Crime
1 injured in shooting inside Southpark Mall in Colonial Heights
Colonial Heights, VA – Authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon at Southpark Mall, leaving one person injured.
The shooting took place near Dick’s Sporting Goods at Southpark Mall.
Police confirmed that the victim, a 22-year-old resident of Hopewell, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
They were transported to a local hospital for treatment, though their current condition has not been disclosed.
Law enforcement officers are actively reviewing surveillance footage from the area to identify the suspect and piece together the sequence of events leading to the shooting.
Shoppers inside the mall reported hearing what sounded like gunfire, prompting panic and a swift evacuation as individuals ran for safety.
The mall has not released an official statement regarding its operations following the incident, and police have not provided further details about the suspect or motive.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Colonial Heights Police Department.
The investigation remains ongoing, and updates will be provided as more 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.