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
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.