A man from Alabama has been handed a life sentence for the murder of a motel owner during a disagreement about a room check-in. The victim’s daughter expressed her profound grief in court, stating that the murderer had “destroyed the foundation of our entire family,” as per various reports.
The daughter of the deceased, Pravin Patel, confronted 34-year-old William Moore in court on Thursday, stating, “You turned our lives into a permanent crime scene,” as reported by local NBC affiliate WAFF. Moore was convicted of murder in Colbert County after he shot Patel three times in the face and chest during a disagreement about a room check-in.
The incident occurred at the Hillcrest Motel in Sheffield, owned by Patel. Moore, after attempting to secure a room, brandished a handgun at Patel. When Patel informed Moore that he was trespassing, Moore responded by firing multiple shots at him. A worker at a nearby barbershop heard the incident unfold, describing the gunshots as “pretty consecutive, pow, pow, pow.”
Patel had tried to persuade Moore to leave his motel after their argument escalated. Moore shot Patel just before departing, according to reports. Surveillance footage shown during Moore’s trial captured the shooting and the events leading up to it.
Colbert County Assistant District Attorney Summer George, speaking to WAFF last month after Moore’s conviction, said, “We had clear video of the actual incident in and of itself.” She added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Patel family. What they’ve had to live through this week having to watch the video. Not only the physical but the emotional toll that took on them is tough.”
During his sentencing, Moore claimed that he suffers from PTSD due to his military service and that he has a troubled past. He was reportedly homeless and living in the woods before the shooting. Patel’s daughter concluded her statement in court by saying, “We will serve a life sentence of grief because of your choice.”