Kalamazoo killer stopped in gun store before shootings

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WJBK) - Employees at Southwick's are still shaken up Tuesday after realizing the man behind the Kalamazoo murders stopped into the store hours before his shooting spree.

Shooter Jason Dalton stopped into the gun shop in Plainwell, Mich., with a friend on Saturday. He purchased a black jacket meant to give clear access to the firearm but can also be zipped to conceal it, said owner Jonathan Southwick.

Dalton, 45, has been arraigned on 16 charges for killing six people and injuring two others Saturday night, including a 14-year-old girl still in critical condition. While police said Dalton admitted to the shootings, they have not yet confirmed his motive.

"The person in here was friendly. I never would have thought he would end up doing something like that," Southwick said.

Employees said Dalton was a regular costumer that had always been friendly. On Saturday, Southwick said Dalton had been joking with the manager and even gave him a one-arm hug.

"There was nothing that stuck out about him that was different than the hundreds of other customers we had in on Saturday," he said, adding that when employees wished Dalton a good day on Saturday, the shooter replied he was having a good day.

Southwick said he gave surveillance photos of Dalton to police.