Crime
1 killed, 3 injured after shooting at Maytag Laundromat in Lafayette
Preliminary investigations suggest that the shooter is among the four individuals involved in the incident, although no arrests have been made at this time.
A tragic shooting at Lafayette Laundry on South Street has left one man dead and three others injured, according to the Lafayette Police Department.
The incident occurred on Thursday evening around 7:41 p.m., prompting a swift response from authorities.
Victim killed in Lafayette Maytag Laundromat shooting identified as 35-year-old Keith Ford
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered a deceased male victim in the parking lot.
Inside the laundromat, they located three additional victims suffering from gunshot wounds: two men and one woman.
One of the male victims is reported to be in critical condition and was airlifted to a hospital in Indianapolis for advanced care.
The other male and female victims are currently in stable condition and receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the shooter is among the four individuals involved in the incident, although no arrests have been made at this time.
Authorities emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
The circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, and detectives are actively working to determine what transpired. The Lafayette Police Department is urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward.
This is a developing story, and additional details will be shared 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.