Police are seeking Murder suspect Rodrick Dantzle *Dead*

[Mommyof2]

Time line of his crimes

• 11:45 p.m. Chief Belk reports the suspect fatally shot himself in the head. Dantzler is dead at the scene of the standoff.

• 11:40 p.m. Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk will hold a news conference in a few minutes.

• 11:30 p.m. Police dispatchers report the hostages are both safe and mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler has shot himself. An ambulance is approaching the scene.

• 11:28 p.m. The two hostages remaining inside the house are an adult man and woman. The man is Steve Helderman, 70. The woman does not live at the house; she was just visiting.

• 11:10 p.m. Police Chief Kevin Belk confirms two hostages remain inside the house at 3232 Rickman Avenue NE with the suspect. One of the remaining hostages was reported to be hiding in the house. • 10:10 p.m. Police chief Kevin Belk corrects earlier reports: He indicates two children are among the 7 dead today. One at 2046 Plainfield Ave. NE, a girl, 10; and, newly reported, a child dead at 1270 Brynell Court NE.

• 9:51 p.m. Mass murders in Grand Rapids: What other media are reporting on Rodrick Dantzler (video)

• 9:37 p.m. Police dispatch traffic indicates mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler has been seen snorting an unknown substance. Police believe he is still armed and reports indicate he has an extended magazine. He is threatening to commit suicide.

• 9:18 p.m. Mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler has released one hostage. She is a 53-year-old woman.

• 9 p.m. Dantzler has demanded a Gatorade and cigarettes or threatens to kill one of his two hostages. A hostage came out to get the items, but returned inside the house.

• 8:54 p.m. Does slaying suspect Rodrick Dantzler fit profile of "mass murderer"? A criminal justice professor who specializes in the study of mass murderers and serial killers says Rodrick Dantzler appears to fit a subcategory of mass murderers known as "family annihilators."

• 8:45 p.m. Mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler is again on the phone with police, and police dispatch reports call him "highly agitated." Dantzler says he has two hostages, a man and a woman.

• 8:41 p.m. Suspect's neighbor calls him "nice and down to earth." Neighbor indicates Dantzler said he had split from his wife.

• 8:30 p.m. Rodrick Dantzler has felony record dating back to early 1990s.

• 8:20 p.m. Facebook pages spring up about mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler.

• 7:49 p.m. Police have received a second call from suspect's cell phone.

• 7:32 p.m. Police have received a call from Rodrick Dantzler indicating he has taken hostages. Shots were heard fired from inside the apartment where hostages were taken.

• 7:25 p.m. Rodrick Dantzler is believed to have entered an apartment near Soft Water Lake near Plainfield Avenue, north of I-96. The apartments are on Rickman Street fronting the lake. He kicked in the back door of the apartment and three shots were heard by authorities.

• 7:19 p.m. The suspect's vehicle -- a different vehicle than he was originally reported in -- has crashed in the ditch on I-96. The suspect is fleeing on foot, chased by armed Special Response Team members.

• 7:08 p.m. Police are involved in a chase, possibly with mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler, through downtown Grand Rapids and onto northbound U.S. 131, then eastbound I-96. Shots were fired during the chase; dispatchers report a civilian bystander was struck in the center of downtown Grand Rapids at Division Avenue and Fulton Street.

• 7 p.m. There will be no Little League games played in the city of Grand Rapids tonight due to the ongoing manhunt.

• 6:53 p.m. Here is an updated photo of Rodrick Dantzler [via WZZM]

• 6:50 p.m. A man matching Rodrick Dantzler's description has been spotted at Westgate Bowling Alley parking lot near York Creek.

• 6:45 p.m. A car matching the description of suspect Rodrick Dantzler's vehicle has been spotted with its rear window shot in York Creek Apartments in Comstock Park. A portion of Alpine Avenue near the large apartment complex has been closed for police investigation.

• 5:57 p.m. Press archives reveal 3 other multiple homicide cases. Today's mass murder appears to have the highest body count in city history.

