Crime
Suspicious person in custody after trying to enter Roosevelt Elementary School in Kenosha
UPDATE: “We want to address recent information circulating that suggests a person has been taken into custody. This is incorrect. We are actively following multiple leads and working diligently to identify the individual shown in the photo. Additionally, we want to clarify that this person remained in a secured entryway area and did not enter the main part of the school building.
A significant police response has been deployed to Roosevelt Elementary School in Kenosha following a report of a suspicious person on campus earlier today.
The Kenosha Police Department (KPD) and Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) are coordinating efforts to maintain safety across all KUSD campuses.
The individual, described as carrying a suspicious bag, was briefly seen on school property but left before police arrived.
Law enforcement officials are actively searching the surrounding neighborhood to locate the individual.
The police have shared an image of the person in question, urging community members who recognize or may have recently seen the individual to contact the Kenosha Police Department at 262-656-1234.
In response, KUSD has implemented a “Secure Hold” across all its schools, including Frank Elementary School, which issued a statement to families explaining the current safety measures.
Under the “Secure Hold,” activities within school buildings continue as usual; however, entry and exit are restricted, and afternoon 4K classes have been canceled to ensure maximum security.
Any 4K students who have not yet been picked up are being held safely on-site until further notice.
KUSD acknowledged the concern this situation may cause but reassured families that they are working closely with KPD, a partnership honed over many years to handle incidents like these effectively.
They have pledged to keep the community informed as the investigation progresses.
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.