Crime
30-year-old Brandon Holland killed after shooting in Callaway, suspect Antonio Payne in custody
Callaway, Virginia – In the early hours of Saturday, December 7, 2024, Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported shooting at a residence on Moe Lane.
The incident, which occurred around 4:30 a.m., has left one man dead and another in custody.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered the lifeless body of 30-year-old Brandon A. Holland, a resident of Callaway.
Holland had succumbed to an apparent gunshot wound.
Following a swift investigation, authorities identified Antonio Maurice Payne, 37, of Lebanon, Virginia, as the suspect in the shooting.
Payne was taken into custody later that morning in Montgomery County. He faces charges of Second-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation. Law enforcement has not released details about the events leading up to the incident or the relationship, if any, between Payne and Holland.
Officials are actively working to gather evidence and interview witnesses.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office expressed its condolences to the family and friends of Brandon Holland during this tragic time.
Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
If you have any details that might aid the investigation, please call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 540-483-3000. Anonymous tips are welcome.
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.