Bryce Dejean-Jones, a guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, was fatally shot after he kicked down the door of a Dallas apartment early Saturday morning, police said.

According to police, officers were called to the Camden Belmont apartment complex on the 2500 block of Bennett Avenue at 3:20 a.m. regarding a shooting.

The resident of the apartment, whose identity was not released, was sleeping when he heard a man, identified as 23-year-old Bryce Dejean-Jones, breaking down the front door, police said.

The resident, armed with a handgun, called out and heard no response. As Dejean-Jones kicked open the bedroom door, the resident fired his gun, police said.

Dejean-Jones left the apartment and collapsed. He was later brought to a hospital and pronounced dead from a gunshot wound, according to the police statement.

Agent Scott W. Nichols said Dejean-Jones was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Bryce was visiting his girlfriend in Dallas for his daughter’s 1st birthday. This was the first time Bryce visited her new apartment," Nichols said in a statement. "Later that night, Bryce came back to the apartment. Incidentally he went to the wrong apartment on the third floor just below his girlfriends fourth-floor apartment. He was attempting to enter the apartment which led to him ultimately being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bryce was then shot and killed."

The New Orleans Pelicans, in a press release, said the team is "devastated" over the loss of Dejean-Jones.

“It is with deep sadness that the Pelicans organization acknowledges the sudden passing of Bryce Dejean-Jones. We are devastated at the loss of this young man’s life who had such a promising future ahead of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bryce’s family during this difficult time.” [[381218631, C]]

Dejean-Jones signed a three-year contract with the Pelicans in February after joining the team in January on consecutive 10-day contracts.

In Dejean-Jones' only NBA season, which ended in February because of a broken right wrist, the 6-foot-6 guard started 11 of 14 games and averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds.

Nichols said Dejean-Jones had nearly completed his rehab and was set to begin shooting with his right hand again next week.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called it a "tragic loss."

"Bryce inspired countless people with his hard work and perseverance on his journey to the NBA, and he had a bright future in our league," Silver said in a statement issued Saturday.

National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts, who had posted a link to the story of Dejean-Jones' death on Twitter and wrote that it was "The news I pray every day I never have to hear," said "Bryce's dedication and hard work on his journey to the NBA will forever serve as an inspiration to us all."

Dejean-Jones was a part of the 2014-15 Iowa State team that went 25-9, captured a Big 12 title and made a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. He was fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 10.5 points in 33 games. He shot a career-best 47.6 percent in his lone season as a Cyclone.

"This is a very, very sad and tragic day for everyone that's a part of the Cyclone basketball family," Iowa State coach Steve Prohm said.

Former Cyclones coach Fred Hoiberg, now the coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls, added in a statement that Dejean-Jones was a "passionate and talented player that lived out his dream of playing in the NBA through hard work and perseverance."

He also played college ball at the University of Southern California and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Dejean-Jones was suspended late in the 2013-14 season from UNLV for conduct detrimental to the team, and announced that he was leaving USC midway through the 2010-11 season.

Several NBA players reacted to news of Dejean-Jones' death on Twitter Saturday.

"Crazy how life is man," wrote Brooklyn Nets guard Shane Larkin. "Prayers out to Bryce Dejean Jones and his family."

Quincy Pondexter, one of Dejean-Jones' teammates with the Pelicans, said "This Can't be real life... Rest easy lil bro."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A west suburban Chicago man has completed a lofty goal of running a marathon in all 50 states. 

On Saturday, Kevin Ely of Geneva, Illinois, ran the 34th annual Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, Michigan, the final state in his quest.

Ely initially set the goal of running 50 marathons in 50 states as a personal milestone. He had already checked 13 states off the list when he attended an expo in California, where he learned about the Free Wheelchair Mission, a nonprofit that offers cost-effective wheelchairs to people with disabilities. 

"I thought, 'I need to turn this from being a selfish thing for me and what I could accomplish for myself,'" he said. "At the end, nobody would have really cared. It was a realization that I needed to do something to make an impact." 

