Key events in fatal MI shooting rampage

Detectives believe that Uber driver Jason Dalton shot eight people, six fatally, in a string of shootings around Kalamazoo on Saturday night.

Tuesday, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said murder suspect Jason Dalton, 45, doesn’t have a history of mental illness.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) – The Uber ride-hailing service acknowledged Monday that it received complaints about erratic driving by the suspect in the random shootings that killed six people in Kalamazoo, and a prosecutor said the man admitted carrying out the attacks.

“These were random, unprovoked attacks”, Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said after the arraignment. Authorities said that on Sunday, they were investigating whether Dalton, who worked as an Uber driver in the area, had been transporting passengers on the night of the deadly rampage.

Dalton was arrested Sunday in Kalamazoo.

The Dalton family said in a statement: “There are no words which can express our shock and disbelief, and we are devastated and saddened for the victims and the families of the victims”, Michigan State Police said the shooting began at about 5:30 p.m. (2230 GMT) on Saturday with a woman wounded outside an apartment building. He reportedly shot his victims at a townhouse development, outside an auto dealership, and in the parking lot of a chain restaurant.

Kristen Moore, a University of MI math professor and member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said the shootings could be a “tipping point” to get lawmakers and the public to embrace a “need to do more”.

The store owner said he plans to turn over surveillance footage to authorities of Dalton’s final purchase.

“We looked through the records, we’ve never sold him a gun”, said Mike Westra, manager of Southwick’s gun shop in Plainwell. Our heart continues to go out to the families of the victims from the shooting.

Carlos Osorio/AP Kalamazoo gunman Jason Dalton in court Monday, where he was charged with killing six people. A spokesman from the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said there is no indication that Mr Dalton was prohibited from possessing the weapons.

“He loved to do things outside with his kids” like taking them for rides on his lawn tractor, Block said.

Southwick said Dalton bought a jacket with an inside pocket designed for a handgun Saturday, just hours before the rampage. A 14-year-old girl survived with a head wound and was hospitalized in critical condition.

Dalton’s wife and children were unhurt, authorities said.

Meanwhile, heartbroken Kalamazoo residents gathered Monday at St. Augustine Cathedral for a Mass in memory of the victims: Richard Smith, 53, his 17-year-old son, Tyler, both of Kalamazoo; 60-year-old Mary Jo Nye of Battle Creek; her 62-year-old sister-in-law Mary Lou Nye of Baroda; 68-year-old Barbara Hawthorne and 74-year-old Dorothy Brown, both of Battle Creek.

Dalton hung up, and then started driving erratically, Mellen said.

Sullivan said Uber is cooperating with police and has Global Positioning System tools that might help the investigation.