Crime
21-year-old Jeremiah Matkins arrested in connection to deadly Twin Peaks shooting
An arrest has been made following a deadly shooting at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Huntsville on Saturday night, according to officials.
The Huntsville Police Department confirmed that the incident, which took place just after 9:45 p.m., involved an off-duty officer who was providing security at the venue.
Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles reported that two groups began arguing at the popular University Drive restaurant before shots were fired. Emergency services responded immediately after receiving a 911 call.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has identified the suspect as 21-year-old Jeremiah Matkins of Huntsville.
According to officials, Matkins discharged a firearm, fatally wounding 23-year-old Ray’shun Markelle Bates of Decatur.
Matkins was subsequently arrested and charged with murder. He is currently being held at Madison County Jail on a $50,000 bond.
During the incident, the off-duty officer reportedly discharged his weapon; however, ALEA confirmed that no one was struck by the officer’s gunfire.
“During the altercation, some shots were exchanged,” Chief Giles stated. Witnesses at the scene recalled hearing four to five shots, with one victim appearing to be hit in the neck or upper chest.
Some attendees suggested that the argument may have stemmed from a college football game, although this has not been confirmed.
The Madison County Coroner, Dr. Tyler Berryhill, later confirmed that Bates had succumbed to his injuries on Sunday. An autopsy is scheduled for later this week in Huntsville.
Three additional people sustained injuries in the altercation and are still under evaluation.
The investigation has been handed over to ALEA’s State Bureau of Investigation for further examination.
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.