As the father of a 7-year-old with cerebral palsy, his understanding of the importance of mobility, the cost to provide methods of movement, and the fact that millions of people around the world don't have access to those methods eventually led him to a fundraising mission: Marathons for Mobility. 

Ely originally set a fundraising goal of $42,000 to be donated to the Free Wheelchair Mission. But by Saturday, he had exceeded that goal, raising $45,461, which will provide 583 wheelchairs.

Since setting the summer 2016 completion date more than two years ago, Ely has averaged one marathon every three or four weeks, and he plans to hang up his running shoes and never run again after Saturday's race. 

"I've lost quite a few weekends with my family. It's one of the things I want to get back when I stop running," Ely said. "As patient and supportive as they've been, it's time to give my time and support back to them."

As for his time? Ely said he ran his final marathon in 3:57:29. 

The San Diego Blood Bank along with Ryan Wilcox and a troop of Boy Scouts held a blood drive in La Mesa Saturday.

Wilcox, 18, is battling cancer and is a huge fan of the ‘Avengers’ and ‘Captain America.’ Monday he received a surprise visit from Chris Evans, Robert Downey, Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow aka Captain America, Iron Man and Pepper Potts.

"I saw this car pull up and I saw them walking. I was just like — what?" Wilcox told NBC 7.

The blood drive known as Operation "Saving Captain Ryan" not only collected blood, but also added people to the bone marrow registry.

“Well, one, they're doing this because they know I had to go through a lot of blood transfusions, but it will also help out other kids who need blood transfusions, and this group coming together to do this is awesome,” he said during the blood drive.

[[381222851,C]]

Wilcox received his first blood transfusion when he was three while battling a brain tumor. Fourteen years later he has been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a cancer in which bone marrow does not does not make enough healthy blood cells.

He received a bone marrow transplant from his sister, but it has since relapsed. Wilcox has received over 100 blood and platelet transfusions and continues to need them weekly.

Earlier this month classmates held a #Ryanstrong pep rally for Wilcox during which Chris Evans shared a videotaped message for the teen, saying, “it’s people like you with strength like yours that inspire people like me.”

After the video went viral “Avengers” co-star Gwyneth Paltrow suggested the San Diego trip to meet Wilcox.

Organizers of the blood drive say they filled every appointment to donate Saturday.

Next Thursday, the community is holding a fundraiser to help the Wilcox family at Weevil Burger in La Mesa.

A gorilla was shot dead Saturday at the Cincinnati Zoo by an employee who feared the animal would harm a 4-year-old boy who fell into its enclosure, NBC News reported. 

A visitor's video captured Harambe, a male Western lowland silverback gorilla, place his paw on the child before the 4-year-old inches back. Harambe gently nudges the boy toward him and then tugs on the back of his pants.

Cincinnati Fire Chief Marc Monahan said Saturday that first responders saw the gorilla "dragging and throwing the child."

The 4-year-old was in the enclosure for more than 10 minutes before he was rescued and brought to Cincinnati Children's Hospital in serious condition, officials said.

Officials are investigating two incidents of possible animal cruelty at Southern California high schools, and at least one of them may have been part of a senior prank, authorities said.

Baby, a 5-year-old goat, went missing May 19 after its owner says a group of teens from Ganesha High School in Pomona broke into her property and took her.

"They came in the middle of the night and stole her from our property and took her to the school and painted on her and who knows what else they've done to her," the owner, who asked not to be identified, said.

Baby was found with a broken leg on school campus the next day, a Ganesha High School student told NBC4. "It's one thing to do a prank and one thing to do this, hurt and animal," the student said.

Its owner says her face was swollen and her body, painted in the school's colors, was half shaven.

"If they can do this to an animal what can they do to a human?" the owner said.

Baby died Thursday following surgery, her owner said. The Inland Valley Humane Society was investigating the incident.

