POUGHKEEPSIE – The prosecution of the man charged with felony murder and his co-conspirator facing felony weapons charges for the Courtyard by Marriott shooting may face additional federal charges according to the DA’s office.
Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matt Weishaupt hinted at possible federal charges against Devin Taylor as a result of the bomb-making materials recovered at the hotel.
Noting that he is consulting with the federal government, Weishaupt said they are working together “To investigate all of the materials and items that have been found during the course of this investigation, and will continue to work with the FBI, the ATF, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York to determine the best course to take as it relates to those items and the defendant involved in this case, Mr. Taylor.”
Roy Johnson Jr. was arrested on felony murder and a felony weapons charge for shooting a random victim at the Courtyard by Marriott hotel on Sunday, October 2, 2022. His co-conspirator, 26-year-old Devin Taylor is facing two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
When the police were searching their hotel room on Sunday, they discovered “materials that could be combined to make explosives” according to Town of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Joe Cavaliere. The chief also said that manuals with instructions for making explosive devices were recovered at the large-scale crime scene.
Johnson, a twice-convicted felon, was remanded to Dutchess County Jail without bail and Taylor was sent to the same jail with a $500,000 cash bail or $1 million bond. The two are due back in town court on October 7, 2022.