• 5:43 p.m. Today's killing rampage appears to stem from domestic issues. A friend said that a woman who was involved with Dantzler lived at the Plainfield address where two women and one child, reportedly a 10-year-old girl, were found shot to death. A friend also said that the family of a woman with whom Dantzler had a relationship lived on Brynell Court NE, where three adult women and an adult man were found dead.

• 5:30 p.m. Police believe a separate shooting on Grandville Avenue SW near Martha Street, involving gunfire between occupants in two cars, one of which met the description of the suspect's vehicle, is also related to this rampage.

• 5:06 p.m. Police scanner traffic indicates the suspect, Rodrick Dantzler, 34, 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, may be traveling with a white woman in a tan Lincoln Town Car with license plate number BWK 2308. The woman may be driving. Dantzler is believed to be armed and dangerous.

• 4:51 p.m. Seven people are dead in two locations, according to Police Chief Kevin Belk.

• 4:48 p.m. Police are clearing Baynton; the suspect is not there. Police report it was a false lead.

• 4:27 p.m. Tactical unit set up at 25 Baynton Avenue NE. They're using a bullhorn to negotiate with a subject. Area is well kept, tidy homes. Neighbors are being told to stay in their homes.

• 4:20 p.m. Grand Rapids police reportedly found four victims in unknown conditions at 1270 Brynell Court NE off 4 Mile Road; two bodies at 2046 Plainfield Avenue NE. They have gone to a house on Baynton NE near Aquinas College where a suspect may be.

• 4:15 p.m. Police are reporting four victims at a home on Brynell Court NE.

• 4:05 p.m. Police are trying to track down a suspect reportedly armed with an automatic .40 caliber handgun. Police are seeking a suspect in a tan Lincoln with license plate number BWK 2308.

• 3:38 p.m. Police investigate report of two dead in Plainfield Avenue home. It was not immediately clear whether the deaths were related to an incident on Janes Avenue NE.

• 3:23 p.m. Police block off neighborhood near Janes Avenue NE, near Knapp Street and Coit Avenue, following the standoff incident that began at 2:30 p.m., telling neighbors to stay inside.

• 2:41 p.m.: A Grand Rapids man tells mother on phone that he killed his wife and police respond to the scene. The mother says heard gunshot on the phone.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...report_mu.html

KILLING RAMPAGE
1. 2047 Janes Ave. NE: Police tactical team responds to call about 3 p.m.
2. 2046 Plainfield Ave. NE: 3 bodies found inside about 4 p.m.
3. 1270 Brynell Court NE: 4 bodies found inside about 4 p.m.
4. 25 Baynton Ave. NE: Police search for suspect, false alarm about 4:30 p.m.
5. Grandville Avenue SW at Martha Street: Motorist shot
6. York Creek Apts. and Westgate Bowl: Suspect’s car spotted with back window shot out about 6:45 p.m.
7. Division Avenue and Fulton Street: 1 motorist shot in arm; shots fired at Grand Rapids police cruiser about 7 p.m.
8. U.S. 131 and I-96: Suspect leads police on chase; shifts wrong way on westbound I-96 and car lands in ditch about 7:15 p.m.
9. 3232 Rickman Ave. NE: Suspect flees to house and takes hostages; one released about 10 p.m.

[Mommyof2]

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police were responding this afternoon to a report of a man who may have shot his wife at a northeast side home.

Officers with a tactical team were responding to Janes Avenue NE, near Knapp Street and Coit Avenue, for the incident.

Police dispatchers said the 34-year-old man called his mother to report that he killed his wife, then she heard what sounded like a gunshot and the phone disconnected.

Dispatchers called the man's phone and someone answered, but the person hung up.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...ls_mother.html

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police this afternoon were blocking off a Northeast Side neighborhood near a Janes Avenue NE home, after the man called his mother and said he shot his wife.

Police were telling neighbors to stay inside their homes and installing police tape.

The man called his mother about 2:30 p.m.

Police had not yet entered the home and were hoping to negotiate with the 34-year-old man. Officers were not certain anyone was inside the home

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...eighborho.html

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police say two people have been found dead at a home in the 2000 block of Plainfield Avenue NE near Graceland.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...igating_r.html

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police are reporting four victims in unknown conditions in the basement of a home at 1270 Brynell Court NE off 4 Mile Road. Two bodies also were found at 2046 Plainfield Avenue NE and one body in a house on Janes Avenue NE.

