A boat carrying migrants capsized on Wednesday in the Mediterranean north of Libya, and hundreds are feared dead, officials said, NBC News reported. 

Medecins Sans Frontieres said in a statement that its vessel Dignity I was on the scene. 

"There could have been up to 700 people on board at the time of the incident," the organization said in a statement. It added that there were "several confirmed deaths at the scene."

Italian ships and an Irish naval vessel were assisting in the rescue operation.

Over 2,000 migrants have died so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean, according to the International Organization for Migration.
 

To the average person, August 5 might not mean much but for athletes hoping for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team in Rio de Janeiro it represents a goal years in the making.

While many spend the next year talking about polluted water, expensive construction projects, and the inevitable security concerns, Olympic hopefuls will focus their thoughts on one thing: getting to Rio.

"This kind of feels like my Olympics coming up. I feel in my prime. This past year is going well and hopefully I’ll come back from World Championships with a medal, but this is all just a rehearsal for next year,” said Joe Kovacs, an early medal stand front runner for Team USA in the shot put.

Kovacs finished a heartbreaking fourth at the 2012 Olympic Trials and watched the three men above him represent the country.

Now, after three years of rigorous training, and an address change to the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center, Kovacs sits at the top of the world rankings ready to make the team and bring home a gold.

“Having the year out is kind of a sigh of relief, because these past few years I’ve been waiting for that moment” said Kovacs.

Hundreds of athletes with Olympic aspirations come through Chula Vista’s OTC every year, but the year before the Summer Games brings an added element of excitement and energy to the sprawling campus.

"The biggest thing about one year out is it moves so fast. So, you have to be prepared for everything that is involved," said Lex Gillette, a long and triple jumper hoping to make his fourth Paralympics. The Paralympics will start in September of 2016, a few weeks after the Olympics closing ceremony.

"These are the most important days. You make these days count. You have 365 days to go until the biggest competition of our careers," said Gillette, who is blind.

The 2016 Olympics will feature new sports including Golf and Sevens Rugby. The U.S. women’s rugby team trains in Chula Vista.

"Our sports psychologist Peter, he always tells us to be in the moment and be present and I think that applies to a lot of things we do," said Lorrie Clifford.

The U.S. women’s rugby team has already qualified for a spot in Rio, but the roster won’t be announced until a date closer to the games. Roughly 2 to 3 dozen women are fighting for 12 spots.

The milestone adds a little bit of stress to the Olympic dream.

"I think it makes everything a little more real. It’s really exciting for all of us I think, being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel a little bit," said Megan Bonny.
 

San Diego Police are investigating a shooting reported in Rancho Bernardo early Wednesday.

Someone called 911 reporting gunshots and a victim down in the street just after 1 a.m.

Officers went to the location on Matinal Road and didn’t find an incident.

Then, a short time after that call, medical staff at Pomerado Hospital reported treating a man with a gunshot wound to the leg.

The 32-year-old man was brought to the hospital in a companion’s vehicle, police said.

His wound was described as non-life threatening.

Police say they are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
 

A "relentless" suspect chased a man down a Chula Vista street and stabbed him to death, Chula Vista Police told NBC 7 Tuesday. 

At about 6 p.m., calls into 911 reported a fight in progress in the 2800 block of Cielo Circulo, part of the Eastlake Vistas area.

"I was trying sleep and I heard someby running and screaming," said Alex Felix.

Felix and other residents of the Casa Lago Condominium complex were startled during their evening routines by shouts outside their windows.

Police said a 19-year-old suspect stalked, chased and stabbed another man as they ran down the complex's road. 

"The crime scene appeared to be a very violent struggle with a victim fleeing for his life and screaming for help," said Sallee.

The victim ran into an unsuspecting family's home nearby, while the suspect, also covered in blood, ran off.

Officers found the victim dead from multiple stab wounds in a kitchen when they arrived. They still have not identified him, though they say he is in his 40s. Police are not sure if the two men involved even live in the complex.

As officers combed the area, they found the 19-year-old suspect walking west on Otay Lakes Road. He did not cooperate with police and refused to show the his hands. Believing the man was armed, officers deployed a canine on the suspect, officials said. 

"The dog jumped on him and just took him down," said a witness, who did not wish to be identified.

The suspect was taken into custody and then transported to the hospital for a dog bite and superficial knife wounds to his hands.

Once released, police said the man will be charged with murder, though the weapon used in the homicide has not been found.

Violent crimes detectives have taken over the investigation. They cannot say what motivated the killing at this time, but they ensured residents that they are not at risk and no one else is threatened.

Two special forces airmen were killed during military free-fall training in Florida, the Air Force announced late Tuesday. 

Tech. Sgt. Timothy Officer Jr., 32, and Tech. Sgt. Marty Bettelyoun, 35, were rushed to local hospitals after the accident at Eglin Air Force Base on Monday, NBC News reported. 

