TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- A gunman opened fire in a hotel today and tried to
escape by stealing a car, leaving five people dead.
Four people were shot to death in the hotel and three were wounded. Another
person was killed when the suspect stole the car, police said.
Officers caught the suspect after a short chase.
The suspect and the four victims in the building all were employees of the
hotel, the Radisson Bay Harbor Inn, police Chief Bennie Holder said.
"Right now, we don't know the motivation," Holder said. "Obviously we are
concerned about the employees."
Hotel packed with football fans
Three of the four victims were shot in the lobby. One was found dead by the
swimming pool.
The shootings occurred as the hotel was packed with fans preparing for the
New Year's Day Outback Bowl between Purdue and Georgia universities.
Carson Woods, of Dayton, Ohio, said he was leaving the hotel lobby to
retrieve a bag from his car when he heard shots.
"I heard two pops and saw people running out of the hotel," said Woods. "I
knew I had to get out of there."
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