Crime
Downtown Orlando shooting suspect identified as 17-year-old Jaylen Dwayne Edgar
At least two people are dead and six others have been injured in a Halloween night.
A tragic shooting incident in Orlando, Florida, early Tuesday morning has left two people dead and six others injured.
The shooting occurred at two separate locations in the downtown area.
The first shooting took place near the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue, followed by a second shooting on Orange Avenue, south of Washington Street.
A 17-year-old suspect, identified as Jaylen Dwayne Edgar, has been arrested in connection with the shootings.
Edgar was previously arrested in 2023 on charges of grand theft.
The motives behind the shootings remain unclear, and authorities are investigating whether the attacks were random or targeted.
The victims, ranging in age from 18 to 39, were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
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.