Man shot to death in lobby of Ocean View hotel

NORFOLK

Ronald Noles was the kind of manager who cared about who stayed at his inn in Ocean View.

If they caused problems, they were out. But if they were

polite, he would let them stay longer than the posted 30-day limit, residents said.

On Friday, they were shocked after Noles reportedly was shot and killed in the lobby of the Bay Inn, at 315 E. Ocean View Ave.

"It's just indescribable. It's just unbelievable," said Kirk Turner, who was staying at the inn with his wife because it is close to his job and they are looking for a permanent residence. "It's just a terrible thing."

Shots were reported at the inn, also known as the Relax Inn, at 1:35 p.m., police said. Officers found a man dead in the lobby at 1:42. No arrests had been made as of Friday night.

Police have not identified Noles as the victim, but inn residents and a friend said he was the one killed.

Some were at the inn when the shooting happened; others came home and heard the bad news.

Noles, they said, was so good to them that on his birthday a week ago they celebrated in the courtyard and he provided food for them - grilled chicken and steaks.

He spent his days painting, keeping the lawn and shrubs neat and picking up cigarette butts. He replaced an entire refrigerator for one tenant because the freezer wasn't keeping ice cream frozen.

"He keeps it quiet. He's very humble," said Kristy Mack, who has been living at the inn for about a month. "He'll treat you with respect."

They had seen him cleaning earlier Friday.

Judy Boone, the real estate agent who sold Noles the inn, was a friend who said he loved people.

He was a sergeant and had been in the Army for many years, she said.

"He was engaged in the military trying to save lives for sure, and it's just ironic that he goes off to other countries for our freedom and then somebody guns him down in his own country, and needlessly so. It's a shame," Boone said.

Noles had plans to tear down the inn and build something nicer, she said.

City Councilman W. Randy Wright said a good friend of his was robbed at gunpoint just a few blocks from the inn one week ago Friday.

The shooting of Noles, he said, was a setback for Norfolk's Pinewell area, which has been stable.

Karen Parker-Chesson, a Police Department spokesman, said no information about a motive for the shooting was available.

Police asked that anyone with information call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (562-5887).

Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com