Crime
Ezekiel Burden and Brian Campbell wanted in deadly Lumberton Walmart shooting
The Lumberton Police Department is actively seeking two individuals, including a 17-year-old, in connection with the fatal shooting of a woman at a Walmart on Fayetteville Road, Lumberton.
Authorities have identified the suspects as 17-year-old Ezekiel Burden and 18-year-old Brian Campbell.
Burden is wanted on charges of first-degree murder and weapons violations, while Campbell faces charges of accessory after the fact.
The incident occurred on Friday at the Woodforest Bank inside the Walmart, where police say the suspects targeted two individuals they knew who were waiting in line.
Tragically, the gunfire struck 42-year-old Brandy Olson, a resident of Lumberton, who was also in line but was not one of the intended targets.
Witnesses at the scene attempted life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived. Olson was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter.
The Lumberton Police Department has urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of Burden or Campbell, or details related to the shooting, to contact their office at 910-671-3845.
This tragic event has left the community reeling, and authorities are working diligently to bring those responsible to justice.
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.