On August 24th, a security guard was shot at Motel 6 location near Griffith and Blackstone Avenues in central Fresno. Law enforcement performed life-saving measures as soon as they located the victim. Unfortunately, he died at the scene due to a single gunshot wound to his chest.
Now, let’s take a look at how the story is unfolding and where the investigation is going.
The Security Guard
The security guard shot at Motel 6 has been identified as 24-year-old Philip Frusetta. Philip, a single father, had been working for a local security company, Black Python Security, since April.
The company assigned Philip to the Motel 6 location to prevent any disturbances at the property. It’s also important to note that he was in uniform, but wasn’t wearing a bulletproof vest, and he didn’t have any firearms on him.
The Disturbance
On the night of the shooting, there was a disturbance on the second floor. Frusetta then responded to the incident and went upstairs to talk to the group involved.
That’s when the witnesses heard a dispute, quickly followed by gunshots. Soon after, police arrived at the scene to find Frusetta.
The Investigation
There is an investigation currently underway, and police are following up on several leads. Lt. Paul Cervantes, an investigator on the case, says that it was all captured on video surveillance. Currently, the police say that they’re still reviewing the footage, and believe that multiple people are responsible for the shooting.
According to the footage, suspect(s) left the Motel 6 area immediately after the shooting. The Fresno Police Department is urging anyone with information about the shooting to call the Department at (559) 621-7000.
The Dark Motel 6 History
Unfortunately, only a few years ago, there was another security guard shot at Motel 6, just nearby this location. In 2017, a man killed a security guard after an argument. Kori Ali Muhammad, the gunman, received a conviction in 2020.
What’s more, at this exact Motel 6 location, there was another deadly shooting only two years ago.
Since the incident, Motel 6 has released a statement: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the killing of a security guard who worked at a Motel 6 in Fresno, California. The safety and security of our guests and property team members is our top priority. As this is an active investigation, we ask that all inquiries be directed to the local police.”
Lt. Cervantes says that as of late, the city is experiencing a tremendous amount of violent crimes. Philip Frusetta’s shooting marks the 49th death in Fresno this year.