As part of the preparation for what’s expected to be a busy fire season, firefighters set several acres of grass on fire in Chula Vista Thursday.

The scheduled burn was part of the final day of training involving the Chula Vista Fire Department and other crews from various agencies.

Crews set fire to the grass on Federal Aviation land at the end of La Media Road beginning at 9 a.m.

Several engines along with fire helicopters will be used throughout the day to fight the fires.

If you spot smoke in the area southeast of Chula Vista, firefighters wanted residents to know that it is part of this training exercise.
 

A suspect fled from a San Diego Sheriff's Department court services task force deputy this morning, according to officials.

The incident happened around 9 a.m. at the intersection of C Street and Date Street in Chula Vista.

The suspect, who has warrants for domestic violence and burglary, is still at large. It is unknown how he escaped from the deputy.

Chula Vista Police and deputies are still looking for the man.

San Diego police have identified the man they believe was driving a getaway car in an attempted bank robbery Tuesday.

Robert Hodge, aka Bobby Volk, is wanted in connection with the robbery at Wells Fargo on Genesee Avenue in University City around 5 p.m.

A man and a woman in a blonde wig demanded cash and used a stun gun in the attempt officials said.

Officials identified the two suspects as Laura Elshire, 41 and Casey Wilson, 27.

Wilson allegedly activated the stun gun while demanding cash from the teller officials said.

A security guard heard the stun gun, fired two shots at Wilson hitting him in the cheek. The guard also struck Elshire in the head and took her into custody.

Hodge was seen wearing black clothing and a skull cap behind the wheel of the car parked at the La Jolla Nobel apartments across the street from the bank according to police.

They believe Hodge dropped Wilson at Sharp Memorial Hospital before driving away.

Hodge was seen driving a teal 1999 Honda Civic 4-Door with the California license plate 7AIV590.

Wilson has been hospitalized for two gunshot wounds and will be arraigned Friday. Elshire has been booked at Las Colinas.

Anyone with information can call San Diego police at (619) 531-2000 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

I is for Incarceration.

The producers of “Sesame Street” have come up with new tools on their website to help children and caregivers cope when parents land in prison.

The program “Little Children, Big Challenges: Incarceration” includes a toolkit complete with printable guidebooks, storybooks, activity books, videos and tips for caregivers to help children manage their anxiety while their parent is in prison. There is even an iPhone and Android app.

It's a topic that caregivers have trouble addressing, but Justice Department data shows that more than 2.7 million children in the U.S. have a parent behind bars, according to psychologist Julie Poehlmann.

“Half of families say nothing,” said Poehlmann, who helped the creators of "Sesame Street" develop the learning materials. “Another third say the parent is in the hospital or something like that. They don’t know how to talk about it.”

More than 1.2 million of the 2.3 million people behind bars in the U.S. are parents to children under the age of 18, according to a 2010 study by the Pew Charitable Trust.

Research shows that kids with parents who are serving time tend to fare poorly in school. Twenty three percent of children with a father who has served time have been expelled or suspended, compared with only four percent of children whose fathers have not been in jail, the Pew report says.

To help children maintain stability, the website dispenses tips for adults like "Build Security: In the morning, let your child know some of the things that will happen throughout the day. For example, 'Grandma will pick you up from school. Then you'll go to the park, and later we'll all have dinner together.'"

One of the activity books prompt children to draw pictures that reflect how they’re feeling -- angry, upset or sad. The reading material includes a book that tells the story of Rosita, who finds herself feeling sad when her school’s Family Fun Night reminds her that her father is unable to join because he is in prison.

Rosita's story concludes with her uncle reminding her that in her father's absense, he will love and care for her.

“We need to help kids realize it’s not their fault,” Poehlmann says.

Police arrested a woman Wednesday morning who allegedly carjacked and robbed a 92-year-old man in San Diego’s Golden Hill neighborhood.

