An employee of a downtown Atlanta hotel was shot by a guest Wednesday morning, police said.
The shooting happened about 2:15 a.m. at the Hilton Atlanta on Courtland Street. The employee, who worked at the front desk, was hit multiple times but was stable before being taken to a hospital, according to Atlanta police.
“Investigators believe the suspect may have been under the influence of drugs which contributed to the attack,” police spokesman Officer Steve Avery said.
The suspected shooter, identified as 30-year-old Kyron Rashard Benjamin of Richmond, Virginia, was arrested nearby, according to police. He faces five charges, including aggravated assault, criminal trespass and firearm-related offenses.
He remains in the Fulton County Jail without bond. Benjamin is a felon, but it appears his prior convictions were not in Georgia, according to Georgia Department of Corrections records.
In a written statement, Hilton Atlanta’s General Manager Brad Koeneman confirmed an employee was injured while welcoming guests into the hotel.
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
Credit: JOHN SPINK / JSPINK@AJC.COM
“I am proud of the team and the way they responded, including contacting 911 and looking after each other,” he said. “Although I cannot go into details, our colleague is in our thoughts and the entire hotel team is hopeful for a full and quick recovery.”
He said hotel employees are fully cooperating with investigators, but referred additional questions to Atlanta police.
“We will continue with our focus on the well-being, safety and security of everyone at our hotel, guests and team members alike,” Koeneman said.
The incident was one of two shootings in the area early Wednesday. A bystander was wounded after someone opened fire on the Courtland Street Waffle House.
MORE: Bystander hurt in shooting at downtown Atlanta Waffle House
According to a spokeswoman for the short-order chain, the gunman was involved in an argument with other customers at Waffle House and a grill operator made everyone leave.
“The alleged shooter got into his vehicle and then drove against traffic, shooting at what appears to be the vehicles of the people who he was involved in the argument (with),” Njeri Boss, the director of public relations, told AJC.com.
Instead, the bullets hit the Waffle House and injured the bystander, she said. Emergency responders were called to the restaurant about 3:15 a.m.
The 58-year-old victim was undergoing treatment at a hospital Wednesday morning and was said to be stable, according to police.
The shooter in that incident has not been arrested, Avery said.
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