A video captured of a geyser in the Kearny Mesa neighborhood of San Diego Thursday showed water shooting high into the air from a broken fire hydrant.
The incident occurred at 12:14 p.m. on Balboa Avenue and Ruffner Street, near Convoy Street.
According to San Diego police, this was not being investigated as a hit-and-run.
It is unknown what caused the geyser.
The water has since been shut off.
There was no other information available.
A 20-year-old woman killed when she veered off a busy road, crashing into a broken down Sparkletts truck, has been identified.
Samantha Nicole Bennett, 20, was behind the wheel a 2010 Ford Focus with her 19-year-old friend at approximately 8:15 a.m. Tuesday on westbound Scripps Poway Parkway near State Route 67, Poway fire officials said.
For an unknown reason, Bennett veered off the road and rear-ended a broken down Sparkletts truck, Sgt. David Cheever said. The truck had pulled over on the shoulder near Sycamore Canyon Road.
The preliminary investigation revealed Bennett may have fallen asleep at the wheel, Cheever said. There was no indication she tried to brake prior to the crash, Cheever said.
The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
At the time of the crash, the passenger was asleep. The passenger, partially crushed by the front end of the car, was taken in an air ambulance to Palomar Medical Center, Cheever said. She suffered a serious leg injury, injuries to her pelvis, chest contusions and other injuries. She is in critical condition.
The driver of the Sparkletts truck was injured in the crash and taken to a local hospital. At the time of the crash, he was sitting inside his truck, waiting for a tow truck to arrive.
Anyone with information about this collision is asked to contact Deputy Garrett Spencer at (858) 513-2842, or call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477 with information and you will remain anonymous. You may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward for information leading to a felony arrest.
No further information is available.
At least one person was injured in a crash involving multiple vehicles in Sorrento Valley Thursday evening, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed.
The crash occurred at 5:07 p.m. on southbound Interstate 805 just north of Mira Mesa Boulevard.
A Sig Alert was issued for the second, third and fourth lanes on the freeway, CHP officials said.
No other information was available.
Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.
A judge set bail at $3 million for a San Diego man accused of randomly shooting and killing a U.S. Navy pilot outside a popular comedy club last weekend.
Arrow Morris, 39, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of 43-year-old James Celani at San Diego's Horton Plaza mall over the weekend. Morris was also charged with one count of attempted murder, robbery, dissuading a witness and violation of parole and pleaded not guilty.
At his arraignment, a judge ordered the press to cover Morris' face.
"Unprovoked, the defendant shot him three times," said San Diego Deputy District Attorney Amy Maund. "Two times in the head and one time in the chest. His friend was also there and the bullet grazed his leg."
SDPD Homicide Investigators say Morris was outside the Mad House Comedy Club on Saturday evening just before midnight.
Morris was arguing with a woman outside the club before the shooting took place.
During that argument, police said, he took her purse and walked away from the club.
As he walked away from the club, he bumped into the victims: Celani and his cousin.
Without provocation, he shot both victims, police said.
Celani was shot in his chest and taken to UC San Diego Medical Center. Despite life-saving measures, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Celani was Navy pilot who later worked with drone technology. As part of Naval Special Warfare, Celani supported Navy SEAL teams working tactical operations.
Vivian Corr, Celani's family friend, said she hopes Celani is in a better place with his mom, who died from cancer.
"She's cradling him up there and saying, it's okay," Corr said. "We're together and there are no bad feelings up there, everything is about forgiveness, so, I like to dwell on that."
The second victim, a 29-year-old Riverside resident, was shot in the leg. He is expected to survive.
Homicide detectives found Morris in Serra Mesa at approximately 6 p.m. on Monday, police said. He was arrested in public.
Morris has a lengthy criminal history. He has been in and out of jail four times in the past 20 years.
If convicted, he faces life in prison.
A second suspect remains on the loose. Police have identified the man, but detectives are working to determine how, exactly, he was involved in the shooting.
He has not been arrested, and police will not release his identity.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
As San Diegans brace for an early heat wave, the region is preparing for possible safety hazards and heat-related concerns.
“There are many things residents can do to prepare in advance for what we believe will be a very busy summer of fires," said Fire Chief Brian Fennessy, in a statement.
Fire crews are increasing the number of staff available in the City of San Diego because of the heat advisory, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD).
Around 3 p.m. Thursday, the heat peaked at 91 degrees in El Cajon. In the days ahead, that number is expected to go up. Meanwhile, the once green hillsides in San Diego are beginning to turn brown and dry.
