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Man Sentenced in Death of Man at Pala Indian Reservation

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One of three accused in the shooting death of a man on the Pala Indian Reservation has been sentenced for his role in the homicide. 

Anthony James Boles, 33, previously pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in the homicide of Bradley Lynn Trujillo, 44 on March 2, 2015. 

Trujillo was found shot to death at a home on the reservation on Robles Way in March.  

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO), the home was also occupied by Boles and Tyann Louise Allen, 30, when deputies discovered Trujillo.

Boles and Allen were questioned. They told investigators they had come home from dinner that night to find Trujillo dead in the garage.

The SDSO said investigators established probable cause to arrest both Boles and Allen on suspicion of murder in the case. However, charges were not filed at the time and both were released from custody.

In the following months, SDSO homicide detectives worked to develop new leads and collect more evidence on the case. They were able to receive search warrants for both Boles and Allen, the sheriff’s department said.

Six months after the death, officials with the San Diego County Fugitive Task Force located Boles and Allen in a hotel in Temecula. They were both arrested for outstanding warrants.

Allen was charged with first-degree murder. Boles faced one count of being an accessory to the crime.

Boles pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in a plea deal. He was sentenced to two years and eight months in the Department of Corrections in a North County courtroom on Wednesday. 



Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Trial Set for Ex-Reporter Charged with Child Endangerment

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A former San Diego television news reporter, charged with child endangerment for allegedly bringing a loaded handgun in a stroller with a toddler, has been bound over for trial. 

Tony Tull, 34, is facing charges related to the November 2016 incident, including child endangerment and bringing a loaded gun to a school campus. On Wednesday, a judge bound him over on all charges and allegations. 

Tull, the son of Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier, was a former reporter for CW 6 San Diego and WRC-TV in Washington, D.C.

He was first approached by San Diego police officers in November near 14th and F Streets in the East Village neighborhood after a citizen told officers Tull had pointed a handgun at someone and claimed to be a police officer.

The incident occurred on the campus of Urban Discovery Academy on 14th Street, police said.

Tull was searched but no handgun was found, according to SDPD Sgt. Elmer Edwards. Officers then found the loaded handgun in the possession of a two-year-old boy sitting in a stroller, Edwards said.

Tull was also caring for a 6-year-old child at the time of his arrest, police said.

He was taken into custody on suspicion of child endangerment and bringing a loaded gun to a school campus.

The children were handed over to the custody of their mother, Edwards said.

A readiness is set for May 17. His trial is set to begin on May 25. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Ballpark Bites: New Eats at Petco Park

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Sure, nachos and hot dogs are staples at baseball games, but these days, the menu at the ballpark goes far beyond those classics. Check out some new places to eat at San Diego's Petco Park as the Padres swing into the 2017 MLB season.

Photo Credit: Carnitas' Snack Shack/Facebook

US Marine's Bracelet Returned to Family 75 Years Later

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A U.S. Marine’s bracelet, lost almost 75 years ago in the Battle of Guadalcanal, was discovered buried on a New Zealand beach and has been returned to his family in San Diego County.

A couple were combing the beach in 2015 when they stumbled on the bracelet buried beneath 6 inches of sand. While vacationing in Hawaii the next year, they visited a military museum and began the process of trying to track down the owner of the bracelet.

“On the back was the date of 7 August 1942 at Guadalcanal and it had three other locations on the back, Honolulu, Australia and New Zealand,” said Sgt. Maj. William T. Sowers. “On the front of the bracelet was the name H. Campbell and the service number.”

Using that information, the U.S. Marines managed to track down the owner’s surviving children, Jim and Patti Campbell.

The bracelet belonged to Master Sgt. Harry Francis Campbell, who served with the 1st Marine Division and fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal. He was just 19 years old when he lost the bracelet.

Over the weekend, Marines on Camp Pendleton held a special ceremony as they returned the piece of jewelry to the veteran’s family.

Jim Campbell said the family is grateful to receive the memento and the memories of his father that it holds.

“Respect to my dad,” Campbell said. “I'm sure he is looking down on us - great thoughts, great memories and thank you to everyone involved.”

The couple who discovered the bracelet watched the ceremony via Skype.

“The extraordinary effort the family in New Zealand, the Turners, went through,” Sowers said. “It shows a special fortitude that not everyone has.”

