Officials in West Hollywood are warning members of the public to protect themselves against  meningococcal infection, an illness caused by a bacteria or virus that can be fatal.

City Councilman John Duran held a news conference Friday afternoon alongside Chris Brown, director of health and mental health for the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, to sound an alarm.

Duran told NBC4 one of his long-time supporters -- a 33-year-old gay man -- had been diagnosed with meningitis two days ago, was hospitalized and is now in a coma. The man has been declared brain dead, Duran said, identifying the victim as Brett Shaad.

The man had attended an annual Palm Springs event known as the White Party, which took place over Easter weekend and draws thousands of gay men from across the country to the desert city, Duran said.

"If this resident was in fact in attendance at the White Party, it raises the issue, so we want to get the word out to any gay men that were at the White Party, that if they have any of these symptoms, go see their physician immediatly," Duran said at the news conference.

Duran said he didn't want to be alarmist, but wanted gay men and others to be on alert for signs of the disease, which can initially resemble the flu.

Dr. Maxine Liggins, area medical director for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, said people who think they may have been exposed should watch for a stiff neck, fever, headache, sometimes a rash, and generally not feeling well.

Duran suggested the West Hollywood case may be from a similar bacterial meningitis strain that circulated among gay men in New York City -- an outbreak that infected 22 people and has killed seven people since 2010.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials said they have not confirmed a direct connection between the Los Angeles-area case and the New York City strain.

Officials don't want to cause panic, Duran said, but are taking an active stance to avoid the delays in response to AIDS 30 years ago.

On Friday, the Equinox fitness club on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood sent a notice to members that a person who used the facility April 6 had been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Officials at the press conference confirmed the individual was the same man being treated at Cedars Sinai.

"The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has assured us that there is virtually no risk of exposure in a health club setting," the email stated. "We are notifying you to let you know that Equinox members and staff are safe, we have taken all necessary safety precautions and we will continue to do everything we can to guarantee our members have the best fitness experience possible."

The email included a link to a letter sent by the Department of Public Health to the club.

Meningococcal disease can have severe health impacts and can progress quickly from flu-like symptoms, rashes and a stiff neck, so health officials say early diagnosis and treatment are crucial. If treated quickly, the disease can often be cured with antibiotics.

Last month, Orange County health officials warned public schools about an outbreak of meningococcal infections in Tijuana that began in January.

A teen was being treated at UC Irvine Medical Center for Meningocococcemia and had had all of her limbs amputed, prompting her parents to advocate for awareness about a vaccine that protects against the disease.

The bacteria -- Neisseria meningitidis -- that causes the bloodstream infection afflicting 18-year-old Kaitlyn Dobrow also causes meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of tissue around the brain and spinal cord, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Infections from the bacteria can be spread from person to person through respiratory and throat secretions and are common in close quarters -- such as military barracks and college dormitories -- according to the CDC website. Person-to-person contact must be close – such as kissing, sex or sharing food – for the bacteria to spread.

Those who have been in close contact with a patient with meningococcal disease should be treated with antibiotics to prevent the illness from progressing, according to the CDC.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

After a second search of his Kaufman home on Friday, former Kaufman County Justice of the Peace Eric Williams was arrested overnight Friday and booked into the Kaufman County Jail.

A couple from San Francisco was arrested Thursday for vandalizing a Miami veterinary office after they found out their dog died during minor knee surgery.

Reyez, an America Bulldog, was at Banfield Pet Hospital, inside a PetSmart for the procedure. When they found out he died, Alejandra Zavaleta, 31, and Edman Vargas, 34, were outraged.

Pictures show medical supplies littering the floor and window blinds torn apart.

According to Vargas' sister, Cindy Vargas, what sparked the incident was the doctor's lack of information about the dog's death.

"The doctor was standing up against the counter with his arms crossed and saying 'I don't know what happened,'" Cindy Vargas said. "When we had specific questions he left the building."

Zoo Miami Holding Nonnative Pets Amnesty Day

According to one PetSmart employee, the doctor left the building because he feared for his safety.

The hospital released a statement Friday explaining the dog's condition.

"Reyes [sic] appeared to be recovering normally after anesthesia when he unexpectedly went into respiratory and cardiac arrest—the hospital administered CPR but was unsuccessful in reviving Reyes," said the statement. "Anytime a pet undergoes anesthesia there is a rare risk of an unforeseen adverse event."

