Donald and Crystal Howard of Newborn, Georgia never made it home when they went to buy face paint and candy on Halloween. They were killed instantly when their SUV flew off the road and hit a tree, NBC affiliate WXIA reported.

When Georgia State Trooper Nathan Bradley arrived at the home to break the news, he found their four young children home alone, preparing to go trick-or-treating.

"Unfortunately, we were greeted by four youngsters dressed up in full costume," Bradley told the affiliate.

The children's grandmother, Stephanie Oliver, wouldn't arrive from Florida until the next day. With her permission, Bradley didn't tell the children, who ranged in age from 6 to 13, that their parents had died.

Instead, Bradley treated Justin, Amaya, Damien and Travion to dinner, movies and Halloween candy at the Monroe State Patrol post, followed by a sleepover.

"The whole purpose was to preserve their future holidays," said Bradley.

The trooper also started a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the funeral expenses, which will be held in Florida where the kids are moving to be with their grandmother, reported the affiliate.

"He took care of my kids when they needed them. He was there for them, all the way. Halloween they didn't even have a clue," Oliver told WXIA.

It took the Coast Guard's two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters to rescue two kayakers in choppy waters off Point La Jolla Wednesday morning.

Just before 9:30 a.m., dispatchers at Coast Guard Sector San Diego heard a radio distress call from two kayakers whose kayaks overturned.

The Coast Guard immediately diverted a Jayhawk helicopter from a routine flight to rescue the kayakers, who were also met by lifeguards to help in the rescue.

Soon after a second Jayhawk helicopter flew out to the scene to relieve the first helicopter that initially was called. Both helicopters hovered over the rescue sight until lifeguards safely brought the two kayakers to safety without injuries.

An official from the Coast Guard said the kayakers' radio and GPS, as well as their life jackets, possibly saved them.

"Preparedness is essential when operating any kind of watercraft, especially offshore," said Lt. Kristin Driscoll, command duty officer at Sector San Diego, in a statement.
 

Evidence indicates a bomb may have brought down Russia's Metrojet Flight 9268 over Egypt last weekend — hours after Britain's prime minister issued a delay on U.K.-bound flights from Sharm el-Sheikh airport — NBC News reported on Wednesday. 

The official said investigators are looking at the possibility that an explosive device was planted aboard the plane before takeoff. All 224 onboard were killed.

Officials told NBC News that investigators are focusing on ISIS operatives or sympathizers as possible bombers. But they said mechanical failure remains a possibility.

A group claiming to be affiliated with ISIS took credit for the crash via social media on Wednesday. Investigators are trying to see if an explosive device was planted aboard the plane by the ground crews, baggage handlers or other ground staff at the Sharm el-Sheikh airport before takeoff. 

A standoff with gunman who fired shots from a high-powered rifle at a San Diego apartment complex on Wednesday prompted a temporary ground stop at the city's major airport. 

The Federal Aviation Administration did not allowing flights to land at San Diego International Airport for several hours, according to a spokesman. Its runway ends several blocks from the apartment complex that was surrounded by San Diego SWAT officers Wednesday morning, after officers responding to a domestic violence call apparently came under fire.

By 2:33 p.m., FAA spokesman Ian Gregor confirmed the ground stop had been lifted at the airport.

"However, there is a lot of built-up arrival demand so we will meter the flow of aircraft into the airport," FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said in an e-mail.

"We urge patience while airlines work to get planes back on schedule," said San Diego International Airport spokeswoman Rebecca Bloomfield. "We encourage travelers or those picking up passengers to continue checking with the airlines on the status of flights."

During the ordeal, planes in the Western U.S. that had yet to take off for San Diego were being held at their gates, Gregor said. Planes that were in the air were holding or diverting -- a situation that troubled one woman waiting for her cousin to arrive from Brazil.

"I don't know what's going on, where he's going to land here or what is going to happen," Carla McEwen said Wednesday at San Diego International Airport around noon.

