Post date: Jul 08, 2011 10:36:16 AM
Police in the U.S. state of Michigan say a man suspected of shooting dead seven people has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Travis Brecher reports.
USA-MICHIGAN SHOOTING -A man suspected of shooting seven people to death in western Michigan, including a young girl, is now dead.
Police say the man, identified as Rodrick Dantzler, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Dantzler allegedly killed seven people in two homes in Grand Rapids, and then led police on a high speed chase before invading another home and taking three people hostage.
He had released one of the hostages and was in negotiations with police officers when a gunshot was heard.
CHIEF KEVIN BELK, GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT, SAYING:
"Our negotiators were talking to him, trying to give him instructions as to how he could go about turning himself in, how he could surrender, we a heard a gunshot and it turned out to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The suspect has been determined to be dead at the scene."
Police say all three hostages are now safe.
Investigators are now looking into the motive for the shootings, but say one of the victims was believed to be his daughter and one was an ex-girlfriend.
Travis Brecher, Reuters