Four San Diego students have been arrested for allegedly vandalizing their school so badly that classes were cancelled for a week while crews tackled repairs costing more than $40,000.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) announced Tuesday that four suspects – three boys and one girl between the ages of 16 and 17 – were taken into custody and booked into Juvenile Hall for felony vandalism charges linked to the defacement of Warner Springs High School on CA-79 in Warner Springs, a community located approximately 65 northeast of downtown San Diego.

The suspects are students at the high school, officials said.

According to investigators, between May 1 and May 3, a group of suspects trashed the campus, vandalizing several buildings, offices and classrooms. Some of the damage included broken windows, graffiti and material discharged from a fire extinguisher inside the buildings. The SDSO said repairs and restoration costs to the school were estimated at more than $40,000.

As a result of the extensive vandalism and subsequent clean-up efforts and repairs, the school’s entire K-12 complex had to be closed for one week.

On Monday, a School Resource Deputy at the high school and other SDSO deputies arrested four students believed to be responsible for the vandalism. Due to the ages, the names of the minors were not released. Investigators also have not outlined a possible motive for the vandalism.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can choose to remain anonymous.

Bernie Sanders won Tuesday's primary in West Virginia partly because of Donald Trump supporters, NBC News reported.

A third of those who voted in West Virginia's Democratic primary say they plan to back Trump in November, according to NBC News exit polls. Sanders won those voters by a wide margin.

In fact, 39 percent of Sanders voters said they would vote for Trump over Sanders in the fall. For Clinton, nine percent of her voters say they plan to come out for Trump in the general election.

West Virginia has an open primary, meaning independents can vote in the Democratic contest. With the GOP nomination wrapped up, it's possible mischievous Trump supporters sought to damage Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee, by voting for Sanders.

A U.S. sailor died Friday during a SEAL training exercise in Coronado, California, officials confirmed.

Seaman James Derek Lovelace, 21, passed out in a military training pool while undergoing basic underwater demolition/SEAL training (BUD/S), officials said.

Lovelace was withdrawn from the exercise when he began to have difficulty with the drill, Navy officials told NBC News. The sailor lost consciousness and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Lovelace enlisted in the Navy boot camp in November and started prep training for BUD/S in January, according to Lt. Trevor Davids, spokesperson for Naval Special Warfare Center.

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family and friends of Seaman Lovelace. Though Derek was very new to our community, he selflessly answered his nation's call to defend freedom and protect this country. He will be sorely missed. We share his family's grief in this grave loss," said Capt. Jay Hennessey, commanding officer of the Navy Special Warfare Center, in a statement to NBC 7 San Diego.

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The Navy had not announced the training death until after officials were contacted Tuesday by NBC News and The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk.

The death is now under investigation, according to the report.

BUD/S is the SEAL's infamous training course with several phases, including one called "Hell Week." The majority of trainees who enter the program end up ringing the bell to quit. The small percentage that complete the entire program earn the SEAL trident on their uniform. 

Friday's incident happened during the first week of BUD/S as trainees are being introduced to the water training, Davids said. It involves swimming in a pool, treading water as well as wearing dive masks.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this developing news story. 

A man has been arrested after he fired a pellet rifle at a north San Diego County home, prompting lockdowns at five schools in Escondido Tuesday, officials confirmed. 

The Escondido Police Department (EPD) said the suspect was first spotted around 11:30 a.m. walking near Kit Carson Park. A witness told police the man was carrying some sort of rifle and appeared to be pointing it at LR Green School, though no shots were fired. The witness got a license plate before the vehicle fled the scene. Police responded to the area, but they were unable to locate the driver or suspect car. 

At 1 p.m., another witness called police to report an unknown suspect had shot out the window of a home in the 2200 block of Conway Drive. The resident rushed out, confronting the man and taking photos of him, his rifle and the car before he fled. 

Police say photos led them to determine the suspect and suspect car in each scenario was the same person. The driver, identified as 50-year-old Escondido resident Robert Beltran, was carrying a CO2-powered pellet rifle, police said. 

Since both sightings included an armed suspect near at least two schools, police issued precautionary lockdowns on the following campuses: Calvin Christian School; Reidy Creek Elementary School; North Broadway Elementary School; Rincon Middle School; Conway Elementary School.

The EPD said investigators obtained a photo of Beltran as he walked around on Conway Drive and determined the man was carrying a pellet rifle of some sort.

Officers deemed the schools safe and lifted the lockdowns. 

Police checked Beltran's home, but he was not there. They then called him, and he agreed to come to the Police Department, where he was taken into custody. 

