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Vigils for Slain 17-Year-Old Muslim Girl Planned Nationwide

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On the Facebook page for Wednesday's Northern Virginia vigil for 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen, friends and strangers alike are mourning.

But these online cries for peace and justice aren't limited to a single event. Sharing the #JusticeForNabra hashtag, many vigils are being planned nationally to recognize the loss of Hassanen, who was killed early Sunday morning.

Police believe Hassanen, who was about to finish her sophomore year of high school, was fatally beaten with a baseball bat while returning to an all-night prayer session at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) Center. 

Darwin Martinez Torres, 22, was charged with her murder after police found Hassanen's body in a nearby pond. Police believe Hassanen was a victim of road rage, not a hate crime. 

A vigil for Hassanen is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, with #JusticeForNabra events also being planned nationwide. The majority of vigils are planned for both Tuesday and Wednesday, and some are set to occur early next week.

In addition to the vigil in Reston, events are being held in Washington, D.C. and several other major cities, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco.

Many of the vigils are encouraging attendees to bring flowers rather than candles to hold during the vigil.

A family representative told NBC4 that Hassanen's funeral prayer service will take place Wednesday afternoon at the ADAMS Center Mosque.

A donation page set up to support Hassanen's family has already raised more than $280,000.

Vigils are scheduled in the following locations, according to event pages:

  • Washington, D.C.: Standing Against Violence: DC Vigial and Iftar #JusticeForNabra
  • Reston, Virginia: Vigil for Nabra
  • Boston: Standing Against Violence: Boston Vigil #JusticeForNabra
  • Detroit: Standing Against Violence: Detroit Vigil #JusticeForNabra
  • Haledon, New Jersey: Standing Against Violence: New Jersey Vigil #JusticeForNabra
  • Los Angeles: Standing Against Violence: Los Angeles Vigil #JusticeForNabra
  • New York: Standing Against Violence: National Vigil #JusticeForNabra
  • Philadelphia: Standing Against Violence: Philadelphia Vigil #JusticeForNabra
  • San Francisco: SF Vigil #JusticeForNabra: Standing Against Violence

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Boy Rescued After Nearly Drowning at Pool in Mission Bay

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An eight-year-old boy was rescued after nearly drowning in a pool in Mission Bay Tuesday afternoon, confirmed San Diego police.

Officers responded to a report of a drowning child at the 2200 block of Pacific Beach Drive at about 12:40 p.m.

The boy was pulled out of the pool by a nearby adult, after he was seen struggling under the water for several minutes, said police.

An adult jumped in to save the child upon noticing him lying at the bottom of the pool. The child was unconscious so the adult performed CPR and managed to revive him.

Paramedics were called to the scene to evaluate the boy, said police. Lifeguards say the child was sitting up and talking.


He is currently conscious and breathing, said police. Emergency medical crews are transporting him to Rady Children's Hospital.

A warning sign at the pool reminds the public that children under age 12 should not swim without adult supervision.

Lifeguards say this is a testament to the importance of watching your kids at the pool because drowning can happen in seconds.

No other information was immediately available.

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



Photo Credit: San Diego Lifeguards
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'Very Strong' Shark Attack Survivor Improving: Doc

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A San Diego woman wounded in a shark attack nearly two months ago is improving by the day, growing stronger with each step as she works toward being discharged from the hospital, her trauma surgeon said Tuesday.

“She is, physically, very strong,” said Gail Tominaga, M.D., the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla trauma surgeon who admitted Leeann Ericson on April 29 after she was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach near Camp Pendleton.

“She’s actually very amazing, for everything she’s been through,” the surgeon added.

Tominaga is among the two dozen specialists who have been caring for Ericson since the shark attack. The team includes four surgeons, numerous physician assistants, nurses and others.

On Tuesday, Tominaga shared the final update on behalf of Scripps on Ericson’s recovery.

