The Chapel Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting along West Franklin Street Thursday evening which sent one person to the hospital.
An alert shared by the Town of Chapel Hill said its police officers responded to reports of a shooting near the intersection of Franklin Street and Graham Street at 6:14 p.m. Upon arrival, law enforcement found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds, who was transported to UNC Hospitals for treatment. An update provided later by Chapel Hill Police said the person’s injuries are non-life-threatening.
Police said investigators arrested the suspect of the gunfire shortly after the shooting. Geary Wayne Council of Chapel Hill faces charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, damage to property, discharging a firearm in the city and going armed to the terror of the public. The 74-year-old is being held at the Orange County Detention Center without bond and is expected to make his first court appearance on the charges Friday morning.
The Chapel Hill Police Department said the shooting is being treated as an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
“I want to thank our officers and investigators for their quick response to this incident,” Police Chief Celisa Lehew said afterward. “We will continue to investigate and provide support to the victim and all who were impacted.”
As of 8:20 p.m., West Franklin Street was closed between North Roberson Street and North Graham Street since it is an active crime scene under investigation. It was reopened to normal traffic patterns by Chapel Hill Police’s 11 p.m. update.
Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
Police: Driver Charged After Pedestrian Struck in Chapel Hill CrosswalkThe Chapel Hill Police Department reported a pedestrian collision along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard on Friday afternoon. A release from the town said police officers responded to a report of a struck pedestrian just before 4 p.m., who was crossing in a crosswalk toward Longview Street. The person was transported to UNC Hospitals for […]
Construction, Renovation of Bolin Creek Trail Resumes After DelaysA 550-foot gap has sat in the Bolin Creek Trail for months. Those using the trail have had to cross busy Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to return to the trail instead of crossing under the bridge on the path. Now, after delays from Hurricanes Florence and Dorian and the coal ash remediation project along […]
Chapel Hill Attempted Murder Investigation Leads to Arrest in Chatham CountyTwo weeks after a shooting injured one person outside a Chapel Hill apartment complex, local authorities say the suspect has been detained and charged. A release from the Chapel Hill Police Department confirmed the arrest of 22-year-old Jose Luis Enamorado Flores of Chatham County, saying he faces 21 different charges stemming from the Apr. 4 […]
Police: 12 Vehicles Broken Into at Chapel Hill Apartment Complex; Residents Asked to Stay AlertThe Chapel Hill Police Department is asking community members to exercise caution amid a string of vehicle break-ins around town. Officers say they found 12 vehicles broken into Wednesday at the Hartley apartment complex at 540 South Elliott Road, and estimate the break-ins happened around 2 a.m. The department says it has received 95 reports […]
UPDATE: Man Reported Missing to Chapel Hill Police Found After Short SearchUPDATE: An OC Alerts message shared at 8:51 p.m. said Amit Desai was safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating a missing person. Police officers say 51-year-old Amit Desai was last seen around 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Circle K gas station at the intersection of East […]
Chapel Hill Police: Runaway Teenager Safely Located OvernightUPDATE: The Chapel Hill Police Department shared a message at 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24 saying Forbes was safely located.
UPDATE: Missing Chapel Hill Teen Safely LocatedChapel Hill Police announced Friday afternoon that Mikylah Barnes had been safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is asking for the community’s help in locating a missing local teen. Police say 16-year-old Mikylah Barnes was last seen in the area of Valentine Lane – just off North Carolina Highway 86 – around 10:30 […]
Multiple UNC Football Players Facing Reckless Driving ChargesSeveral UNC football players are facing charges of reckless driving, speeding and other violations. An investigation by WRAL, originally published Monday afternoon, reported that “nearly 20 percent” of UNC’s 101-man roster has been cited for speeding since October of 2024. The investigation named three specific players: linebacker Khmori House, safety Gavin Gibson and cornerback Thaddeus […]
UPDATE: Chapel Hill Teen Safely LocatedUPDATE: Chapel Hill Police say Jemarrea Burton has been safely located. The Chapel Hill Police Department is seeking the community’s help in locating a missing local teenager. Jemarrea Burton, 16, was last seen in Chapel Hill Friday morning at approximately 7:30 a.m., according to a release from the department. Police describe Burton as five feet, […]
Shooting Near W. Franklin Street Injures 1; Chapel Hill Police Arrest SuspectThe Chapel Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting along West Franklin Street Thursday evening which sent one person to the hospital.
›
