A Connecticut man has been convicted of murder for killing a motel owner to end a fight over $5, authorities said Monday.
Alvin Waugh, a 35-year-old Hartford resident, was found guilty of murder and weapons possession on Friday, the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice said in a press release.
Waugh was convicted of killing Zeshan Chaudhry, 30, on June 27, 2021, at a Motel 6 that Chaudhry owned in Vernon.
Waugh and his girlfriend, who later cooperated with police, were staying at the Motel 6 for about a month when she asked Chaudhry for a pool pass, police said. Chaudhry told her the pass would cost $10, but she said she was only willing to pay $5, according to investigators.
The debate escalated to involve Waugh and another hotel guest, cops said. At one point, Waugh returned to the room, grabbed a homemade handgun and returned to the fracas.
Waugh and Chaudhry then continued arguing outside the pool, where several children were present, according to authorities. Waugh fired one bullet that struck Chaudhry, then unloaded several more into his body, witnesses told police. Chaudhry was struck 11 times and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
The killing was captured on surveillance video, which also showed Waugh fleeing the area. Cops found his weapon in a nearby wooded area. Waugh surrendered to authorities shortly afterward.
Waugh faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole for the murder conviction. His next hearing is scheduled for April 10.
