In the hum of a late summer evening, the parking lot of a Motel 6 on Lee Highway in Chattanooga, Tennessee, erupted into chaos. Gunfire shattered the calm just after 9 p.m. on August 8, 2025, leaving a 43-year-old man lifeless and a community grappling with unanswered questions. The Chattanooga Police Department (CPD) swiftly apprehended 64-year-old Guster Harfield, charging him with first-degree murder, but the investigation is far from over. Authorities now turn to the public, seeking help to identify a mysterious woman captured on surveillance footage—a potential key to unraveling the full story behind this tragic incident.
The scene unfolded with chilling precision at the Motel 6 in the 7700 block of Lee Highway. According to police reports, officers arrived just minutes after the shots rang out, finding the victim sprawled in the parking lot, his body riddled with gunshot wounds. Despite the rapid response of Chattanooga Fire and Hamilton County EMS, the man was pronounced dead at a local hospital. His identity remains withheld, a somber detail held back as authorities work to notify his family.
Surveillance footage from the motel paints a haunting picture of the moments leading up to the shooting. Harfield, the accused, was not alone. Accompanied by an unidentified woman, the pair arrived in a black Cadillac, their movements deliberate. The footage shows them parking and approaching two rooms at the motel. The woman knocked on one door, receiving no answer, before moving to the next. When the 43-year-old victim stepped out, Harfield, allegedly lying in wait, emerged from the shadows and opened fire. The victim tried to flee, but the relentless gunfire cut him down. The pair then fled the scene in their vehicle, leaving behind a trail of shock and grief.
Guests at the Motel 6, caught in the crosshairs of the sudden violence, recounted the terror of those moments. Vee Rorig, a guest staying at the motel, was sitting under a tree with a friend when the gunfire erupted. “We heard some gunshots, and like three minutes later, the police were here,” Rorig recalled, his voice tinged with disbelief. Another guest, standing on the second floor directly above the chaos, dialed 911 as the tragedy unfolded below. Though few witnessed the shooting itself, the sound of gunfire was unmistakable, a jarring intrusion that left the motel’s residents shaken and mourning.
The CPD’s response was swift and methodical. By 10:30 p.m. that same night, Neighborhood Policing officers spotted a vehicle matching the description of the black Cadillac on Bonny Oaks Drive. Though Harfield was not in the car, officers found his wallet and ID inside, a critical clue that led them to his residence. Brought in for questioning, Harfield initially danced around the truth but ultimately confessed to the shooting, sealing his arrest and transfer to the Hamilton County Jail and Detention Center.
Now, the investigation hinges on the unidentified woman seen in the surveillance footage. Described only as a person of interest, her role in the incident remains unclear. Was she an accomplice, a witness, or something else entirely? The CPD has released three grainy images of her, hoping someone in the community can provide a name or a lead. Authorities are urging anyone with information to call the CPD Homicide Tip Line at 423-643-5100, emphasizing that anonymity is an option for those hesitant to come forward.
As the investigation deepens, the CPD’s Homicide Unit and Crime Scene Unit continue to comb through evidence, piecing together the motive and circumstances of this targeted attack. The department has not confirmed whether Harfield and the victim knew each other, leaving open the question of what sparked such a violent encounter. Harfield faces a first-degree murder charge, with his next court appearance scheduled for August 19, 2025. Meanwhile, the status of the woman remains uncertain, with police yet to disclose whether she faces charges.
The Lee Highway shooting has left an indelible mark on the community. Guests at the Motel 6, still reeling from the incident, speak of grief and lingering questions. Why this man? Why this place? The increased police patrols in the area offer some reassurance, but the weight of the tragedy lingers. The CPD’s call to action is clear: they need the public’s help to bring closure to this case. “We are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic shooting,” a CPD spokesperson said. “We ask the public’s help in identifying this person of interest to ensure all involved are held accountable.”
For now, the residents of Lee Highway are urged to stay vigilant, to report anything suspicious, and to share any fragment of information that might shed light on this dark chapter. In a city known for its close-knit community, the hope is that someone, somewhere, holds the key to identifying the woman in the photos—and to uncovering the full truth behind a night that turned a motel parking lot into a crime scene.