The city opened a new facility Tuesday to power trash trucks with cleaner fuel to reduce smog pollution by up to 90 percent, confirmed City officials.

In an effort to make a cleaner San Diego, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and City Councilmember Chris Cate announced that the city will start using compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of diesel fuel, for its entire fleet of recycling collection trucks.

The natural gas is a cleaner-burning fuel that drastically lowers greenhouse gas emissions while saving taxpayer dollars, said city officials.

"We all know that vehicle emissions are the leading cause of air pollution so the City is leading by example," Mayor Faulconer said, in a statement.

"By transitioning to compressed natural gas, we’re making our fleet greener and saving money at the same time. This is a win-win for San Diegans and will help us reach our climate action goals."

The City carried out the second phase of constructing a new CNG fueling station last month at the Environmental Services Department's Collection Services facility located on Miramar Place.

City officials say there are currently 20 CNG vehicles, which are expected to reduce smog-contributing pollutants up to 90 percent compared to diesel.

"The City's new compressed natural gas fueling station will truly benefit all San Diegans,” Councilmember Cate said, in a statement. "The collection trucks that residents see picking up their refuse and recycling bins will now be powered by cleaner fuel."

Once completed, the new station will replace all 131 diesel-powered collection vehicles with CNG trucks by 2022, according to the City. This would help achieve one of the Mayor's goals in the Climate Action Plan.

That would reduce diesel fuel consumed by more than one million gallons each year, said city officials.

The new vehicles will also be much quieter than the City's current diesel trucks, officials said. 

"Not only is it cheaper and cleaner than diesel, it will ensure that our collection trucks are much quieter while picking up trash and recyclables in our neighborhoods," said Mario Sierra, the City’s Environmental Services Director, in a statement.

The entire fueling station project will cost $5.3 million, with funds from the California Energy Commission, the City's Recycling Enterprise Fund and the General Fund.

Nearly a week later, Sheriff's deputies are still searching for a missing man known to frequent San Diego's libraries and beaches.

The Sheriff's Vista Station renewed a call to the public to help find the missing person, considered at risk. Deputies initially asked the public to help locate Cruz last Wednesday.

Edgar Cruz, 69, was reported missing by his family on April 17. He has Alzheimer's and other medical conditions. Cruz does not have access to his medications, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Cruz's family says he may end up walking the beaches of Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. He also likes to hang out at the libraries in Encinitas, Carlsbad and San Marcos.

He was last seen wearing a green shirt, black pants and a green fishing-style hat.

Contact the Vista Sheriff's Station Detective Brendan Cook at (760)940-4308 or call the Sheriff's Department at (858)565-5200, if you have any information on Cook's whereabouts.

No further information was available.

Getting to Germany from San Diego just got easier: Condor Airlines has launched a new nonstop service that takes travelers straight to Frankfurt.

On Monday, Condor Airlines celebrated the inauguration of its new seasonal service out of the San Diego International Airport -- a service first announced about a year ago.

The new flight is the airline’s first-ever nonstop service from San Diego to Germany and, for now, the only nonstop connection between San Diego and Continental Europe. 

The service runs through Oct. 5, offering up to three weekly flights on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the San Diego Airport Authority said. For instance, an outbound flight on Mondays leaves San Diego at 8:50 p.m. and arrives at Frankfurt International at 5:40 p.m. the next day. The returning flight on Mondays departs Frankfurt at 2:25 p.m. local time and arrives in San Diego at 6 p.m. There’s a nine-hour time difference between San Diego and Frankfurt.

According to Condor Airlines, one-way flights start at $329 in economy class, $439.99 in premium and $1,089.99 in business class. A Monday-to-Monday itinerary, say from May 15 to May 22, round-trip for one person in economy, for example, will set you back about $670.

Airfare includes complimentary checked baggage, beverages, meals and complimentary in-flight entertainment, the airline said. Passengers can choose between economy, premium and business class aboard the aircraft, which is a Boeing 767-300ER. Flights can be booked on Condor’s website or by calling (866) 960-7915.

Condor Airlines’ inaugural flight celebration included an aircraft salute; departing passengers got to partake in traditional German snacks, entertainment and a ribbon cutting ceremony before boarding.

