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
‹
News Around Town: Halloween on Franklin Street in 2025Read a conversation between Chapel Hill mayor Jess Anderson and 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey about Halloween on Franklin Street.
![]()
Chapel Hill: Franklin Street Plans and Halloween SafetyEmily Powell, the fire and safety educator for the Chapel Hill Fire Department, drops by to speak with 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Thursday, October 28. She shares plans for the town's emergency services on Halloween night, which include not immediately closing down Franklin Street for any wandering community members.
Chapel Hill Encourages No Halloween Gatherings on Franklin, Offers 'Safer' AlternativesIn non-pandemic years, there has been a longstanding tradition in Chapel Hill to dress up in costume and traverse East Franklin Street Halloween night. This year, however, the Town of Chapel Hill announced it will not preemptively block off the the busy downtown street. Town representatives cited financial costs and the desire to keep Franklin […]
Town of Chapel Hill: No Holiday Parade, Halloween on Franklin Street Due to COVIDThe Town of Chapel Hill said it will not be holding any large gathering through the end of the calendar year in an effort to protect public health, cancelling events such as Halloween on Franklin Street and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade. In a release on Friday, the town said it wants community members to practice […]
![]()
Busy Roads Expected for Holiday Travels, State Groups Promote SafetyThis week is one of the busiest travel periods of each year, and many North Carolinians are hitting the road to see family and friends. A record-breaking number of North Carolinians are projected to be traveling over the next two weeks. AAA of the Carolinas predicts most travelers will be driving to their destinations, with […]
![]()
Homegrown Halloween Crowd Continues Decreasing in SizeApproximately 15,000 costumed celebrators took to Franklin Street for Chapel Hill’s Homegrown Halloween on Tuesday night. That number is continuing a trend of the event decreasing in size since peaking with an estimated crowd of 80,000 revelers in 2007. Concerted efforts by town staff have increased police presence and shortened the amount of time costume-clad […]
![]()
Reducing The Halloween Crowd On Franklin StreetFranklin Street is well-known in the Triangle as a Halloween hotspot; but police try to downsize the party more and more each year.
Chapel Hill: UNC Visitors Center Evacuated Due to Gas LeakThe UNC Visitors Center, located at 134 East Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to a gas leak. The Chapel Hill Fire Department initially responded to a report of the leak at 2:54 p.m., then began evacuating the building upon its arrival. A spokesperson for Enbridge Gas, which provides natural […]
Water Main Break Causes Emergency Repairs, Lane Closures on E. Franklin Street in Chapel HillPart of East Franklin Street in Chapel Hill was shut down Friday morning as crews respond to a leaking water main that spilled water onto the road.
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.
›
