Roy Johnson: Man who killed Marist dad Paul Kutz with stray bullet fired 30 rounds during rampage
Warning: This content contains a recollection of crime that can be triggering to some readers. Discretion is advised.
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK: A 35-year-old man, Roy Johnson, was arrested for gunning down Paul Kutz, a 53-year-old Long Island father who was visiting his son in Poughkeepsie at Marist College for the annual family weekend, DailyMail reports.
According to the New York Post, Johnson is accused of firing a loaded, working Glock Model 17, with a stray bullet striking Kutz in the heart, lungs, and liver. It is reported that the killer fired as many as 30 shots during the brutal incident.
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It is revealed during the indictment that Johnson allegedly entered a Mariott hotel lobby on Sunday, October 2 wearing a black ski mask. A newly released indictment also suggested Johnson came “yelling and pacing in the lobby, near the barista bar." Meanwhile, according to NBC, Johnson has a history of criminal charges and possesses an active arrest warrant. Johnson was already labeled a criminal fugitive by the sheriff's office in Fulton County, Georgia. This was because he allegedly skipped court after his arrest on felony gun and cocaine dealing charges. The sheriff's office claims an arrest warrant in his name can be seen on the national database.
However, in August, he was considered the suspect in a gang-related murder. The 35-year-old criminal remained free in the streets for months due to which another life was lost. "There may absolutely be a good reason why the arrest wasn't made, but as a result of not effecting that arrest, there was a loss of life, so there has to be an explanation as to why the arrest was not effected," said Wilbur Chapman, the former NYPD chief of patrol.
Meanwhile, according to the new indictment, it says, “The bullet perforated the right top lobe of Mr Kutz’s liver, the lower lobes of both lungs, as well as his aorta, and fractured his left seventh rib and exited his back." The indictment also suggested Devin Taylor, the second suspect, had more weapons and accessories than previously known, reported NBC. The 35-year-old was also charged with possessing a ghost gun AR-15 rifle. The investigators were able to find scopes, rifle parts, flash bangs, and bomb manuals and Taylor also possessed a handgun.
According to the indictment, Police had found “improvised munitions handbooks,” ammunition, “one model fbg6 flash bang” and a smoke canister in the suspects’ hotel room, reports New York Post. It was also revealed that an unidentified third party had booked the room for Taylor. A funeral was held for Kutz Monday at St Anthony of Padua Church in East Northport. Kutz is survived by his wife, Natalie Kutz and three sons, reports News 12 The Bronx.
Johnson now faces second-degree murder for intentionally discharging his gun and having a loaded semi-automatic 9 mm gun and Taylor faces a pair of weapons charges for allegedly having a P-22 and an A-R style rifle that had a collapsible stock but no serial number.
As previously reported by MEAWW, the violence inside the hotel happened after one of the suspects, Johnson, got into an argument with some of the workers at the hotel at 7.30 am in the morning on Sunday, October 2 when he pulled the trigger and unfortunately struck Kutz. Police Chief Joseph Cavaliere has described it as a "random act." Kutz was taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital in Poughkeepsie, but he was declared dead. Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro spoke to CBS and said, "Two individuals that are in custody are known to law enforcement, having no association with the parent of a student that we are aware of, and we do not believe that it is affiliated or associated with activities at Marist."