The party was attended by Condor Airlines leaders, including Jens Boyd, who said the service is not only convenient for San Diegans traveling to Germany, but also for European tourists looking to visit America’s Finest City.

“We also will stimulate traffic from this director,” Boyd said in a press release.

April Boling, Board Chairman for the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, said the service will also give travelers one-stop access to other European destinations including Paris, Vienna, Prague, Venice, Berlin, Rome, Zagreb and more.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer said the service also opens new doors for business opportunities between San Diego and Germany.

“Germany is one of San Diego's most important foreign markets,” said Faulconer in a press release. “By providing nonstop service to Frankfurt from San Diego, we're opening new doors to global markets that will attract exports and lucrative foreign investment for the region.”

The German American San Diego Foundation, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and World Trade Center San Diego also see the value of the flight as it pertains to business.

Germany is an important market locally, ranking fourth in terms of foreign employment in San Diego, according to World Trade Center San Diego.

Leaders from those groups gathered Tuesday to raise a glass to Condor’s new service at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens at Liberty Station. Stone runs a brewery in Berlin – the first U.S. brewer to own and operate a brewery in Europe. 

With that, time to pack your bags. Gute Reise! (Have a nice trip).

Firefighters quickly put out a five acre brush fire burning on the Barona Indian Reservation in Lakeside. 

The fire broke out at the 8.5 mile marker of Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside at approximately 2:55 p.m. Tuesday. 

The fire spread at a slow to medium rate. No structures were threatened. 

No one was injured, and no evacuations were issued. 

There is no word on cause. 

Wildcat Canyon Road was closed to traffic as crews battle the flames. 

No other information was available.

Students at a small school in El Cajon are feeling inspired – and united – as they prepared for the future in renovated classrooms after their old classrooms were damaged by flooding.

IDEA Center High School, located at 1600 N. Cuyamaca Street in the Grossmont Unified School District (GUHSD), held a ceremony Tuesday to celebrate the school’s newly-completed Student Support Services and classroom building.

The $3.7 million project, funded through Proposition U and insurance reimbursement, includes renovations of all classrooms, a new counseling and career center and technology upgrades designed to prepare students for success in college and on the path to their post-high school careers.

Two years ago, the school’s old classrooms were badly damaged by flooding. Since then, students have been learning in temporary, portable classrooms – some of which were located upstairs on campus and some downstairs.

Jenna Marogi, Associated Student Body president of IDEA Center High School, said many students felt separated from one another in those portable classrooms but the new facility is quickly changing that.

“Now that we’re down here – it’s an actual classroom,” Marogi explained. “It’s got this vibe – it’s just a great feeling. It feels like a real high school now.”

With the upgrades, Marogi said it feels as if students are more enthusiastic about learning. She certainly feels that way.

Assistant principal Dawn Cuizon said the excitement from students is palpable as they enjoy their bright, clean, modern classroom building.

“They feel like they’re more together,” Cuizon told NBC 7. “Now they feel more connected because they’re right in front of each other. They get to use this space together. They’re keeping it so clean – they really care about it. They appreciate it.”

Cuizon said the flooding on campus two years ago was a “huge disruption” to students and faculty, who had to quickly adapt to the temporary classrooms. Now, the new facility has created a more comfortable space for students to learn.

“It’s been really wonderful for us,” the assistant principal added.

Construction on the project took five months to complete. Proposition U, passed by East County voters in November 2008, vowed to complete modernizations of all GUHSD schools and provide classroom and equipment for Career Technical Education, as in this case.

A report released last week by the Center on Policy Initiatives (CPI) said one in seven San Diegans living in the East County in the past five years lived in poverty. In El Cajon, only 35.6 of residents 16 and older and living in poverty are employed.

IDEA Center High School is a small public high school that focuses on integrated curriculum and project-based learning that is heavy on technology. The school serves students in grades nine through twelve, and prepares those students for excellence in both college and their career paths.

A woman was taken into custody at the end of a police chase that ended when the car caught on fire in La Mesa Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed.

Police say the chase began when an officer tried to stop her vehicle. When the woman sped away, the officer took off in pursuit.

The chase came to an end at eastbound Interstate 8, just before State Route 125. Paramedics carried the woman away from the scene.

