2011 Grand Rapids shootings

Spree shooting in Michigan, U.S. December 2025 February 2013 2011 Grand Rapids shootings Grand_Rapids,_MI_location.png Location within the state of Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan 2011 7 7 2:30 p.m. 11:30 p.m. EST; UTC−05:00 Spree shooting murder-suicide hostage taking mass shooting pedicide uxoricide shootout 8 (including the perpetrator) 2 9mm Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol Agar John Grand Rapids man knew Rodrick Dantzler was dangerous before providing gun in mass killings, judge says https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2014/02/grand_rapids_man_knew_rodrick.html The Grand Rapids Press February 4, 2014 February 4, 2014 Rodrick Shonte Dantzler On July 7, 2011, 34-year-old Rodrick Shonte Dantzler killed seven people and wounded two others in a spree shooting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The killings occurred in two homes, with the two non-fatal gunshot injuries taking place on the road. Dantzler was pursued by police on a lengthy car chase which eventually left his vehicle disabled in a highway woodline and after holding hostages in a nearby house for several hours, took his own life. Those killed included Dantzler's estranged wife, their daughter, his former girlfriend, and members of the other victims' families. One of the non-fatal victims was also acquainted with Dantzler. Events Shooting spree The spree began with the murders of seven victims in two separate homes. One of the shootings happened in a house on Plainfield Avenue NE, in which Dantzler's former girlfriend, her sister, and her sister's 10-year-old daughter were killed. Another shooting occurred at a house on Brynell Court NE, in which Dantzler's estranged wife, their daughter,Bunkley Nick July 7, 2011 Michigan Man Suspected in 7 Deaths Kills Himself During Hostage Standoff The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/08/us/08gunman.html?_r=1 subscription July 8, 2011 and his wife's parents (the homeowners), were killed, and an empty twelve round magazine was found at the scene.Agar John 2011-10-04 Report sheds new details in Rodrick Dantzler's murder spree that killed 7, note he left to his mother https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2011/10/report_sheds_new_details_in_ro.html 2024-09-09 mlive en The police became involved when Dantzler's mother called police around 2:30 p.m., reporting that her son had called her to say he had shot his wife. Police went to his house on Janes Avenue NE, where he lived alone since his wife and daughter moved out, but found no one.Agar John Grand Rapids mass murders: Overview story on Rodrick Dantzler, car chase, hostages and more July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_mass_murders_over.html Shortly afterward, the murder scenes on Plainfield Avenue and Brynell Court were discovered. Police arrived at the various scenes, closing down streets in the area, and telling area residents to stay inside their homes.July 7, 2011 Police: Seven shot dead in two GR homes WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Michigan http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/janes-knapp-gr-incident-july-7-2011 dead July 8, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110710012617/http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/janes-knapp-gr-incident-july-7-2011 July 10, 2011 Hendrix L, Carlson D, Lafurgey J, Erb H, Kolker K Another victim was shot in an apparently random road rage incident near Godfrey Avenue and Oxford Street SW at 3:00 p.m. The victim, Robert Poore, was spared serious injury as the bullet was deflected by a titanium plate in his nose.July 7, 2011 Titanium plate saves man shot in nose WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Michigan http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Titanium-plate-saves-man-shot-in-nose dead July 8, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110711013231/http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Titanium-plate-saves-man-shot-in-nose July 11, 2011 Schieber A, Kelso S At this point, Dantzler was driving a Lincoln Town Car. He later abandoned that car and carjacked a Chevrolet Suburban. Standoff and Dantzler's suicide At about 7:00 p.m., April Swanson, a friend of Dantzler, called police to report that he was following her car. He shot her from his vehicle at Fulton Street and Division Avenue, with the woman suffering a serious but non-life-threatening arm injury. He also fired into a passing pickup truck but no passengers were injured. Police intervened by ramming Dentzler's vehicle, and they exchanged gunfire; no officers were shot. The suspect was chased by police, who attempted to disable his vehicle as he drove through downtown Grand Rapids, prior to briefly taking Interstate 196 west to northbound US 131. Dantzler then turned onto eastbound Interstate 96, where he crossed the median and continued eastward on the westbound lanes, and crashed into a freeway ditch around 7:15 p.m.Murray Dave Police chief: Grand Rapids mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler 'went out hunting people' July 7, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/police_chief_grand_rapids_mass.html At this point, he exited his vehicle and ran on foot, entering a residence on Rickman Avenue NE in the northeastern part of Grand Rapids, not far from the killings on Brynell Court. He held Joyce Bean, her significant other Steve Helderman, and Meg Holmes hostage;Staff July 8, 2011 Inside the Dantzler hostage house WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Michigan http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/a-look-inside-the-Rodrick-Dantzler-hostage-house dead July 8, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110711110548/http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/a-look-inside-the-Rodrick-Dantzler-hostage-house July 11, 2011Agar John Rodrick Dantzler's hostages still shaken after Grand Rapids murder spree July 12, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 12, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/rodrick_dantzlers_hostages_sti.html Dantzler had no connection to them.July 7, 2011 U.S. man who killed 7 in rampage turns gun on self The Vancouver Sun Agence France-Presse