Shooting at Silver Spoon’s restaurant critically injures man who tried to intervene

By WTVD Staff

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    DURHAM, North Carolina (WTVD) — A man was critically injured and another man is facing charges after an argument escalated into a shooting at a business late Sunday morning, according to the Durham Police Department.

Officers responded around 11:31 a.m. to a report of a gunshot wound at the Silver Spoon restaurant on North Roxboro Street.

When officers arrived, they learned two employees at the business had gotten into an argument. Police said a man attempted to step in and de-escalate the situation and shots were fired.

One of the employees involved in the argument allegedly fired a gun, striking the man who tried to intervene. Customers then ran out of the restaurant.

Derrick Parnell, who was there celebrating Mother’s Day, said he rushed to help as the man who fired the shot was being restrained in the parking lot.

“I grabbed the lower part of the gentleman and and we took him to the ground,” Parnell said. “A lot of family members were coming out screaming and yelling. And just really — I was scared that they were going to do harm to him or us.”

Police said bystanders held the suspect until Durham officers arrived.

The victim was taken to a hospital in critical condition, police said.

Police arrested Samar Suliman Al-Mahmoud, 55, in connection with the shooting. He is charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflict serious injury.

Police have not released additional details about what led to the argument. The investigation is ongoing.

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