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Six killed in Kalamazoo shooting spree were ‘chosen at random,’ authorities say Six killed in Kalamazoo shooting spree were ‘chosen at random,’ authorities say
(about 2 hours later)
Kalamazoo County officials say that a man who opened fire across the area on Saturday, killing six people and injuring two others, appears to have gunned down people at random during the four-hour rampage in western Michigan.Kalamazoo County officials say that a man who opened fire across the area on Saturday, killing six people and injuring two others, appears to have gunned down people at random during the four-hour rampage in western Michigan.
On Sunday morning, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting said police identified the gunman as Jason Brian Dalton, 45, of Kalamazoo. Dalton was taken into custody hours earlier.On Sunday morning, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting said police identified the gunman as Jason Brian Dalton, 45, of Kalamazoo. Dalton was taken into custody hours earlier.
Getting said evidence suggests the victims killed during this spree, which terrified and locked down an area two hours west of Detroit, had no relationship with one another.Getting said evidence suggests the victims killed during this spree, which terrified and locked down an area two hours west of Detroit, had no relationship with one another.
“These weren’t sudden explosions, this was done intentionally,” Getting told reporters during a briefing. “They appear to have been chosen at random because they were available.”“These weren’t sudden explosions, this was done intentionally,” Getting told reporters during a briefing. “They appear to have been chosen at random because they were available.”
Authorities believe Dalton acted alone, Getting said, and the shooting spree is not being investigated as an act of terrorism. The gunfire comes more than two months after 14 people were killed in what was later deemed a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif., which came two months after a lone gunman killed nine people at an Oregon community college. Authorities in Michigan, who said the shooting spree is not being investigated as an act of terrorism, believe that Dalton acted alone. The violence across Kalamazoo is the latest in a series of mass shootings that have become a feature of American life in recent years. It comes more than three months after 14 people were killed in what was later deemed a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif. and less then five months after a lone gunman killed nine people at an Oregon community college.
[It’s very unusual for mass shooters to live and face trial][It’s very unusual for mass shooters to live and face trial]
Dalton does not have a criminal record, Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said on Sunday morning. The shootings have intensified a long-running debate over potential restrictions to gun access and made gun control a recurring issue in the run-up to presidential elections in November.
“We are trying to piece together a motive,” Hadley said. “Honestly, it appears to be completely and totally random.” According to Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley, the suspect in Saturday’s shooting did not have a criminal record.
“We are trying to piece together a motive,” Hadley said on Sunday morning. “Honestly, it appears to be completely and totally random.”
Getting said Dalton, who will be arraigned Monday afternoon, will likely be charged with six counts of murder, with two counts of assault with attempt to commit murder, and six counts of felony with a firearm. “And then we’ll see from there,” he said.Getting said Dalton, who will be arraigned Monday afternoon, will likely be charged with six counts of murder, with two counts of assault with attempt to commit murder, and six counts of felony with a firearm. “And then we’ll see from there,” he said.
In speaking to reporters early Sunday, Getting said Dalton shot his first victim, a woman, multiple times outside the Meadow Townhomes apartment complex at 6 p.m.In speaking to reporters early Sunday, Getting said Dalton shot his first victim, a woman, multiple times outside the Meadow Townhomes apartment complex at 6 p.m.
This woman, who was not identified, is “severely injured” but is expected to survive, Getting said.This woman, who was not identified, is “severely injured” but is expected to survive, Getting said.
Four hours later, Dalton appeared outside the Seelye Automotive Group, a car dealership, at 10 p.m. and killed two men — an 18-year-old and an older man believed to be father and son — while they were sitting in their car.Four hours later, Dalton appeared outside the Seelye Automotive Group, a car dealership, at 10 p.m. and killed two men — an 18-year-old and an older man believed to be father and son — while they were sitting in their car.
Fifteen minutes later, Dalton opened fire at a nearby Cracker Barrel restaurant, killing four people. A 14-year-old girl was also shot, and while early media reports suggested she had died,Getting said she was “seriously gravely injured” and it was unknown if she is expected to survive. Fifteen minutes later, Dalton opened fire at a nearby Cracker Barrel restaurant, killing four people. A 14-year-old girl was also shot, and while early media reports suggested she had died, Getting said she was “seriously gravely injured” and it was unknown if she is expected to survive.
The names of the victims will not be released until their families are notified, officials said.  
[San Bernardino is 355th mass shooting of 2015]
Kalamazoo authorities searched Dalton’s home on Sunday morning, Getting said, and found “evidence of value.” He declined to specify what that might include.
Officials said the names of the victims will not be released until their families are notified.
Paul Matyas, Kalamazoo County under sheriff, said the first victim was with her three children when she was shot. The children appeared to be uninjured.
“This is your worst nightmare, where you have somebody just driving around randomly killing people,” Matyas told a local television station.
Getting said video from the car dealership and restaurant helped police identify Dalton’s car in the parking lot of a downtown bar where he was arrested at 12:30 a.m. without struggle.Getting said video from the car dealership and restaurant helped police identify Dalton’s car in the parking lot of a downtown bar where he was arrested at 12:30 a.m. without struggle.
A semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the car, Getting said, and a search of Dalton’s home produced evidence that suggested Dalton acted alone. It is not certain if Dalton has a license for the firearm.A semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the car, Getting said, and a search of Dalton’s home produced evidence that suggested Dalton acted alone. It is not certain if Dalton has a license for the firearm.
In the community, the impact of the shooting will continue to resonate, he said. Getting later told The Washington Post that the gun appeared to be a potential match to the shootings. He also said that authorities were looking into a posting on Facebook asserting that Dalton was an Uber driver and had picked up at least one passenger on Saturday evening. According to the Facebook post, Getting said, Dalton was driving so erratically that the passenger called 911.
“It’s hard to put into words the impact that something like this has,” Getting said. “To know the loss the community has suffered, the loss the community will continue to suffer, you cant begin to put that into words.” According to Gun Violence Archive, which publishes a tally of large-scale gun incidents, there were over 300 mass shootings in the United States in 2015. The group defines “mass shooting” as an incident in which at least four people are shot, even if none are killed.
Last month, President Obama delivered an emotional speech about gun violence as he announced steps that would restrict access to weapons in certain cases. His announcement received immediate condemnation from prominent Republicans, including presidential candidates Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tx.).
 
Further reading:Further reading:
Aurora movie theater gunman sentenced to life in prison without parole for 2012 massacreAurora movie theater gunman sentenced to life in prison without parole for 2012 massacre
Widow of San Bernardino shooting victim files $58 million in wrongful death claimsWidow of San Bernardino shooting victim files $58 million in wrongful death claims
In heartbreaking video, Sandy Hook teachers recall 2012 massacre: ‘I’ll never be the same’In heartbreaking video, Sandy Hook teachers recall 2012 massacre: ‘I’ll never be the same’