A suspect known to be armed and dangerous has died following an officer-involved shooting in San Diego's busy Pacific Beach neighborhood, San Diego Police confirmed. 

The incident happened on Ingraham Street and Thomas Street at approximately 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, SDPD said. Police tweeted asking the public to stay out of the area as they investigate. 

The 1600 block of Thomas Street and the 4300 block of Jewel Street was closed off as police investigated. 

Witnesses in the area say they saw an officer running through the neighborhood, in and out of alleys.

An SDPD officer recognized the suspect before he fled. The suspect got away after officers released a police dog. Officers ran after the man on foot. After losing sight of the man, officers found the him hiding in a shed between two apartment buildings on the 1600 block of Thomas Avenue. Offficers set up a perimeter around the shed but the suspect ran away and jumped a fence after a police dog bit him.

The man climbed on top of a neighboring apartment building and turned towards the K-9 officer while reaching into his pocket. The man failed to comply after several orders from police to show his hands. Based on the information that the man was armed and dangerous, the K-9 officer believed the man was pulling a weapon from his pocket. The officer feared for his safety and the safety of the public, which prompted him to fire shots striking the man in the torso.

Medics were requested for one patient. The suspect was pronounced dead on scene. Police said no officers were injuried during this incident. 

Police have identified the suspect but are not releasing his named until his family is notified. Police said he was a wanted felon in Missouri for undisclosed financial crimes and theft out of Ray County.

It is unclear whether officers had their body cameras on during the incident. 

The officer involved in the incident has been with San Diego Police Department for 19 years. 

Refresh this page for updates on this breaking news story. 

A relentless shooter armed with a high-powered rifle terrorized a San Diego neighborhood Wednesday, opening fire on police officers and bringing air traffic to a halt before ultimately being taken into police custody.

SDPD officers were called to 2445 Brant Street in the Bankers Hill area just after 9 a.m. for a domestic violence call. A woman told SDPD she was not home when the suspect, identified by police as 33-year-old Titus Colbert, called her to say that he was inside the unit. 

When officers arrived, they say they immediately came under fire.

"The residents were telling us that it just nearly missed him," said San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman. "And officers who were setting up the perimeter were hearing rounds that were going right past them."

The threat to the community was so great San Diego Police shut down traffic on the ground and ordered residents to shelter in place. At the same time, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground stop for arrivals into San Diego International Airport located less than two miles away.

"They were able to use a K-9 to try and clear the apartment. At some point when they were inside the apartment, rounds began to come out of a door, an interior door, nearly hitting the officers," SDPD Lt. Scott Wahl said.

Colbert was contained in a one-bedroom apartment on the southeast side of the apartment building, Wahl said. A standoff ensued for more than five hours, during which time they deployed gas on numerous occasions, until around 2:35 p.m. PST, when he surrendered to officials.

"We gave him, for a long time, very methodical instructions to make sure he throws the weapon outside that he does not come out with any weapons," Zimmerman said. "It did take several hours but eventually he did throw the weapons outside and he did peacefully surrender and he was taken into custody."

Colbert will be booked into County Jail on charges including attempted murder of a peace officer and possession of an assault rifle, according to a police statement.

According to court records, Colbert is a documented gang member with a criminal record.

When police entered the apartment after the standoff – in which  they said they found two weapons similar to AK-47s and another handgun.

"We know of two guns," said Zimmerman. "One was a hand gun, another one was what looked like to be an AK-47 type weapon. Once we are able to uncover the weapon during the investigation we’ll be able to determine what type of weapon it was. Once we search the residence, we’ll again, be able to determine if there’s any other weapons inside."

Throughout the day, the suspect was firing random shots in the approach path used by pilots landing passenger aircraft at Lindbergh Field. It's "hard to speculate" how many rounds were fired, Wahl said, and police didn't have a precise count by 7 p.m.

