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Teens Target Women in Fire Attacks

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Police say they've arrested a 14-year-old boy in one of the fire attacks targeting women in midtown Manhattan last weekend. 

The boy was part of a group of three teenage boys and three teenage girls who set fire to the clothing of six women in five different incidents Saturday night, police say. Authorities are still searching for the other five suspects. 

Police believe the group stalked midtown for two hours Saturday night, trying to light women on fire. Six women were attacked from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, according to police. 

The first attack was on 42nd Street near Bryant Park, when the teens approached a teenage tourist from California, sources said. They tried to burn her shirt from behind and the girl turned around when she felt something. When her mother turned to confront them, they ran away. 

That's the incident in which the 14-year-old boy is facing charges of hate crime attempted assault, hate crime aggravated harassment and hate crime harassment, police say. It's not clear why the incident was considered a hate crime.

Then, about a mile away near Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, a woman was window shopping when one teen tried to light her clothing on fire, sources said. She turned around and the boy fled back to the group. 

Shortly afterward, the Muslim woman's clothing was set on fire. The 35-year-old tourist from Scotland was window-shopping near East 54th Street at the time. 

Just one minute later, the group of teens walked past a woman at the intersection of East 54th Street and Fifth Avenue, and she suddenly began patting her skirt to put out the flame, sources said. 

And finally, they targeted two women walking side by side into the Bryant Park subway station, trying to set fire to their sleeves. 

Law enforcement sources said of all six victims, only one was wearing Muslim attire. 

Police have released surveillance video of at least one of the suspects. They're asking anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS. 


Pastor's Wife Shoots Armed Robber

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Police say a Northeast Philadelphia pastor's wife shot an armed man who attacked her husband and tried to rob her family outside their home late Thursday night.

Pastor Robert Cook, his 38-year-old wife and their 12-year-old son were returning home just before 11 p.m. when a man armed with what appeared to be a rifle approached them near their front porch. Cook, a pastor at St. James Lutheran Church, and his family live next door to the church at Castor Avenue and Pratt Street.

When the man demanded the pastor's wallet, Cook said he didn't have any money, according to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. The pastor said he tried to wrestle the gun away from the robber who in turn fought back.

"He hit me really hard in the back of the head with the gun – swung it like a baseball bat – and then everything was like lighting for a minute," said Cook. "I heard my wife saying, 'drop the gun! drop the gun!' I was like 'she's got her gun.' He turned towards her and I said, 'Shoot him!,' Shoot him!' and she shot him."

"I needed to do enough to make him drop the gun or make him go away," said the pastor's wife who asked not to be identified.

The 66-year-old suspect was struck in the leg before fleeing down Pratt Street – dropping his Eagles cap – as Cook chased him. The suspect tossed his firearm under a car and jumped onto the driver side running boards of a passing SUV and escaped, Small said.

Shortly after, a man fitting the suspects description hobbled into Aria Health Torresdale hospital with a gunshot wound. Hospital officials notified police, who then brought the Cook family to the hospital where they positively identified the suspect, Small said.

Cook told reporters early Friday he didn't hand over his wallet initially because "in some cases the armed person will shoot the victims anyways."

Luckily, none of the Cooks required medical treatment, said police.

Cook and his wife both have permits to carry a firearm. Small said the shooting appeared "justifiable."

"When we got our guns we're like, 'we got 'em but we hope we never have to use them,'" said Cook. "But... if it comes down to my family or him, it's him, I'm sorry."

Cook, armed with his gun as he spoke to reporters, said he planned to buy his wife a new gun – an early birthday gift – since her gun was taken into evidence by police.

The shooting is under investigation. Police have not said what charges the suspect, who has not been identified, will face. It turns out his "gun" was actually a black Ramset nail gun with black electrical tape covering the orange handle so it would look like a real gun, said police.



Photo Credit: NBC10
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Florida Principal: Stand During National Anthem or Be Ejected

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The principal at a Florida high school is warning students to stand during the national anthem at school-sponsored events or face ejection.

