North Hills restaurant shooting: Scene cleared, man killed, suspected shooter in critical condition

Raleigh police cleared the scene Friday evening after a deadly shooting at a North Hills restaurant.

WRAL News learned from witnesses that George Colom, the executive chef at the French restaurant Coquette, entered the establishment before 11 a.m. Friday at 4351 The Circle at North Hills St. and fatally shot Jonathan Schaffer, who worked there.

Raleigh police said Schaffer was 26.

Restaurant workers remember Schaffer for his kindness.

"He just seemed like he was just there to work, that’s all it seemed like," a restaurant worker said.

Schaffer’s resume highlights his dedication as an employee, showcasing several years of experience in the hospitality industry.

Colom is also believed to have shot Jonathan Aguilar, one of the two employees that WRAL News spoke with on Friday. Aguilar's injuries are non-life-threatening.

Aguilar showed WRAL News his injuries saying, "There's a bullet still lodged in my hand here." 

Authorities said the suspected shooter then turned the gun on himself. He is critically injured in the hospital as of Friday evening, Raleigh police said.

Before 11 a.m., dozens of officers swarmed the front of the North Hills shopping center.

Raleigh police chief Estella Patterson said all shots were fired inside Coquette.

Coquette opened at 11 a.m., which is around the time WRAL News first learned of the shooting.

Aguilar described the moments before he and his coworker were shot. 

"We were having our daily meeting before the shift began," he said. "One of our employees had brought in a cake to celebrate a bartender's birthday. She was cutting the cake, and moments later, I was shot."

Heather Young is another server at Coquette who witnessed Friday's shooting inside the restaurant.

"Everyone is checking on each other," Young  said. "Even workers that haven’t worked there in a long time, contacting everybody.

"It’s probably going to get closed down but we’re a tight-knit family here. We all knew each other really well."

WRAL News asked Young what she knew about Colom and if he ever had any signs that something could go wrong.

"I never got to know him like that," Young said. "I didn't see anything."

WRAL News spoke with multiple witnesses who saw officers rush injured people out of the restaurant. 

Gretchen Coley with The Coley Group, an office building that overlooks Coquette, said her staff saw people run from the restaurant, and there appeared to be blood.

Coley, whose family also lives in North Hills area, became emotional describing what she saw.

"We probably have 15 people in the office, we have children down the street. To have something like this happening right outside our office is heartbreaking," Coley said. 

WRAL News contacted Coquette restaurant regarding the shooting, and the owner stated they have "no comment" at this time.

Traffic impact

Six Forks Road, Lassiter Mill Road and the I-440 ramp to Six Forks Road were closed for several hours during the police investigation, trapping shoppers and employees inside during and beyond the busy lunch hour. At 2:45 p.m., Six Forks Road reopened in front of North Hills. 

WRAL News spoke to a man who was about 800 feet from Croquette when the shots were fired. The man said a police officer came up to his car and told him to stay put for his own safety.

Shoppers at North Hills told reporters they had been there since 10 a.m. and had no way to get out or back home. People who work outside of the shopping center, including a man who runs a nail salon in the area and two people who work at the nearby Exxon station, said they couldn't reach their cars.

A woman and her husband shopping at Monkee's said they saw a couple dozen police cars and SWAT teams, all heavily armed.

"I wasn't scared ... but we're not from here, and we don't see much of that," the woman said. "Now we are trying to have lunch and leave." 

Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, who is attending a conference in Washington, D.C., told WRAL News on a Zoom interview that she is appreciative for police officers' quick response.     

'It's just mindblowing'

WRAL News spoke with Lori Jones, a former Coquette employee who served as a line cook in 2008. She was nearby, inside Panera, when the shooting happened. Jones said she learned of the shooting when her phone was flooded with messages from people asking if she was safe. 

"I can't wrap my mind around it [that it] happened at Coquette or at North Hills for that matter. I'm very intentional with places I choose to work for safety ... it's just mind blowing," Jones said. "Are we safe anywhere anymore? This was the last thing I thought I would have to think about today."

