Gunman shoots one dead during dispute over Michigan hotel bill

A gunman has shot dead at least one person after opening fire in a hotel in Michigan.

The suspect started shooting with a ‘long gun’ after getting into a dispute with staff over their bill at the Hampton Inn in Deaborn, near Detroit, on Thursday afternoon. 

Dearborn police, said the suspect then barricaded themselves inside a hotel room. 

‘I implore him to please come out peacefully,’ Police Chief Issa Shahin said during a news conference in a message to the suspect. ‘Nobody wants to see anybody else get hurt. Please come out peacefully.’ 

It is unclear if the victim was a member of staff.

Cops swooped in and surrounded the suspect but warned the situation was ‘active and extremely dangerous.’

Police said the hotel had been fully evacuated to the best of their knowledge. 

As of 4:15pm this afternoon, officials were still in active negotiations with the suspect, who they described as being ‘contained’ in the hotel room.

Armed police posted outside the Hampton Inn, where at least one person has been killed

Police officers armed with heavy weapons responding to the Hampton Inn shooter in Dearborn, Michigan

The shooting is at the Hampton Inn in Dearborn, Michigan, pictured here

Police cars lined up outside the Hampton Inn in Dearborn, Michigan, as the active shooter remains barricaded inside

Footage showed squad cars racing past traffic held up at a red light as they sped towards the gunshots. 

Michigan State Police said in an update: ‘Dearborn Police are still negotiating with the suspect in the hotel working towards a peaceful resolution.’ 

‘We continue to ask people to stay away from downtown Dearborn as this situation is fluid and could change,’ they added.

In an update 30 minutes later, it added: ‘There are still shots being fired by the suspect. Troopers and officers are working on clearing the entire area around the hotel. Please stay away from the area as this is an active situation and extremely dangerous to the public.’

Local elementary school Duvall was also plunged into lockdown as it hails less than a mile from the shooting.

‘There is a situation outside the building, and we are not allowing anyone into the school at this time. All of our staff and students are safe, and our learning and day is continuing. There will be no outside activity at DuVall,’ the school said in a post on its website.

During a press conference, police advised nearby schools that it was safe to release their students at the end of the school day. 

The shooting scene is located just west of downtown Detroit. 

Emergency responders outside of the Hampton Inn in Dearborn, Michigan, where an active shooter is barricaded