Crime
19-year-old Ladaibrien Acker killed after shooting at gas station on US-90 in Waveland
Following their investigation, police arrested 22-year-old Robert George Sams Jr. in connection with the shooting.
Waveland, MS – The Waveland Police Department is investigating a tragic early morning shooting on Saturday that claimed the life of a 19-year-old man and injured a woman.
At approximately 1:33 a.m., officers responded to reports of gunfire at a gas station on US-90 in Waveland.
Upon arrival, they discovered 19-year-old Ladaibrien Acker, a Waveland resident, in the parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest.
Emergency medical personnel quickly transported Acker to a local hospital, but despite their efforts, he succumbed to his injuries.
During the course of the investigation, authorities identified a second victim—a female who had been shot in the arm. She received medical treatment and has since been released from the hospital.
Following their investigation, police arrested 22-year-old Robert George Sams Jr. in connection with the shooting.
Sams has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated assault.
The Waveland Police Department confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Authorities are working to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Waveland Police Department at 228-467-3669 or Hancock County Central Dispatch at 228-255-9191.
The department extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and expressed its commitment to ensuring justice is served.
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.