Durham IHOP offers $2,500 reward in fatal shooting
A Durham IHOP restaurant is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the conviction of a man who police say shot and killed a customer early Saturday.
Two off-duty Durham County sheriff's deputies working at the IHOP at 1821 North Pointe Drive had asked the man, who had been arguing, to leave the restaurant around 3:25 a.m., shortly before he returned and opened fire, killing Delia Allen, 46, and injuring another man.
The unidentified shooter fled from the scene. Investigators have only a very general description of him.
Allen's family said the gunman was aiming at deputies when she was shot, but Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez said Monday that the circumstances of what happened are still under investigation and that there is a lot of speculation right now.
"What we do know is that a lot of people were placed in danger, and this young lady was an innocent patron at the restaurant," he said.
Detectives have been working some leads, he added, but he hopes more people will come forward with information about the crime.
"I'm hopeful that individuals who were there who may have left prior to (the shooting) and may have some information and knowledge of who it was that was involved would come forward and let us know," Lopez said.
Anyone with information that could help can call 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.
