Police: 'Stoic' Kalamazoo suspect admits to killings

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[h=4]Police: 'Stoic' Kalamazoo suspect admits to killings[/h]Uber driver arraigned on charges of shooting and killing six random people, injuring two.

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Jason Dalton was charged with six counts of open murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, and eight counts of felony firearm after a shooting spree left six dead. VPC


Jason Dalton, 45, of Cooper Township, Mich., appeared Feb. 22, 2016, via video in 8th District Court in Kalamazoo, Mich., for an arraignment on six counts of open murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and eight counts of felony firearms use.(Photo: Michael Anthony Adams, The Indianapolis Star)


KALAMAZOO, Mich. —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Stoic, cooperative and conversational: That's how police describe Jason Dalton's demeanor when they say the Uber driver<span style="color: Red;">*</span>admitted to killing six people and wounding<span style="color: Red;">*</span>two others<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in a Saturday-night<span style="color: Red;">*</span>shooting spree.
But they still<span style="color: Red;">*</span>have<span style="color: Red;">*</span>no idea what<span style="color: Red;">*</span>caused the 45-year-old married father of two<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to fire<span style="color: Red;">*</span>at least 30 rounds<span style="color: Red;">*</span>across three<span style="color: Red;">*</span>crime scenes Saturday night from a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, shooting victims ranging from 14 to 74 years old.
"We're not any closer to motive than we were the day of the incident," Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas said Monday after Dalton's arraignment on six murder charges and 10 other felony counts. "He's had no (prior) police contact for any reason under the sun. By all accounts, he's an average guy, with a family, and leading an average life."
USA TODAY
Uber driver charged with 6 murder counts: What we know




The Indianapolis Star reported Monday evening that Dalton had attended<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Eastern Hancock County Junior and Senior High School from seventh<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to ninth grades, according to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Eastern Hancock High School Principal<span style="color: Red;">*</span>David Pfaff.
Pfaff said he<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was the school's football coach when Dalton played running back as a freshman in 1985-86. Dalton's family moved to Michigan at the beginning of his sophomore year in August 1986, Pfaff said.
Dalton was a promising athlete who played football, ran track and wrestled, Pfaff said.
"He was a good boy, really," Pfaff said. "He<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was never any trouble."

This image provided by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office shows Jason Dalton of Kalamazoo County. Dalton was arrested early Feb. 21, 2016, in downtown Kalamazoo following a massive manhunt after several victims were shot at random.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office via AP)

Dalton's family went public Monday, condemning his<span style="color: Red;">*</span>alleged actions and offering their condolences for the victims and their families in a statement to the Free Press.
"This type of violence has no place in our society, and we express our love and support for everyone involved. We intend to cooperate in<span style="color: Red;">*</span>every way that we can to help determine why and how this occurred," according to the statement, which said the family is in "shock and disbelief" and "devastated and saddened" for those affected.
His eyes nearly invisible<span style="color: Red;">*</span>behind his glasses' frames, Jason Dalton sat motionless Monday when<span style="color: Red;">*</span>arraigned.
An hour earlier,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Kalamazoo police Det. Cory Ghiringhelli<span style="color: Red;">*</span>testified to a judge that Dalton, 45, admitted to police "that he took people's lives" on Feb. 20.
"These were random, unprovoked attacks," Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting later said. "Beyond that, we're doing the best we can to figure it out."

Officer who spoke at Kalamazoo shooting hearing: Jason Dalton admitted under Miranda "he took people's lives."
— Robert Allen (@rallenMI) February 22, 2016​

Dalton<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of Cooper Township near Kalamazoo faces<span style="color: Red;">*</span>16 charges, including six murder counts, two counts of assault with intent to murder and eight counts of felony firearm. Officers in Dalton's probable cause hearing say an eyewitness who picked Dalton out of a photo lineup<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and video surveillance are among evidence against him.
Dalton, who appeared in Kalamazoo County District Court by video conference, was given a<span style="color: Red;">*</span>court-appointed attorney and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>held without bail. He's scheduled for a pre-exam conference March 3 and a preliminary examination —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>where evidence against him is to be presented —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on March 10.
Dalton,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was arrested about 12:45 a.m. Sunday when a Kalamazoo County sheriff’s deputy spotted a car matching the description of the shooter’s vehicle exiting a parking lot at a downtown Kalamazoo bar. The deputy stopped the car and the man was arrested peacefully. A semi-automatic handgun was found in the car.
"The Kalamazoo community is reeling from these senseless acts of violence that took so many innocent lives from us," Getting said. "And our hearts are saddened for all of the victims, their families and friends who are dealing with this on a much more personal level. We are reaching out to these victims and offering all the resources of the Prosecutor's Office to help them at this very difficult time."
Authorities identified six victims Sunday: Mary Jo Nye, Barbara Hawthorne and Judy Brown<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of Battle Creek; Mary Lou Nye of Baroda; and Richard and Tyler Smith<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of Mattawan.
Monday evening<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a<span style="color: Red;">*</span>14-year-old girl<span style="color: Red;">*</span>who was wounded was identified as Abigail Kopf by her<span style="color: Red;">*</span>parents,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Gene and Vicki Kopf of Battle Creek,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>at a news conference at Bronson Children's Hospital in Kalamazoo.
"My daughter is not dead," said Vicki Kopf.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"She is alive and she is fighting for her life. I want everybody to understand that. Abigail is strong<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and she is a vibrant, beautiful, young lady. And she did not deserve this."
The eighth victim, Tiana Carruthers, remains in serious condition; she was identified by the Kalamazoo County prosecutor in charging documents at Dalton's arraignment on murder charges.

