Shooting Near W. Franklin Street Injures 1; Chapel Hill Police Arrest Suspect

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.

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Shooting Near W. Franklin Street Injures 1; Chapel Hill Police Arrest Suspect

The Chapel Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting along West Franklin Street Thursday evening which sent one person to the hospital.

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