DEARBORN, Mich. (NewsNation) — Michigan police arrested a man accused of fatally shooting a hotel clerk over a dispute over money following a seven-hour standoff at the Hampton Inn in downtown Dearborn Thursday afternoon.
Calling the situation “contained,” Cpl. Dan Bartok with the Dearborn Police Department said officers quickly responded to an active scene and evacuated employees and guests of the hotel.
According to Bartok, the suspect was a 38-year-old man and armed with a long gun.
The shooting stemmed from a dispute over money with staff, Shahin said. The man who was shot, identified as a 55-year-old from Riverview, was taken to a hospital and died, Shahin said.
He was “just trying to do his job,” Shahin said.
Michigan State Police earlier advised citizens to stay away from downtown Dearborn, saying the situation was fluid and could change.
“Right now, time is on our side and we are going to work toward a peaceful resolution,” state police said.
Shots were reported fired shortly after 1 p.m. local time at the hotel in the busy district in Dearborn.
According to Police Chief Issa Shahin, the shooting stemmed from a dispute over money with staff.
Earlier in the day, state police tweeted that the “situation is active and dangerous” and that shots still “were being fired by the suspect.”
A helicopter and a BearCat armored vehicle were among the police response to the situation.
One person was taken to a hospital, authorities said, and has since died, according to authorities.
DuVall Elementary School in Dearborn was locked down due to the incident, according to its website, and was not letting anyone into the school building.
“All of our staff and students are safe and our learning and day is continuing,” the school said. “There will be no outside activity at DuVall.”
The University of Michigan-Dearborn sent out a tweet about the situation and asked people to avoid the area, but said there is no known threat to the campus at this time.