Roanoke Rapids police are investigating a shooting which occurred this morning at Baymont Inn on Old Farm Road.
It is the second shooting to be reported at the motel since police investigated a shooting death there in September.
The victim in the case this morning was staying at the motel and is recovering from wounds he sustained, Chief Bobby Martin said.
Martin said this morning’s shooting is unrelated to the shooting death, which he said the department continues to investigate.
Martin said often locals rent local motel rooms to hold parties or sell drugs. “It’s too early in the investigation but it has the potential to be (drug-related).”
He said investigators plan to meet with staff of the motel next week. Nuisance abatement is not currently being considered. “We’re going to reach out to management and have a meeting with them. We’re going to pull some call information and go from there.”
In a statement Martin said officers received a call shortly after 5 this morning about a person being shot.
Officers located the victim lying between two vehicles with what appeared to be a gunshot to his upper thigh.
Officers at the scene learned of a potential vehicle description and gave it to other units working the area.
Master Officer J. Spragins located the suspect vehicle near a home in the 100 block of Hamilton Street. A male ran from him and was not located.
Martin said in the statement, however, an alleged suspect, Tayvon Moody, 29, of Roanoke Rapids has outstanding warrants for his arrest on charges of assault inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Detectives continue to investigate and more charges may follow.
Martin said Moody tends to frequent the 100 block of Hamilton Street but has family and friends throughout Roanoke Rapids.
The victim was carried to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, Martin said the department is making good progress on the September shooting death in which 24-year-old Aaron Martin was shot and killed outside a balcony at the hotel.
Anyone with information on either case is encouraged to call Detective D. Moore at 252-533-2810 or Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444.
Lieutenant J. Baggett, Sergeant M. Hunsucker, and officers D. Newsome, J. Wind, and A. Radford assisted in the investigation.