Campbell said his dad was a very proud Marine and would always introduce himself to fellow Marines and talk about the Battle of Guadalcanal.

Master Sgt. Campbell retired in 1945 and went on to serve in law enforcement. He passed away in 2013.

The U.S. Marines first landed in the Solomon Islands of Guadalcanal, Tulagi and Florida on Aug. 7, 1942. However, the Battle of Guadalcanal is often used to refer to six months of fighting that ended in February 1943 when the Japanese surrendered the island.


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Crash Concerns Family of Lemon Grove Triple Fatal

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A Lemon Grove family struggling to cope with the loss of three family members in a triple fatal traffic collision were reminded of the tragedy when a driver crashed into their cars in front of their home overnight.

In February, Maribel Nava’s daughter, brother and sister were traveling in a car when they were killed in a collision near the intersection a mile from Palm Avenue and Dennis Street.

Eighteen-year-old Lizbeth Soto, 12-year-old Alexander Solo and 8-year-old Camila Nava Cardenas died in the crash.

Late Tuesday, right in front of Nava’s home, a driver crashed into two parked vehicles. Both cars are owned by Nava. Officials say the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Nava spoke with NBC 7 for the first time about the February crash and how her family is coping.

“I was in my room, grieving, crying for my daughter and my brother and sister, and it's something we still can't get over,” Nava said. “It has only been two months, and this happens.”

“It just shook us all. I have my oldest one crying in there since last night because she is scared,” she said.

Just two months ago, Nava was standing in front of another car wreck. This one was a mile from her home and several member of her family were inside the car.

Nava said she has complained to the City of Lemon Grove about the safety of both of these intersections.

She said nothing has been done.

At approximately 5:20 a.m. Wednesday, the driver of a white SUV fell asleep at the wheel and slammed into a vehicle 100 yards from Nava’s home and the Tuesday night crash.

At around 8:30 a.m., just three blocks west of Nava’s home, there was another traffic collision.

“Something just needs to get done,” she said. “People are speeding, people are driving drunk.”

NBC 7 has learned the City just installed a sidewalk as part of planned improvements to the road. They are also conducting a citywide study on street safety. The specific stretch of Palm Avenue outside Nava’s home is not included in the study.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Misogynist Attitude Is Ingrained in Marine Culture: Veteran

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The culture of misogyny in the U.S. Marine Corps that spawned the type of behavior exposed in the Marines United Facebook page traces back to boot camp, where women learn to put up with sexual harassment from their supposed brothers in arms, a former Marine veteran said Wednesday.

“We’re taught to go with the flow and accept the culture as is, or else we face repercussions,” Erika Butner testified at a Democratic Women’s Working Group hearing, according to the Marine Times.

Butner and Lance Cpl. Marisa Woytek, both of whom had their images posted without consent to the closed Facebook page, appeared at the hearing to explain how female Marines have been targeted, exploited and endangered by the scandal.

The secret Facebook group had a following of over 30,000 male service members. Users shared nude images of active duty female Marines, veterans and other women, some of which were taken without the victim's knowledge and shared without their consent. It is not known how many service members were involved or are under investigation.

The photos, Butner said, prompted obscene and lurid descriptions of “all the unspeakable things they’d do to me."

The 23-year-old, who served in the Marine Corps for four years until June 2016, said she learned from her recruit training drill instructor that male Marines would consider her one of three stereotypes: "A b----, a w---- or a lesbian,” she told lawmakers Wednesday, the Times reported.

“I’m not blaming the drill instructors,” Butner said. “They were preparing us to have thick skin because it is so ingrained in this culture that they don’t know how to change it, so they go with the grain.”

Asked about Butner’s testimony, a Marine Corps spokesman said that any such conduct by drill instructors would not be tolerated.

“Bottom line: Any Marine that would express the type of attitude expressed in that statement is dead wrong,” Maj. Clark Carpenter said.

The scandal prompted an investigation into hundreds of Marines and the U.S. Marine Corps' top general vowed to prosecute those found responsible for posting photos of naked female service members on social media and other image-sharing boards.

"We all have to commit to getting rid of this perversion of our culture," Gen. Robert Neller said at hearing before a House Armed Services personnel subcommittee in March. "We will take action to remove this stain on our Marine Corps."