Gene and Vicki Kopf read a statement in front of local news media at Bronson Children's Hospital in downtown Kalamazoo Monday night regarding the condition of their 14-year-old daughter, Abigail Kopf. Abigail is fighting for her life after being shot during the Kalamazoo County shootings this weekend.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Al Lassen/For the Enquirer)

Baroda resident Mary Nye, 62, was one of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>four women fatally shot<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in a Kalamazoo-area<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Cracker Barrel parking lot Saturday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>by<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Dalton<span style="color: Red;">*</span>as a part of a seven-hour random shooting spree, police said. She had been visiting with her sister-in-law, Mary Jo Nye, as well as<span style="color: Red;">*</span>friends Barbara Hawthorne, 68, Judy Brown, 74, and Kopf.
The group returned to their vehicles Saturday after eating at Cracker Barrel and taking in a show at<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Miller Auditorium when they were gunned down.
Nye, who has been referred to in news reports<span style="color: Red;">*</span>as Mary Lou,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a longtime branch manager for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the Michigan Secretary of State.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>A co-worker of Nye's for about eight years, Benton Harbor resident<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Beulah Walker, said she was "a beautiful person," one who knew her job well and did it with a kind heart.
"I want people to know in Baroda, they lost a very beautiful and kind person and so did we," Walker said, sniffling between her sentences. "We weren’t there all the time with her but we know she cared about the way we performed. She was just a beautiful person. Those who didn’t get to know her, they missed it."
For years, Mary Jo Nye, 60, would visit her father every week at his Michigan retirement home.
Her fiance, Charlotte resident<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Lynn Wagner, said when they would drive back home, the couple<span style="color: Red;">*</span>had to drive down a certain road to catch a glimpse of Lake<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Michigan. Wagner said as a little girl, Nye's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>family —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>complete with seven children —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>would take trips to the great lake.
When Wagner wanted to know why they had to take a different route going back home, her answer showed how the lake held a special place in her heart.
"And she said, I have to look at the lake because when I can see the lake, I know that everything is OK," Wagner said.
Nye, who was sitting in the driver's seat of a Chrevolet Cruze in the Cracker Barrel parking lot,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was remembered as a<span style="color: Red;">*</span>dedicated English teacher and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"an integral part of" founding Calhoun Community High School,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>working on its original charter, and retiring<span style="color: Red;">*</span>from the school about four years ago, CCHS Assistant Director Tara Egnatuk said.
"She became like a mother to a lot of kids," she said.
On Monday, several of Nye’s former colleagues remembered her, in statements provided by the school, as a passionate<span style="color: Red;">*</span>educator who had a wonderful sense of humor and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>went the extra mile to help students. Even after retiring, Nye continued to work with kids through private tutoring.
“She cared about kids and did anything she could to help them,” said Brian Demlow, who worked with Nye for about 10 years. “She did a lot of things for other people, both students and staff alike. She will be missed."
Seventeen-year-old Tyler Smith and his 53-year-old<span style="color: Red;">*</span>father, Richard, were killed at the Seelye Kia of Kalamazoo dealership on Stadium Drive about 10 p.m. Saturday, the Mattawan Consolidated Schools superintendent confirmed Sunday.