Heartland fire crews were called to the area by police, and worked on putting out the flames on the woman's car.

California Highway Patrol was assisting with traffic control. Traffic lanes have reopened in the area since then, according to the NBC 7 traffic page.

“Honestly, I just got upset and said you know something, I’m not going to pay you,” Liz Groman said. “We took the equipment over, sent it back and we thought we were done. Four months later, we get a bill for $495.95.” 

The equipment was for Liz’s AT&T U-Verse cable and internet services. When Liz and her husband moved to a neighborhood outside of AT&T’s service area, she said they had to switch providers. Liz said she went into the AT&T store and a customer service representative called the company to cancel Liz’s service. 

After shipping her equipment to the company, Liz says she thought her job was done. 

“We don’t see anywhere that you called in and canceled the service,” Liz said AT&T told her. 

Liz said she was shocked because the company acknowledged they had received the equipment but was still trying to charge her for their services. Phone calls to the company went nowhere. Liz said she told AT&T the bills made no sense. 

“You have the equipment, we can’t use the service, why would we pay four or five months of service that we can’t possibly use,” Liz said. 

After receiving three bills from three separate collection agencies, Liz said she was over playing games. 

“That’s when I contacted NBC 7 Responds because they were not going to pay attention to me,” Liz said. 

NBC 7 Responds contacted AT&T and Liz said the next day, she received a call from the company’s executive office, offering to wipe the bill away and an apology. 

“I am so grateful and I can just recommend that anyone going through this kind of frustration, contact NBC 7 Responds because honestly the next day I got a call from the AT&T Office of the President saying they’re sorry,” Liz said.

An active shooter simulation was held in Kearny Mesa Tuesday, featuring actors with multiple mock injuries and hyper-realistic medical simulations, said a representative for Strategic Operations.

Thirty students in their second year of medical school gathered at Strategic Operations at the 4000 block of Ruffin Road at 1 p.m., as part of emergency training for medical students from across the nation.

There were also Emergency Response staff from Balboa Naval Hospital and Kaiser Permanente, as well as law enforcement and Fire Department first responders.

It's part of a week-long series of life or death scenarios such as flipped cars, active shooters and improvised explosive devices, for the Sixth Annual Hyper-Realistic Surgical Skills Week, according to Strategic Operations.

Real firefighters, paramedics and police were also involved in the simulations.

“Medical students commonly state that they do not truly understand or recognize a textbook description of a disease or a syndrome until they experience the clinically applicable version of it,” said Strategic Operations Executive Vice President Kit Lavell, in a statement.

The series was held on the back lot of the Stu Segall Productions TV/film studio and a specially constructed emergency room for the unique Intensive Surgical Skills Course (ISSC). This course is the only one of its kind in the nation, according to Strategic Operations.

The shooter drill featured live actors wearing the Strategic Operations "Cut Suit," according to Strategic Operations. Thirty-five surgeries were performed on the "Cut Suits." Law enforcement are first responders in the simulation which includes victims being treated in mock emergency care and simulated surgeries.

President of Stategic Operations, Stu Stegall, intended to design a super realistic hospital environment with operating rooms and the ER for medical students and doctors. 

This hyper-realistic hospital environment is intended to allow for the willing suspension of disbelief, stated Stu Stegall, who previously worked in Hollywood as a TV producer.

Saliva samples were collected from the students, doctors and first responders before and after the hyper-realistic demos, so they can be used to measure stress levels, according to Strategic Operations.

Overall, the series is used to help medical students learn real-life skills they can't pick up in a textbook.

NBC 7 is learning more about the man who opened fire on a group of people at a pool party Sunday in University City.

One expert suggests seeing a party where everyone was having a good time may have triggered something in the despondent, debt-ridden mechanic.

A former friend and neighbor described Peter Selis as a wonderful father, but troubled.

“He had a problem with depression his whole life and when the alcohol took over, he would just lose it as far as himself. But he would never hurt anyone else," said a woman who only identified herself as Sue.

Selis shot into a crowd of people celebrating a friend's birthday at the La Jolla Crossroads apartments, injuring seven people and killing Monique Clark. One person was shot at but not hurt, police said.

According to investigators, Selis had recently broken up with his girlfriend and called her while he was sitting on a poolside lounge chair shooting at people.

