Crime
55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek killed after shooting near Willmar in Minneapolis
The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody by authorities.
UPDATE: The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the deceased person from yesterday’s shooting near Willmar, as Jerome Skluzacek, 55, of New London, MN.
Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Imran Ali statedthat the victim from the shooting near Lake Lillian is in stable condition and is expected to survive.
He has been identified as Peter Mayerchak, 25, of Lake Lillian, MN.
The suspect has been identified as Ameer Matariyeh, 25, of Minneapolis, MN.
This investigation is still ongoing and no further information will be released at this time.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff and several of his Deputies were witnesses to this violent incident.
As such, no comments on these tragedies will be made by the Sheriff’s Office.
Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy during this difficult time. The deputies and other law enforcement officers that responded and apprehended the suspect risked their lives to protect their communities. These women and men are true heroes.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A tragic series of events unfolded on Tuesday, beginning with a shooting incident in Minneapolis and culminating in a fatal shooting near Willmar.
The incident began around 12:30 PM when Minneapolis police responded to reports of gunfire at an apartment building on the 2900 block of Lyndale Avenue South.
Witnesses reported seeing a man firing shots from a balcony.
Officers discovered two victims at the scene: the suspect’s ex-girlfriend and her current boyfriend.
A child shared by the ex-girlfriend and the suspect was thankfully safe at a daycare facility, which was immediately placed on lockdown.
The suspect fled the scene, leading police on a lengthy chase that extended into western Minnesota. In Kandiyohi County, the suspect shot and injured a man at a rural residence.
Law enforcement pursued the suspect to the Highway 71/23 bypass southeast of Willmar, where he attempted a carjacking and fatally shot the driver.
The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody by authorities.
He is currently being held in the Kandiyohi County Jail on multiple charges, including murder.
The victim of the shooting near Willmar has been identified as 55-year-old Jerome Skluzacek of New London.
The victim of the shooting near Lake Lillian, a 25-year-old man from Lake Lillian, is in stable condition and expected to survive.
The suspect, a 25-year-old man from Minneapolis, has not been formally charged at this time.
The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the incident and has requested that the public respect the privacy of the victims and their families during this difficult time.
The sheriff’s office also acknowledged the bravery and dedication of the law enforcement officers who responded to the incident and apprehended the suspect, risking their own lives to protect the community.
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.