Principal Ryan Nemeth, from Lely High School in Collier County, notified students last Friday during video announcements the policy will apply during the "Star-Spangled Banner" at all school-sponsored sporting events, NBC 2 reported.

"You will stand and you will stay quiet, if you don't, you are going to be sent home and you're not going to have a refund of your ticket price," Nemeth said in the video. "It's something that I'm very passionate about and something we are going to do."

The issue comes as a wave of athletes have refused to stand during the national anthem, a silent protest to denounce police brutality and the oppression of black people in America sparked by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Not all students students agreed with the policy.

"He shouldn't be ejecting people just because they don't wanna stand. Everybody has their voice to say something with it," student Adrianas Pena, a member of the school's basketball team said.

But, on Thursday, a spokesman for the school district told NBC 2 that Nemeth's announcement was taken out of context. Greg Turchetta said the principal's policy stemmed from a volleyball game a day earlier when 25 to 30 students "were being disruptive during the anthem." Turchetta said they weren't protesting.

"They may have been laughing and joking, you know, it's the beginning of an athletic competition," Truchetta said. "They just came in, I've seen it sometimes when people don't even realize what's going on... oh the anthem is on, and they might have been slow to react to it."

Turchetta added that students can peacefully protest during the anthem as long as they have written permission from their parents and aren't causing a disruption. The school district said the parental consent requirement is Florida Statute.

"I don't recall anywhere in the Constitution where it says that your freedom of speech rights come into effect when you turn 18," said Fort Myers attorney Michael Noone.



Photo Credit: NBC 6

Driver Seriously Hurt in Oceanside Street Speeding Case

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A driver was seriously hurt when the vehicle he was driving crashed into several vehicles and a fence in Oceanside on Thursday night, police said.

Witnesses told NBC 7 that it appeared the driver was racing one or two other vehicles, though police have not determined if that was the cause of the crash.

The crash happened at 10:45 p.m. Responding officers found the man in the driver seat of his black Infiniti, unconscious with a serious head injury, according to a news release from the Oceanside Police Department.

Police said the driver was speeding and lost control of his car as he was south in the 800 block of South Tremont Street.

The car ended up in the front yard of a house at Tremont and Wisconsin, police said.

The driver in his 20s, not yet identified, was taken to Scripps La Jolla Hospital. His condition Friday morning wasn't immediately available.

Police described the incident as a single car crash, while witnesses told NBC 7 that they saw two others driving along with him.

Police say speed was a factor, but did not comment on whether alcohol or racing also was involved.

New Documentary Follows Syrian Rescue Group

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The “White Helmets,” a new Netflix original documentary, follows the first responders in Syria who are unlikely heroes, NBC News reported. 

About 3,000 Syrians make up the Syrian Civil Defense group, comprised of shopkeepers, bakers and teachers put their lives on the line each day to help during the country’s war.

The Netflix documentary follows three men to Turkey, where they receive training before returning to Aleppo to work in the same rescue unit. The filmmakers' hope was to bring international attention to this civilian group and the work that they do.

The volunteers' work gained international attention in August when the group helped save Omran Daqneesh, the little boy covered in dust and blood.

“White Helmets” is now available on Netflix in 190 countries in 21 languages.



Photo Credit: AP
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'Voices for Children' Advocates for Kids, Changes Lives

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Like so many children in his position, Anthony at the age of 11 wondered if he was somehow to blame when he says he started getting hurt at home.

“I was abused by my father and that was really tough. I thought was this something that I did or is it my Dad’s fault?" he said. "It took me a while to realize it wasn’t my fault.”

Anthony became one of the staggering number of 5,000 children in San Diego County yearly who are removed from homes deemed by as abusive or neglectful and placed in foster care.

But Anthony would soon learn about the anguish, challenges and fear which many children experience once in foster care -- problems not often publicized. It began at a San Diego emergency shelter for abused and neglected children where Anthony was placed.

“When I got there, I was so scared. I didn’t know anybody. There were big gates with barbed wire around it like a jail," he said. "Some of the kids there were crazy and had been there for years. I was so afraid and wondered am I going to be here for years? I just started crying.”

