Kalamazoo Shooting Spree Investigation News Expected
KALAMAZOO — For the first time since she and seven other people were shot in a shooting rampage in the Kalamazoo area three weeks ago, a photo of Abigail Kopf was released Sunday, March 13.
The photo posted on her GoFundMe page shows 14-year-old Abigail holding hands and laughing with her sister as they lay together in Abigail’s bed at a Grand Rapids rehabilitation facility
It’s a ray of light in a tragedy that has hung over Kalamazoo for weeks. At one point, it looked like Abigail would not live after being shot in the head. But less than a month later, she can laugh and talk.
Kopf is one of two survivors of the Feb. 20 shooting spree. The other survivor, Tiana Carruthers, is also in rehab. Her family has been private about her progress. Witnesses say she shielded children from the bullets.
Six people were killed in the shootings:17-year-old Tyler Smith, 53-year-old Richard Smith, 62-year-old Mary Lou Nye, 60-year-old Mary Jo Nye, 74-year-old Dorothy Brown and 68-year-old Barbara Hawthorne.
The case remains under investigation.
Monday afternoon, the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is expected to release a 100-page report said to include information gathered from interviews with the shooting suspect, Jason Dalton.
The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office says it will release DVDs from the investigation on Monday morning. It’s not yet clear what they will show — it could be anything from surveillance video to dash camera footage.
The family of the victims have yet to hear of any possible motive. Investigators believe the gunman chose the victims at random.
Dalton is undergoing a mental health exam to determine if he is fit for trial.
Source: WOOD