Suspected Kalamazoo Mass Shooter Faces 6 Counts Of Murder

02/23/2016

A memorial is seen at the Cracker Barrel in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016.

• Jason B. Dalton charged with six counts of murder, could face life in prison if convicted
• Suspect confessed to shooting while in police custody
• 14-year-old victim still "fighting for her life"
• Investigators have no motive in shooting

KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- A ​gunman who authorities say killed six people and wounded two others on Saturday evening ​during an hourslong rampage was charged Monday with six counts of murder.
Jason B. Dalton, a 45-year-old Uber driver, was arraigned Monday at the Kalamazoo County Courthouse. He was denied bail, and sat expressionless during the hearing. In addition to the murder charges, which carry sentences of up to life in prison, Dalton faces two counts of attempted murder and eight felony gun charges.
Kalamazoo was terrorized on Saturday by the string of shootings. When asked Monday whether he had any comments he wanted to make with regard to his ties to the community, Dalton replied, "I would prefer just to remain silent."

Dalton waived his right to avoid self-incrimination and confessed to police that "he took people’s lives," Kalamazoo Public Safety Detective Cory Ghiringhelli testified Monday. 

Michigan State Police Detective Chuck Christensen told reporters after the arraignment that Dalton was "very stoic, very matter-of-fact" while talking to police after his arrest. "There was not a lot of reaction."

The shooting victims are four women who were killed in a Cracker Barrel restaurant parking lot, and a father and his teenage son who were killed while looking at cars at a dealership. Authorities have said the victims were randomly targeted. 

The first shooting occurred around 5:40 p.m., when a woman was shot outside of a townhouse as she walked with two children. There was a gap of about five hours before the father and son were killed at the Kia dealership. Shortly after that, the four women were killed at the restaurant, and a 14-year-old was gravely injured. The teen's "prognosis is uncertain as she continues fighting for her life," her parents said in a statement released Monday afternoon.
Police arrested Dalton on Sunday and said they found a semi-automatic handgun in his SUV. Surveillance footage from the car dealership helped police identify his vehicle.
Dalton, a married father of two, had no prior criminal record.
So far, authorities have not found a motive for the attacks. 
"He had no record. He wasn’t on any of our radars," Kalamazoo Undersheriff Paul Matyas told The Huffington Post. "We’re trying to determine what’s going through his mind."
Officials are now focused on the secondary parts of the investigation, including nuances of the shootings, and the roughly four-hour time gap between the first and second shootings, Matyas said.

The FBI has offered its resources to the investigation, Matyas confirmed, adding that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is helping determine how Dalton acquired his weapon. Matyas noted it's likely that the firearm was obtained legally.

Several people have said that they used Uber to get a ride from Dalton in between shootings on Saturday, not knowing that he was possibly involved in the attacks. Matyas said this information was not relevant to the ongoing murder investigation. 

Uber has said that Dalton passed its background check for new drivers, but Saturday's shooting reopened debate over how thoroughly the ride-hailing company screens drivers.

Story continues below photos.

The parking lot of the Cracker Barrel on Monday.

The memorial outside the Cracker Barrel

The Meadows townhome complex in Kalamazoo County was the first of three locations struck during a deadly mass shooting on Saturday night. Resident Tiana Carruthers was shot while outside her townhome.

Authorities say suspected shooter Jason B. Dalton fired at least eight rounds outside one of the townhomes Saturday night.

A playground at the Meadows townhome complex is seen on Monday Feb. 22, 2016.

Roughly 300 people gathered at St. Augustine Catholic Cathedral in downtown Kalamazoo at noon on Monday for a special mass dedicated to the victims.

Rev. Paul Bradley, bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, called for comfort and healing for the victims, as well as for Dalton and his family.

"This tragedy will not have the final world," Bradley said during the service. 

Bradley told HuffPost he was "inspired" by the Kalamazoo community’s response to the shooting.

"It’s terrifying what happened here," Bradley said. "The reaction, it’s been shock and distress. It hasn’t been anger or vengefulness."

A typical midday mass normally attracts about 50 people, Bradley noted.

Dolores Axe was among the attendees at the service and told HuffPost that she has known Dalton, a longtime friend of her son, for years. She learned around 3 a.m. Sunday that Dalton was suspected in the deadly shootings and "couldn’t believe it," she said.

Peter Rizzo and his wife drove past the Cracker Barrel just moments after the shooting there. He said he felt compelled to attend the midday vigil.

"It was almost like Christmas trees out there," Rizzo said of the cluster of emergency vehicles lit up. He didn't stop at the restaurant because of the activity.

"It scares me something like that happened. I thought, 'It could be me.' It could be anywhere," he said.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in the wake of the mass shooting. Dalton on Monday was charged with six counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Community members gather at St. Augustine Catholic church on Monday afternoon for a special mass dedicated to the victims of Saturday's deadly shooting.