Crime
Active shooter reported on Crescent Road Northwest in Calgary
CALGARY, Alberta — Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order Tuesday evening for residents in the 500 block of Crescent Road Northwest following reports of an active shooter in the area.
Calgary Police confirmed that emergency personnel were dispatched after receiving calls of gunfire.
Out of an abundance of caution, officials instructed nearby residents to remain indoors, lock doors and windows, and avoid the area until further notice.
The shelter-in-place directive applies specifically to those living in and around Crescent Road NW, though police urged the wider public to avoid traveling through the community while the situation is active.
Details on potential victims or a suspect description have not yet been released. Law enforcement remains on scene, working to secure the area and ensure public safety.
Authorities advised anyone who observes suspicious activity or has information related to the incident to call 911 immediately and not attempt to intervene.
Further updates are expected from the Calgary Police Service as the situation develops.
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.