HALL COUNTY, Ga. — Authorities are actively searching for the person or people who shot a 60-year-old cook inside a popular Hall County restaurant late Wednesday night.
The Gainesville Police Department told Channel 2 Action News that the person or people entered Huddle House on Jesse Jewell Parkway around 11:30 p.m. and shot the man multiple times.
A woman working inside the restaurant was able to escape and get help at a nearby convenience store.
"We can't say whether this is a random act of violence or not," Gainesville Police Sgt. Kevin Holbrook said.
TRENDING STORIES:
The victim, identified as Michael Benham, was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in critical condition. Police said he’s expected to survive.
A family member told us Benham is an Army veteran and a good person.
"If we plan on living in a civilized society, then things like this can't be tolerated," the family member said.
Investigators told Channel 2 Action News that minutes after they were called to the Huddle House for this shooting, they got a call about another shooting not too far away.
They're working to see if there's any connection.
Cox Media Group
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/BLQBAW7GYZA6XNWXFTGTINOBP4.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/PG47OAJKSRCEFLLY6GL6NDESJA.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7UR2O74T5JDSVEDSUBGI46FBRY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/OV6IQODWYRAGXJA7ABBUIG7DXE.png)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/S2ALBKRKV5GGHPVG6GAYSC4MVA.png)