Police are trying to track down a suspect reportedly armed with an automatic .40 caliber handgun.

Previous police reports have indicated they are seeking a suspect in a tan Lincoln with license plate number BWK 2308.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...ms_in_pla.html

GRAND RAPIDS -- Seven people are dead in two locations, according to Police Chief Kevin Belk.

Three people are reported dead on Plainfield Avenue NE, two women and one child, reportedly a 10-year-old girl.

Four are dead on Brynell, three adult women and an adult man.

There is a relationship to the shootings, but Belk would not specify at this time.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...hief_7_pe.html

[Mommyof2]

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police are asking people to call 911 if they see the suspect in 7 killings on Grand Rapids Northeast Side today.

Rodrick Shonte Dantzler, 34, 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, is believed to be traveling with a white woman in a tan 2003 Lincoln Towne car, with silver rims, license plant BWK 2308.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police are involved in a chase, possibly with mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler, through the center of downtown Grand Rapids and surrounding highways.

Shots were fired as the chase moved from downtown Grand Rapids onto northbound U.S. 131, then onto eastbound and westbound I-96. At times the suspect was driving the wrong way down the highway.

The suspect's vehicle crashed into a ditch on I-96 and he fled on foot. Dantzler was observed entering an apartment near Soft Water Lake north of i-96 around 7:20 p.m. and three shots were heard.

Witnesses say he kicked in the backdoor of the apartment.
A police cruiser crashed in the center of downtown Grand Rapids at Division Avenue and Fulton Street during its chase with mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler.

A motorist who happened to be driving through the intersection of South Division and Fulton Street during the pursuit through the city was shot in the arm and taken to the hospital. In addition, a police car sat at the intersection, with two bullet holes through the windshield and its tires blown out.

Dispatchers report the suspect's vehicle's tires were shot and the car rolled on tire rims. He had trouble controlling the vehicle on U.S. 131 as 14 police cars formed a barricade between the suspect's vehicle and other drivers.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...chase_pos.html

[Mommyof2]

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police pursuing mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler say they believe he kicked in the door of an apartment at 3232 Rickman Ave. NE in the area near Plainfield Avenue and I-96 and has taken at least one hostage. Three shots initially were heard fired from inside the apartment.

At 7:40 p.m. an additional shot was heard fired from inside the apartment. Police are attempting to learn the number of hostages in the apartment. One hostage has been confirmed.

Police say they received a call from Dantzler indicating he was unhappy about the pursuit and said he had taken hostages. Police received a second call from the suspect's cell phone around 7:50 p.m., about 20 minutes after the first call.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...ss_murder.html

Facebook pages
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi..._up_on_gr.html

In 1997, Dantzler was charged with felony malicious destruction of property. He pleaded guilty. He was jailed for 33 days and fined. He was on probation for 1 year.

In 2000, he as charged with felony assault and felony assault with intent to murder. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three to 10 years in prison.

In 2010, he was accused of misdemeanor assault and pleaded guilty. He was given 8 days in jail.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...der_suspe.html

Still adding updates!

[Mommyof2]

GRAND RAPIDS -- Mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler has released one hostage, a woman who is reportedly safe, after he demanded Gatorade and cigarettes.

The woman who collected the sports drink and cigarettes from police on Dantzler's behalf about 20 minutes earlier was released from the apartment at 3232 Rickman Avenue NE.

He was on the phone with negotiators, who said he was holding up "his end of the bargain." Dantzler requested a "5-minute break."

Police dispatch traffic indicates Dantzler has been seen snorting an unknown substance. Police believe he is still armed, and he is threatening to commit suicide.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...d_by_mass.html


Photos (sorry I just don't have time to resize them all)




Man finds out his daughter was in the house









More Pictures here
http://photos.mlive.com/4469/gallery...ids/index.html

[Mommyof2]

He is still in a standoff with police, has two hostages.