Luis Ibarra, Superintendent of Schools for the Escondido Union School District, confirmed at least four of those campuses had been in lockdown for some period of time Tuesday due to this incident.

Further details were not immediately released.

The Republican committee working on legislation to deal with Puerto Rico’s debt crisis has delayed its release, NBC News reports. 

The bill, which would deal with the territory’s $72 billion debt, was expected to be unveiled Wednesday. An aide said it could be introduced Thursday because the committee is “still working through technical stuff, minor refinements.” 

The bill would create a financial oversight board, whose mandate would include bringing revenue in line with expenditures and finding efficiencies and to protect creditor hierarchy, according to the aide.  

Puerto Rico defaulted on $422 million in debt payments in May and is facing another large debt payment in July. Unemployment in the territory has been rising and hundreds of thousands of residents have fled to the mainland.

The drought, crime and the minimum wage were among the topics discussed Tuesday when the top five candidates in California's U.S. Senate race faced off in San Diego.

At this point in the race, most eyes are on top two candidates California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez. It was clear some of the candidates targeted front runner Harris in this final debate before the California primary on June 7.

The candidates, Democrats Harris and Sanchez and Republicans Tom Del Becarro, Duf Sundheim and Ron Unz each seek one of the two slots on the November ballot.

One hot issue during the debate at San Diego State University was raising the minimum wage.

Sanchez supports raising the minimum wage.

"I was the only one to endorse the Fight for $15 initiative,” said Sanchez. “Didn’t put my finger in the wind to see where people were. I did it.”

Unz said he would support a $12 federal wage and said California's rate should account for urban-rural economic differences.

He added that immigration levels should be reduced, since a flood of workers creates pressure on wages.

“If we raise the minimum wage we're forcing the businesses to pay their own workers instead of shifting it onto taxpayers and eliminate the magnetic lure of low wage jobs,” Unz said.

Republicans Del Beccaro and Sudheim warned that the state's $15 level, which will be reached incrementally, would cost jobs in the state's agricultural heartland.

Although much of the time was spent discussing national issues, Harris faced some targeted attacks.

Sundheim used his opening statement to accuse Harris of failing to keep crime in check.

Harris later shot back, saying Sundheim was "playing around" with facts while she defended her record on seizing illegal guns and ammunition.

Questioned about global warming, Unz said he's not persuaded by the evidence behind climate change. Del Beccaro said unreasonable regulation is pushing jobs overseas, where environmental laws are lax. Harris stressed she had defended state environmental laws, and pointed out she was endorsed by major environmental groups. Sanchez argued that it's not enough to push strong environmental laws in California -- more must be done nationally and globally.

The seat was opened by the retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer. The top two candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will face each other on Election Day.

A Chula Vista man charged with rape in a Balboa Park sex assault last week pleaded not guilty in court, where prosectors revealed he had two related misdemeanors on his record.

Ismael Hernandez, 27, of Chula Vista, was formally charged with multiple rape-related charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a mother twice, at knife point, in what investigators called an 'unspeakable' crime. He is also charged with attempting to sexually assault another woman near Balboa Park.

At his arraignment, Hernandez was charged with 13 felony counts of sex crimes, including sexual penetration by use of force, sexual battery by restraint, forcible oral copulation, attempted kidnapping for a specific felony crime and multiple counts of forcible rape. Twelve of those charges stem from one victim, and one stems for a different victim. 

Court documents revealed Hernandez had two related misdemeanors: in 2009, he was found guilty of secretly filming a person. In 2010, he was found guilty of prowling and peeping, a second misdemeanor. He was also convicted of felony robbery in 2012. 

Hernandez was arrested several days after the assault, thanks to a specific sketch and community efforts. 

"This took a great effort on behalf of the victims in this case that were able to focus during such a traumatic event, they were able to recall details of tattoos and facial details that were used for a composite sketch," said Judy Taschner, Deputy District Attorney.

Officials outlined Hernandez's alleged path in the 'random' attacks on Thursday, May 5.

Police said one woman was assaulted outside a business near 6th Avenue and Cedar Street Thursday evening. She saw Hernandez’s reflection on her car window and was able to fight him off with a bag of her takeout food and run away.

Minutes later, prosecutors said, he found his second victim: a mother on the 1600 block of 8th Avenue as she walked to her car, parked on 9th Street.

As the woman walked, Hernandez allegedly confronted and pulled a knife on her, police said. He threatened to kill the victim if she didn’t follow his orders.

Police said Hernandez demanded the victim walk with him into Balboa Park. He made her walk with him down Date Street, near the Interstate 5 fence. As they made their way to the park, he continued to threaten the woman with the knife.