According to police, the elderly victim was stopped at an intersection in the 4700 block of Imperial Avenue at around 6 a.m. in his tan 2006 Cadillac.

Investigators say suspect Meshee Nickerson, 49, opened the passenger door and got into the man's vehicle. She then allegedly told the man to get out while holding an unidentified object in her hand.

The victim got out of the car and Nickerson allegedly robbed him of his wallet, police said. She then drove away in his Cadillac without permission.

The victim walked to a local business near the 2400 block of F Street and police were called to the scene.

A short time later, a California Highway Patrol officer located the stolen car and the carjacking suspect near Oceanside.

Nickerson was arrested for carjacking. Police say the 92-year-old victim was not injured in the incident. His name was not released.
 

San Diego firefighters were called to Bell Middle School for the disposal of an item described as a sealed mercury container.

Firefighters said an employee removed the container from a shelf and thought it had leaked.

Officials said there was no contamination.

No one was injured.

A woman who delivered her baby along a highway in El Cajon didn’t consider her contractions the real thing according to her father-in-law.

The baby, Rex, and his mother, Adrelly, were doing well Wednesday when Bill Pruitt spoke with NBC 7 San Diego.

Adrelly was on her way to the hospital at 4 a.m. when Rex was born on Interstate 8 near Dunbar Lane in El Cajon.

“The baby came so quick she was asking her mom to pull over and the next thing she knows, it’s there,” Pruitt said.

The baby’s proud grandfather said his daughter-in-law thought she was having Braxton Hicks contractions. Her doctor told her to head to the hospital to get checked out but Rex just couldn't wait that long.

Even though the baby was expected this week, Pruitt said he was surprised to learn Rex arrived this way.

“I said ‘But I thought you were going to call and tell us when you went to the hospital,’” Pruitt recalled. “And she said ‘Well gee Dad, I'm on my way right now.’”

The ride to the hospital was just 20 minutes and by the time paramedics got to the car Rex was already here.

"Just healthy as he can be, there is not a thing wrong with him,” Pruitt said laughing.

Pruitt said one nice advantage of such an unusual birth is that he and his wife can see the outcome from Spokane, Washington. 

They weren't able to make it to San Diego because his wife is undergoing chemotherapy. Thankfully cameras were rolling.

"It was so neat seeing the videos and in a way almost being there,” he said. 

Mother and son were resting at Grossmont Hospital after his delivery. The child’s father just joined the military and was away for training.

A San Diego teacher pleads guilty to bringing a loaded gun to the classroom but says it was to protect himself and his students.

Ned Walker faces five years in prison on a felony charge of possession of a firearm in a school zone.

San Diego Unified School District police arrested Walker in February after finding a semi-automatic handgun and knife in his car at Farb Middle School in Tierrasanta.

Prosecutors dismissed the charge of possessing a knife on school grounds, under a plea deal.

Walker is free on bail and on leave from his job.

Under proper circumstances teachers are allowed to carry weapons in California.

Recent changes in the California Penal code permit educators to carry guns on campus with the proper training and administrative approval.

In fact, according to one conceal carry instructor, dozens of teachers are doing it in San Diego County.

In the Zarkoski family reading is fundamental, arming the teachers and school administrators are not.

“Just temperaments of people and not knowing I just think the less the better,” parent Shawn Zarkoski said.

“More harm than good comes from arming people,” Kim Zarkoski said.

American Shooting Center owner and conceal-carry instructor Marc Halcon said educators' interest in arming themselves is growing.

“I have people take our class even if they aren't going to apply for a CCW,” Halcon said.

Halcon won't name names but estimates dozens of school employees are carrying concealed weapons on San Diego County Campuses legally.

“We have criminals out there that will kill clerks and teachers just to do it,” Halcon said.

It's not easy getting Conceal Carry Weapon (CCW) certification. Applications must complete eight hours of classwork along with written and shooting exams.

A person must also show just cause and get permission from the school district.