Both were Special Tactics Airmen, a force made up of specially-trained air traffic controllers, pararescuemen specializing in rescue operations, and military weathermen and forecasters.

Officer was a two-time recipient of the Bronze Star, according to the Air Force Times newspaper and served 14 years in the Air Force, during which he deployed several times in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 720th Operations Support Squadron.

Bettelyoun was a married father of five. He was a combat controller who was also with the 720th Operations Support Squadron. He also had several combat deployments during his 15-year career, the Air Force Times said.

A firefighter was injured battling a second-story fire in a Carlsbad apartment complex early Wednesday.

Firefighters still don't know what caused flames to rip through the apartment complex at about 1:55 a.m.

Emergency crews were called to the complex on Laguna Drive just west of Interstate 5 and found one unit engulfed in flames.

Officials evacuated all eight units, affecting approximately a dozen people.

Fire crews had to shut off electricity in the entire building just to get a handle on this fire. They got a handle on the fire within 10 to 15 minutes.

A family of four lived in the unit damaged by fire but officials say they were able to make it out okay.

One firefighter suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.

None of the residents suffered any injuries.

Neighbors are waiting for SDG&E to restore power to the complex so that they can return to their homes.

Meanwhile, the couple that lived below the unit suffered lots of water damage.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross was en route to offer help to those displaced.
 

A popular Vietnamese sandwich shop in Linda Vista is a total loss after it erupted in flames Tuesday night, San Diego Fire-Rescue officials said, causing the owner to suffer a medical emergency.

A cooking fire started in the oven of K Sandwiches at 7604 Linda Vista Road just before 9 p.m. The flames were discovered by the owner and workers as they were getting ready to close up shop.

When firefighters arrived, they found heavy smoke and flames pouring from the business. Drones soon started flying above, and while they did not interfere in the firefighting efforts, officials were concerned about them. The SDFD tweeted a request for their operators to stop.

Officials say everyone inside made it out safely, but the owner suffered an unknown medical emergency after seeing what happened to his business. 

"That's kind of very tragic, seeing a place like this — a very beautiful, busy place — going up in smoke like that, it's tragic," said De Le, who visited the restaurant only eight hours ago.

Firefighters say it was difficult to reach the center of the fire as it burned through the roof, which meant the structure had been compromised, according to SDFD Deputy Chief of Operations Steve Ricci. Crews were then forced to take a defensive approach.

"It was a stubborn fire. I've got over 30 years with San Diego Fire-Rescue, and I haven't seen a fire like this in a long time," said Ricci.

The counter-service restaurant, which specializes Bahn Mi sandwiches, breads and other Vietnamese food, suffered about $1.5 million in damage.

Ricci said crews will be on the scene for another two to three hours.

A hiker was rescued from the top of Cowles Mountain before noon on Wednesday, officials said. 

The incident happened at 10:19 a.m. near Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. 

San Diego Fire-Rescue officials airlifted the patient to a nearby road, where she was transferred to an ambulance and taken to the hospital, footage from Chopper 7 showed. 

The condition of the patient is unknown. 

Further information was not immediately available. 

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) is warning residents of a phone scam where a caller poses as a deputy and tells the victim a warrant is out for their arrest. 

The scam uses a technique called “caller spoofing,” where a scammer will call a victim and make the call seem like it is coming from a government or law enforcement department. 

During the phone call, a caller tells the victim a warrant has been issued for their arrest because of a failure to pay taxes or appear in court for jury duty.

Scammers will use names of actual Sheriff’s employees and real substations' phone numbers in their pitches to sound more legitimate, the SDSO said.

Then they will demand money by requesting a credit, debit or prepaid card.

A pushy caller may also have some personal information, including a former address or date of birth, officials said, and may threaten residents with jail time, the SDSO said.

The Sheriff’s Department warned they do not contact residents by phone and demand money or any other form of payment. Officials said if a resident receives a call like the one described above, they should hang up. 

If you receive a call like the one described above, please go to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) website at www.fcc.gov/complaints to report the incident. Victims of scams can call the Sheriff's Department at (858) 565-5200.

Former president George W. Bush surprised a Dallas courthouse Wednesday morning when he showed up as a member of the jury pool.

After receiving a jury summons, Bush sat through the jury selection panel for a case in Judge Eric Moye's court on the 14th civil district at the George Allen Courts Building in Dallas, according to Freddy Ford, the president's spokesperson.

Surprisingly, (or maybe not), Bush was not picked to serve as a juror.

Bush sat there for about three hours and posed for photos with fellow jury candidates, judges and other court staff before leaving with his security detail.

“It would be great if everyone took their jury service the same way [Bush] did,” Moye told The Dallas Morning News. “He understood it was important, he took it in good nature and he was engaged and talked to the lawyers.” 