There were no known injuries but officials say they have not yet searched nearby homes to check on the condition of residents.

As of 1 p.m., Wahl said negotiations were ongoing but they feel the threat to incoming aircraft has been minimized to the point that arrivals can resume.

By 2:27 p.m., an NBC 7 news crew witnessed an airplane landing at the airport in what appeared to be the first arrival since the shooting and standoff began more than five hours earlier.

By 2:33 p.m., FAA spokesman Ian Gregor confirmed the ground stop had been lifted at the airport.

"However, there is a lot of built-up arrival demand so we will meter the flow of aircraft into the airport," Gregor said.

Moments later, police confirmed the suspect was in custody and the dangerours situation was finally over.

One resident told NBC 7 he left before the incident began just after 9 a.m. but has been in contact with his neighbors who are still inside the apartment building. They are scared and trying their best to stay away from windows. 

"I'm just on the other side of the border, they wont let me leave my apartment complex here," said Ryan Gray who lives at Laurel and Brant. "It's definitely dangerous, I'd say that the police are doing their job and keeping us all safe."

Gray provided NBC 7 video showing SWAT crews deploying a robot outside the apartment complex.

The official SDPD Twitter account advised residents nearby to shelter in place.

There was a ground stop for arriving flights at Lindbergh Field which is located 1.6 miles southwest of the incident location, according to San Diego International Airport spokesperson Rebecca Bloomfield.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor told the Associated Press that the complex is under the airport's approach path. He said departures were being allowed.

Near Front and Laurel Street, an NBC 7 news crew arrived to cover the story at 9:30 a.m. and was immediately told to take cover as they heard multiple rounds of gunfire. Officers took cover behind patrol cars. The news crew stepped behind a building to take cover.

Curlew, Brant, Albatross, and Front Streets were closed between Laurel and W Ivy Streets during the lengthy incident, according to San Diego Police.

Washington Elementary School on State Street was on lockdown as a precaution, district officials. As of 1 p.m., district officials said school was ending for the day as part of a regular minimum day.

The Museum School on Maple Street was also told to shelter in place, according to school officials. Faculty said all students on campus were safe.

Check back for updates on this developing story. Download the free NBC 7 app for updates.

A 5K race catered to foodies hits San Diego this weekend, highlighting both fitness and food.

The Fit Foodie 5K Race, presented by “Cooking Light” and “Health” magazines, takes place Saturday at Embarcadero Marina Park South in downtown San Diego. A group stretching session is set for 7:30 a.m. before the scenic race begins at 8 a.m.

After the run, participants can enjoy a post-race party at the “Finisher’s Village,” which includes refuel stations, special giveaways, fitness demos, culinary demos and unlimited samples prepared by local restaurants. Beer and wine tastings top off the event and each runner gets to take home a swag bag filled with healthy snacks.

According to organizers, the fitness and food event is a perfect pairing, as “a calorie burned is a calorie earned.” To register for the race, which costs $55 per runner, visit this website. Keep in mind, the registration deadline is 8 p.m. Friday.

The Fit Foodie 5K also includes a couple more events before and after the big race. On Friday, a VIP cocktail party at Music Box on India Street will feature tasty bites and sips, plus a chance to mingle with editors of “Cooking Light” and “Health.”

On Sunday, the fitness fun concludes with a “Sweat Session and Brunch” from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Marina Kitchen at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. The 60-minute, mat-based workout involving arms, abs and legs will be led by an instructor certified and trained in the Tracy Anderson Method. After the burn, a healthy brunch follows.
 

NASA is accepting applications for a job that is completely out of this world.

A new class of astronauts is needed in preparation for the agency's journey to Mars.

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“This next group of American space explorers will inspire the Mars generation to reach for new heights, and help us realize the goal of putting boot prints on the Red Planet,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. “Those selected for this service will fly on U.S. made spacecraft from American soil, advance critical science and research aboard the International Space Station, and help push the boundaries of technology in the proving ground of deep space.”

