Two killed at motel

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 30, 2000

Two men were shot and killed and another man was injured last night at an Austin motel.

Friday, June 30, 2000

Two men were shot and killed and another man was injured last night at an Austin motel.

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Police received a call at 2:11 a.m. of shots fired at the Downtown Motel, First Street SE and First Avenue SE.

Two men were found dead at the scene, police said this morning. Another man who suffered two gunshot wounds, one to each arm, was transported to a Rochester hospital.

The three men were staying in the same motel room along with another man and a juvenile. All five individuals in the room were from the Twin Cities area and staying in Austin while doing roofing repair work.

Police were unable to release additional information about the victims.

Authorities are questioning the two witnesses who were in the room, however, Police Chief Paul Philipp said the stories have been conflicting and there’s been some language barriers as well.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was called in to aid in the investigation.

Police are looking for a white 1999 Dodge Durango with Minnesota license plate number CGE-504 in connection with the incident, though it is not necessarily the suspect’s vehicle. The police have extended the search for the vehicle to a five-state area.

"It’s so unclear at this point, we prefer not to release any information," Philipp said regarding a description of the driver and other individuals the police are seeking. He said there could be between two and four suspects, but police still are investigating and interviewing the witnesses.

No weapons were found at the scene, but Philipp said the police believe two 9mm semi-automatic hand guns were used.

"We don’t think the suspects were involved with or related to the victims," Philipp said.

The connection is still unclear at this point.

The Austin Police Department is seeking any additional information from other witnesses or passers-by. They also seek information regarding the location of the Durango that may be connected to the case.

Philipp said Austin residents should not be afraid.

"The suspects have likely fled the area," he said.

But residents of the nearby Twin Towers said the recent shooting has affected them.

Residents, who preferred their names not be used, said they now will take extra precautions when they go out at night. They plan to avoid walking at night in the area alone, and they feel concerned about what they called the "downgrading" of Austin.

"This makes me scared, but Twin Towers is safe for the most part," one resident said.

However, several residents hope extra security measures will be added.

"I wish management would step up security and add a security guard at night. That’s what we really need," another resident added. "This doesn’t surprise me though. (Austin) is getting to be like Rochester, with the gangs and everything."

Residents said the neighborhood is not necessarily a bad one, but the hotel has a different reputation. Police have responded to calls for service in that area.

"It used to be a respectable hotel, but its been on the (police) scanner the last six months," one onlooker said from across the street from the motel.

Philipp said the close proximity to the downtown bar area does contribute to problems there.

The last double homicide in Austin occurred about nine years ago, Philipp said.

The last homicide happened a year ago. A 22-year-old man awaits trial in the incident.

Last year, Marcial Rodriguez Lopes, 22, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the slaying of Jose Luis Castillo.

Witnesses, who told police they saw the stabbing, said the defendant had lost a large amount of money to the victim in a poker game earlier that Sunday.

The murder took place at 104 Third Ave. SE.

Castillo was pronounced dead after being rushed to Austin Medical Center-Mayo Health Systems. The defendant was captured early in the morning following the stabbing, hiding in a garage in southwest Austin.

At his last court appearance, it was confirmed that the defendant’s real name is Marcial Rodriguez Lopes even though he used the alias Angelito Doroteo Munoz when he was arrested.

Lopes confessed to stabbing Castillo after he was arrested, because the victim had threatened him.

The defendant is represented by public defender Joseph Buetel, Owatonna, who is being assisted by Cecelia Roberts, a court interpreter, because Lopes maintains he does not speak or understand English.

He remains in the Mower County Jail, awaiting trial in September.