On February 21, 2016, Uber driver Jason Dalton was arraigned for six counts of murder. Two of the counts were based on the intent to commit murder and eight felony firearm counts in connection with a shooting spree that left six people dead on February 20 at 6 p.m. in and around Kalamazoo, Michigan.  

Before the shooting began, Dalton visited a gun store before picking up his Uber passengers. He purchased a tactical jacket in the gun store and the attacks began at 6 p.m. when Dalton shot a woman four times at an apartment parking lot. Four hours later, he shot and killed a father and son who were sitting in their cars at a Kia car dealership around 10 p.m.

He then drove to a Cracker Barrel restaurant and opened fire in the parking lot, killing four people and critically wounding a 14-year-old girl.

After the shootings, Dalton called his wife, Carol, and asked her and his kids to meet him at his parent’s home. When they got there, he told them that the Chevy Equinox that he was driving for Uber had been swiped on the side by another vehicle, and he took his parent’s Chevy HHR to continue picking up passengers. Before Dalton left, he told his family to stay put at his parent’s house, according to Paul Vlachos, Dalton’s defense attorney.

Later, once authorities had arrested Dalton, the authorities came to Jason’s parent’s house, having found their address on their Chevy’s registration.

The reason of this horrendous act has remained unclear. Dalton started driving for Uber within two weeks prior to the crime, spending many of his evenings picking up fares. Before Uber, he was employed as an insurance adjuster for State Farm.

Vlachos denied reports that Dalton’s family was experiencing financial troubles. Moreover, Dalton never had trouble with the law before and passengers gave him a 4.73 out of a 5 rating.

“We just can’t figure out the motive,” said Hadley, the public safety chief. “There’s nothing that gives us any indication as to why he would do this or what would have triggered this. The victims did not know him; he did not know the victims.”

This shooting was a great tragedy to many. Citizens of Michigan sent their condolences to those who have lost their lives in the shooting spree.