Crime
Kentucky police confirmed body found by YouTube live streamers is I-75 gunman Joseph Couch
Joseph Couch, the individual who was the subject of a nationwide manhunt following a shooting incident on Interstate 75, has been confirmed as the suspect.
Couch was located and apprehended by YouTube live streamers who were broadcasting their activities in the area. The exact circumstances of his capture are currently under investigation.
Kentucky State Police (KSP) is confident that the body discovered this afternoon is that of Joseph Couch, the suspect in the recent shooting incident on Interstate 75.
Articles found near the remains led investigators to this conclusion. Sheila and Fred McCoy, who had been actively assisting in the search efforts, are credited with their invaluable contribution.
While the positive identification is highly probable, officials are still awaiting the results of DNA testing for definitive confirmation.
Law enforcement agencies will provide further 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.