SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) – An AMBER Alert has been cancelled and two children have been safely located after a shooting occurred at a motel in Spartanburg on Friday.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office reports 30-year-old Juan Carlos Morales was charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Deputies said one person was shot in the head at the Rodeway Inn on New Cut Road around 11:36 a.m. She was taken to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where she is in critical condition.
According to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Morales then abducted two children, ages 4 and 6.
Deputies investigating after one person hurt in Spartanburg motel shooting(WHNS)
Authorities issued an AMBER Alert shortly before 3 p.m.
Officials said they were looking for a white 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander with SC tag 669BMX.
Management at the Rodeway Inn released photos of the suspect vehicle to FOX Carolina News, saying the SUV turned onto New Cut Road headed towards Inman.
AMBER Alert issued for 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander after shooting at Rodeway Inn in Spartanburg(KRUTARTH DESAI – PROPERTY MANAGER, RODEWAY INN)
A maintenance worker at the motel reportedly heard the gunshot.
“My maintenance guy was working down there cleaning some stuff and somebody came to him and told him that somebody shot the girl in room number 147,” the manager said. “He ran up to the room and he knocked on the door, but nobody replied, and when he opened the door, she was lying on the floor.”
The manager said he called law enforcement, but the suspect had left before deputies arrived. Surveillance video at the motel showed two children getting into the SUV with the man before leaving.
Around 3:30 p.m., officials confirm Morales detected by FLOCK cameras and was apprehended in Towns County, Georgia and the children were found safe.
Morales is being held in the Towns County Detention Facility under he is transferred to Spartanburg County for a bond hearing.
Stay tuned as we work to learn more.
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