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Kalamazoo shooting suspect held after six killed in 'random' attack Suspect in Kalamazoo shooting that killed six was Uber driver, firm says
(35 minutes later)
Police in Kalamazoo, Michigan arrested a suspect in the early hours of Sunday morning in the fatal shooting of six and the wounding of two in what law enforcement officials called a random act of mass murder.Police in Kalamazoo, Michigan arrested a suspect in the early hours of Sunday morning in the fatal shooting of six and the wounding of two in what law enforcement officials called a random act of mass murder.
Jeffrey Getting, the Kalamazoo County prosecutor, said the person who remained behind bars on Sunday would appear in court as early as Monday afternoon, to face murder counts for each victim killed and assault charges for those wounded. Jeffrey Getting, the Kalamazoo County prosecutor, said the person would appear in court as early as Monday afternoon, to face murder counts for each victim killed and assault charges for those wounded.
Officers identified the suspect as Jason Dalton, 45. Officers identified the suspect as Jason Dalton, 45, who they said lives in Kalamazoo County and has no known criminal record. After his arrest, which occurred at 12.40am at a traffic stop, police recovered a semi-automatic handgun from his car.
Police said the suspect lives in Kalamazoo County and has no known criminal record. After his arrest, which occurred at 12.40am at a traffic stop, police recovered a semi-automatic handgun from his car. On Sunday, Uber confirmed to 24 Hour News 8 that the suspect was a driver who had passed a background check. The company’s chief security officer said Uber was “reaching out to police to help with their investigation in any way that we can”.
The identities of the victims remained confidential as police notified their families. The shootings began around 6pm on Saturday with victims selected “at random”, police said. All took place in parking lots. A woman whom police believed was babysitting several children – they were unharmed – was shot multiple times outside the Meadows Townhomes residential complex in north-east Kalamazoo. On Sunday, the woman was in serious condition.
Neighbors of the suspect said he worked as an insurance adjuster and was married with two children, according to Michigan Live. The family had lived in the same house for about 10 years, the neighbours said. Close to 10pm, two people, believed to be a father and son, were killed near a Kia car dealership. Police responded 15 minutes later to a shooting in the parking lot of a nearby Cracker Barrel restaurant, where four women were killed.
The shootings began around 6pm on Saturday with victims selected “at random”, police said. All took place in parking lots. A woman whom police believed was babysitting several children – they were unharmed – was shot multiple times outside the Meadows Townhomes residential complex in north-east Kalamazoo. The woman was in serious condition on Sunday morning. Police identified the women as Mary Lou Nye, 62; Mary Jo Nye, 60; Dorothy Brown, 74; and Barbara Hawthorne, 68.
Close to 10pm, two people, believed to be a father and son, were killed near a Kia dealership. Police responded 15 minutes later to a shooting at a nearby Cracker Barrel restaurant, where four were killed. Local media reported that all four people killed at the restaurant were women. Mary Lou Nye, from Baroda, Michigan, was killed as she sat in the driver’s seat of an Oldsmobile minivan. The other three women, who were in one car, were from Battle Creek, a half-hour to the west.
Police initially announced that a 14-year-old girl shot at the restaurant had died, but later announced that she had survived The girl was in surgery on Sunday morning, Getting told local media, in what he said was a good sign. Police initially announced that a 14-year-old girl who was in the front passenger seat of same car had died, but they later said she had survived. The girl was in surgery on Sunday morning, Getting told local media, in what he said was a good sign.
Law enforcement officials said they were confident they had apprehended the only suspect and that there was no further threat to the public. Police said they would not release the names of the two people shot near the car dealership until Monday.
“We’re very confident that we have the right person in custody,” said Getting at a press conference held at 7am on Sunday. “We have significant evidence to tie him to these incidents.” On Sunday, the Cracker Barrel restaurant, off Interstate 94, was roped with yellow crime scene tape. A call to the restaurant continued to ring without reaching voicemail. Employees at an adjacent hotel deferred any comment to the Kalamazoo department of public safety.
Police searched the suspect’s home for more than four hours, starting before dawn. Police chief Jeff Hadley told reporters they were searching for the suspect’s computer, hard drive and additional weapons. Speaking in a parking lot near the restaurant, Bob and Nancy, a married couple from Illinois who declined to give their surnames, said they visited family in Kalamazoo often and stayed at the nearby hotel. As the shooting unfolded, they said, they had been eating dinner in downtown Kalamazoo.
“We did know that there was a happening because it was on the radio,” Nancy said. “Other than that, we really didn’t know anything.”
Bob added: “I saw all the lights and thought, ‘What’s going on?’ I thought maybe the place was on fire or something.”
“It’s just an unbelievable situation because it’s very safe,” Nancy said. “It’s hard for the people around here to comprehend.”
Neighbors of the suspect said he worked as an insurance adjuster and was married with two children, according to Michigan Live. The family had lived in the same house for about 10 years, the neighbors said.
The suspect also drove for Uber. Police said they were investigating a claim that before the first shooting, the suspect was driving erratically and side-swiped a car. On Saturday night, an Uber passenger posted a warning to Facebook about a dangerous driver. The photo she posted resembled the suspect, and the passenger gave a description of his car similar to that of the vehicle in which he was arrested.
Surveillance video of the suspect’s dark Chevrolet captured at the dealership helped lead to the arrest. The suspect was “even-tempered” and “cooperative”, law enforcement said, and was taken into custody without a struggle.
Police searched the suspect’s home for more than four hours, starting before dawn. Police chief Jeff Hadley told reporters they were searching for a computer, hard drive and additional weapons.
Regarding a possible motive, Kalamazoo County undersheriff Paul Matyas told local TV station WWMT: “There’s usually a rhyme or reason to it. In this particular case, we’re not finding that. Hopefully when we interview the individual he’ll disclose that to us.”Regarding a possible motive, Kalamazoo County undersheriff Paul Matyas told local TV station WWMT: “There’s usually a rhyme or reason to it. In this particular case, we’re not finding that. Hopefully when we interview the individual he’ll disclose that to us.”
Surveillance video of the suspect’s dark Chevrolet captured at a car dealership – the scene of two of the six murders – helped lead to the arrest. The suspect was “even-tempered” and “cooperative”, law enforcement said, and was taken into custody without a struggle
“There is no doubt in my mind that the police work in this situation saved lives,” Getting said on Sunday morning. “No question.”“There is no doubt in my mind that the police work in this situation saved lives,” Getting said on Sunday morning. “No question.”
Michigan governor Rick Snyder released a statement in which he said: “The victims and their families – and the entire Kalamazoo area – should be in everyone’s thoughts today.” Michigan governor Rick Snyder released a statement saying: “The victims and their families – and the entire Kalamazoo area – should be in everyone’s thoughts today.”
Snyder also praised members of the community and law enforcement officials who he said “quickly came together”.Snyder also praised members of the community and law enforcement officials who he said “quickly came together”.
“Their actions resulted in the suspect being caught before he was able to harm anyone else through these senseless and apparently random acts of violence,” he said.“Their actions resulted in the suspect being caught before he was able to harm anyone else through these senseless and apparently random acts of violence,” he said.