A Tuesday night stay at a Duluth hotel ended in deadly gunfire inside a guest room at the Courtyard by Marriott on Venture Parkway, according to Gwinnett County police. When officers arrived, they found several people inside the room and a 49-year-old man, later identified as Ephrim Forbes, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say the shooting appears to be an isolated domestic situation, and everyone who was there stayed and is cooperating with detectives. No arrests had been reported as of Tuesday night while investigators continued to process the scene.
Gwinnett investigators give preliminary details
According to Atlanta News First, officers were called to the Courtyard by Marriott at 3550 Venture Parkway, where they found "multiple parties" in a room and Forbes, 49, who was declared dead on site. The outlet reports Gwinnett County police believe the shooting was domestic in nature and say they do not see any broader threat to the public. Investigators say those who were in the room remained at the scene and are cooperating as detectives work to determine what led up to the fatal shooting.
How to reach investigators
The county's police services page lists both a non-emergency line and an online portal for non-emergency reports and tips. The file-a-report page also explains how to use the Citizens Online Police Reporting System. Per the county site, the non-emergency number for Gwinnett Police is 770-513-5700, and online reports can be submitted through the department's portal (Gwinnett County Police Services). Detectives are continuing to gather evidence and interview witnesses while the county's investigative units review the case.
Hotel strip has seen other violence
This stretch of Venture Parkway, a hotel corridor near I-85 and Pleasant Hill Road, has seen other shootings in recent months. A December 19, 2025 incident at the Sonesta Select hotel left two people hospitalized, according to a December hotel incident. That episode brought a heavy police response to several nearby hotels and underscored concerns among guests and staff about safety along the corridor. Local investigators have said they routinely look for surveillance footage and witness accounts from hotels whenever shootings occur in the area.
What officials say next
Atlanta News First reports that police are still describing the case as developing and have not released additional details about motive or a precise timeline. No arrests have been announced, and Gwinnett County detectives say updates will come through official channels as more information becomes available. Anyone with information is urged to contact Gwinnett County police or use the department's online reporting system.
