Psycho Killer Goes On A Shooting Spree In Kalamazoo

This story is still a work in progress but still very interesting since the psycho killer happens to be an Uber driver with no criminal history that just snapped and decided to begin killing anybody he came across. The end result so far is 6 dead, 2 injured. It's hard not to think about how this guy is another Travis Bickel in this case but while Travis killed in cold blood, I wouldn't necessarily describe Travis as a "psycho killer." Years ago I visited Kalamazoo and it struck me as Michigan's version of Kenosha, Wisconsin or a place where you just wouldn't expect this to happen. Even if I know a stupid thug who lives around Kenosha. http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/21/us/michigan-kalamazoo-county-shooting-spree/

 

I'm from Kenosha and I resemble that remark.

 

I live 45 minutes north, and regularly work at WMU, which is smack in the middle of the three scenes. Several friends and/or co-workers live in the area as well.

Let's just say there is a lot going on right now, and the endless speculation in the news and online is doing nobody any good. The facts have changed so dramatically since this whole thing started yesterday that it's hard to tell if you're coming or going. For example, when I went to bed at 4am there were 7 dead. When I woke up at 11am, there were 6 dead.

Kalamazoo is a college town. Yes, it's small-town, Norman Rockwell America. But it's also got quite a thriving drug market (and I'm not talking about Perrigo).

As for the suspect... Yeah, he was an Uber driver. So what? He was also an accountant.

 

I wonder if he was perhaps in the military too? I'm just trying to put all the pieces together as to what lead to him becoming a psycho killer?

 

It's been less than 24 hours. His wife and children can't figure it out. Local and state law enforcement can't figure it out. Why should you be able to?

Also, what's up with this "psycho killer" nonsense? Are you privy to some information that no one here is?

 

You obviously need to do your homework. https://sites.google.com/site/psych...hat-are-the-different-types-of-serial-killers

 

Perhaps it is not I who needs to do homework. First, nowhere in that entire article do the words "psycho killer" appear. Second, this sentence *does* appear, right at the end of the first paragraph:

By your own "research", you have proven he is a spree killer. Me, I knew that because I watch Criminal Minds on TV.

Like I said...it's still early in the investigation. Items reported as facts are still being corrected several times a day. The only facts that have not changed are that he has a wife and two children, he has no criminal record, he has no record of mental health issues, and he not only passed the background check to work at Uber, he passed the federal background check to own guns. Anything else is pure speculation. He has given no indication as to why he might have done it. By all accounts, even by those who are seeking their own 15 minutes of fame because he was their Uber driver (or in one case was scheduled to be) have said he acted in a calm, easygoing manner, conducting normal conversation.

 

OK, so you've posted a video of one of my local news broadcasts, which I've already seen. It is one of many, each one convinced their current set of facts is true. That one happens to be from last night's 11pm news.

What exactly is your point here? Every time I ask you anything, you come back with seeming irrelevancies. They canceled their ride. OK, cool. So basically, they had no interaction with him whatsoever. Neither did I, and I rode with an Uber driver Saturday night, too! The horror!

 

By the way, the supposed ride he gave to someone to the hotel next to the Cracker Barrel? Never happened. He shot people at the car dealership 15 minutes before he shot the people at the restaurant. The two locations are about 10 minutes apart. Impossible for him to have gotten a ride request, accepted it and completed the trip unless whoever he supposedly drove was in the car while he was actively shooting people dead.

This is what I'm talking about. Facts...for now. They change with every broadcast.

 

Well they still haven't discovered what his motive was to begin this psychotic killing spree. I can't say I've heard of a case quite like this. Travis Bickel is as close as it gets.

 

i think microsoft forcing him to upgrade to win 10 set him off.

 

Thoughts and prayers for the victims and their families.

Odd he had no record, I would not think mass murder would be your usual first 'crime'. Have no idea why someone would want to kill people that have not done anything to them, or even met them.

 

They said on the news tonight (take that with a grain of salt) that he has given investigators a reason. They won't say what it was, but they did say that even after he told them whatever it was it makes no sense.

 

Bat S crazy maybe?

 

Latest news is he had no mental health issues in the past.

 

That's been the case since about an hour after they arrested him. It's one of the few facts that hasn't changed.

Of course, that doesn't mean he doesn't have mental issues, just that he has no documented history of them. Likewise his lack of a criminal record doesn't mean he hasn't ever done anything wrong.

 

Well I'm waiting for members of the media to dig up the whole life story on him. Mainly to see what he was like in his school years, how he got along with fellow employees and family too. If no dirt is uncovered on this guy, this is one strange case.