Distraught as he was, Anthony had no way of knowing his future might not be much better if he remained in the foster care system. For all the good intentions and the hard working social workers, lawyers and judges associated with foster care, the system is overburdened, understaffed and broken.

Statistics show that some children are shuffled to more than 20 different homes during their dependency while changing schools. And many of the placements are in group homes run by paid staff, not a family. It adds to the chaos and challenges of kids who have already experienced more than any adult should. It also sets them up for problems.

Statistics show that those who remain in foster care until they “age-out” of the system at 18 have a higher chance of being homeless, turning to gangs or prostitution. Considering most foster kids are 5 years old when they enter foster care, it is the system that can fail them along the way.

But one San Diego organization is changing that. Voices for Children trains every day volunteers to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate or C.A.S.A.. These volunteers have the kid’s back advocating and advising the court (the legal guardian of all foster children) to make sure children have a safe, healthy living environment while pushing to get the kids into a permanent home.

Voices for Children assigned a C.A.S.A. named Daniel Moen to Anthony who had been failed by more than one adult in his life so Anthony was skeptical at first.

Then Anthony, an avid athlete, got to know his advocate Daniel. They bonded over a mutual love of sports.

“I thought he was going to be like an old person and it was going to be weird!" Anthony said. "But he was young, middle aged, really nice and he was sporty so it fit perfectly”

Meanwhile, Daniel started advocating a judge to have Anthony get his wish to live with his Aunt Patti and grandmother. “I didn’t have a voice and he told me that he was going to have people listen to what I’m saying and that was just perfect because I was 12 years old and what is a 12 year old going to do (on his own)?"

The effort paid off. Anthony is now living with his grandma. Best of all, he is happy and thriving. The now 15 year old makes great grades, plays multiple sports at school and is looking forward to attending college in two years.

He has a bright future and he credits his CASA, Daniel, with whom he still keeps in touch, with helping make that possible.

CASAs like Daniel come from all walks of life. No legal background is required and typically only 10 to 15 hours of volunteer time a month can completely transform the life and future of a child like Anthony. CASAs are trained by Voices for Children and supported afterwards by staff.

Voices for Children is considered the most successful organization of its kind in the nation, but they need more volunteers and the money to help the 5,000 foster children in San Diego, many of them waiting for a CASA volunteer.

Chicago Cop Charged Over Shooting Into Car in '13

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A Chicago police officer has been indicted on federal civil rights charges after dashcam video captured him firing in to a car packed with teenagers, wounding two, as it backed away from him.

Marco Proano, 41, was charged with two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, according to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Zach Fardon.

Proano is accused of using unreasonable force with a dangerous weapon while on duty in Chicago on Dec. 22, 2013.

The incident was captured on the officer's dashcam video and the footage first released to the Chicago Reporter last year by a retired Cook County judge who called it “disturbing on a whole different level.”

In the nearly three minute video, Proano arrives at 95th and South LaSalle streets where a vehicle had been stopped by two other officers and is seen approaching the vehicle with his gun pointed sideways. When the driver of the vehicle backs away from the officers, Proano raises his gun and opens fire.

Six black teens were inside the vehicle, and two of the teens were wounded in the shooting.

"When a police officer uses unreasonable force, it has a harmful effect on not only the victims, but also the public, who lose faith and confidence in law enforcement,” Fardon said in a statement. “Our office will continue to independently and vigorously pursue civil rights prosecutions to hold officers accountable and strengthen trust in the police.”

At the time of the video’s release, Chicago police said the officer involved in the shooting was moved off the street and assigned to desk duty. The investigation was then referred to state and federal authorities.

"The charges announced today are serious and the Chicago Police Department will have zero tolerance for proven misconduct," CPD said in a statement Friday. "Mr. Proano was relieved of his police powers last year during the course of IPRA's investigation and CPD is fully cooperating with the US Attorney's Office."

