Michigan

Kalamazoo shootings suspect Jason Dalton dragged from court after outburst during victim testimony

(Photo supplied/Kalamazoo County Jail)

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — The Latest on a court hearing to determine if Jason Dalton goes to trial for the fatal shootings of six people in Michigan (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

A 17-year-old girl says she witnessed the shooting of two of the six people who were victims in a series of random killings in Michigan.

Alexis Cornish told a judge that her boyfriend, Tyler Smith, was looking at a pickup truck at a car lot when he and his father were shot on Feb. 20 in the Kalamazoo area.

Cornish says she stayed inside the Smith vehicle while they looked at a truck, partly because it was a cold night. Asked how many shots were fired, she replied: “Enough not to miss.”

A judge is hearing testimony Friday to determine whether Jason Dalton goes to trial for murder and attempted murder. Eight people were shot at three locations. Six died.

Many courtroom spectators wore a button with a picture of the Smiths.

1 p.m.

A woman who survived a series of random shootings that killed six people in Michigan says she’ll never forget the face of the man shot her.

Tiana Carruthers told a judge Friday that it was the man who was arrested in the attacks, Jason Dalton, who shot her four times. She cried on the witness stand, saying, “I hurt every single day.”

A judge must decide if there’s probable cause to send Dalton to trial on charges of murder and attempted murder. Eight people in the Kalamazoo area were shot on Feb. 20; six died.

Dalton was dragged out of court by deputies after loud outbursts earlier during Carruthers’ testimony. After a recess, he watched the hearing by video from jail.

Carruthers says she sees Dalton’s face “every time” she goes to sleep.

11:50 a.m.

A Michigan man accused of killing six people and wounding two others in between picking up fares for Uber will watch a key court hearing from jail when it resumes.

Jason Dalton was dragged out of a Kalamazoo courtroom by deputies Friday morning after loud outbursts and a strange reference to people with “black bags.” Tiana Carruthers, one of the two survivors of the Feb. 20 attacks, sobbed on the witness stand.

A judge must decide if there’s probable cause to send Dalton to trial on charges of murder and attempted murder. The hearing resumes at noon.

Prosecutors say he carried out the attacks in between picking up and dropping off Uber passengers. Police have quoted Dalton as saying a “devil figure” on Uber’s app was controlling him during the shootings.

10:49 a.m.

A judge stopped a hearing after a Michigan man accused of killing six people interrupted the testimony of one of the two people who survived the shooting rampage.

Jason Dalton raised his voice in court Friday and talked about people with “black bags.” Judge Christopher Haenicke called a recess and deputies removed Dalton from the room.

Haenicke must decide if there’s probable cause to send Dalton to trial on charges of murder and attempted murder.

Prosecutors say Dalton gunned down six people and wounded two others in the Kalamazoo area over several hours on Feb. 20. Survivor Tiana Carruthers was testifying at the time of Dalton’s outburst, and she began sobbing.

Police have quoted Dalton as saying a “devil figure” on Uber’s app was controlling him during the shootings. He was driving for Uber that night.

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