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Left inset: William Moore (Colbert County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Pravin Patel (Morrison Funeral Homes and Crematory). Background: The Hillcrest Motel in Colbert County, Ala., where William Moore shot and killed owner Pravin Patel (WHNT/YouTube).
An Alabama resident has received a life sentence for the fatal shooting of a motel owner during an argument about room check-in. The victim’s daughter expressed her deep sorrow and anger towards her father’s murderer, declaring that he had “annihilated the foundation of our entire family,” as reported by news outlets.
In a powerful courtroom moment, Pravin Patel’s daughter confronted 34-year-old William Moore, stating, “You turned our lives into a permanent crime scene,” as reported by the local NBC affiliate WAFF.
Moore was convicted of murder in Colbert County for shooting Patel multiple times in the face and chest. The incident occurred during an altercation over Moore’s attempt to secure a room at the Hillcrest Motel in Sheffield, which was owned by Patel.
Moore’s violent response came after he was informed he was trespassing. The shots were heard by a nearby barbershop worker, who recounted the chilling sequence to WAFF, describing it as “pretty consecutive, pow, pow, pow.”
Reports indicate that Patel attempted to persuade Moore to vacate the premises. However, the confrontation escalated, culminating in Moore shooting Patel before fleeing. Surveillance video presented during the trial captured both the shooting and the events leading up to it.
“We had clear video of the actual incident in and of itself,” Colbert County Assistant District Attorney Summer George told WAFF last month after Moore was convicted. “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.”
Moore claimed during his sentencing that he suffers from PTSD after serving in the military, and that he has a dark past, WAFF reports. He was allegedly homeless and lived in the woods before the shooting.
“We will serve a life sentence of grief because of your choice,” Patel’s daughter concluded.