Crime
Suspect Emmauel Onious Williams captured after pursuit in Gwinnett County
Seneca, SC — On the evening of November 27, the Seneca Police Department responded to reports of gunfire at the Greenfield Apartments around 6:00 p.m.
Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals suffering from gunshot wounds at the scene.
Officers and first responders immediately administered first aid to the victims before arranging for their emergency transport.
All three individuals were airlifted to Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Their conditions have not been publicly disclosed at this time.
Through an intensive investigation, Seneca Police identified 29-year-old Emmanuel Onious Williams as the primary suspect in the shooting.
The exact circumstances leading to the incident remain under investigation, but officials are working to establish a motive and any connections between Williams and the victims.
Williams was apprehended later that same evening around 8:00 p.m. in Gwinnett County, Georgia. Authorities in Georgia detained him on unrelated charges and confirmed that he is also being held for Seneca Police Department on three counts of attempted murder.
Williams is currently awaiting extradition to South Carolina to face charges for the Greenfield Apartments shooting. The Seneca Police Department continues to work closely with Gwinnett County authorities to facilitate his transfer.
The Greenfield Apartments shooting has left the Seneca community shaken. Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward as the investigation continues.
For tips or information, contact the Seneca Police Department directly or use local anonymous tip lines. Further updates will be provided as they become available.
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.