Long Island father shot, killed in upstate NY hotel lobby while visiting son at Marist College
NEW YORK - The victim killed in a shooting at a Marriott Hotel in Poughkeepsie over the weekend has been identified as Paul Kutz, 53, a father of three from East Northport in Suffolk County on Long Island.
Neighbors described Kutz as an absolutely amazing father on Tuesday as his family asked for privacy and peace to process an unimaginable loss.
Kutz was gunned down Sunday morning while visiting his son during Family Weekend at Marist College.
"When we moved in he was quick to come over and introduce himself," said neighbor Erik Jensen. "He was a great neighbor."
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Those who knew the accountant and father of three knew how much he loved spending time with his family.
"He was always with his kids," Jensen said. "They were always playing ball on the front lawn. Can’t believe it."
Police say the shooting was a random act. Kutz was standing in the lobby of a Courtyard Marriott not far from campus when he was shot.
Initial reports said that some homeless men were arguing in the lobby when shots rang out. However, Poughkeepsie Police on Wednesday said authorities have no indication that the accused shooter was arguing with anyone in the lobby.
"At this point of the investigation, the shooting appears to have been unprovoked," police said in a Facebook post.
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The suspects have been identified as 35-year-old Roy Johnson Jr. and 26-year-old Devin Taylor, both of whom have prior criminal records. Police referred to them as "homeless" because detectives could not determine if they have a "fixed permanent home address."
"As far as we can establish, they are mostly transient and there is not a fixed address for either defendant," police said.
The suspects were not housed at the hotel as part of a county program, according to Dutchess County Department of Community Family Services Commissioner Sabrina Jaar Marzouka.
"The two suspects, named by the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department in connection with the Oct. 3 shooting tragedy at the Courtyard by Marriott in Poughkeepsie, were neither known as Department of Community and Family Services clients nor placed in that hotel by Dutchess County," Marzouka said in a statement. "Dutchess County DCFS does not work with the Courtyard by Marriott for any housing services."
Johnson is now facing murder charges, while Taylor has been charged with possession of a weapon.
Police recovered a Glock pistol, a so-called ghost gun, bomb-making materials, and manuals, authorities said.
At this point, it's unclear how long the suspects were staying at the hotel or if they had any possible motives.
"If any of these parents knew there were homeless known murder suspects in the hotel, no one would’ve stayed there," Marist parent John Bucsek, whose hotel room wasn’t far from the suspects', said. "It just rips your heart out, being a parent you think about what led to this. What’s to prevent this from happening?"
In a statement, Marist officials send their support and deepest condolences to the family. Both men are being held, and are scheduled back in Poughkeepsie Town Court this Friday.