Crime
23-Year-Old Andrew Graney Arrested and Charged in Connection with Multiple Shootings Around I-40 and Southwest Raleigh
A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged early Friday morning following a series of shootings in southwest Raleigh that had kept the area on high alert throughout the week.
The suspect, identified as Andrew Thomas Graney, now faces multiple felony charges, including one count of assault with a deadly weapon and 11 counts of discharging a firearm into occupied dwellings or vehicles.
The incidents reportedly occurred between Monday and Thursday, sparking community concern and police investigation.
On Thursday afternoon, Raleigh police concentrated their efforts on a neighborhood along Kentford Court, with over two dozen officers arriving to make the arrest.
Authorities detained Graney, along with another man who was subsequently released without charges. Officials have not disclosed the methods they used to identify Graney as a suspect.
The extensive police presence surprised local residents, who witnessed the two men being escorted from a nearby home.
The location of the incident also prompted North Carolina State University to issue a WolfAlert to notify students and staff, as the neighborhood is close to NC State’s Centennial Campus.
The repeated shootings around the I-40 corridor and southwest Raleigh had already been concerning students, including Maria Smith, who expressed heightened worries about campus safety in light of the events.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the motive and details surrounding Graney’s alleged involvement in the shootings.
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.