Crime
Woman found dead in truck near Aldi store in Festus, suspect in custody
The involved officer has been confirmed to be unharmed.
A series of tragic events unfolded late Sunday morning in Crystal City, Missouri, involving a fatal officer-involved shooting and the discovery of a woman’s body in a vehicle, authorities reported.
The incidents began around 11:30 a.m. near the Aldi grocery store located in the 700 block of South Truman Parkway at the intersection with Veterans Boulevard.
According to eyewitness accounts, a truck with blown-out tires was stopped in the middle of South Truman Parkway. Police officers surrounded the vehicle, exiting their patrol cars with weapons drawn. The male driver exited the truck, behaving erratically, according to one witness who asked to remain anonymous.
The man brandished two pistols, initially pointing them at his own head before firing both guns. The shots did not strike him, but the display heightened tensions. Officers repeatedly ordered him to drop the weapons.
The situation escalated further when the man pointed one of the firearms in the direction of the officers. Police responded by opening fire, striking the suspect. Despite being hit, the man attempted to stand and again pointed a weapon at the officers, prompting a second round of gunfire that incapacitated him.
“The suspect was yelling for help,” the witness said. “The officers were instructing him to roll away from the guns so they could provide aid, but he refused to comply.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which has taken over the investigation, confirmed that a woman was found deceased inside the truck, and the suspect was taken into police custody.
The suspect’s condition has not been disclosed.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Grant Bissell reassured the public that the incident posed no ongoing threat. “We can confirm we are investigating an officer-involved shooting for Crystal City Police, and there is no danger to the general public,” Bissell stated.
Authorities noted that the officer-involved shooting is unrelated to an earlier robbery and pursuit reported in Arnold.
The Aldi grocery store remained open during the investigation, though traffic in the immediate area was redirected as law enforcement worked to process the scene.
Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes 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.