“In Northern California it's very predominant that permits are issued,” firearms Instructor Bill Desy said.

Properly trained, armed school employees makes sense, Desy said.

“If the police are six to ten minutes away it's much less likely they are going to get there to stop the person,” Desy said.

Armed or not a teacher's desire to protect the students doesn't change with the threat of a gun.

Just ask Mrs Zarkoski. She's also a first grade teacher.

“I would do what I had to do,” Zarkoski said .

Firearms trainers say getting a conceal-carry permit for personal protection in San Diego County is rare.

A gun owner has to prove a definite threat. As of right now, school teacher is not considered one of those occupations requiring the permit.

Most of those permits are issued to business owners transporting high value merchandise or cash.

A number of people stopped and tried to save the life of a man pinned in a pickup truck crash in Poway Wednesday.

The crash happened around 11 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Espola Road near Trailwind Road.

A witness told San Diego County sheriff's deputies the Ford F150 veered into the center median and then back into the traffic lanes several times before the truck traveled off the road into the brush.

The truck slammed into a tree and then flipped on its passenger side.

When Deputy Landon Kuhn arrived, he said the occupant’s body was pinned. He was breathing but non-responsive Kuhn said.

Several cars were stopped and Kuhn said he and another passerby climbed up on to the truck to see what they could do for the man trapped inside.

“They were trying to help the occupant of the vehicle he was pinned in there pretty good,” Kuhn said

Firefighters arrived soon after and began to perform life-saving efforts.

The man, described by officials as a 43-year-old Lakeside resident, was pronounced dead at the scene according to the county medical examiner’s office.

Deputies are still investigating the accident but say the driver may have not been wearing a seatbelt.

"It’s a big machine and unfortunately when it’s involved with trees and things like that bad nasty things can happen," Kuhn said about the truck.

Officials have not released the man’s name until next of kin can be notified.
 

If you are a Honda or an Acura driver you might want to check to see if your vehicle is affected by the recent recall of over 18,000 cars.

The American division of Honda announced Wednesday that they were voluntarily recalling 13,113 2006 Acura model RSX vehicles along with 5,239 Honda S2000 model vehicles from the 2006-2007 years of production.

The recall is specifically to check and (if needed) replace the “brake booster” in these vehicles. It is suspected that an error in the production procedure for this brake component allowed the brake booster to be constructed to specifications which increase the risk of crash over time as break assistance effectiveness decreases.

An independent warranty claim analysis has reported that no crashes or injuries have been linked to this defect.

However, Honda still encourages all owners of affected models to take their vehicles to the nearest authorized dealer for inspection.

The company said it will mail notifications to all customers regarding the recall by mid-July.

To determine if your vehicle requires repair you can visit Honda's website and Acura's website or you can call (800) 999-1009 if you own a Honda and (800) 382-2238 if you own an Acura; recall information can be accessed by selecting option number four.

A man recovered from a drainage channel may have gotten stuck in the mud and fell victim to the rising tide officials said.

Lifeguards and police recovered the body of an unidentified man near Ocean Beach Thursday.

The man, dressed in camouflage pants, was spotted in the drainage channel south of Sunset Cliffs Bridge and north of the Ocean Beach bike path.

Authorities used a yellow raft to reach the body and pulled the person to shore around 9:45 a.m.

Lifeguards say they believe the man may have wandered down into the flood control channel and may have gotten stuck in extremely thick mud.

“The muck that’s there is very hard to walk through,” said SDPD Lt. Natalie Stone. “It almost becomes like a quick sand.”

There were no obvious signs of trauma officials said.

No one fitting the man's description has been reported missing police said.

What authorities do know is it doesn't appear the man's body had been out here very long and that, likely, he lost his life during the most recent high tide.
 

Lifeguards helped a person stranded on the cliffs of Black's Beach Thursday afternoon.

The incident happened around 2 p.m. above the Torrey Pines Golf Course.

