2016 Kalamazoo shootings

2016 Kalamazoo shootings
Location Kalamazoo, Richland Township and Texas Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan, U.S.
Date February 20, 2016
5:42 p.m. – 10:24 p.m. (EST)
Attack type
 Spree shooting, mass shooting, drive-by shooting
Weapons Two handguns[1]
Deaths 6
Non-fatal injuries
 2
Suspected perpetrator
 Jason Brian Dalton
Motive Under investigation

On the night of February 20, 2016, six people were killed and two others injured in a series of apparently random shootings that took place at an apartment complex, outside a restaurant, and a car dealership in Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Police detained a 45-year-old Uber driver, Jason Brian Dalton, as a "strong suspect" in the shootings, who was subsequently charged in the shootings.

Shootings

The shootings began around 5:42 p.m. EST when a woman was shot repeatedly in a Richland Township apartment parking lot, but survived.[2][3][4][5][6] According to the woman, she was confronted by a man in a vehicle with a German Shepherd-type dog sitting in the back. The driver asked her if she was another person by a different name. When she replied that she was not, the man turned his car around and fired repeatedly at her. Ten shell casings were recovered at the scene of the first shooting.[4] Several children, including the woman's daughter, were present at the scene of the shooting, but they escaped unharmed through her efforts.[7]

About four and a half hours later, the shooter arrived at a Kia dealership in Kalamazoo, where he shot and killed two people. According to a witness, the shooter approached the victims, talked to them, and then opened fire immediately afterwards.[8] About fifteen minutes later, a third shooting occurred outside a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Texas Township,[9] where four people seated inside two vehicles were killed and one other person was wounded.[10] The shooter reportedly talked to the victims at Cracker Barrel before shooting them.[11] Police believe none of the victims at the separate scenes were connected.[10] At least 30 rounds were said to have been fired during the shootings.[12]

Locations
Location Casualties Time
Meadows Townhomes complex
5066 Meadows Boulevard
42°20′02″N 85°31′13″W / 42.3338°N 85.5203°W / 42.3338; -85.5203 (Meadows Townhomes complex)		 One wounded[13] 5:42 p.m.
Seelye Kia Dealership
4102 Stadium Drive
42°16′17″N 85°38′18″W / 42.2715°N 85.6384°W / 42.2715; -85.6384 (Seelye Kia dealership)		 Two dead[10][14][15] 10:08 p.m.
Cracker Barrel
5581 Cracker Barrel Boulevard
42°14′11″N 85°40′40″W / 42.2363°N 85.6779°W / 42.2363; -85.6779 (Cracker Barrel)		 Four dead, one wounded[16] 10:24 p.m.

Suspect

Jason Brian Dalton (born June 22, 1970[17]) was identified by police as the suspect in the shootings.[18][19][20][21] Police detained Dalton on February 21 at around 12:40 a.m. EST without incident, after pulling over his vehicle, a black Chevrolet HHR that matched the description of the getaway vehicle in the shootings.[22][23][24][25]

After his arrest, Dalton confessed to committing the shootings.[26] However, he blamed his actions on his Uber mobile app, claiming that its symbol resembled that of the Order of the Eastern Star, and that it took over his body during the events after he pressed the button of a new app resembling the Devil when it abruptly popped up.[4][27][28] Police indicated that he had no known criminal history[29] or mental health record.[30]

A 9 mm Walther P99 semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine was recovered from inside Dalton's car.[2][3][4][31][32] Police believe that the Walther P99 was used during the last two shootings, while a 9 mm Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun was used in the first shooting; Dalton reportedly switched guns after the Glock malfunctioned while firing.[1] Among other items, another fifteen firearms (eleven long guns and four handguns) were recovered from his home.[1][33][34][35] Dalton purchased the Glock from a Oshtemo Township gun store on June 12, 2015. He then purchased the Walther from the same store later that year, on August 22.[1] However, he did not have a license to carry a concealed weapon.[3][34] The Glock was among the four handguns recovered from Dalton's home.[1]

