Crime
Shooting reported at Augusta Mall
Augusta, Ga. — Authorities are responding to an active shooter situation at Augusta Mall following reports of gunfire Tuesday afternoon.
According to initial reports, the first calls came in just before 1:25 p.m., indicating that three gunshots had been fired and that there may be as many as three victims.
By approximately 1:55 p.m., emergency medical crews were seen transporting two stretchers from the scene.
A third stretcher was observed positioned along the wall outside the Barnes & Noble store.
The area near Barnes & Noble, including the escalators, was cordoned off with police tape as investigators secured the scene.
Witness accounts indicate that the suspected shooter was initially seen near the American Eagle store before fleeing into Bath & Body Works.
Mall employees and shoppers took cover as law enforcement began their response. Workers at Great American Cookies stated they were sheltering in place but reported that they did not witness the incident firsthand.
Shoppers at the Apple Store were escorted to the back of the store, where they also sheltered until further notice.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that bystanders attempted to administer CPR to one of the victims inside the mall.
Employees across several businesses within and around the mall confirmed that a lockdown was in effect, with individuals instructed to remain sheltered in place while authorities worked to secure the area.
This incident marks yet another shooting at Augusta Mall, which has experienced multiple violent events in recent years.
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.