News

Actions

Couple called 911 to report Uber driver prior to shooting spree

Posted at 10:48 PM, Feb 21, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-21 22:48:57-05

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Before Jason Dalton allegedly shot and killed six people Saturday night in Kalamazoo County, witnesses say they saw a man jump out of the 45-year-old Uber driver's vehicle.

Jamie and Kacey Black say they saw a man hop out of the car in front of their home near Iroquois Trail and Nichols Road Saturday afternoon.   The man told them the driver wasn't letting him out and was driving erratically.

The couple said they contacted 911 to report the incident, but say their call wasn't taken seriously.

"I felt like they didn't believe me.  They just kind of laughed at me," Kacey said.

Facebook post

Facebook post

Kacey said when she turned on the news Sunday morning after the shooting spree, she recognized the car that left the black skid marks in her road at about 4:30 p.m. the day before.

A social media post Saturday evening identifies Dalton as an Uber driver who was driving erratically in Kalamazoo in the time just before the shootings started.

Police say Dalton's shooting spree began at about 6 p.m. Saturday evening at Meadow Townhomes, where one woman was shot and sustained serious injuries.

A little over four hours later,  Dalton allegedly opened fire at Seelye Kia Dealership, killing Richard Smith and his 17-year-old son Tyler while they looked at cars.    Fifteen minutes later, at about 10:30 p.m., officials say Dalton shot five people in the parking lot of the Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Texas Township.

Four of those people died.  A 14-year-old girl is currently hospitalized with critical injuries.

Dalton was arrested at about 12:40 a.m. near Ransom and Porter streets in Kalamazoo.    He's currently lodged at the Kalamazoo County Jail and is expected to be formally charged Monday in connection with the killings.