Poughkeepsie shooting: What we know, what we don't about killing of Marist parent
Many questions remain about how a Marist College parent was killed in a shooting at a hotel a few miles from campus during "family weekend," and why the suspects had bomb-making materials in their room.
Here's what we know and what we don't know about the incident in the town of Poughkeepsie.
What we know
The shooting took place around 7:30 a.m. Sunday at the Courtyard by Marriott at 2641 South Road, also known as Route 9.
Paul Kutz, 53, died after being shot in the chest and torso.
Roy Johnson, 35, was arrested at the hotel and charged with murdering Kutz with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. He was also charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Devin Taylor, 26, was also arrested at the scene and charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for allegedly possessing a loaded .223-caliber rifle that had no serial number.
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Johnson and Taylor did not know Kutz, police said.
Johnson and Taylor allegedly had bomb-making materials and manuals in their hotel room, though no explosives were found.
Johnson and Taylor are being held at the Dutchess County Jail and are scheduled to appear in Poughkeepsie Town Court on Friday, Oct. 7.
The case was scheduled to be brought before a grand jury on Wednesday, Oct. 5.
City of Poughkeepsie police said Johnson was present at the fatal shooting of Darren Villani in the city on Aug. 9. City Detective Lt. Matthew Clark said they had been hearing "third hand through sources that he had been moving from motel to motel in different states after the Villani homicide. We had no information he was back in the Poughkeepsie area."
Johnson is also wanted in Fulton County in Georgia, where he is facing felony charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, according to Fulton County records. Court records show that Johnson failed to attend a scheduled court appearance there on July 12.
What we don't know
Why Kutz was shot. Town of Poughkeepsie police said they responded to a 911 call about a disturbance and shots fired, but they have not commented on what led to the shooting. Police said they have "no information indicating that there was an argument between Roy Johnson Jr. and anyone in the lobby of the Courtyard Marriott at the time of the shooting. At this point of the investigation, the shooting appears to have been unprovoked."
Why Johnson and Taylor allegedly had bomb-making materials and manuals in their hotel room.
Where Johnson and Taylor live. Records provided by the police and court indicate both men are homeless. Johnson's last known address is in Hyde Park and Taylor's last known address is in the Town of Poughkeepsie, police said. "As far as we can establish, they are mostly transient and there is not a fixed address for either," police said.
How long Johnson and Taylor had been staying at the hotel and why they were there. Dutchess County said it does not work with that Courtyard by Marriott for any housing services.
If Johnson and Taylor will face federal charges, as well.
Matt Spillane covers breaking news throughout the Hudson Valley. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @MattSpillane. Check out our latest subscription offers here.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Marist parent shot: What we know about Courtyard by Marriott killing
