(NEW YORK) -- Police in upstate New York have cornered an armed man they say shot and killed four people earlier Wednesday at local businesses.

New York State police are in a standoff with Kurt Myers, a resident of Mohawk, N.Y., who around 10 a.m. set fire to his home, took a shotgun and drove to two area businesses where he opened fire on patrons, police said Wednesday at a press conference.

Myers is believed to have shot and killed two customers at a barber shop in Mohawk and then driven to a car wash in neighboring Herkimer, where he shot and killed two more people, New York State Police Commissioner Joseph D'Amico said.

Two other individuals were injured during the spree, according to police.

Myers then drove to an abandoned building where he opened fire on police who tracked him to the location, D'Amico said.

Officers shot at Myers but he retreated into the building, where he has been since the morning. State troopers and police officers are positioned outside of the building, police said.

D'Amico cited officer safety as the main reason for the standoff. He said special operation teams and crisis negotiators are on hand.

"We're in no rush to bring this to a conclusion," said D'Amico.

Police do not know if Myers is still alive inside the building.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at an afternoon press conference that there was no obvious rational motive for the spree.

The Herkimer Central School District and Mohawk Central School District were placed on lockdown because of the shooting, according to ABC News affiliate WUTR.  

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio