Crime
Heavy Police Presence at Roseville High School Following Large-Scale Fight
Three female students at Roseville High School are facing both “disciplinary and legal consequences” following an altercation that escalated into a physical fight on Wednesday morning, as confirmed by school officials.
The incident took place on the high school campus along Common Road, just east of Utica Road, disrupting the school day and prompting swift action by staff and local authorities.
According to a statement sent to parents and guardians, the clash involved multiple students and required Roseville High School officials to implement a shelter-in-place protocol to ensure student safety.
Students were directed to remain in their classrooms while school staff and police secured the area.
Several police officers responded to the scene, and they maintained a presence at the school throughout the day.
The shelter-in-place protocol remained active until the students involved in the incident were removed from the building, officials said.
School administrators expressed understanding of the anxiety such events can cause and advised that during emergency protocols, access to the school building and phone communication are restricted until it is safe to resume normal operations.
They acknowledged the concern from families, urging patience and trust in the school’s safety protocols designed to protect students and staff.
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.