Shooting is the Latest Problem for Braintree Motel 6

BRAINTREE, MA — Friday night’s shooting at Motel 6 was just the latest incident for a motel known as a hotspot for trouble ranging from drugs, violence, prostitution, and regular warrant arrests.

Friday's incident has renewed public concern about the motel and the Union Street area. A review of Braintree Patch articles shows several articles and police logs referring to incidents at the establishment and the area. The cases include a man charged with larceny in 2012, a Level 3 sex offender who moved into the motel in 2011, and suspects in a 2015 robbery who were located in the parking lot.

The crimes are just the tip of the iceberg. A Patriot Ledger review of their archives has records of crime at the motel going back to the mid-70s when it was known as the Susse Chalet Motor Lodge. A report from WFXT found 256 pages of service calls involving Motel 6 in the past year.

Friday night, Officer Donald Delaney and three other Braintree police officers were at the motel to issue a restraining order to Tizaya Jordan Robinson. After Robinson refused to open the door to his room, police attempted to enter with a key but Robinson shot the door, resulting in shrapnel striking Delaney in the head, authorities told reporters Saturday morning.

Delaney was taken to Boston Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. He was released Sunday, but more surgery is expected to remove the shrapnel. Interim Braintree Police Chief Paul Shastany said the officer and Marine Corps veteran is expected to make a full recovery.

Robinson was found dead in his room from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot, following a standoff with police.

Delaney wasn't even the first police officer to get shot on the property. In 1976, officer Robert Devin was shot by a man who was attempting to rob the then-Susse Chalet Motor Lodge. Devin returned gunfire and killed the man.

In past years, Mayor Joseph Sullivan and the town has worked with the Motel 6 ownership to upgrade the property. Police has been a regular presence with a detail often posted.

"There has been some history at the site and working with them I think we've taken some steps to upgrade the facility, but this is obviously a step back and we need to do something that is going to be more significant and hopefully more positive moving forward," Sullivan said Friday night.

Town Council President Sean Powers said he intends on having a serious discussion on the future of Motel 6 in Braintree.

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