuh keep me down..

    Report Post » HeavyMetalRooster  
  • stevoschmidt
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:59pm

    i hope them rims give out his car flips and hes dies a very slow death and die he will. i dont want any ambulance trying to keep this jerk alive for a trial. shoulda let major hassan die a slow death but no lets save him after he guns down alot of army personnel. our civilization keeps reviving these murderers for the tax payer expence to put them through trial and execute em. what is wrong with this picture.

    Report Post »  
  • KeithOlberdink
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:56pm

    I guess you can expect more of this as obamas hope and change nation marches on.

    Report Post » KeithOlberdink  
  • Karena
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:56pm

    This shows why EVERYONE should have a gun so they can defend themselves!

    Report Post » Karena  
  • betterthantv
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:52pm

    Oh lovely. I’ve got family in Grand Rapids. What the hell is happening to us?

    Report Post » betterthantv  
  • cantfs
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:48pm

    Next the ******** will say you cant infringe on his livelyhood. It is not policality correct. Ledt Holder get hold of the case. White mans fault, or at least it was Bush’s

    Report Post »  
  • hightide
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:47pm

    Michigan is loaded with muslims too. Keep your eyes open.

    Report Post »  
  • IndyArmyVet
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:47pm

    Rushed in to someone’s home huh? Would have met the Rem 870 shotgun near my wife or my Glock on the way in….

    Report Post » IndyArmyVet  
  • stevoschmidt
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:46pm

    this kind of cowardice makes me sick to my stomach. now we’ll watch the leftist media politicize this shooting as a means to infringe more on our 2nd amendment. what a trajedy

    Report Post »  
  • dontbotherme
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:41pm

    God help the families & friends of he victims. Please, Lord, help the authorities catch the murderer.

    Report Post »  
  • Patriot Z
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:41pm

    if he did it then shoot him..kill whoever did that…thats wrong period. as for the anti gun legeslation oh im sure their will be. im not worried. i have already made the decision to NEVER give up my guns for any reason. i do not care what obama or any gun hater says or wants. or the law. its that simple and damned will be thoes who try and take them for if i go down i take them with me!

    Report Post » Patriot Z  
    • kindling
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:10pm

      If the government can get all the illegal guns out there away from the thugs then we can see how things change. I will never give up my guns and if the thugs can keep their we can keep ours.

      Report Post » kindling  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:40pm

    Racist White Guy Depicts Town Car With Spinners As Not Fitting Into The Neighborhood.

    Report Post »  
  • gfgman
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:39pm

    yeah, when we finally get rid of all the legal guns and this type of nonsense is still happening, maybe people will see the problem. The criminals will still have guns, and there will be no good person left with a gun to take action.
    I say they really don’t care. They just don‘t like guns and don’t want people legally owning guns. Oh well if the criminals get them.

    Report Post »  
  • tom
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:39pm

    Pray, Satan’s minions are crawling this earth!

    Report Post » tom  
  • jason1974
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:37pm

    hope they find the SOB what else can you say

    Report Post »  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:36pm

    Will pray for those families the man is a coward to do such a thing to women and children

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
  • ronaldreaganthegreat
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:36pm

    A terrible tragedy! Obviously all the escalated violence around the country is due to the good times under Obamam.a.r.x….

    Report Post » ronaldreaganthegreat  
  • Gypsy123
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:35pm

    Those poor children and families. He is a coward.

    Report Post » Gypsy123  
    • Ernie Kaputnik
      Posted on July 8, 2011 at 6:52am

      Well, yeah, and he’s also the product of an urban feral population. Baby Mommas, Baby Daddies, government welfare, section 8 housing, ghetto culture (his middle name was “Shonte” for crying out loud), victimization syndrome, ad infinitum.

      But what really busts my hump is that a few hours from now the LSM will do one of the following:
      1.) Generate a narrative about him being a victim of “failed” mental health system. We will be reading news articles and commentary about how: “He fell throught the cracks!” or, “The governent needs to provide free mental health care to everybody.”
      2.) Claim tighter gun control laws are needed. Or better yet, repeal the 2nd Amendment, because we all know that only ignorant, trailer-trash, redneck, conservative, Bible thumpin’, white-racists own guns.” /s.
      3.) This terrible tragedy was the result of a broken justice system that unfairly and disproportionately persecutes minorities.

      And of course, they will avoid mentioning that this ass-hat was a convicted felon. A VIOLENT, CONVICTED FELON. WITH MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS. Oh, and he was also black. But don’t hold your breath waiting for them to point out these facts.

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:34pm

    .
    Gun control propaganda video will come out of this horrible event……………….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • cowdude
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:06pm

      The sad part is cowards like this usually seek gun-free zones specifically so they can “SPEAK” without being interrupted. I am waiting for the STAIN STREAM MEDIA to find a link between him and the TEA PARTY MOVEMENT*.

