Crime
Suspect in custody after shooting at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach
There is still a lot of conflicting information surrounding the shooting at Trump’s golf club in Florida. Initially, several news outlets reported that Trump was not the intended target.
However, moments ago, CNN reported that he was, in fact, the target of the attack.
No official statement has been released yet, but police recovered a backpack containing an AK-47 rifle and a GoPro camera near the scene of the shooting.
The suspect was spotted “aiming a rifle” at the golf course where Trump was playing, prompting the Secret Service to open fire.
The suspect carrying a firearm near Trump’s golf course fled in an SUV after the Secret Service opened fire and was later detained in a neighboring county.
Suspect was arrested on I-95 in Martin County, Florida, sheriff’s office says.
Authorities are set to hold a press conference soon to provide more details. The briefing is expected shortly.
Vice President Kamala Harris responded, saying, “I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America.”
The sheriff’s office will hold a press conference on the Trump golf course shooting at 4:30 p.m. ET.
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.