Candidates from a variety of backgrounds—pilots to medical doctors— can start applying to become an astronaut starting Dec. 14 through mid-Februaruy. If you have a bachelor's degree in engineering, biological science, physical science or mathematics with three years of related experience and can pass the NASA long-duration spaceflight physical, you may qualify. 

The new explorers will have the opportunity to fly on any of the four U.S. vessels: the International Space Station, two commercial crew spacecraft and the Orion deep-space exploration vehicle.

To date, there are 47 astronauts active but NASA will need more crew members for future space missions, especially for the commercial mission to Mars. 

Investigators have found no evidence so far that a bomb brought down the Russian jet that crashed after breaking up in midair over the Sinai, killing 224 people on board, Egypt said Thursday. 

"The investigation team does not have yet any evidence or data confirming this hypothesis," Aviation Minister Hossam Kamal said in a statement.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev echoed Kamal's comments, telling a government meeting Thursday that it was too early to draw any conclusions about the incident's causes, Reuters reported.

Their comments came as "emergency measures" were being drafted to rescue thousands of vacationers stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh after Britain and Ireland suspended flights to and from the Red Sea resort.

Traffic in the South Bay is a big problem and it’s only getting worse.

James Stark remembers when he could drive from Chula Vista to Carlsbad in 40 minutes, but now he says it takes that long just to get to Interstate 805 and Interstate 8.

“It’s really bad, and if you have to drive it every day, you must be frustrated,” he said. Stark thinks one of the reasons for the increased traffic is housing prices, “the growth here in Chula Vista has affordable housing, affordable apartments, people can’t buy up in North County,” he said.

Caltrans and SANDAG say there are a couple of reasons why traffic has gotten worse in the South Bay over the years.

Gas prices have dropped, which gives people less of an incentive to use public transportation.

The economy has also gotten better, which means more people are getting up and driving to work in the morning.

“There are no jobs here,” said Chula Vista resident Jeanette Burnett.

“My kids can’t find jobs here in town, so you do have to commute and that puts more and more people on the road,” she said.

SANDAG agrees with Burnett, and admits even though Chula Vista is rich with housing, there are little job opportunities in the South Bay leaving many people with no choice but to commute to job hubs in Sorrento Valley, UTC and downtown.

Another issue facing commuters in the South Bay is the lack of ample public transportation. Burnett says the bus schedule is too bleak, and it doesn’t cover her children’s needs. Burnett says when her daughter was working at Target in Eastlake, there were very few options for public transportation.

“If you can’t catch the bus by 9AM, you wait until 4:30PM, Burnett says. This posed a problem for Burnett’s daughter who wanted to work over-time, but couldn’t because working a few hours later meant her daughter couldn’t get home. “Sundays are really limited on the bus schedule too,” Burnett added.

Starting early next year, SANDAG will work to improve their public transit system, by breaking ground on the South Bay rapid project that will provide rapid bus service along a 21-mile route from the Otay Mesa Port of Entry to downtown San Diego. Bus service on that project is expected to start in 2018.

That is in addition to a couple things Caltrans and SANDAG have already done to improve the traffic situation, like adding HOV lanes to I-805 and improving the trolley station, making it quicker to get on and off the trolley. The I-805 and State Route 905 interchange has also been improved.
 

Temecula, San Diego County’s neighbor to the northeast – known for its rolling vineyards and dry climate – was named among the best 50 cities in the United States.

The site 247wallst.com ranked the top cities based on housing markets, crime rates, education, poverty and amenities. Temecula ranked No. 31.

“Compared to the state of California, Temecula is more affordable,” the report stated. “The typical home in the city costs about 90 percent of the price of a typical California home, and Temecula residents make 1.3 times what the typical state resident does.”

The report also noted Temecula’s rapid growth. The city has grown nearly 25 percent in the last decade.

