Motel Manager Who Was Shot In Head Clinging To Life, Has Newborn Baby
By Tom Mustin
DENVER (CBS4) - People living at the Colonial Manor Motel have identified the man shot there Tuesday night as the manager of the motel.
"He's a great person and we don't know why anybody would do that," said resident Shawna Boulanger.
She fought back tears after the brutal attack on Colonial Manor Motel manager Joon Lee.
"He just had a baby six months ago. That's just the saddest part about it. That's what is going through my head--his daughter," she told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
The shooting happened sometime before 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Colonial Manor Motel on the 2600 block of East 46th Avenue. That's near Interstate 70 and Vasquez Boulevard.
For 16 years Lee managed the motel. Boulanger has lived there for two years. She and her husband heard gunshots Tuesday night and Lee's wife screaming.
"We heard a noise- a real loud bang. his wife came running out, screaming 'Help, help, help,'" said Boulanger.
She and a neighbor ran to the motel office where a gunman had kicked in the door. Police told her Lee had been shot point blank in the head. Lee's wife and child were not hurt.
"I saw the owner lying on the floor in a puddle of blood. I think they were trying to rob the place, but once they shot him his wife screamed and they ran," said Boulanger.
Boulanger says when police arrived, Lee was able to describe his attacker, "He was still conscious. He was able to tell police he was in a black hoody and black pants."
Police have not released a suspect description and will not confirm if the gunman had tried to rob the office. It is also unclear whether the victim and gunman knew each other.
"We don't know exactly why the shooting transpired," Denver Police Department spokesman Doug Schepman told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
And as Lee fights for his life after a violent assault, Boulanger is sending thoughts and prayers to Lee and his family, "I just hope he's okay."
As of Wednesday afternoon, Lee remained in critical condition at Denver Health.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash reward up to $2,000.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.
