Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, mother of 11 children, was laid to rest Monday after she was fatally shot during the Pulse nightclub rampage last week. 

McCool, 49, was dancing with her son Isaiah Henderson, 21, when gunman Omar Mateen opened fire inside the club. McCool survived cancer twice and died saving her son, according to witnesses who said she pushed him out of harm's way when the shooting started.

Henderson said in his eulogy that his mother was "crazy," but in a good way, and "she literally loved everyone," NBC News reported. He needed the support of two of his six brothers as he broke down in tears at the funeral at First United Methodist Church of Orlando.

Dozens of commuters ran out of a crowded Manhattan subway station Tuesday morning after one straphanger thought someone claimed to have a gun, according to the NYPD.

Straphangers stampeded out of the Central Park North - 110th Street subway station in Harlem at about 9 a.m. in what police are calling mass hysteria.

Authorities said the commotion spurred from a fight between two people on a 2 train. It's not clear what led straphangers to believe someone had a gun. But police said that it doesn't appear that a gun was ever fired.

Rider Jessica Shockeness said that she heard three loud booms during a delay as her 2 train pulled into the station. She said after she got off she heard another commuter say "I think it was gunshots" and people started running out of the station. 

Shockeness said she didn't think the noises she heard were gunshots, but she decided to run too.

"I see people running, I'm gonna run," she said.  

One commuter told The Grio's Natasha Alford in a video posted on Twitter he was walking into the station wearing headphones when he saw people running toward him. 

"All they said was just, 'Run, run, run, run,'" the commuter said. "People getting stampeded, getting trampled, bags flying. It's crazy right now."

It's not clear if anyone was hurt in the commotion or if any arrests have been made. 

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A Louisiana sheriff's deputy's twin toddlers died over the weekend of heat exhaustion after they were found in a pickup truck outside of their house, according to authorities, NBC News reported. 

Bossier City police found the 3-year-old twins — a boy and a girl — in the pickup around 3 p.m. Saturday, according to a statement from the department.

Neighbors called police after the kids' "mother, who was home at the time, had contacted them saying she was looking for the children," the statement said. 

The toddlers were pronounced dead at a hospital. 

No arrests have been made, but Mark Natalie, a public information officer for the Bossier City Police Department, said Child Protective Services was monitoring the twins' 8-year-old brother.

Firefighters were quick to put out a Chula Vista brush fire Tuesday morning. 

The fire started on Interstate 5 near E Street at approximately 1 a.m., fire officials said. 

Dry brush near the freeway caught fire, lighting up an area about 100 feet by 100 feet in size. 

Initially, crews only called out one engine, but the large flames prompted them to call three more engines to the scene. 

It took two hours to clear the scene. 

The area is next to a nature preserve, known for homeless encampments. Investigators believe that is how the fire started. Initially, firefighters believed a doned power line caused the fire. 

No other information was immediately available.

When a stop sign wasn't enough to get drivers to slow down on a Jersey City street, one resident set up a camera and used a bit of online shaming to get officials to take notice.

Sean Popke, a former news photographer, started recording drivers blowing past a stop sign in a family-filled neighborhood at the corner of Jersey Avenue and York Street.

"I let it roll for an hour and a half, and when I got back, I started counting all the cars and I counted 100-plus in 90 minutes," he told NBC 4 New York Monday.

The edited video posted online even shows a Jersey City police officer and a transit bus speeding through the stop sign.

Popke shared the video on YouTube and Facebook. It was met with swift action by officials in Jersey City.

"If you document something and show people the breadth of the problem, they will take action," he said.

Just two days after the video was posted, Jersey City Public Works trimmed the trees around the stop signs, moved one sign to a more visible location and added a stop-ahead sign.

Jersey City police were also taking action Monday: One officer was posted at the intersection and spent hours pulling over drivers and ticketing them for running the stop sign.

Police are hoping the stepped-up enforcement improves safety at the intersection.

A moderate Republican senator was seeking broad support Tuesday for a compromise to block guns from suspected terrorists, a day after the chamber split along partisan lines to derail each party's more sweeping proposals. 

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was discussing her plan with GOP leaders and said she expected the Senate to vote on her proposal. 

"I remain encouraged," she said.