Mark Kalish, a psychiatrist who did not treat Selis, shared his analysis of why the gunman may have made the call.

“He didn’t want to take responsibility. He wanted to show her 'Look at what you made me do. It’s your fault'--not owning it," explained Kalish.

Kalish also noted Selis seemed to be someone who was depressed and experienced multiple losses.

“The combination of those two things leaves him empty in some psychological sense and then he's observing a party where everyone is having a good time. They have what he doesn’t. And that makes people angry and wanting to lash out," he said.

Court documents show Selis, who worked as a mechanic, had more than $100,000 of debt.

In October 2015, he filed his second bankruptcy in seven years.

Selis’ bankruptcy attorney Steven Houbeck said he sensed his client's stress. He told NBC 7, Selis was like a rubber band ready to snap.

“With Pete, I did see this tension,” said Houbeck. “He had dipped below water as if he’s breathing through a straw and can’t get what he needs to survive and apparently he gave up and turned on innocent people.”

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman said the investigation suggests Selis was despondent over a recent breakup with a girlfriend.

Moments before officers arrived, Selis, "took out a cell phone and he called his ex-girlfriend,” Zimmerman said. “Selis told his ex-girlfriend that he had just shot two people and that police had arrived on the scene.”

Zimmerman said Selis stayed on the phone with his ex-girlfriend as the shooting continued.

“It was apparent that Selis wanted his ex-girlfriend to listen in as he carried out his rampage,” she said.

The victims just happened to be present, she added.

“There is zero information to indicate that race played a factor in this terrible and horrific crime,” she said. “The victims were targeted for no other reason but their mere presence in the vicinity of the suspect.”

Pictures on Snapchat, taken just a few hours before a woman was killed in a mass shooting at an apartment complex in University City, showed the group having fun at the pool.

Monique Clark was injured in the shooting and died later at the hospital, friends told NBC 7.

Friend Willie Mayo said a GoFundMe page has been set up for the victims to help with all of the medical and funeral costs.

Oceanside police officers are investigating a reported body found in a canyon behind the Oceanside Senior Citizen Center Tuesday afternoon. 

The body was reported to be in a canyon behind the 400 block of Country Club Lane in Oceanside, near the Oceanside Senior Citizen Center and just east of Interstate 5. 

Officers are on scene investigating. 

No other information was available.

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

The apartment complex where a gunman opened fire on a group of people celebrating a birthday in the pool area is offering free crisis counseling to its residents.

Notices are posted around the La Jolla Crossroads complex with contact information and opportunities for private sessions following Sunday's shooting in which one woman was killed and seven others were injured. One person was shot at but not struck.

Only NBC 7 got inside access to the La Jolla Crossroads complex Monday night to gain perspective on the mass shooting from those who live there.

The pool area where the shooting took place has reopened.

Residents living around it again have free access to come and go from their homes but they say things are still a not yet back to normal.

A handful of people gathered outside the pool deck to remember the victims in prayer. Flowers were placed near the pool area.

The gunshots, screams and bloodshed that pierced a pleasant Sunday evening are difficult images to forget.

One man who wished only to be identified as Joe lives in the apartment just above where the gunman was killed.

"I am really disturbed about what happened yesterday I was not able to sleep last night," Joe said.

Joe walked out on his balcony afterward the shots of gunfire only to see the gunman , Peter Selis dead below him.

"I really wish this did not happen and I would not have seen that image I could not get it out of my mind," Joe said.

Two doors down, and on that same pool level, Sumana Dudda hid in the bathroom with her young son.

"I am just worried and nervous just feeling very scared I can't explain myself,” Dudda said.

When she peeked outside, she no longer recognized what she had once known as a tranquil pool setting.

"Some people were running, moving here and there. They were shouting 'Oh my God. Oh my God,'" Dudda said.

Many residents told NBC 7 it is difficult to imagine that something so horrible would happen in this exclusive community, and that the gunman Peter Selis, was their neighbor.

We caught up with Selis's roommate in his apartment. He said nothing then closed the door.

For those who live in the line of fire, it could take some time to again feel safe.

"This was a very unexpected happening it is a case which is one out of a million," resident Chitradeep Dudda said.

For others it just might take moving out.