The surgeon said her patient – who suffered significant injuries to her right thigh and buttocks and tremendous blood loss – has gone through multiple extensive surgeries and is now undergoing physical therapy.

Ericson can get up and take steps with both legs, Tominaga said – a long way from where she was on the day she was admitted to the trauma center.

“We did not know if she was going to survive,” said Tominaga, recalling that in the first 24 to 48 hours of Ericson’s hospitalization, she was unstable and bleeding heavily.

Tominaga said Ericson underwent emergency blood transfusions in those first few days. She was at risk of contracting atypical infections due to her wounds being exposed to the ocean water and the shark’s mouth, the surgeon said. Antibiotics and numerous surgeries were needed.

On May 19, Tominaga said Ericson underwent a skin grafting operation to close her wounds.

“During the surgeries, they put a biologic matrix called 'ACell' on the wound to help the growth of the tissue over the area of the nerve and of the area of missing tissue,” the trauma surgeon explained.

She said one of the biggest challenges for Ericson is the substantial loss of soft tissue to her leg, which left her leg very weak. She also suffered a sciatic nerve injury that left her with no sensation to her foot.

Tominaga said Ericson’s leg would never be “100 percent functional, will” but she will be able to walk and go up and down stairs.

Once Ericson is discharged – a date the patient wishes to keep private – Tominaga said physical therapists would advise whether Ericson can go home or whether it’s best for her to transition to a rehabilitation facility.

While Ericson’s road to recovery will be long, Tominaga said the survivor is staying focused and upbeat thanks to her supportive family, friends, and community.

“She’s been amazing; she works very hard; she’s been very optimistic,” Tominaga added.

The surgeon went on to read a statement from Ericson in which she thanked her doctors, first responders, and the community.

Earlier this month, Ericson wrote about her recovery on an online fundraising page established by her family to help cover her medical expenses. She talked about wanting to get better so she could be reunited with her children.

“My kids have visited me a few times and can’t wait for their mommy to be back home. For now, I need to focus on healing so I can get back to my family as soon as possible,” her message read.

A few days before that, Ericson's mother, Christine McKnerney-Leidle, said in an online update that her daughter had started walking, taking 40 steps in the hospital.

“We hope she will be in rehab soon and then home after that,” McKnerney-Leidle's post read. “She is staying strong, and positive she wants to thank all of you for your support and prayers. God bless you all.”

On April 29, Ericson was airlifted to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla after being attacked by a shark in the waters off San Onofre State Beach, near Camp Pendleton, in San Diego's North County.

The shark attack took place at San Onofre State Beach, located off Interstate 5 at Basilone Road, about 3 miles south of San Clemente, California, and 58 miles north of downtown San Diego.

The beach was closed to the public for several days following the shark attack. It reopened, but throughout May authorities issued warnings at the beach after reported shark sightings near the same area where Ericson had been attacked.

According to investigators, Ericson was camping with her boyfriend when the couple decided to go in the water. Ericson swam while her boyfriend surfed next to her at a favorite spot at the beach.

The victim’s mother said the couple saw a seal in the water and Ericson’s boyfriend turned to swim out to a wave. Just then, Ericson disappeared from the water’s surface.

The woman was attacked by a shark approximately 10 feet in length who ripped through the back of Ericson’s leg, tearing out all the muscle from her knee to her hip. The shark just missed the victim’s major arteries, McKnerney-Leidle said on Facebook.

As Ericson was dragged into the water, her lungs filled with foam and debris. She was airlifted to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla just before 6:30 p.m. that evening.

Ericson survived the shark attack, but her road to a full recovery will be painful and lengthy.

In early May, Tominaga gave an update on the woman's condition, saying she was awake and able to answer questions by nodding or shaking her head. At that point, Ericson was still on a breathing tube. Doctors had also started the process of reconstructing the victim’s leg.

