HERKIMER, N.Y. — Authorities in Herkimer County say they have yet to uncover the motive behind yesterday's rampage at a car wash and a barbershop that left four people dead. The suspect in the shootings was shot and killed in a firefight with police Thursday morning.
Kurt Myers, 64, was killed Thursday by police who had surrounded a block of small businesses in the village of Herkimer since Wednesday afternoon.
Trooper Jack Keller says police went into the building around 8 a.m. He says the shootout occurred in the basement, where Myers shot a police dog. Keller says police returned fire, killing him.
At a press conference, New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico told reporters that there was only preliminary information available on a possible motive on Myers, who he said was known as a, "loner," who had little contact with his family.
Herkimer County District Attorney Jeff Carpenter said while the community will need time to recover from the shootings, he was grateful for the cooperation between local, state, and federal officials that ended the nearly 19 hour standoff.
Myers' rampage started with a fire in his apartment in the nearby village of Mohawk on Wednesday morning. They say he then shot two people dead and wounded two others at a barbershop around the corner before killing two more at a Herkimer oil change and car wash business.
Hours later, a flurry of gunfire was heard near where police had narrowed their search.
A college and schools were locked down, and people told to stay inside as police hunted Myers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
