74-Year-Old Chapel Hill Man Charged With Attempted Murder After Downtown Shooting

Chapel Hill, NC – The Chapel Hill Police Department arrested a 74-year-old man for attempted murder following a Thursday evening shooting along West Franklin Street that sent one person to the hospital. Police say the incident, which briefly shut down part of downtown Chapel Hill, was isolated and posed no ongoing threat to the public.

Suspect Arrested Minutes After Shooting

Officers responded around 6:14 p.m. to reports of gunfire near Franklin and Graham Streets, according to an alert from the Town of Chapel Hill. When police arrived, they found a victim suffering from gunshot wounds. The person was taken to UNC Hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators quickly identified and arrested the suspect, Geary Wayne Council, 74, of Chapel Hill. Council faces multiple charges, including:

• Attempted murder
• Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
• Damage to property
• Discharging a firearm within city limits
• Going armed to the terror of the public

Police say Council is being held without bond at the Orange County Detention Center and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday morning.

Investigation and Response

Chapel Hill Police Chief Celisa Lehew praised officers and investigators for their swift response.

“I want to thank our officers and investigators for their quick response to this incident,” Chief Lehew said. “We will continue to investigate and provide support to the victim and all who were impacted.”

Police confirmed the shooting was an isolated incident, emphasizing that there was no continued danger to residents or visitors.

Road Closures and Scene Update

West Franklin Street was temporarily closed between North Roberson Street and North Graham Street as police processed the active crime scene. The roadway reopened to normal traffic around 11 p.m., following an on-scene investigation that lasted several hours.