Police: Father fatally shot in Poughkeepsie, 2 arrested and explosive material found

Two suspects are in custody after the father of a Marist College student was shot and killed during a parents' weekend this Sunday.

News 12 Staff

Oct 3, 2022, 10:49 AM

Updated 810 days ago

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Two men are in custody after the father of a Marist College student was shot and killed during a parents' weekend this Sunday.
Roy A. Johnson Jr., 35, was charged with murder in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon.  His last known address was in Hyde Park. He is being held in Dutchess County Jail on no bail. 
Devin M. Taylor, 26,  was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.  His last known address was in Poughkeepsie. He is being held in county jail on $500,000 bail. 
Poughkeepsie police say the victim was found fatally shot Sunday morning at the new Courtyard Marriott hotel off Route 9, and explosive material was found in the room of two male suspects in custody.
They say the victim was the parent of a Marist College student as the majority of the hotel guests were in town for the school's Family Weekend.
The Poughkeepsie Police Department received a 911 call of a disturbance at the Courtyard Marriott located at 2641 South Road around 7:30 a.m. Sunday. During the phone call, it was reported that shots had been fired.
Hotel guests told News 12 they dove from their beds onto the floor as they heard gunshots. Within minutes, Poughkeepsie police were on the scene along with state troopers, the Dutchess County sheriff and their emergency response team. "Some officers confronted a person out in front of the hotel and took him into custody. Another suspect then ran into the hotel courtyard and he threw an item and right after he threw an item, surrendered to the officer pursuing him," said Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department Chief Joseph Cavaliere.
Police evacuated the building and searched it from top to bottom to learn as much information as possible about the circumstances that led to the shooting.
Once they checked the suspects' hotel room, the investigation took a different turn. "In the suspects' room, there were materials that could be used to make explosives and some manuals regarding how to put explosives together," Cavaliere said.
Bomb-sniffing dogs and the state police bomb unit were brought in as guests were evacuated to another hotel. Investigators say they did not find any explosive devices.
The names of the victim and the suspects have not yet been released, but police say they do not believe they knew each other.
The American Red Cross was on hand to ensure no hotel guests went hungry while the investigation continued.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro released a statement following the shooting, saying, "This is a terrible tragedy and we extend our prayers to the family and friends of the victim, as well as the entire Marist College community. We will continue to provide support to law enforcement as well as the District Attorney's Office as the investigation of this tragedy continues and the responsible parties are brought to justice."  
Police say there is no threat to either the college or the community. 

Officials say that Johnson and Taylor are expected in front of a grand jury sometime this week ahead of their next expected town court appearance on Oct. 7. 
Officials say each men spent time behind bars on previous convictions. According to the state Corrections Department, Johnson spent time in state prison for first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary out of Dutchess County.
Taylor served time for a burglary conviction out of Dutchess County as well.