Crime
Isaiah Smith Arrested and Charged with Murder in Fatal Shooting of Jose Alberto Feliz in Hyde Park
At approximately 1:14 p.m. on Friday, November 8, 2024, officers from District E-18 (Hyde Park) responded to reports of shots fired and a person shot on Garfield Avenue in Hyde Park, Boston.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered 28-year-old Jose Alberto Feliz, a resident of Hyde Park, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Tragically, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
During the on-site investigation, police apprehended 28-year-old Isaiah Trevon Smith, also of Hyde Park.
Smith faces charges of murder and several firearms-related offenses.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in West Roxbury District Court on Tuesday morning.
The Boston Police Department’s Homicide Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this fatal shooting.
Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
Individuals with information are encouraged to contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit directly at 617-343-4470.
For those who wish to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-TIPS or by texting the word “TIP” to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department assures that all individuals providing information anonymously will have their identities protected.
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.