Crime
Greenville Police Officer Fatally Shot During Incident Behind Pickett Street Homes
Tragedy struck the Greenville Police Department Monday night when an officer was fatally shot during an incident in a wooded area near the 3500 block of Pickett Street.
The confrontation occurred shortly before 8 p.m.
According to police reports, both the officer and a suspect sustained gunshot wounds during the encounter.
The officer suffered injuries to the leg and side, while the suspect’s condition remains undisclosed.
Emergency medical responders quickly transported both individuals to a nearby hospital.
Despite efforts to save him, the officer succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities have not provided details about the nature of the initial call that led to the shooting.
The wooded area where the incident unfolded is located behind several residential homes, and police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire.
Greenville Police have not yet released the names of the officer or the suspect, and no additional information has been made available.
This marks a solemn moment for the community and the law enforcement family, as condolences pour in for the fallen officer and his loved ones.
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.