In the wake of the scandal, the Marine Corps issued a detailed social media policy that lays out the professional and legal ramifications for service members culpable of online misconduct. The new policy makes it clear how existing rules and the Uniform Code of Military Justice can be used to prosecute offensive, indecent or disrespectful online activities.

But some lawmakers say the tackling the issue as a social media problem isn't enough because the problem is "cultural rot" that has spread and thrived within the military. 

"This is about service members deliberately trying to degrade, humiliate, and threaten fellow service members. They encouraged stalking, distributed stolen intimate photos, and have reduced their comrades to a collection of parts," Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., told the military officers during the subcommittee hearing.

Speier has criticized the Armed Services Committee for not holding a full committee hearing on the issue and on Tuesday, her office said the Marine Corps leadership backed out of attending Wednesday’s hearing.

A representative for the Marine Corp was scheduled to attend Wednesday's hearing on the scandal, according Speier. Speier tweeted, “Last week, when I called the #Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Neller, I was assured a rep would be here to stand with these brave survivors.”

On Tuesday Rep. Speier’s office received a letter from Neller’s assistant offering to meet members of the Women’s Caucus individually.

A spokesman for the general denied allegations that Neller or the assistant commandant withdrew from the hearing. “I believe it is true that Rep. Speier invited the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, but I do not believe he ever agreed to attend this working group’s session,” Lt. Col. Eric Dent said.

Florida congresswoman Lois Frankel, the chair of the DWWG, said in press release announcing the hearing, though the issue of nonconsensual pornography has been most recently highlighted by the Marines United case, it has long existed in all branches of the U.S. armed forces, including in the Marine Corps in 2013.

"Misogyny and objectification of women in the Marine Corps have gone unchecked for far too long," Butner said Wednesday. "The Marine Corps must decide whether to stand up for the women who have given their lives for our Nation, or cast them aside in spite of it.”

The women's attorney, Gloria Allred, also testified at the hearing. They were joined by Miranda Peterson, Executive Director of Protect Our Defenders, Elizabeth L. Hillman, President of Mills College, and James LaPorta, a former Marine and journalist with the Daily Beast.



Photo Credit: Rep. Jackie Speier
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'Lucky to Be Alive': Homeless Man Survives Brutal Attack

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In the early morning hours of June 15, 2016, Michael Papadelis was asleep under a bridge at the corner of 19th and C Street in San Diego, California.

He remembers a "pair of eyes" looking down on him, he said. And then it happened.

"I was being hit, and all I can remember is I look up and I saw a pair of eyes," said Papadelis. "And I saw something silver coming down on me, so I kind of sat up and put my arms up to try to protect myself."

He remembers screaming for help as blood poured from his head.

"Somebody help me, help me, somebody help me. And eventually I heard somebody say 'what happened to you,'" said Papdelis.

Papadelis, 56, was allegedly attacked by the man now suspected of at least 12 assaults on homeless and elderly people.

Jon David Guerrero, 40, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to felony charges that include murder, arson and assault. He ultimately could face the death penalty.

Papadelis survived the brutal attack, but is now blind in his right eye. Doctors had to rebuild his crushed eye orbit. He now has a plate around his eye orbit, and now has trouble seeing out of his left eye.

He considers himself lucky to be alive, based on the severity of attacks on Guerrero’s other alleged victims.

“I could have been struck in the head, too, with a spike. I’m lucky," said Papadelis. "He attacked me with a hammer, a mallet, whatever, and then he moved on. So I’m lucky to be alive."

Papadelis also said a week before the attack, he remembers a man with a bicycle standing over him as he slept in the same spot under the bridge. He believes it was the same man who would return a week later.

"And I woke up and there was a man with a bicycle standing over me. As soon as I woke up and looked at him, he walked off," Papadelis said.

His perspective on the attack might surprise many people.

Papadelis said he harbors no anger toward his attacker, and besides his physical injuries, he has no lingering psychological issues.

"I’ve heard that people that go through violent assaults like I did suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, but I’ve had no bad dreams, no depression, no suicidal thoughts, or anything like that. I’m healed pretty good," said Papadelis.

