Crime
Devin Raper Arrested in Connection with Fatal Shooting of 16-Year-Old Trey Wright in Johnsonville
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. — The Florence County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) has announced an arrest in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred late Tuesday night near Johnsonville.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on June 24, 2025, deputies were dispatched to a report of gunfire on First Neck Road, just outside Johnsonville.
Upon arrival, deputies located a male juvenile lying in the roadway suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Emergency medical personnel responded and transported the victim to a nearby hospital. Despite life-saving efforts, the victim was later pronounced deceased.
Florence County Coroner Keith Von Lutcken identified the victim as 16-year-old Trey Dean Wright, a resident of Johnsonville.
Following an intensive investigation, authorities arrested 22-year-old Devin Scott Raper on June 25, 2025, in Conway, South Carolina.
He has been charged with Murder and Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime.
According to investigators, the shooting is believed to have stemmed from a verbal altercation between the suspect and the victim that escalated into gunfire.
The arrest was the result of a coordinated effort involving the Florence County Sheriff’s Office Warrants Bureau, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, and the Horry County Police Department.
Raper is currently being held at the Florence County Detention Center, where he awaits a bond hearing.
Authorities say the investigation remains active, and additional arrests may be forthcoming.
The Florence County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information related to the incident to come forward.
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.