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Tyler Smith and his dad Richard were shot while they were at a car dealership, the second stop in a shooting rampage in Kalamazoo, Michigan. VPC

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tyler and his family, friends and the community," Superintendent Robin Buchler said in a statement Sunday.
Smith was a high school senior,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Buchler said.
Buchler did not have further information on Smith's father. She said Tyler "was a great kid" who was taking marketing classes at the Van Buren Technology Center.
"He had an easy smile," Buchler said.
Chris Keenan, the owner of Portage-based Kingdom Sports, said Tyler used to play for the organization’s soccer teams and worked as a referee last year.
Keenan, who was his soccer coach, told the Battle Creek<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Enquirer that Tyler was a strong and fast athlete who played offensive positions.
“He was a very talented soccer player, number one,” Keenan said. “A<span style="color: Red;">*</span>great teammate to everybody on the team and just, I think, at the end of the day, an exemplary young man. You could see his potential. You could see that he, both on and off the field, had potential."
Tyler's mother and Richard's wife, Laurie Smith, posted several heartfelt messages on her Facebook page.
She wrote Richard was<span style="color: Red;">*</span>her "best friend, my rock and I'm lost without you." Of her late son, Laurie said "I am so grateful to have been blessed with a sweet, caring, witty, handsome boy for almost 18 years."
"Laying in bed trying to comprehend what has happened in the past 24+ hrs...wishing its all a bad dream and they'll be here when i wake up," Smith wrote on her Facebook wall. "I want to thank everyone for the unbelievable outpouring of care, concern, love, prayer , meals, help....and everything that you've shown me and my family. I am numb....I don't know what to say or do and so i wanted to make sure everyone knows how much we appreciate everything...because I am often not thinking clearly and may not say it when i should."
An online fundraiser to support the Smith family had already received more than $5,000<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in donations as of Monday evening.
Barbara Hawthorne, 68, was in the backseat on the passenger's side of Mary Jo Nye's car when she was killed, police said.

Abigail Kopf, left, and family friend Barbara Hawthone. Abigail was critically wounded in Saturday's random shootings in Kalamazoo; Hawthorne, who Abigail called "Grandma Barb," was shot to death.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Provided)

Vicki Kopf said Hawthorne, known as "Grandma Barb," was a grandmother figure to Abigail, despite no blood relation. They had done things together "ever since she was a baby," Kopf said, and began attending musicals together when she got older. Hawthorne had an infectious laugh and "gave wonderful hugs," Kopf said.
In a statement Sunday night, Kellogg Co. Chairman and CEO John Bryant said Hawthorne had worked for the company for 22 years. She retired in 2008, he said.
“We are deeply saddened by these tragic events and brokenhearted to learn that one of the victims, Barbara Hawthorne, belonged to our Kellogg family," Bryant said in the statement.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"She retired in 2008 after 22 years of Kellogg service. Our thoughts and prayers are with Barbara’s family and friends, as well as all of the victims of this crime and their families."
Contributing: Jennifer Bowman,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Dillon Davis<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Safiya Merchant, Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer, and Vic Ryckaert, The Indianapolis Star.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Follow Robert Allen and Katrease Stafford on Twitter: @RAllen and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>@KatreaseS_freep

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGSMan details harrowing ride with Michigan suspect | 00:50An Uber passenger says he called the police to report an erratic driver more than an hour before authorities allege the driver began shooting people at random, killing six and wounding two others before being arrested. (Feb. 22) AP

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGSMom 'numb' after losing son, husband in Kalamazoo shooting | 01:28Tyler Smith and his dad Richard were shot while they were at a car dealership, the second stop in a shooting rampage in Kalamazoo, Michigan. VPC

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGSUber becomes focus of Kalamazoo killings | 01:44The suspect in the Kalamazoo shooting spree was an Uber driver and allegedly took fares the night of the shootings.

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGSKalamazoo shooting: What we know about the suspect | 00:49Jason Dalton is accused of killing six people and injuring two others in a random shooting spree across Kalamazoo, Michigan.

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGSKalamazoo shooting suspect faces arraignment | 02:37Authorities say Jason Dalton had no criminal history prior to Saturday's shooting spree across Kalamazoo, Michigan. He is accused of killing six people and critically injuring two others.

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGSProsecutor: Kalamazoo shooting suspect showed no emotion | 01:02Jason Dalton was described as cooperative and non-combative following a deadly shooting spree that killed six people and left two others critically hurt in Kalamazoo, Michigan. VPC

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGS6 killed in Kalamazoo, Michigan shooting spree | 00:44Jason Dalton is accused of killing six people and critically injuring two others, including a mother who was shot in front of her children. VPC

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGS'Random' shooting spree leaves 6 dead In Kalamazoo | 00:50Police arrested 45-year-old Jason Dalton after a brief car chase. A weapon was found in his vehicle. Newslook

KALAMAZOO DEADLY SHOOTINGSNeighbors: Kalamazoo suspect a good family man | 01:19Gary and Sally Pardo, neighbors of Jason Dalton of Cooper Twp., who is suspected of killing six people in Kalamazoo on Saturday night, speak to the Detroit Free Press. Andraya Croft, Special to the Free Press





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