Crime
Shots Fired During Rotterdam Walmart Shoplifting Incident, Suspect in Custody
Rotterdam, NY – A shoplifting attempt at the Rotterdam Walmart on Friday afternoon escalated into gunfire, triggering a rapid police response and culminating in the arrest of a suspect.
According to the Rotterdam Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Walmart on Altamont Avenue on December 14 at approximately 2:50 p.m. following reports of gunshots.
Loss Prevention officers at the store confronted a male suspect for alleged shoplifting.
The suspect fled the store, running toward Altamont Avenue while discharging multiple rounds from a handgun.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
Following a swift investigation, authorities identified the suspect as 24-year-old Manief Mullins of Schenectady. Mullins, a New York State parolee, was apprehended without further incident and taken into custody.
Charges Filed
Mullins faces multiple felony charges, including:
- Reckless Endangerment in the 1st Degree (Class D Felony)
- Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree (Class C Felony)
- Robbery in the 1st Degree (Class B Felony)
He was transported to the Schenectady County Jail, where he is awaiting arraignment.
The Rotterdam Police Department received support from several law enforcement agencies, including:
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)
- Schenectady Police Department
- Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office
- New York State Police
- New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS)
Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident. The Rotterdam Police Department has urged anyone with information to contact their office as the case unfolds.
This alarming incident highlights the swift and coordinated efforts of law enforcement to address violence and ensure 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.