The slightest spark could cause trouble, like the fire that broke out last week near Interstate 8 in El Cajon.
On Monday, the city held heat training and awareness courses that focus on how to avoid heat illness, heat stroke and exhaustion. Workers were asked to drink a lot of water and take frequent breaks in the shade as the blistering heat approaches.
Joe Yeaky, who works outside cutting grass for the City of El Cajon, told NBC 7 about how he's preparing for the heat.
"We're supposed to drink eight-ounces of water every 15 minutes, when it's over a certain temperature, and they encourage us to take frequent water breaks and go sit in the shade," said Yeaky.
A long period of drought followed by a burst of record rain has created lots of underbrush and grass, said SDFD officials. That's created prime fuel that could easily ignite and spread fast-burning wildfires.
Cal Fire has reminded residents to keep defensible space around their homes from fire hazards and make sure any work to clear space around a structure is done in the morning under the coolest conditions to avoid sparking a fire.
"Really, the big thing with the heat and being fire safe is just be aware. Take care, take caution on what you're doing and think about it before you do it," said Jon Heggie, a captain with Cal Fire.
"If you're gonna be out doing activities, think about what the consequences are of say, dragging a chain behind when you're pulling your boat out to the lake or something," added Heggie.
SDFD officials say they will have five brush engines, each with a crew of four personnel and one water tender available throughout the weekend. The water tenders will carry 3000 gallons of water to supply engines in the case of any brush fires.
"Take certain precautions on these hot days so we don't find yourself in a situation where a fire starts," said Heggie.
A religious conference scheduled to be held in San Diego this weekend is causing controversy before it even starts.
Restored Hope Network's Hope 2017 convention sparked backlash in at least two parts of San Diego Thursday because of the group's belief in gay conversion therapy -- the belief that homosexuality can be "cured by God."
"It all came back. Like I can't believe this is still going on," said Metropolitan Community Church Rev. Dan Koeshall.
Koeshall said he has known he was gay for years.
"It was a pretty traumatic experience coming out," he told NBC 7. "There were tears. The first thing my mom asked, 'What did I do wrong?'"
Koeshall said his father was a preacher and his mother played the organ. He knew early on he wanted to join the ministry.
"We would talk about ways you could change and the power that God can give you to overcome homosexuality," Koeshall said, speaking of his family.
He said he signed up for a "pray the gay away" camp.
"Instead of taking it away, it taught me to stuff and submerge my feelings, which was very unhealthy," Koeshall said.
That's why he's speaking out now.
California outlawed conversion therapy, but the Restored Hope Network — a group based in Oregon — believes in it.
This weekend, the group is hosting a conference in San Diego — something that isn't sitting well with the local LGBT community.
In a statement provided to NBC 7, the group's executive director, Anne Paulk, said the conference "does not seek to break the law; nor do our members.”
The statement further read:
“We expect the respect and freedom to leave homosexuality as much as respecting their right to remain homosexual or transgender. Tolerance is truly a two-way street. Those who do not wish to leave homosexual relationships do not speak for those of us who do or have left homosexuality.”
A man was convicted of premeditated attempted murder, for repeatedly stabbing a county psychiatric nurse as she arrived at work, in court Thursday.
Greg Allen Taylor, 57, faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, plus four years, at his sentencing from Judge Robert F. O'Neil on July 14.
The victim, a 25-year county employee, was stabbed 11 times in the chest, neck and head. Cindy Doucette, 59, was getting out of her car to head to work. Right before the attack, Doucette said "hi" to Taylor.
That's when he started stabbing her multiple times near Morena Boulevard and Savannah Street in San Diego's Morena neighborhood, Deputy District Attorney Karra Reedy alleged in court. Taylor was arrested three blocks away.
The 25-year County of San Diego employee has since been released from the hospital.
He pleaded not guilty to a premeditated attempted murder charge. At Taylor's preliminary hearing, Superior Court Judge Frederic Link ruled that there was enough evidence to send Taylor to trial.
A suspect has prompted a police standoff at Montgomery Middle School Thursday evening, confirmed San Diego police.
SDPD officers responded to a call involving a man who may have a mental illness at around 7 p.m. Police said he is potentially armed.
The man is on the property of Montgomery Middle School, on Picador Boulevard and Pine Glen Way. He is not complying with officers, according to the SDPD.
No other information was immediately available.
Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.
Even without Phil Mickelson in the field on Thursday, the first round of the U.S. Open featured a number of golfers with San Diego ties that fared extremely well.
