Man Shot to Death in Anaheim Motel Room

A man was shot to death in a motel room Saturday night and detectives were investigating the incident as a homicide.

Witnesses said they heard a loud gunshot ring out about 7:50 p.m. from Room 121 at the Lincoln Palms Motel in the 1600 block of East Lincoln Avenue.

Seconds later, two men were seen leaving the room and “walking very fast,” said motel manager Mortin Tseng, who was alerted to the shooting by a motel guest.

Tseng said he opened the door to Room 121 and saw the dead man sitting in a chair with a handgun in his lap. “When I saw that I closed the door and called police,” he said.

“A witness saw them get into a white pickup and drive away. . . . I don’t know if he shot himself or if the other guys did it,” Tseng said.

Police had not confirmed the identity of the victim. Tseng said the room was rented Saturday to a man with the last name of Sanchez.

Sheila Harron, who was in Room 120, said the gunshot was “very loud” and “very scary.”

“I didn’t see anything, but I sure heard it,” said Harron, who immediately called the office.

“I heard only one shot. I guess they did it right the first time,” she said with a nervous chuckle.