Gunman wanted for shooting through motel room wall in San Bernardino County

Authorities are searching for a suspect who shot through the wall of a motel room in San Bernardino County. 

The shooting occurred Thursday at Motel 6 on the 72500 block of Twentynine Palms Highway in Twentynine Palms, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. 

The victims, a 77-year-old man and an 81-year-old woman, were visiting from San Diego and staying at the property.

The suspect, identified as Royce Roche, was in the room next door when he allegedly fired his gun. The bullet pierced through an adjoining wall and into the victims’ room.

Surveillance video showed Roche leaving the motel with a towel wrapped around his left hand. He fled the scene before deputies arrived. 

Roche is currently wanted out of Colorado for a probation violation. His vehicle is a white 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer with California license plate 9NJB143.

“He is likely armed with a firearm and should be considered armed and dangerous,” deputies said.

Neither the victims nor anyone else on the property were injured during the shooting, deputies said.

Anyone who may have seen Roche or knows his whereabouts is urged to call SBSD’s Morongo Basin Station at 760-366-4175. Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at wetip.com.