Crime
Hoax shooting threat at East High School in Cheyenne
A similar threat was later reported at South High School, where officers are currently on-site, working to clear the premises.
At approximately 8:05 a.m. Cheyenne Police Officers received a school shooting threat at East High School. The report came in through a third-party text line.
Immediately following the call, school administration was notified of the potential threat, and East High was placed into a lockdown for the safety of the students and staff.
Additional officers were dispatched to assist and entered the school. They began simultaneously securing and searching the interior.
At approximately 8:30 a.m., dispatch received another school shooting threat at South High School from the same number.
Officers cleared both buildings and no credible threat was found. The CPD is working with the FBI to determine who the responsible party might be. No injuries have been reported.
It appears that this particular threat has been made to at least three other schools across the county – and similar unsubstantiated calls are being made to schools throughout the nation.
Out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased police presence at the school.
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.