Papadelis was in court for Guerrero’s arraignment and plans to attend as many future court dates as possible. Guerrero’s preliminary hearing is scheduled on July 11. Papadelis is expected to testify and says he wants to see justice.

"He obviously can’t be on the streets because he’s a danger to other people. So the best thing is he’ll be off the streets," said Papdelis.

Guerrero’s crimes make him eligible for the death penalty, which Papadelis said he favors, should the District Attorney decide to pursue it.

"He was vicious. He smashed them. He put a spike through their head and chest. He set them on fire. For the viciousness of the crimes against those people that were sleeping, I believe, if its out there, I agree with the death penalty," Papadelis said.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

49ers Player Arrested for Domestic Violence: Police

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The San Francisco 49ers have released cornerback Tramaine Brock after he was arrested by Santa Clara police in connection to a domestic incident, the team announced Friday.

Police said Brock, 28, was arrested Thursday for felony domestic violence and booked into Santa Clara County Jail. His bail has been set at $50,000.

Officers responded at 9:35 p.m. to investigate a report of a domestic violence incident.

Sources tell NBC Bay Area Brock's girlfriend, who is also the mother of his two children, called 911. When officers arrived they found the woman had marks around her neck, according to sources.

Brock declined to comment when asked about the incident after posting bail and leaving the Santa Clara County Main Jail Friday afternoon.

The National Football League on Friday said the matter is being reviewed under the league's personal conduct policy.

The alleged incident involving Brock marks the 15th time a 49ers player has been arrested since 2012, which is the most in the NFL in that time.

The most recent arrest was reported in September when police said then 49ers fullback Bruce Miller attacked a 70-year-old man at a hotel in San Francisco. Miller was also arrested for misdemeanor battery in Santa Clara in 2015.

Ray McDonald was arrested three times during his tenure as a defensive lineman for the 49ers. His most profile case was three years ago when he was suspected of attacking his pregnant fiance. Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges.

The 49ers player arrested the most is Aldon Smith. The linebacker was arrested five times since 2012.

Smith's most recent arrest came in 2015 when police said he hit a parked car while under the influence of alcohol in Santa Clara. The 49ers released him the day after that arrest.

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: Santa Clara Police Department
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Trump's Options for N. Korea Include Nukes in S. Korea

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The National Security Council has presented President Trump with options to respond to North Korea's nuclear program — including putting American nukes in South Korea or killing dictator Kim Jong-un, multiple top-ranking intelligence and military officials told NBC News.

Both scenarios are part of an accelerated review of North Korea policy prepared in advance of President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

The White House hopes the Chinese will do more to influence Pyongyang through diplomacy and enhanced sanctions. But if that fails, and North Korea continues developing nuclear weapons, there are other options on the table that would significantly alter U.S. policy.



Photo Credit: AP

Ohio Man Accused of Chasing Family Member With Hatchet

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An Ohio man was arrested after he allegedly chased a family member with a hatchet.

Noel E. Dawson, 63, of Toledo, was charged Tuesday with domestic violence, assault, criminal damaging, and failure to disclose personal information.

The Toledo Blade reports that Dawson allegedly chased a relative Sunday with a hatchet, swinging the small ax at the man. Dawson tried to hit the man but missed, striking his car instead — leaving a large dent in the hood, according to the Blade.

Dawson refused to give the arresting officer his information and shouted obscenities, court records show.

Dawson has pleaded not guilty. A Toledo County judge ordered him held Tuesday on $50,000 bond.

Attorney information was not immediately available.



Photo Credit: Toledo Police Department

Driver Arrested for Allegedly Smuggling 35 Pounds of Meth

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents arrested a man allegedly smuggling nearly 35 pounds of meth in his car Thursday.

Agents found the illegal drugs after conducting a traffic stop on the driver who was in a Ford Explorer heading north on Interstate 15.

The 21-year-old man, who was stopped near the Clinton Keith Road exit, consented to a canine sniff of the SUV.

The dog alerted the agents to the rear area of the SUV where they found 35 bundles of meth in a compartment built into the floor of the vehicle’s rear cargo area.

The meth weighed just under 35 pounds and had an estimated street value of $118,796.

The driver was booked on narcotics charges and taken to a Riverside County jail. Border Patrol agents seized his car.

Agents in the San Diego sector have seized 1,598.86 pounds of meth so far in fiscal year 2017.



