This image provided by the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office shows Jason Dalton of Kalamazoo County. Dalton was arrested early Sunday, Feb. 21, 2016 in downtown Kalamazoo following a massive manhunt after several victims were shot at random. (Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
Jason Brian Dalton, 45, becomes the latest white mass shooter to make headlines. Saturday around 6 p.m, Dalton killed six people while working as an Uber driver in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
According to reports from the Associated Press, Dalton had no motive for the killing. The shooter had no method for targeting the individuals involved, and they had no apparent connection to him or to each other in the Saturday night shootings, explained authorities.
The shootings started in an apartment complex and ended at a Cracker Barrel Restaurant where five of his victims died. The AP also reports that Dalton was arrested without incident about 12:40 a.m. Sunday after a deputy spotted his vehicle driving through downtown Kalamazoo after leaving a bar parking lot.
According to WOOD TV8, Dalton worked as an Uber driver and dropped off passengers amidst shootings.
After mass shootings like the one Saturday, Twitter users were quick to point out the racial double standards and lack of vilification of Dalton and other “disgruntled” white mass shooters receive. They tend to be taken in alive, and the media tends to blame mental health issues as a motive for their brutality.
This is how Twitter responded:
I don't want to hear anybody else call this #Kalamazoo killer a "family man." Those dead ppl had families too. I'm so over this…
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) February 22, 2016
I'm still ticked at media folks calling #Kalamazoo killer a "family man." WTH?! And, what does that even mean? Never hear "family woman"…
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) February 22, 2016
Why do lives of innocent victims only matter to GOP if they are murdered by a Muslim killer. I thought #AllLivesMattter?#KalamazooShooting
— Aisha Sultan (@AishaS) February 21, 2016
BREAKING: Jason Brian Dalton joins America's "well-regulated militia" #KalamazooShooting #Kalamazoo pic.twitter.com/87IYrQLKID
— The Baxter Bean (@TheBaxterBean) February 21, 2016
Sociopathy on full display. #Kalamazoo shooter worked as an uber driver, took fares between killing sprees: https://t.co/8dyIriIU3j
— Abby Martin (@AbbyMartin) February 21, 2016
Instead of white cops killing innocent black people they need to trying to stop these white mass shooters. #BlackLivesMatters ✊? #Kalamazoo
— DeMarko Gage 🙂 (@DeMarko_Gage) February 21, 2016
Stop calling Muslims terrorist when white people are doing the mass shootings. That's not fair to the Muslims. #Kalamazoo
— DeMarko Gage 🙂 (@DeMarko_Gage) February 21, 2016
You're right, guns don't kill people. That's why we need background checks, waiting periods, and mandatory training FOR PEOPLE. #Kalamazoo
— MATTY ICE (@MattyIceAZ) February 21, 2016
Americans just died in a shooting by a white male in #Kalamazoo but the leading Republican candidate calls for more guns and to ban Muslims.
— Jacob Vail (@JacobVail1) February 21, 2016
GOP is so quick to scream about muslims being terrorists but when it's white, homegrown terrorism nothing is said #KalamazooShooting
— #BlackGirlsMatter™Ⓜ (@BlckGirlsMatter) February 21, 2016
#KalamazooShooting
If you can find a way to arrest armed white men, you can find a way to arrest unarmed black men.— Timothy Buntley (@TimBuntley) February 21, 2016
Have CNN & Fox brought in the panel of psychiatrists who assess white mass shooters yet? #KalamazooShooting #NotATerroristJustHavingABadDay
— Gord Macey (@GordMacey) February 21, 2016
Muslim shooter=Media circus for weeks ! ,White shooter=It happened!.Move on nothing to see here! #KalamazooShooting pic.twitter.com/vBhDa5uhm5
— Green_Monkey (@RAFX_ME) February 21, 2016
These guys are praying that the #Kalamazoo shooter isn't white. pic.twitter.com/5grfDp6CNa
— Darwin Brandis (@DarwinBrandis) February 21, 2016
If your reaction on hearing a 9yr child was murdered is to defend your rights to guns, you are part of the problem. #Kalamazoo #NoHumanity
— Nicole Lyons (@LithChronicles) February 21, 2016
Myth: "Race and religion are irrelevant."
Reality: Race and religion determine if a mass shooter is a terrorist or "lone wolf."#Kalamazoo
— Khaled Beydoun (@KhaledBeydoun) February 21, 2016
Dalton is expected in court today.
