Man Sentenced In Connection with Rodrick Dantzler Murders

The man who sold Rodrick Dantlzer the gun that he used to kill seven people in one day in Grand Rapids in July of 2011 is heading to prison.

Michael James Allen was sentenced in federal court in Grand Rapids on Monday to 10 years in prison - the maximum amount of time he was facing - after having previously pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

During the hearing in which he plead guilty to the charge, Allen admitted that he sold the gun to Dantzler. Dantzler was not able to legally acquire a gun because he was an ex-convict.

In a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, ATF Special Agent in Charge Steven Bogdalek said,

Michael Allen put a firearm into the hands of a violent criminal. Although the defendant didn’t shoot any of victims killed by Roderick Dantzler, he willingly provided the handgun that was used to commit heinous acts of violence.

Rodrick Dantlzer went on a shooting spree in July 2011, in which he killed seven people, including his wife, his 12-year-old daughter, his mother-in-law and father-in-law, an ex-girlfriend, that ex-girlfriend’s sister and her 10-year-old daughter.

After leading police on a lengthy chase and a standoff that involved hostages, Dantzler committed suicide.

[atf.gov]