Personal life

Dalton attended Comstock High School in Kalamazoo, graduating in 1989.[36] He also attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and graduated in December 1992 with an associate's degree in law enforcement, though he did not enroll in the school's police academy program.[33]

Dalton worked as a driver for Uber during the two weeks preceding the killing spree and purportedly took fares between shooting incidents.[37][38][39] An Uber representative stated that Dalton had passed company background checks.[40] In addition, Dalton worked as an insurance adjuster and a mechanic.[6][41] A former coworker of Dalton's at the insurance company recalled seeing Dalton yell at a customer over the phone, slam the phone down, and pace around the desk angrily afterwards. Dalton had previously been counseled about his professionalism towards customers.[27]

At the time of the shootings, Dalton was married and had two children.[42][43] He was generally described as a "nice guy" and a "good family man",[33] though it was reported that he had been acting depressed in the days before the shootings occurred.[44]

Before and during the shootings

In the week preceding the shootings, Dalton had been questioned by deputies with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, who were investigating a series of shootings along Interstate 94 and Interstate 69. While Dalton traveled in the area where the shootings occurred and had been the insurance adjuster for a damaged sheriff patrol vehicle, he was cleared of any involvement.[45]

Neighbors stated that Dalton had been acting paranoid before the shootings occurred.[41] Hours before the shootings, he went to three different gun stores with a friend. At one of them, he purchased a black jacket with pockets designed to conceal a handgun.[46] Though the store owner said Dalton was in "good spirits" during the visit, the friend who accompanied Dalton said that he was a "little more quiet than normal" during the trip.[4][46] Dalton was an occasional customer at the same store, but never purchased a firearm there.[46] He was wearing the jacket at the time of his arrest, along with a bulletproof vest. Dalton told police that he bought the vest for his son, who was an explorer for the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office.[1][32]

Dalton was reportedly acting irrationally and driving erratically before the first shooting, according to a woman who said in a Facebook post that her fiancé had gotten a ride from Dalton late Saturday afternoon. She explained that her fiancé was picked up by an Uber driver named Jason, who sideswiped a car, was running through traffic signals at high speeds, and was weaving through traffic. She also posted an Uber-supplied photo of the man, which matched the police mugshot of Dalton. She also said he was driving a Chevrolet Equinox, which fit with Kalamazoo Gazette photos later showing police searching an Equinox. The woman said in her post that 9-1-1 was called "but surprisingly they didn't seem all that concerned."[6][38][47]

Sometime after the first shooting, Dalton allegedly met with his wife and children at his parent's home in Comstock Township. There, he switched his Equinox with the Chevrolet HHR he would later be arrested in, saying that the Equinox had been sideswiped by a disgruntled taxi driver in a Chevrolet Impala, who fired a gunshot at him due to rage at having his business taken away by Uber.[1][4][32][37] He also provided his wife with a 9 mm Taurus handgun, telling her it was not safe to be at the house without it. In addition, he instructed her not to go to work and take their children to school.[1][4] After leaving, he allegedly returned to his house and switched handguns.[1] Later that night, at 8:26 p.m., Dalton called his wife and told her not to call her parents.[4]

Victims

The first people killed were Tyler D. Smith (17),[48][49] and his father Richard E. Smith (53), who were both killed at the Kia car dealership.[50] Four women – Mary Jo Nye (60),[51] Mary Lou Nye (62),[52] Dorothy Brown (74),[53] and Barbara Hawthorne (68)[54] – were killed at the Cracker Barrel.