Photo Credit: CBP

San Diego Welcomes Newest Kaiser Permanente Facility

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San Diego County leaders and hospital staff gathered to celebrate Kaiser Permanente’s newest medical center with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday.

Kearny Mesa is the location of the Kaiser’s state-of-the-art medical center.

The 617,000 square feet hospital includes a 24-hour emergency department, 321 rooms for single-patient occupancy and brand new technology.

“All patients will benefit from a combination of our cutting edge care that includes innovative medical technologies, our integrated model of care and most importantly, personal service,” said Jane Finley, Kaiser Permanente’s San Diego vice president and area manager.

The new technology includes virtual guardrails, pain level monitoring and caregiver alerts to support round-the-clock care, according to a statement from Kaiser Permanente.

“It’s a very exciting day for us not just to celebrate the 50 years we’ve had in San Diego, but the 50 years of the future we’ll have in San Diego,” said Finley. 

The hospital will be open to patients starting April 25.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Police Search for Hit-and Run Driver in Fatal 3-Vehicle Crash on I-5

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A motorcyclist was killed in a crash with a car and a semi truck Friday evening at rush hour southbound on Interstate 5, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

The crash happened around 5 p.m. near the Santa Fe Drive exit in Encinitas, and police are looking for one of the drivers involved in the crash. 

A person driving a silver Toyoto switched lanes in front of the motrocycle who was splitting the lane at the time. 

After the Toyota and the motorcycle crashed the rider got caught underneath the 18-wheeler. 

The driver of the Toyota sped off. 

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this breaking story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Arrest in Little Italy Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash

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San Diego police arrested a man accused of running into and killing a pedestrian Thursday in Little Italy and then driving away.

The collision occurred just after 11 p.m. on West Laurel Street.

A man in his 50s was struck by a white SUV that left the area traveling westbound on West Laurel and turned on Harbor Boulevard, police.

San Diego police closed Pacific Highway between Juniper and West Laurel for hours as they investigated the incident.

Just after 7 a.m. Friday, police arrested David Dominguez, 21, on Brooklyn Avenue in Encanto. He will face charges of felony hit and run, DUI and other charges, police said.

San Diego police have not identified the victim.

3 Suspects Arrested After Pursuit Ends in Otay Mesa

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Just before 7 a.m. Friday a call came in to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) from an Otay Mesa resident, reporting that a possible burglary had taken place. The caller said they saw three people jumping a fence outside a Madden Avenue home and that one of the people had a gun.

As officers were making their way to the scene, the suspects got into a white Nissan Versa and sped off.

SDPD officers say that they spotted the car and tried to initiate a stop. The driver failed to yield to officers, which resulted in a pursuit.

During the pursuit, the vehicle crashed into a telephone pole in the area of Paxon Ave. and Melrose Dr.

One of the suspects, a 17 year-old male, then got out of the car and started running. He was taken into custody, police said.

Two other suspects stayed in the car and continued to drive for a couple of  blocks, according to SDPD Sergeant Robert Hawkins.

Hawkins said that the car ultimately stopped and yielded to officers. The two passengers inside were Tevin Barnhill, 20, and Adiline Magdaleno, 20, who were also taken into custody.

Investigators at the residence discovered that the home had been burglarized, with the loss being two hand guns and a PlayStation console, according to SDPD.

During the pursuit, SDPD officers saw items being thrown out the passenger window. Those items turned out to be a backpack containing the two hand guns, according to police.

Hawkins said that they were able to recover those guns.

All three suspects have been booked for various felony charges.


Worry & Relief: Syrian Refugees on Airstrikes

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Following the U.S. missile strikes in Syria, refugees now living in San Diego County are experiencing everything from fear to relief. One father and daughter said that over the years, 55 of their family members have been killed as a result of their country’s violence.

"That's enough, like we already have enough bombs," Mony Zarour, 22, told NBC 7 Thursday night, referring to the airstrikes on Syria ordered by President Donald Trump in response to a gas attack that killed dozens of people, including children. "That’s enough for the people."

The young woman said she's exhausted, angry and upset over the bombings. While she knows the bombs are targeting the Syrian government, she wants the violence to stop. She said even one more bomb is one bomb too many.

However, mixed feelings fill the Zarour household in El Cajon.

