Kurt Myers

Mass Murderer

Kurt Myers and the 2013 Herkimer County Shootings

Overview

Kurt Myers was a 64-year-old resident of Mohawk, New York, who carried out a deadly shooting spree in neighboring Herkimer County communities on March 13, 2013. During a rapid sequence of attacks at a barbershop and an automotive service business, Myers killed four men and seriously wounded two others. He then fled into an abandoned building, where he remained surrounded by law enforcement officers throughout the night. The violence began shortly after Myers deliberately set fire to the apartment where he had been living. Investigators later described the shootings as largely unprovoked, and the people targeted at the two businesses appeared to have been selected because they happened to be present. Myers died the following morning during an armed confrontation with police, ending a manhunt that had placed schools, businesses and residents across the area on lockdown.

Apartment Fire in Mohawk

On the morning of March 13, 2013, Myers started a fire inside his apartment on South Washington Street in Mohawk. The fire was reported shortly before 9:30 a.m. Investigators determined that it had been intentionally set, apparently as Myers prepared to leave the property and begin his attacks. Myers departed in a red Jeep while armed with a Mossberg 590 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Firefighters and emergency personnel initially responded to what appeared to be a residential fire, but the situation quickly expanded into a countywide emergency as reports of shootings began arriving from nearby businesses.

Shooting at John's Barber Shop

Myers first traveled to John's Barber Shop in Mohawk, located only a short distance from his apartment. He had previously visited the shop but reportedly had not been there for several years. When Myers entered, he briefly spoke to owner John Seymour, asking whether Seymour remembered him. Seymour acknowledged that he did, and Myers suddenly opened fire with the shotgun. Two customers, Harry Montgomery and Michael Ransear, were killed. Seymour and another customer, Dan Haslauer, were seriously wounded. Seymour suffered gunshot wounds to his left hand and right hip. Both wounded men were transported to a hospital in Utica and were initially reported to be in critical condition. Survivors and relatives said there had been no argument or confrontation immediately before the shooting. Seymour could identify no dispute that would explain the attack. Myers' calm greeting followed by sudden gunfire contributed to the confusion surrounding his motive. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Harry M. Montgomery 68 yr old Male

Herkimer County shootings