Pomona Unified School District issued a statement, saying the "safety of our students, staff and campus facilities, as well as superlative respect to our local community" is a priority.

"As a high school ranked in the top 4th percentile in CA by U.S. News & World Report, we take our role as a model academic high school very seriously and we do not condone injustices toward people or animals," the statement said, highlight their "zero-tolerance policy for deviations to academic and safety standards."

In a separate incident, two rabbits were found dead Friday morning at Riverside Polytechnic High School, according to the Riverside Unified School District.

District officials said staff arrived on campus around 5:30 a.m. and found three dead rabbits as well as toilet paper, trash, graffiti with inappropriate language and symbols and broken windows.

The Riverside School District initially said the incident was an apparent senior prank, adding it was "disheartened at this unfortunate news."

However, Michael Roe, principal at Polytechnic High School later said that these incidents were not part of a senior prank but rather "a coordinated effort to vandalize our school," and called the acts "unnerving." 

"To carry out this kind of act on a high school campus - or anywhere in the community for that matter - is cause for concern and proportionate action," Roe said in a statement. "I am incredibly proud of the response from the Poly community - the district, RPD, parents, wealth of students and staff who have denounced these cowardice acts."

Officials also said the district was working the Riverside Police Department to comb through multiple angles of video footage from the incident, and will be interviewing students who may have been involved.

A man was killed after colliding with another car on SR-94 near the Lucky Six Truck Trail in Dulzura Friday, California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed.

A 42-year-old woman was driving eastbound on the highway just after 4 p.m. when a 35-year-old man driving westbound allowed his Ford Focus to drift onto the right shoulder. He then overcorrected and veered into oncoming traffic directly in front of the woman’s Toyota Corolla.

Unable to avoid the Focus, the Corolla broadsided the car.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, along with a 17-year-old and an eight-year-old passenger, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seat belt.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor, officials said.

A noise alert was issued by the Navy for Sunday in Coronado. 

They will be conducting blank weapons fire training near the San Diego Bay.

Residents should expect to hear blank gunfire during the exercise.

People can fill out a noise complaint form here.

All other questions can be directed to Naval Base Coronado Public Affairs Office at 619-545-8136.

Most San Diego buses and all Trolley service will operate on a Sunday schedule for Memorial Day, MTS said.

Rapid Express 237, 280 and 290 and the Sorrento Valley COASTER Connection (Routes 972, 973, 978 and 979) will be out of service. Express routes 50, 60, 110, 150 and 870 and Rural Routes 891, 892 and 894 will also not be running.

The MTS Information and Trip Planning call center will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the Transit Store will be closed.

Rural Route 888 will operate on Tuesday instead of Monday.

Additionally, MTS will allow one friend to ride free with a paying passenger on any bus or Trolley on Memorial Day.

A San Diego police officer is in hot water after she posted a controversial picture on Instagram of herself dressed in riot gear.

The image was captioned with: "Waiting waiting waiting!! Just riot already people!!! #waitingsucks."

The unnamed officer was policing Friday during Donald Trump's rally at the San Diego convention center.

Some San Diego residents and Trump protesters are upset about the photo and the message they think it conveys from the police.

“It sends a really bad image for the San Diego Police Department and we want answers,” Trump protester Michaela Glover said.

NBC 7 has decided not to use the officer's name as a matter of safety.

“It looks like they were taking that as a joke, and our lives are not a joke. Our safety is not a joke," exclaimed Glover.

“They post ‘come on riot already so we can use this equipment against you,’” said Cathy Mendonca of United Against Police Terror. “That’s pretty much what the message was."

A San Diego Police spokesman said the department will investigate the incident "immediately," adding they are thankful "for bringing the private social media post of one of our officers to our attention."

Glover said she was one of the thousands of people outside the convention center protesting, which she witnessed take a violent turn.

Though NBC 7 hasn't been able to confirm what time the pictures were posted Glover said they went online around 2 p.m., before Trump spoke and before the crowd turned violent.

