Real estate agent killed firm's owners before taking own life: cops

July 2024 · 3 minute read

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A New York real estate agent fatally shot his former bosses at an upstate office building before taking his own life during an ensuing cop chase, according to reports and state police.

Barry K. Stewart, a 55-year-old former realtor at BridgeView Real Estate Services in Watertown, died at a hospital Wednesday after the “armed and dangerous” suspect shot himself in his gray Ford F-150 in Dickinson during a manhunt, state police said.

Troopers were searching for Stewart for allegedly gunning down the company’s co-owners, identified by state police as Maxine Quigg, 50, of Wellesley Island, and Terence O’Brien, 53, of Black River.

Watertown cops, state police and Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies responded to the real estate office at about 2 p.m. Wednesday, WWNY reported.

Stewart had previously worked at the company and left in March, the station reported.

Watertown Mayor Jeff Smith called the killings “unspeakable, senseless tragedy.” Courtesy of WWNY

Watertown police confirmed to The Post that Stewart was a former employee.

“We are still investigating leads to see what his motivation was for the murder,” Detective Lt. Joseph Donoghue said in an email.

Maxine Quigg was one of two victims killed in the attack. Bridgeview RE Services

Donoghue did not respond when asked if Stewart left the company of his own accord or had been fired.

“We are not discussing the motive at this time,” Donoghue said.

Terence O’Brien was also killed, at the age of 53. Facebook

Stewart, of Carthage, had worked in real estate for nine years, according to his profile on Realtor.com. It’s unclear why he left BridgeView, and a call seeking additional comment was not immediately returned early Thursday.

Quigg and O’Brien were the co-owners of BridgeView Real Estate Services, according to its website.

Watertown Mayor Jeff Smith said the pair were two of the “nicest, most decent, generous and community-minded” people he knew while acknowledging Wednesday’s workplace shooting.

“This is an unspeakable, senseless tragedy, where two innocent people were gunned down in a vicious act of violence,” Smith said in a statement. “My heart breaks for Maxine and Terry, their families, friends and our entire community, who I know share in my disbelief that this could happen here in Watertown.”

Stewart’s Facebook page shows he studied at the University of Tampa and had worked at real estate agency Keller Williams. He also retired from the US Army after 25 years of serving in both enlisted and officer ranks, according to his Realtor.com profile.

A manhunt for Stewart lasted several hours. NY State Police

“My focus is on taking the best care of my clients possible, protecting my clients, and doing business ethically,” the profile reads. “I have extensive expertise helping individuals and couple cleaning up credit issues.”

Stewart also retired from the US Army after 25 years of serving in both enlisted and officer ranks. NY State Police

A manhunt for Stewart started in Watertown and lasted several hours before ending in Dickinson, where he shot himself as troopers tried to pull him over on Route 11B, state police said.

Troopers searched for Stewart for allegedly gunning down the company’s co-owners. Courtesy of WWNY

“Guns were drawn by the cops,” one Watertown resident, Toni Murray, told WWNY. “Literally, I could see the whole street was nothing but cops.”

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