Timeline

11 a.m.: A 911 call was made saying someone was shooting at another person.

The North Hills camera showed a large police presence at the shopping center off Six Forks Road. The video showed one person injured and at least 20 police cars.

A viewer told WRAL News people at nearby office buildings were "hunkered down."

11:10 a.m.: Radio traffic begins to reveal more details about the shooting:

"I want to confirm we have clearance to approach Lassiter Mill and Six Forks."

"They have reporting of an active shooter at Croquette at the Circle at North Hills Mall ... we have two subjects down ... last note said the subject is running towards the café."

"We've got one patient  so far at Dartmouth and Six Forks and RPD is bring us a second patient at Lassiter Mill and Six Forks."

"We got a white male with a GSW to the head could be the possible suspect as well we are right here at the dumpster in front of Edible Art."

"That suspect is down. It is safe to approach."

11:15 a.m.: Police said this is not an active shooter situation but asked the public to avoid the area. Video shows officers with guns drawn at the Park and Market.

Raleigh police said law enforcement searched nearby businesses for other suspects or injured people.

One man said he heard the sirens from his office building. 

"I went over to the window to see what was happening," said Eric Groover. "I saw cops flying in ... I didn't expect that today. It was kind of crazy."

11:20 a.m.: Emergency responders were assessing injuries and working to get people to the hospital. A witness at the scene reported one person died.   

11:30 a.m.: Multiple nearby schools go into code red lockdown, including Carroll Middle School, Douglas Magnet Elementary School and Brooks Magnet Elementary School, which means students are locked in their classrooms. Several other schools were in a code yellow lockdown, which means the school's exterior doors are locked and no one can enter or exit. Parents were asked not try to come to the schools to get their children.

Six Forks Road was closed in both directions near North Hills, and nearby crashes on Six Forks Road were complicating the traffic situation.

11:45 a.m.: Based on Broadcastify radio traffic, it appeared law enforcement had everything under control:

"Just finished a briefing ... North Hills Security has touched base with all the business ... there is no issues at any other businesses or residences."

People in the area told WRAL News they heard several gunshots near the front of the shopping center near Six Forks Road, close to REI, Firebirds and Coquette. 

12 p.m.: WRAL News crews are not allowed near the front of the shopping center, but a witness said there are multiple ambulances in the area and she saw several people carried out by police. 

No one can enter or exit the shopping center, with all roads surrounding it completely blocked. People who were at North Hills to shop or have lunch are being held inside the shopping center. 

12:15 p.m.: Nearby schools in lockdowns begin to go into code green.

12:45 p.m.: A press conference from the police chief was livestreamed on WRAL.com.

4:13 p.m.: The North Hills Facebook page posted the following statement:

"Earlier today, Coquette – a beloved restaurant in our North Hills community – was the scene of a terrible tragedy. We are deeply saddened by what happened and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and individuals affected. A GoFundMe has been created to help support the Coquette family and those impacted by this incident. We invite our community to come together during this difficult time to offer comfort and support to this treasured Raleigh gathering place."

4:15 p.m.: Coquette employees told WRAL News that George Colom, the executive chef of the restaurant, shot two of the restaurant's employees. The employees said Colom shot and killed Jonathan Schaffer.

Colom is also accused of shooting Jonathan Aguilar, one of the employees that WRAL News spoke to on Friday. Aguilar's injuries are non-life-threatening.

Aguilar showed WRAL News his injuries saying, "There's a bullet still lodged in my hand here." 

Anyone who believes they may have information that might assist the investigation is asked to call the Raleigh Police Department at 919-996-3335 or visit Crimestoppers at raleighcrimestoppers.org and click “Leave a Tip” on the top right of the page. You can share photos or news tips with WRAL at wral.com/reportit.

A GoFundMe has been set up to support the Coquette family, as well as the victims and employees affected.