Someone fired at least seven bullets at a car traveling on Interstate 8 in San Diego’s East County Thursday, injuring two people and closing the highway for three hours.

California Highway Patrol officers were called to the Los Coches Road exit on eastbound I-8 in El Cajon around 1 a.m.

Officers say someone from inside a dark-colored SUV fired seven shots at a Lexus traveling eastbound.

The window shattered and there were at least four bullet holes in the driver’s side door.

A 43-year-old woman from Alpine was driving, the CHP said. A 31-year-old man from San Diego was in the passenger seat. Both suffered non-life threatening injuries, officials said, and were transported by ambulance to Sharp Memorial San Diego.

CHP officers walked along the closed highway and used flashlights looking for bullet casings or other evidence.

They say at least seven rounds wer fired.

No arrests have been made. I-8 reopened before 5 a.m.

Anyone with information can contact the CHP's El Cajon office at (619) 401-2000.

Country-music megastar Garth Brooks starts a four-night, five-show run at Valley View Casino Center on Thursday.

Brooks is making his first appearance in the county in nearly 20 years. Fans attending the show are being urged to park in the lots surrounding the arena, which will open at 4 p.m. each afternoon. They're also being urged not to park in the other lots nearby, because businesses will be calling in tow-trucks to ruin your night.

Still want to go but don’t have a ticket? Good news -- officials announced on Thursday morning that there were still seats available for all the shows. 

That said, if you’re going to the early show on Saturday, bear in mind that you will need to get in your car soon after the show ends at 9:30 p.m. and get out by 10:15 -- vehicles for the 10:30 show will be admitted no earlier than 10:15 that night. That sound kind of tight timewise for a 10:30 show? Organizers had this to say on Thursday:

“The scheduled start time of the second concert is flexible and will be delayed according to the finish time of the first show as well as venue preparation for the second show. Concert will not begin until fans have ample opportunity to enter the venue. For reference, the late shows in Phoenix and Salt Lake City began at 11:15-11:30 p.m."

If that sounds problematic, put on some walking shoes and ride the Trolley or bus to Old Town, and take a brisk 18-minute walk over to avoid that headache entirely.

As far as preserving the show for posterity, don’t bring a camera if the lens is bigger than 3 inches, and leave the GoPros, selfie sticks and tablets at home, too. If you do take a pic, up it to Instagram with hashtag #sounddiego or our free iPhone app -- we just might end up showing it on SoundDiego TV.

Tickets cost about 75 bucks each to see Brooks, who started selling out arenas in the late '80s but "retired" in 2001 and then started playing a extended Vegas residency at the Encore in 2009. According to some reports, Brooks has sold more albums than anybody in the U.S., with the exception of the Beatles. The country star is known for such singles as "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "The Dance" and "Friends in Low Places."

A father of newborn twins born two months premature got help from his two tiny helpers Thursday when he proposed to their mother in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns in San Diego.

Chula Vista resident Andres Alonso, 24, popped the question to the mother of his children, Fernanda Busani, 20, by dressing their twin babies in custom onesies that read, “Will You Marry My Daddy?”

Alonso sat in a sofa chair inside their hospital room, with one newborn tucked into each of his arms, an engagement ring box open on a pillow beside him, waiting for Busani.

When the mother realized what was happening, she was shocked and overwhelmed with happiness.

She said yes, much to the delight of teary-eyed nurses watching the sweet proposal.

Jessica Crawford, a spokesperson for Sharp Memorial Hospital, said the NICU nurses knew about the sweet proposal ahead of time, and were very excited to watch the plan unfold, counting the seconds until Alonso popped the question.

“In fact, a nurse peeked through the curtains a second before Fernanda turned the corner. She realized what was happening and bolted out of there just in time,” Crawford recounted.

Crawford told NBC 7 the couple’s twin boys – Maximiliano and Santiago – were born at Sharp Mary Birch on Oct. 8, at 31 weeks gestation. Their original due date was Dec. 8. At birth, the twins weighed just over three pounds.

Crawford said the twins have been patients at the NICU for the past month, where they will continue to stay until they are discharged, likely around their original due date next month.

Despite the dozens of families treated at the Sharp Mary Birch NICU over the past 13 years, Crawford said proposals like this are an uncommon event at the NICU, making this family’s story very memorable for staffers.

For the happy new parents and soon-to-be newlyweds, it too was a day that will go down in their family’s history.

Alonso and Busani released this joint statement to NBC 7 Thursday afternoon, following the proposal:

“We would like to thank Sharp Mary Birch for this wonderful experience. The babies couldn’t have been somewhere better. We also would like to thank the nurses for always helping out and being so friendly. We are so happy and thankful that our twins are advancing quickly and will soon be home. We will now officially be a happy family.”
 

