Dad visiting son Marist College family weekend upstate New York shot dead caught in the crossfire
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A father visiting his son on a special family weekend at Marist College was shot dead when he was caught in the crossfire as bullets flew into the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott hotel where he was staying.
Paul Kutz, 53, was caught in the chaos of the hotel shooting in Poughkeepsie.
The violence started suddenly after a suspect got into an argument with employees at the hotel while getting coffee in the lobby at 7:30 AM on Sunday morning.
Two homeless men with gang ties were arrested after the shooting, with police reporting that they had found bomb-making equipment and a “ghost gun” rifle in one of the hotel’s rooms.
Paul Kutz, 53, was visiting his son at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York for Family Weekend, was fatally shot in the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott hotel Sunday morning
ATF responded to the hotel on Sunday after materials ‘used to make explosives’ were found at the scene following the deadly shooting
Monday afternoon the hotel was still closed and guests staying at the Courtyard hotel were still not allowed to return
Devin Taylor, 26, has been named as a suspect in the case and was a suspect in a previous murder case and mugger. A second suspect was identified as Roy Johnson Jr., NBC reported.
One of the gunmen was found to be in possession of a magazine with a large capacity of 30 bullets.
Johnson, 35, is believed to be the Courtyard Marriott shooter and was charged with murder; both men face criminal gun charges. Johnson is accused of shooting Kutz in the chest.
Kutz was rushed to MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said both Johnson and Taylor were staying at the hotel, but it was not clear how long they had been there.
After the shooting, the hotel was searched, after which investigators found materials that could be used as explosives, along with instructions for making a bomb, including Tannerite, which is used in long-range target practice and explodes on impact, Police Chief Joseph Cavalier said. .
Senior law enforcement officials revealed that the suspected shooter has a Glock switch on his pistol that turned it into a fully automatic weapon.
The weapon was found on top of the suspect’s car, while a second weapon was located in one of the hotel rooms.
“Two individuals in custody are known to police and have no affiliation with the student’s parent to our knowledge, and we do not believe they are associated with or associated with any activity at Marist,” said Marc Molinaro, director of Dutchess County. until CBS.
Poughkeepsie Police Chief Joseph Cavaliere has declined to say what prompted the shooting at the hotel. He said Johnson and Taylor Kutz . didn’t know
It is not known what the suspects intended to do with the material. The hotel was evacuated while the building was searched.
Monday afternoon the hotel was still closed and guests who had stayed at the Courtyard hotel were still not allowed to return.
The shooting happened just as the college was celebrating its family weekend.
On weekends, students invite their families to the school for sports and entertainment, among many other activities.
“I was very scared because my family came all the way from St. Louis and I feel terrible for the family. It’s terrible,” freshman Henry Merli told CBS.
It is unknown what the group intended to do with the found weapons and bomb-making materials. The hotel was evacuated while the building was searched
There was a significant police presence outside the hotel on Sunday and Monday
‘My mother came to visit. It was just scary because it could have been anyone,” added freshman Jack Oakley. “It could have been a bad incident with that bomb thing.”
The college later released a statement:
“Yesterday, authorities informed us of the tragic, fatal shooting of a parent of a Marist student at a local hotel several miles from campus,” a Marist spokesperson said in a statement.
“Our condolences go out to the family and we offer the full support of the Marist community. We will stay in touch with local authorities and keep our community informed of any updates.”
Marc Molinaro, director of Dutchess County, told WCBS: “Two individuals in custody are known to law enforcement, they have no relationship with the parent of the student we know, and we do not believe it is affiliated with or associated with activities at Marist. .’