Crime
1 killed, 2 injured after shooting near Howard Red Line in Rogers Park
A shooting incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, near the Howard Red Line station.
The incident resulted in one fatality and injuries to two others.
The shooting took place around 2:50 PM in the 1600 block of West Howard Street.
Three men were standing on a sidewalk when a vehicle drove up, and an occupant opened fire.
A 29-year-old man was struck in the neck, back, and abdomen.
He was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston but was tragically pronounced dead upon arrival.
Another 18-year-old man was shot in the chest and was also taken to St. Francis Hospital. His condition is currently listed as critical.
The third victim, a 20-year-old man, sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder and is in good condition at St. Francis Hospital.
No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting, and the investigation is ongoing.
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.