‘Kind of scary’: Residents rattled after teen killed at Red Roof Inn in Monroe

MONROE, N.C. — Police in Monroe are investigating a homicide after a teen was shot and killed at a hotel on Saturday night.

Officials said police found Anthony Delts, 18, dead in a room at the Red Roof Inn on Roosevelt Road with apparent gunshot wounds around 11:18 p.m.

Three juvenile suspects have been identified, and one suspect is already in custody.

The shooting was an isolated incident, and officials said there was no danger to the public.

Residents told Channel 9′s veteran crime reporter the area has seen its fair share of trouble, but Saturday night’s murder was unexpected and has rattled the community.

Kimberly Ocasio, a resident at the Red Roof Inn, says she and her family thought the gunshots were fireworks.

“We actually saw some people hanging out here as regular family guests for the 4th of July, so we thought it was them doing fireworks, and then all of a sudden I saw the ambulance, and I was like, that wasn’t fireworks, that was gunshots,” Ocasio said.

Ocasio and her family have lived at the Red Roof Inn for a year, and she doesn’t understand how so many young kids were able to get a room.

“I have seen the people who have been there, so I don’t know how these kids got here. They’re all minors, so I don’t understand how they got into the room,” Ocasio said.

Counts spoke to motel management, who told him residents are not allowed to bring guests, and the extra company was going against motel policy.

Another resident, Ann Marsh, has only lived at the motel for a few months. She told Counts that it’s the first time something like this has happened since she’s been there, and it’s giving her second thoughts about staying.

“It’s the first time something has happened since I’ve been here; it’s kind of scary.”

Police say because the suspects who took Delts’ life are juveniles, their identities won’t be released.

The department has also released no information about the motive behind the shooting.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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