“Shots fired!” San Diego Police Officers sound frantic in a radio call to dispatch seconds after they dodged multiple bullets Wednesday inside a Bankers Hill condo complex.

What began as a domestic disturbance call, turned into a five-hour long standoff between SDPD SWAT members and a man armed with a long-range rifle. The threat to public safety prompted police to close several city blocks, halt incoming air traffic to San Diego International Airport and tell businesses and residents nearby to shelter in place.

“Shots fired. Suspect fired at the K-9. We returned fire,” one of the officers tells dispatch as they call requesting backup. “We’ve got him locked down inside Apartment 610.”

The officers on scene warn their colleagues who are responding how to avoid being in the line of fire, telling them to arrive without using Kalmia Street because the condo’s windows face that direction.

“He’s shooting a high-powered rifle out the window right now ,” an officer says.

The initial call for help was made at approximately 9:41 a.m.

“We are up on the roof with the apartment in our view,” the officer said.

The woman living inside Apartment 610 called police early Wednesday. She asked for police to check her condo believing her ex-boyfriend was inside.

Officers found a broken sliding glass door connecting the condo with the building's rooftop. When shots were fired, they took cover.

Titus Colbert, 33, of Las Vegas was inside the unit, armed with a long-range assault rifle and a handgun, police said.

Tom Neu lives right next door to where the shooter was holed up. He was working when he heard the gunshots start.

“It’s terrifying to be in my own home and know somebody had assault rifles next door,” Neu said as he showed NBC 7 his condo.

There’s a bullet hole in one wall. Shattered glass, spent tear gas canisters and SWAT unit gear littered the area where officers took cover.

Neu of course didn’t have a Kevlar vest or armored car as he sheltered-in-place for hours while police negotiated with the gunman.

“I was thinking I’ve got to get somewhere, the safest place I can be,” he recalled. So I got in my bathtub.”

While Neu took cover inside his condo, officers were busy negotiating with the gunman. They made enough that they told the FAA was no longer a threat to incoming aircraft.

Eventually, around 2:40 p.m., Colbert surrendered to officers. He was walked to an awaiting patrol car, uninjured and in handcuffs.

The Airport Authority confirmed Thursday that 140 flights were impacted by the standoff.

The suspect's criminal history includes arrests in San Diego, San Bernardino, and Arizona. Among his previous convictions are transporting controlled substance, dissuading a witness and aggravated assault.

Court records reviewed by NBC 7 Investigates show Colbert was also caught with a weapon while he was in prison for a prior offense.

A documented gang member, Colbert is the brother of a convicted killer on Death Row at San Quentin in Northern California.

Now he’s in custody facing multiple charges including attempted murder of a police officer.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing. It's unknown how many rounds were fired, officials.

A gas leak has been reported at Fashion Valley Mall in Mission Valley.

Fire officials say mall security alerted them to a broken gas line at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. A construction crew hit a 2-inch gas line, officials said.

Firefighters are SDG&E workers were monitoring the situation.

Fire trucks were seen outside the Cheesecake Factory and Bloomingdale’s store at 4 p.m.

No evacuations have been ordered and no injuries have been reported.

The leak should be brought under control by 5 p.m.

This is a breaking news situation. Check back for updates.

A connector that attaches power cables inside an underground vault is being blamed for an incident that knocked out power to businesses around 6th and G Street in the Gaslamp Quarter Wednesday night.

Some 900 SDG&E customers in the area lost power and 100 people were evacuated.

“One of our underground cables failed. Typically this happens with older cable that doesn’t have the kind of protective insulation that we currently have on the newer cable that is underground,” said Stephanie Donovan, a spokeswoman for SDG&E.

Even though the force of the incident caused a manhole cover and surrounding cover to rise above the asphalt, SDG&E stopped short of calling it an explosion.

“The force of electricity inside an enclosed space like an underground vault is magnified by being in an enclosed, compressed space. It’s going to make a sound like an explosion, but it’s not an explosion. It’s not like a bomb or TNT or something like that,” said Donovan.

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, electricity had not been restored to the Residence Inn on 6th Street. The lobby was being powered by a backup generator, but electricity to the rooms had not been restored.

Mike Cunningham, on business here from New Jersey, was eating at the Blind Burro restaurant, when the restaurant was evacuated. He’s also staying at the Residence Inn and said he was told to stay in the hotel.

“They kept pushing us back in. I kept getting kicked back into the bar instead of getting kicked out, which is not real common for me,” said Cunningham.