There was no immediate word from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on whether a vote would occur. And it remained unclear whether she could attract enough support to win if a vote were held. 

In an ominous sign, the National Rifle Association's chief lobbyist criticized Collins' emerging effort, though he stopped short of outright opposition to it. 

"According to reports, Sen. Collins and others would prefer to continue to talk about gun control and ignore the growing threat from ISIS," an acronym for the Islamic State group, the NRA's Chris W. Cox said in a statement. 

Cox said keeping guns from terrorists and "providing meaningful due process are not mutually exclusive." 

That could be aimed at a provision in Collins' bill that allows people to appeal to federal courts after they've been denied a gun, not before it happens.

Collins was pushing her proposal at a time when election-year politics has made partisan compromise on guns difficult to achieve. 

Even after the June 12 mass shooting in Orlando by a sympathizer of Islamic State extremists that left 49 people dead, neither party has seemed eager to cut a deal that might anger its most loyal voters — NRA-backing conservatives and pro-gun control liberals. 

The government's overall terrorist watch list has 1 million people on it. Collins' proposal would let federal prosecutors bar guns to two narrower groups of suspected terrorists: the no-fly list with 81,000 people and the selectee list with 28,000 people. 

Selectees are people who can fly after unusually intensive screening. Nearly all the people on all three lists are foreigners. 

Under Collins' proposal, Americans denied guns could appeal their rejection to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

In addition, the FBI would be notified if someone who's been on the broader terrorist watch list in the past five years buys a gun. 

Senators expressing support for Collins' plan included Democrats Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico and Tim Kaine of Virginia, along with independent Angus King of Maine, who usually backs Democrats. 

Republicans supporting her included Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Lindsay Graham of South Carolina.

A video showing a corporate trainer publicly spanking and humiliating bank workers has gone viral in China, NBC News reported.

The workers were spanked during a training session on Saturday by Jiang Yang, who works for the Hongfeng Leadership Academy, which describes itself as a Shanghai-based corporate training institute.

The video shows Jiang striking four men and four women on their backsides four times with what appears to be a wooden rod. The employees worked for Changzhi Zhangze Rural Commercial Bank, and were spanked for not exceeding expectations.

Reached by popular Chinese chat app Wechat, Jiang told NBC News that he has been conducting these types of leadership programs for eight years. The purpose of the training was to help people "change their thinking and challenge them to face their own personal issues," he said.

A mountain biker whose video camera captured him colliding with a bear on a trail near Lake Tahoe in California said he imagined the animal was as surprised as he was by the encounter. 

Davis Souza's chest camera captured the accident on June 12 along the Mills Peak trail.

Video the 26-year-old posted to Instagram shows Souza taking a left turn on the trail, then a small bear bursting into the path. Unable to stop in time, Souza crashes into the bear then flips over his handlebars.

"I never encountered a bear running like that," Souza told NBC. "I kind of froze and didn't know how to react."

Though Souza was quick to his feet, he could be heard on the video groaning in pain. 

"That was a bear," he tells friends.

Souza said that after the crash he explained what happened to a fire attendant at a nearby firewatch. Souza was told that there were no tagged bears in the area, meaning it was probably wild, he said. 

Souza said the bear made a groaning sound when they crashed into each other. He said he was happy to see that it had run off quickly and did not appear badly injured.

"It's the first thing my girlfriend asked me when I told her," Souza said.

"I really hope the bear is OK." 

US Border Patrol agents arrested a previously deported sex offender 18 miles east of the Calexico Port of Entry Monday.

Agents saw the 28-year-old Mexican citizen walking north of the International Border Fence, and after determining he was in the US illegally, he was arrested and transported to the Calexico station for further processing.

A records check revealed the man had been convicted of sexual battery and sentenced to one year confinement and 24 months probation in Utah. He was deported in 2006.

“I am proud of the great work Border Patrol agents demonstrated in stopping this previously deported convicted sex offender from further entry into the United States,” said Chief Patrol Agent Rodney S. Scott. “Their actions have kept our communities safe.”

The man will be criminally prosecuted for Re-Entry After Removal as a convicted sex offender and is being held at the Imperial County Jail.

El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents have arrested nine convicted sex offenders attempting to re-enter the United States after removal in fiscal year 2016.

