Crime
Mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, at least 4 dead, 9 injured – Active Shooter Apprehended
UPDATE: A mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, has left at least four people dead and 9 injured.
Law enforcement sources indicate that the number of injuries may include gunshot wounds, but the exact count is uncertain. A suspect, believed to be a student, is in custody. However, it remains unclear whether the suspect is enrolled at Apalachee High School.
As a precautionary measure, all schools in the district were placed on lockdown, and police officers were deployed to all district high schools. No additional incidents or active shooter situations have been reported.
Several individuals with critical injuries were airlifted from the scene by helicopter, and additional helicopters are on standby.
The investigation into this tragic event is ongoing.
Original Report:
A tragic shooting incident occurred at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, resulting in the deaths of at least two people.
Authorities received reports of an active shooter situation at the school around 10:23 a.m. Responding officers discovered multiple casualties, including at least four injured individuals.
The Barrow County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one suspect is in custody. Multiple ambulances, law enforcement vehicles, and a medical helicopter were deployed to the scene.
Students were evacuated from the school, and parents were notified to pick up their children. Transportation was provided for those who needed it.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp expressed his condolences to the affected families and directed all available state resources to assist in the response.
The FBI has also joined the investigation.
Apalachee High School is part of the Barrow County School System, serving approximately 15,340 students.
Crime
Security guard Yahaira Melendez charged with murder after shooting inside IHOP restaurant in Center City Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA, PA — A security guard has been arrested and charged with murder following a fatal shooting at a Center City IHOP over the weekend that left a 43-year-old man dead.
The incident occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on Saturday at the IHOP located in the 1300 block of Walnut Street, according to the Philadelphia Police Department.
When officers arrived, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim, who police say was unhoused, was transported to Jefferson Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Investigators report that the victim had been causing a disturbance inside the restaurant prior to the shooting. As security personnel escorted him outside, he allegedly turned and spat on one of the guards.
That guard, identified as 38-year-old Yahaira Melendez, allegedly responded by drawing her firearm and shooting the victim once in the head.
Police say preliminary findings indicate the victim was not armed at the time of the incident.
Melendez, a mother of three, was taken into custody and has been charged with murder and related offenses.
In a statement Melendez’s family expressed shock and disbelief over the situation, writing in part:
“We are shocked and devastated by the tragic events that occurred at the IHOP while she was working security. We know she would never harm anyone unless she felt she had no other choice to protect herself or others.”
The shooting has left nearby workers and residents shaken.
“Escalation — where was the escalation?” asked Karr Anderson, who works next door to the restaurant. “Security guards need to know how to withhold, how to show restraint.”
Philadelphia Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, including whether proper security protocols were followed and what led to the use of deadly force.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased pending family notification.