Abigail Kopf (14), who was accompany her grandmother, one of the four women killed at Cracker Barrel, suffered several injuries, including a gunshot wound to the head.[55][56] She was initially presumed dead, but later confirmed to have survived.[2][19] As of February 23, she remained on a ventilator and in critical condition, though she was breathing on her own by February 28 and was able to open her eyes by March 3.[56][57][58] Kopf was discharged from Bronson Methodist Hospital on March 8 and transferred to the Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan.[59][60]

Tiana Carruthers (25) was shot four times in the left arm, legs, and back, but survived.[7] Her shooting occurred in the parking lot of an apartment in Richland Township.[4]

Legal proceedings

On February 22, Dalton was arraigned on sixteen charges including six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, and eight counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony.[37] He was to reappear in court on March 10 for a preliminary examination hearing.[34] On March 3, he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine his competence to stand trial.[61] He reappeared in court on April 22, where it was ruled that he was found competent to stand trial.[62][63] Eusebio Solis, a former Calhoun County Chief Assistant Prosecutor and a former Calhoun County Commissioner, was appointed to represent Dalton in court.[64][65][66]

Reactions

After the shootings, Governor Rick Snyder expressed his condolences on Twitter, writing, "The families of Kalamazoo victims are in our thoughts today. Grateful to @KalPublicSafety @MichStatePolice @KzooSheriff for a quick arrest".[67][68]

Joe Sullivan, Uber's Chief Security Officer, released a statement reading, "We are horrified and heartbroken at the senseless violence in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of the victims of this devastating crime and those recovering from injuries. We have reached out to the police to help with their investigation in any way that we can."[69][70] Calls were made for Uber to improve its background check system.[71]