“Many Americans relocating to the city likely came looking for jobs, which the city has been adding at a healthy clip,” the report stated.

No San Diego County cities made the list and no California cities made the top 10.

The top city in our state, according to the ranking, is Santa Clarita at No. 20.

What do you think of these rankings? Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page.

A newly-opened restaurant in La Jolla Village is bringing the Aloha spirit to the seaside community.

Duke’s La Jolla – owned and operated by San Diego and Maui-based T S Restaurants of Hawaii and California – officially opened its doors Wednesday evening at its location at 1216 Prospect St.

For now, the 13,000-square-foot eatery will serve dinner daily from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with lunch hours and Happy Hour expected to be added soon.

The restaurant’s name honors native Hawaiian Duke Kahanamoku, a six-time Olympic swimming and water polo medalist also credited as the man who popularized the modern-day sport of surfing. To that end, the restaurant’s décor pays homage to its namesake with a collection of original and replica surfboards and photographs highlighting Kahanamoku’s life.

The restaurant includes two levels – a lower level featuring repurposed teak and mango wood surfaces – and an upper level dubbed the “Boomer Bar,” which is designed to feel like a casual, 1960s-era surfer’s garage, complete with surfboards stored in the rafters and communal bar tables.

As for the food, the menu at Duke’s includes dishes inspired by the cultures and cooking techniques of both Hawaii and California. Signature items include Tahitian Octopus cooked on a wood grill with with smoked papaya, cucumber, lime and coconut milk and 24 Hour Kalbi Short Rib served with house made kimchee, smoked potato salad and Kewpie yogurt.

In an effort to reduce the restaurant’s carbon footprint, only draft beers will offered at the bar, plus a selection of wines on tap. The “barrel to glass” system aims to reduce the use of bottles, corks, labels and cases headed to local landfills. Some handcrafted cocktails on the menu include Duke’s Mai Tai, a mix of fresh passion-orange-guava juices with two types of rum, as well as the Lavender Colada, which boasts locally-sourced organic lavender, coconut, pineapple and rum.

This is the second project locally for T S Restaurants. The company also owns and operates Jake’s Del Mar in the North County.
 

Cell phone video of a remarkable exchange between a deaf woman and a North Florida Starbucks barista has gone viral on social media.

Rebecca King, who is deaf, went to her local Starbucks' drive-thru in St. Augustine on Monday to place her order through the digital video screen, a recent addition to several Starbucks locations.

Katie Wyble, a 22-year-old barista at the cafe, immediately recognized King and appeared on screen to take her order entirely in sign language.

As NBC affiliate WTLV in Jacksonville reports, King was so excited, she returned the following day with a friend to film the exchange.

King posted the video to Facebook with the caption, "Starbucks! This is what I'm talking about! Share it away! We can change the world!"

The video has more than 6 million views, and has been shared more than 180,000 times as of Thursday afternoon.

Wyble, who is a communications major at the University of North Florida, told WTLV that she began studying American Sign Language as a child and continued through college.

She says she feels "blessed" to play a part in bringing more awareness for deaf culture and for the deaf community.

Starbucks recently started adding digital video screens to the drive-thru lanes of more than 2,000 U.S. locations.

The initiative is meant to improve the customer experience through technology.

Hundreds of Berkeley High School students walked out of class Thursday in protest of racist and threatening messages that showed up on one of the school's library computers.

Throngs of students waving posters and bullhorns took to Milvia Street chanting "black lives matter" and "raise a fist if you're not gonna take this" as they walked through Civic Center Park to Berkeley City Hall, demanding an investigation into the incident from school officials.

The march — which Berkeley police estimate comprised of more than 700 people — ended on the steps of Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus, a site used for student demonstrations since the Free Speech Movement protests of 1964. "You’re the ones who showed us how, UC Berkeley join us now,” the students chanted during what Berkeley police described as a "peaceful and friendly" protest.

