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Tuesday, June 21, 2011
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - A North Charleston man is still in the hospital after a shooting behind a hotel and the suspect is still on the loose.
Police say the suspect shot the victim during an attempted armed robbery at the Comfort Suites on North Forest Drive off Ashley Phosphate Road.
Police say the victim was on a path near the woods behind the motel when a guy with gun apparently tried to rob him. There was an argument, then gunshots were fired.
Hotel employees followed instructions from 911 to help stop the bleeding and keep the shooting victim calm. He was transported to MUSC and is listed in serious condition. People staying in nearby hotels were surprised to hear what happened.
"I wasn't sure if it was just kids playing, maybe firecrackers, but the way it went off wasn't like firecrackers," said Eric Menefee.
It wasn't until the crime scene tape went up outside the Comfort Suites that guests at a nearby motel realized that something was wrong.
"We thought they were playing or something, we didn't think it was somebody got shot," Chrystin Flint said.
A Comfort Suites regional director was sitting in his office at the time. He says the victim came in to the hotel lobby through a side door.
"All of a sudden, my front desk associate came running in, said someone's been shot in the lobby," Geoff Cipkala said. "She goes, ‘he came in with his hand crunched over, looked like he was playing and then fell to the ground and said he was shot.' "
After a call to 911, hotel employees tried to stop the bleeding until EMS arrived. Officers searched for the suspect in the woods. A Charleston County sheriff's helicopter searched from the sky.
Comfort Suites officials say the incident is not normal and that in 10 years, neither of their two motels in that part of the city has ever had any crime problems.
Source: http://www.live5news.com/story/14940032/police-respond-to-double-shooting-at-north-charleston-hotel If you, or someone you know, have any information regarding any crime, you are encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers. You could earn a reward up to $1,000.Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 554-1111, toll free at 1-888-CRIME-SC, or online at www.5541111.com. Texters can send anonymous tips to CRIMES (274637), and mark the beginning of the message with "TIPCSL". Text STOP to 274637 to cancel. Text HELP to 274637 for help. Msg&Data Rates May Apply.