Crime
Active Shooter Investigation Underway at Montgomery Veterans Hospital
No one is injured. No one was shot.
UPDATE: Despite initial reports of an active shooter and a subsequent lockdown at the Montgomery VA Hospital, authorities have confirmed that no weapon was found.
Chief of Staff Chip Hill stated that police leadership has assured him there were no individuals armed with a gun on the premises.
He emphasized that there were no injuries, no shootings, and that the Montgomery Police Department is continuing to support federal counterparts in their ongoing investigation into the initial reports.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
The Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) is urging the public to avoid the Montgomery VA Hospital on Perry Hill Road due to an ongoing active shooter investigation. The alert was issued via email and social media.
Law enforcement and VA police are on the scene responding to the situation, and all hospital entrances have been temporarily restricted.
To prioritize the safety of everyone in the area, CAVHCS is requesting that all visitors, patients, and staff refrain from entering the hospital grounds until further notice.
“We are working closely with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of everyone on campus,” stated Valerie Russell, Acting Director of CAVHCS. “We will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
Individuals with scheduled appointments or urgent medical needs are advised to contact the hospital by phone to reschedule or seek care at alternative VA facilities. Authorities are expected to release additional details through official channels.
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.