SDG&E says 60 percent of it’s system is underground. The PUC requires the company to have a regular maintenance cycle. Donovan says it was an isolated incident.

“I want everyone to understand that there’s nothing to be concerned about when you’re walking down the streets of Downtown San Diego, that there’s an imminent danger underneath your feet. That’s not the case,” said Donovan.

A confirmed tornado ripped the roof off of a building in North Fort Worth Thursday afternoon.

The National Weather Service said Friday morning that a "high-end EF0" tornado damaged Mercantile Plaza, which is part of a business park off Interstate 35W, near the 4500 block of North Sylvania Avenue, just north of the Coors Distributing Company.

It happened at about 4:15 p.m. as wind gusts up to 90 mph tore the roof from the building with people inside.

"At first, it was nothing," witness Julie Swift said. "Then the windows started to pop and within seconds, it was just roaring wind. Then we heard the roof come off."

The roof tore into several large pieces, flying into the air before landing in nearby a parking lot. Several vehicles were damaged.

"It had rained prior and then it had stopped raining," storm victim Gary Cox said. "Then shortly thereafter, you know, the wind picked up, there was stuff smacking against the windows. There was rotation outside, all kinds of debris everywhere."

There were no reports of injuries.

NBC 5's Ken Kalthoff contributed to this report.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration seized a record number of firearms in travelers’ carry-on bags during the last week of October, the agency reported.

In it’s weekly blog post, the TSA said agents discovered 68 guns in baggages that passengers were bringing on board flights, breaking the prior high-water mark of 67 firearms intercepted at airport security checkpoints set a month earlier.

The TSA takes inventory of the prohibited items confiscated at airport checkpoints and publishes a weekly tally in the agency’s blog. The TSA’s “Week in Review” published October 31 reports that of the 68 guns found, 61 were loaded and 25 of them had a round in the chamber.

Passengers aren’t prohibited from traveling with firearms as long as they are “properly stored” in checked baggage and declared, the TSA said. Failure to do so can result in a penalty fine as high as $11,000.

“Firearms must be unloaded, packed in a hard-side case and locked. Ammunition can not be loose or in a zip-top bag. Ammunition must be in its original container/box, even if the box is partially full, and the ammunition should be placed inside the hard-side case next to the unloaded firearm,” the blog post states, citing TSA laws.

The agency also noted that firearm possession laws vary from state to state so travelers should familiarize themselves with local firearm laws for each point of travel prior to departure.

But guns weren’t the only thing passengers attempted to bring on board flights in the U.S. during the last week of October. TSA agents seized brass knuckles, ninja stars, stun guns, knives and hatchets, among other banned items.

“If an item looks like a real bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is prohibited,” says Bob Burns, TSA's social media team lead, in the agency’s blog post. “Even if they are novelty items, you are prohibited from bringing them on board the aircraft.”

The TSA has experienced a growing number of firearm discoveries at security checkpoints since 2008. In 2014, 2,212 guns were seized from passengers' carry-on bags, a 22 percent increase from 2013 when 1,813 guns were discovered, the TSA reported. Of the guns discovered in 2014, 83 percent were loaded.

Two inmates have been charged with slashing a Rikers Island correction officer in the face and wrist, leaving him with more than two dozen stitches and glaring lacerations across his head.

William Whitfield, 18, and Darnell Green, 19, did not enter pleas at their arraignment Friday in Bronx Criminal Court. They were ordered held on $500,000 bail on assault and other charges stemming from the attack Thursday evening on officer Ray Calderon.

An attorney for Whitfield, who is being held at Rikers on an attempted murder charge, said his client was presumed innocent and planned to contest the charges. A lawyer for Green, who is being detained at Rikers in a murder case, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Green approached Calderon from behind and wrapped both arms around his neck, choking him as Whitfield advanced with a sharp object, according to a criminal complaint. Calderon then kicked Whitfield, fell to the ground with Green and was slashed on the left side of his face along his forehead, cheek and ear, as well as his right wrist, the court papers show.

"A correction officer was doing his job conducting his inspection the way he is supposed to when an inmate emerged, grabbed him around his neck, put him in a chokehold and another inmate commenced slashing his face repeatedly with what we believe was a scalpel or a razor, missing his jugular vein," Norman Seabrook, president of the Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, said. "This would have been a different story had he hit the officer's jugular vein." 

Photos obtained by NBC 4 New York show nearly half a dozen bloody cuts streaking across the left side of Calderon's face. One jagged mark stretches from the corner of his left eye up beyond his hairline; another reaches from his left ear down to his neck.

He was hospitalized for treatment but was discharged Thursday night, authorities said.