The statement goes on to say: "We understand how hard it is to lose a pet—our hearts go to the Vargas family for the loss of Reyes.”

Edman Vargas and Zavaleta are being held on a $13,000 bond each.

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A 63-year-old man is in critical condition Friday night after he and his car were doused with a liquid and set on fire outside a Long Beach convenience store hours earlier.

"This is an unsettling crime, a horrific act," said Sgt. Aaron Eaton, with Long Beach Police Department.

The attacker approached the victim, tossed a flammable liquid into a green sport utility vehicle and sparked the blaze, Eaton said. Investigators do not believe the victim and attacker know each other.

After running from the 7-11 near Pacific Coast Highway, a 39-year-old man known by many in the area to be homeless was arrested in connection with the attack.

Witnesses used fire extinguishers and water bottles to help extinguish the flames, which consumed the victim as he stumbled from the SUV.

A white sedan was parked next to the SUV. The driver of that car was inside the 7-11 getting a cup of coffee when his car also caught fire.

Steve Cox said he gave spare change to the alleged attacker minutes before the fire.

"He didn’t seem like he was going to harm anybody. He wasn’t very aggressive or anything. I mean, asking for change, he seemed like a nice guy," Cox said. "I’m really surprised about what happened. It’s outrageous."

Neither the victim nor the alleged attacker were identified as of late Friday.

An unknown man wielding a handgun and wearing a black mask robbed an adult bookstore in Kearny Mesa overnight, the San Diego Police Department confirmed.

Police say that at around 2:20 a.m. an armed suspect entered the Mercury Adult Book Store located at 7435 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. and demanded cash from an employee.

The employee gave the man an undisclosed sum of money and the suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction with the cash. No one was injured.

Police describe the man as a black male adult, 5-foot-8, with a muscular build. He was wearing a black mask and black jacket at the time of the robbery.

The suspect remains outstanding and the investigation into the armed robbery is ongoing.
 

A water main break in San Diego’s Oak Park community left customers without water service on Saturday for nearly 12 hours.

Officials say a 12-inch cast iron water main broke around 4:20 a.m. near 47th Street and Federal Boulevard, causing some water to flood surrounding streets.

Officials estimated it would take all day, or at least about 12 hours, to repair the break. Water service was turned off in the area as crews worked to make repairs.

An official from the City of San Diego Public Utilities told NBC 7 that 33 homes and six businesses in the area were impacted.

One of those Oak Park residents was Demetrius Anderson, who told NBC 7 he had been without water service all day. Anderson said he had to get creative and use a water bottle to brush his teeth in the morning.

He also had to postpone some work being done to his house due to the lack of water service.

“It’s pretty annoying. Woke up to flooding in the streets and police lights flashing and my cousin telling me we had no water,” he added.

Water department officials said water service was restored to the neighborhood by about 5 p.m. Saturday. They said the broken water main had been fully replaced.

The cause of the main break is under investigation.

A three-alarm fire in New York City Saturday morning left 37 people injured, including one child and four adults who were in critical condition, fire department officials said.

The fire broke out in an apartment on the fifth floor of a building in Melrose section of the Bronx at around 7:45 a.m. ET. Authorities said smoke from the fire quickly spread throughout the 27-story high-rise.

"When we opened the door to put the fire out, it just fills the building up -- the hallways, the stairs -- up with smoke," said FDNY Deputy Assistant Chief Jack Mooney.

Residents said the heavy smoke darkened their hallways and made breathing extremely difficult. At least 12 people had to be carried down by firefighters, authorities said.

"Smoke was so thick on 22 and the fire started on five," said building resident, Dolores Carter, an asthma sufferer who had to be helped down by firefighters and needed to use a ventilator afterwards. "It was a trying time."

Officials said most of the injuries were minor, but four adults and a child were being treated for smoke inhalation in hyperbaric chambers at Jacobi Medical Center.

Red Cross workers were on the scene assisting evacuated residents.

There is no word yet on what caused the fire.

The fire broke out on the fifth floor of a building in the Melrose section of the Bronx at around 7:45 a.m.

Residents said heavy smoke filled up hallways causing widespread panic throughout the 27-story building. At least 12 people had to be carried down by firefighters, authorities said.

