Fulton County

Father shot and killed visiting son at college; felon wanted in Fulton County arrested

By Michael Seiden, WSB-TV
By Michael Seiden, WSB-TV

FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A suspected killer accused of shooting and killing a father inside an upstate New York hotel was also wanted in Fulton County on felony drug and weapons charges.

Channel 2′s Michael Seiden has learned that Roy Johnson Jr., 35, was indicted on charges of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Devin Taylor, 26, was indicted on charges that included two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Just before 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 2, Johnson came into the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel on South Road in Poughkeepsie, where he was staying with Taylor.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Johnson, dressed in a green jacket, green “boxer-type” shorts and a black balaclava, which is similar to a ski mask, over his head and face, was armed with a loaded semiautomatic pistol outfitted with a fixed pin to make it fully automatic.

He was cursing and yelling as he paced around the lobby near a barista bar, prosecutors allege.

Johnson approached the front desk clerk and attempted to make his way around the desk. The clerk put out his arm to stop him. Johnson turned away, walked toward the seating area near the front door, took out his pistol and shot 53-year-old Paul Kutz, the parent of a Marist College student, court documents allege.

Kutz was hit on the right side of his chest and died within minutes, according to court documents.

TRENDING STORIES:

When Johnson, who was arrested on drug and gun charges in 2020, failed to appear at a July court appearance in Fulton County, the Fulton County D.A.’s office immediately notified investigators who entered arrest warrants in the national crime database.

Jeff DiSantis, a spokesman for the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ office, sent the following statement to Channel 2 Action News:

“This office indicted the defendant early this year and an arrest warrant was entered into the national database by the Fulton County Sheriff’s office before the murders in New York State. We expect defendants with Fulton County warrants to be arrested by other jurisdictions when they are located by law enforcement, as we do when those with warrants from other jurisdictions are located by law enforcement here. While we cannot speak to the specifics of decisions made by law enforcement in New York State regarding this defendant, we are ready to offer any assistance we can as they seek justice for the victims and their families.”

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Channel 2 reached out to authorities  in New York, but they declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Trial begins for Clayton Sheriff Victor Hill

©2022 Cox Media Group

0

Most Read