https://vancouversun.com/news/killed+rampage+turns+self/5068970/story.html July 8, 2011May 2021 yes July 8, 2011 Gunman kills seven in Michigan rampage The Province Agence France-Presse https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41281060/the-province/ May 16, 2021 Newspapers.com Joyce Bean, who was 53 years old, was released from the house at about 9:30 p.m. after Dantzler was given cigarettes and Gatorade by police.Staff July 7, 2011 Dantzler kills himself, hostages free http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/One-shot-city-on-edge-as-Danzler-flees dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110710032359/http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/One-shot-city-on-edge-as-Danzler-flees July 10, 2011 July 8, 2011 WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Michigan Dantzler continued negotiations with police, at which point he was distraught and contemplating suicide. At 11:30 p.m., he fatally shot himself in the head while hiding in a closet with Helderman, who turned his head just before the shot, so as not to see it. Holmes was also still in the room.Grand Rapids mass murder suspect Rodrick Dantzler shoots himself; hostages escape July 7, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_mass_murder_suspe_1.html Police believe that he was "hunting" his former girlfriends and that the pending separation from his wife was the reason for the shooting spree.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14074262 Michigan shootings suspect kills himself, say police July 8, 2011 BBC News July 8, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110708014922/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14074262 July 8, 2011 liveJuly 8, 2011 Police: Killer of 7 was 'hunting' ex-girlfriends, relatives NBC News https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna43677328 May 16, 2021 Police said that Dantzler was carrying a large amount of ammunition. Victims Dantzler killed seven people in two homes. At the home on Plainfield Avenue, he killed 27-year-old Amanda Emkens along with her 10-year-old daughter Marisa Emkens and her 23-year-old sister Kimberlee Emkens. Kimberlee Emkens was a former girlfriend of Dantzler, although the two had not been in recent contact.Grand Rapids mass murder victim: Kimberlee Ann Emkens, 23, ex-girlfriend of Rodrick Dantzler July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 9, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/kimberlee_emkens.html At the home on Brynell Court, the suspect killed 29-year-old Jennifer Heeren and her parents Thomas Heeren, 51, and Rebecca Heeren, 52.Staff July 8, 2011 Belk: Ex-girlfriends, daughter slain WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Michigan http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Rodrick-Dantzler-case-July-8-2011 dead July 8, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110711110528/http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Rodrick-Dantzler-case-July-8-2011 July 11, 2011Police chief identifies all 7 victims in Grand Rapids mass murder tragedy July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/police_chief_identifies_all_7.html Dantzler also killed his own 12-year-old daughter, Kamrie.July 8, 2011 Michigan gunman Rodrick Dantzler, who shot seven people dead before killing himself, abused cocaine New York Daily News Tribune Publishing https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/michigan-gunman-rodrick-dantzler-shot-people-dead-killing-abused-cocaine-article-1.157952 May 16, 2021 Jaccarino M, Siemaszko C Jennifer Heeren was the estranged wife of Dantzler and mother of Kamrie. The suspect's relationship with Heeren was abusive.Grand Rapids mass murder victim: Jennifer Marie Heeren, 29, longtime girlfriend of Rodrick Dantzler July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 9, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/jennifer_heren.html Perpetrator Rodrick Shonte Dantzler (March 8, 1977 - July 7, 2011), a 34-year-old building technician from Grand Rapids, was identified as the perpetrator. Dantzler was convicted as a juvenile for burglary in 1992, when he was 15 years old. During his childhood, Dantzler was without his father and lived with his stepfather who had used drugs.LaFurgey Joe July 8, 2011 Dantzler in trouble since he was 15 http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Dantzler-in-trouble-since-he-was-15 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110711021238/http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Dantzler-in-trouble-since-he-was-15 July 11, 2011 July 8, 2011 WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Michigan In 1995, his mother Victoria Dantzler kicked him out of the house at the age of 18 and filed a protection order against him. In addition, three other women had filed protection orders against Dantzler due to his threatening to abuse them and their property.Harger Jim Rodrick Dantzler's violent history: His mother, girlfriends lived in fear July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/rodrick_dantzlers_violent_hist.html Also in 1995, Dantzler set fire to his mother's house. In 1997, he was convicted of domestic violence and destroying property. Dantzler was charged with assault in 2000 in which he was involved in shooting someone in a road rage incident; he was sentenced to 3 to 10 years in prison. In prison, Dantzler took part in programs to prevent anger and got the equivalent of a high school diploma. He was released from prison in 2005. Following his release, Dantzler was said to be bipolar and not taking his medication. He was also said to be getting disability money for his bipolar disorder. In 2010, Dantzler was charged with assault and battery, being sentenced to prison for a year. His mother described Dantzler as having "a very explosive temper and will act violently without thinking." Dantzler also used cocaine and alcohol the day of the shooting and was known to abuse alcohol. A few days before the shooting, Dantzler took his wife and daughter to Michigan's Adventure outside of Muskegon. During the week prior to the shooting, Dantzler's wife, Jennifer Heeren, was planning to separate from him and was reported to not be staying in the same house as Dantzler.Agar John Rodrick Dantzler's family speaks after his