Safe Recovery of Abducted Children Following Hotel Shooting in South Carolina

Incident Overview

Authorities reported on Friday that two children, aged 4 and 6, who were taken following a shooting incident at a hotel in Spartanburg County, have been found safe. The event unfolded around noon on March 20 at the Rodeway Inn Expo Center, located near Interstate 26. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the connection between the shooting and the abduction, as per local news sources.

Location of Recovery

Where Were The Kids Found?

The children were discovered unharmed in Towns County, Georgia, where the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Juan Carlos Morales, was apprehended. This arrest took place just before 3 PM, shortly after a statewide Amber Alert was issued. The alert had requested the public's assistance in locating a 2010 White Mitsubishi Outlander with a specific South Carolina license plate. SLED confirmed that both children were safe and have since been reunited with their family. Following the arrests, the vehicle alert sent to mobile devices across South Carolina was rescinded.

Amber Alert Activation

What Led To Amber Alert?

The Amber Alert was initiated due to reports from the Rodeway Inn, where the shooting took place. The hotel’s property manager indicated that the suspected shooter had left the premises with the two children. In response, authorities launched a statewide alert, and law enforcement tracked Morales to Georgia. Just minutes after the alert was issued at 2:56 PM, Morales was captured, and the children were safely recovered. Further details regarding the motive behind the shooting or the charges against the suspect have yet to be disclosed, as the investigation remains ongoing.