In response to the shooting, President Barack Obama praised law enforcement agencies and pledged federal support for the ongoing investigation.[72]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hall, Rex, Jr. (March 15, 2016). "Accused mass killer Jason Dalton changed guns after one jammed, police believe". Michigan Live. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "6 Killed, 2 Injured After Kalamazoo-Area Shooting Spree". Grand Rapids, MI: WOOD-TV. February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Hall, Rex, Jr. (February 24, 2016). "4 things we know about Kalamazoo mass shooting suspect's gun". Michigan Live. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Police: Jason Dalton said Uber app controlled him 'like A.I.'". WJTV. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  5. ↑ "6 Dead in Kalamazoo County Shootings: Suspect Arrested". Grand Rapids, MI: WXMI-TV. Associated Press. February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Stafford, Katrease (February 21, 2016). "After Kalamazoo shootings, the big question: Why?". USA Today. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Jones, Al (May 5, 2016). "'He kept ... shooting, shooting, shooting,' Kalamazoo victim recalls". Michigan Live. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ Parker, Rosemary (May 2, 2016). "Police dashcam video from Kalamazoo mass shooting scenes released". Michigan Live. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Live At Cracker Barrel". Kalamazoo, MI: WWMT-TV. February 21, 2016 – via YouTube.
  10. 1 2 3 Calabrese, Erin; McCoy, Blake; Schuppe, Jon (February 21, 2016). "Kalamazoo Shootings: 6 Dead, 2 Wounded After 'Random' Shootings in Michigan". NBC News. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  11. ↑ Hart, Peter Andrew; Bellware, Kim; Moran, Lee (February 21, 2016). "Michigan Shooting Spree Suspect Arrested After Allegedly Killing 6: Officials". The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  12. ↑ Hall, Rex, Jr. (February 21, 2016). "Kalamazoo Mass Shooting Suspect Fired 30-Plus Rounds at His 8 Victims". MLive. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  13. ↑ McKay, Tom (February 21, 2016). "At Least 6 Dead After Shooting Spree in Kalamazoo County, Michigan". Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  14. ↑ Simpson, Ian (February 21, 2016). "Uber Driver Suspected in Michigan Shootings, Six Dead". Reuters Africa. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  15. ↑ "Uber Driver Suspected in Michigan Shooting Spree, 6 Dead". United Press International. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  16. ↑ Silverstein, Jason; Hensley, Nicole; Tracy, Thomas (February 21, 2016). "Uber driver allegedly kills 6 people in Kalamazoo During Hours-Long Shooting Spree". Daily News (New York). Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  17. ↑ Croteau, Scott J. (February 21, 2016). "Suspect in Michigan Killing Spree Captured: Authorities Say Jason Dalton Acted Alone". MassLive.com. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  18. ↑ Conlon, Kevin; Valencia, Nick (February 21, 2016). "Kalamazoo Uber Driver Picked Up Fares Between Killings, Source Says". CNN. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  19. 1 2 "6 Killed, 2 Injured, in Kalamazoo Shooting Spree as Driver Targets 'Random' Victims". Russia Today. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  20. ↑ Flynn, Erin; Sparks, Kyle (February 20, 2016). "KDPS News Conference from Sunday Morning". Kalamazoo, MI: WWMT-TV. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  21. ↑ Smith, Mitch; Davey, Monica; Blinder, Alan (February 21, 2016). "Kalamazoo Shootings Leave 6 Dead as Gunman Fires Randomly". The New York Times. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Raw: Video Shows Arrest of Kalamazoo Shooter". YouTube. Associated Press. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  23. ↑ Koops, Chris [chriskoops] (February 20, 2016). "Pics just in: possibly the Chevy HHR that the suspect was driving in Kalamazoo shootings. @FOX17" (Tweet). Retrieved February 20, 2016.
  24. ↑ Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (February 21, 2016). "Please be cautious and advise us if you know or..." (Facebook post). Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  25. ↑ Welch, Chris; Young, Ryan (February 26, 2016). "How officers caught the Kalamazoo shooting suspect". CNN. Retrieved February 26, 2016.
  26. ↑ Sickles, Jason (February 22, 2016). "Kalamazoo Uber driver Jason Dalton confessed to deadly shooting spree, detective says". Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  27. 1 2 Felton, Ryan (March 14, 2016). "Kalamazoo shooter saw 'devil' on Uber app and blames visions for killing spree". The Guardian. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  28. ↑ Kolker, Ken (March 14, 2016). "Police: Dalton said Uber app showed devil, controlled him". WOOD-TV. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Latest: Michigan Community Holds Vigil After 6 Fatally Shot". ABC News. Associated Press. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  30. ↑ Valencia, Nick; Castillo, Mariano (February 23, 2016). "Police: Kalamazoo rampage suspect had no mental health history". CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  31. ↑ "Michigan mass shootings: 'How do you tell the families of these victims they weren't targeted for any reason?'". Chicago Tribune. February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  32. 1 2 3 Allen, Robert; Stafford, Katrease; Damron, Gina (March 14, 2016). "Kalamazoo driver blamed Uber app for shooting rampage". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  33. 1 2 3 Stafford, Katrease; Allen, Robert (February 24, 2016). "Suspect in Kalamazoo killings raged and loved to shoot". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  34. 1 2 3 Hall, Rex, Jr. (February 24, 2016). "15 guns seized from Kalamazoo mass shooting suspect's house". Michigan Live. