Crime
21-year-old James Sencer Bowen Jr killed after shooting outside Engineered Plastics Components in Bessemer
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
Bessemer police are continuing their search for a suspect following a deadly shooting that occurred at Engineered Plastics Components Inc. on Monday afternoon.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of the factory, located off Greenwood Parkway, around 3:45 PM. A male victim was transported to UAB Hospital, where he was tragically pronounced deceased.
The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
This homicide follows a violent Labor Day weekend that shocked the Bessemer community.
While some residents and workers in the area express a sense of desensitization to such violence, others are deeply disturbed by the incident.
Bessemer police have stated that Monday’s fatal shooting is believed to be an isolated incident and that the public is not considered to be in danger.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as 21-year-old James Sencer Bowen, Jr.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged to contact the Bessemer Police Department at 205-425-2411. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
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.