JACKSONVILLE, Fla., – A 28-year-old man who was shot and killed at the Kings Inn motel in Arlington was identified by police as Cornelius Adrian Holmes, News4Jax learned Wednesday.
Officers were called just before midnight Wednesday to a shooting at the motel on Arlington Expressway, just west of the Southside Connector.
Police said that, at the back of the motel complex, they found a man who had been shot. The man, who was later identified as Holmes, was taken to a hospital, where he died.
His death was being investigated as a murder, the Sheriff's Office said.
Motel guests told News4Jax that the victim was known by the nickname "Fat Boy" and lived in a room at the motel, where people can pay weekly for a room.
One of the guests said he called 911 after hearing the gunshots late Tuesday night.
“All I heard was four gunshots, really quick. 'Pow. Pow. Pow. Pow.' Then, a minute later, I heard a guy yelling," said the man, who wished to remain anonymous.
Melissa Kendrick said she had known the victim for several months.
“He was shot, I believe, five times, and we all knew him. He was a father," Kendrick said.
According to witnesses, the victim appeared to have gunshot wounds to his upper torso. They also said another man with a cellphone was recording video of the victim lying on the ground, begging for help.
Another motel guest, who did not wish to be identified, said the victim was attacked after someone knocked on his door.
“I know he would not have opened the door for someone he didn’t know. That’s the worst part about all of that," the second unnamed guest said. "I know him. I lived with him.”
Now, those who were friends with Holmes are struggling to understand why he was killed.
“If it was a robbery, why didn’t they just take what they wanted and leave? I mean to be shot five times -- there’s just no sense in that," Kendrick said. "They took away a father, someone's brother, someone’s cousin, from what I understand, who was a really good tenant here and a good friend, as well.”
Police have not confirmed a motive for the deadly shooting. No suspect information was released.
Detectives investigating the murder said they would be interviewing witnesses and looking to see whether there was any surveillance video, though there did not appear to be any security cameras at the scene.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).
According to the JSO crime map, in the last four weeks within a half-mile radius of the Kings Inn motel, there have been two cases of strong-arm robbery, three cases of battery, a home burglary and one case of home burglary involved an armed suspect.