San Diego Fire-Rescue also responded to the scene.

Lifeguards helped the person up the cliff shortly after 3:30 p.m. Aerial views showed the person did not appear to have serious injuries.

A new policy announced by the NFL today limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the stadium.

The NFL Committee on Stadium Security has implemented a security measure that restricts the size of bags, packages and containers.

The following items may not be brought into any NFL stadium:

• purses larger than a clutch bag
• coolers
• briefcases
• backpacks
• fanny packs
• cinch bags
• luggage of any kind
• seat cushions
• computer bags
• camera bags
• any bag larger than the permissible size.

Items that are allowed include the following:

• Clear plastic bags cannot exceed 12 inches long by 6 inches wide and 12 inches deep.
• Clear plastic freezer bags cannot be larger than one gallon.
• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap, may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options.

The NFL said exceptions will be made for the medically-necessary items.

Officials said they hope this new process will make stadium entrance smoother and faster.

Charges were filed Thursday against an alleged online predator accused of luring a local boy to Florida, the Escondido Police Department confirmed.

Officials say 36-year-old Tony McLeod of Tampa, Fla., has been charged with child abduction, meeting with a minor to commit a sex offense, online enticement of a minor, contact with a minor to commit a felony and enticing a minor to produce child pornography.

On Tuesday afternoon, a 14-year-old boy was reported missing from Escondido when he didn’t come home from school.

Investigators say McLeod had traveled from Tampa to San Diego to meet the teenage boy. The pair had been talking online and McLeod had convinced the teen to leave Escondido and travel back to Florida with him.

Officials say Escondido police Det. Damian Jackson became aware of the missing boy and recognized his name as the same victim in a case he had been investigating that same day.

That case involved the minor receiving sexually explicit photographs over his cell phone.

Det. Jackson then called Det. Jeff Udvarhelyi, the detective working the missing boy case, and they were able to connect the two cases.

Working together, the Escondido police detectives were able to determine that the teen had been abducted by McLeod, an alleged internet predator who met the boy last month through an online PlayStation video game and then began contacting the boy via cell phone.

Detectives tracked down McLeod’s cell phone number and traced his phone’s location. They established that McLeod was moving north, towards Los Angeles International Airport.

Det. Jackson knew McLeod was from Tampa, and officials say he had a hunch that the suspect was trying to return to Florida.

Officials say McLeod had boarded a non-stop flight to Tampa at LAX with the teenager. He had booked the teen's boarding pass under the fake name, “Justin McLeod."

Detectives worked with airlines, the Los Angeles Airport Police and the Tampa Police Department to track down the pair.

When McLeod and the boy arrived in Florida, Tampa police officers met the airplane on the runway and arrested McLeod.

The teen was rescued by police and questioned. He has since returned home to his parents in Escondido, police said.

On Thursday, the Escondido Police Department said this case should serve as a warning to parents to closely monitor their children’s online activity and report anything suspicious to authorities.

Police say that in this case, the teenager’s parents did everything right and kept track of both his online and cell phone activity.

Last month, when the boy’s mother realized her son had been contacted by McLeod, she took the teen's phone away and shut down the internet connection at home, police said. She then notified police, which is why Det. Jackson had this case on his radar to begin with.

“This case stands as evidence parents cannot monitor the internet activity of the children too closely. When a child plays an online game [it] almost always will include chat room activity. Child predators troll these sites looking for kids to entice and manipulate. It is a sad reality in today’s cyber world but the predators go where the kids are,” the Escondido Police Department said in a statement Thursday.

McLeod’s bail has been set at $1 million. If convicted, the San Diego County District Attorney's office says McLeod could face up to six years and eight months in prison.

The investigation into the case by both authorities in Tampa and Escondido is ongoing.

At what point could the political brinksmanship between Mayor Bob Filner and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith become more than just a noteworthy distraction?

Recent developments at City Hall are raising concerns about the potential for long-term economic fallout.

