(Norcross, Ga. April 30, 2018) – Gwinnett County Fire Investigators are currently seeking the person they say is responsible for igniting a small pile of clothing on fire in front of a third-floor hotel guest room.  Firefighters responded to a report of the fire alarm activated on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at 1:12 a.m.  The flames were already out when the fire truck arrived at the Congress Hotel and Suites, located in the 5885 block of Oakbrook Parkway, NW in unincorporated Norcross.  There were no injuries reported. 

According to Fire Investigators, Shanel Velma Best, age-21, intentionally set the fire after engaging in a domestic dispute with a female acquaintance inside the room.  Best had been staying in the room with three other adults and a child when the argument ensued.  Fire Investigators obtained two felony warrants based on witness accounts and items that were found in the parking lot that belonged to Best.  Police determined that Best was the same individual that they had interaction with during a previous domestic call around midnight at the same location.  She reportedly gave a false name to police at that time and left.  Video camera footage from the hotel was reviewed, but is too grainy to identify Best.

Best is charged with one-count of First Degree Arson/Endangering Human Life and one-count of Aggravated Assault.  “Best’s actions were careless and placed multiple people in danger by blocking the guest room door and impeding egress from the third floor,” said Gwinnett Fire Captain Tommy Rutledge.  Fortunately, the people inside the room heard her voice outside in the hallway as she yelled and banged on the door in a fit of rage.  They saw an orange glow from the crack at the bottom of the door and opened the door to investigate.  They were able to stomp the fire out quickly, but not before it charred the clothing and scorched part of the carpet.  The fire alarm sounded due to the smoke buildup in the hallway.

Anyone with information about the fire or Best’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Gwinnett Fire Investigations Section at 678-518-4890 or the Georgia Arson Control Hotline at 1-800-282-5804. 

Shanel Velma Best, Age-21