Shooting victim was meeting woman at motel when gunman confronted him

A 42-year-old man was meeting a woman at a north Macon motel when he was shot early Thursday.

At about 4:30 a.m., Macon-Bibb County E-911 received multiple calls about shots being fired at the FairBridge Inn at 105 Riverside Parkway.

Christopher Blanson also called for help after driving with a shoulder wound to a nearby convenience store.

Bibb County sheriff’s public affairs Lt. Randy Gonzalez said Blanson was waiting in the parking lot for the woman when he was confronted by a man.

The two exchanged words, Gonzalez said.

“As the victim was leaving the parking lot, attempting to leave in his vehicle, the suspect fired several shots at the vehicle and shot the victim once, grazing him,” Gonzalez said.

The wounded Blanson stopped at the nearby Walthall convenience store at the corner of Tom Hill Senior Boulevard where an ambulance met him.

He was treated in the parking lot, but refused to be transported to the hospital.

“He is OK. He was checked out,” Gonzalez said.

The suspect is described only as a black male, but no further information was immediately available.

Gonzalez did not know Blanson’s relationship to the woman he was meeting but said the investigation is just getting underway.

Sheriff’s deputies roped off the parking lot of the former Travelodge that is across from Hooters not far from Interstate 75.

Officers with flashlights examined the side of the Hooters, possibly looking for stray bullet holes and an investigator also examined a second floor room of the hotel.

Another deputy was stationed with the victim’s black pickup truck at the Walthall.

A sheriff’s crime scene technician photographed several shell casings in the motel parking lot.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call for an investigator at 877-68-CRIME, or phone anonymous tips to Macon Regional Crimestoppers at 877-68-CRIME.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 7:18 AM with the headline "Shooting victim was meeting woman at motel when gunman confronted him."