“It’s unprofessional for you to be on duty or start your shift and think it’s okay to post what you posted,” she said.

Kevin LaChapelle, a criminal justice professor and former police officer, shared his thoughts on officers using social media during the rally.

“I think officers should not be tweeting,” he told NBC 7. “I think that can be provocative to protesters, for example, so I don't think that's a good idea. So I think that's probably not the best use of a police officer's time to be Tweeting out like that.”

Though the officer has taken her account down her critics say the damage is done and are calling for her suspension.

Vermont Bernie Sanders warned democratic rival Hillary Clinton that her pick for running mate will be critical to winning over his supporters going into the general election.

During an interview to air Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Sanders said told Chuck Todd that Clinton needs "a candidate who can excite working families, excite young people, bring them into the political process and create a large voter turnout."

Asked whether Virginia senator Tim Kaine, who's rumored to be on Clinton's short list, is the kind of running mate he's recommending, Sanders said, "I really like him very much," but declined any further speculation.

A suspect linked to an unsolved murder in south San Diego was arrested in Mexico Friday, more than 10 years after the cold case killing.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said Guillermo Gonzalez-Nunez, 41, was taken into custody by Mexican authorities and turned over to U.S. Marshals and the San Diego Fugitive Task Force.

He’s a suspect in the April 3, 2006, murder of Willie Clark Jr., who was shot and killed at the La Vuelta Bar in the 700 block of Hollister Street in south San Diego.

Gonzalez-Nunez was booked into San Diego Central Jail for one count of murder, one count of attempted murder and two counts of assault with a semi-automatic weapon in the crime that took place a decade ago.

According to cold case homicide detectives, Gonzalez-Nunez and Clark got into some sort of disagreement at the La Vuelta Bar.

Clark was shot to death by the suspect, police said, while another victim was beaten with a gun. Several other bar patrons were assaulted that night in this fight as well, according to investigators.

Gonzalez-Nunez was identified as the suspect Clark’s killing but he was believed to have fled to Mexico. An arrest warrant was issued for him.

The SDPD said the suspect is set to appear in court in the South Bay Tuesday.

Anyone with information on this cold case can contact the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or (888) 580-8477.

Tropical storm Bonnie was downgraded Sunday morning as it headed toward the South Carolina coast, packing maximum sustained winds of 35 mph as of 8 a.m. Sunday, the National Hurricane Center said, NBC News reported.

The tropical depression was forecast to drench the Carolinas with up to six of rain, the latest bad weather to hit the nation over the long holiday weekend.

Whipping winds and dangerous waves as high as 13 feet could also hit the two states, as well as Georgia and Florida over the coming days, forecasters said.

Elsewhere in the nation, flooding and heavy rain were wreaking havoc. In Texas, at least four people were killed and a 10-Year-old boy who fell into the Brazos river remains missing. The state was bracing for more rain through Memorial Day.

In Missouri, Gov. Jay Nixon declared a state of emergency ahead of expected heavy rains Saturday, and warned that levees could be breached.

The Libertarians have nominated former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson as the party's presidential nominee after clearing a majority threshold on the second ballot.

• Trump vs. Sanders Debate? The Two Are Tossing Idea Around

.@GovGaryJohnson clears the 50% threshold on the second ballot, officially the #LibertarianConvention nominee pic.twitter.com/ARvaRog369

— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) May 29, 2016

Johnson was the party's nominee in 2012, getting about 1 percent of the general election vote.

In the first round of voting, Johnson received 49.5 percent of votes at the party's convention in Orlando, Florida, just shy of the majority needed to clinch the nomination.

Austin Petersen, the founder of The Libertarian Republic magazine came in second with 21.2 percent of the votes and anti-computer virus company founder John McAfee received 14.1 percent of the votes. 

There are 18 declared Libertarian presidential candidates. In the first round of voting, any candidate that doesn't win 5 percent is dropped. In subsequent rounds of voting, the lowest performing candidate is dropped until someone wins a majority.

