Gunman arrested at Holiday Inn Temple-Belton
Hotel sales manager credits employees with alerting guests and potentially saving lives
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN TEMPLE
A Temple man armed with two handguns threatened guests and the staff of a local hotel Saturday, and a hotel manager credits employees with alerting guests and potentially saving lives.
A man who identified himself as 42-year-old Jaco Antoine Davis of Temple checked into Holiday Inn Temple-Belton on Friday, then extended his stay Saturday. At about 7:25 p.m., the man came out of an elevator in the lobby brandishing two weapons and acting irrationally.
According to Sarah Japalucci, sales manager at the Holiday Inn — located in the 5000 block of South General Bruce Drive — the man approached at least two employees and told them people were after him.
“He approached our front office manager, Carlton Hutson, and asked if he worked here,” Japalucci said. “Carlton turned his shoulder so the gunman couldn’t see his name tag and replied: ‘No.’ Carlton immediately called 9-1-1, then he alerted other staff members and some of our guests to the situation. The man was waving his guns wildly.”
“He also approached the adjoining bar where about eight guys from the Army National Guard were sitting,” she said. “We had 14 reservists staying at the hotel for a conference, and some happened to be at the bar.”
The bar manager, Danielle Fetterhoff, also notified authorities that a man armed with two handguns was waving the weapons in a threatening manner.
Japalucci said the hotel cook and prep cook helped alert guests and move them out of the building. One of the kitchen workers also advised those in the hotel swimming pool to seek shelter.
A front desk agent locked herself in the security room and followed the situation on video screens, alerting police by phone to the man’s whereabouts, she said. Minutes later, Temple police arrived at the hotel and surrounded the building.
“When the gunman saw the police, he laid down both handguns on the lobby floor, put his hands behind his head and proceeded to slowly walk out the front entrance into custody,” Japalucci said. “There was a rumor on social media that one of the reservists took him down, but that didn’t happen.”
“I’m so proud of our employees,” she said. “They were brave, and did exactly what they were trained to do. We go through training, and we were tested. Our employees truly saved lives.”
After Davis was taken into custody, a search of his room revealed that he had discharged at least one gun into a mattress. Bullet holes also were found in the walls, but none of the bullets went through to adjoining rooms.
According to Alli O’Connor, a public relations specialist for the city of Temple, Davis was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance and deadly conduct, and as of Monday evening he was being held at Bell County Jail.