East Ridge Police said there was a 45-minute delay before they were told about a shooting on Aug. 21 at the crime-plagued Superior Creek Lodge.
An officer said he was summoned to the extended-stay facility at 1410 Mack Smith Road on a "disagreement with customers."
He said he spoke with Teresa Dampler who said shots had been fired in room 303. She said the bullet went through room 203 and out into the parking lot.
Police were shown a hole in the floor in room 303 and where the bullet came through the ceiling and out a window in room 203. It went into a column outside. An officer was able to retrieve the bullet from the foam inside the column.
Asked why it took 45 minutes to report the incident, allowing the suspects to get away, Ms. Dampler said, "We had security."
Police said the other desk clerk, Janelle Pharris, said they called the owner, David, who told them to "keep it on the down low" and to "keep the police out of it."
The security officer, Robert Skelf, said his supervisor and management told him to "back off" and not call law enforcement, saying they "weren't sure it wasn't fireworks." Mr. Skelf said he contacted the owner and told him what was going on.
The room was rented to Veronica Rivers.
No one was left in the room when police got there.