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Police Seek Man, Woman In Shooting At Motel

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By VALERIE KALFRIN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 27, 2007

TAMPA - Police are searching for a man and a woman involved in a shooting at a motel in which a man was wounded Wednesday.

Carlton Keith Gay, 29, of Tampa is being treated at Tampa General Hospital for gunshot wounds to his chest and stomach, Tampa police said. His condition was not available Wednesday night.

Gay told police he rented a room at the Jayhawk Motel, 3415 N. Nebraska Ave., because he was expecting 'female company.'

According to a preliminary police report, a woman began knocking on the door of his room shortly before 4 a.m. After Gay opened the door, the woman ran toward a black sedan, possibly a Nissan, parked in the lot and drove away, police said.

Simultaneously, police said, a man with a chrome revolver who was waiting outside approached Gay and said, 'Give it up.'

Gay and the man fought in the parking lot, and Gay was shot, police said.

The gunman ran away.
Motel manager Nagin Patel, 51, said it is the first shooting he can recall in his seven years of owning the business. Gay rented Room 9 about 2:40 a.m. for the standard $45 fee, he said.

'We always ask how many people rent the room, and no visitors,' Patel said. 'Whenever I see some girl walking around, like prostitute, I call the police because I don't want these problems.'

Patel said he did not hear gunshots. He and his wife awoke after police arrived.

The manager said he gave security video from the motel to the police to help in the investigation.

Police declined to release the video on Wednesday, saying detectives are pursuing several leads.

Police described the woman as black, about 25 to 30 years old. She is about 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. She wore her hair in a ponytail down to her neck. At the time of the shooting, she wore an matching orange shirt and pants.

Police described the gunman as black and in his 30s. He is about 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighs about 180 pounds, has a thin, manicured beard and short hair. He was wearing stonewashed jean shorts, white socks and a black hood.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800 or vkalfrin@tampatrib.com.

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