Crime
Li’red Desantis killed, multiple people injured after shooting in Mobile
The current conditions of the injured victims have not been disclosed.
Mobile Police are investigating a tragic shooting that occurred late Friday night near the intersection of Bellingrath Road and Laurendine Road, resulting in one fatality and several injuries.
According to an official release from the Mobile Police Department, officers were dispatched to the scene at approximately 10:47 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2024, after reports of gunfire.
Upon arrival, officers discovered one deceased victim, identified as Li’red Desantis. Several other individuals sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals.
Among the victims, six were juveniles who sustained injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment. The extent of their injuries remains unclear as of Saturday morning.
According to investigators, the victims were attending a bonfire in the area when gunfire erupted.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are still under investigation, and no arrests have been made at this time.
The Mobile Police Department is urging anyone with information related to this incident to come forward. Tips can be provided directly by calling 251-208-7211. Anonymous tips are also welcome and can be submitted via text to 844-251-0644 or through the department’s official website.
Residents in the area are encouraged to remain vigilant as investigators work to gather more information. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
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.