      Cowdude
      http://conservativewatercooler.com

      * Based on the STAIN STREAM MEDIA’s protrayal of the TPM, he couldn‘t be a member of the TPM because he’s black. I am sure they’ll make an exception with this piece of human debris.

      Report Post » cowdude  
  • TOPOFTHEGAME
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:32pm

    I’m sorry to read of the senseless killing of innocent people and a child. I pray for the families that lost loved ones. i pray they find this individual who did this shooting.

    Report Post »  
  • Cobra Blue
    Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:32pm

    I can hear the liberal band tuning up…THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED IF WE HAD ONLY BANNED GUNS. Its also the NRA’s fault. Also, gun toten, bible thumping christain conservatives were probably behind the crime. Remember…never let a crisis or tragedy go to waste.

    Report Post »  
    • AnAppealToGod
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:34pm

      Pot is banned and look how many still use it. Stay away from our guns. There will come a time when you’ll be glad that you did.

      Report Post » AnAppealToGod  
    • OneofMany
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:40pm

      I can only hope you are wrong…. They will stop at nothing to get our guns…

      Report Post » OneofMany  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:47pm

      I told you…they are an invasive speices. Segregation NOw!

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • sodacrackers2
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:16pm

      Big Pickle, take your nonsense elsewhere.

      Report Post »  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 7:48pm

      We can only pray that ALL the victims are other apes and not humans.

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • Fist2Cuffs
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:28pm

      this was supposed to be a reply to “TheBigPickle”

      Report Post »  
    • ritualrites
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:51pm

      you are exactly right cobra homeboy has a bad heart. It’s not the guns. It’s the demons that live in the killer.

      Report Post »  
    • Bermuda Onion
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:54pm

      Yeah, that’s right we need more gun laws. As the dumbest mayor in the world Thomas Menino of Boston when a little, four year old boy was shot by some thugs in Dorchester, the perps were on dirt bikes so the BRILLIANT mayor instead of investigating he pushed the Boston legislature to pass a law to ban wait for it………..Dirt Bikes! Yep, ban dirt bikes in the city of Boston.

      You can’t make this kind of liberal stupidity up it just comes natural to liberals.

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:55pm

      Save our TAX DOLLARS…TAKE HIM OUT NOW!!!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Now this is Art
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 8:58pm

      too bad this wasnt in texas

      Report Post » Now this is Art  
    • MsMac
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:00pm

      Yes, guns kill people just like those nasty pencils misspell words.

      Report Post »  
    • Ironmaan
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:02pm

      If one of the victims or a passer by also had a gun they could have blown this piece of excrement away before he had a chance to pull the trigger.
      http://guerillatics.com

      Report Post »  
    • PaBowHunter
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:39pm

      More importantly….the police need to be allowed to stop these pursuits through deadly force. It is my opinion that anybody that flees the police in a high speed pursuit is placing the general public at grave danger therefore deadly force should be used to stop the pursuit. In other words…..shoot him. Wait for a spot where it can be done safely and shoot the bastard.

      Report Post »  
    • beverlee
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 9:59pm

      If they ban guns, does that mean the bad guys won’t have them either.

      Report Post » beverlee  
    • Balladeer
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:18pm

      Don‘t forget blaiming Talk radio and conservatives for the ’climate of hate‘ and ’ Race Tension… no doubt they will find a chart where a republican has a bulls eye on Grand rapids….Sheriff Dipstick is probably on a plane heading east as we speak”

      Report Post » Balladeer  
    • The Big Pickle
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 10:41pm

      They’re negotiating with him right now to surrender.Had a white girlfriend,she and a baby are among the dead victims.
      _________________________________________________________

      Another stupid White chick that was too stupid to understand the dangers of dating a black male.

      Serves her right.

      Good riddence.

      Report Post » The Big Pickle  
    • father of 2 from NJ
      Posted on July 7, 2011 at 11:44pm

      let me guess he was not a legal gun owner and has felonies on his record…. and it looks like I am correct
      http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_mass_murder_suspe.html

      law abiding gun owners are not at fault here criminals are. Although I am sure the Brady Bunch are frothing at the mouth it just serves as a reminder to me to be armed and be ready to defend my family. He could have tried to come in my house and been greeted by the business end of a Mossberg 500

      Report Post »  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on July 8, 2011 at 7:07am

      Actually this would never have happened if his victims were armed prior to his rampage. That’s how self defense works. The “ban guns” argument makes no sense in logic nor in emotion, it’s utterly senseless.

      Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on July 8, 2011 at 8:13am

      I hear the libs crying about guns again. Again, criminals already ignore the law, they will get guns anyway. What happened is a senseless, but our second ammendment rights are what keeps the government from enslaving us all, and it keeps criminals from coming into all of our homes while we are there. Police can’t prevent crimes, only pick up the pieces and investigate after one has been commited.

      Report Post »  

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