Former San Diego State golfer Xander Schauffele was the surprise of the day.
The 23-year-old turned pro in 2015 but looked as comfortable as a long-time PGA veteran on the Erin Hills course.
Schauffele became the first golfer in three decades to shoot a bogey-free 66 or better in his U.S. Open debut.
He ended the first round tied for second place with Paul Casey at (-6) and just one shot off the pace.
Schauffele had two chances to tie Murrieta’s Rickie Fowler atop the leaderboard during his last two holes, but settled for par on both occasions.
Meanwhile, Fowler turned in an impressive bogey-free round of 65.
He collected seven birdies and 11 pars as he positioned himself extremely well out the gate.
The 65 he carded is the lowest opening score for par in the first round of the tournament's history.
Fowler owns 4 PGA Tour wins but is still chasing his first major victory.
The Murrieta Valley high school graduate came very close in 2014 with a top five showing in all four major events that season.
Fowler settled for a second place finish at both the U.S. Open and British Open that year.
Poway’s Charley Hoffman started the first round strong. Hoffman birdied the second hole and finished Thursday with a 70 (-2).
Jamie Lovemark is three-under-par after one round while fellow Torrey Pines high school grad Pat Perez struggled all day and settled for plus-four.
Former SDSU Scott Piercy is in the middle of the pack and was even par.
Mickelson withdrew from the U.S. Open once he realized there was no way he could be two places at once.
Mickelson attended his daughter’s high school graduation Thursday in Carlsbad and would have needed approximately a four-hour weather delay in Wisconsin to quickly fly across the country to make his tee time.
Once Lefty realized that was impossible and officially notified officials of his decision, Roberto Diaz of Mexico took his place as the first alternate.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer welcomed the Dalai Lama to San Diego Thursday morning and will introduce him at the UC San Diego (UCSD) all-campus commencement on Friday.
Faulconer greeted the spiritual leader of Tibet's Buddhists as he arrived on the tarmac of Lindbergh Field. The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, will speak at a sold-out public graduation event at UCSD, for a lecture dubbed "Embracing the Beauty of Diversity in our World."
He is set to speak at UCSD at 10 a.m. Friday on RIMAC Field.
“As a City that celebrates its diversity, spirit of collaboration and environmental leadership, we are proud to welcome one of the world’s great champions for peace and understanding to San Diego,” Faulconer said, in a statement.
Gyatso was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation of Tibet and became the first Nobel laureate recognized for his concern for environmental problems, said city officials.
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an inspiration to people across the globe and we are honored to have him return to our city, added Faulconer.
The Dalai Lama has traveled to more than 62 countries spanning six continents and has received dozens of awards for his message of peace, nonviolence, interreligious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion, said city officials.
In 2012, Gyatso also visited San Diego to speak at events organized by UCSD, San Diego State University and the University of San Diego.
“We are honored to host His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama at UC San Diego and thankful that he will share messages of global compassion with our graduates and their families, as well as with a broad public audience,” said Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla, in a statement.
Last February, the Chinese Student and Scholar Association (CSSA) denounced the decision to have the Dalai Lama speak at the university's commencement ceremony.
"CSSA strongly objects to any behavior of spreading inflammatory, politically offense speech which slanders and belittles Chinese history, proceed to influence China's international image with unknown motivation," announced the group, in a statement posted by The Triton.
China and the Dalai Lama have a politically tense relationship, which is reflected in the response from UCSD's international student population.
In 2016, 46 percent of the undergraduate class identified with asian ethnicity, according to the university's data.
A bike ride that began April 17 in Blaine, Washington, ends this weekend in San Diego.
Sunday, Matt Meyer will reach his goal--the Mexican border--but that’s only his geographical goal.
His real goal is saving rhinos.
Meyer is cycling from the Canadian border to the Mexican border--the journey is expected to take 60 days and cover 2,000-miles.
While the trip itself is physically demanding and daunting, what makes it truly unique is that Meyer is pulling a rhino behind him. Not just any rhino, but a giant, life-sized replica rhino that weighs about 350 pounds.
The rhino is named Lunar and seeing Meyer pulling her down the road, well--she’s obviously an attention getter.
“So when you actually get the visual representation of the species we’re trying to save, it’s 'There it is!' It eliminates uncomfortable conversions with strangers. This is what we’re doing; we’re not doing anything else. We’re trying to save rhinos,” said Meyer.
The aim of the Long Ride to Free Them, or Rhino Ride 2017, is to raise funds and create global awareness for the current poaching crisis on rhinoceros in southern Africa. In doing so, to shed light on this urgent dilemma that involves rhinoceros and other keystone species worldwide.