A friend of Omar Mateen told NBC News the Orlando shooter began listening to jihadist propaganda after a mutual friend was killed in a suicide bombing in Syria.

Prior to 2014, Mohammad Malik says, he never heard Mateen express extremist views or say anything homophobic. But after the bombing, Mateen began listening to recordings of Anwar al-Awlaki, the radical Islamic cleric killed by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen three years earlier. A suicide bomber, Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, had said in videos that al-Awlaki inspired him.

Mateen told Malik that he thought the messages were "very powerful," and that's when he called the FBI. After the agents investigated Mateen, they determined that his comments to co-workers were not a threat.

After the mass shooting in Orlando, Malik is trying to make sense of the friend who became a killer.

Donald Trump's latest campaign finance filing contains the names of dozens of companies that were paid for services, but one really stands out: Draper Sterling, a play on the name of the fictional ad agency from the cable TV series "Mad Men," NBC News reports.

The firm that collected $35,000 from Trump for "web advertising" in late April isn't headquartered in Madison Avenue offices filled with mid-century modern furniture and stylish secretaries; it traces back to a private home in suburban New Hampshire that's about a 15-minute drive from the home of ousted Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

Unraveling what it is and how it wound up getting a big chunk of Trump change is a bit like trying to figure out Don Draper's true identity.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to questions about Draper Sterling and the work it did, and efforts to reach people connected with the firm were unsuccessful.

An 18-year old from Santee was arraigned Monday for two-counts of "accessory after the fact" for the murder of a homeless man back in April.

Hailey Suder is the third person charged in George Lowery’s death. Brothers Austin Mostrong, 20 and Preston Mostrong, 19, had previously been arrested and charged with murder.

Lowery, 50, was found by his wife, beaten and unconscious in the riverbed just west of Chubb lane and N. Magnolia Avenue in Santee. He was taken to the hospital and declared brain-dead.

He died of his injuries five days later.

Suder was arrested on Thursday and accused of being present during Lowery’s beating and helping the Mostong brothers escape.

On Monday, she made her first appearance in court and pleaded not-guilty to the charges in his death.

Lowery's wife and daughter are still stunned that teenagers could be responsible for such a heinous crime

“I didn't even get to say goodbye,” Lowery’s daughter, Katey Torres said, with tears in her eyes.

Torres said Lowery was unconscious and unresponsive during the five days he was in the hospital.

The lake where Lowery was found was his favorite hangout spot, according to his wife Penny. He would spend time fishing in the lake in the past.

“His favorite spot was the place where he was murdered,” Penny said.

According to his wife and daughter, Lowery had tackled Austin Mostrong the week before he was killed for shooting paintballs at a homeless man. They believe Mostrong’s motive behind beating Lowery might have been because of that incident.

“All three of them were present. Hailey was there the whole entire time,” Torres said.

She believes the charges against Suder were not enough because the 18-year old did not do anything to stop the brothers from beating Lowery.

“I have no idea why they did it, I just know that it was cruel and he shouldn't have gone that way because he was such a nice person, you know. He would have done anything for anybody,” Penny said.

Both mother and daughter wear necklaces with Lowery’s ashes inside.

“This is part of our dad,” Torres said.

Suder has a preliminary hearing on July 5. Her bail is set at $100,000.

The San Diego District Attorney’s Office announced their second sex trafficking ring bust this month on Monday.

Three suspects were arrested Friday, after a year-long investigation that rescued at least seven victims.

"These young women were pimped and trafficked for years by three defendants in San Marcos," District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis said at a press conference. "This month's successful takedown of two sex trafficking operations is further evidence of law enforcement's commitment and cooperation in San Diego to stop the scourge of human trafficking." 

Tyrone Evans, Natasha McElrath, and Lila Elfors all pleaded not guilty in court Monday.

They were charged with at least six felony counts, including human trafficking, pimping and pandering.

“The work being done by the human drug trafficking task force is instrumental in dismantling criminal enterprises and rescuing those trapped in a lifestyle in which they cannot escape," San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said. 

Investigators said Evans was the mastermind behind the operation and was a consultant for those seeking advice on how to set up their own operations.