Mony Zarour's father, who also now lives in San Diego, told NBC 7 he's relieved Trump is stepping in to combat Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. He called al-Assad a war criminal, terrorist and dictator, and said the Syrian leader "deserves" what's happening.

"We are all Syrian refugees, because of al-Assad; we are displaced. This is all because of him," he said, speaking through an interpreter. "We need the peace. This is our priority, and we stop the war. The peace is very important for all of the Syrian people."

Over the past six years, the Zarours have dealt with the loss of 55 family members killed amid the ongoing violence in Syria -- men, women and even children. The youngest victim among their loved ones was a 2-year-old child.

“Some of them [were killed] by bombs dropped on the houses or in the streets," said Mony Zarour.

Others, she said, were killed by snipers. Her cousin was gunned down while in his car.

"Shooting, machine guns," she said.

"Some insurgents broke my cousin’s house and killed them – slaughtered. Ten family members, they killed them. They burned their bodies," Zarour's father said.

Mony Zarour and her parents blame the government for the deaths in Syria.

Her mother, who did not want to be identified, said the situation is so bad, government troops arrest and kill men and women, then blame ISIS or insurgent groups for the slayings.

"A thousand orphans, a thousand widows left behind. [These] displaced people cannot find a place to live; they cannot find a roof," the mother said, also speaking to NBC 7 through an interpreter. "We lost our house, we lost our family."

The mother said she forced her son, now 24, to leave Syria and move to Malaysia. She said this was done to protect him, as he had three options amid the war: to leave, be arrested or be killed. The family has not seen him in years.

The Zarour family, originally from the city of Homs, Syria, fled the country in 2012. Their street, once lined with apartment complexes, is now lined with blown-out buildings, steel and concrete rebars.

Mony Zarour said the sound of the bombs exploding in her hometown are a sound she will never forget. Her father said he remembers seeing mortar and pieces of buildings falling to the ground as the bombs hit surrounding areas.

Two months ago, bombings completely destroyed the family's home in Homs.

"This is our street," Mony Zarour added, showing NBC 7 cellphone video of the buildings left in ruins. "It's our street, my aunt’s house, completely destroyed. A gas bomb fell on our house and burned everything. Nothing [left] on the house. Everything is burned."

Holding back tears, the young woman said it's incredibly sad to see the streets where she grew up -- where she went to school and played with friends -- transformed into a war zone.

Mony Zarour said Trump's decision to strike Syria is worrisome.

"It's too bad what happened," she lamented. "It's not good."

Mony Zarour is afraid for innocent Syrian families who don't want war, including her aunt, cousins and other loved ones still living there.

"They are people, just like us. They don't want anything -- just to stay in their home. They need peace -- a [peaceful] place to live," she said. "We want to stop the violence and the war."

San Diego, the eighth largest city in the United States, is home to many Syrian refugees. Last fall, NBC 7 reported that since Oct. 1, 2016, the city had received 626 Syrian refugees – more than any other city in the U.S. At that time, resettlement organizations like Jewish Family Service San Diego said that number was expected to grow.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed since the civil war broke out in Syria six years ago, with conflicting numbers about the death toll. A United Nations envoy to Syria estimated last April that 400,000 had been killed. 



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

SoCal Edison Considers SONGS Waste Removal Ahead of Hearing

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With a San Diego court hearing looming, the majority owners of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS), Southern California Edison (SCE), announced they would consider moving radioactive materials from the site of the closed plant.

SCE had been in talks with the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Citizens Oversight, represented by attorneys Michael Aguirre and Maria Severson. The Office of the Attorney General of California, representing the California Coastal Commission which was named in the lawsuit, also was part of a court filing to request a continuance of the April 14th court date so “they may pursue settlement,” said the press release from the utility.

The chief nuclear officer and SCE vice president Tom Palmisano is quoted in the release as saying there was a common goal to move the “used nuclear fuel off-site as soon as reasonably possible.”

Attorney Aguirre said in the same release that said everyone involved “must come together and work to find a solution in the best interests of the people.”

It wasn’t clear from the release if this offer of settlement would include removing ALL radioactive materials from the site, which includes the 3,600,000 pounds of spent fuel now submerged in water pools on the property as well as the fifty canisters of leftover radioactive fuel now buried on the property in what is called dry cask storage.

