A tranquil day in Watertown, New York, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 53-year-old Terence M. O’Brien. On April 28, 2021, O’Brien, a real estate agent, was fatally shot at his place of work, Bridgeview Real Estate Services. The incident, which also resulted in the death of his colleague, Maxine Quigg, sent shockwaves through the community.
The perpetrator was identified as Barry Stewart, a 55-year-old former agent at the same real estate agency. After the shooting, Stewart fled the scene in his pickup truck, prompting a widespread alert from law enforcement who considered him armed and dangerous. A witness at the real estate office had locked herself in a bathroom and called for help, stating that Stewart was there and had shot everyone.
A chase ensued, and a State Police K9 unit eventually spotted Stewart's vehicle. As authorities attempted to pull him over in the town of Dickinson, Stewart drove off the roadway. When police approached the vehicle, they found him inside with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was later pronounced deceased at a hospital.
The community mourned the loss of O'Brien and Quigg, who were remembered as dedicated and professional real estate brokers. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear, but the tragic event left a lasting scar on the quiet city of Watertown. With the suspect deceased, the investigation into the double homicide and suicide concluded, leaving a community to grapple with the senseless loss of two of its members.