murder spree kills 7 in Grand Rapids: 'He's no monster' July 10, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 11, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/rodrick_dantzlers_family_speak.html Initial reports stated the handgun used in the shooting spree was a .40-caliber, but police later identified it as a 9mm Glock 19 pistol. The pistol was reported stolen two years earlier from a home northeast of Grand Rapids. It is unclear how Dantzler got the gun. Aftermath On the morning of July 8, 2011, flowers and other items were left outside of the home on Plainfield Avenue where the shootings occurred.Hoogland Julie Grand Rapids mourns 7 murder victims: Vigil set for 8:30 p.m. at Ford Museum July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_mourns_7_murder_v.html Several residents expressed their grief concerning the murders onto MyGR6, a social media initiative sponsored by Amway, as well as praise on the Facebook page of the Grand Rapids Police Department.Martinez Shandra Grand Rapids residents pour grief from mass murder tragedy into MyGR6 entries July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_residents_pour_gr.htmlMcMillin Zane Grand Rapids Police Facebook page floods with gratitude after tragedy July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_police_facebook_p.html In addition, a thank you note was written in sidewalk chalk outside the Grand Rapids Police Department.Takeo Ryan July 8, 2011 Makeshift 'Thank You' card outside GRPD WOOD-TV Grand Rapids, Michigan http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Makeshift-%27Thank-You%27-card-outside-GRPD dead July 8, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110710033230/https://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Makeshift-%27Thank-You%27-card-outside-GRPD July 10, 2011 Huntington Bank is also taking donations for the families of the shooting victims.Martinez Shandra Huntington Bank accepts donations to support victims of Grand Rapids mass murder tragedy July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/huntington_bank_accepts_donati.html Hundreds of people attended a vigil for the shooting victims at Ah-Nab-Awen Park, near the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, on the night of July 8, 2011. The candlelight vigil was organized by The Tolerance, Equality, and Awareness Movement, a tax-exempt human rights organization in Grand Rapids.Ellison Garret Hundreds gather downtown to honor victims of Grand Rapids mass murder tragedy July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 9, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/hundreds_gather_downtown_to_ho.html A benefit was held July 9 to raise money for the funeral of the victims of the Emkens family.Zerilli Ursula Benefit will help raise funeral funds for Emkens family murder victims July 8, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 8, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/benefit_will_help_raise_funera.html On July 12, 2011, Grand Rapids mayor George Heartwell honored the Grand Rapids Police Department for their handling of the situation.Ellison Garret Grand Rapids City Commission honors police who dealt with murder spree, chase, hostage situation July 12, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 12, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_city_commission_h_1.html A community church service for the victims was held on July 13, 2011, at Second Congregational Church, with approximately 200 people attending.mcMillin Zane Grand Rapids residents gather for community healing, reflection after murder spree kills 7 July 14, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 15, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_residents_gather.html The funeral service for the three members of the Emkens family killed was held on July 13, 2011, at St. Jude Catholic Church while the funeral for the four Heeren family members that were killed was held on July 15, 2011, at Sunshine Community Church.Hoogland Julie Funeral, visitation begins for two families in mourning after Grand Rapids mass murder July 13, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 13, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/funeral_visitation_begins_for.htmlReens Nate Difficult day: What mourners are told at funeral for victims of Grand Rapids mass murders July 15, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 16, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/difficult_day_what_mourners_ar.html In addition, the funeral for Dantzler was held on July 15, 2011, at Ivy K. Gillespie Moody Memorial Chapel.Grand Rapids Press obituary for Rodrick Dantzler July 13, 2011 The Grand Rapids Press July 13, 2011 http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2011/07/grand_rapids_press_obituary_fo.html In popular culture The dashboard camera footage of the chase between Dantzler and the Grand Rapids Police Department was featured on an episode of the 2012 version of World's Wildest Police Videos. The part where he takes hostages and releases them is cut, as it skips to the part when Dantzler shoots himself in the head.November 2018 See also List of homicides in Michigan List of rampage killers in the United States References External links The chase footage minus the hostage situation Category:2011 murders in the United States Category:2011 mass shootings in the United States Category:2010s mass murders in the United States Category:2011 mass murders Category:Spree shootings in the United States Category:Mass murders in Michigan Category:2011 in Michigan Category:Murder–suicides in Michigan Category:July 2011 crimes in the United States Category:Mass shootings in Michigan Category:Family murders in the United States Category:History of Grand Rapids, Michigan Category:Child murder in Michigan Category:Familicides in the United States Category:Incidents of violence against girls in the United States Category:Hostage taking in the United States Category:Mass shootings involving semi-automatic pistols in the United States Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Michigan Category:Attacks on residential buildings in the United States Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2011 Category:Uxoricides in the United States Category:Violence against women in Michigan