 

This was interesting...Really pretty much irrelevant, but interesting just the same.
Suspeted Kalamazoo Shooter Has Unique Connection to Other Accused Killers

It's of particular interest to me, because I also graduated in 1989, and competed in various activities against the kids from Comstock High School. Didn't know any of those three, though.

 

Wow, strange coincidence. I wonder if they kept in touch with each other.

 

I'm kinda hesitant to resurrect this one, but there's new stuff. And clearly he is nuts if you believe him.
Police: Dalton said devil in Uber app controlled him

Or, you know, he's going for an insanity defense, which seems to be what everyone except him and his lawyer believes. Still waiting for the results of his psychiatric evaluation, but nobody really thinks he truly believed the devil was in his Uber app.

 

http://www.whosdrivingyou.org/rideshare-incidents

 

Out of curiosity, is there a site like that for taxi drivers?

 

Been searching ever since (a little over an hour), and no there is not. I did, however, find this:
Are Taxis Safer Than Uber?

Fact remains, this guy had no criminal record. He had no record of mental problems. He'd been driving for Uber approximately three weeks. He passed the federal background check to own multiple guns. You're telling me somehow Uber's background check should be better than the federal one? http://i.imgur.com/d4r8m.gif

By the way, this quote is from the guy who runs the Who's Driving You website:

 

Not trying to be picky, but I have not heard of a federal background check to own 'multiple guns'. Am I missing something? I know some states have lots of additional rules for purchasing guns, but as far as I know, the federal form is a 4473, which allows you to purchase up to 5 firearms. Most FFL (gun stores that can legally sell guns retail) charge a fee for transfering guns, most charge a set fee per 4473 form, some may charge per gun, there is no set law on that fee, it can vary store to store.

4473 form: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/4...n-record-over-counter-atf-form-53009/download

They enter the info into a website or call in the info, and receive a Confirm, Deny, or Hold answer. A hold is usually if your name is similar to a convicted felon or some other reason.

Not that I know anything about buying multiple guns at one time. One is expensive enough.

As far as Uber, I think they use a rider and driver feedback system to try to weed out bad drivers/passengers. I 'think' you can check a potential driver or passengers feedback before agreeing, not sure how that works. Of course, if they kill you, you can't give negative feedback.

 

Sorry, I wasn't clear... He owned several guns legally, and therefore passed the federal background check. I have no idea if he had to do one or 800 background checks, just that he qualified to own firearms. I have a friend who formerly worked for two different taxi companies in town, and is now driving for Uber. He said the background check for Uber was way more involved than either of the taxi companies' were. He doesn't own any guns to my knowledge, so I have no idea how they compare.

This is the list of guns they recovered from his home afterward, which he'd bought at various times over the last several years:

• A .22-caliber Sig Sauer 522 rifle
• A .45-caliber Sig Sauer P220 pistol
• A .40-caliber Israel Military Industries Uzi Eagle pistol
• A .223-caliber Sig Sauer 556 rifle
• A multi-caliber CMMG MK-4 rifle
• A homemade AR-15-type rifle with no markings
• A 12-gauge Ithaca 37 shotgun
• A multi-caliber Anderson Manufacturing AH-15 rifle
• A .223-caliber Rock River Arms LAR-15 rifle
• A .22-caliber Marlin 60 rifle
• 2 Japanese bolt-action rifles
• A 12-gauge Stevens shotgun
• A .40-caliber Sig Sauer P226 pistol

In addition, he used a Glock 19 handgun, a Taurus handgun, and a Walther P99 9 mm during the shooting spree. I assume he had to pass more than one background check if the one you're talking about allows you to purchase up to five.

Yeah, you've got Uber pretty much nailed. Drivers can rate passengers, and passengers can rate drivers. The driver can see which passenger it is, where they are, and where they're going before they accept the fare, but the passenger doesn't get that option. As a rider, you can immediately cancel the ride if it's a driver you don't want (I've done it before) as soon as they accept, but then you have to wait to request another one because odds are good if you do it immediately it'll be the same driver again.

The thing with this guy is, he didn't kill his passengers. The one single complaint about him was by not his passenger, but his passenger's girlfriend who wasn't in the car at the time but was told about it after the ride was over.

 

Hmm, well not a very impressive collection, but the guy did like his Sigs. Interesting he did not use any of his 'assault rifles' on his shooting spree. I don't know how the records are kept or if they are, but a small collection of guns like that could have easily been bought 'face to face' with non retail sellers which in most states does not require any type of background check.

 

According to the news he bought most of them at gun shops, but the news is running about 40% accuracy on this one so who knows. http://i.imgur.com/d4r8m.gif

 

40%? You are optimistic huh? Must be better news where you live.