"Given this incident we are really reevaluating our situation and we might think of relocating this is really tough you know. For others it might take moving out of here,” Joe said.

Two separate vigils in San Diego will pay tribute to Monique Clark, a mother of three fatally injured in a mass shooting rampage, and the victims hurt in the poolside shooting. 

Clark was injured when the gunman, 49-year-old Peter Selis, opened fire in a the pool party at the La Jolla Crossroads apartment complex. She later died at the hospital.

Seven others - some critically - were injured in the shooting. Another person was shot at but not hurt, police said.

According to investigators, Selis had recently broken up with his girlfriend and called her as he was sitting on a poolside lounge chair, shooting at people.

Friends remembered Clark as a kind and caring mother and friend lost too soon. 

"It kills me that she was killed," said Drew Phillips, one of the victims of the shooting. "She just didn't deserve it."

Willie Mayo, a friend of the victims, remembered Clark as a loving mother and friend. She had three daughters: a 13-year-old, 11-year-old and 2-year-old. 

"She has kids, a little one, maybe like five or six years old. So, very sad," Mayo. "Monique's a good person too, very nice. So, still trying to take it all in."

Clark's mother said on her GoFundMe page that "the grieving process is fresh, raw, and real." 

So went on to say that family and friends lost their loved one to a "senseless, cowardess act of violence." 

A vigil in remembrance of Clark will be held Wednesday at 6 p.m. at 9045 Judicial Dr., San Diego, 92122. Organizers say the vigil is meant for San Diegans to acknowledge the loss and remember the life lost. 

A second, multifaither prayer vigil will be held Wednesday at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church for the victims of the shooting. The church is located at 4321 Eastgate Mall in San Diego. The vigil will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

Clark's family has set up a GoFundMe. To donate, click here. 

A GoFundMe has been set up for injured victims of the mass shooting. To donate, click here.

A man who helped his wounded friend escape Sunday's deadly poolside shooting said the gunman sat at the pool silent for 45 minutes, staring at the group of friends, before he pulled out his gun and started to fire.

Mychael Gary, 28, said he had been relaxing at the pool with friends for hours.

When the first bullet whizzed by, he mistook it for a joke.

"Literally, we were just laughing and talking to each other. When the first shot let off, honestly, I thought it was a firecracker," Gary said. "I thought somebody was playing with us, just to be stupid. So we ducked."

What followed were six minutes of deadly gunfire that left one of his friends dead, several others injured and his roommate, Kion Gould, fighting for his life.

Gould, who was celebrating his birthday at the pool that day, is recovering in the hospital after losing a kidney, severe wounds to his small intestines and a shattered arm from blocking a bullet meant for his face.

"We play basketball every day. Every single day. And to see him not able to move, I think that was the most hurtful thing," Gary said. 

Mychael says his roommate, a 48-year-old retired Navy veteran, is someone everybody looks up to, particularly Gould's 18-old-son.

"I play around and call him my hero," he said. "You know, he's an older guy and he's still in better shape than us."

Mychael ended up being someone else's hero that day.

"As I was running out the gate, and getting ready to try to hide, all I heard was: 'Mychael, Mychael, please don't leave me!'" 

It was his friend Tommy.

Mychael thought Tommy wasn't going to make it out of the pool area alive.

"When I looked back, blood is coming from his leg," Mychael said. "And I just ran back to him and just tried to get him out of harm's way."

He said he dragged Tommy over his shoulder and the two hobbled out.

At that moment, Mychael didn't know if the shooter was following them.

Today, he wishes he could ask the shooter why he wanted to kill them.

He said he believes his group was targeted because of their race.

"That's what I believe, but I don't think he cared who he hit within our group because there were innocent bystanders in those poeple that shouldn't have been there, laying there to die," he said.

Homicide investigators said they are continuing to investigate the deadly incident but have so far found no evidence the violence was racially motivated.

Chief Shelley Zimmerman said Monday the suspect was depressed over a break-up with a girlfriend and called the woman on the phone during the shooting, demanding that she listen in as he shot people.

"You know what, we can never speak to him. We don't get a chance to ask him. He made his problem everyone else's problem and now he doesn ‘t have the problem anymore and that’s the part that just kills me," Mychael responded.

