Jason Brian Dalton

Jason Brian Dalton was born on June 22, 1970, and was raised in Greenfield, Indiana. He attended middle and high school in the Charlottesville area before later relocating to Michigan. Dalton graduated from Comstock High School in Kalamazoo in 1989. He went on to attend Kalamazoo Valley Community College, where he earned an associate degree in law enforcement in December 1992, although he did not complete police academy training.

Dalton later attended WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming, studying automotive and mechanical work. His employment history included work as a mechanic, insurance adjuster, and delivery driver. Despite his law‑enforcement education, Dalton was unable to secure a career in policing and remained in civilian employment throughout his adult life.

In 1995, Dalton married Carole Dalton. The couple had two children together and lived in Cooper Township, Michigan. Prior to 2016, Dalton was generally described by neighbors and acquaintances as quiet, polite, and reserved. However, some coworkers later reported incidents of anger and unprofessional conduct, particularly during his time working as an insurance adjuster.

In early February 2016, Dalton began working as a driver for Uber. According to the company, he passed all required background checks. In the days leading up to the shootings, some individuals who knew Dalton reported that he appeared increasingly depressed and paranoid, though there was no documented criminal history or diagnosed mental illness on record prior to the attacks.

On the evening of February 20, 2016, Jason Brian Dalton carried out a series of shootings across Kalamazoo County, Michigan, in what became known as the Kalamazoo shooting spree. The attacks occurred at three separate locations over several hours and resulted in six deaths and two serious injuries.

The first shooting occurred at approximately 5:42 p.m. EST in the parking lot of the Meadows Townhomes complex in Richland Township. A 25‑year‑old woman, Tiana Carruthers, was shot four times in the arm, back, and legs. She survived by playing dead while her five children escaped unharmed. Investigators later determined that Dalton may have gone to the complex in response to a botched Uber pickup request involving a corrected address.

Following the shooting, Dalton fled the scene, ran a red light, struck another vehicle, and left without stopping. Emergency responders later found the wounded victim and transported her to the hospital.

After the first shooting, Dalton met briefly with his wife and children at his parents’ home. He falsely claimed that he had been attacked by an angry taxi driver and gave his wife a handgun for protection. He instructed her not to go to work or take the children to school. Dalton then left the residence, withdrew cash from an ATM, changed firearms at his home, and continued accepting Uber rides without incident.

At approximately 10:08 p.m., Dalton arrived at the Seelye Kia dealership on Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo. After parking his vehicle, he approached two people—17‑year‑old Tyler Smith and his 53‑year‑old father Richard Smith—and opened fire without provocation. Both victims were fatally shot multiple times.

Witnesses in a nearby parking lot observed Dalton fleeing and contacted emergency services.

Roughly ten minutes later, Dalton arrived at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Texas Township, about five miles from the dealership. At approximately 10:24 p.m., he approached two vehicles in the parking lot and opened fire. Four women—Mary Jo Nye, Mary Lou Nye, Dorothy Brown, and Barbara Hawthorne—were killed. A 14‑year‑old girl, Abigail Kopf, was critically wounded but survived after multiple surgeries.

Dalton fled the scene and returned home again to reload his weapon.

Law enforcement quickly recognized that the shootings were connected and identified a dark‑colored Chevrolet HHR as the suspect vehicle. At 12:40 a.m. on February 21, 2016, Dalton was stopped by police after dropping off Uber passengers near Western Michigan University. He was arrested without resistance. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing a bullet‑resistant vest and carrying a handgun.

Dalton later confessed to the shootings.

On February 22, 2016, Dalton was arraigned on sixteen felony charges, including six counts of murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, and eight firearm‑related charges. He underwent psychiatric evaluations and was found competent to stand trial.

Although his defense team initially planned to pursue an insanity defense, Dalton rejected that strategy. On January 7, 2019, he pleaded guilty to all charges in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court. On February 5, 2019, Dalton was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Dalton remains incarcerated at the Oaks Correctional Facility in Michigan.