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Kalamazoo Driver Who Killed Six Says Uber App Made Him Do It". Vice News. March 15, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  36. ↑ Mooney, Paula (February 21, 2016). "Jason Brian Dalton Facebook Photos: Dalton's 'Next Deer Hunter': Facebook Info, 7th Wedding Anniversary, Facebook Group". Inquisitr. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  37. 1 2 3 Fowler, Tara (February 25, 2016). "Lawyer for Michigan Uber Driver's Family Shares New Details on Alleged Shooting Spree". ABC News. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  38. 1 2 Politi, Daniel (February 21, 2016). "Uber Driver Suspected of Killing Six People in Random Michigan Shooting Rampage". Slate. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Police: Kzoo Shooting Suspect Was Uber Driver". Grand Rapids, MI: WOOD-TV. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Michigan Shooter Was an Uber Driver, Reportedly Took Customers Between Killings Video". Stuff.co.nz. Reuters. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  41. 1 2 Sparks, Kyle; Marr, Jeremy (February 21, 2016). "The Latest: Six Killed in String of Shootings, Suspect Was Uber Driver". Kalamazoo, MI: WWMT. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  42. ↑ Stafford, Katrease (February 21, 2016). "Neighbors: Kalamazoo Suspect Good Family Man, 'Liked Guns'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  43. ↑ Cummings, William (February 21, 2016). "Police: 6 Dead in 'Random' Michigan Shootings: Suspect Held". Minneapolis: KARE-TV. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  44. ↑ "The Latest: Police have found no motive for shooting rampage". 9&10 News. Associated Press. February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  45. ↑ Christenson, Trace (March 15, 2016). "Dalton questioned about freeway shootings". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
  46. 1 2 3 Martinez, Shandra (February 22, 2016). "Gun shop owner describes purchase by Kalamazoo mass murder suspect". Michigan Live. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  47. ↑ Harthorn, Jessica (February 21, 2016). "Timeline of Kalamazoo Shooting Spree". Kalamazoo, MI: WWMT-TV. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  48. ↑ Monacelli, Emily (February 21, 2016). "High School Senior from Mattawan Killed in Kalamazoo Mass Shootings". MLive. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  49. ↑ "Kalamazoo Vigil Honoring Shooting Victims". Walker, MI: WZZM-TV. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  50. ↑ Koerner, Claudia (February 21, 2016). "These Are the Victims of the Kalamazoo, Michigan Shootings". Buzzfeed. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  51. ↑ Bowman, Jennifer (February 21, 2016). "One Kalamazoo Victim a Battle Creek Retired Teacher". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  52. ↑ Lopez, German (February 21, 2016). "Kalamazoo, Michigan, Shootings: What We Know". Vox. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  53. ↑ "Kalamazoo Shooting Update" (Press release). Michigan State Police. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  54. ↑ Brenzing, Bob (February 21, 2016). "What We Know So Far: Kalamazoo Shooting Victims". Grand Rapids, MI: WXMI-TV. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  55. ↑ "Michigan Teen Injured in Uber-Driver Shooting Says 'I'm a Warrior Princess'". Yahoo! GMA. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  56. 1 2 Bowman, Jennifer (February 24, 2016). "Parents of Abigail Kopf: 'She did not deserve this'". Battle Creek Enquirer. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  57. ↑ "14-year-old Kalamazoo shooting victim's condition improves". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 28, 2016. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Teen gravely injured in Michigan shooting opens eyes". WCVB. March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016.
  59. ↑ Klayman, Ben (March 8, 2016). "Michigan Uber teenage shooting victim leaves hospital". Yahoo! News. Reuters. Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  60. ↑ "Family shares first photo of Abigail Kopf, laughing in hospital bed". WXMI. March 13, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  61. ↑ Hanna, Jason; Sanchez, Ray (March 3, 2016). "Michigan shooting suspect to undergo psychiatric evaluation". CNN. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  62. ↑ "Jason Dalton to appear in court Friday". WWMT-TV. April 20, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  63. ↑ "Kalamazoo shooting suspect competent to stand trial". The Detroit Free-Press. April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  64. ↑ McNeill, John (February 25, 2016). "Former Chief Assistant Prosecutor in Calhoun County appointed to represent Kalamazoo mass-murder suspect". WKZO. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  65. ↑ Coyne, Tom (March 3, 2016). "Mich. man charged with killing 6 will get mental exam". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  66. ↑ "Eusebio Solis". Eusebiosolis.com. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  67. ↑ Snyder, Rick [onetoughnerd] (February 21, 2016). "The families of Kalamazoo victims are in our thoughts today. Grateful to @KalPublicSafety @MichStatePolice @KzooSheriff for a quick arrest." (Tweet). Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  68. ↑ "The Latest: Gov. Snyder: Thoughts Go Out to Kalamazoo Shooting Victims". TheBlaze. Associated Press. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  69. ↑ Sullivan, Joe (February 21, 2016). "Statement on Kalamazoo" (Press release). Uber. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  70. ↑ Bergen, Mark (February 21, 2016). "Suspected Shooter Behind Kalamazoo Murders Was Uber Driver with No Criminal Record". Re/code. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  71. ↑ Galka, Matt (February 23, 2016). "Michigan shooting puts emphasis on need for better Uber background checks". WJXT Jacksonville. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  72. ↑ Kaplan, Rebecca (February 22, 2016). "Obama calls for more action on guns after Kalamazoo shooting". CBS News. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
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