MONROE, N.C. — A man died and three others were hurt following a shootout early Sunday morning at a Union County motel, police said.
Officers responded around 1 a.m. to the Relax Inn on West Roosevelt Boulevard where they found a man, identified as Vashawn Colston, dead.
[IMAGES: Shootout at Union County hotel]
Terrance Wingo was hospitalized in serious but stable condition after being shot in his arm and back, according to officials.
Police said Christian Cole was in the intensive care unit and was in very critical condition after he was shot in his neck and back.
Investigators told Channel 9 that another man was being questioned at the police department when he realized he was shot in the leg.
Past coverage at Union County Relax Inn
- 4 arrested after man shot, killed outside Monroe motel, police say
- U.S. Marshals say 4 abducted kids safe, father in custody
- Brother, sister arrested after 4 children found in motel without food
- Police arrest man accused of robbing, handcuffing man in hotel
Eyewitness News could see that investigators had the entire parking lot roped off with crime tape, and the crime scene extended through the walkways to one of the rooms on the second floor.
A guest who spoke with Channel 9 said he was hiding behind his bed during the shooting.
“I didn’t know where it was coming from or where the bullets were,” Tony Franklin said. “I could hear the bullets outside, hitting the railing and stuff, so I just stayed ducked down until it stopped.”
Another woman, who didn’t want to be identified, said she hid too.
“You can hear it like it was right there,” she said. “Their room was exactly behind mine.”
Police said all of the victims were men and that one of them was a guest at the motel. The others were visiting. Investigators said a fight broke out in a otelm room and Colston and Cole started shooting.
“It was a lot of shots, real, real fast,” Franklin said. “It was awful ugly. It was a lot of blood and clothes and stuff.”
Officers collected more than 50 pieces of evidence, including both weapons that were used.
“It's been pretty rough,” Franklin said. “There's no way I could go back to sleep.”
Monroe police and the State Bureau of Investigation are investigating.
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