Photo Courtesy: Julissa Poor BearThe victim in Monday night's shooting at the South Dakota Rose Inn has been identified as Eustacio Marrufo, 33. He was recently known to be living in Rapid City and in Kansas.
Investigators with the Rapid City Police department and Pennington County Sheriff's office aren't naming any persons of interest just yet, but they say they suspect an acquaintance of Murrafo was involved in the shooting.
An autopsy was conducted Tuesday morning, but those results have not been released.
The East Boulevard North area is no stranger to crime, but Monday's murder has shocked many who live there.
"We see a lot of families with kids coming through. Also see folks that are not quite sure where they're headed in life," said Linda Kelly, manager of the Crazy Critter's pet store next door to the South Dakota Rose Inn.
Kelly sees the good and bad that goes on at the South Dakota Rose Inn. Monday night, she saw the worst.
"We came back and saw the lights and police cars. The parking lot taped off and unfortunately an individual deceased in the parking lot," said Kelly.
"This isn't random, the public is safe. I truly believe they knew each other and there was bad blood I guess," said Captain Doug Thrash with the Rapid City Police department.
Fifteen officers converged on the scene and found the body of Marrufo, most recently of rapid city.
Motel managers say there were two cars involved in the shooting, which were passing through this parking lot into the car wash behind the motel. A short while later, gun shots were heard, and Marrufo's body was found in the parking lot of the motel.
Police say no gun was recovered from the scene, and they don't know how many shots were fired.
"We have a huge task force working this case with the Sheriff's office. I suspect now that the public knows who the victim is, we'll get more leads," said Thrash.
Marrufo's family says he was a family man, with a small child and wife.
But he may have struggled with drugs recently.
Last year alone the Rapid City Police department responded to more than 250 calls for service at the South Dakota Rose In, largely for assault, intoxicated subjects and disturbances.
