Crime
US Customs and Border Protection Releases Report on Uvalde Robb Elementary Mass Shooting
The report, consisting of a summary and a full 200-page document, outlines the findings of the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility’s Critical Incident Review.
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released a comprehensive report detailing its agency’s actions during the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. The report, consisting of a summary and a full 200-page document, outlines the findings of the CBP Office of Professional Responsibility’s Critical Incident Review.
Key Findings and Recommendations:
Command and Control:
- A lack of clear federal authority for CBP personnel to intervene in local-level emergencies.
- The absence of a unified command and control framework among responding law enforcement agencies.
- Gaps in existing training for breaching tactics in cases involving locked doors.
CBP Leadership Actions:
- Implementing policy changes for CBP interactions with local and state law enforcement.
- Reevaluating training standards to address lessons learned.
- Improving operational methods for better command and control.
Legal Authorities:
- CBP personnel had inconsistent understanding of their legal authority to respond to non-federal emergencies.
- Addressing vague and misunderstood authorities could lead to more effective incident responses.
- CBP personnel’s legal authority might be limited to that of a private citizen in non-federal emergencies.
Command and Control Personnel:
- CBP personnel received no instructions from state or local law enforcement.
- No established command and control framework resulted in delays and potential loss of life.
- Lack of access to accurate school layout and keys hindered response efforts.
Active Shooter and Incident Management Training:
- Existing CBP training on active shooter response was insufficient.
- Training focused on federal property and lacked NIMS and ICS protocols.
- Training did not prepare personnel for school-based incidents, locked doors, or command and control.
- Insufficient coverage of ballistic shields, legal authorities, leadership, and agency interoperability.
Recommendations for Legal Authorities:
- Ensure clear understanding of legal authorities for CBP personnel.
- Develop policies for non-federal mass-casualty incidents.
- Pursue statutory changes to define federal law enforcement authority.
Recommendations for Training:
- Provide proper training and familiarize personnel with NIMS and ICS protocols.
- Revise and adapt training curricula to emerging best practices.
- Establish procedures for following medical triage best practices.
The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the CBP’s involvement in the Robb Elementary mass shooting and offers recommendations for improving future responses to such tragic events.
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.