Shooting at Lafayette Motel Leaves One Person in Critical Condition

A shooting at a Lafayette motel Saturday evening left one person critically injured, bringing renewed attention to a property that was recently ordered to close by the city following years of public safety concerns.

UPDATE:

The victim from this shooting incident is now listed as being in stable condition. This incident remains under investigation.

ORIGINAL STORY:

According to Detective Ken Handy, public information officer for the Lafayette Police Department, officers responded to a shooting incident at the Plantation Motor Inn around 7 p.m. Saturday (October 17).

Police Find Shooting Victim at Plantation Motor Inn

When officers arrived at the motel, they discovered a victim suffering from gunshot wounds.

The victim was transported to an area hospital in critical condition, according to police.

The incident prompted a heavy law enforcement presence at the property Saturday evening as officers began investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Motel Was Recently Targeted for Closure Over Safety Concerns

Saturday's shooting comes amid ongoing concerns about crime and public safety at Lafayette motels, including the Plantation Motor Inn.

The property was among the motels recently ordered to shut down by the city following a history of police responses and serious criminal activity.

The closure efforts followed years of concerns involving properties that had generated thousands of calls for police service. Approximately 2,000 calls were reported over the past several years, along with previous homicides and other violent incidents.

Those concerns were central to the city's efforts to address properties that officials considered persistent public safety problems.

The motel was ordered to cease operations, but existing residents were legally allowed to remain for up to 45 days. The order immediately prohibited new guests and rental agreements. That means Saturday's shooting occurred during the property's court-ordered transition period, not necessarily after everyone had vacated.

The latest shooting raises additional questions about activity at the property following the city's closure action, including whether the motel had ceased operations at the time of Saturday's incident.

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Lafayette Police Continue Shooting Investigation

Detective Handy confirmed that the shooting remains under investigation.

Authorities have not released the victim's identity or provided details about what led to the gunfire.

Police have also not announced any arrests or publicly identified a suspect in connection with the incident.

The Lafayette Police Department continues to investigate.

This is a developing story. We will update this report as additional information becomes available.