Deadly Shooting Reported at Palace Inn on Jefferson Avenue Amid Ongoing Concerns Over Crime and Housing Pressures

UPDATE 2/18/2026 3:40 AM EST  Two victims, one shot in the chest area and one in the neck. Check back later this morning for more details 

• One victim has reportedly passed away at the hospital.
• Awaiting word on any potential suspect(s)
• One victim was struck in neck area with an exit wound in back of head
• One victim was struck in chest area
• Witnesses report 8-10 shots were fired

LISTEN - FIRE/EMS AUDIO OF SHOOTING --- RIGHT SPEAKER IS TACTICAL CHANNEL  --  LEFT SPEAKER IS NORMAL COMMUNICATIONS

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Another shooting incident has shaken the Newport News community following reports of gunfire Tuesday at the Palace Inn on Jefferson Avenue.

Just last week on Feb 14th a man was murdered at the Motel 6 just a couple of miles from the Palace Inn https://policeping.com/man-dead-after-shooting-super-8-in-newport-news

According to local authorities, police responded to the motel after reports of shots fired. Two individuals were transported to the hospital with severe injuries. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not yet released additional details regarding suspects or a motive.

The Palace Inn sits within a stretch of aging motels along Jefferson Avenue — a corridor long associated with economic hardship, extended-stay housing, and elevated calls for police service. The property is located near the former Patton Hotel site, a structure previously declared a public nuisance by the city and was demolished.

Former Patton Motel was declared a Public Nuisance by the city and demolished. You can see the current Palace Inn & Suites in the background. 

Broader Community Concerns

The latest violence has intensified concerns among residents who say crime is rising while many families struggle to maintain stable housing.

Extended-stay motels in the area often serve as last-resort accommodations for individuals facing financial hardship, eviction, or limited rental availability. Weekly rates — which can rival or exceed traditional monthly rent when calculated long-term — place additional strain on already vulnerable residents.

Community advocates argue that broader economic pressures, including rising property taxes and increasing rent costs, are pushing more citizens into temporary lodging situations that can contribute to instability.

New concerns for the Mayor's $3 Million Dollar music festival - the Palace Inn & Suites is one of the closest hotels to the tax payer funded concert. https://policeping.com/newport-news-city-councils-3-million-gamble-a-first-class-festival-or-a-financial-fiasco

Debate Over City Spending Priorities

The shooting also arrives amid public debate surrounding city spending, including funding allocated for an upcoming taxpayer-supported music festival.

Some residents have voiced frustration over the contrast between entertainment investments and ongoing public safety and housing challenges. Critics question whether resources should be directed instead toward crime prevention, affordable housing initiatives, and redevelopment of deteriorating motel corridors like Jefferson Avenue.

City officials, including Mayor Phillip Jones, have promoted tourism and large-scale events as economic drivers intended to bring outside revenue into Newport News. Supporters argue such festivals can stimulate local business activity, hotel occupancy, and tax income.

Ongoing Investigation

As police continue investigating Tuesday’s shooting, residents in the Jefferson Avenue corridor say they remain on edge.

For many living in extended-stay motels nearby, the violence is not an isolated incident but part of a pattern they believe reflects deeper systemic issues facing the city.

Authorities are urging anyone with information related to the shooting to contact Newport News Police.

Police Call for Service Log  2/17/2026

The Palace Inn & Suites  is located at 10608 Jefferson Ave, Newport News, VA 23601 Palace Inn & Suites Owner: JAY GURU DUTT LLC - PINALBEN B PATEL , BHAVESH S PATEL

In Newport News, Virginia, motel operators bearing the surname Patel—a common identifier among Indian-American hoteliers who dominate roughly one-third of the U.S. motel industry—have long been associated with budget accommodations that sometimes devolve into problematic establishments. Historical cases highlight this trend, such as the Patton Motel (was next door to Palace Inn & Suites) owned by J.D. Patel, which faced indictment as a public nuisance in 1999 amid 213 arrests for drug offenses, prostitution, and weapons violations between 1995 and 1998, prompting community calls for its demolition due to unsafe conditions and persistent criminal activity. While that property was ultimately sold and renovated rather than razed, similar issues have plagued other local motels, leading to condemnations and city-led demolitions, as seen with the Midtown Motel, shuttered in 2013 for unsanitary and hazardous living environments before its 2015 teardown as part of broader anti-blight efforts. Detractors contend that these "slum motels" impose disproportionately high rates given their dilapidated state, exacerbating public safety concerns and contributing to urban decay in the area.

The Greenhill Boutique Motel (formally Green Oaks) on Patel Way which is located just down the street from the Palace Inn & Suites is another poorly managed motel once condemned by the city for unsafe conditions.

Oct 27, 2004 Newport News city inspectors have condemned the Green Oaks Motel, forcing residents to vacate by Friday due to widespread unsanitary conditions including bug infestations, soiled carpets, shattered windows, and other hazards.The 15-room motel on Jefferson Avenue in the Ivy Farms neighborhood was cited primarily for maintenance neglect, with additional electrical and plumbing issues noted. Inspector Larry Payne described the problems as "mostly sanitary" but not immediately life-threatening.

Among the affected tenants is Billie Satterwhite, who pays $45 daily to house her 8-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. Having moved in just three weeks ago from a nearby motel, she expressed distress: "Where do I go by Friday? I don’t have a problem with the owner. Now I’m being displaced with nowhere to go."

The motel was roughly half-occupied, housing single adults and three families, according to senior social work supervisor Susan Morgan. Such budget motels often serve as last-resort housing for those unable to secure apartments or homes due to credit issues.

Housing alternatives in the city remain scarce, with long waiting lists for federal rent vouchers, public housing units, and homeless shelters. Morgan anticipates most residents will temporarily stay with relatives or friends.

Property records list the owner as Jagdish M. Desai, with the motel's tax-assessed value at $393,000. The on-site manager claimed to have received no official documentation from the city.