Department of Correction Commissioner Joseph Ponte said he was "outraged by this horrific assault." He said he visited the injured officer in the hospital and pledged to support him and his family.

"Attacks against the hardworking men and women who serve in our department are unacceptable and will not be tolerated," Ponte said in a statement.

Seabrook said the two inmates "brazenly attempted to murder" the officer.

"Correction officers have the right to return home to their families safely every night," Seabrook said. "This violence is unacceptable."

Exactly what type of sharp object was used in the attack wasn't immediately clear, and officials said investigators are examining how the inmates obtained it. City officials have moved to restrict visitors to Rikers, arguing those visits are an entry point for weapons. But a report earlier this year found that nearly 80 percent of the 2,100 weapons recovered in city jails in 2014 were shivs and shanks made out of materials found inside the jails.

Ponte said DOC has already tightened entrance procedures to keep weapons and contraband out of jails, bolstered security camera coverage and redesigned emergency response teams to get to officers faster when they are in dangerous situations. The DOCs facilities are on lockdown as the agency conducts searches to root out contraband, authorities said.

Ponte said the DOC will also issue a new use-of-force policy that will give officers more guidance when placed in "situations where force may be necessary for the safety and security of staff and inmates."

Seabrook said the DOC shouldn't issue new guidelines without consulting the union.

"We demand action and a seat at the table from the leadership of the department," Seabrook said.

Four police officers were injured and over 50 people were arrested in London on Thursday night during a Million Mask March coordinated by hacking collective Anonymous. 

The protests coincided with the country's annual Guy Fawkes celebrations—a night of bonfires to rejoice the fact that the Catholic activist, Fawkes, failed to assassinate the Protestant King James I in 1605 with 36 barrels of gunpowder in the British Parliaments' cellar.

The global event was organized to demonstrate against austerity measures and inequality.

Many protesters work Guy Gawks masks which is Anonymous' trademark.

Four men shot an Uber driver with a stun gun in Hartford on Thursday night and stole his iPhone, according to Hartford police.

The Uber driver told police that he had picked four men up in the 200 block of Westland Street at 9:15 p.m. on Thursday.

When they arrived on Holcomb Street, the men shot the driver with a stun gun, stole his iPhone 6, and ran away, heading north, police said.

The victim said he wasn’t injured and declined medical attention.

Police searched for the men and could not find them.

While there were no witnesses or surveillance, the driver said he can identify the men, according to police, and they are looking for three men between 20 and 25 years old.

One was not wearing a shirt, another was wearing a red hooded sweatshirt and jeans and another was wearing a black jacket and had a black backpack.

No description was given of the fourth man.

A spokesperson for Uber said the company is looking into the incident and is the process of contacting the driver.

A Fort Worth father who filed a police report claiming a neighbor placed a razor in a Halloween treat made up the story and put the razor in the candy himself, police say.

An arrest warrant affidavit for Charles Pruitt was released Friday detailing the investigation and the charge of filing a false police report.

Pruitt told police he was going through his children's Halloween candy when something cut his finger. Upon closer examination, Pruitt said, he discovered a razor blade had been inserted into a Rice Krispy treat.

Pruitt then notified the police department and, retracing his family's steps on Halloween night, said the treat came from a neighbor's home.

Detectives later executed a search warrant on the neighbor’s house “following investigative leads developed from the father’s statement,” said Fort Worth police Sgt. Steve Enright said in an email Thursday.

The resident denied knowing anything about the incident and “provided evidence contrary to what detectives were told by the child’s father,” Enright said. The resident also told police he purchased candy at Wal-Mart and had never before handed out Rice Krispy treats.

Investigators returned to Pruitt and his wife and asked to see his razor blades. The couple allowed the search and police said they found a Gillette Pro Fusion razor with a missing "Precision Trimmer" blade. Police said the blade found in the treat was a match for the missing blade on Pruitt's razor.

The neighbor was questioned again, who told police he used a Gillette swivel razor -- which was not a match for the one found in the treat.

During a subsequent interview, police said Pruitt began crying as he confessed to putting the razor in the treat and said he'd even cut his finger in the process.

No other arrests are expected, police said. A motive for the report against the neighbor has not been released.

It is not known if Pruitt has obtained a lawyer.

Charles Pruitt Arrest Warrant Affidavit

The case was one of several across the U.S. where authorities said reports of dangerous Halloween treats turned out to be unfounded.

In Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, the families of an 11-year-old and 12-year-old apologized after the children recanted stories about needles discovered in Twix bars. Elsewhere in the state, a girl who cut her mouth with a razor blade admitted making up a story about finding the blade in her candy, NBC10 reported.

