JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Police confirm two women in their 20s were injured after a shooting and fire early Friday morning at the Motel 6 near Baymeadows Road and Interstate 95.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office the shooting and fire occurred in a room in the back of the hotel on Dix Ellis Trail. Channel 4 was told one of the victims had a gunshot wound and suffered life-threatening injuries.
JFRD initially said one of the victims had died, but later said both were alive when they were transported to UF Health at Jacksonville. Police said the second woman was in stable condition, but didn't say what caused her injuries.
JSO homicide detectives and the State Fire Marshal's Office both responded to the hotel to investigate. Jacksonville Fire-Rescue reported significant damage to one wing of the hotel.
"We believe foul play was suspected in the fire, so we believe it was intentionally set. But how it's connected (to the shooting), we're not going to get into those details," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda.
Police say they are looking for a 2002 four-door Buick they believe was connected in some way to the crime. They describe the car as dark, forest green with dark-tinted windows, LED headlights that shine bright green and fake vents on the front quarter panels. It has a Florida tag, number 824-TYU.
"If you see this vehicle, do not approach, occupants could be armed and dangerous," Bujeda said.
Motel guest Bashar Bunni said he did not hear gunshots or a fire alarm, but he awoke to the commotion of police and firefighters just outside his door.
"What else could go wrong?" he said. "It was terrible."
Claude Johnson, from Fort Myers and staying at a nearby hotel, said he was shaken by the incident.
"Doesn't make me feel safe," Johnson said. "I hear a lot of good things about Jacksonville then this happened. Kind of sketchy."
Police ask anyone with information about the incident or who sees the car is asked to call the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.