The disconnect between San Diego's only municipal officers elected citywide is such that it's now being noticed on Wall Street, via coverage from national online media outlets.

The city attorney has written a cautionary notes about a major infrastructure bond offering – a move the mayor claims is "destructive" to the city’s borrowing prospects.

Conventional wisdom suggests that sound legal advice is essential to running the municipal government of the nation's eighth largest city.

But this mayor, by most accounts, isn't looking for that from Goldsmith -- whose budget he may succeed in cutting by half a million dollars.

"Now I’m not going to whine about cuts,” Goldsmith told a June 7th luncheon gathering of the Catfish Club. “But I will recognize what this is -- this is a mayor who doesn't like to be told 'no', doesn't recognize the role of the city attorney ..."

In the case of a $35 million bond issue to upgrade San Diego’s crumbling infrastructure and public facilities, the city attorney saw his role as alerting Wall Street investors that he wasn't in the mayor’s loop, and this is unable to verify the offering’s legality.

Goldsmith also told his Catfish Club audience that his office recently settled a lawsuit filed by a developer whose permits for a big apartment complex near San Diego State were set aside by the mayor.

Filner’s critics say the mayor’s meddling along those lines is cause for alarm.

“One of the biggest things that the business community looks for is consistency and process, predictability -- and with Mayor Filner in place, you don't have that,” says T.J. Zane, president of the Lincoln Club of San Diego County. “And if you understand that the mayor is not seeking the advice of the city attorney’s office, that’s probably not a city in which you’re going to want to invest your dollars and do business.”

Even Filner’s defenders are put off by the melodrama surrounding the mayor and city attorney.

"I'm getting very tired of this catfight that seems to be going on,” says political strategist Jon Elliott. “This is when the egos seem to be driving the agenda."

Asked whether peace talks in the framework of an Obama-like “beer summit" might be possible, Elliott replied, bemused: "A beer summit? Well, wouldn't that be interesting! The nice thing about a beer summit is, it happens to be in a city that is the signature, worldwide, for craft beers. So there'll probably be a debate about whether they'll go to Ballast Point or Karl Strauss -- and that would probably start a problem all over again."

Zane had this take: "What's my level of optimism that the mayor will turn around and do things differently? I have zero optimism. I this that it's at his core, it's in his DNA, it's how he is. It's arbitrary -- he's capricious. And if you're on his team, that's great. But if you're not, expect to get jammed up."

Media handlers for the mayor and city attorney did not respond to requests for comment on all this.

So the concerns linger.

Is their fractious relationship a mere political sideshow?

Or a downside risk in the marketplace?
 

Authorities early Thursday morning rounded up more than 40 leaders and senior members of Chicago's "Black Souls" street gang in a first-of-its-kind sweep conducted under Illinois' new RICO statute.

The takedown targeted open-air drug markets around the intersection of West Madison Avenue and South Pulaski Road, in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood. Authorities said the operation may have netted as much as $11 million a year.

Of the 41 arrested so far, 23 will be charged under the Street Gang Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations — also known as RICO — statute.

"This new tool allows us to, instead of just charging the individual with maybe one shooting, we're able to target these gang leaders and the entire gang itself," said Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.

Among those arrested were the gang's top leader, Cornel Dawson, and other top tier members, including second-in-command Teron Odum, of what authorities are calling a "notoriously violent" group.

• June 2012: Gang Law Could Reduce Chicago Murder Rate, Says Alvarez

"First of all, it's not OK to sell narcotics," said Chicago police Supt. Garry McCarthy. "But if there's violence involved, we're going to come down on your organization quicker. We're going to knock out your organization and take money out of your pocket."

Illinois' RICO statute was signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn a year ago. It allows top gang members to be charged with being part of a conspiracy, much as the federal government has done to crack down on organized crime.

"The FBI was very excited to be a part of this milestone case because we believe that RICO, whether it be state or federal, is one of the most powerful tools that can be used against violent criminal enterprises," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Corey Nelson.

