The Sad, Violent Story Of The Upstate New York Shootout

After killing four people in a shooting spree, Kurt Meyers was killed this morning in a standoff with police.

1. Wednesday morning at around 9:30 a.m., 64-year-old Kurt Meyers of Mohawk, New York sets his apartment on fire.

Firefighters battle the fire at Kurt Meyers’ apartment building at 32 S. Washington St. in the village of Mohawk, N.Y.

Image by Observer-Dispatch, Steve Hughes / AP

2. Neighbors recall Meyers as a recluse who never had guests and never spoke to anyone. He would drink alone at a nearby bar and had no known family. Police will later say his apartment contained numerous guns and ammunition.

This undated photo provided by the New York State Police shows Kurt R. Meyers.

Image by New York State Police / AP

3. After setting fire to his apartment, Meyers drives around the corner to John’s Barber Shop. He walks in carrying a shotgun and asks the owner, John Seymour, “Do you remember me?” Seymour responds, “Yes, Kurt, how are you?” Meyers then opens fire.

The windows of John’s Barber Shop are obscured after Kurt Meyers opened fire inside.

Image by Brett Carlsen / Getty Images

4. Meyers kills two customers, Harry Montgomery, 68, and Michael Ransear, 57. He critically wounds Seymour and another customer, Dan Haslauer. Witnesses of the shooting describe Meyers as methodical and calm.

Image by Brett Carlsen / Getty Images

5. Meyers drives to nearby Herkimer, New York. He enters Gaffey’s Quick Lube and Car Wash and begins shooting. Michael Renshaw and Thomas Stefka are killed.

Gaffey’s car wash in the village of Herkimer, N.Y.

Image by Observer-Dispatch, Rocco Laduca / AP

6. Now that he’s killed four people and wounded two, Meyers breaks into an abandoned storefront in downtown Herkimer and holes up.

A police officer stands in the door of the business where Meyers began his standoff.

Image by Mike Groll / AP

7. Police surround the shuttered bar where Meyers has barricaded himself and exchange fire.

Image by Mike Groll / AP

8. After the initial shootout, a tense standoff sets in. Police are heard using loudspeakers trying to negotiate a surrender. With no response, police send in a robotic camera in an attempt to make contact with Meyers. Meyers remains silent.

Image by Hans Pennink / Reuters

9. The standoff drags on overnight. Local and state police cordon off downtown Herkimer. They use floodlights and horns to try and flush out Meyers.

Image by Michael Hill / AP

10. Early this morning, police attempt to break the stalemate by sending in a K-9 unit. Meyers opens fire. A dog is killed.

Image by Hans Pennink / Reuters

11. In the ensuing gun battle, Meyers is shot and dies.

Image by Hans Pennink / Reuters

12. Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking from Herkimer, described the rampage as “inexplicable.” Said Cuomo, “There was no apparent rational motive, to the best of our knowledge at this time, to provoke these attacks.”

Image by Hans Pennink / Reuters