Crime
Shooting at Delicias Mexicanas Restaurant in Little Village Leaves 30-Year-Old Man Dead, Employee Injured
The suspects opened fire, striking the victim multiple times in the head before fleeing the scene.
A tragic shooting incident occurred late Monday night at a Little Village Delicias Mexicanas Restaurant in Chicago, resulting in one fatality and serious injuries to an employee.
A 30-year-old man was attempting to enter the restaurant, located in the 4100-block of West 26th Street, around 11:35 p.m. when he was confronted by two male suspects.
The suspects opened fire, striking the victim multiple times in the head before fleeing the scene.
Chicago Fire Department crews responded to the emergency and provided medical treatment to the victim, who was unfortunately pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim’s identity has not been released at this time.
The gunfire also penetrated the restaurant’s glass, injuring a 27-year-old female employee.
She was transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where she remains in serious condition.
Following the shooting, a heavy police presence was observed outside the Delicias Mexicanas Restaurant, which is a popular late-night dining option in the area.
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident, and Area Four detectives are actively investigating.
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.