Crime
Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines arrested after allegedly shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in his office
UPDATE: One person has been fatally shot in an incident at the Letcher County Courthouse.
Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection with the deadly shooting of a judge at the Letcher County Courthouse.
Whitesburg, Kentucky – Letcher County Sheriff Mickey Stines has been arrested in connection with a shooting incident at the Letcher County Courthouse.
Stines is accused of shooting District Judge Kevin Mullins in his office, located off the Letcher District Courtroom. The shooting occurred on, prompting an active shooter situation.
Residents in the Whitesburg area were advised to shelter in place and go under lockdown immediately. Individuals in the downtown area were urged to lock their doors and remain safe. Both the Mountain Eagle and Appalshop confirmed reports of the shooting.
Nearby Letcher County Schools were placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure. While students were assured that they were not in danger, the lockdown remained in place until authorities deemed it safe to release them.
One person has been arrested in connection with the shooting. However, police have not yet authorized the release of students from the schools.
Initial reports indicated that the shooting took place in the District Courtroom. Court employees were visibly shaken and gathered on the sidewalk outside the courthouse.
Law enforcement officers responded to the incident promptly. A reporter is en route to Whitesburg to gather more information and provide updates as they become 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.