Police said they went up a staircase on 6th Avenue and entered Balboa Park. That's where the man sexually assaulted the woman, police said.

Prosecutors said the second victim's attack lasted two and a half hours. 

"It's unspeakable what the suspect forced the victim to do," said Ahearn.

The suspect then forced the woman to walk back to the 1600 block of 9th Avenue near Cortez Hill. At that second location, he sexually assaulted her once more, police said.

Hernandez was held on $5 million bail. 

An alleged road rage incident between two drivers ends with a man accused of bashing a windshield with a golf club and a pregnant woman transported to a hospital, San Diego Police confirmed Wednesday.

Officers were called to El Cajon Boulevard and 54th Street just before 11 a.m. Tuesday for an argument between two drivers.

Russell Woodhouse, 27, was with his wife when a vehicle driven by a pregnant woman moved in front of their car, police said.

Woodhouse drove in front of the other vehicle and stopped his car, according to an SDPD officer.

He then allegedly grabbed a golf club and hit the pregnant woman's windshield, police said.

The pregnant driver was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution, police said.

Woodhouse faces an assault with a deadly weapon charge.

Oceanside police (OPD) are searching for a man who exposed himself to an 8-year-old girl in the parking lot of her apartment complex. 

The incident happened Tuesday at approximately 4 p.m. at the apartment complex where the young girl lives with her family, on the 100 block of Avenida Descanso in Oceanside. 

A man approached the woman, asking her if she had seen a dog, police said. When she said she had not seen a dog, the man exposed his genitals to her, police said. 

The victim ran off to her apartment and told her mother. 

The suspect was last seen entering a black pickup truck and driving away. Police did not have a clear, distinct description of the suspect. 

Police said the incident appears to be isolated. No other information was immediately available.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Oceanside Police Detective Steve Stracke at (760) 435-4703.

A stubborn Canadian is defying the raging wildfire that’s been devouring the northern Alberta town of Fort McMurray, according to NBC News.

Hartley Bushell’s wife and neighbors fled the area. The Mounties have told him to get out of the city at least a dozen times.

But the 63-year-old is staying put, even though his wife, Chalinee, begged him to get in the car with her before she fled. He’s surviving on the food and water in the house, missing his wife “a lot.” He’s keeping company with a little pug he found when he went into a neighborhood to retrieve a friend’s photos and documents.

"This is not just a house we have here," he told CBC News. "This is our home."

Liberal Rep. Alan Grayson angrily confronted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid during a closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill Wednesday, NBC News reported. 

Grayson was angry that Reid decided to back a different candidate in Florida’s Senate race, according to three sources inside the room. 

Reid met with members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, but when Grayson was called on to speak, he repeatedly asked Reid if the senator knew his name. Reid said he did and expressed his “low opinion” of Grayson. 

Grayson, who has been willing to break with Democratic leadership, and is running to fill the Florida Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Marco Rubio. But Democratic leaders have lined up behind Rep. Patrick Murphy instead.

A fight between neighbors ended with minor injuries when one neighbor attacked the other with hedge clippers, Escondido Police officials said. 

The dispute happened at approximately 1:31 p.m. Wednesday on the 2400 block of Fallbrook Place in Escondido, Escondido Police Lt. Owens said. 

The two got into a fight over hedges on the property, Owens said. 

At one point, a 73-year-old man used hedge clippers to attack his 53-year-old neighbor, causing minor cut injuries. 

The 53-year-old responded by throwing a punch at the 73-year-old, police said. 

No one is pressing charges at this time, Owens said. 

Police say the two neighbors have a history of not getting along. 

No other information was immediately available.

A Pennsylvania woman who was shot and killed by her boyfriend inside their Chester County home recorded her own murder on her cellphone, prosecutors said.

The boyfriend, Keith Smith, is heard acknowledging the recording and shouting obscenities at the woman before killing her, prosecutors with the Chester County District Attorney's Office alleged Wednesday. The office charged Smith with her murder.

Investigators said Smith, 43, and his girlfriend Wesley Webb were inside their home on the 300 block of Buckwalter Road in Schuylkill Township on May 2. Three children, all under the age of 14, were also inside the home at the time.

Smith and Webb got into an argument that night, according to officials, and Webb decided she was going to take two of the children and leave the home. Webb, seated on a couch in the living room, took out her phone and began to record audio of the argument, investigators said.

During the recording, Smith allegedly grabbed his single-shot, 12-gauge shotgun and opened fire, striking Webb once in the chest and killing her.

The recording allegedly captured Smith asking Webb, “You want to record it now, b---h?” The sound of a gunshot is then heard, before Smith shouts, “F--- you! How’s that? That’s where we just went,” according to investigators.

