Crime
Port St. Lucie 11-Year-Old and 9 Broward County Kids Face Accusations of School Threats
An 11-year-old sixth-grade student at Southern Oaks Middle School recently made a disturbing post on Instagram, threatening a potential shooting at the school.
School officials and law enforcement immediately launched an investigation, swiftly identifying the student who made the threat.
Upon searching the student, authorities determined that the threat was not credible. However, the incident caused significant alarm within the school community.
It is important to emphasize that such threats are illegal and will not be tolerated.
The student has been arrested and faces severe disciplinary consequences, including the possibility of expulsion.
This incident underscores the strong partnerships between the school district, staff, students, and law enforcement, who are dedicated to ensuring the safety of our students.
We urge everyone to take threats seriously, whether made in person or online. The message is clear: If you see something suspicious, please report it immediately.
The Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO) has reported that nine children, aged 11 to 15, have been accused of making threats against schools on Instagram since the start of the academic year.
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.