WYOMING, MI -- A suspect in the deaths of two people in northern Kent County also was found dead following a nine-hour standoff at a Wyoming apartment, police said.

The standoff ended about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 23 when police entered a unit at Ramblewood Apartments, off 44th Street, and found the man deceased.

He earlier had taken hostages -- his wife and two young children, ages 4 and 2 -- but released them a few hours into the standoff.

Kent County sheriff's investigators say he is the "primary suspect" in the apparent homicide of a man and woman at a house in the 10000 block of Rooksby Street in Spencer Township, east of Sand Lake.

Police went to the Rooksby Street house about 11:40 a.m. Saturday to check the well-being of the residents. A family member had called police to ask them to check.

Deputies found a deceased man and woman inside the house, but did not disclose the cause of death and initially labeled the deaths "suspicious."

About three hours later, the police investigation led an apartment on Stonebridge Avenue SW at Ramblewood Apartments and the standoff began.

Police said the man refused to cooperate and come out of the apartment.

The hostages were released some time after 6 p.m.

Other Ramblewood residents gathered near the standoff scene to watch as police brought in armored vehicles and tried to negotiate with the man.

Police evacuated residents from the apartment building where the standoff was occurring and, at various points in the evening, used loud tactical devices to try to persuade the man to come out.

Police said they hoped he would surrender peacefully.