"Smoke was so thick on 22 and the fire started on five," said building resident, Dolores Carter, who had to be helped down by firefighters and needed to use a ventilator. "The smoke was coming out of my window."

Red Cross workers were on the scene assisting evacuated residents.

There is no word yet on what caused the fire.

Four suspects were arrested Friday in connection with a series of armed robberies against pedestrians throughout San Diego County.

Lincoln Park residents Jamarius Porche, 23, Askia Toure, 20, Joseph Ragland, 25, and Michael McGinnis, 18, are suspected of at least 11 armed pedestrian robberies that happened between Mar. 30 and Apr. 10.

Over the course of about two weeks, police say the suspects robbed nearly a dozen pedestrians at gunpoint. The victims were forced to give up their wallets, phones and other personal property during the robberies. In some cases, the victims were pistol-whipped if they didn’t comply, police said.

On Friday, SDPD officers and SWAT team officials served a search warrant in a Lincoln Park neighborhood and arrested the four suspects without incident.

Porche, Toure, Ragland and McGinnis were all booked into San Diego Central Jail on robbery and other related charges.

They’re all scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

The investigation on this series of robberies is ongoing. Police are asking additional victims or anyone with information on this case to contact Det. Mark Gain at (619) 516-3024 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
 

Firefighters rushed to a home that caught on fire in Lemon Grove Saturday morning.

The two-alarm blaze began just after 11 a.m. at a duplex in the 7200 block of Central Avenue.

Heartland Fire & Rescue Chief Rick Sitta said the duplex was well-involved in flames and smoke by the time crews arrived. The fire had also spread to an adjoining residence in the front and crews worked quickly to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading any further.

Chief Sitta said eight engines, two trucks and crews from Lemon Grove, La Mesa, Chula Vista, San Diego and Cal Fire assisted in tackling the blaze. Firefighters were able to knock it down by 11:27 a.m.

Fire dispatchers had initially said that a person was trapped inside the home at the time of the fire. Chief Sitta confirmed that resident was able to get out of the house.

Sonny Saghera of Heartland Fire & Rescue said the man needed assistance getting out of the home due to physical limitations.

He was transported to UCSD Medical Center with minor injuries including possible smoke inhalation. His current condition is unknown.

Chief Sitta said several animals were also involved in the house fire. At least two pet cats were overcome by the smoke and killed, he said. Two dogs were able to escape the fire and get out safely, Saghera confirmed.

Chief Sitta said the structure and surrounding homes sustained significant damage. Saghera said estimated damages to the three affected homes and their contents is $300,000.

The Red Cross was called to assist two displaced families, including five adults, two kids and two dogs, officials said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Lemon Grove resident Juan Rosales, who lives in the front home that was also impacted in the fire, said he called 911 after seeing heavy smoke and hearing screams coming from his neighbor’s house.

Rosales told NBC 7 he was getting ready for work and putting his stuff in his car when he heard two “pops” and saw the flames.

“I heard my neighbor yell for someone to call the fire department,” said Rosales. “I was scared.”
Rosales evacuated his dogs from his home and waited a couple minutes for fire crews to arrive. He was thankful for the swift response from firefighters.

Another neighbor said he heard some sort of small explosion and then saw flames. He helped his neighbor get out of the burning building.

“A house is a house, but people are people. I’m just glad no one is hurt,” the neighbor told NBC 7.

Hundreds of local teenagers will receive free prom dresses thanks to a San Diego charity that aims to help students in need.

Cinderella’s Attic, a non-profit organization that provides formal gowns to prom-bound teens, will hold its annual “Prom Boutique” event on Sunday at the Hilton Hotel in Mission Valley.

From 12 p.m. to 4p.m., high school students can head to the hotel to pick out a fancy gown, shoes, purses and jewelry to wear to their school dance. This year, girls who attend the event will also get free hair and makeup consultations from 30 participating Paul Mitchell stylists.

The gently-used dresses and accessories – which are donated to Cinderella’s Attic year-round – are provided to the teens free of charge.

The mission of the non-profit organization is to give underprivileged students the confidence and support to be able to attend these special, once-in-a-lifetime school dances alongside their peers while feeling pretty and pampered.

