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Police: Disgruntled cook planned mass shooting at Marriott hotel
A hotel worker has been praised for alerting hotel staff to threats made by a disgruntled co-worker.
Rodolfo Montoya, 37, a cook at a Marriott hotel near Long Beach Airport, California, was arrested and police believe a threat made to shoot up the hotel was very real.
Police raided Montoya’s home and found an arsenal of high powered weapons, including an assault rifle and dozens of rounds of ammo.
"Thank God that employee decided to bring that information forward," said police chief Robert G. Luna.
Montoya allegedly told the co-worker he was angry with the hotel’s human resources department and threatened to shoot other workers and customers at the hotel.
He had ‘clear plans, intent and the means to carry out an act of violence that may have resulted in a mass casualty incident,’ Luna said.
Police also found tactical gear at Montoya’s home.
Montoya was booked on various charges including possession of an assault weapon and making a criminal threat.
Police said Montoya had no prior criminal history preventing him from owning firearms although the assault rifle and the volume of magazines found at his home is likely illegal under California state law.
"He had a plan of shooting everybody that he saw in the hotel," Luna added.
"How far away were we from this guy acting out, that’s part of the questioning that we’re going through right now."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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