Crime
Suspect in custody after shooting at Arista Flats Apartments in Broomfield, Colorado
Both the suspect and one victim have been transported to a local hospital.
UPDATE: The suspect involved is now in custody. The scene has been secured by law enforcement.
Both the suspect and one victim have been transported to a local hospital. Their current conditions are unknown at this time.
Broomfield, CO – A serious incident is currently unfolding at the Arista Flats apartment complex on Central Court in Broomfield.
The Broomfield Police Department has issued a shelter-in-place order for the area, warning residents that the surrounding vicinity is not safe.
The shooting is taking place on the west side of the old First Bank Center. Gunfire is still being heard in the area.
A witness living near the apartment complex told Channel2 NOW that they were walking their dog when a bullet pierced their window, narrowly missing their head.
Highway 36 remains unaffected by the incident past the area where police are responding to the active shooter situation.
The SWAT team, crisis negotiators, and surrounding law enforcement agencies are actively involved in the response.
Nearby Jefferson Academy has been placed on secure status. This means that the school’s normal operations are continuing, but the doors are locked to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the building.
The first media briefing will be held at 10:30 AM in the north parking lot of the First Bank Center.
If you are a resident of the area and did not receive an emergency reverse notification, please be sure to attend the briefing for important updates and information.
We will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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.