Shooter In Vernon Motel 6 Murder Ordered To Spend 50 Years In Prison

VERNON, CT — An argument over a $10 swimming pool pass at the then-Motel 6 in Vernon first led to the inn's owner being gunned down now a 50-year prison sentence for the shooter.

In Rockville Superior Court Friday, Alvin Waugh was ordered to spend 50 years in prison in the case. The sentence came about five weeks since Craig P. Nowak, the state’s attorney for the Tolland Judicial District, announced that a jury in Rockville Superior Court had found the 35-year-old Waugh guilty of murder.

He was also given five years for carrying a pistol without a permit, but that sentence is concurrent.

The sentencing will end a five-year prosecution that featured Waugh in court 58 times.

Case records showed that, on June 27, 2021, the victim, Zeshan Chaudhry, was involved in a testy dispute with Waugh and a female companion over the pool pass. Waugh was told to leave the Motel 6 after he became belligerent over the price of the pool pass.

According to a warrant, Waugh went to his motel room, retrieved a homemade semi-automatic pistol and fatally shot Chaudhry 11 times before fleeing on foot. He was eventually convinced by police to surrender after hiding near the Hockanum River, a warrant shows.

Waugh has been held on a $2 million bond since.

Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Emily Trudeau prosecuted the case with the assistance of Inspector Phillip Clark, Legal Intern Alexandria McCormick and the cooperation of the Vernon Police Department.

The motel sits on the Manchester-Vernon line on Route 83 and has since changed affiliation.