A man suspected of shooting dead seven people in the US state of Michigan has killed himself, but two hostages he had taken are safe, police say. The death of the man named as Rodrick Shonte Dantzler, 34, ended a dramatic eight-hour manhunt in Grand Rapids. The hunt began after four people were found dead in one home and three others in another across the city. The suspect led police on a high-speed chase through Grand Rapids before taking hostages in an apartment. Grand Rapids Police Chief Kevin Belk said he was disappointed in the outcome of the standoff. He said the suspect believed to be Dantzler had earlier released one hostage - a 53-year-old woman - but still held two others until he shot himself. He praised police officers and said it was a "difficult time for our community". Police Chief Belk said the shooting victims were five adults and two children. He said the daughter and an ex-girlfriend of Dantzler are among the seven killed. "At this point, we don't know the motive," he said. Mr Belk said two other people were shot as the suspect fired at police during the chase, but neither suffered life-threatening injuries. The car driven by Dantzler was reported to have crashed into a motorway ditch after which he fled on foot, chased by police. The motorway remained closed hours later. Reports said he then entered an apartment and told police he was holding hostages. A resident who lives opposite one of the homes where the fatal shootings happened said she had seen the suspect at the ranch house where a couple lived with two grown-up daughters. Sandra Powney said she knew nothing of the shootings until police converged on the cul-de-sac in the afternoon. "For a while we couldn't come outside," she said. "They didn't know if there was someone still inside the house." Michigan state official Russ Marlan said records showed that Mr Dantzler was released from prison in 2005 after serving time for assault. He has not been under state supervision since then, Mr Marlan said. Local media said authorities believed the suspect might have been trying to get to Detroit, where he has connections. Source: BBC