According to a letter sent out by Berkeley High School Principal Sam Pasarow, "the hateful and racist message" was discovered around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and contained threatening language toward African-Americans.

The Berkeley High Black Student Union tweeted out a screenshot of the messages, which read, "KKK Forever Public Lynching December 9th 2015" and "I hung a n----- by his neck in my backyard," among other racist taunts.

School officials announced late Thursday afternoon they had identified the student responsible for the messages.

The 15-year-old student admitted to posting the message, according to Pasarow.

The student is facing serious consequences, including suspension and possible criminal charges, officials said.

The Black Student Union decried the messages, calling it a "blatant act of terrorism."

"The safety of Black students has been explicitly threatened, and we as the Black Student Union demand that this is addressed immediately by the Berkeley High administration and Berkeley Police Department," the union said in a statement.

The statement went on to say that in the past, similar acts against black students have been ignored.

Berkeley High student Lucy Rosenthal tweeted that students were feeling unsafe after seeing the messages. "As a black woman I feel terrified and I feel unsafe," said Berkeley High School student Aerin Creer. "They said a public lynching Dec. 9. I won't be around Dec. 9 because I'm liable to get lynched because I'm black."

Students said they were angry that the district failed to inform them of the threat right away. Even though officials found the image around noon Wednesday, the principal didn't email students and parents until later that night. "I take responsibility for that," Pasarow said.

Pasarow, who was at the Sproul Plaza demonstration, said he supports the walkout, and would work to ensure a safe environment for students.

"This is a hate crime and messages such as this one will not stand in our community," Pasarow wrote in his email, adding that both Berkeley High School and Berkeley police were actively investigating the incident.

"We are working hard to create a positive and inclusive school culture and we recognize the deep pain and rage that hate crimes such as this one bring to our students of color, as well as the damaging effects on our entire community," Pasarow's email said. "Even as we continue our investigation we recognize the need to address the harm that this has caused, and to that end we will be spending time planning as a staff about how to support and care for our students."

Berkeley Unified School District spokesperson Mark Coplan told the Daily Californian that the screenshot was left open on the library computer; there was no actual hacking involved.

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and Berkeley Berkeley Councilmember Jesse Arreguin — whose district includes Berkeley High School, and who was present at the student demonstration at Berkeley City Hall Thursday morning — also spoke out against the messages, saying that hate speech of any kind would not be tolerated in Berkeley.

"I'm outraged at this despicable racist threat — it is totally out of line with Berkeley's values," Bates said. "These racial slurs remind us that racism is still alive, even in Berkeley.”

"Amazing! Way to Go @BerkeleyBSU! I wish I was there," tweeted comedian W. Kamau Bell, who lives in Berekely.

Jodi Hernandez contributed to this report.

After years of holding prices steady, more Girl Scout councils are boosting cookie prices to $5 a box.

"The No. 1 factor was us hearing feedback from adult volunteers that girls had such a great experience selling cookies, but they weren't earning enough money from them," said Jan Goldstein, chief marketing officer at Girls Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, in a phone interview. 

Goldstein's council is raising the price to $5 per box from $4, the first hike in at least eight years. With the increase, the council's troops will now receive an average of 90 cents per box of cookies, up from an average of 62 cents per box.

A 14-year-old boy was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of stabbing his teen sister to death in Southern California, police said.

Officers responded to a 911 call of a female victim not breathing at a residence in the 300 block of Andover Drive at 5:07 p.m in Claremont. Emergency crews took lifesaving measures, but the 15-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries, Claremont police said.

Police said the 14-year-old boy was taken into custody after he was spotted walking away from the home. No one else was home when the stabbing occurred, police said.

One parent was at work, the other was running errands, according to the Los Angeles Times. NBC4 attempted to contact family members, but did not receive a response as of Thursday morning.

Neighbors were stunned to hear of the crime and said they recently saw the pair playing basketball in their yard.