A lawsuit filed by the mothers of three teens injured in the incident, including the two who were shot, alleges Proano fired more than a dozen rounds into the vehicle, striking one teen in the shoulder and another in the hip and heel.

The suit claims the teens did not show a weapon or pose any apparent threat, and alleges police removed the injured teens from hospitals without authorization to take them to a police station for questioning.

In a separate court filing, Proano reportedly admitted to the shooting, but denies claims that the teens did not show a weapon.

The Independent Police Review Authority said last year it referred the case to prosecutors shortly after the shooting took place.

“At the time of the incident, Officer Proano was removed from his District of assignment and placed on desk duty at Public Safety Headquarters,” the organization said in a statement. “The incident remains under investigation by federal authorities and IPRA.”

Chicago police also said that early last year, former police Supt. Garry McCarthy changed the department’s policy to clarify that officers are “prevented from firing at or into a moving vehicle when the vehicle is the only force used against the sworn member or another person.”

Each count of the indictment carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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GALLERY: 2016 Kaaboo VIP Preview

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The massive Kaaboo Del Mar kicked off its 2016 incarnation with a special VIP preview night featuring Chris Isaak and Macy Gray on Thursday, Sept. 15.

Photo Credit: Alex Matthews

$51K Reward Offered on Anniversary of Man's Murder

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Police continue to search for leads seven years after the unsolved murder case of a man fatally shot in the Morley Field area of Balboa Park, and are offering a reward up to $51,000 for information.

Brandon Robinson was attending a birthday party on Labor Day in Balboa Park on Sept. 6, 2009 at 8:24 p.m., when an unknown suspect fatally shot him.

Officers and paramedics found Robinson on the ground next to his motorcycle. He died later that evening at age 24.

The San Diego County Crime Stoppers and the San Diego Police Department's Homicide Unit are asking for the public to help identify and locate a suspect. The Governor's Office offered the $51,000 reward to anyone with information that could lead to an arrest and conviction in the case.

His family believes that Robinson may have been the victim of a bullet intended for someone else. He was a man that worked two jobs and had a lot of friends. Police said the evidence appears to support the family's theory.

"There was an unrelated fight, and perhaps somebody pulled out a gun and fired a round, and Brandon was an unintended victim and struck with a stray round that was fired," said Lt. Kevin Rooney of the San Diego Police Department, soon after Robinson was killed.

Anyone with information can call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619)531-2293 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888)580-8477.



Photo Credit: San Diego Crime Stoppers

Analysis: Trump's History of Theories and Rumors

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Donald Trump's abrupt acknowledgment of President Barack Obama's U.S. birthplace has brought his lengthy history with conspiracy theories, rumors and innuendo back into the spotlight, NBC News reported.

Whether Trump publicly renounces birtherism — and his trolling event on Friday was far from definitive — is largely beside the point. That's because the broader issue isn't just the question of how he feels about Obama's birthplace, it's the way inflammatory and false claims have defined his political career.

Trump has changed his position on a lot of things over the years. But if there's one consistent thread, it has been his seeming obsession with conspiracy theories that touch on race, religion or ethnicity.



Photo Credit: AP

CHP Officers Hurt in Suspected DUI Crash in Lakeside

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Two California Highway Patrol officers were hurt after a suspected drunken driver collided with their patrol car in Lakeside.

The officers were driving through the intersection of Los Coches Road when a driver, suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, ran a red light on Julian Avenue at about 1 a.m. Friday, police said.

The officers, not yet identified, were rushed to a local hospital. By 6:30 a.m., they had been released from the hospital.

Officials said the two are recovering from bruises and pain.

Four other people were hurt in the crash: The suspected DUI driver, identified  Cerys C. Mulvey, and three of that driver’s passengers.

CHP officers arrested 19year-old Mulvey on suspicion of DUI. She does not have a criminal record.

Witnesses said officers pulled several bottles of liquor as well as drugs from the driver's car.

"I haven't seen that many at a party, let alone in a car," said witness Alisha Castillo.



