Kalamazoo Shooting Suspect Jason Dalton Charged With 6 Counts Of Murder Ahead Of Arraignment

UPDATE: 4:06 p.m. EST — A prosecutor in Kalamazoo, Michigan, told the Associated Press Monday that Jason Dalton, a 43-year-old Uber driver, has admitted to killing six people and critically injuring two in a series of drive-by shootings this weekend. Prosecutor Jeff Getting said Dalton confirmed "his involvement."

Dalton was charged earlier Monday with murder, felony firearm and assault with intent to commit murder.

UPDATE: 2:50 p.m. EST — Jason Dalton, the main suspect in the Saturday night shooting in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was arraigned shortly before 3 p.m. on six murder charges, among others. He appeared in court via video.

Dalton's bail was denied, and his next appearance was scheduled for March 3.

Original story:

Jason Brian Dalton, the 45-year-old Uber driver arrested this weekend in connection with a chain of shootings in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was charged Monday with six counts of open murder, eight counts of felony firearm and two counts of assault with intent to commit murder. He was due to be arraigned Monday afternoon.

“The filing of formal charges is the first step in the judicial process,” Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting said in a news release announcing the charges. “The Kalamazoo community is reeling from these senseless acts of violence that took so many innocent lives from us, and our hearts are saddened for all of the victims, their families and friends who are dealing with this on a much more personal level.”

Dalton was arrested shortly before 1 a.m. EST Sunday after police said he killed six people and critically wounded two others in random drive-by shootings Saturday night. Dalton reportedly picked up and dropped off Uber passengers in between the incidents at a car dealership, an apartment complex and a Cracker Barrel.

Getting told reporters at the time he was “very confident that we have the right person in custody,” according to MLive.com. Officers found a semi-automatic handgun in Dalton’s car Sunday morning.

Among the victims were Mary Lou Nye, 62; Mary Jo Nye, 60; Dorothy Brown, 74; Barbara Hawthorne, 68; Tyler Smith, 17; and Richard Smith, 53. A mother and a 14-year-old girl were in serious condition Monday.

“These were very deliberate killings. This wasn’t hurried in any way, shape or form,” Getting told CNN Monday. He added: “There isn’t a connection that we’ve been able to establish between any of the three victim groups with each other, any of the three victim groups with the defendant.”

Dalton has no criminal history, according to the Detroit Free Press. His motive was unclear.

Neighbors told the Press Dalton worked as an insurance salesman, was married, had two children and “liked guns.”