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Local suspect who attacked two employees at Oneida County area metal plant being held on attempted murder and other charges

Published on November 09, 2026

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ONEIDA COUNTY- An attack at an area metal plant resulted in serious injuries for two victims and a suspect is currently in jail on a quarter million dollars bail.
According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Zachery Stowell, 23, of Poland NY was arrested and charged on Sunday with with two felony counts of attempted murder in the second-degree; two felony counts of assault in the first-degree; two misdemeanor counts of criminally possessing a weapon in the fourth-degree; one misdemeanor count of assault in the third-degree and one misdemeanor count of resisting arrest. 
 
These charges have all been filed after Stowell allegedly attacked two employees at the Pratt and Whitney / Homogeneous Metals Inc. plant in the Village of Clayville, NY. 
 
The Oneida County 911 Center received calls from several people shortly before 5:00 p.m. last Friday reporting that an individual had attacked two employees at the plant.
 
Sheriff’s Deputies soon discovered the security guard, Moulay Amrani, 36, of the Utica area, was attacked by Stowell after he successfully brought in a concealed hatchet. 

Police are reporting that before the attack, Stowell was spotted wandering around the facility. Authorities believe that Stowell was looking for someone specifically. 

After a brief interaction with Armani, police say Stowell attacked him, unprovoked, by striking him nine times in the head with the bladed edge of the hatchet, causing significant life-threatening injuries to his skull and brain.  

Armani was airlifted by Mercy Flight to Upstate Medical Center with life threatening injuries.

After attacking the security guard, Stowell then reportedly broke into a cabinet at the guard station and took several swipe cards in an attempt to re-access the plant, but none of the swipe cards worked so he was not able to get back inside the plant from the lobby area.

Stowell then propped both lobby doors open and exited the lobby with the hatchet, where he encountered another employee, Nicholas Sutton, who was walking alongside the building.  

Stowell then allegedly attacked Sutton with the hatchet, striking him four times on the head before Sutton, who was injured and bleeding extensively, was able to defend himself and gain control of the hatchet.

A struggle ensued between the two, where both Stowell and Sutton fell to the ground.

Investigators determined Stowell struck Sutton numerous times with his fists on his head and body in an attempt to get his hatchet back, but was unsuccessful.  

Several other employees who heard Sutton’s calls for help arrived and removed Stowell, who was on top of Sutton while still on the ground.  

These bystanders were able to restrain and hold Stowell on the ground until law enforcement arrived.

Sutton sustained significant lacerations to his head and was transported to Wynn Hospital for treatment, however; since has been released from the hospital.

Members from the Sheriff’s Office and New York State Police, who arrived to assist, detained Stowell, who resisted arrest and subsequently bit a member of the State Police on the thigh area.

The Trooper was treated at Wynn Hospital and released.

Stowell was transported to Wynn Hospital for evaluation and was guarded by members of the Sheriff’s Office.

As of press time, investigators said Stowell was subsequently taken to CAP Court (Centralized Arraignment), where he was arraigned on the charges and remanded to the Oneida County Correctional Facility on $250,000 cash bail, $500,000 Bond, $1 million Security Bond.

OCSO image. 

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