IN THE wake of the Kalamazoo Uber shootings, many families were devastated.
Jason Dalton fatally shot several victims and their loved ones were left to mourn the lives they lost.
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Who are Uber driver Jason Dalton’s shooting victims?
On February 20, 2016, Jason Dalton fatally gunned down the following victims:
- Tyler D. Smith (17)
- Richard E. Smith (53)
- Mary Jo Nye (60)
- Mary Lou Nye (62)
- Dorothy Brown (74)
- Barbara Hawthorne (68)
That Saturday night, Dalton also shot 14-year-old Abigail Kopf and 25-year-old Tiana Carruthers.
Although both Abigail and Tiana were critically wounded, they survived the attacks.
During the night of the shooting, Dalton rampaged three locations.
The tragedy began with a driveby shooting at the Richland Township apartment complex, followed with gunfire at a Kia dealership in Kalamazoo, as well as a Cracker Barrel in Texas Township.
Tyler and Richard Smith
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Dalton’s first two victims were 17-year-old Tyler Smith and 53-year-old Richard Smith.
When the gunman made his way to his second location, the father and son were shopping for cars at the abovementioned Kia dealership.
Born on April 27, 1998, Tyler’s loved ones remember him for “his huge heart, infectious laugh, silliness, quick wit, and rib-crushing hugs.”
Born on June 9, 1962, his father Richard is remembered for being “the rock for his family, both immediate and extended, and was always there for them whenever they needed anything.
“Everyone who knew him knew of his huge heart as shown.”
Tyler and Richard are survived by their mother and wife, Laurie Sue Smith, sister and daughter Emily, and many extended family members.
While grieving her late son and husband, Laurie Smith told WXMI: “I question how to move forward.
“I miss them more than I can explain in words. Sometimes I wish I could cry but I’ve cried so much that I can’t.
“I know how they would want us to move forward and to be strong and not cry all the time, whenever.
“So I’m just trying to do that but it’s really hard. I want them to remember them for the loving and caring people that they were.”
Mary Jo Nye
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Born on August 14, 1955, 60-year-old Mary Jo Nye was one of the victims gunned down by Dalton at his third and final shooting — a Cracker Barrel in Texas Township.
Mary’s loved ones remember her as “a vibrant, caring, quick-witted, generous, and fun-loving woman, who was…to use her own words…’everyone’s cheerleader.'”
Mary was a retired educator who taught at Calhoun Community High School.
“She was an English teacher, but she was a lot more than that to the students who don’t come from great home lives,” her colleagues said to CBS News.
One of seven siblings, she was raised in Battle Creek, Michigan.
She is survived by her father Charles and her six brothers and sisters.
Mary Lou Nye
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Born on September 5, 1953, Mary Lou Nye was Mary Jo’s sister-in-law; she was also fatally shot by Dalton during his rampage.
Mary Lou is survived by her husband Chris and their one living child.
She is also survived by her sister Roseleah Paradis and Joan Demorest, as well as a grandson named Geoffrey.
Regarding the loss of both his wife and sister, Chris Nye told the Battle Creek Enquirer: “The definition of my wife was loving and the definition of my sister (Mary Jo Nye) is .
“If it had only been my wife that had passed and my sister hadn’t been involved, (Mary Jo) would have been here to help me. That’s just the way we did stuff.”
Dorothy Brown
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Born on January 23, 1924, Dorothy Judy Brown was close friends with both Mary Lou and Mary Jo.
She was a caseworker for Area Agency on Aging, she also worked at Guardian Finance and Advocacy.
In a tribute to Dorothy, her loved ones honored her “as an ebullient, lively personality.”
Dorothy is survived by her two sons, Jeff and Rob Reynolds.
Barbara Hawthorne
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Born on July 26, 1931, Barbara Hawthorne’s life was also cut short at Dalton’s last stop on his shooting spree.
Before she retired, Barbara was both an elementary school teacher and real estate agent.
She is survived by her son Joe, her daughter Jen, her stepdaughter Kathy, and her stepson John.
Barbara is also survived by her many grandchildren and stepgrandchildren.
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