AN Uber driver was charged Monday, Feb. 22, for six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and eight charges of using a firearm while he committed a felony.
Jason Dalton, 45, randomly shot six people at three locations in between fares while moonlighting as an Uber driver in and around Kalamazoo, Mich. on Saturday, Feb. 20, in a rampage that lasted for nearly seven hours.
Dalton “admitted his involvement” in the killings, said prosecuting attorney Jeff Getting, although Dalton remained quiet during his brief hearing on Monday and did not enter a plea.
Among victims in the fatal shooting attack were a father and son who were sitting in their cars at a Kia car dealership at about 10 p.m. Dalton also critically wounded a 14-year-old girl in a parking lot.
The shootings began at about 6 p.m. when Dalton shot a woman four times at an apartment complex parking lot, USA Today reported.
He was arrested without incident at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 21.
Less than three hours before the shootings began, Dalton went to Southwick’s, a gun shop where he was a regular customer. He purchased a “heavy duty” jacket that could hide a small pistol. Gun shop owner Jonathan Southwick said Dalton did not give him any reason to be alarmed, according to CNN.
Before the attack, a man named Matthew Mellen said he took an Uber ride with Dalton at about 4:30 p.m. He said Dalton began driving erratically after receiving a telephone call when they were about a mile away from Mellen’s house.
“After that call, he started driving erratically, running stop signs,” Mellen told CNN affiliate WWMT. “We were kind of driving through medians, driving through the lawn speeding along and then finally, once he came to a stop, I jumped out of the car and ran away.”
Mellen also said Dalton had picked him up in a different vehicle than the one in which he was apprehended.
Dalton, a married father of two, had no lengthy criminal history or mental health issues, was not on any medications and was not on anybody’s radar for any reason, Kalamazoo Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley told CNN. He also passed a background check, according to Uber.
“[This] individual had the background check completed and there was nothing in his background to indicate he was a problem. He had no record whatsoever,” Davis said.
On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Hadley told CNN Dalton legally purchased the 9mm handgun he allegedly used in the attacks, but he did not possess a concealed pistol license. Authorities also found 11 rifles at his home in Kalamazoo, according to CNN.
If convicted, Dalton could face life in prison without parole. Dalton’s next court appearance is scheduled for March 3.
“The Kalamazoo community is reeling from these senseless acts of violence that took so many innocent lives from us,” Getting said in a statement Monday. “Our hearts are saddened for all of the victims, their families and friends who are dealing with this on a much more personal level.”
Uber issued a statement about the incident and said the company is cooperating with police.
“We are horrified and heartbroken at the senseless violence in Kalamazoo, Michigan,” said Joe Sullivan, chief security officer at Uber. “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.”
Members of the Dalton family said they are baffled by what happened and said in a statement they would cooperate in the investigation of the shooting.
“This type of violence has no place in our society, and we express our love and support for everyone involved,” the statement read. “We intend to cooperate in every way that we can to help determine why and how this occurred.”