Ericson works for a local credit union, Pacific Marine Credit Union. The company has opened an account to collect donations to help the victim in her recovery. Donations can be made at any Pacific Marine Credit Union branch, or by mail. Checks can be made payable to:

“Support Leeanne”
C/O Pacific Marine Credit Union
1278 Rocky Point Drive
Oceanside, CA 92056

Her family also continues to run this GoFundMe page, which as of Tuesday, had raised more than $90,000.

Last year, there were an estimated 59 shark attacks across the U.S., according to data collected by scientists at the University of Florida.



Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Ericson's family
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Suspect in Custody After Shooting Near Black Mountain: SDPD

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Police took one suspect into custody after a reported shooting in the Carmel Mountain Ranch neighborhood Tuesday afternoon.

SDPD officers were called to the Pharmatech business at the 15000 block of Innovation Drive at around 1:50 p.m.

Paramedics were requested at the scene for one patient. An investigation is underway, according to police.

No other information was immediately available.

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



Photo Credit: Metro

DUI Driver Pleads Guilty to Striking, Killing 21-Year-Old

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A drunk driver with a blood-alcohol level four times the legal limit -- the equivalent of approximately 17 drinks -- pleaded guilty to striking and killing a 21-year-old driver coming home from work in Ramona last year.

Paul Schenk pleaded guilty to several charges related to the fatal crash, including Gross Vehicular Manslaughter while Intoxicated, two counts of Felony Child Endangerment, DUI Causing great bodily injury as well as Driving with a Measurable amount of Alcohol and injury to a child under 5 years old.

The crash happened on Sept. 12, 2016, when Schenk picked up his 5-year-old and 4-year-old kids from school, Deputy District Attorney Callie Bright said. He put his 5-year-old in the front seat and 4-year-old in the back seat without seat belts, according to Bright. 

At the time of the crash, he was driving with his kids in the back seat with a blood-alcohol level approximately more than four times the legal limit, at 0.33, according to Bright -- the equivalent of 17 drinks. 

Bright said Schenk crossed the shoulder near Vista Ramona Road and E Old Julian Highway and over-corrected, smashing into the victim's car head-on at approximately 4:30 p.m. 

The impact of the crash instantly killed 21-year-old Racheal  Guarneros – Callahan, 21. Family members say she had just finished work at the Riviera Oaks Resort and was on the phone with someone when the collision occurred.

"She was just a beautiful person," Sandra Khoury, the victim's sister, said. "She just had a big heart and just doted on her family. My daughter, her niece, and her other best friends. So it's just a huge hurt."

During the preliminary hearing, the Judge heard from witnesses and law enforcement officials who first arrived on scene. 

One San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy described rushing to Guarneros-Callahan's car first, worried it may burst into flames. 

"I jumped in the backseat and pulled her seatbelt off, and that's when I noticed the steering wheel was wedged in her chest," the officer testified. 

When he went around to the Ford involved in the crash, he found the driver wedged between the seat and steering wheel. 

"He just kept saying, 'I messed up,'" the officer recalled during testimony. 

CHP Officer Brian Kattke, who responded to the crash soon after, said that when he first arrived on the scene, he spoke to Schenk, who he identified as the driver in court.

"His first statement to me though was a question," Kattke testified. "He asked, "am I going to jail?'"

Kattke said he did not respond, but the question led him toward a different path in his further questioning and investigations: that some other factor may have been involved in the crash besides driver's error. 

When he returned to get a more detailed statement later, Kattke testified that he could smell alcohol coming from Schenk from two to three feet away. When he asked if Schenk had been drinking, Schenk told him 'yes.' 

Schenk's attorney, Paul Pfingst, has argued that his client is a veteran with a 21-year service career pulling wounded warriors from combat. Because of his past, he suffered mentally, Pfingst has argued.

Six days before the crash, Schenk went to VA Hospital in San Diego asking for help but was turned away, according to Pfingst. 

"In addition to regular mental health appointments, we offer our Psychiatric Emergency Clinic which is a walk-in clinic for Veterans in distress or if feel they need urgent care," a partial statement from the VA San Diego read.  

