Crime
Lee County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Shooting and Barricade Incident in Lehigh Acres
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has released details regarding a tragic series of events that began with the fatal shooting of a woman in Lehigh Acres and culminated in the death of a suspect from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family suffering from an unimaginable loss this Christmas,” stated Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “This senseless act, and the subsequent incident that followed, is both unfortunate and devastating to our community as a whole. I am incredibly proud of my team members who worked tirelessly over the last 30 hours to conduct a thorough investigation, ultimately providing some form of closure to the victim’s family today.”
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Nora Avenue in Lehigh Acres.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a female victim had been fatally shot.
The suspect fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
Due to the severity of the crime, the LCSO Homicide Unit, alongside the Electronic Surveillance Unit, Real-Time Intelligence Center, and the State Attorney’s Office, launched an intensive investigation. Detectives established probable cause to arrest the suspect for Second-Degree Murder and Battery on a Person 65 or Older.
Tuesday morning, the LCSO Special Operations Unit (SOU) responded to a residence on 9th Street Southwest in Lehigh Acres, where the suspect was believed to be barricaded.
SOU members collaborated with the Electronic Surveillance Unit, Major Crimes Unit, Fugitive Warrants Unit, and K9 Unit to gain access to the home.
During the operation to locate and apprehend the suspect, deputies discovered a deceased male inside the residence. Preliminary findings indicate that the individual died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to piece together the events surrounding both incidents.
Sheriff Marceno reiterated the department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community, even during such tragic circumstances.
The LCSO extends its deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and encourages anyone with additional information to come forward.
For further details or to provide information, contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
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.