"I guess it could happen anywhere but these people's lives just completely changed this evening," said Grace Felschundneff, a neighbor. "I just can't imagine what's going on with the family. I can't imagine."

Officials said there hasn't been a homicide in Claremont since Oct. 2009.

The Food and Drug Administration approved a new daily drug that delivers four different HIV medications in one dose. 

The pill combines four HIV drugs: elvitegravir, cobicistat, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide.

There is no cure for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, but there are now 36 different HIV drugs on the market. They fall into six different classes, each one attacking the virus from a different direction. The most effective cocktails of these drugs can keep the virus at extremely low levels so that it doesn't damage the immune system and so that patients are far less likely to infect others.

A 9-year-old boy who was fatally shot in Chicago on Monday was lured into an alley and murdered in what is believed to have been a "targeted" shooting, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy announced Thursday. 

Investigators believe Tyshawn Lee was lured from a nearby park into an alley and murdered and his death appears to have been a gang-related incident, McCarthy said. 

"Tyshawn Lee was murdered in probably the most abhorrent, cowardly, unfathomable crime that I've witnessed in 35 years of policing," he said.

McCarthy added that it is believed the shooting is the most recent "in a series of gang-related violent events that may go back as far as August" or even earlier.

"This is an innocent child, this is a 9-year-old child, targeted, lured to this spot and murdered," he said. "This is different."

The fourth grader was fatally shot in an alleyway near his grandmother’s home in Chicago's Gresham neighborhood around 4:15 p.m. while still in his school uniform. Authorities said the boy was shot multiple times in the head and back.

McCarthy, who claimed the boy's father has gang ties and is not cooperating in the investigation, said the two gangs and people allegedly involved in the shooting are known, but police can't prove "who did what."

The boy's father, Pierre Stokes, was seen speaking to investigators following the announcement and later told NBC Chicago "I'm not the gang banger type."

"I don't do that," he said. "It ends here. There will be no retaliation. I lost my son. This will be the end of it."

Stokes said Wednesday he also believes his son was targeted in the shooting, but he doesn't know anyone that would do this to the young boy.

"No little boy gets shot seven times on accident," Pierre Stokes said. "That's not an accident, that's an execution."

Surrounded Thursday by stunned members of the community and law enforcement officials, McCarthy asked for the public's help in the invesitgation. 

"It takes courage to do the right thing sometimes, and at the end of the day, when good people stand up we’re going to win," he said. "We're going to solve this crime with or without the assistance of god knows who."

Father Michael Pfleger with Saint Sabina Church said the shooting takes Chicago's violence to "a new low."

"A baby was executed," he said, adding that if someone comes forward with information but fears for their lives, he will personally pay for them to relocate to another city. 

Chief of Detectives Constantine "Dean" Andrews said at a Monday night press conference a group of people were in the alley where Tyshawn's body was found when an argument broke out and someone started shooting. After the murder the group fled the scene. 

A reward for information leading to an arrest in the case has climbed to $35,000.

Tyshawn's mother gave an emotional plea asking for someone to come forward and help find her son's killer.

"Please come forward and find whoever did this to my baby," Karla Lee said as tears rolled down her face. "Oh my god I love my son. I'm going to miss him."

Mayor Rahm Emanuel also addressed the fatal shooting, saying the latest tragedy in Chicago violence is proof that there's evil in the world.

"Whoever did this, I want to say something," Emanuel said. "I believe fundamentally in the goodness of human nature, but there is evil in the world. Whoever did this, there is a special place for them. I hope they never see freedom. I hope they never see daylight."

Tyshawn was a student at Scott Joplin School, where his teachers say he was a "delight" to have in class. He liked to play sports and video games.

"He was supposed to play ball. That's all he do, all he liked to do is play ball and play video games," Karla Lee said. "He didn't hurt nobody. I don't know why this happened."

Stokes said a vigil is schedueld for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at 81st and Marshfield. 

Anyone who may have information about the incident is being asked to call (312) 747-8271.