The 4-year-old involved in the crash was ejected from the backseat and had to be airlifted to Rady Children's Hospital, where he received stitches for his injuries; the 5-year-old was taken to Palomar Hospital.

Schenk will be sentenced on July 21. He could face up to 18 years in prison. 



Photo Credit: Family photo

OJ Simpson's Parole Hearing Set for July 20

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OJ Simpson's parole hearing was set for July 20, the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners said Tuesday.

Simpson, 69, has spent nearly nine years at Lovelock, a medium-level correctional facility about 450 miles north of Las Vegas, where the former NFL and USC great participated in a strong-arm hotel heist that landed him in prison 14 years after he was acquitted of murder in the deaths of ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman.

He was found liable for their killings in a 1997 civil case.

Simpson was convicted in 2008 after the botched attempt to retrieve sports memorabilia at The Palace Station Casino hotel off The Strip. A 33-year prison sentence for the heist was handed down 13 years to the day he was acquitted in the Brown and Goldman slayings.

Simpson was denied parole in July 2013 and 2014.

During the 2013 hearing, he was granted parole on some of the charges stemming from the Las Vegas hotel holdup. Simpson has expressed regret and told panel members that he's tried to be a model inmate.

Hearings in Nevada are usually conducted between the parole panel and inmate via video conference. Inmates can choose to speak at the hearing or have a representative speak for them.

As for the memorabilia, a judge ordered in 2009 that several items be returned to Simpson. Other items were given to an attorney for the Goldman estate for auction.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Man Arrested for Attempted Murder of Oceanside Officer

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A 26-year-old man who struck an Oceanside police officer conducting a traffic stop, and then fled the scene, has been arrested for attempted murder, Oceanside Police Department (OPD) Spokesman Tom Bussey announced Tuesday. 

Roberto Ignacio Flores, 26, of San Marcos, has been booked into San Diego County Central Jail on charges of attempted murder of a police officer and felony hit and run. 

Police said Flores was behind the wheel of the silver Dodge Neon that intentionally struck motorcycle officer Brad Hunter on Oceanside Boulevard, near Foussat Road. The location is south of State Route 76 and east of Interstate 5 near a series of stores. 

Flores stopped the car some distance away, Bussey said, and fled. A second passenger in the car, who has not been found, also fled the scene. 

Hunter, a 29-year veteran of the department, was injured and taken by an air ambulance to Scripps Memorial Hospital. He is recovering from his injuries. 

During the investigation, officers found what turned out to be the driver near El Camino Real and Industry. He was arrested and booked into County Jail. 

Officers continue to search for the passenger in the car. They do not have a description of him. 

No other information was immediately available.



Photo Credit: Oceanside Police Department
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6 Ways World Refugee Day Is Being Recognized

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World Refugee Day is Tuesday, making it a good opportunity to consider the millions of people who are forcibly displaced from their homes around the world.

Aside from plans for rallies on Trump Tower and the United Nations headquarters in New York City, people around the world are marking the day with cultural celebrations, corporate fundraisers or political demonstrations of their own.

Here are some of the ways organizations are recognizing the hardships and hopes of refugees:

Reporting record-high refugee totals, UN officials visit camps in Ethiopia

In advance of World Refugee Day, the United Nations High Commission on Refugees released its latest study on forced migration, which reports 65.6 million forcibly displaced people around the world in 2016 — the highest total ever recorded.

Filippo Grandi, who leads the organization, is spending the day in Nguenyyiel refugee camp, one of several sites in western Ethiopia that hosts more than 300,000 refugees fleeing violence and hunger in South Sudan.

Grandi visited a nearby marketplace and school and joined diplomats and humanitarian workers at a ceremony.

“I am here in Ethiopia on World Refugee Day to tell the world that it is possible to receive many refugees, to treat them well, to remain stable, and to look to the future,” Grandi said. “Stay hopeful, stay strong, because we stand with refugees."

