Crime
Grandson shot and killed his grandparents in Holliday, suspect dead
As the standoff continued, Holliday ISD and nearby homes were placed on lockdown to ensure the safety of residents.
A nearly eight-hour standoff in Holliday, Texas, concluded late Thursday night when authorities fatally shot a suspect around 10:15 p.m. on November 7.
The incident began earlier that afternoon when police responded to a home on Ford Road following reports of gunfire.
The situation unfolded at approximately 3 p.m. when Archer County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched after the suspect’s mother reported that her son had fatally shot her parents—his grandparents.
Upon arriving, deputies were met with gunfire from the suspect, who wielded a long rifle.
Officers quickly returned fire and called for backup, bringing in personnel from the Wichita County Sheriff’s Office and Wichita Falls Police Department (WFPD).
As the standoff continued, Holliday ISD and nearby homes were placed on lockdown to ensure the safety of residents.
The suspect then barricaded himself in a metal barn on the property, prompting SWAT teams from WFPD and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to deploy drones for surveillance. However, the suspect reportedly shot down one of the drones.
Attempts to negotiate with him proved unsuccessful, as he refused to communicate.
Law enforcement then began using an armored Bobcat to dismantle sections of the barn to gain visual access to the suspect.
Meanwhile, personnel from additional agencies, including the Texas Rangers, joined the effort.
As the standoff escalated, officers attempted to clear the barn using toxic chemical agents, but the suspect, who was reportedly equipped with night-vision goggles and gas masks, remained unaffected.
Around 10:15 p.m., officers observed the suspect raising his rifle toward them, prompting law enforcement to open fire.
Wichita County Sheriff David Duke stated that due to trauma on the body, it’s unclear if a sniper’s shot was the cause of death, but the suspect was confirmed deceased.
The suspect, believed to have been armed with a shotgun and rifle, was identified as a 28-year-old male, though his name and the names of his grandparents have not yet been released.
The Texas Rangers have assumed control of the investigation.
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.