Neighbors react to Rodeway Inn shooting, suspect on the loose

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ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind.- St. Joseph County Police got the call early Sunday morning that a naked man was shooting in the Rodeway Inn parking lot.

When they got to the motel, they found a dead woman in one of the rooms.

Police marked off the back of the motel. There is also a broken window on the second story.

Behind the motel is a neighborhood. One neighbor said she was too scared to leave her house this morning.

“It’s not a safe place to feel right now, be here,” Kalina Hudnall said.

Neighbors are on edge after police responded to the Roadway Inn at 3:45 Sunday morning.

St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman said they got reports of, “a naked male black running through the parking lot with a gun, possibly shooting.”

According to Redman, deputies couldn't locate a suspect but they did make a startling discovery.

“Started searching, was unable to find the suspect at that time but did locate a deceased person in one of the hotel rooms,” he said.

Right now, the male suspect and the dead woman have not been identified.

St. Joseph County Metro Homicide has taken over the investigation.

The knowledge that a suspect is still roaming free has neighbors in the area uneasy.

“They’re still on the loose. We don’t know where they’re at and yes it is scary,” Hudnall said. “I didn’t even go to church because I was scared he could be wandering the neighborhood or my route to church.”

Hudnall has lived in this area her whole life and said instances like this aren’t uncommon.

“It gets scary sometimes,” she said. “People on the balcony arguing and fighting. Sometimes it’s calm but a lot of times it’s more ruckus then what you would like to hear in your back yard, especially if you have kids back there, you’ll hear cussing and stuff.”

According to St. Joseph County Police, both police and fire have been dispatched to the hotel 40 times for a variety of calls since February of this year. But to neighbor Hudnall, this time is one too many.

“This is the first time I’ve woken up and it been like this where there’s 31 shut down and there’s just tons of cop cars,” she said. “It hasn’t gotten any better.”

ABC57 is still working to find out if the woman’s death is connected to the shooting.

Right now, police are still searching the area for the suspect. They said he was last seen with a handgun running through the motel parking lot.

Anyone with information is urged to call local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-342-STOP, or (574) 288-STOP.

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