For more information on how you can donate or help in the fight to save rhinos, click here.
Rhino Ride 2017 is sponsored by Piper and Health Travel, owned by San Diego-based African travel specialist, Chris Liebenberg and Wilderness Safaris/The Wilderness Wildlife Trust.
When Meyer finishes his ride, he’ll head back to South Africa where he works as a safari guide.
But don’t be surprised if you see Meyer and Lunar riding through San Diego in the future.
“The joy that these animals have given me in the wild, I mean I have to give something back and I couldn’t hand over the world to the next generation without rhinos. So if it means me doing it every year, yep I’ll do it," Meyer told NBC 7.
An illegal marijuana dispensary in Spring Valley was shut down Thursday morning after a search warrant was served, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) confirmed.
At 7:18 a.m., Sheriff's SWAT/Special Enforcement Detail (SED) and the Rancho San Diego Crime Suppression Team (CST) and Area Detectives served a search warrant at the Cookie Club Collective.
The dispensary is located in the 8700 block of Troy Street.
According to SDSO, the search warrant was served after complaints from many concerned citizens.
Deputies found large amounts of marijuana, edibles, a loaded semi-automatic pistol, a loaded semi-automatic rifle, and other marijuana paraphernalia. They also confiscated $6,600 in cash from the shop, SDSO officials said.
There were no arrests made.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477. A $1,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to an arrest.
A 26-year-old motorcyclist killed Monday evening in a solo crash in Mission Valley has been identified as an active-duty Marine, according to the Medical Examiner's office.
The crash happened at approximately 6:22 p.m. Monday when the motorcyclist was riding eastbound on the 8200 block of Friars Road.
Brandon Laughman, who served in the United States Marine Corps, lost control of his 2016 Kawasaki motorcycle and crashed.
Medics responded and took Laughman to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The crash is under investigation.
No other information was available.
On the fifth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program Thursday, the Trump administration formally revoked an Obama-era program intended to protect parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents who were in the country illegally.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly signed a memorandum rescinding the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).
NBC 7 spoke to a local immigration lawyer who said the decision to rescind DAPA will not impact Dreamers.
Monika Langarica, senior attorney at ABA Immigration Justice Project, works with undocumented families. She said Thursday's decision carried a muted impact because DAPA never went into effect in the first place.
"DACA still exists and DAPA hasn't existed for a long time now," Langarica said. "And what Kelly signed today doesn't affect either of those things."
DAPA, created under the administration of former President Barack Obama in 2014, was blocked by a federal judge in Texas after 26 states challenged the program’s policies.
The program would have tentatively affected about four million undocumented immigrants in the country if it had gone into effect.
According to the press release by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, DACA will remain in effect.
"It's still really important to note that DACA still exists right," Langarica said. "So folks need to renew their DACA. They should do that. If they think they're eligible they should consult with an attorney.”
A motorcyclist who died in a crash on Interstate 805 in Normal Heights was an active duty U.S. Navy service member, the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed Thursday.
Richard Williford, 42, died Monday night in a crash while driving northbound on Interstate 805 at Adams Avenue.
According to witnesses, Williford had been driving at a high rate of speed when he crashed his motorcycle into the read end of a vehicle, the ME said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after paramedics arrived.
There was no other information available.
The sister of a 20-year-old woman killed in a crash in Poway said her sister texted their mother 30 minutes before the crash, adding that when she first heard of the incident, she thought it was a hoax.
"It wasn't supposed to be her. It could have been anybody else but her. It wasn't real until today,” Samantha Bennett’s sister Alicia Farley said.
Bennett was behind the wheel a 2010 Ford Focus with her 19-year-old friend when, for some reason, she veered off the road and rear-ended a broken down Sparkletts truck.
The collision occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m. Tuesday on westbound Scripps Poway Parkway near State Route 67, Poway fire officials said.
Investigators said there was no sign of braking and theorize Bennett fell asleep at the wheel.
But Farley said Bennett texted her mom half an hour before the crash and did not mention anything about being tired.
Farley said her sister was one of the original members of the lacrosse team at Poway High School, from where she graduated in 2015.
"She was amazing, very amazing,” Farley told NBC 7.
She described Bennett as someone who loved her family and was devoted to Farley's young sons and her rescue pit bull.
"She wanted to be a nurse. She loved people, she loved hiking. Everything was about animals. Anything that could be a pet, she needed to have," she said.
