Accused Michigan Uber driver’s outbursts halt court hearing

Dramatic outbursts in court by accused Kalamazoo, Michigan, gunman Jason Dalton caused one of his victims to cry hysterically on the stand this morning, an emotional moment caught on camera.

Tiana Carruthers, the first of eight victims allegedly shot by Dalton on Feb. 20, testified this morning in court.

Dalton, wearing an orange jumpsuit, raised his voice during Carruthers’ testimony, ranting about people with “black bags.”

Carruthers appeared overwhelmed with emotion as Dalton spoke. She then began to weep.

Judge Christopher Haenicke scolded Dalton, telling him to whisper to his attorney if he needed to speak.

But Dalton continued talking.

Carruthers was so distraught that she couldn’t continue to answer the prosecutor’s questions.

Deputies then grabbed Dalton and forcibly removed him from the courtroom after a struggle.

A recess was called, and the hearing resumed later in the day, with Dalton appearing via video from the Kalamazoo County Jail.

Dalton, who worked as an Uber driver, is accused of killing six people and injuring two others in a February shooting spree that police have called “completely random acts of violence.”

First, Carruthers was shot in a Kalamazoo parking lot.

Later the same night, a father and son were shot dead at the Seelye Ford KIA Dealership in Kalamazoo.

Dalton then allegedly approached two cars in a Cracker Barrel restaurant parking lot and shot five people, police said. Four people died.

Last month Dalton was found mentally competent to stand trial, and today’s hearing was expected to determine if there was enough evidence to move Dalton’s case to trial court, The Associated Press reported.

When today’s hearing resumed in the afternoon, Dalton appeared via video with officers holding down his shoulders. Carruthers identified Dalton through the video, saying, “I can never forget his face.”

Carruthers described seeing Dalton’s car coming toward her and said she yelled at the children on the playground to run. She said she tried to run but didn’t get anywhere. She also testified what it was like when the first bullet hit her arm.

“I could never forget anyone who shot me,” she wept.

Dalton’s attorney Eusebio Solis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.