On Saturday evening, Jason Brian Dalton allegedly set off on a murderous rampage that left six dead and more injured on the streets of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Police have gathered no motives for the shootings, although they characterize the acts as “seemingly random” with neither rhyme nor reason. The violence spread throughout Kalamazoo and moved from a Cracker Barrel in Texas Township to a car dealership to a home in Richland Township. The victims were not related to Dalton, nor did they know him. Dalton was arrested without further incident, and police recovered a semi-automatic shotgun from his vehicle.
Local Michigan news stations are unearthing new details from the situation, which has somehow grown even more terrifying. Dalton does not have a criminal record, but he’s said to have grown paranoid and shown a fondness for firing guns. Police also say Dalton was an Uber driver, and he may have been ferrying passengers before or during his shooting spree. Authorities believe he drove a group to a Fairfield Inn Marriott before popping over to the Cracker Barrel restaurant where he shot four people.
Authorities are investigating reports that Dalton accepted other fares during the spree. One second-hand account is circulating on social media, where a Facebook post alleges Dalton was “driving VERY erratically” while “acting completely normal” as he “sideswiped a vehicle” and busted down the street at 80 mph. This incident reportedly took place early Saturday evening.
BREAKING: We've talked to woman who posted about bad Uber driver before shooting. Doesn't want to comment right now. pic.twitter.com/XLyF9cPCrW
— Luke Stier (@LukeStier) February 21, 2016
Other social media users report catching a ride from Dalton on Saturday evening or on other occasions.
#KalamazooShooting murderer last night picked my boy @IamKeithBlack up last night in his @Uber. @wwmtnews @CNN pic.twitter.com/5NVEzkNYov
— Kamp (@LeftySmooth) February 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/sarareii/status/701427635931496449
https://twitter.com/iamnyonce/status/701420041930145792
Uber is cooperating fully with authorities and says Dalton passed a background check. The company’s chief security officer, Joe Sullivan, published a statement on the Uber website:
“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.”