Crime
Nathanial Bratcher II Charged with Murder of Larreon Cosby Following Lake Mary Shooting
Lake Mary, Florida – Seminole County deputies are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred at an apartment complex. The suspected gunman, Nathanial Samuel Bratcher II, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
The victim, Larreon Da’Quan Cosby, was found shot to death on the front porch of an apartment. Cosby’s girlfriend informed investigators that Bratcher, her ex-boyfriend, had called her earlier, threatening to kill Cosby.
Deputies say Bratcher fled the scene in a white Ford Mustang convertible. He was later spotted by a police helicopter and subsequently taken into custody.
Bratcher has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and booked into the Seminole County jail.
Anyone with information regarding the shooting is encouraged to contact the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office at 407-665-6650 or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
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.