Crime
28-year-old Demonquerius Colbert killed in Mansfield shooting, suspect Vincent Lapatrick Jackson in custody
Following his arrest, Jackson was booked into the DeSoto Detention Center on charges of second-degree murder.
A tragic incident unfolded in DeSoto Parish early Saturday morning. At 2:50 AM, emergency dispatch received reports of a shooting at the intersection of Kennedy Street and Johnson Street.
Responding officers found Demonquerius Colbert, 28, inside his vehicle, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite immediate medical attention from DeSoto EMS and transport to DeSoto Regional Hospital, Colbert tragically succumbed to his injuries.
DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s detectives were immediately dispatched to the scene to investigate the crime and search for the perpetrator.
Through diligent efforts, authorities apprehended Vincent Lapatrick Jackson, 20, just over an hour later at approximately 4:10 AM.
Jackson was taken into custody during a traffic stop conducted by the DeSoto Sheriff’s Special Investigative Unit.
Following his arrest, Jackson was booked into the DeSoto Detention Center on charges of second-degree murder.
The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, and further details about the incident will be released as they become available.
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.