More Details Emerge In Brooklawn Motel 6 Shooting

A verbal exchange outside a South Jersey hotel lead to a shooting last week, according to authorities.

Michael Suarez, 36, of Pennsauken, shot a 35-year-old Philadelphia man after the alleged victim said something to a woman Suarez was with while all three were outside the Motel 6 in Brooklawn, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.

The alleged victim has not been identified, and a probable cause statement provided by authorities didn’t make it clear what was said.

The incident happened when Suarez and the woman, who also wasn’t identified, showed up at the hotel on Jan. 19.

As they were walking toward their room, the Philadelphia man, who had arrived moments earlier, “appeared to make a motion and said something to the female,” according to authorities.

It wasn’t clear whether the three knew each other before this incident. Suarez walked into the hotel room, then immediately left to go to the silver Dodge Durango they had arrived in.

Suarez and the alleged victim engaged in a conversation, and walked toward him as they continued to speak, authorities said.

It appears that Suarez shot the alleged victim at this point, as the man turned around holding his chest and walked toward his car, authorities said.

Suarez and the woman then got in the Durango and left the area, authorities said. Police responded to the scene of the shooting just before midnight.

Arriving officers found the alleged victim suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated, police said.

He had been shot three times, according to police. Police found three 9 mm gunshot casings on the ground in front of the room.

Hotel employees told police the room was registered to Suarez. Police also found an independent witness with knowledge of Suarez, who was able to identify him as the shooter, police said.

Among the charges Suarez faces is witness tampering, with authorities specifying that Suarez attempted to “induce or cause harm to or verbally threaten a witness.”

Suarez was arrested in Camden without incident on Wednesday, Jan. 30, Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo and Brooklawn Police Chief Shamus Ellis announced on Thursday.

Suarez was charged with attempted murder, witness tampering, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not able to possess a weapon. Suarez was also arrested on unrelated CDS offenses.

He was taken to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a pretrial detention hearing. Under Criminal Justice Reform rules, the court may order he be detained or released with conditions.

See related:
Arrest Made In South Jersey Motel 6 Shooting: Police
Police Seek Person Of Interest In South Jersey Motel 6 Shooting

The attached image of the Dodge Durango was previously provided by the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.