He faces up to 29 years and four months in prison.

McElrath and Elflors face up to 24 years.

A Poway teen lost a finger after a rough fight broke out at a high school party, San Diego Police (SDPD) said. 

The fight began at a party in La Jolla Shores on the 8300 block of Camino Del Oro Monday at 11:20 p.m. The party was held by a group of students from Poway High School. 

A 14-year-old teen was cut across the cheek and stabbed in the back by an 18-year-old teen, police said. 

The 18-year-old suffered a dismembered finger during the altercation, police said. He was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. 

The teens' injuries are not considered life-threatening. 

The incident is under investigation. 

No other information was immediately available.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors accepted an implementation plan Tuesday that will provide people who are homeless and have serious mental problems with a variety of services.

Project One for All will provide housing paired with varied treatment services for the approximately 1,200 people experiencing homelessness along with a mental health issues in San Diego.

“We’re going to help those vulnerable men and women regardless of where they live in the County,” said Chairman Ron Roberts, who along with Supervisor Greg Cox, launched the plan in February.

The plan fully integrates housing, mental health services, primary health care, alcohol and drug services, case management and social services to help participants become stable and live more productive lives.

The County is investing $16 million in support of Project One For All in the fiscal year starting July 1 and $19 million the following year. Funding comes from a mix of sources, including Mental Health Services Act, state and federal funds. In addition, the County and City of San Diego housing authorities are contributing $4 million in housing vouchers to the project in the coming fiscal year and $9 million next year.

The County has also integrated the Department of Housing and Community Development into the Health and Human Services Agency in support of the project. The merger will become effective in July.

Under the program, hospitalizations, emergency calls for transport and law enforcement responses to psychiatric emergencies are expected to decrease.

In the coming year, HHSA also plans to expand outreach, engagement and treatment services and launch landlord recruitment and incentive programs.

Animal shelters across the country are teaming up with NBC and Telemundo stations to find loving homes for pets in need.

The second annual Clear the Shelters event, a nationwide pet adoption initiative, will be held July 23. More than 400 shelters in 20 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico will waive or discount fees as part of the one-day adoption drive. 

The goal is to #ClearTheShelters by finding forever homes for as many animals as possible. Over 19,000 pets were adopted during last year’s event, but millions more remain homeless. Every year, 7.6 million animals end up in shelters nationwide — and only 2.7 million are adopted, according to the ASPCA.

Dozens of local shelters will take part this year in Clear the Shelters. Refer to the interactive map above to identify a participating shelter near you.

Federal agents are investigating whether an employee was plotting an attack against senior officials of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security inside its headquarters in Washington, D.C., according to federal court filings.

The employee, Jonathan Wienke of Martinsburg, West Virginia, was found with a gun by security officers while he was on the job at agency headquarters on Nebraska Avenue in northwest D.C. two weeks ago, according to the court filings obtained by the News-4 I-Team.

Wienke pleaded not guilty to a gun charge and is awaiting further court proceedings in the case.

But Wienke had more than a gun when he was searched on June 9, according to a request for court permission to raid Wienke’s home. A federal agent and security officers also found Wienke had a knife, pepper spray, thermal imaging equipment and radio devices.

The City of San Diego and Cox Communications have teamed up to provide free Wi-Fi throughout downtown San Diego during Comic-Con and the MLB All-Star Game.

Mayor Kevin Faulconer along with representatives from Cox Communications, Comic-Con International and the San Diego Tourism Authority held a press conference in the Gaslamp Quarter Tuesday morning to announce the partnership.

Cox will open up more than 100 hot spots throughout downtown from the San Diego Convention Center and East Village to Little Italy, offering free unlimited Wi-Fi connectivity to everyone from July 8 to July 24.

The MLB All-Star Game and its associated events last from July 11 to July 14, and Comic-Con runs from July 21 to July 24.

The All-Star Game is expected to bring 100,000 tourists into San Diego while Comic-Con is expected to bring more than 130,000 guests, said Kerri Verbeke Kapich, senior vice president of marketing and strategic partnerships at the San Diego Tourism Authority. 

People in downtown San Diego will be able to connect to “CoxWiFiFree” wireless networks on any Wi-Fi-enabled device.

For more information, go here.