“We’re trying to create memorable experiences for these young women that build character, confidence and self-esteem inside and out,” said Kerry Spark, president and founder of Cinderella’s Attic. “In addition to shopping for dresses and shoes, these girls are also getting hair and makeup without spending a dime. How special is that?”

Spark is a teacher who was inspired to start Cinderella’s Attic in 2006 after seeing firsthand how the cost of being a teen can have emotional and social impact on students.

Students looking to attend Sunday’s prom dress giveaway should RSVP with Spark at Kerry@CinderellasAttic.org. All high school students that attend the event will also be entered into a drawing for gift certificates for salon services and other prom goodies.

To learn more about Cinderella’s Attic or to make a donation, visit this website.
 

The San Francisco Zoo is going to be a bit more crowded this weekend now that the zoo's newest and cutest attraction is out and about.

The zoo's 8-week-old Sumatran tiger cub went on exhibit Friday. You can see raw video at the top of this article.

The still unnamed 14-pound  tiger is growing fast.

Zoo doctors said the cub is now big and strong enough to venture into the outdoor enclosure.

They gave the plan a trial run Wednesday. The zoo debut was Friday, with more outdoor jaunts planned every weekend. The zoo said tiger cub will be on view outside Saturday (April 13) from 2-4 p.m., and Sunday (April 14) from 1-4 p.m.

"Leanne was so happy to be outside with her baby, she frolicked just like a cub too," a zoo statement said.

“Providing the cub the opportunity to explore the outside world is a significant step in her development,” zoo curator Corinne MacDonald said. “The cub will build up her strength and confidence watching her mother, Leanne, and she’ll learn from her while navigating her new environment. We are thrilled to finally be able to show our tiger cub off outside to all of her fans.”

The Sumatran tiger is critically endangered, with a wild population estimated at less than 400. There are 74 Sumatran tigers in captivity in North America at accredited zoos and aquariums.

She was born Feb. 10 and is expected to grow to be between 170 and 240 pounds.

Visitors have been able to catch a glimpse of the cub the past couple weeks in the lion house, but this weekend will be the first time the mom and cub will be able to be in the outdoor exhibit.

The cub's naming rights will be part of the zoo's annual fundraiser, ZooFest, which takes place on May 11.

A judge has given the seal of approval to a year-round rope barrier aimed to protect seals at La Jolla’s famous Children’s Pool.

The rope barrier is designed to provide a buffer for the safety and welfare of both the seals and spectators, particularly during the seals’ pupping season from mid-December through mid-May. The rope was supposed to remain up through May 15.

Currently, all but approximately three feet of the Children’s Pool is roped off to discourage beachgoers from disturbing the seals.

At a hearing on Friday, Superior Court Judge Joel Pressman ruled the rope remain in place year-round. Judge Pressman said he hoped the decision would end years of legal wrangling between animal advocates and public beach access proponents.

The Children’s Pool rope barrier has been a long-debated, heated topic between those on both sides.

Last July, officials with the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to keep the rope barrier up year-round for at least three years to protect the seals. The City Council and mayor had also requested the rope. However, the city’s Planning Commission ultimately denied it.

Bryan Pease, attorney on behalf of the Animal Protection and Rescue League, said Friday’s ruling was a victory for the harbor seals.

Still, despite the ruling, beach access advocates say they will likely continue to fight against the year-round rope, so this controversial issue may not be over and done with just yet.

The Children’s Pool made news last month when Mayor Bob Filner issued an emergency order to close the Children’s Pool at night after a seal camera captured video of people allegedly harassing the seals.

A prominent Ramona accountant has been sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison for preparing fraudulent tax returns for clients and then plotting his clients’ murders in an effort to prevent them from testifying against him in court.

Former IRS agent-turned-accountant Steven Martinez, 51, once lived the high life in his multi-million dollar mansion in Ramona.

He became a successful accountant preparing taxes for high-end clients, but was eventually convicted of stealing more than $11 million in tax payments from those clients – and then, in a plot twist, plotting their murders.

According to the FBI and federal prosecutors, Martinez stole millions from his wealthy clients over the years by preparing phony tax returns from 2004 through 2007 and then pocketing the tax money.

Martinez admitted to using approximately $11 million in stolen taxpayer funds for his own personal benefit, using the cash to make home improvements, purchase a beach house in Mexico, pay for the use of a private plane and pay off his personal credit cards and loans.

