Suspect in Gwinnett County motel murder arrested

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities have arrested the suspect in the murder of a man at a Gwinnett County motel from last week.

On Sept. 9, Gwinnett County police say Marquel Williams shot a man in the parking lot of the HomeStay Hotel and Suites on Stone Mountain Highway.

Williams is accused of running from the scene.

[Police searching for suspect after man killed at Gwinnett County motel]

Channel 2′s Tony Thomas was at the scene as police investigated and learned that nearby schools were placed on a soft lockdown due to the police activity.

Witnesses said the gunshots were loud enough to jolt them out of bed.

“I thought it was a dream at first. When I woke up, I was trying to pinch myself and everything,” Witness Joshua Dempsey said. “It was six gunshots. I thought it was fireworks in the middle of the day.”

Dempsey said he thinks the fight was over a woman.

Williams later was arrested and booked into the Gwinnett County Jail on Sunday and was charged with felony murder and aggravated assault.

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