Crime
One person injured in shooting outside Dillon Walmart
UPDATE: One person was shot in the Walmart parking lot and transported to the Hospital. No further information at this time.
Authorities are looking into reports of an alleged shooting at or near the Walmart in Dillon.
Details remain unclear at this time, but eyewitness accounts describe a tense scene as customers and employees evacuated the store.
A witness inside Walmart during the incident stated that they did not hear gunfire but saw everyone rushing to exit the building.
“Security was helping guide people out of the store,” the witness explained.
Eyewitness accounts suggest a chaotic scene inside the store.
One shopper, who was near the automotive section, recounted hearing multiple gunshots. “I was about 20 feet away when I heard several shots,” the witness said. “Employees immediately rushed toward me and other customers, urging everyone to evacuate the store.”
An ambulance was seen in the parking lot, but there has been no confirmation of injuries or the nature of the incident.
Dillon Police Chief David Lane has been contacted for an official statement, and further updates are expected as information becomes available.
The situation is still developing, and law enforcement is actively investigating.
The Dillon Police Department, already on the premises, responded swiftly to the situation, securing the area and beginning an investigation.
As of now, there are no official updates regarding injuries, arrests, or the circumstances surrounding the incident. The store remains closed as law enforcement conducts a thorough assessment.
Authorities have asked anyone with information to contact the Dillon Police Department.
This is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more details 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.