Police in Salisbury, Maryland, said a teenager admitted making up a claim that he found a sewing needle in a piece of Twizzlers candy, NBC Washington reported.

NBC 5's Frank Heinz contributed to this report.

A California congressman announced Friday that he is planning federal legislation that aims to phase out the captivity of killer whales by banning breeding, importing and exporting the animals for public display.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said he will introduce the Orca Responsibility and Care Advancement Act to ensure that orcas now at aquatic parks such as SeaWorld are the last ones and that when they die, no other whales will replace them.

The bill also would ban taking any whales from the wild. Although no orca has been captured in U.S. waters since 1976, Schiff says captive killer whales are bred.

He argues that keeping the animals in captivity is cruel.

"The evidence is very strong that the psychological and physical harm done to these magnificent animals far outweighs any benefits reaped from their display," Schiff said at a news conference in Santa Monica.

SeaWorld says its whales are thriving and the parks foster understanding of the animals.

"While efforts to phase out whales in human care may strike an emotional chord, SeaWorld and other science-based organizations are part of the solution, not the problem," Jill Kermes, a spokeswoman for SeaWorld Entertainment, said in a statement.

Last month, the California Coastal Commission endorsed a $100 million expansion of the tanks SeaWorld uses to hold orcas in San Diego but included conditions, including a ban on breeding and prohibitions on the sale, trade or transfer of the whales.

SeaWorld has said it will challenge the ruling in court.

A security video obtained exclusively by NBC 7 shows a frightening scene – one that many parents were not aware of: a young man with a cache of stolen guns riding his bicycle through a playground full of kids.

The footage was captured on Aug. 31, 2015, as 19-year-old Johnny Martinez zipped through a playground at Oak Hill Elementary School in Escondido as dozens of children and teachers were at recess.

Martinez had a stolen rifle slung around his neck and two more guns in a bag as he rode his bike through the campus.

No one was hurt, but the incident received national attention because the school district waited 14 minutes before calling 911 to report the man on campus.

NBC 7 showed the surveillance video to some parents for the first time Thursday.

Many were shocked by the footage and outraged after seeing just how close the gun-wielding cyclist came to their children on a playground the once considered safe.

“Oh my gosh. That is amazing; that is unbelievable,” said parent Ramon Pedraza, as he watched the video.

“It’s atrocious,” said parent Yankee Alba. “It makes me feel terrified.”

The 34-second ride was captured on three school security cameras. The first glimpse is in the front parking lot of Oak Hill Elementary School. Camera two then shows Martinez coasting his way through the courtyard in the center of campus.

On camera three, and perhaps the most jaw-dropping angle, Martinez weaves through dozens of children and some teachers on his way to an opening in a fence on the playground.

“[It] kind of gave me goosebumps, seeing that, knowing that my son was here,” said parent Caressa Pedraza. “I was worried – scared for the kids [while watching the video]. He could have grabbed one of them.”

Escondido Union School District Superintendent Luis Ibarra turned down an on-camera interview with NBC 7 for this story. Instead, in a statement, Ibarra identified the changes that have been implemented at Oak Hill Elementary School since the security breech.

Ibarra wrote that the district has made it a clear policy that 911 be called immediately should something like this occur on campus. The school has also reinforced the openings in the playground fence and is working to fast-track a brand-new fence project

The statement said the gates to the campus now remain locked during school hours. The school has added more crisis response training and the district plans to continue “to support students and staff in preparing for emergency situations,” according to the statement.

While parents are pleased with some of those changes, the fear lingers for others. Security is tighter and fences are on the mend, but rebuilding the trust of parents is slower-going.

“If you have an armed security guard there that is able to fight fire with fire in a situation like that, then I would be satisfied,” added Ramon Pedraza.

Martinez, pleaded guilty last week to burglary and possessing guns on school grounds. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
 

A day after a domestic violence charge against Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy was expunged, photos that appear to show his bruised ex-girlfriend on the night of the alleged attack emerged. 

In 2014, Hardy was convicted for threatening and assaulting his then-girlfriend Nicole Holder in Charlotte, North Carolina, NBC Sports reported. About a month after the alleged attack, the NFL suspended him with no pay for 10 games, according to a press release put out by the league's Vice President of Communications, Brian McCarthy. The suspension was later reduced to four games.

The charges against Hardy have been dropped and expunged, which means they were erased from the eyes of the law.

The charges were dismissed in February 2015 after Holder did not appear in court. The Mecklenburg County district attorney's office said it had "reliable information" that the pair had reached a civil settlement, according to ESPN.

