The five-hour standoff ended when he killed himself as authorities were telling him how to surrender.
The hostages were released unharmed, and 34-year-old Rodrick Shonte Dantzler died at the scene of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police said.
The manhunt for Dantzler began earlier in the day after four people were found dead in one Grand Rapids home and three were discovered in another across town. Two of the dead were children.
Dantzler, 34, who was armed with a handgun, had earlier released another hostage, a 53-year-old woman, after demanding a sports drink and cigarettes, according to police.
Dantzler had allegedly carried out a shooting rampage at two other homes in which he killed a 10-year-old child, five women and a man. Police said he had a personal connection to the houses, without elaborating.
Police then pursued him through the city on a high-speed chase to a house where he had no apparent personal connection. There he abandoned his vehicle, fired three shots, which were answered by police, and then holed up inside.
In addition to those he killed, Dantzler also shot two people during his rampage, including a woman likely caught in crossfire and another person the suspect struck with his car, according to Belk.
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