But the tax fraud case grew much more complicated than the initial white collar crime.

Martinez was actually released, facing approximately 10 years in prison for fraud. However, while out on bail, court documents show he plotted the murder of four of his former tax clients who were set to testify against him about the theft.

According to prosecutors, in February 2012, Martinez hired a hitman and meticulously planned his clients’ murders by giving a would-be assassin detailed information about each of the targets. The details were contained in special “packets” that included photographs of the victims, their homes and other personal information.

Martinez was unaware that the would-be hitman was actually a cooperating witness for the FBI, and investigators recorded exchanges between Martinez and the hired hitman.

Court documents reveal Martinez told the would-be assassin he “could make him rich for the rest of his life.” He offered the man $100,000 in cash to kill a former female client in Rancho Santa Fe and a woman in La Jolla.

The hired hitman told investigators that Martinez had suggested he use “two different pistols for the murders and that he acquire a silencer.”

Martinez pleaded guilty on August 10, 2012, to charges including murder-for-hire, witness tampering involving attempted murder, solicitation of a crime of violence, mail fraud, filing false tax returns, Social Security fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.

On Friday, with more than 30 family members and friends watching in court, a judge sentenced Martinez to serve almost 24 years in prison and ordered him to pay more than $14 million in restitution to the victims, the IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board.

U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy said she was pleased with the outcome of the prosecution on Friday.

“This is a case of greed so extreme that what began as serious – but not violent - white-collar crimes almost escalated to the murders of four people. Fortunately FBI intervention prevented the violence and today justice was served with a decades-long sentence,” said Duffy.

Martinez’s attorney, David Demergian, says Martinez’s crimes were fueled by a need to provide for his family.

“[This] had to do with finding thousands of dollars to diagnose his autistic son, and once having made that, it became so easy for him, I think it just fed on itself,” Demergian told NBC 7 on Friday.

The attorney says the fraud and murder-for-hire plot was triggered by Martinez’s diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.

“It was literally insane. There was no way he could have gotten away with it any more than he could have gotten away with a scheme to kill four people,” he added.

Still, Demergian maintains that Martinez never really wanted to hurt anyone.

“There's no question in my mind, he never believed anybody was going to get hurt. Of course, that's not the way it looks,” he said.

As Martinez heads to serve his long prison sentence, his mansion in Ramona awaits foreclosure. Federal prosecutors say the lavish home was part of the rich lifestyle that Martinez funded through his crimes.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Friday that a new Navy ship will be named after local astronaut Sally Ride.

Mabus said the future ship – dubbed R/V Sally Ride (AGOR 28) – will be a Neil Armstrong-class auxiliary general oceanographic research or “AGOR” ship. Traditionally, AGORs are named for nationally recognized leaders in exploration and science.

The ship will honor the memory of Ride, a renowned professor, scientist and innovator at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD. Ride was also the first woman and youngest person in space, and later served as director of NASA’s Office of Exploration.

Ride, 61, died last July after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed away peacefully in her La Jolla home surrounded by family and friends.

The RV/Sally Ride is the first academic research ship to be named in honor of a woman.

"Sally Ride's career was one of firsts and will inspire generations to come," said Mabus on Friday. "I named R/V Sally Ride to honor a great researcher, but also to encourage generations of students to continue exploring, discovering and reaching for the stars."

Mabus says the new ship will be a well-equipped oceanographic research platform that includes acoustic equipment used to map the deepest parts of the ocean. It’ll boast modular onboard laboratories capable of supporting a wide variety of oceanographic research challenges.

The ship will be 238 feet in length and able to operate at more than 12 knots. It will be built by Dakota Creek Industries, Inc., out of Anacortes, Wash.

The RV/Sally Ride is among seven new ships named Friday by Mabus.

Other ships include three joint high speed vessels (JHSV): the USNS Trenton; the USNS Brunswick; and the USNS Carson City; an amphibious transport dock ship (LPD), the USS Portland; two littoral combat ships (LCS); the USS Wichita; and the USS Manchester.

The popular “Confession Bear” meme is often used online to reveal light-hearted secrets. Now, police are investigating a man who used the meme to allegedly post a detailed murder confession on the internet.

