x
Breaking News
More () »

Kalamazoo shooting suspect 'intentionally' killed victims, officials say

Authorities believe Jason Dalton, the man alleged to have shot and killed six people in a Kalamazoo shooting spree late Saturday, "intentionally" killed his victims.

This story originally was published Feb. 21, 2016.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WZZM) -- Authorities believe Jason Dalton, the man alleged to have shot and killed six people in a Kalamazoo shooting spree late Saturday, "intentionally" killed his victims.

Dalton, 45, has no prior criminal record, said Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting during a Sunday morning news briefing. "He was cooperative. ... He seemed pretty even-tempered," said Getting, speaking of police apprehending Dalton without struggle.

"How do you go and tell the families of these victims they weren't targeted for any other reason than they were there to be a target?" Getty said.

More: Kalamazoo shooting spree: What we know

The terrifying night began around 6 p.m. Saturday when police responded to the Meadows Townhomes complex, located on Kalamazoo's Northeast Side. A woman was shot four times in the parking lot, and she remains in serious condition.

About four hours later, toward 10 p.m., another shooting occurred at the Seelye Kia car dealership at 4102 Stadium Drive. A father and son were shot and killed while sitting in their car.

The scene from the Seeyle Kia of Kalamazoo car dealership, where two people where shot and killed while sitting in their car.

Police then responded to the third and final shooting about 15 minutes later at the Cracker Barrel restaurant near I-94, located west of Kalamazoo. Four people were shot and killed, and a 14-year-old girl is "severely, gravely injured" after being shot, Getting said.

"Call it a miracle," Getting added. "... I'm gonna cross my fingers, say a prayer and hope like hell (she survives)."

Each victim was shot multiple times, he said.

Dalton was arrested at about 12:40 a.m. Sunday at Ransom and Porter streets in downtown Kalamazoo.

Authorities do not believe anyone else is involved. An investigation into the shooting and any possible motive for Dalton's alleged crimes are ongoing.

Several scenes during the Kalamazoo mass shooting spree: the Meadows Townhomes, the Seelye Kia car dealership, a Cracker Barrel resturant and where the suspect was arrested in downtown Kalamazoo.

Sarah Sell, Alex Shabad, Meredith TerHaar and Katie Sakala contributed to this report.

Before You Leave, Check This Out