Crime
19-Year-Old Lakylia Taylor Identified as Suspect in Fatal Foot Locker Shooting in Eastpointe
She is currently being held at the Macomb County Jail and is facing at least one charge of open murder.
EASTPOINTE, Mich. — Authorities have confirmed that 19-year-old Lakylia Taylor has been taken into custody in connection with a deadly quadruple shooting that occurred outside a Foot Locker store on Sunday, May 5.
The incident resulted in the deaths of two men and injuries to two other individuals.
According to the Eastpointe Police Department, Taylor voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement on Monday with the assistance of her attorney.
She is currently being held at the Macomb County Jail and is facing at least one charge of open murder.
While some media outlets have reported that Taylor may not have been the individual who fired the shots, police clarified that her involvement in the altercation could still lead to murder charges under Michigan law.
The shooting unfolded just after 3:00 p.m. in the parking lot near 8 Mile Road and Kelly Road, outside the Foot Locker retail location.
Investigators say the incident stemmed from a confrontation between two groups of individuals, which rapidly escalated from a verbal dispute into deadly violence.
Surveillance footage and witness accounts reveal that during the altercation, one individual used a firearm to physically strike another person.
The weapon reportedly broke during the assault. In response, a woman retrieved a second firearm from the trunk of a vehicle and discharged multiple rounds, striking four individuals.
Two men were pronounced dead at the scene.
A third victim, who was shot in the face, survived and was reported to be conscious and alert.
The fourth victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries and is currently in stable condition.
Authorities also reported that a third party fled the scene with the firearm used in the shooting.
Investigators are working to identify and locate that individual.
Detective Lieutenant Alexander Holish emphasized how fortunate it was that the gunfire did not penetrate the store itself, where customers and employees were present. “We’re very lucky that bullets didn’t enter the store,” Holish said. “This could have been an even greater tragedy.”
As of now, no additional arrests have been made, and the names of the deceased victims have not yet been released pending notification of next of kin.
The investigation remains active.
Police are urging anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Eastpointe Police Department or submit tips anonymously through local crime tip lines.
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.