The Kalamazoo killings were the latest in a string of United States mass shootings that include the December 2 massacre in San Bernardino, California that left 14 people dead, and the December 14, 2012, Sandy Hook school massacre that killed 26, including 20 children. He faces 16 charges – including six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, and eight gun charges.
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When asked about his connections with the Kalamazoo community, Dalton whispered, “I would prefer to remain silent”.
Uber said it is continuing to work with law enforcement on the case and said it has dedicated teams to assist law-enforcement officials.
The judge denied bail and set March 3 for the next hearing. Prosecutors said in court that Dalton acknowledged being the shooter after he was read his rights.
They said Jason Dalton, 45, had been a driver for about a month, had given roughly 100 rides and was given a 4.73-out-of-5 rating by his passengers. Dalton is expected to make an initial court appearance later Monday.
Saturday’s attacks began outside the Meadows apartment complex on the eastern edge of Kalamazoo County, where 25-year-old Tiana Carruthers was shot multiple times but survived.
About four hours later, a father and son were shot while looking at cars at a Kia dealership. No level of criminal background check on Jason Dalton could have predicted-or prevented his shooting spree in Kalamazoo on Saturday night, Uber says. Dalton has not yet entered a formal plea and will get a court-appointed attorney.
Hadley said it was not unusual for police to receive such reports and that he was not sure whether investigators had contacted the passenger who made the report.
More details are emerging about the night authorities say a MI man has admitted gunning down six randomly chosen victims in and around Kalamazoo.
Investigators are particularly interested in communication between Dalton and Uber, as well as customers he might have driven, the sheriff said.
Gary Pardo Jr., whose parents live across the street from Dalton in Kalamazoo Township, described him as a family man who seemed fixated on cars and often worked on them.
A Granger couple says the 45-year-old Uber driver, accused of killing six people and injuring two during the Kalamazoo shooting spree, picked them up just six days prior to the shootings. From there, police say he shot and killed four people outside a Cracker Barrel.
After the first shooting, police said, Dalton drove away in a silver Chevrolet Equinox, sideswiped a vehicle, then switched to a dark Chevrolet HHR. Pfaff, an assistant football coach at the time, said Dalton played running back on the junior varsity team his freshman year before his family moved to MI.
Obama is speaking to an annual meeting of USA governors.
Police said Mr. Dalton had no criminal history.
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Less than three hours before the first shooting occurred on Saturday evening, Dalton and a friend visited Southwick’s, a gun shop he frequented in nearby Plainwell, a shop employee told Reuters.