A new passageway to a biblical city has been unveiled in Israel.

A massive gate was revealed in an archaeological dig leading to Gath, which the Old Testament called home to Goliath, according to NBC News.

The town was once the largest city in the region, and experts say the findings allude to just how impressive it was. Because the walls are so large, it will most likely take several archaeological seasons to uncover them completely.

The town was occupied until around 830 B.C. 

The suspect in a fatal deputy-involved shooting who told officers he would kill them has been identified by San Diego County Sheriff's Department officials. 

Vista resident Daniel Robert Avila, 55, died yesterday after an incident that began on the Las Pulgas Road off ramp by Camp Pendleton Tuesday, the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) officials said. 

The incident happened at 12:09 p.m. off southbound Interstate 5 when an OCSD deputy found a man in distress, acting strangely in a car pulled over on Las Pulgas Road, according to San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. John Maryon.

When the deputy approached Avila, he started aggressively pointing at the deputy and yelling.

"At some point, [he] said, 'I have a weapon. I'm going to kill you and I'm going to kill myself,'" said Maryon.

The deputy immediately retreated back to his patrol vehicle and called in backup from fellow deputies and Border Patrol agents.

An hourlong standoff ensued, as the man said he had a gun pointed at the deputy's stomach and threatened to kill him, according to the lieutenant.

Finally, when Avila emerged from his car, he "had his right arm extended with something black — some sort of black material — wrapped around his hand, extending it as if it was a weapon," said Maryon.

A deputy shot a bean bag round at the suspect's stomach, but the man continued to point his arm in their direction.

Three OCSD deputies and two Border Patrol agents then fired their guns, killing Avila. No weapon has been found on him, according to Maryon.

The lieutenant said the suspect claimed to suffer from PTSD related to his time in the military. 

During the standoff, Maryon said the man made statements that he is being accused of killing his parents. However, investigators confirmed that both of his parents are alive. 

The off ramp at Las Pulgas Road just west of I-5 was closed as officials investigated. 

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321 or (858) 565-5200 for after hours contact.

If you would like to remain anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. You may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.

Camp Pendleton Fire offiicals are monitoring a brush fire on the base that has grown to about 300 acres.

The blaze started near Range 210 in the 53 Area at about 1 p.m.

Crews have shut down Basilone Road in the area as firefighters respond.

The road is expected to remain closed for about three hours, and traffic control points have been set up to help drivers find an alternate route.

The airplane fragment that washed up on an island last week was a piece of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, the Malaysian prime minister confirmed Wednesday — the first definitive physical clue to the greatest mystery in modern aviation, NBC News reported.

The fragment — a 6-foot-long, barnacle-encrusted wing flap — was discovered by a crew cleaning the beach on Reunion Island, a French territory in the Indian Ocean off the southern tip of Africa.

Investigators had analyzed the wing fragment, known as a flaperon, at a laboratory in Toulouse, France. In a statement, Malaysia Airlines said that the confirmation of the wing fragment was reached jointly by French, Malaysian and Australian investigators.

Flight MH370 vanished with with 239 people on board after veering far off its set northerly course from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to Beijing.

Nachos are so last season. When Chargers season kicks off at Qualcomm Stadium this fall, patrons will have plenty of new stadium snacks to sink their teeth into.

Delaware North Sportservice, the company that provides Southern California-themed concessions at downtown San Diego’s Petco Park, recently won a contract to do the same at “The Q.”

On Wednesday, the company and the San Diego Chargers unveiled several new, mouthwatering food items that will be available at the stadium come football season.

Those menu items include the “Diego Burger,” a burger boasting American cheese and a fried chile relleno, plus all of the traditional fixings – lettuce, tomato, onions and pickle chips.

There’s also the “Cali Surf Burrito,” which is loaded with shrimp, beef, potato fries, cabbage, pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and cheese.

For especially hungry football fans, the “Philly by the Foot” should measure up nicely: a Philly sandwich that can be made to be up to three feet long.

The “Chicken Buffalo Sandwich” includes chicken tenders covered in buffalo reaper sauce, topped with blue cheese and coleslaw. The “Loaded Skins” consist of mashed potatoes with cheese, bacon bits, sour cream and chili.

Then there’s the “Breakfast Mary in a Cup,” a cool take on a Bloody Mary featuring spicy bloody Michelada mix, generously garnished with bacon on a stick, celery, pickled egg and olives.

Finally, for nacho lovers, there's still this option: the new “Veggie Nachos” boasting roasted corn, peppers, pico de gallo and cotija cheese, which brings the stadium staple to a whole new level.

Additionally, Delaware North Sportservice will offer some new items available in stadium suites. This includes the “Deli Baguette,” roasted turkey, Applewood smoked bacon, genoa salami, soppressata, provolone cheese, spicy giardiniera and parmesan stacked on a three-foot baguette.

