Woman dies after shooting at Durham IHOP

The man was told to leave the restaurant shortly before 3:25 a.m. by two Durham County Sheriff's deputies who were working off-duty at the IHOP. He returned a few minutes later and fired shots from the parking lot into the restaurant, injuring two people. He then went inside and continued to shoot, police said. 

Delia Allen, 46, of Lancaster Street, died from her injuries Saturday morning. The other victim, a 24-year-old man, was treated and released after a bullet grazed his hand. Both victims were taken to Duke University Hospital. 

The man ran from the IHOP parking lot following the shooting. 

Anyone with information is asked to call Durham police at 919-560-4440, ext. 29337, or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases, and callers never have to identify themselves.

Allen's family said the gunman was aiming at deputies and that Allen just got caught in the crosshairs.

"It's just hard to believe. I feel paralyzed," said Allen's niece, Freda Silver. "I feel like this is a dream and when I lay down and wake up, it's going to be all over."

Silver said she was raised by Allen, who also has a 21-year-old daughter, and that her aunt devoted her life to giving.

"She loves her family. She loves her daughter. She loves her church family. She loves God," Silver said. "If I could say one thing to the public, it would be to love your family, to treasure them and to cherish every moment you have with them because the next moment is not promised."