Police ID Suspects, Victim In Fatal 'Family Weekend' Hotel Shooting

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Police have released the names of two suspects arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at a hotel near the Marist College campus over the school's family weekend celebrations.

Meanwhile, police said that there are no indications that any schools, including Marist, were being targeted for an attack. During a search of the hotel after the shooting, manuals related to the making of explosive devices, as well as materials with the potential to be used as explosives were found in a room, according to police. While explosive components were found, officials said there were no working explosive devices.

The New York State Police bomb Squad secured the material and the ATF was alerted, according to authorities.

A 53-year-old father of a Marist student from Long Island was the sole casualty of the gun violence at the crowded hotel on Sunday morning. The victim killed in the shooting has been identified by the Poughkeepsie Journal as Paul Kutz.

Police identified the two suspects taken into custody as 35-year-old Roy A. Johnson Jr. and 26-year-old Devin M. Taylor.

Johnson was charged with one count of murder and one count of criminal possession of a weapon. He was remanded to Dutchess County Jail with no bail.

Taylor was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. He is being held at the Dutchess County Jail on $500,000 cash or 1 million dollars bond.

The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department said they received a 911 call, around 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, about a disturbance at the Courtyard Marriott located on South Road. During the phone call, it was reported that shots had been fired, as guests were fleeing the property.

Johnson and Taylor were taken into custody by members of the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department. Kutz was found wounded at the hotel. He was rushed to MidHudson Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

"This is a terrible tragedy that has occurred and we extend our prayers to the family and friends of the victim, as well as the entire Marist College community," Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, who was at the Courtyard Marriott scene Sunday, said in a statement. "Dutchess County Emergency Response has been on site throughout the day working hand in hand as part the Unified Command Post. We will continue to provide support to law enforcement as well as the District Attorney's Office as the investigation of this tragedy continues and the responsible party is brought to justice."

Police said that investigators do not believe that, prior to the shooting, Johnson and Taylor knew the man who they are accused of killing.

Dutchess County Emergency Response and Marist College assisted with transporting guests from the scene. All guests and staff have since been relocated from the hotel.

"Sunday morning, authorities made us aware of the tragic, fatal shooting of a parent of a Marist student at a local hotel several miles from campus," Anthony Proia, Marist's Director of Media Relations told Patch. "Our deepest condolences go out to the family, and we are offering the full support of the Marist community. We remain in contact with local authorities and will keep our community informed with any updates."

The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, Village of Wappingers Falls Police, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms, the Arlington Fire Department, Mobile Life, Emstar, the Red Cross, the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office, Marist College and the Dutchess County Executive’s Office all responded to the active shooter situation at the hotel on Sunday.

SEE ALSO:

• Marriott Evacuated, Shooter In Custody, 1 Dead In Poughkeepsie
  
• 2 Arrests, 1 Dead, Evidence Of Bomb-Making After Hotel Shooting