HAZELWOOD, Mo. — Two men and a minor were arrested in connection with a deadly incident at a north St. Louis County extended-stay hotel.
According to Hazelwood police, officers were called just after 10:45 p.m. Saturday to the InTown Suites Extended Stay Hotel off Dunn Road for reports of shots fired.
Officers said they found the hotel manager, 52-year-old Victor Fooks, on the floor inside the hotel with a gunshot wound to the leg. He was rushed to a hospital, where he later died.
According to video evidence and witness testimony, police said 20-year-old Jaylin McElroy and 18-year-old Marshaun Brinkley got into a fight inside a hotel room before they were asked to leave the property. Fooks and an employee arrived in the parking lot to ensure they left when Brinkley, McElroy and a juvenile suspect pulled out guns. Tensions escalated as the hotel staff pulled out their own guns.
McElroy, Brinkley and the juvenile suspect fired gunshots, police said, and Fook was struck by the gunfire. He crawled back into the hotel, where he was later found by police.
The suspects fled the scene but were later captured by neighboring police agencies.
McElroy and Brinkley were both charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action. The minor was also taken into custody.
Police said McElroy’s bond was set at $750,000, and Brinkley’s bond was set at $1,000,000.
Brinkley was shot during ths incident, and as of Monday afternoon, he was still receiving treatment at an area hospital.
"Too many guns are getting into the hands of people who have no business having them," St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said in a statement. "Our office will hold these individuals accountable, but more needs to be done on the front end so that local governments and law enforcement have the ability to prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place."
5 On Your Side reached out to the hotel, but no one was available for comment.
Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call Hazelwood Police at 314-838-5000, ext. 1.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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