STURBRIDGE, MA – A heavy law enforcement presence swarmed a Sturbridge hotel early Thursday morning following reports of gunfire and a vehicle crashing directly into the building.
Midnight Gunfire and Chaos
Sturbridge Police and Massachusetts State Police responded to the Sturbridge Plaza Hotel at 400 Haynes Street around 12:55 a.m. on Thursday.
A guest staying at the hotel reported being shaken awake by loud shouting followed by an estimated 12 gunshots. Crime scene tape was later seen blocking off sections of the interior hallways as well as a large portion of the outside parking lot.
SUV Lodged Inside Guest Room
While officials have not released specific details about the vehicle, on-scene footage revealed a black SUV completely lodged into a first-floor room of the three-story hotel.
Investigators spent the early morning hours searching the interior of the vehicle and scanning the surrounding debris with flashlights. The SUV remained stuck inside the building’s structure well into the morning, even after most emergency vehicles had cleared the scene by 7:00 a.m.
Investigation and Public Safety
The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office has joined the active and ongoing investigation. Authorities have not yet confirmed the extent of any injuries or what triggered the violent sequence of events.
In a public statement released just before 6:00 a.m., Sturbridge Police assured residents that there is no threat to the public at this time. Officials are asking the public to avoid speculation while detectives gather further details.
The hotel is located immediately off Interstate 84, just south of the Massachusetts Turnpike.
