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Police release video of Natick hotel shooting as search for suspect continues

NATICK, Mass. — Multiple police units responded to reports of an "active shooter" at a hotel on Route 9 in Natick early Tuesday and hotel guests were evacuated as police searched for the suspect.

Tuesday night, Natick Police released video of the shooting.

In the video, a man wearing a blue shirt is seen running from the shooter; he runs into the hotel's sliding doors and then squeezes through the doors to escape the gunman. The gunman then points a gun through the sliding doors and fires a single shot into the lobby.

The man in blue told police he had just checked into the hotel and was followed into the lobby by the suspects.

Natick Police Chief James Hicks said authorities are still looking for that shooter.

"At the time we were unaware or we did not know if the suspects were in the area or if they were in the hotel so through an abundance of caution we cleared the hotel," Hicks said.

State Police spokesperson Dave Procopio said in a statement that troopers responded to the Crowne Plaza Boston-Natick, at 1360 Washington St., just before 3 a.m. for a report of shots fired.

"It was a long night," said Don Hill, who was among about 75 hotel guests who were evacuated as Natick police and multiple State Police units established a perimeter around the building. Some people were still wrapped in bed sheets to stay warm.

"Not really sure what was going on so we decided to grab what we could, throw on some clothes, put on a jacket because it was cold and come down," Hill said.

Natick Police Chief James Hicks said the victim, a hotel guest, told police that the suspects followed him into the hotel, fired a single shot into the lobby, then ran out of the hotel and fled in a vehicle. The victim was not injured and told police he did not know the suspects.

One person was initially reported to have a minor injury but state police later said that there were no gunshot victims and no injuries.

The investigation is ongoing and police are reviewing surveillance video, Hicks said. Police do not believe there is any danger to the public. Authorities are still looking for a possible gunshot victim who "is no longer at the scene," he said.

The hotel released a statement Tuesday saying safety is their top priority, and they're thankful for the work police did to make sure everyone was safe before guests returned to their rooms.

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