The father who was struck by a stray bullet while visiting his son during family weekend at Marist College in the northern state was a 53-year-old certified public accountant from Long Island.
Paul Kutz, first identified by the Poughkeepsie Journal, was killed Sunday morning while in the lobby of a local Courtyard Marriott.
The father of three children was shot in the chest and trunk during a fight between two homeless people inside the hotel.
Two male suspects were staying at the hotel and were arrested at the scene. They both have criminal records.
Roy Johnson Jr., 35, accused of pulling the trigger, was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Journal.
Johnson got into a fight with hotel workers and others in the lobby when he opened fire, striking Kutz in what a senior law enforcement official called “a random act,” according to the local NBC-TV affiliate.
He allegedly used a modified pistol with a Glock switch that made it fully automatic and fired more than two dozen rounds, the station reported.
Devin Taylor, 26, was also arrested for possession of a weapon as a second-degree felony for carrying a loaded rifle without a serial number, the Journal reported.
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Investigators searched the hotel room the men shared and found materials that could be used to make explosives, as well as bomb-making manuals.
Investigate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Authorities believe there are currently no threats to the public.
The suspects had smoked a PCP-like substance in their bedroom before the shooting, the senior NBC official said.
Marist College confirmed the death of the student’s father on Monday.
“Authorities informed us yesterday morning of the tragic shooting death of a parent of a Marist student at a local hotel several miles from campus,” a Marist spokesman said in a statement obtained by the Post.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and we offer all the support of the Marist community. We stay in contact with local authorities and will keep our community informed of any updates.
The shooting took place as the school was celebrating Family Weekend, during which students are encouraged to invite their families to sports, entertainment and other activities.
Source: https://wikisoon.com/
