Uber Driver Suspected in Michigan Shootings
Senin, 22 Februari 2016 - 14:24 WIB
Uber Driver Suspected in Michigan Shootings
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MICHIGAN - United States (US) rocked again by shooting terror.The man accused of killing six people and injuring two more in a Saturday evening shooting rampage in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was an Uber driver who picked up and dropped off passengers between shootings. CNN reported, six dead in this terror.
The source, who is not authorized to speak to media, said investigators believe Jason Brian Dalton was even looking for fares after the final shooting of a nearly seven-hour killing rampage. CNN affiliate WWMT spoke to a man who says he was a passenger of Dalton's just before the shootings started.
"We got about a mile from my house, and he got a telephone call. After that call, he started driving erratically, running stop signs. We were kind of driving through medians, driving through the lawn speeding along and then finally, once he came to a stop, I jumped out of the car and ran away," Matt Mellen told the affiliate.
"He was surprisingly calm, I was freaking out," Mellen said.
The ride-sharing company confirmed to CNN that Dalton, 45, was an Uber driver and said he had passed a background check.
"We are horrified and heartbroken at the senseless violence in Kalamazoo. We have reached out to the police to help with their investigation in any way that we can," Uber's chief security officer Joe Sullivan said to CNN.
Michigan State Police said the first shooting was reported at 5:42 p.m., after a woman was shot multiple times in an apartment complex parking lot. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting said the woman -- who was with her three children -- is in serious condition but expected to survive.
Then, more than four hours later, a father and son were shot and killed at a car dealership. Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said the pair were there looking at a vehicle. Authorities identified the victims as Tyler Smith (17) and Richard Smith (53).
Minutes later, at around 10:24, Michigan State Police say Dalton pulled his Chevy HHR into a Cracker Barrel restaurant parking lot and opened fire on a Chevrolet Cruze and an Oldsmobile minivan, killing Mary Lou Nye (62), Mary Jo Nye (60), Dorothy Brown (74) and Barbara Hawthorne (68).
A fifth victim, a 14 year old girl riding in the Chevrolet's front passenger seat, was initially thought to have been killed as well, but is now listed in critical condition, according to the state police.
"Call it a miracle," said Getting. "But she's alive now."
He said all five were together in a group.
After another two hours or so, at approximately 12:40 a.m., police took Dalton, 45, into custody, ending a nearly seven-hour nightmare.
Police seized a semiautomatic handgun from Dalton, whom Getting described as "even-tempered" at the time of his arrest.
"There is just no question more people would have died if (police) didn't find him when they did," Getting said.
The prosecutor later told CNN: "These were very deliberate killings. This wasn't hurried in any way, shape or form."
"They're on video. We've watched the video with law enforcement. They were intentional, deliberate and -- I don't want to say casually done -- coldly done is what I want to say," said Getting.
The cruel randomness of the rampage seemed to rattle officials in the western Michigan city.
"This is your worst nightmare. When you have somebody just driving around randomly killing people," Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas told CNN affiliate WOOD-TV.
"We just can't figure out the motive. There's nothing that gives us any indication as to why he would do this or what would have triggered this. The victims did not know him; he did not know the victims," ," said Hadley, the public safety chief.
Dalton, who has been interviewed by investigators, had no prior criminal record, Hadley said, and was not known to authorities.
"For all intents and purposes, he was your average Joe. This was random," said Hadley.
Getting said he was confident that Dalton acted alone and that there is no connection to terrorism. Formal charges will be brought Monday, he said, when Dalton is expected to be arraigned.
"I would expect six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, six counts of felony firearm, and then we'll see from there."
The source, who is not authorized to speak to media, said investigators believe Jason Brian Dalton was even looking for fares after the final shooting of a nearly seven-hour killing rampage. CNN affiliate WWMT spoke to a man who says he was a passenger of Dalton's just before the shootings started.
"We got about a mile from my house, and he got a telephone call. After that call, he started driving erratically, running stop signs. We were kind of driving through medians, driving through the lawn speeding along and then finally, once he came to a stop, I jumped out of the car and ran away," Matt Mellen told the affiliate.
"He was surprisingly calm, I was freaking out," Mellen said.
The ride-sharing company confirmed to CNN that Dalton, 45, was an Uber driver and said he had passed a background check.
"We are horrified and heartbroken at the senseless violence in Kalamazoo. We have reached out to the police to help with their investigation in any way that we can," Uber's chief security officer Joe Sullivan said to CNN.
Michigan State Police said the first shooting was reported at 5:42 p.m., after a woman was shot multiple times in an apartment complex parking lot. Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeffrey Getting said the woman -- who was with her three children -- is in serious condition but expected to survive.
Then, more than four hours later, a father and son were shot and killed at a car dealership. Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said the pair were there looking at a vehicle. Authorities identified the victims as Tyler Smith (17) and Richard Smith (53).
Minutes later, at around 10:24, Michigan State Police say Dalton pulled his Chevy HHR into a Cracker Barrel restaurant parking lot and opened fire on a Chevrolet Cruze and an Oldsmobile minivan, killing Mary Lou Nye (62), Mary Jo Nye (60), Dorothy Brown (74) and Barbara Hawthorne (68).
A fifth victim, a 14 year old girl riding in the Chevrolet's front passenger seat, was initially thought to have been killed as well, but is now listed in critical condition, according to the state police.
"Call it a miracle," said Getting. "But she's alive now."
He said all five were together in a group.
After another two hours or so, at approximately 12:40 a.m., police took Dalton, 45, into custody, ending a nearly seven-hour nightmare.
Police seized a semiautomatic handgun from Dalton, whom Getting described as "even-tempered" at the time of his arrest.
"There is just no question more people would have died if (police) didn't find him when they did," Getting said.
The prosecutor later told CNN: "These were very deliberate killings. This wasn't hurried in any way, shape or form."
"They're on video. We've watched the video with law enforcement. They were intentional, deliberate and -- I don't want to say casually done -- coldly done is what I want to say," said Getting.
The cruel randomness of the rampage seemed to rattle officials in the western Michigan city.
"This is your worst nightmare. When you have somebody just driving around randomly killing people," Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas told CNN affiliate WOOD-TV.
"We just can't figure out the motive. There's nothing that gives us any indication as to why he would do this or what would have triggered this. The victims did not know him; he did not know the victims," ," said Hadley, the public safety chief.
Dalton, who has been interviewed by investigators, had no prior criminal record, Hadley said, and was not known to authorities.
"For all intents and purposes, he was your average Joe. This was random," said Hadley.
Getting said he was confident that Dalton acted alone and that there is no connection to terrorism. Formal charges will be brought Monday, he said, when Dalton is expected to be arraigned.
"I would expect six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, six counts of felony firearm, and then we'll see from there."
(rnz)
