Crime
Victims killed in Beaver County shooting identified
Authorities have not disclosed further information about the couple or the nature of the incident.
UPDATE: Police confirmed to Channel2 NOW that a family of four was shot inside the home, leaving a mother and father dead at the scene and their two children who later succumbed to their injuries at a Pittsburgh hospital.
The victims have been identified as Michelle Hunt, her husband Bill Hunt, and their two children, Cody Hunt and CJ.
Authorities are investigating a tragic shooting incident in North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, that left two people dead and two others injured on Sunday night.
The shooting occurred on Shaffer Road, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement. Emergency medical teams arrived on the scene, and the two injured individuals were airlifted to a nearby hospital via medical helicopter for treatment. Their conditions remain undisclosed.
North Sewickley Police confirmed on Monday morning that the incident was contained, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
However, they have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting or potential suspects.
The two victims who lost their lives have been identified as Michelle Tomecsko Hunt and her husband, Bill Hunt.
Authorities have not disclosed further information about the couple or the nature of the incident.
The incident has left the small, close-knit community in shock. Jennifer Lanham, who works nearby, shared her disbelief.
“Everybody here knows everybody. We’re a very tight-knit community. Everybody looks out for one another. This is a tragedy beyond compare for our town,” Lanham said.
Lanham recounted how one of her employees informed her that police had requested nearby businesses to close as a precaution.
“It’s really hard to wrap your head around something like this. A multiple homicide in a small town—it’s staggering. You just don’t hear about things like this happening here,” she added.
Law enforcement has not yet provided details on the motive or any suspects involved in the shooting. The investigation remains active, and officials are urging anyone with information to come forward to assist in the case.
Further updates will be provided as authorities release more information about this tragic event.
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.