Photo Credit: SDNV

Woman Dies in Escondido Crash

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A woman died in a crash in Escondido on Friday morning.

The two-vehicle crash happened on South Centre City Parkway at Felicita Avenue just before 5 a.m.

According to police, a 38-year old man had been driving northbound on Centre City Parkway when the woman attempted to make a left turn from S. Escondido Boulevard connector and collided with the other driver.

Responding officers worked to free the woman who was trapped inside the car. After she was extricated, they determined she had died, officials said.

The driver of the Camry was not injured.

A Sig Alert was issued for South Centre City Parkway, as officers had to shutdown the roadway between Brotherton and Town Center.

After several hours, the portion of roadway reopened just before 11 a.m.

Officers don't yet know what caused the crash and don't believe alcohol or drugs were a factor.

The woman, described to 33 years old, has not been identified yet.

Oceanside Mom Sentenced to 21 Years in Tot's Death

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An Oceanside mom who pleaded guilty to drowning her toddler son has been sentenced to at least 21 years in prison.

Veronica Rivas admitted to second-degree murder in the death of 22-month-old Elijah.

She faces a punishment of 21 years to life in prison as part of the sentenced handed down on Friday morning.

Officers were called to Rivas' condo on Woodpark Way when the child's grandmother called 911.

When Oceanside Police arrived, they started CPR on Elijah until paramedics could arrive. However, they were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators say during questioning, Rivas confessed to drowning her son.

A nanny for Elijah told NBC 7 Rivas has been in a custody battle with the boy's father, a Marine, for the past two months.

Rivas later said she drowned her son to save him from his pedophiliac father. Elijah's father, a Marine, has never spoken publicly about the case. It's unclear if Rivas' allegations are being investigated.

Protesters Call for Removal of Pot Shops in Chula Vista

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Chula Vista residents took to the streets Friday afternoon to protest illegal medicinal marijuana dispensaries around the city.

Nearly two dozen protesters marched a strip of Third Avenue between Orange Avenue and Naple Street where four dispensaries currently stand. Protesters called for the city to act on its land-use authority and remove the unlawful shops.

The protest echoed concerns voiced by residents at a city council meeting on Tuesday.

In addition to concerns over the legality of the dispensaries, Chula Vista residents are worried about the proximity of the stores to local school and youth-sensitive areas.

The MCAAC Community Charter School on Third Avenue and Quintard Street is walking distance from all four dispensaries on Third Avenue, and Castle Park Middle School on Second Street is merely a block away.

"I've heard from local principals that they're finding marijuana that is coming from these illegal pot shops," Chula Vista resident Rudy Ramirez said. "These are supposedly medicinal shops to help folks with their medical needs, but it's ending up in the hands of children in our community." 

According to a Chula Vista municipal code, the city can fine illegal marijuana dispensaries up to $100,000 for code violations. Residents claim that the city is not being tough enough on the shops, and cite the opening of more shops around town, despite potential fines, as evidence.

Tuesday’s City Council meeting resulted in a unanimous approval of two amendments to city code: the first removes the fine cap of $100,000; the second change is prosecuting violations as criminal misdemeanors instead of filing civil lawsuits.

"If medical marijuana is going to be legal, let it be legal," Gerardo Gutierrez, a manager at Car Audio Heaven on Third Avenue said. "But make sure the illegal pot shops get the appropriate permits, pay their taxes and do it right, just like all the other businesses here. Make sure everything is moderated properly. These stores are not following the law."



Photo Credit: Getty Images, File

Two Rare Reptile Species Thriving at San Diego Zoo

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The San Diego Zoo has two new families of rare reptiles on its hands.

The eggs of two rare reptile species, the black tree monitor and the mossy leaf-tailed gecko, have hatched at the Zoo for the first time.

Black tree monitors are native to the humid forests and swamps of the Aru Islands off the coast of Papa New Guinea, but their livelihood has been threatened by continued loss of tree cover that they depend on for survival. The pet trade, and non-native predators, has also played a role in their diminishing population, but four new hatchlings at the Zoo could be the start of a rejuvenating breeding program.