Read the full press release here.

“It is the most dangerous stuff on earth; a witches brew of radioactive material,” a critic of the plan to bury the materials on a sea bluff above San Onofre Beach told NBC7.

Aguirre said in a recent response to filings by SCE when the Coastal Commission approved the placement of the radioactive material on the property that “the findings are not supported by the evidence.” He claims the Commission was working with SCE to “build a record to support SCE’s proposal to bury the waste at San Onofre,” long before public hearings were held.

The contention is the Coastal Commission approved the nuclear dump site assuming the storage facility would be in good physical condition for 35 years. However, as pointed out in the court filings, the storage certification is only good for 20 years, creating a 15-year safety gap. In the same March 21 filing, the Coastal Commission admitted “the shoreline protection structures cannot be counted upon to prevent erosion and flooding at the site in future generations.”

San Diego Gas and Electric is a minority owner of SONGS.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Entertainment Industry Lions Brought to Animal Sanctuary

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Three big cats that spent their lives in the entertainment industry will retire in the Lions Tigers & Bears animal sanctuary in Alpine.

The animals were brought to San Diego from Los Angeles earlier this week, according to Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions Tigers & Bears.

“They get a proper home, and the owner gets to walk away knowing he did the right thing," said Brink.

It is the first white lion species to come to the sanctuary. The sanctuary is building a brand new habitat for them, said Brink. They are in quarantine for the moment.

“We’ve been working a year and a half with their owners to find them a safe retirement,” said Brink. “We don’t know much about their past other than they’re trained animals most probably used for circuses, advertisements, movies, things like that.”

The lions will be introduced to the public for the first time at a Lions Tigers and Bears fundraiser on May 20.

Besides the white lions there are 60 other rescued animals and 17 different species in the sanctuary, said Brink.

Visitors can schedule an appointment on the Lion Tigers & Bears website to view the sanctuary’s exotic animals in an educational environment.  

Local Reaction to U.S. Bombing of Syria

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People have strong opinions about whether the bombing was the best strategy to take in response to the chemical attack in Syria. Some say the United States had no right to get involved. Others say it is about time something was done.

“If you're the big kid on the block and you're watching kids get pushed around, it's your job to do something about it,” said retired marine James Lucas. “It just became your job.” Lucas trained at Camp Pendleton. He said the situation is likely to escalate. “I think we will do standoff things for a while," referring to using air resources. “We’re a little gun shy about troops after Afghanistan and Iraq, so we just have to plan carefully and be able to justify what we do.”

A woman with her family visiting from northern California said, “I think it was too quick of a decision. It really wasn't thought out enough as far as what repercussions are going to be.” Mary Kyle said, “When you start engaging, I’m worried about what that means.”

“It’s going to lead to troops on the ground,” said 20-year-old Emilio Gonzalez who worries about his friends. “Back when Iraq happened, I didn’t have any friends in the military.” He said we need to change course now. “I feel like we’re going down the same path as we did in Iraq. We’re going to make a mess. And regret it later.”

Humberto Escamilla has family already serving in the military. One was badly injured in Afghanistan. Referring to the chemical attack, he said, “If somebody has to put their foot down, who else is going to put their foot down?” Still, he worries about the repercussions of the bombing.

Antonie Jackson agreed, “I think we did the right thing because we as human beings, we want to protect each other from evil.”

Kyle said there should have been more thought put into this move. About the chemical attack, she said “I feel for the people in Syria my heart breaks for them this is not going to help the matter.”



Photo Credit: Ford Williams/U.S. Navy via Getty Images

Jupiter Is Shining Super-Bright Friday Night, and Here’s Why

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Jupiter will rise in the East around sunset and will be visible all night, weather permitting, NBC News reported.

On April 7, Jupiter makes its closest approach to Earth this year, coming to within about 414 million miles of our home planet and appearing extraordinarily bright in the night sky.

No special equipment is needed to enjoy this Jovian close-up, a phenomenon astronomers call Jupiter "at opposition" because the planet and the sun are on opposite sides of Earth.

If you're stuck indoors — or if clouds obscure the sky — you can enjoy a live stream featuring telescopic views of Jupiter and its moons in the video player above.



Photo Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team via Getty Images
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