TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE – Roy Johnson Jr., the 35-year-old suspect accused of killing Paul Kutz in the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in the Town of Poughkeepsie, used a Glock 9mm handgun that was modified to fire as an automatic weapon. The pistol was equipped with a magazine capable of holding 30 rounds of ammunition.
A modern sporting rifle, resembling a military-issued rifle, was also recovered at the scene. Police declined to say if it was a “ghost gun” lacking a serial number.
A witness said that Johnson was in the lobby of the hotel on Sunday morning and was involved in an argument with a hotel employee. Johnson allegedly drew his pistol and began firing, striking 53-year-old Paul Kutz in the chest and leg. Kutz, a Long Island accountant, was staying at the hotel with his wife Natalie to visit their 18-year-old son, a freshman at Marist College.
The victim was not an intended target, according to Town of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Joseph Cavaliere. The chief held a news conference on Monday to provide a limited amount of information regarding the homicide and investigation.
Johnson was remanded to the Dutchess County Jail without bail on felony charges of murder and criminal possession of a weapon for the October 2nd incident. He previously served 12 years in prison for felony robbery and burglary convictions. He was released in August of 2018.
The second suspect in Sunday’s homicide, 26-year-old Devin Taylor, was charged with two felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon. He was sent to the Dutchess County Jail on $500,000 cash bail, $1 million bond, or $5 million partially secured bond.
