Henry County

Police investigate what led up to hotel shooting; 2nd crime scene possible

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — Police say they’re looking for a possible second crime scene after a Henry County hotel shooting.

The incident happened around 6:30 a.m. Monday at the Home 2 Suites on Mill Road in McDonough.

Capt. Joey Smith, with the Henry County police, said Shermane Jernine Perkins, 43, entered the hotel “in some type of distress.”

“He said that some individuals were chasing him," Smith told Channel 2’s Rikki Klaus.

Smith said the hotel staff then went into lockdown mode.

He said Perkins, who may have been carrying a handgun and a long gun, fired through the lobby door, then made his way upstairs.

Tammy Scott, who works nearby, told Klaus that she saw the SWAT team arrive.

“I saw several officers getting out with their big guns and running towards the hotel,” Scott said. “I started praying. I said, 'Lord, please don’t let anybody be hurt.'”

Smith said the only person injured was Perkins, who had cuts on his arms and legs. Police are not sure how he was cut.

Officers said Perkins appeared to be under the influence or suffering from possible mental issues.

Investigators say after leaving the hotel, they stopped by Perkins' home.

“We’re out at that location now trying to determine if something happened there that led to this location, so there very well could be another incident somewhere,” Smith said.

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Andy Fish and his family were staying at the hotel. He said they were living in a place where gun violence is extremely rare.

“It was quite a shock. We have just moved back to the United States from Tokyo, so we’ve been here all of two weeks, and this is the last thing I needed to see,” Fish told Klaus.

Smith said the SWAT team searched every hotel room.

Dozens of guests were evacuated to the lobby, but have since been let back into their rooms.

Perkins has been charged with home invasion and aggravated assault.