Farley said Bennett and her 19-year-old friend, a passenger in the car, were on their way home from Barona Casino when the crash occurred.
The passenger suffered a serious leg injury, injuries to her pelvis, chest contusions and other injuries. She is in critical condition.
"She doesn't remember at all," Farley told NBC 7, speaking of Bennett's friend. "She remembers them being at the casino. She remembers them having breakfast. She doesn't remember anything else."
The family is keeping private funeral arrangements but are asking in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the San Diego County Humane Society.
"I want everybody to just be happy for her. She's gone but finally happy somewhere else,” Farley said.
A man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a knife near British Parliament Friday, London police said, after a large police response in the heart of the nation's capital.
The incident took place before noon, local time, a London Metropolitan Police representative told NBC News. No one was injured.
Other details weren't immediately available.
The arrest comes with the nation on alert after a series of deadly attacks. In March, a man drove into pedestrians on nearby Westminster Bridge and stormed a gate at Parliament before he was shot dead. Since then, a suicide bomber attacked a concert in Manchester and several attackers left people dead on and near London Bridge in a vehicle-and-knife rampage.
Cubans say that President Donald Trump's plans to roll back diplomatic and commercial ties could hurt the island nation's cybersecurity efforts and small businesses, NBC News reported.
Lt. Col Yohanka Rodriguez said that joint efforts between Cuban and U.S. authorities to fight drug trafficking and cybercrime will likely end, cutting short the successful sharing of intelligence that occurred under Obama-era policies.
"The progress that we've made could be set back," Rodriguez, who runs a Cuban cybersecurity command center, said of the announcement expected Friday.
According to her, Cuba provided intel on at least 17 cybercrime cases related to the U.S., such as suspected identity theft and hacking attacks on Cuba from American IP addresses.
Still, as Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insist that the Cuban government is committing human rights violations, small business owners on the island fear that they stand to lose customers with increased tourism restrictions on U.S. travelers.
A brush fire sparked Friday morning near a trail and down a canyon in Oceanside, officials confirmed.
The blaze was reported just before 6:30 a.m. along the 200 block of Stage Coach Road; the Oceanside Fire Department said smoke may be visible from State Route 76 as drivers head out for their morning commute.
About 20 minutes later, officials said fire crews were making good progress on the fire and expected to have it knocked out quickly.
No injuries were reported.
This fire comes as San Diego readies for a heat wave that's expected to last at least five days. The hot, dry conditions will increase the potential for wildfires across the county.
As the jury in Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial found itself in a deadlock Thursday after four days of deliberation, news of the deadlock sparked tensions outside the Pennsyslvania courthouse.
The sequestered jurors had deliberated about 30 hours before telling Judge Steven O'Neill earlier Thursday that they couldn't reach a unanimous decision on any of the counts against the 79-year-old comedian. The judge told them to try again for a verdict.
But outside the Norristown courthouse a half-dozen Cosby supporters who lined the walkway chanted “Free Cosby Now” and held signs that read "We Love Bill Cosby."
"It hurts me to see a blind man go to prison for 30 years, come on now," a Cosby supporter said.
Lili Bernard, one of several Cosby accusers who had gathered in the courthouse in anticipation of a verdict, tore through the spontaneous rally and confronted the growing crowd of the comedian's supporters.
“I experienced it firsthand when he drugged me, he raped me, he threatened me to silence,” she said through tears. “I came home to my boyfriend at the time—who has been my husband, my one and only since 1990 — I came home drugged and sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby to him.”
Bernard said she was drugged and assaulted by the comedian in the 1990s before he gave the actress a one-time role on "The Cosby Show." She has been a regular attendee at deliberations this week, sometimes wearing a pin that read “We Stand in Truth.”
[[428738193, C]]
A Cosby supporter stood there frozen, his hands clasping hers. They eventually hugged and parted, a tense encounter over as quickly as it began.
[[428731833, C]]
Sitting just a few steps away, Cosby accuser Victoria Valentino also pushed back tears.
“It’s emotionally draining. It’s very frustrating,” she said of the jury’s inability to reach a verdict.
Moments later, spectators clamored on the sidewalk as a small drum line passed through the crowd. Two men wearing light blue hooded sweatshirts and masks banged on their instruments in unison, occasionally stopping to twirl for passersby. A petite blond woman who had spent the early part of the week blowing bubbles and driving circles in a Uhaul led the makeshift procession. She carried a sign that read “Perseverance For All Survivors.”
“I’m here for the truth, no matter what it is,” said Zakia Tuck.
[[428732323, C]]
