An Uber driver has pleaded guilty to six counts of murder for a random shooting spree in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2016. Jason Dalton, 48, changed his plea to guilty shortly before his trial was due to begin, despite objections from his lawyer.
Dalton told the judge at Kalamazoo County court that he made the decision of his own free will, adding he had 'wanted this for quite a while'. He had previously claimed the Uber app controlled his 'mind and body', directing him to shoot people at random over a five-hour period in February 2016.
The shootings occurred at three locations on a Saturday evening. At about 17:30 local time, a woman was shot multiple times outside an apartment block, reportedly in front of her children. At around 22:00, a father and son were killed and a third person wounded at a Kia car dealership. At about 22:15, four women were killed and a 14-year-old girl gravely wounded in the car park of a Cracker Barrel restaurant.
Police said Dalton continued to pick up passengers during the spree, though none of the victims were Uber customers. Uber confirmed Dalton was a registered driver and had passed background checks as he had no criminal record. The company said it was 'horrified and heartbroken' at the violence.
Prosecutors said no deal was offered for the guilty plea. Dalton now faces a mandatory life sentence without parole for charges including six counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and eight firearms offences.