The “Confession Bear” post in question, read: “My sister had an abusive meth addict boyfriend. I killed him with his own drugs while he was unconscious and they ruled it as an overdose.”

Hundreds of social media users saw the post on a website called Reddit and traced the online confession to a man with San Diego ties, former Mission Bay High School student Colton Goodbrand.

The San Diego Police Department received a tip about the dark online post on Thursday.

Police are now trying to track down and investigate Goodbrand. Officials are working to determine whether the risqué murder post has any credibility or if it's simply an online hoax.

Lt. Kevin Mayer with the San Diego Police Department says the post is being looked at like a lead.

“Like any other tip, we vet it to determine if it's credible and we're still in that process of investigating it,” Lt. Mayer told NBC 7.

The SDPD cold case team is picking apart tidbits from hundreds of Reddit users who saw the post and immediately dug up information on a user named “Naratto.”

The online forum quickly pointed to 24-year-old Goodbrand as being that user. Word spread to other websites like Gawker, where users further traced Goodbrand to Pacific Beach.

“It's information that other people have posted. We have not determined the credibility of that at all. Even the person's name or identity that's posting this stuff,” explained Lt. Mayer.

Mission Bay High School did confirm that Goodbrand attended school there in 2003 and 2006, before transferring to La Jolla High School.

Still, authorities have yet to tie everything together. And, even then, there’s a possibility that the “Confession Bear” post was nothing more than a joke.

“A lot of times when people see things like this, they automatically assume it's a hoax, but you just never know. It's always a good idea if someone is claiming something, to bring it to our attention,” said Lt. Mayer.

Officials say the investigation is still in its preliminary stages. Check back for updates on this story.

Padres OF Carlos Quentin was suspended for 8 games by Major League Baseball on Friday, punishment for his role in Thursday night's melee against the Dodgers.

In case you're the one person who has no idea what this is referring to, Quentin was hit in the shoulder by a Zack Greinke pitch in the Padres' 3-2 loss to the Dodgers. Quentin stared down Greinke, who said something unprintable, sparking the University High alum to charge the mound, resulting in the Dodgers' starting pitcher needing surgery for a broken collarbone that will keep him out for 8 weeks.

Quentin has appealed the suspension and will be eligible to play until MLB finishes its review process.

Dodgers IF Jerry Hairston, Jr. was also suspended for one game for his role in the fracas. OF Matt Kemp is still being investigated, as well.

Infant onesies sold by major retailers nationwide is being recalled because zippers on the clothing can detach, posing a choking hazard to the young children who wear them and their siblings.

About 218,000 Sleep N’ Play one-piece footed garments in eight styles are affected by the recall, according to manufactuer The William Carter Company.

Popular child clothing store OshKosh B’gosh, and major retailers Walmart and Target sold the onesies from December 2012 to January 2013. They ranged in price from $7 to $20 and were sold in sizes newborn, 3, 6 and 9 months.

Baby B’gosh, Child of Mine made by Carter’s or Just One You made by Carter’s is printed on the fabric inside the neck area.

No injuries have been reported. Consumers are being urged to stop using the outfits immediately and return them to The William Carter Company for a full refund.

For refunds, click here or call 888-282-4674 weekdays between 6 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. PT.

For details on style numbers and clothing descriptions, click here.

A Delaware teen was arrested after his own mother turned him in for owning an illegal gun.

Police say 18-year-old Michael Colon was arguing with his mother Saturday morning at their home in Wilmington. Police say the mother was upset that Colon was coming home late and had been hanging out in dangerous areas in town.

As they were arguing, police say the woman searched her son’s backpack and found a .22 caliber revolver inside. Investigators say Colon is a convicted felon and not allowed to carry a firearm.

The woman called police who responded to the home around 11:15 a.m. When they arrived, they say they found the gun and arrested Colon.

Colon was charged with possession of a firearm by a person prohibited. He was arraigned and released after posting a $10,000 secured bond.

Police also arrested another Wilmington teen on gun charges earlier on Saturday. Investigators say two officers were on patrol on the 500 block of N. Clayton Street shortly before 3 a.m. when they spotted the teen trying to hide a loaded 9mm handgun inside some bushes.

The officers took the teen into custody and recovered the weapon. The teen was arraigned and committed to the New Castle County Detention Center in lieu of $10,001 cash bail.