Other suite offerings include kettle chips with bacon, ranch and green onion dip and tamales – jalapeno and cheese wrapped in tasty masa dough.

The Chargers take on the Cowboys on Aug. 13 in a pre-season match-up at Qualcomm Stadium. The regular season at The Q kicks off on Sept. 13 with the Bolts squaring off against the Detroit Lions.
 

A driver involved in a three-car crash that left one person dead in Pala Mesa Wednesday initially fled the scene, but was detained by officials a short time later at a nearby gas station.

The California High Patrol (CHP) said the driver, identified as Garrett Gelrud, 34, of Vista, was evaluated for DUI after the deadly crash Just before 5:30 a.m., Gelrud's car and two other vehicles collided on southbound Old Highway 395, south of Highway CA-76 -- a rural stretch of road in the North County, about 50 miles from downtown San Diego.

CHP officials said Gelrud was driving his Chevy Suburban northbound on Old Highway 395 just north of Lilac Road when he drove through a curve in the roadway.

At the same time, a 62-year-old man from Escondido was driving his Nissan Versa southbound. Behind them, 56-year-old Alfonso Sumano was driving his Prius with his wife, Antonia Juarez, 58, both Escondido residents.

Gelrud’s Chevy drifted across the double yellow lines right as he drove into the curve, CHP officials said, and crashed head-on into the Nissan. The impact from the crash left the driver of the Nissan dead. His identity has not yet been released. 

Sumano saw the crash happen and applied his breaks but still could not avoid hitting the back of the Nissan. Sumano and his wife were taken to a Palomar Hospital with minor injuries, officials said.

Aerial footage showed the three cars scattered across the roadway – a white SUV in one lane, a blue car in the middle of the lanes and silver car half-way in one lane and half-way on a rock wall that lines the road.

The blue car in the middle was completely smashed on both ends. The other two vehicles sustained significant damage to their front ends.

Just after 6 a.m., the CHP received calls from citizens reporting a man, who was later identified as Gelrud, walking barefoot on the road, leaving the crash site.

Minutes later, Gelrud was detained by officials at a nearby gas station. Medics were called to treat Gelrud, who had suffered some unspecified injuries.

CHP officials blocked the road off to traffic for more than three hours following the crash.

Gelrud will be charged with suspicion of felony DUI, vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run, officials said.

The accident is under investigation.

The DUI suspect was booked into the Vista Detention Facility. He's scheduled to appear in court Friday.

A fire captain fell through the roof while battling a restaurant fire on Miramar Road Wednesday, which forced a worker to be hospitalized.

Smoke filled the air above the Bombay Grill just before 10 a.m. The restaurant is located north of MCAS Miramar just west of Interstate 15.

As San Diego Fire-Rescue crews climbed on top of the building to put holes in for ventilation, SDFD Capt. Vadid Cisneros fell through the roof. Officials estimate he fell approximately 15 to 20 feet to the floor below.

He walked out of the building on his own, officials said.

At the moment, Cisneros doesn’t appear to have any injuries but was transported to a nearby hospital to be evaluated, according to fire officials.

The only worker inside the business was also taken to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Battalion Chief Mike Finnerty said that after a fall like that, Cisneros could be in shock and unaware of any pain.

This type of incident is an indication of the dangers firefighters face with fires in new buildings, Finnerty added.

“This is one of the issues we face with modern, light weight construction,” Finnerty said. “Within a few minutes, we can have catastrophic structural collapse.”

Finnerty said it’s been an increasing problem for fire departments across the country for the last two or three decades.

The fire caused major damage to the restaurant's back kitchen area and spread to the attic of the building, firefighters said. It was started by a container with overheated cooking oil, officials said.

Damage from the fire is an estimated $1 million.

Drones hovering close to fires: Against the law or just a nuisance?

As San Diego fire crews battled a fire at a Linda Vista Vietnamese sandwich shop Tuesday night, a drone was spotted flying over the blaze.

The San Diego Fire Department sent out a tweet, saying: “All drones need to cease flying.”

It was more of a nuisance than a safety issue, firefighters say. But drones hovering close to fires have caused safety concerns throughout the state recently.

Last month, the aerial attack of two separate fires in San Bernardino County was delayed after drones were spotted in the area.

Drones mainly impact the response to wildfires. Earlier this week, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to support legislation that would impose penalties on those who fly unmanned aircraft near fires.

Firefighters say flying a drone near wildfires is much more dangerous than near house or structure fires. They say they take it on a case-by-case basis whether to try to stop someone from flying a drone.

“On wildland fires, they definitely are a threat because we have aircraft at every wildland fire and if you have any other aircraft at a wildland fire, all the other aircraft operations have to shut down,” said San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Mike Finnerty.

In terms of structure fires, San Diego firefighters hope people will be respectful and refrain from flying drones near fires.