Frantic manhunt on after 7 found killed in Mich.

Frantic manhunt on after 7 found killed in Mich.

A man who claimed his daughter was inside the house where three bodies were found collapses in the street Thursday, July 7, 2011 in Grand Rapids, Mich. Police say seven people have been fatally shot at two locations in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids and the victims include a child.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) -- A frantic manhunt is under way for a suspect in seven fatal shootings in the Michigan city of Grand Rapids.

A vehicle believed to be driven by the suspect has led police on a high-speed chase that tore through the city's downtown. Officers with guns drawn are searching the trunks of cars passing through a residential neighborhood where he may be hiding.

Witnesses tell WOOD-TV that shots were fired from the vehicle during the chase and may have struck a bystander.

The manhunt began after four people were found dead in one Grand Rapids home and three were found in another across town. Mayor George Heartwell says police are seeking 34-year-old Rodrick Shonte Dantzler.

The mayor couldn't confirm a motive behind the shootings or Dantzler's relationship to the victims.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Seven people, including a child, were shot to death inside separate southwest Michigan homes Thursday and a manhunt was on for one suspect, authorities said.

Four people were found dead in one Grand Rapids home and three were found in another across town, Mayor George Heartwell told The Associated Press.

He said police are seeking 34-year-old Rodrick Shonte Dantzler, who is believed to be in a cream-colored Lincoln Town Car.

"This is a rare occurrence anywhere," Heartwell said. "A homicide like this is exceedingly rare. It's an awful situation and he's still at large."

The mayor couldn't confirm any motive behind the shootings or Dantzler's relationship to any of the victims.

Sandra Powney lives across the street from one of the homes where the shootings happened and said she had seen Dantzler at the ranch house where she said a couple, who have been there for more than 20 years, lived along with their two adult daughters.

"I've seen him there. He would come periodically," she said.

Powney said she had been at home all day and didn't realize anyone had been killed until police converged on the cul de sac about 3 p.m.

"For a while we couldn't come outside," she said. "They didn't know if there was someone still inside the house."

State Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said records show Dantzler was discharged from the prison system in 2005 after serving time for assault less than murder. He has not been under state supervision since then, Marlan said.