KALAMAZOO, Mich – Authorities with the Michigan State Police are revealing new details of what Kalamazoo rampage suspect Jason Dalton said he did the day he’s accused of killing six people and wounding two others in February.
The interrogation with Dalton happened more than 10 hours after his early morning arrest near downtown Kalamazoo, the second interview with police following the February 20 rampage.
Authorities with Michigan State Police say Dalton told them a feeling overcame his body that afternoon, leading him to go to his basement and prepare several of this guns, which he placed in a black bag.
It wasn’t long after authorities say Dalton told them he got into his Chevy Equinox with his dog and went to pick up a Uber fare by the name of McKinny at the Meadow Townhomes apartment complex.
Authorities say Dalton told police he made contact with a woman at the apartment complex when he arrived, Tiana Carruthers, who told Dalton she wasn’t McKinny.
Dalton told police he initially drove off, then came back to the area and asked Carruthers again if she was McKinny. Authorities say Dalton told them at that point he pointed a gun at Carruthers and began pulling the trigger, emptying the entire magazine.
Authorities say Dalton claimed he knew he had killed Carruthers, asking police “How could you survive that many gunshots?”
Authorities say Dalton told them he left the apartment complex, then later shot and killed Tyler Smith and his father Rich Smith, who were looking at vehicles at a car dealership off Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo.
Authorities say Dalton told police he then picked up another Uber fare and dropped that person off at a bar. It was after that fare that Dalton told them he made his way to the Cracker Barrel restaurant.
Authorities say Dalton told them he approached a woman in a white van outside the restaurant, asking her if she could “spare a dollar to make America great again.”
Authorities say Dalton told them the woman said she did not have a dollar, which he responded by shooting her and several others inside the van. Authorities say Dalton also recalled shooting a young girl in the head.
Authorities with the Michigan State Police say Dalton expressed periodical remorse and sadness during the interrogation process.