Libertarian officials said Friday as the four-day convention began that 985 delegates and 344 alternates were attending from all 50 states — a record. Dues-paying members have increased by 30 percent since the beginning of the year, Libertarian officials said.

But the party is hoping for a strong showing in November because of the deep unpopularity polls show for presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Families looking to spend the day at the Aquatica SeaWorld Waterpark in Chula Vista will have some new options for shade and other amenities, park officials said Friday.

The park opened officially Friday for the summer season.

A new conveyor system lifts inner tubes up to the top of Tassie's Twister, a popular 75-foot water slide that drops riders into a funnel that's six stories high.

The park has added some new shade structures and shade trees to help on those sunny Southern California days.

When the sun hides in the clouds, the park is still open. The giant wave pool and the lazy river, are heated, according to an Aquatica San Diego news release, so expect to dip your toes into 78– to 82-degree water.

Guests can reserve new double loungers that include a small table, cooler and a place to lock up items for $34.99 in addition to park admission.

There's also an unlimited pass that can be purchased at the beginning of the summer for $44.

Get more information from the park's website before planning your visit.

Aquatica San Diego will be open daily through Sept. 5 and then weekends from Sept. 10 to Oct. 9.

One San Diego couple’s yard is certainly worth admiring: their drought-friendly landscape has just won a big contest.

Bonita homeowners Barbara and Nick Amalfitano are the new winners of the Otay Water District's 2016 landscape contest.

The changes they've made to their front and back yards over the years have reduced their water usage by 78 percent, and reduced their maintenance significantly.

The couple’s property is three-quarters of an acre and looks more like a park than a model for water efficiency.

“Even when we cut all of this away, you still have this grass-like succulent here, and it looks like a thick meadow of grass,” said Barbara describing her yard.

Richard Namba, Senior Water Conservation Specialist with the Otay Water District, says when you're shopping for succulents, you should know the size of the plant at maturity, so you don't plant them too close together.

“If you put the plant in the right spot, you should never have to prune a drought tolerant plant,” Namba explained. “When you cut drought tolerant plants or prune them, they don't look very good, so what you want to do is plant it far enough away from a sidewalk or driveway or house wall, so it can grow."

In determining a winner in the landscape contest, the water district also looks at a yard's design, including the colors and textural diversity.

One aspect of the Amalfitano's yard that was especially appealing to the district is a stream bed made entirely of rocks that runs the entire length of their driveway. The stream bed also provides what's known as a bioswale, a depression in the landscape that collects water.

“The goal now in sustainable landscape is to keep the water on your property as long as possible," said Namba.

One way the Amalfitanos are doing that is by harvesting rain water with rain barrels scattered around their yard. In the process, they took advantage of the Metropolitan Water District's rebates on rain barrels (the rebates are currently available).

In 2010, the Amalfitanos were one of the first South Bay families to take advantage of the Otay Water District's turf rebate program (which is no longer available).

They received $2,000 for their front yard under the program, and that's about how much it cost to renovate the area.

The following year, they upgraded their back yard.

“One of the things we wanted was fresh herbs, and that’s right back here. We have the parsley growing right now, and some rosemary growing. So we have great Thanksgiving dinners here," said Barbara.

At the time, the district also provided the services of a landscape designer to help families with the renovations.

“It was somewhat labor intensive, but very well worth it when it was finished," said Barbara. "We really hated to see ourselves using all that water, letting it all go down the drain. Plus, grass is beautiful, but this is so much nicer to enjoy. The flowers are great. It just made sense to us."

The Amalfitanos also installed an automatic pool cover several years ago, upgrading the one that was there when they moved into the home in the 1990s. The retractable cover reduces heat loss and the need to refill the pool every week.

“When it's closed, there's absolutely no water evaporation,” said NicK.

In January 2015, the Amalfitanos extended their energy savings inside their home. They leased solar panels for $131 a month through SunPower, and signed up for SDG&E's net metering program.

