Crime
Lindbergh Elementary School Placed on Lockdown Following Reports of Shooting Near Campus
COLUMBUS, OH — Lindbergh Elementary School, located at 2541 Lindbergh Drive in Columbus, was placed on lockdown Monday after eyewitnesses reported multiple gunshots in the vicinity of the school.
Columbus police confirmed that at least one individual was shot in the area near the school grounds.
The shooting prompted an immediate security response, with school officials and law enforcement coordinating to secure the building and ensure the safety of students and staff.
Parents were notified of the lockdown through the district’s emergency communication system, and officers were seen securing the perimeter while investigating the incident.
Authorities have not yet released details regarding the condition of the shooting victim or any information about potential suspects.
The investigation remains active, and additional updates are expected as police continue processing the scene.
School officials emphasized that all students and staff remain safe inside the building, and the lockdown will remain in place until authorities confirm there is no further threat in the area.
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.