Crime
Painter shot and killed at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, suspect in custody
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — A fatal shooting at Ingalls Shipbuilding on Friday morning has left one person dead and prompted a massive law enforcement response, with police confirming that a suspect has been taken into custody.
According to the Pascagoula Police Department, officers were dispatched to the shipyard at approximately 7:32 a.m. on August 22, 2025, following reports of an active shooter.
Upon arrival, officers located a deceased individual, described as a painter employed at the facility.
An Ingalls Shipbuilding spokesperson confirmed that an active shooter situation occurred, issuing an immediate shelter-in-place order for all personnel while law enforcement secured the area. “
We are urging all personnel to shelter in place and to await further instructions. Law enforcement was promptly notified and is currently at the shipyard and responding to the situation,” the statement read.
By mid-morning, Pascagoula Police confirmed that a suspect had been taken into custody.
Authorities said multiple agencies responded to assist, and a significant law enforcement presence remains at the shipyard as the investigation continues.
Investigators later revealed that the shooting may be linked to a domestic-related incident. Police confirmed that the suspect’s wife was found deceased earlier Friday morning, with evidence suggesting she had been killed the previous night.
Authorities believe the shipyard shooting may be connected to that incident, noting that the victim killed at Ingalls had reportedly been in a relationship with the suspect’s wife.
The names of the deceased victims and the suspect are being withheld pending family notifications.
Officials stressed that this was an isolated incident with no ongoing threat to the community.
The case remains under active investigation by Pascagoula Police, with assistance from multiple local and federal agencies.
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.