Police are looking for a suspect believed to be in his 30s who threw a 92-year-old man to the ground and stole his Bible and glasses in New York City earlier this week.

Authorities say the suspect followed the victim, Ricardo Velez, to his home near 18th Street in Chelsea at about 11:30 p.m. Monday, pushed him down and ran off with the items. 

Velez hurt his hip in the fracas but is otherwise expected to be OK. From his hospital bed, Velez told NBC 4 New York that he has lived on the same block for 50 years.

He said he was folding up his umbrella after coming through one door of his building late Monday night, when the suspect came from behind and struck him with a blow strong enough to knock him down. 

Raeemas Hernandez called 911 immediately after spotting his elderly neighbor struggling to stand up. 

"I heard him screaming," Hernandez said. "He was down on the floor, and I picked him up."

Police released surveillance video of the suspect. A $12,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS.

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The gunman in a fatal shooting spree in Santa Monica tried to legally buy a firearm in 2011 but was denied by the Justice Department, the city’s police chief announced Thursday evening at a news conference that revealed more details about the events that led up to the deadly rampage.

Investigators believe John Zawahri, who suffered from mental illness, built an assault rifle capable of firing .223-caliber ammunition using parts he bought from various sources around the country, Santa Monica Police Sgt. Richard Lewis said.

Officials would not say why Zawahri's quest to obtain a firearm two years ago was halted. Despite the rejection, Zawahri was able to obtain "an array" of high-capacity magazines that he used in a homemade weapon.

His June 7 shooting spree lasted 13 minutes and left five victims and the 23-year-old gunman dead. It ended at Santa Monica College.

Santa Monica Shootings: Timeline | Map | Full Coverage

Zawahri left a “goodbye note” expressing regret for killing his father and brother, and hope that his mother would be financially cared for, Santa Monice Police Sgt. Jaqueline Seabrooks said. The note was found on his body.

In the message, the shooter bid farewell to several friends. Police said the tone of the note was conversational and not hateful. It did not include a reason for the rampage.

“We know that his was a troubled life and that he experienced mental health challenges,” Seabrooks said at a 7 p.m. news conference.

“We believe that his mental health challenges likely played a role in his decisions to shoot and kill both his father and his brother, to set fire to the family home and to go on a 13-minute shooting spree spanning roughly 1 ½ miles and which left five innocent people dead and three people injured.”

Investigators say that on June 7, Zawahri shot and killed his father and brother at their Santa Monica home and set fire to the house.

Clad in all black, Zawahri then carjacked a woman outside the home and forced her at gunpoint to drive away. Zawahri shot randomly out the passenger window as the pair moved down Pico Boulevard toward Santa Monica College.

The 23-year-old opened fire on a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, injuring passengers.

Zawahri shot and killed a father and daughter driving near a Santa Monica College parking lot, then scrambled onto campus, dropping a duffle bag of ammunition along the way.

He fatally shot a woman, known to collect recyclables, in front of the school library, then entered the library, firing some 70 rounds before he was killed in a gunfight with three police officers.

Police on Thursday painted a picture of a young man intrigued by firearms.

The Santa Monica police chief said components of the shooter’s rifle were legal to own, but the weapon he created was not.

The modifications Zawahri made to a lower receiver, which does not have a serial number, created an illegal AR-15-type rifle, Seabrooks said.

Unemployed and out of school at the time of the rampage, Zawahri constructed the weapon and obtained “an array” of magazines capable of carrying 30 rounds each, Seabrooks said.

Investigators found a cache of replica guns and illegal zip guns capable of firing ammunition at the shooter’s charred home near Yorkshire and Kansas avenues, Seabrooks said.

A search of Zawahri’s bedroom turned up several knives, handguns and “papers, magazines, brochures” dealing with guns, Lewis said.