Here is a video with the police

http://videos.mlive.com/grpress/2011...hielf_bel.html

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Seven people were killed Thursday, including one ten-year-old girl, in Grand Rapids, Mich., by a lone gunman angry about “domestic issues,” The Grand Rapids Press reported.

Police said 34-year old Rodrick Dantzler was suspected of shooting five women, one man and one child at two separate addresses in an afternoon rampage.

One of the victims was a woman with whom he was involved, the report said.

A friend told the newspaper that the killings stemmed “from domestic issues.”

Dantzler was suspected of fleeing the scenes in a tan Lincoln Town Car, possibly with an unidentified female companion, police scanner traffic indicated.

Later, the occupants of a car matching that description exchanged gunfire with another car in an incident related to the rampage, police said.

http://newsone.com/nation/associated...rick-dantzler/

I will keep you updated. I hope they get him before he kills his two hostages.

[Mommyof2]

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police dispatchers report mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler shot himself and two remaining hostages have escaped after an hours-long standoff in Northeast Grand Rapids.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...r_suspe_1.html

So he is such a pussy he can kill a kid but not able to off himself BOO!

http://bcove.me/xuzqsqtt

ETA: I was wrong first reports were he shot himself in the leg. Then it was reported he either shot himself or the police shot him in the head. Then later confirmed it was a suicide.

[Alf]

• 11:45 p.m. Chief Belk reports the suspect fatally shot himself in the head. Dantzler is dead at the scene of the standoff.

• 11:40 p.m. Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk will hold a news conference in a few minutes.

link

--Al

[Mommyof2]

Awesome!! May he rot in hell! Thanks!

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police dispatchers report mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler shot himself in head and died at the scene of the hours-long standoff around 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Two remaining hostages escaped the home where they were being held in Northeast Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said Dantzler had been making threats and acting agitated throughout the night. He briefly calmed down and suggested he might give himself up. But as negotiators were telling him how to surrender from outside, a gunshot was heard.

Authorities and an ambulance rushed in, but Dantzler was pronounced dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

"This is obviously a very, very difficult day for a lot of people," Belk said.

Tactical officers were inside the house when Dantzler indicated he wanted to surrender. The hostages, Steve Helderman, 70, and a visiting woman were being held in the rear of the house when officers slipped inside.

The woman hid in a bedroom early in the ordeal, but the suspect eventually realized she was there.

Police did contact the hostages and knew they were OK. After the escaped, they were checked over and it was recommended they go to the hospital, but suffered no apparent injuries other than traumatization.

An autopsy will occur tomorrow and police will continue their investigation. Belk expects to offer a late-morning update Friday.

Police investigation so far indicates Dantzler acted alone in Thursday's mass murder. One of the victims was his daughter, another was an ex-girlfriend. Other victims' relationships were not immediately confirmed.

Dantzler was accompanied by a person during a road rage incident on Grandville Avenue during which shots were fired, but police remain confident he acted alone in today's slayings.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...r_suspe_1.html

So now they are saying two children died, one is his own daughter and the other I am going to guess is the guys who collapsed when he heard the news. What is going on around here I don't know but it is making me very sad.

[Ninja0980]

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Too bad he didn't off himself first.

[Mommyof2]

Just got done watching the live news conference with the chief of police and the mayor. Here is what we know now..

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police Chief Kevin Belk said police used "stop strips" to puncture suspect Rodrick Dantzler's tires during a chase through downtown Grand Rapids and nearby highways Thursday, but he was able to continue driving.

Rodrick traveled to I-96 over median on I-96 and headed the wrong way. After crashing the vehicle, he ran into a house just beyond a wooded area and fired shots. Three hostages were taken.

One hostage, a 53-year-old woman, was released. Dantzler became agitated because he couldn't communicate with another hostage, who an older man who has hearing problems. At that point, a hostage who had been hiding in the closet came forward to help her friend.

Belk said there "is still and awful lot we are learning," and that Dantzler had "a large amount of ammunition."

"He went out hunting people down," Belk said. "A very purposeful act. He went out and sought his revenge. He was troubled individual involved in some horrendous activity."

He has used cocaine and alcohol after the shootings.

