Two Utica-area workers were injured; sheriff says coworkers restrained the suspect.
CLAYVILLE, N.Y. — A Poland man faces attempted murder charges in a Clayville hatchet attack that injured two workers at the Pratt & Whitney/Homogeneous Metals Inc. plant, according to Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol.
Photo supplied by the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office with its release on the Clayville case. Charges are allegations.
The sheriff identified the suspect as Zachery Stowell, 23, an employee of the facility. The reported attack occurred Nov. 6, 2026. Stowell was formally charged and arraigned Nov. 8, according to the sheriff’s release.
Two workers taken to hospitals
Authorities identified the injured workers as Moulay Amrani, 36, and Nicholas Sutton, 34, both from the Utica area.
Amrani, a security officer, was flown by Mercy Flight to Upstate Medical Center with what the sheriff described as “life threatening injuries.” Sutton was treated for head wounds at Wynn Hospital and released, according to the release.
Employees intervened, investigators say
The Oneida County 911 Center received reports at 4:41 p.m. from the plant at 2395 Main Street. Investigators allege Stowell entered carrying a concealed hatchet and later attacked Amrani at the lobby guard station.
According to the sheriff’s account, Stowell then took access cards that failed to unlock the plant and went outside, where he allegedly attacked Sutton. Sutton gained control of the hatchet, and coworkers came to his aid and held Stowell until law enforcement arrived.
Authorities also allege Stowell resisted arrest and bit a state trooper. The trooper was treated at Wynn Hospital and released. Stowell was taken to the hospital for evaluation before being released into police custody Nov. 8.
Charges and arraignment
The sheriff reported the following charges:
- Two counts of second-degree attempted murder.
- Two counts of first-degree assault.
- Two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
- One count each of third-degree assault and resisting arrest.
At centralized arraignment, Stowell was remanded to the Oneida County Correctional Facility. The sheriff listed bail as $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond and $1 million security bond.
The charges are allegations. Stowell is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Sources: Oneida County Sheriff’s Office release; Flack Broadcasting’s Nov. 9 report. Hospital information reflects the sheriff’s announcement.