A motel employee who was looking for the missing maid entered the room and saw blood seeping from the bureau, police said.

Family members of the missing motel employee, Reese Helton, said they believed he had been killed.

When a real live motel employee made the mis- take of showing up, he was immediately mobbed and disappeared precipitously.

Four of the Mexican women are pregnant, motel employees said, and there is a handful of children, including two who are not yet 6 months old.

"I'm sure I've caused many a disturbing moment for motel employees."

It was not clear whether motel employees went to the room to check on Mr. Hernandez after he returned or before they rented the room again.

One woman, a former motel employee and resident who was evicted in 1988, has defiantly camped across the street outside the project for three years.

Two other people - a friend of Peña and a motel employee - were also shot.

The suitcase containing the automatic pistol and ammunition remains locked in the trunk of the car, where it will offer no temptation to snooping motel employees.

I have two motel employees that swear you were part of a shootout just a few hours ago.