Answering a question, Belk said it was a coincidence Dantzler ended up in front of the police station at some point.

Mayor George Heartwell added, "We are the same community we were a week ago: a strong, growing dynamic community."

"Don't think for a minute" that the mass murder "defines Grand Rapids in any way," he said.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...pids_mass.html

List of Victims and their relationship to the killer

GRAND RAPIDS -- Police Chief Kevin Belk identified victims as Amanda Emkens, 27, who had a relationship with Dantzler, Marisa Emkens, 10, Amanda's daughter, and Kimberlee Emkens, Amanda's sister. These victims were found at 2046 Plainfield Avenue NE on Thursday afternoon.

Belk said, at Brynell Court, victims were Jennifer Heeren, 29, who had a relationship with Dantzler, her daughter Kamrie Dantzler, 12, HIS OWN DAUGHTER and Jennifer's Heeren's parents, Thomas and Rebecca Heeren.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...ies_all_7.html

May he rot in hell for his selfish actions.

[gee]

All that comes to mind is at least this POS succeeded in killing himself!

[Mommyof2]

Sometimes putting a face to the name makes things that much harder.

Kamrie DeAnn Heeren Dantzler, 12, was killed along with her mother and grandparents at Brynell Court NE.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said Kamrie was mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler's child. Her mother, Jennifer Heeren, was his ex-girlfriend.

Belk said the family was killed for "reasons we may never understand."

Kamrie was a straight-A student at Highlands Middle School in Northview where she was going to enter sixth grade. She loved to read and go camping with her grandparents, according to a statement from her grandfather's family business Heeren Brothers Produce on Hall Street SW in Grand Rapids.

A neighbor says she was sweet-natured and "seemed happy."

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi..._dantzler.html
Kamrie.jpg

She makes me think of my girls. Sweet and smart with so much life left to live!

[Mommyof2]

Marissa Lynn Emkens, 10, was reportedly killed at the Plainfield Avenue NE location along with her mother Amanda Emkens, 27, and her Amanda's sister, Kimberlee, a former girlfriend of mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler.

Friends said Amanda Emkens was killed execution style while Marissa was shot in the neck as she tried to flee. Marissa was not Dantzler's daughter.

Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said investigators believe while Kimberlee Emkens was a former girlfriend, she had not had any recent contact with Dantzler.

The Emkens' neighbors on Plainfield Avenue mourned on Thursday.

Marissa had just completed fifth grade at North Park Elementary School, and was an active volunteer in the school's front office.

North Park Schools secretary Marissa Angeles Gonzalez shared her thoughts about Marissa Emkens:

“Marissa Emkens was bubbly, outgoing, energetic, curious, confident, helpful and full of life. She begged to stay in at recess and help in the office. She was quick to jump in and help with tasks. She learned her way around the copy room without any hesitation, happily assisting staff and students alike.

“'Miss Marissa, guess what?' she'd exclaim as she bust into the office. She had a huge heart, and was eager to share happy news, progress in school, a story, a smile or a laugh.

“We shared more than a name. Her birthday was just a few weeks after mine. We exchanged gifts at Christmas. She brought me hand sanitizer in the winter when colds and flu were going around. She doodled pictures for my desk.

“She looked up to her Mom and Aunt Kimmy a lot. Amanda knew how much it meant to Marissa to help out in the office and started picking up Marissa at 4:15 so Marissa could come help out at the end of the day.

“She came in to say goodbye on the last day of school and she told me she'd be back in the fall. I am used to saying goodbye to kids every spring when the school year ends. It's not supposed to end like this, though. It's not supposed to end like this.”

Grand Rapids Public Schools spokesman John Helmholdt said the school was notifying all of the parents in the school, offering condolences and alerting them to community resources available to them if they need help.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapi...sa_emkens.html

Marrisa.jpg

Two sweet beautiful girls with their whole life in front of them cut down by a worthless piece of shit asshole! Why we will never know but I wanted to at least leave you all with a picture of their sweet faces. I know I am going to hug my girls a little tighter tonight!

For any of you interested in more of the story and the other five victims here is a link to everything!
http://topics.mlive.com/tag/Rodrick%...ler/index.html