Crime
43-year-old Brandon Durham killed in officer-involved shooting near Sunset Park
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) identified the officer who fired his weapon as 26-year-old Officer Alexander Bookman.
Las Vegas police have released details regarding an officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of a knife-wielding suspect near Sunset Park on Tuesday.
On that day, officers responded to reports of a disturbance in the 6900 block of Wine Drive.
Upon arrival, they heard a loud commotion coming from within a nearby residence.
After entering the home, officers encountered two individuals engaged in a physical altercation, during which one of them was armed with a knife.
According to police, one officer commanded the armed individual to drop the weapon.
However, when the situation escalated, another officer discharged his firearm, striking the armed individual.
The Clark County Coroner identified the deceased as 43-year-old Brandon Durham. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) identified the officer who fired his weapon as 26-year-old Officer Alexander Bookman.
Officer Bookman, who joined the LVMPD in 2021, is assigned to the Community Safety Division within the South Central Area Command.
Following standard protocol, Officer Bookman has been placed on paid administrative leave while the department conducts a thorough review of the incident.
The LVMPD continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the altercation to ensure all details are fully examined.
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.