But the case came back into the public eye on Friday when Deadspin published photos that it claims were taken on the night of the alleged attack. The photos released show a woman, identified as Holder, with bruises on her back, arms, legs, neck and face and two photos of what appears to be Hardy's scratched face. 

“I’m not going to make any comments about the case whatsoever, ”Hardy's attorney, Chris Fialko, told Deadspin. The attorney didn't return NBC Owned Television's message requesting a comment.

Mecklenburg County Court tells NBC News that "we did not release the photographs in the Greg Hardy case."

According to police documents that detail the alleged May 13, 2014 attack, Hardy and Holder came home from a night of drinking when they began to fight in the football player's bedroom.

When Holder tried to get up, Hardy pushed her and then threw her into the bathroom where she hit the wall and fell into the bathtub, she told police. Holder said that bruises on her back were from Hardy throwing her onto a futon full of guns. 

"He told me he should kill me," Holder said, according to the report. "I said go ahead ... just do it so I don't have to."

Holder said Hardy gave her time to leave the apartment, but later called police to tell them she had been stalking him.

Deadspin said it received hundreds of pages of records, some already reported, including police reports, interview transcripts and photos. The publication released over 40 photos that appear to show Holder with bruises on her arms, legs, chin, neck and foot. 

In March 2015, the former Carolina Panthers' star signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Since starting, the team's owner Jerry Jones has called Hardy a "real leader" who inspires the team, even after video showed him shoving a coach during a game.

“While we did not have access to the photos that became public today, we were and are aware of the serious nature of this incident. We as an organization take very this seriously. We do not condone domestic violence. We entered into the agreement with Greg fully understanding that there would be scrutiny and criticism. We have given Greg a second chance. He is a member of our team and someone who is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to move forward with his life and his career,” Jerry Jones wrote in a public statement through his public relationships representative. 

Joel Pitt misses his father, especially on game day.

“You know, if I’m sitting in the stands. Just not having him there,” he said.

He aches for the time his daughter won’t have with her grandfather.

“She’s excelling in school in a really phenomenal way that he would have appreciated,” he said.

Dr. Harry Pitt died four years ago. The 80-year-old retired school superintendent was still entering weightlifting competitions, golfing and traveling. His sons insist he had a lot of life left in him.

“I think my dad is up there saying ‘Please don't let this happen to someone else,” said Jeff Pitt, Joel’s brother.

In December 2011, Harry Pitt came home, parked in his garage and accidentally left the car running all night long.

“Went to bed and didn’t wake up,” Jeff Pitt recalled.

Harry Pitt died from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning. Colorless, odorless toxic fumes were rising from the garage to the bedroom two floors above throughout the night because of the car that was left turned on.

It is an accident his sons say never should have happened.

“It’s completely senseless,” said Jeff Pitt.

Harry Pitt drove a car with a keyless ignition.

“Millions of Americans are driving automobiles that have a deadly safety defect, and they don’t know it,” said attorney Martis Alex, who filed a class-action lawsuit against ten automakers of keyless ignition vehicles.

The lawsuit accuses them of false advertising and deceptive practices.

"They represented that the cars were safe. The cars are not safe," Alex said.

Long time auto safety advocate Sean Kane consulted on the lawsuit.

“What we’re seeing here is really an inherent design flaw,” Kane said.

Kane said manufacturers failed to take human behavior into consideration.

Drivers expect if they exit the car with their key, the engine is off. That’s how traditional keys work.
But keyless ignition vehicles generally keep running, even if the key has walked away.

Further complicating the problem is the trend of quiet engines.

Kane, founder and president of Safety Research and Strategies, said this combination has made it far too easy to walk away from a running car.

The lawsuit demanded carmakers install an auto-off feature to kill the engine if the car idles for an extended period.

“If they can put auto-off on your interior lights to save you an inconvenience, why can’t we put auto-off on the engine to save your life?” Alex asked. “It is a simple software fix.”

She compares it to the Chevy Volt recall from earlier this year

“It took about 30 minutes per car to install the auto-off, and dealers were reimbursed by less than $5 a fix,” she said.

Some say carmakers are not to blame, and argue that if a driver is responsible enough to drive, then he or she should be responsible enough to turn off the car.

“You know, the driver absolutely has a responsibility, but when you look at a design, and you see people continuing to make an error. You have a problem with your design. It’s not so much with the human,” Kane countered.

“Anecdotally, virtually every owner of a keyless ignition car that we’ve had any contact with has indicated they’ve left their car running one place or another,” Kane said.

The lawsuit cited 13 deaths nationwide, but in the weeks since it was filed Alex said she has learned of another fatality.

”How many more deaths are we waiting for?,” Alex asked.

NBC4 reached out to all the carmakers named in the lawsuit.