After shooting Webb, Smith reloaded the shotgun and turned it on himself, investigators said. He shot himself in the face but failed to kill himself, according to officials.

Officials say the three children were upstairs in the home during the shooting, but went downstairs and discovered Webb’s body. One of the children called 911 and police arrived at the home in minutes, officials said. When police arrived, Smith allegedly admitted that he shot Webb and had tried to kill himself after. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

"This was a savage, selfish, and cowardly murder,” Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan said. “The defendant did not hesitate to kill his girlfriend. But he flinched when it came to killing himself. Now, the victim is dead, the defendant is alive, and three kids have been badly traumatized.”

Smith is charged with first and third degree murder, possessing an instrument of crime and endangering the welfare of children. He is being treated at a hospital where he is in stable condition and will be transferred to Chester County Prison once he is medically cleared. 

It was not immediately clear if Smith had an attorney.

“This case is a tragic example of technology and the law catching up to criminals,” Hogan said. “Until 2012 in Pennsylvania, a victim’s recording of her own murder would have been inadmissible under the Pennsylvania Wiretap Act. This law was changed in 2012, fixing a glaring omission. But that is slight solace for the children and family of the victim in this case.”

A San Diego resident-turned-TV chef is entering another chapter of her culinary career: her new cookbook has just been released, chock-full of zesty recipes from her kitchen.

“Claudia’s Cocina: A Taste of Mexico” boasts 65 mouthwatering recipes created by Claudia Sandoval, the September 2015 winner of Fox’s reality television cooking competition, “MasterChef.”

The book includes some of Sandoval’s favorite dishes, plus creations that helped her secure that “MasterChef” victory including

Hibiscus Poached Pears, Achiote Rubbed Pork Chops, Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken and the fan favorite, Tres Leches Cake.

The book also includes recipes inspired by Sandoval’s Mexican heritage, many from her family’s hometown of Mazatlan, Mexico, along with personal photos and anecdotes about the chef’s childhood and life experiences.

The amateur chef said she’s always been heavily-influenced by her cultural roots and her family. 

“Cooking is a way to connect to family. Cooking is love,” Sandoval told NBC 7 on Wednesday. 

An avid reader, Sandoval said she has long dreamed of writing her own book. Now, that telling of her culinary journey is very much a reality. 

“To say I’m published – it’s so surreal,” she said. “This book is so special to me. It has many of my food memories – those memories linked to dishes; recipes I grew up with.”

On Tuesday, celebrity chef and “MasterChef” judge Gordon Ramsay congratulated Sandoval on her book via social media, which only added to Sandoval’s enthusiasm.

As a home cook, Sandoval said her goal was to create a book of “elevated” meals that could be easily recreated at home. She said her book also touches on cooking basics so amateur chefs can feel comfortable in the kitchen.

Of the dozens of recipes, Sandoval said there are a few that are particularly popular right now with her family members, including her 10-year-old daughter.

For family parties, Sandoval often whips up Spicy Shrimp Ceviche, aka Aguachile, a dish she said takes five minutes to make. For a sweet treat, Sandoval said her daughter often asks for Arroz Con Leche rice balls – a concoction she whipped up on the fly while competing on “MasterChef.” 

Sandoval, who now lives in south San Diego near National City, where she grew up, will spend the next several months on a tour across the country promoting her cookbook.

In November, she’ll set sail to the Caribbean on the MasterChef Cruise, a cruise featuring “MasterChef” alums and fans, complete with cooking demos and “Mystery Box” challenges.

But despite her jet-setting schedule, Sandoval said she plans to stay rooted in San Diego and its thriving food scene.

“It’s exciting to see this Baja-Cali mix [of restaurants] coming together in San Diego,” she said. “San Diego is definitely a changing food scene – growing and expanding. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Sandoval said she’s eyeing the possibility of opening a restaurant in San Diego in the coming years, perhaps once things slow down and she has more time to dedicate to the endeavor. She said her concept will be “something different” and said she’s a huge supporter of bringing more Mexican cuisine to America’s Finest City.

“I want more real Mexican food in San Diego,” she said with a laugh.

To learn more about Sandoval or to order her book, visit her website.

The trial of three Minneapolis men accused of plotting to help ISIS began Wednesday, NBC News reported. 

The prosecutor began opening arguments in a trial that is expected to last for about a month. Some of the group's motivations and recruitment techniques are expected to be revealed. 

The defendants, from the city’s large Somali community, are among dozens of Americans charged with supporting ISIS. Mohammed Farah, Abdirahman Daud and Guled Omar all say they are innocent. They were arrested a year ago following a 10-month federal investigation. 

