Guelph Comfort Inn hotel employee fatally shot, police say

A hotel employee was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Guelph hotel on Tuesday afternoon, according to Guelph police.

Just after 4:30 p.m., officers responded to a call that someone had been shot at the Comfort Inn hotel on Silvercreek Parkway North near Woodlawn Road.

Officers say they foundAly Sunderani,a 35-year-oldhotel general manager, near the front entrance with gunshot wounds.

Sunderani was rushed to Guelph General Hospital with life-threatening injuries and died Tuesday night.

Investigators saidthe attack appeared to be targeted and addedthere is no threat to the general public.

Police saidthey are looking for a small black SUV that was seen leaving the scene.

No word on possible motive

Police refused to confirm whether Sunderani was the same Aly Sunderani who was charged in July 2008 during a massive Toronto drug bust.

That investigation saw 31 men and women arrested. Most of them were from Toronto, but some were also from Waterloo and London.

At the time, Toronto police confirmedofficers seized millions of dollars worth of cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, crystal methamphetamine, marijuana and other drugs, including Viagra. Police also seized $400,000 in cash, 18 vehiclesand three high-end condos.

"We will not make comment on any past history," Const. Mike Gatto told CBC News in an email Wednesday morning.

Gatto also would not comment on a possible motive.

"To protect the integrity of the investigation, we really cannot give out any more information," he said.

'Charming and helpful'

In online reviews on the travel site TripAdvisor, former hotel guests said Sunderani was friendly and went beyond his regular duties to make people happy.

"The general manager of the hotel, Aly Sunderani, could not have been more helpful and caring. He knew that my mum was in hospital and he looked after my dad during those difficult few days; even offering to share his dinner with him one evening," wrote one user named Claire S. from Kingston, Ont.

Another woman, Ann H. from Beeton, Ont., called Sunderani "charming and helpful."

Ali H. from Vancouver wrote, "I was greeted and checked in by the GM, Aly Sunderani, who was extremely genial. He went above and beyond the call of duty throughout my stay and even bought me dinner several times!"

Police remainon scene

Police were spotted at the site Wednesday morning. A blue tarp covered the front entrance of the hotel and yellow police tape crossed the parking lot in the middle of the hotel. An emergency command unit was posted outside.

Police said anyone who may have more information is asked to call the Guelph police detachmentor Crime Stoppers.