Murder suspect shot in hotel lobby

Police and ambulance personnel respond on Dec. 10, 2011, to Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City where a suspect in a Dent County double homicide was shot and apprehended by law enforcement. (News Tribune photo)
Police and ambulance personnel respond on Dec. 10, 2011, to Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City where a suspect in a Dent County double homicide was shot and apprehended by law enforcement. (News Tribune photo)

Update posted at 9:21 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011:

A spokeswoman at University Hospital in Columbia said Sunday morning that Marvin Rice was in fair condition.

Story updated at 11:40 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011. Suspect photo added 11:59 p.m.

A holiday party at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City turned into more than attendees bargained for when a suspect in a Dent County double homicide was chased into the lobby Saturday night by authorities, shot and apprehended.

Officials with the Dent County Sheriff's Department have identified the suspect as Marvin Rice, 44, a former Dent County deputy sheriff.

A double homicide shooting in a rural part of Dent County was reported around 6:30 p.m. Saturday when a male and a female were found dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

The suspect led lawmen on a high-speed chase that entered Cole County from Osage County.

At about 9:05 p.m., Cole County officers joined the chase, following the car west on U.S. 50/63 into downtown Jefferson City. As the car reached speeds up to 100 mph, officers placed spike strips on the highway, and the car turned onto Missouri Boulevard at the west edge of downtown, curving around into Capitol Plaza's parking lot about 9:20 p.m.

Dent County Sheriff Rick Stallings said the chase ended at the hotel when Rice parked and ran into the lobby, where shots were traded. Stallings did not say how many shots were fired or by whom.

The Salem News reports the double homicide occurred at a rural residence north of Salem. A witness reportedly told authorities Rice shot a male and a female and then fled with a two-year-old child, whom he later allegedly left with a family member.

The victims names were not immediately released.

More details in Sunday's News Tribune.

Earlier coverage, update posted at 10:08 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011:

An alleged murder suspect was shot in the lobby of the Capitol Plaza Hotel on Saturday night in Jefferson City.

At 9:15 p.m. multiple law enforcement agencies chased the suspect from Dent County on U.S. 50 into Jefferson City. Officers made several attempts with spike strips to stop the vehicle. The chase ended at the hotel.

Law enforcement officials were still at the scene late Saturday night as very few details were available initially