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San Diego Fire-Rescue officials headed to Mira Mesa Thursday evening to investigate reports of a suspicious device found at a home.

Metro Arson Strike Team (MAST) officials handled the investigation into device discovered at a residence in the 8800 block of Capricorn Way.

Officials say no injuries were reported.

By 8:30 p.m., MAST had determined that the device posed no danger. Further details about the device were not immediately released.
 

Twenty-four people were hurt, two of them seriously, after the deck of a popular waterfront restaurant overlooking Biscayne Bay collapsed in North Bay Village Thursday night, authorities said.

About 100 people were on the deck at Shuckers Bar & Grill at at the time, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Dave Downey said. Many of them were watching the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Restaurant patrons were sent tumbling into shallow water in Biscayne Bay. One man said the water covered his head. He said his first instinct was to save himself and then others.

Authorities received a 911 call at about 9:45 p.m. about the collapse at Shuckers, a popular local hangout at 1819 79th St. Causeway. Part of the establishment is on land.

2 Dead, 1 Critical in Platform Collapse at Port Everglades

Anthony Herrera said he and his mother walked into Shuckers just beforehand.

“We walk in, we take a few steps in, my mom’s looking around for a hostess, and you just hear crunch, crunch – curiosity – and then bam, pillar coming down, pillar pillar, and people screaming, people yelling, pieces of wood hitting the water," Herrera recounted. "Before I could really see anything, like I said, my mom grabbed me, and we ran back home, because we live right there down the street.”

Downey said 24 victims were transported from the scene, with two of them seriously injured. About 50 units from various agencies were tending to the victims, he said.

Pinecrest Names Street After Miami Heat

Witnesses and hotel guests said it became a chaotic scene after the deck came crashing down.

"We heard a loud boom, a loud noise, we didn't know what it was and when we turned around, we were probably about 10 feet from it and when we looked it was part of the deck just caved in," Marie Torres said. "There was a huge splash, there was people in the water, everything, tables, planters from the plants were in the water."

"We were up on the fifth floor and just heard a crash, like something collided or like a thunderstorm, and we're like, so I grabbed my kid, he's 18, I'm like 'hey, put your shoes on, let's go,'" witness Eric Williams said. "They were injured, there were leg injuries there were body injuries people just shocked and awed, a lot of young people were just like hey, they were there for the Heat game, I'm sure everyone's kind of looking around, we were on our way down to dinner, and we just held up for a minute. They were ok but they were very visibly shaken."

Florida Man Involved in Crash Punches Firefighter

Williams said he jumped in to help get people out of the debris.

"We just saw a deck collapse, we didn't know how deep it was or what-have-you, but it was pretty amazing once you saw other people in the water," Williams said. "We just started throwing chairs and stuff, because we figured if someone was sitting it could have slid because the deck fell into the hotel."

Early Friday, officials said they believed everyone had been accounted for.

“It’s very unfortunate what has happened," North Bay Village Mayor Connie Leon-Kreps said of the collapse.

NBC 6 South Florida Videos

Divers from several agencies, including Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and Miami-Dade Police, responded to the scene. Two rescue crews from Coast Guard Station Miami also responded to assist fire rescue and police crews.

Witnesses said many people were watching the Miami Heat game at the popular bar.

Before Heat star Dwyane Wade answered his first question at a postgame news conference in San Antonio, he spoke about what had happened back home.

“I want to share our concerns as an organization and our gratitude to our fans back in Miami for their support,” he said, expressing concern for everybody that was injured at Shuckers.

Heat owner Mickey Arison also expressed concern over Twitter.

"Awful news about deck collapse @ Shuckers. Wishing anyone injured a speedy recovery," he tweeted.

Officials said they'll investigate what caused the deck to collapse.

"It's unknown what failed that led to the collapse but obviously something structurally gave out," Miami-Dade Battalion chief Jose Herrera said. "The reason for that is what the investigation is all about, to find the root cause of why the collapse actually happened."

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