JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An anonymous tip Monday afternoon that someone might have died in a second-floor room of the InTown Suites on St. Johns Bluff Road at Beach Boulevard led police to a body, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.
After receiving the tip about 3:30 p.m., officers made several attempts to make contact with anyone inside the room before asking a maintenance worker to unlock the door.
Police said they found a man, who was later identified as 29-year-old Amad Clark, dead inside the room.
A homicide detective said they didn't yet know how he died, but they do suspect foul play. The medical examiner was called to determine the cause of death.
Sgt. Steve Rudlaff said people at the hotel were being cooperative, but had no information about what happened.
VIDEO: Man found dead in hotel room, Jacksonville police say
Neighbors told News4Jax that the man had been staying at the motel with his girlfriend and their young child.
"He said, 'Good morning,' or 'Good afternoon,' whenever he'd see anybody," Dre Davis said. "He stayed to himself, but it's kind of shocking to see that he's gone."
Miesha Rivera added, "He was a really nice guy."
Kim Johnson said she lives at the motel with her children and hasn't had any problems, but knowing another guest was killed in his room makes her nervous.
"I have my children here and it does make me scared," Johnson said. "We've never had a problem here until now."
But Davis said police get called to the motel a lot.
"There's arguments out here," he said. "A lot of fights and stuff."
According to the JSO crime-mapping tool, 10 assaults, three robberies, four burglaries, three motor vehicle thefts and five vehicle break-ins have been reported in the last four weeks within a mile radius of the InTown Suites.
"I'm probably going to be looking for somewhere else to be here pretty soon, that's for sure," Mike Mason said.
Homicide detectives continue to investigate. Anyone with information is asked to call JSO at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.