Police are investigating after graffiti was found on the face of a war memorial in National City on Saturday.

Around 9:20 p.m. Friday, surveillance video appeared to show a group of males gathering on the east side of the the War Memorial at Kimball Park. After a while, the group dispersed except for one man.

According to National City police, the video appeared to show the man spray painting the War Memorial.

The memorial honors National City veterans who fought and were killed fighting for the U.S. in World War II.

The suspect is described to be 5-feet 11-inches tall, between 17 to 25 years old, with curly black hair and a full beard. He was wearing a gray baseball cap, T-shirt, and blue jeans.

At this point, the amount of damage has not been determined.

This is not the first incident to occur at the War Memorial.

In 2014, three war memorial plaques commemorating U.S. military service members were stolen from Kimball Park.

One person was arrested after police responded to a report of a shot fire in the North Park area of San Diego Tuesday night.

According to San Diego police (SDPD), the incident occurred around 8:55 p.m. on 30th and Upas streets.

Police said SWAT did respond to the incident and one person was taken into custody.

Flash bangs were also used.

No other information was available.

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

John Michals, a licensed chiropractor, was arrested last week on allegations of sexual battery, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed Tuesday.

Michals faces a misdemeanor charge, according to Sgt. Daniel Deese with the San Diego County Sheriff’s San Marcos station.

In March, a woman in her mid-30s told deputies she was touched inappropriately during an appointment with Dr. Michals.

“Stuff that wouldn’t normally be classified during a chiropractic exam,” Deese said.

In late April, they secured an arrest warrant. On April 25, Michals was arrested at his private practice on East San Marcos Boulevard, north of State Route 78.

However, deputies said Michals also practiced at North County Health Services at 150 Valpreda Street.

The incidents took place at the North County Health Services location, Deese said.

Since Michals’ arrest, more allegations have been made by other people, according to deputies.

Michals was currently out on bail. Deese did not know if there were any restrictions to him practicing while out on bail.

Investigators anyone with information on this case, or additional cases of sexual battery, can contact Det. Tingley at the San Marcos Sheriff's Station at 760-510-5200.

No other information was available.

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

The Padres showed just how happy they were to be home at Petco Park with a 6-2 victory over the Rockies Tuesday night. The win was a big one for the Friars as they kicked off an eight game homestand with a three game series against Colorado.

Former Padres manager and San Diego State University stand out, Bud Black was watching from the visiting dug out. Black was named the Rockies manager last November after spending a year in the Anaheim Angels front office.

Another hometown product took center stage for San Diego Tuesday night. Trevor Cahill was on the mound for the Padres facing righty Tyler Chatwood for the Rockies. Chatwood allowed no hits through five innings, but then the Frairs got into a groove.

The sixth inning felt like a Padres highlight show. San Diego trailed 1-0 until outfielder Manuel Margot hit an RBI triple which scored Cahill and tied the game at one run apiece. That was just the beginning. First baseman Wil Myers doubled to center field and brought Margot home; that gave the Padres the 2-1 lead. How about back to back home runs? Infielder Yangervis Solarte sent a two run homer which was immediately followed by a solo shot courtesy of Ryan Schimpf, his seventh of the year. By the end of the inning the Padres had a healthy 5-1 lead.

Cory Spangenberg brought in another run with an RBI single to left field in the seventh. The Rockies tacked on a run in the eighth inning but would come up short. The Padres now lead the series 1-0. The next game against the Rockies is Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. at Petco Park.

Two Chicago police officers were shot Tuesday night on the city’s South Side, officials confirmed, and three persons of interest were being questioned while an "extensive manhunt" for suspects continued through the night.

The shootings occurred shortly after 9 p.m. in the 4300 block of South Ashland Avenue in the city's Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Two plain-clothes officers were conducting a follow-up investigation to a "previous incident," Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a press conference Tuesday night. One to two vehicles pulled up next to the officers and "started firing indiscriminately" at them, Johnson said.

In a tweet early Wednesday, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said that officials believe the officers were shot with high-powered weapons.

The officers were able to return fire, Johnson said. He would not elaborate on what the follow-up investigation was in relation to. 

"We will get them," Johnson said, vowing to bring the shooters to justice.

The wounded officers were taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition where their conditions later stabilized, Guglielmi said. One officer was shot in the hip and arm, the other was shot in the back.