Six others who are connected to the Minneapolis case have pleaded guilty, while one reportedly fled the United States and made it to Syria. 

A 2015 study of those arrested for supporting ISIS found they tend to be young, American-born and drawn to the idea of an Islamic caliphate than a desire to commit terrorist acts in the U.S.

Officials credit an alert San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputy for catching suspects wanted in a series of armed robberies in the North County.

Six robberies happened between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. in Vista, San Marcos and Oceanside.

A deputy noticed a vehicle matching the description from other robberies while investigating the report of a robbery at the AM/PM Mart on S Santa Fe Avenue, south of Civic Center Drive and east of State Route 78.

The truck’s driver refused to pull over so the deputy began a pursuit.

A short distance later, the truck stopped and two people inside were arrested on multiple charges, officials said.

A gun and property belonging to one of the victims was found inside the vehicle, according to deputies.

Deputies are also helping Oceanside police to see if these two suspect are also connected to a pedestrian who was robbed gun point in their area.

Anyone with information about this case can call the Sheriff's Department non-emergency line at (858)565-5200 or call Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477.

Akbar Gbajabiamila was on his way to work last June when he saw an SUV sideswipe a police motorcycle, throwing the officer 50 feet, before taking off.

Gbajabiamila was headed to San Pedro for work as host of "American Ninja Warrior," when the crash happened on West Vernon Avenue near Normandie on June 5, 2015.

He slammed on the brakes, angled his car in front of the officer so he wouldn't get hit by oncoming cars, made sure he was OK, then chased down the offending motorist, who was driving a black Pontiac sport utility vehicle.

Minutes later, Gbajabiamila returned to the scene of the crash armed with cellphone pictures of the license plate that led to an arrest in the case.

"I don't feel like I'm a hero," said Gbajabiamila, who was honored Wednesday by the Los Angeles City Council with a commendation plaque. "Ultimately they're the heroes. They're the ones that sacrifice their lives for the community."

LAPD Motor Officer Hank Colebrooke is thankful Gbajabiamila stopped.

"I was obviously very pleased to have him stop," said Colebrooke, who has been on light duty with the department since the concussion-causing crash that banged up his shoulders and knees. "It was a Friday afternoon. Plenty of people saw what happened."

Gbajabiamila is glad Colebrooke is OK and that his photos helped police track down the 18-year-old woman who was driving on a suspended license for an unsafe lane change when she hit the officer.

Colebrooke suffered vertigo for a month, had road rash, tore something in his knee and was on pain medication. He had to have shoulder surgery and may have to have another one. His doctor wants to check out his knee with a scope.

The crash cracked the frame of the BMW police motorcycle, a $20,000 loss.

Colebrooke said it could have been Santa Claus driving the vehicle for all he could tell. He was no use as a witness.

What neither of them could get over, though, was the fact that no one else stopped to help.

"The guy is a standup guy," Colebrooke said. "I didn't think I'd ever see him again."

Wednesday was the first time they had seen each other face-to-face since the crash.

Gbajabiamila learned that Colebrooke's two kids, ages 10 and 9, are "Ninja Warrior" fans.

"Hopefully this is a bridge between the community and the police to come together," Gbajabiamila said. "He's a human. He's a father. He's a husband."

Fewer Americans are traveling to fight with ISIS, as the extremist group’s brand is diminishing in the United States, according to FBI Director James Comey, NBC News reported.

Comey said the number of people since last August has dropped to one a month, compared to statistics from the first half of 2015 that showed six to ten people were trying to travel to join ISIS each month. 

The director would not explain the reasons behind the decline. But the FBI has worked aggressively to identify and intercept Americans who may be determined to reach Syria. 

"There's still a presence online, and troubled people are still turning to this and at least being interested in it," Comey said. "But they've lost their ability to attract people to their caliphate from the United States in a material way."

Donald Trump will not reveal how much money he makes or how much he pays in taxes despite pressure to release his tax returns, NBC News reported. 

The presumptive Republican nominee told The Associated Press Tuesday he won’t release his returns before November due to an audit. Until Tuesday, Trump signaled he hoped to release them soon. 

"There's nothing to learn from them," Trump said in an interview published on Wednesday, adding that he didn't think they would interest voters. 

Trump previously insisted it would be bad for business and that he can’t release his returns because of the ongoing audit. The Internal Revenue Service said nothing prevents an individual from releasing the documents. 

"We stress that we're in tax administration, so we have no stake in any of the primaries going on," IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in February in response to Trump's insinuation that he could not reveal the information while under audit. "From our standpoint, if you're being audited, and you want to do something else, share that information with your returns, you can do that."