“We’re thrilled to have black tree monitor hatchlings this year, as this is the first time they've successfully reproduced at the San Diego Zoo,” said Dave Grubaugh, a reptile keeper at the San Diego Zoo. “The parents have been with us for three years now, and we've just been patiently waiting for them to reach maturity and bond with each other. They are one part of a larger, fragile ecosystem where every piece is important.”

The monitor hatchlings weigh about 11 grams.

Thanks to their unique scale adaptations, leaf-tailed geckos are very popular in the pet trade. They resemble leaves, making it hard for predators to identify them among the leafy forests of Madagascar, their native region.

The geckos have had their futures threatened by logging, agricultural growth, housing development and other human activity. According to San Diego Zoo Global, 80 percent of their natural habitat has been decimated.

In 2010, the Zoo received a confiscated batch of the geckos and has since helped the reptiles produce eight different hatchlings. The Zoo now has several generations thriving on site.

In the cases of both reptile species, keeping a healthy population remote from their native lands can be of extreme help in the defense against extinction.



Photo Credit: San Diego Zoo Global

SDPD Chief Shelley Zimmerman Jams Out With a Cowbell

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San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman joined in on the fun during an event last weekend.

In a video posted on Twitter by Bobby Cressey, Zimmerman grabs a cowbell and joins the band performing on stage. 

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Zimmerman was attending the Gold Shield Gala hosted by the San Diego Police Foundation at the US Grant in Downtown San Diego on Sept. 10. The event was held to highlight the K9 Crimefighter Campaign, which funds the K9 unit for the department.



Photo Credit: The Mighty Untouchables
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2 Officers Shot in Texas

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Two Fort Worth police officers who were shot while responding to a suicide call at a home Friday evening are expected to recover, the department says.

The call came in at about 8:30 p.m. from a home on the 3800 block of Wharton Drive.

Police spokesman Officer Marc Povero said the arriving officers, identified as Officers Xavier Serrano and Ray Azucena, found a person in a back bedroom unresponsive from a gunshot wound. They were informed that a witness to the shooting was located in a shed in the backyard, so they went to make contact with that person.

When they reached the shed, someone began shooting at the officers from inside the shed, Povero said.

Serrano was struck several times in the upper body and was rushed from the scene in critical condition. Azucena was hit once in the chest, but was protected by his ballistic vest and only has minor injuries, Povero said.

The officers managed to return fire into the shed. SWAT officers later surrounded the shed, firing tear gas canisters toward the shed in an effort to make contact with the person inside. Just before midnight, Fort Worth police confirmed that the person was found deceased inside the shed.

Whether the person was killed by the officers in the exchange of gunshots or by a self-inflicted wound is unknown at this time. The person's identity has not been released.

Serrano is an eight year veteran and Field Training Officer with FWPD. Azucena is a newly commissioned officer, graduating from the Fort Worth Police Academy in July. 

Serrano underwent surgery at John Peter Smith Hospital, and as of early Saturday morning, is listed in stable condition. Azucena was released from the hospital overnight.

Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald and Mayor Betsy Price spoke to reporters at JPS Hospital and asked for prayers for the injured officers.

Check back and refresh this page for the latest update. As this story is developing, elements may change.



Photo Credit: Twitter/@gmania27
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Fatal DUI Crashes Potentially on the Rise in San Diego

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In the last four weeks, eight people have died in suspected DUI crashes in San Diego.

On Wednesday, a man suspected of driving under the influence crashed into a female driver in Fallbrook, resulting in her death. A four-year old and a two-year old were inside the suspect’s car at the time of the crash. 

On Friday morning, two California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were injured after a suspected drunk driver collided into their patrol car in Lakeside. 

According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s office, there were five defendants charged with DUI murder or manslaughter from January to May 2016. In 2014 and 2015, there were 18 defendants also facing DUI murder or manslaughter charges.

CHP says it’s frustrating, that after all the education and awareness, drinking and driving still ruins lives.