Most declined to comment. However, Ford sent a statement that “the keyless ignition system has proven to be a safe and reliable innovation …” adding that its cars “alert drivers when the driver’s door is opened and the … engine’s running.”

The Pitts have found their own “workarounds” to feel safe.

Jeff keeps his radio on — all the time. It’s his way of knowing if the engine is running.

Because Mercedes offers the option, Joel swapped out the keyless feature for an actual key.

All of this has motivated Harry Pitt’s granddaughter Lindsay, who now plans to study engineering.

“In terms of all the incredible things that they do with cars, you know, they’re making self-driving cars, they should be able to make cars that can turn themselves off,” she said.

=======================

Statements from automakers named in the class-action lawsuit:

Toyota - “We have no statement or comment to share at this time.”
Aaron S. Fowles - Corporate Communications

Ford – “Ford takes the safety of our customers very seriously; the keyless ignition system has proven to be a safe and reliable innovative feature that has been well-received by customers. Ford vehicles equipped with keyless ignition alert drivers when the driver’s door is opened and the vehicle’s engine is running.”
Kelli Felker - Safety Communications Manager

Nissan – “Nissan cannot comment on the subject of current litigation, so we respectfully decline comment on the topic at this time.”
Steve Yaeger - Specialist, Safety & Customer Service Communications

Honda – No response.

GM - “GM is deferring comment to the Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers. “
Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers - “Current keyless ignition system designs generally follow the recommended practices of the Society of Automotive Engineers, which includes recommendations that deal with operating logic, indication of vehicle ignition/control status and the physical control characteristics of keyless ignitions systems. The recommendations also address uniform labeling – all of this so consumers can have an even better understanding of keyless systems functions. “ Wade Newton - Director of Communications

BMW – No response.

Volkswagen and Bently - “Volkswagen Group of America and its brands consider the safety and satisfaction of its consumers and passengers as a top priority. All brands within the Volkswagen Group are engineered to meet or exceed all government regulations. We are unable to comment on specific litigation.”
Erin Bronner - Communications Manager, Bentley Motors, Inc.

Mercedes Benz – “Our vehicles contain the latest in safety features. In fact, unlike many of the other keyless start systems on the market, ours can be operated as a normal keyed ignition system simply by removing the Stop/Start button or using the standard ignition switch (depending on the model). So customers can essentially choose how they wish to operate the system.”
Robert Moran - Director, Corporate Communications Mercedes-Benz USA

Hyundi – “We are cooperating with NHTSA on their research.”
Jim Trainor - Sr. Group Mgr., Product Public Relations

Kia – No response

A memorial service was held for a former San Diego Police Chief and San Diego County Sheriff Friday afternoon.

Former Sheriff William “Bill” B. Kolender died at age 80 on Tuesday, Oct. 6th after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

On Friday afternoon, friends, family, and people he worked with gathered at MCAS Miramar East Gate to celebrate and remember his life.

Kolender began his career in law enforcement as a patrol officer with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) in 1956. According to the San Diego Police Museum, Kolender had just gotten out of the military and was looking for a job to help support his young family, not necessarily a long police career.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1965 and elected as president of the San Diego Police Officer’s Association (SDPOA).

In 1970, he was appointed Chief of the SDPD, serving in that office for 13 years.

During Friday’s memorial service, colleagues and friends shared stories about Kolender, talking about his personality, his sense of humor and his larger than life character.

"How did he do this? I look at it, and I just think it's probably because of a personality, really, that was bigger than life. He had an ability to talk with people, listen to people and connect with people whether they were a movie star, a governor, or the cop or deputy on the beat," said current San Diego Police Chief William “Bill” Gore.

Kolender was elected the 28th Sheriff of San Diego County in 1994 and was sworn into office in 1995. He was re-elected as Sheriff three times after that, in 1998, 2002 and 2006. For much of his SDSO career, he worked alongside Undersheriff Jack Drown.

After more than 50 years of service, he retired as Sheriff in 2009 at age 73. He was the oldest of California’s 58 county sheriffs.

NBC 7's Gene Cubbison shares one of his fondest memories of former San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender.

As he now rests in peace, I'm imagining that Bill wouldn't mind me relating a couple of transactions between the two of us that illustrate a bond of trust that's become somewhat rare in this media age.

In 1975, he was assistant chief of police, on the verge of the City Council approving his nomination as chief, and I was a staff writer at the San Diego Daily Transcript.

It was my practice to pore through the paper's voluminous legal listings for potential story prospects.

One day I came across a notice of a William B. Kolender owing nearly $1,500 to the Bank of America.

