The Raleigh community was shaken by a tragic event at the North Hills shopping center's Coquette Brasserie, where a fatal shooting occurred last Friday. According to ABC11, the Raleigh Police Department (RPD) reported that Jonathan Mark Schaffer, 26, was killed during the incident. Jonathan Aguilar Vega, another victim, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was released from the hospital.
George Colom Jr., the 34-year-old executive chef at Coquette Brasserie, has been identified as the gunman by RPD and later succumbed to his self-inflicted injuries. Witnesses told WRAL News that Colom entered the eatery before the restaurant’s opening, and opened fire. Workers remembered Schaffer, the slain employee, for his kindness and dedicated work ethic, with one co-worker saying, "He just seemed like he was just there to work, that’s all it seemed like," with no apparent undercurrents of personal vendettas.
The Raleigh Police Chief, Estella Patterson, briefed the media, explaining how a man shot another man before turning the gun on himself. The suspect, Colom, was critically injured in the self-inflicted attempt and was undergoing treatment until he passed away. In a statement obtained by ABC News, George Colom Sr. released a family statement expressing deep sadness and requesting privacy as they planned to lay their son to rest without further public comment.
In the aftermath of the shooting, local schools were temporarily placed on lockdown and the shopping center was diligently searched by the authorities to ensure no additional threats existed. The lockdowns were lifted shortly after noon on the same day. Meanwhile, Jonathan Aguilar Vega spoke about the harrowing experience, recounting to ABC News, "We were having our daily meeting before the shift began. 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." Vega harbored no ill will towards Colom, stating, "no one there had any reason to hate (Colom) or dislike him or have anything personal against him"