"They are doing quite well, thank God," Johnson said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a tweet called the shootings a "frightening reminder of the dangers our dedicated officers face."

Emanuel was at Stroger and spoke with the officers and their families, Johnson said.

A police helicopter was circling the area of the shootings about 9:44 p.m. and a police K-9 unit was brought in to search a car with a bullet hole in it. Two weapons have been recovered from the scene, police said.

Aldermen Patrick Thompson and Ray Lopez, of the 11th and 15th wards respectively, also spoke during the press conference and echoed a familiar rallying cry demanding tougher gun laws at the state and federal level.

“This act of senseless violence again shows that we need to do something,” Thompson said. “In Springfield, we need to pass sensible gun legislation to stop this insanity.”

Thompson said acts of violence like Tuesday night’s shooting of the two 9th District tactical officers happen “way too often.”

“I’m asking that we do something now in Springfield to curb this gun violence to help the police officers, to help them do their jobs,” he said.

Lopez, who is no stranger to the carnage left at the scene of a shooting, called the violence "unacceptable."

“The continuation of the gang and gun violence that we’ve seen is now hitting home in ways that is impacting all of us that it shouldn’t be,” Lopez said. “We’ve seen it impact our families, we’ve seen it impact our children, and now it’s impacting our police department.”

“How much more is required?” he asked. “When will we as a city, as a society and a nation stand up and say ‘enough.’”

As Lopez spoke, in the distance, a siren's scream grew louder and then faded into the night.

Fraternal Order of Police president, Kevin Graham, briefly addressed reporters saying he had spoken with the officers and their families.

“We will be keeping our prayers with them as we go through this ordeal,” he said.

Police continued to investigate Tuesday night.

A woman who has known the suspect arrested in a homicide investigation involving social media app Snapchat, told NBC 7, about a month ago, he had sent a snap saying God told him to create a list of people to kill. 

Salvador Alejandro Sanchez, 19, is accused of allegedly killing a friend and dumping his body in Valley Center.

According to Escondido police, on Thursday, Sanchez got into a fight with the victim while drinking which resulted in the friend's death.

One person, who did want to be identified but described himself as almost like a second cousin, told NBC 7 that Sanchez was bullied when he was younger because of his weight.

"But as he grew up, he lost a lot of weight and he was really into church," said the individual. "That’s why we’re really shocked he would do that.”

Sanchez was arrested during a traffic stop at Ash Street and Grand Avenue in Escondido on Sunday, three days after the crime.

Police said clues to the killing were uncovered on Sanchez's Snapchat account in the form of text messages--not video or pictures.

The victim's body was dumped in Valley Center, nearly 20-miles away from where the alleged killing took place.

Video posted by Escondido High School showed Sanchez walking across stage during the 2016 graduation. He was on the wrestling team and played football.

According to his teammates and friends, what they remember most about Sanchez is how religious he was. They told NBC 7, Sanchez would say "God bless you" to everyone instead of goodbye and often times, posted religious scriptures on social media accounts.

An SUV flew over the U.S.-Mexico border Tuesday morning, flipping on its side and damaging part of the border fence.

The crash happened near Monument Road by the San Ysidro Water Treatment Plant in San Ysidro, a border area that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents say, despite its appearance, very secure.

The driver was driving in Tijuana along Highway 1 which runs parallel to the fence line along the southern border. In some areas the highway in Mexico is elevated compared to the surface on the U.S. side of the fence, so a car could easily land in San Diego if it were to crash

That area is “basically hills,” Diego Palomera, a man familiar with the area, said. “[The border area] separates Imperial Beach Estuary and Tijuana.”

According to Border Patrol Agent Jose Hernandez, back in the early 90s and late 80s people would routinely drive right across the border in the same area the crash happened. Hernandez says that over the last 20 or so years, security has been improved significantly.

In addition to two fences, one 8 to 10-foot fence followed by an additional 15-foot fence topped with barbed wire, the area is routinely patrolled.

“We have stadium lighting, and remote video surveillance,” Agent Hernandez said. “It’s a very secure area.”

The driver of the SUV jumped the fence back into Mexico where he was treated for minor injuries. His car was towed back to Mexico.