“The leasing company maintains everything for 20 years and we have a locked in rate,” said Nick.

At the end of the year, they actually got money back on their electric bill, and applied it towards their natural gas bill.

“It's probably the best investment I've ever made, without a doubt,” said Nick.

Two months ago, the couple made another investment and installed argon-filled, double-pane windows.

“We've reduced our carbon footprint dramatically, and couldn't be any happier," said Nick told NBC 7. “I'm trying to think what the next thing is we could do.”

SDG&E's current net metering program is set to end in July. The utility company's new incentives will cost a little bit more, and there will be a fee to connect the solar panels, but a spokesperson says changes to the net metering program will be minimal.

A young man was shot and killed while standing in the middle of an intersection in Skyline late Saturday, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) confirmed.

Officers arrived to the corner of Brookhaven Road and Sears Avenue at 10 p.m. and found a man in his early 20s suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body, according to police.

The man died despite life-saving measures performed by officers and other emergency personnel.

While homicide investigators work to identify the victim, they’ve learned he was standing in the intersection when a gun was fired from a passing dark-blue sedan.

The sedan then left the scene traveling eastbound on Brookhaven.

There was a party in the area of the shooting but officers say they do not know if the crime was related to the event.

No arrests have been made. No other details have been released regarding the suspect or the suspect vehicle.

Anyone with information can call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293.

A deep marine layer hovered over San Diego Sunday bringing cloudy conditions and cooler temperatures.

Drizzle overnight and some measurable rain fall was expected to taper off before noon.

While the rest of the day looks drier, don't expect a lot of sunshine.

“Your outdoor plans are safe,” said NBC 7 Meteorologist Greg Bledsoe. “Sunshine is a different factor.”

The clouds will be stubborn for most of the county Sunday, Bledsoe said.

There was also a chance for a thunderstorm in the mountains east of San Diego Sunday afternoon.

Memorial Day should see a little more afternoon sun, and then a warming trend for the rest of the week.

Read the forecast here.

A mural in Venice, California, honoring Vietnam veterans was destroyed ahead of Memorial Day, leaving residents outraged.

"The wall represents a significant part of our history," Stewart Oscars, a Venice resident who has driven by the mural every day for 20 years, said.

Cleanup was planned Sunday after extensive graffiti, with a thick sheen of silver paint, covered the mural that stood in the same place untouched since 1992 on Pacific Avenue near Sunset Court. 

"The more I think about it, why did this happen right at Memorial Day weekend?" Oscars laments.

Vandals painted over most of the 2,273 names. Each one is a missing Vietnam veteran.

"They're angry. They're idiots. They're criminals," Oscars said. "I don't know what the motivation is."

City Council Member Mike Bonin said he wanted the mural restored as soon as possible, adding "vandalizing a monument to brave men and women who served our country in a time of war is a disgusting act."

LA County Sheriff's Department investigators showed up Saturday night to assess the wall and take pictures.

They noted the restoration would not be easy, and trying to "blast" it off the wall may remove key parts of the mural.

"This is a big deal for our country, community," Louie Abeyta, a Los Angeles County Firefighter, said. "Everyone will see it. We gotta do something about it."

This mural is on MTA property, and officials are taking steps to professionally restore the artwork.

A motorcycle fleeing from the California Highway Patrol crashed in Hillcrest Sunday morning, officials and witnesses said.

CHP officials say an officer tried to stop a motorcycle traveling at a high-rate of speed along southbound SR-163 near Friars Road at 8:26 a.m.

The motorcycle failed to stop and exited the freeway at University Avenue.

Witnesses said when the motorcycle hit a dip in the road at 6th and Robinson it crashed.

CHP officers said the rider crashed into a parked car.

Debris was strewn along 6th Avenue between University and Robinson. The stretch of road was closed to traffic.

A silver car was parked near a curb and appeared to have half of the motorcycle wedged underneath its front bumper.

One person was transported to Scripps Mercy according to CHP officials.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story.