KALAMAZOO, Mich., Feb. 22 (UPI) — Uber riders picked up by a Kalamazoo, Mich., shooting suspect said the driver drove erratically, while others said he appeared calm between shooting incidents.
The riders said they were driven to their destinations by Jason B. Dalton, 45, either before or immediately after what appeared to be a series of random shootings.
Police arrested Dalton Saturday night and booked him into Kalamazoo County Jail on Sunday. He allegedly killed six people and seriously injured two others.
A man who was a passenger in Dalton’s car prior to the incidents, Matt Mellen, told WWMT-TV, Kalamazoo, of a harrowing ride.
“He introduced himself with a different name,” Mellen said. “We were driving through medians, driving through the lawn, speeding along and when we came to a stop, I jumped out the car and ran away.”
Ellen said he notified police.
After the shootings, Dalton picked up a man, identified only as Derek, and Derek’s wife and in-laws. Derek, visiting from Indianapolis, said they chose to take the 1.5 mile trip by car, instead of walking from a restaurant to a hotel, because they had heard about the shootings.
He said he jokingly asked Dalton if he was the shooter, and Dalton responded only that he was tired. Derek added there was no smell of gunpowder, no stains or weapons in the car, and that Dalton appeared calm.
After the party arrived at the hotel, Dalton drove away, clearly aware of a visible police presence at the hotel, Derek said. Dalton was arrested 20 minutes later.
Dalton did not resist arrest when police found him. A search of his vehicle allegedly turned up a semiautomatic handgun.
Dalton was expected to be formally arraigned in court Monday.
