Crime
Christina Alewine and her father Gary Mulbery killed after shooting in parking lot of Woodward Walmart
The suspected gunman, 30-year-old Shane Allison of Beaver County, has been arrested and booked into the Woodward County Jail on two counts of First-Degree Murder.
A tragic shooting unfolded Wednesday afternoon in the parking lot of a Walmart in Woodward, Oklahoma, leaving two people dead and the community shaken.
Authorities have confirmed the identities of the victims as 42-year-old Christina Alewine, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and 81-year-old Gary Mulbery, who succumbed to his injuries after being transported to OU Trauma.
The suspected gunman, 30-year-old Shane Allison of Beaver County, has been arrested and booked into the Woodward County Jail on two counts of First-Degree Murder.
The shooting took place in the Walmart parking lot, prompting a rapid response from local law enforcement and emergency medical services.
Within minutes of the attack, police and ambulance crews arrived on the scene.
First responders attempted to provide aid to the victims, but Alewine was declared deceased on-site, and Mulbery later passed away in the hospital.
As officers secured the area, a manhunt began for the suspect.
Witness reports and surveillance footage led authorities to an area near Woodward High School. Police acted swiftly, and within approximately 15 minutes, officers apprehended Allison without further incident.
At the time of the shooting, a meeting was underway at Woodward High School, prompting an immediate lockdown of the facility.
Attendees of the meeting were temporarily confined as a precautionary measure while police pursued the suspect nearby. The lockdown was lifted once law enforcement deemed the area secure.
Walmart has remained open, but authorities have restricted access to certain areas of the property. Customers are advised to use the south parking lot and the south entrance to the store while the investigation continues.
As of 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, no additional injuries have been reported, and the condition of others who may have been involved remains unclear. Police are continuing to investigate the motive behind the shooting and are working to determine if the suspect knew the victims or if the attack was random.
The Woodward Police Department has urged anyone with information about the incident to come forward to assist in the investigation.
This tragic event has left the community in mourning, as residents grapple with the devastating loss of life. Local officials have expressed their condolences to the victims’ families and reiterated their commitment to ensuring public safety.
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.