Crime
Mass Casualty Incident Declared at Black Bike Week Concert in Atlantic Beach, South Carolina
ATLANTIC BEACH, SC — Emergency officials have declared a mass casualty incident following a chaotic event during a concert at Black Bike Week in Atlantic Beach on Saturday night.
The annual event, which draws thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts—primarily from the Black community—turned into a scene of crisis as multiple individuals sustained injuries under still-unclear circumstances.
According to emergency responders, 10 victims have been transported to area hospitals for treatment.
The types and severity of injuries are not yet confirmed, and authorities have not released information on the exact cause of the incident.
It is also unclear if the injuries were caused by violence, a structural issue, crowd surge, or another factor.
Local emergency medical services (EMS) are continuing to operate on scene, and North Strand and Grand Strand hospitals have been placed on diversion or near-diversion status due to the sudden influx of patients.
This means those facilities are either temporarily redirecting incoming patients or nearing capacity.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as concertgoers scrambled for safety and emergency crews rushed to provide medical aid.
Videos and images circulating on social media show large crowds and multiple ambulances arriving at the concert venue.
The incident occurred during one of the major events of Black Bike Week, a Memorial Day weekend tradition in Atlantic Beach that has drawn participants for decades.
The situation remains fluid, and investigators are working to determine what triggered the emergency.
Local and state authorities are urging the public to avoid the area as first responders continue to manage the scene.
Further updates will be provided as more details become available.
Anyone with information or video footage related to the incident is encouraged to contact Atlantic Beach Public Safety or Horry County Emergency Management.
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.