“We do put out a lot of education; we put out a lot of presentations on DUI, safety. We go to a lot of social events where we speak of and educate people on the dangers of DUI,” said CHP Officer Josh Nelson. “And yes, we do continue to see it happening, so it’s frustrating.”

Nelson said organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) do a great job of educating people and have made a difference. But some people still make the decision to get behind a wheel while incapacitated.

“We want people to plan ahead, to be prepared,” Nelson said. “If you’re going to out and celebrate, if you’re going to go out and, you know, go to a party, go to a bar or something like that, have fun but plan ahead.”

In an effort to curb DUI’s, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has proposed lowering the blood alcohol level from .08 to .05.

But DUI Attorney G. Cole Casey says this proposed legislation will not solve the problem.

“That does really address the problem. We have a legal limit right now. We’ve had a legal limit for 40 years— people still violate it,” he said.

According to Casey, solutions like interlock devices, breathalyzers that won’t let you start your car if you have been drinking don’t solve the problem.

“There are too many financial interests right now that benefit tremendously from drunk driving,” says Casey.

Casey claims that DUIs create money for lawyers, the court system, police officers, jails and probation departments.

“And you wonder why we're seeing legislation that really doesn't make much of an impact,” he said.

NBC 7 reached out to the District Attorney’s office for a response. Cally Bright, the DUI Homicide Team Leader told us everyone is working toward a common goal—to reduce the number of DUI-related deaths.

But she described Casey’s argument as somewhat callous.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

2 Officers Shot in Philadelphia

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The gunman in a shooting that left one woman dead and five others injured, including two police officers, was carrying a "rambling" note that spewed hatred for law enforcement, police said in the hours after the late Friday shooting.

"Clearly, we have a lot of unasnwered questions," Police Commissioner Richard Ross said in West Philadelphia, where the gunman was shot and killed after an ambush and rampage. "This is a completely bizarre situation."

Ross said it all started around 11:20 p.m. when a man targeting police officers walked up to Sergeant Sylvia Young's police car located at 52nd and Sansom streets and opened fire on the officer.

Ross said other officers in the area heard the shots and responded, chasing the lone gunman. As the suspect fled after shooting Young, he shot five other people, including a University of Pennsylvania police officer. A man and a woman outside a nearby bar were shot, as well as a man and a woman sitting in a vehicle at 49th and Sansom.

The woman in the car died early Saturday morning and the man remains in critical condition.

The officer, Young, a 19-year veteran, is in stable condition after being struck in the arm and her protective vest. Ross said Young, who works in the 22nd District, was shot eight times. 

The other officer shot, Penn Police Officer Eddie Miller, was also in stable condition. 

According to the Commissioner, the suspect was chased into an alley near 48th and Sansom streets, which is when Miller was shot.

In this alley, the commissioner said, is where the suspect was then shot and killed by police.

Both Young and Miller, who previously was a sergeant with the Philadelphia Police Department, were up and talking early Saturday morning and recovering at Penn's Presbyterian Hospital.

Ross later revealed that a letter was found at the scene that police believe was written by the suspect. Ross said the letter contained ramblings about his hatred for police officers and named a specific parole officer as a target.

Ross said officers would patrol in pairs following the incident.



Photo Credit: NBC10
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Harvest Moon Lights up the Sky

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The night skies will be a little brighter than usual as this month will see a full harvest moon overhead.

According to National Geographic, the harvest moon can be seen starting Friday, Sept. 16.

The additional light from the harvest moon gives farmers more time to reap their crops.

This full moon, also known as the penumbral eclipse, happens when the Earth, moon and sun all fall in a straight line, according to Space.com.

This harvest moon is the last eclipse of its kind until 2024, National Geographic reported.

Viewers can expect to best see the slight darkening of the harvest moon with binoculars or telescopes.

However, the harvest moon can be viewed by looking for contracting light and dark regions. Moon gazers can also expect to see the Tycho crater in the bottom-left quadrant of the moon, according to Space.com

A live webcast of the harvest moon can be watched via Space.com on Slooh.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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