Crime
Five Individuals Potentially Injured in Northeast Washington, D.C. Shooting
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the District of Columbia Fire Department (DCFD) are actively investigating a shooting incident that occurred in the 1500 block of Harry Thomas Way in Northeast Washington, D.C.
Authorities were alerted to reports of gunfire in the area and discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds (GSWs).
Emergency medical personnel transported the victims to local hospitals, where two are reported to be in critical condition.
Additionally, law enforcement is working to determine if two other individuals, who later sought medical treatment for GSWs as walk-in patients, are connected to the same incident.
Officers remain on the scene, gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. MPD has not released information regarding potential suspects or motives at this time.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities urge anyone with information about this incident to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099 or submit anonymous tips via the MPD’s Text Tip Line by sending a message to 50411.
This shooting is the latest in a series of violent incidents prompting concern among residents in Northeast Washington, D.C. MPD has increased its presence in the area as it works to ensure public safety and address rising violence.
Further updates will be provided as more details emerge.
Crime
Jonathan Schaffer killed in shooting inside Coquette Brasserie at North Hills in Raleigh
According to witnesses, George Colom, the executive chef at Coquette, entered the restaurant before 11 a.m. and fatally shot Jonathan Schaffer, a fellow employee.
Two employees of Coquette Brasserie have identified the gunman involved in Friday’s deadly shooting, which left one employee dead and another injured.
The incident unfolded inside the French restaurant, located at 4351 The Circle at North Hills Street in Raleigh.
According to witnesses, George Colom, the executive chef at Coquette, entered the restaurant before 11 a.m. and fatally shot Jonathan Schaffer, a fellow employee.
Colom then shot Jonathan Aguilar, another employee, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
After the shootings, Colom turned the gun on himself. He remains in critical condition, according to Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson.
Chief Patterson stated that all shots were fired inside the restaurant and the incident appeared to stem from a personal dispute.
She emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Urban Food Group, the company that owns Coquette, had listed Colom as the restaurant’s executive chef on its website. However, his name has since been removed.
Colom has a notable criminal history:
In September 2024, Colom was involved in a crash in Orange County, North Carolina, and pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident. He was ordered to pay $193 in court costs.
In January 2011, Colom was convicted in federal court for possessing a stolen firearm in New Mexico. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison. The charges stemmed from a 2010 incident.
After his release from federal prison, Colom returned to North Carolina and transitioned into the restaurant industry. According to his LinkedIn profile, he initially worked in the Wilmington area before moving to the Raleigh-Durham region around 2017.
Before his incarceration, Colom reportedly attended culinary classes at Central New Mexico Community College, where he honed his skills as a chef. His social media accounts feature photos of his culinary creations alongside images of firearms tagged with evidence markers from the U.S. Department of Justice.
State court records indicate that Colom is originally from Hubert, Onslow County, North Carolina, near the coast. His record also includes minor drug charges.
The Raleigh Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. Chief Patterson has assured the public that no additional threats exist, and authorities are working to provide clarity to the community.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Raleigh Police Department or submit tips anonymously.