DEWITT, N.Y. -- The Syracuse man accused of shooting and killing two Chili's employees inside the Erie Boulevard East restaurant early Saturday morning also intended to kill the two survivors, according to District Attorney William Fitzpatrick.
"They were executed," said Fitzpatrick of the two victims, identified by family members as Steve Gudknecht and Kris Hicks. "This wasn't a gunfight or a struggle."
Fitzpatrick said the gun held by William Wood Jr. likely jammed as he was about to shoot the other two people, as they were trying to leave the restaurant.
"By all rights, we should be discussing four homicides," Fitzpatrick said.
Wood, 32, was arraigned Sunday on two counts of first-degree murder and one count of robbery after he was picked up in Fulton. Fitzpatrick said questions remain as to how he got to Chili's and how he fled the scene.
Wood was a former employee and Fitzpatrick said he tried to disguise his appearance but was recognized by the victims. Wood was not believed to be disgruntled; rather, that the motive appeared to be robbery, Fitzpatrick said.