I'd never met or spoken with Bill, and was a bit apprehensive dialing him up to find out what the story was with that unpaid debt.

I can't remember our conversation verbatim, but once I explained why I was calling, it went something like this:

Kolender: "Oh geez! Are you gonna report on this?"

Me: "I don't know, can you tell me about it?"

Kolender: "(Pause) ... yeah, I'm going through a divorce. My wife maxed out the credit cards before I could cancel them. She just gave me the bills."

Me: "You're going to pay 'em off, right?"

Kolender: "Absolutely. I'm writing a lot of checks right now. Is this gonna go in the paper?"

Me: "Well, I don't know. Lemme talk to my editor, maybe we can hold off."

Kolender: "Oh, man, this is all I need right now."

Long story short, my editor Bob Witty agreed to let it go on the assumption that Kolender would clear up the delinquent debt, which he did.

Fast forward nine years.

By this time I'm an on-air reporter at NewsCenter 39, and had crossed paths with Bill on numerous story occasions, including the San Ysidro McDonald's massacre.

One evening I ran across Kolender and his wingman, Ron Reina, bellied up to the bar at a favorite watering hole of theirs.

Kolender: "Hey, how ya doin'?"

Me: "Not great. Channel 10's kicking our a-- on high school drug busts, and they're getting it leaked to them by your people."

Again, long-story short, I told him that one of Channel 10's photographers was married to a police lieutenant, and another was a reserve sergeant on the force.

Bill frowned, stubbed out his cigarette and reached into his pocket, fishing out some coins.

"Sit tight," he said. "I'll make a call."

A couple minutes later he returned from a pay phone booth around the corner and whispered in my ear: "Hoover High, 7 o'clock tomorrow morning."

Sure enough, when my photographer and I rolled up to Hoover not long after daybreak, officers were hauling juvenile drug dealers away in cuffs.

When Channel 10's photographer showed up a while later and spotted us working the story, he stopped in his tracks, almost backpedaled, and did a double-take.

There went his exclusive.

And better yet, Bill put a stop to the leaks.

Later on, we laughed about how that played out, and shared many more laughs over the years to come.

And I can't help believing that what developed between a local-yokel journalist and a high-ranking law enforcement officer would be hard to replicate in today's 24-second, social media-driven news cycle in which "Gotcha" is -- all too often -- the name of the game.

The Chargers have a big prime time showdown Monday night against the Chicago Bears at Qualcomm Stadium. We called upon our San Diego animal friends to see who is going to win.

Up first, you won’t believe this…Tag the Kodiak bear from the Steve Martin Ranch made his pick by choosing between San Diego fish tacos and some Chicago style pizza. Tag wasn’t shy at all since he’s used to being in the limelight as a TV and movie actor.

Next up, how about some kittens? Frankincense and Myrrh from the Helen Woodward Animal Center (AnimalCenter.org) made play time out of their pick. Looking for a new kitten companion? These two are up for adoption at HWAC and you can get more information about them here: http://www.animalcenter.org/adoptions/animals.aspx?type=cats.

Next week the Chargers have a much needed bye week giving you some extra time to get your pet predictions in for the Chargers vs. Chiefs game. Send your video via email (Becki.Schildhouse@nbcuni.com) twitter or Instagram (@BeckiSSD) by 4 p.m. Friday November 20th.

*NBC 7 will not use any videos where it appears animals are being forced to do something they don’t want to do. Also, Kodiak is trained, don’t feed wild bears.
 

A California couple was arrested after getting caught having sex in the back seat of a parked car on a busy San Bernardino County street - but officials say that was only the beginning of an incident that left a sheriff's deputy in need of stitches.

Grand Terrace residents, including a middle school student, reported seeing a couple having sex in the 22000 block of Newport Avenue about 3:45 p.m. Thursday, when children were walking home from school, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

A responding deputy found a couple in their 20s in the back seat. He asked them to get dressed, and when they got out of the car he handcuffed them.

The woman, identified as 23-year-old Cristi Caraveo, allegedly slipped the handcuffs from behind to in front of her, jumped in the car and accelerated toward the deputy, sheriff's officials said.

The deputy suffered a cut to his left hand that required several stitches.

Caraveo was later found at her home about 10 miles away in Bloomington and taken into custody without incident.

She faces charges of assault on a police officer with a weapon, escape and indecent exposure, sheriff's officials said. She was in jail on a no-bail hold.

Caraveo's mother said her daughter had moved back home recently and was unaware of what her daughter was accused of.

The man she was with, identified as 24-year-old Emanuel Olivares of Grand Terrace, faces charges of indecent exposure and obstructing an officer, sheriff's officials said. As of Friday, he was not in custody.