Crime
Temple Police Respond to Shooting Near Temple ISD Administration Building, Suspect Detained
On Thursday morning, the Temple Police Department responded to a reported shooting near the Temple Independent School District (TISD) administration building, located in the Santa Fe Plaza area of downtown Temple.
Following the incident, a suspect was promptly taken into custody, and officials confirmed there is currently no ongoing threat to public safety.
As police managed the active scene, roads leading to the TISD administration building were temporarily blocked to facilitate the investigation and ensure public safety.
Jon Wallin, spokesperson for TISD, stated that police initially requested the district place the administration building on a secure hold as a precautionary measure.
This hold, which restricts entry and exit, was lifted within five minutes once authorities confirmed the situation was under control.
Temple Police have not yet released further information on the circumstances surrounding the shooting or the identity of the suspect.
Local authorities are expected to provide additional updates as the investigation proceeds, while TISD continues normal operations.
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.