Kzoo police ID suspect in deadly random shootings

TEXAS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) – Police have identified the suspect in a series of random shootings that killed at least six people.

Police said Sunday morning they have 45-year-old Jason Dalton in custody.

Officers were searching his Douglas Avenue home, located north of Kalamazoo around 5 a.m. Sunday.

Chief Jeff Hadley with the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety said there is no longer a danger or threat to the community.

Lt. Dale Hinz said the man and his vehicle match the description of the getaway vehicle, a black Chevrolet HHR, and the suspect who fired shots at three locations.

Kalamazoo County Undersheriff Paul Matyas said their was a weapon inside the suspect’s vehicle, but he didn’t put up a fight when he was pulled over and arrested at Ransom Street in Kalamazoo around 12:40 a.m. Sunday.

Matyas said the gunman was randomly confronting people and shooting them.

“This is your worst case scenario,” Matyas said early Sunday morning.

The investigation began around 5:45 p.m. Saturday at the Meadows Townhomes parking lot in Richland Township, where police said a woman was shot several times.

Matyas said she was outside with her three children when she was wounded. She was in serious condition as of early Sunday morning, Matyas said.

Reports said about three hours later, police were then called to Seelye Kia dealership located at 3820 Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo. Matyas said three people were shot at the dealership; a father and son died from their injuries. The third victim was in critical condition early Sunday morning.

Around 10:20 p.m., officers were called to the parking lot of a nearby Cracker Barrel restaurant where police said five people were killed, including a 14-year-old girl.

Hadley told 24 Hour News 8 an 8-year-old girl was also killed outside the restaurant.

Matyas said the suspect got out of his car at the Cracker Barrel and had a brief conversation with people in two other cars before firing into both vehicles.

A red car towed from the scene had two rear windows shot out and a bullet hole through the windshield on the driver’s side. A white van also taken from the scene had the driver’s side window and middle window on the passenger’s side shot out.

Gunfire was then reported around 12:30 a.m. Sunday at OP Avenue and 6th Street in Texas Township, near the Cracker Barrel.