The UNHCR report says that the refugee crisis in South Sudan is one of the world’s fastest-growing, jumping from 854,100 to over 1.4 million in the second half of last year.

Starbucks, NGOs team up to provide work for 2,500 refugees in Europe

Starbucks will work together with aid agencies to hire 2,500 refugees in its European stores by 2022, the company announced.

Collaborating with refugee resettlement organizations, such as the Refugee Council, in eight countries mostly in Western Europe, the coffee chain will seek to reach its global goal of hiring 10,000 refugees within the next five years.

This plan, which was announced in January following the announcement of President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, drew backlash in the United States from boycotters who said the chain should have hired military veterans instead.

“Refugees bring an incredible wealth of skills, knowledge and experience which are hugely beneficial to society,” Mark Wren, president of the Refugee Council, said in a statement. “It’s so important that they are given the opportunity to apply their talents to employment here in the U.K.”

Food festival celebrates refugee chefs, cuisine in 13 cities

More than a dozen cities in Europe are hosting editions of the Refugee Food Festival this month as a way to highlight refugee chefs and help integrate their culture into the city.

The festival, which launched last year in France, matches restaurants in each city with displaced chefs who create a one- or two-night pop-up menu highlighting their national or regional cuisine.

"We're here today to say that in cooking, in the kitchen, there are no differences. We're all the same, we're all human," Barshank Haj Younes, a Syrian chef based in Athens, told Reuters.

Last year’s festival featured chefs from places as diverse as Ivory Coast, Syria, and Tibet, including one chef who hosted a popular cooking show in Syria.

YouTubers highlight individual refugees’ stories

The International Rescue Committee sent well-known vloggers to film interviews and video collaborations with refugees across the world.

The campaign, titled #MoreThanARefugee, partnered each of seven YouTube channels with one or more refugees whose stories tie into the goal of the account.

For instance, gay vlogger Tyler Oakley met with Shadi and Sharifa, two LGBTQ refugees who came to the U.S. from Syria and Uganda, respectively, to flee persecution and homophobia at home. A tech channel called AsapSCIENCE, meanwhile, went to an IRC camp in Syria to explore how refugee camps are built and build kites with the people living there.

#MoreThanARefugee is part of YouTube’s “Creators for Change” initiative, which seeks to amplify voices that use the website to tackle “difficult social issues.”

One highlight in the series is a video by Haifa Beseisso, who runs a travel series from the United Arab Emirates called “Fly with Haifa,” as she meets a 13-year-old Syrian refugee and aspiring rapper named Maryam who fled from Iraq to Serbia by foot.

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Ai Weiwei unveils installation at Danish museum

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei's latest work, "Soleil Levant," barricades the windows at a contemporary art museum with over 3,500 life jackets salvaged from refugees arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos.

The work, which opened Tuesday at the Kunsthal Charlottenborg contemporary art space in Copenhagen, looks to draw attention to the refugee crisis in Europe. 

UNHCR reported that more than 1.3 million refugees have arrived in Europe by making the treacherous journey across the Mediterranean, with more than 8,000 people dying or disappearing in their attempts to travel by sea.

Facebook, Save the Children launch ad campaign

Facebook collaborated with Save the Children for an ad campaign to depict the drastic transformations that children in Syria have had to face as a result of the civil war ravaging the country.

Different 12-second spots show photos of happy, young Syrians dissolving into depictions of refugee life aboard boats or in front of war-torn territory.

Titled “It’s Not the Same This Year,” the campaign will run through Eid al-Fitr, a celebration at the end of Ramadan when Muslims perform acts of charity for the less fortunate.

Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo also took part in promoting the day, introducing a Save the Children video that highlights the story of a Syrian refugee named Zainab.



Photo Credit: James Brooks/AP Images

Refugees Help Install Solar Panels for Low-Income Family

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Dozens of Syrian refugees spent their Tuesday morning installing free solar panels for a low-income family in San Diego's Oak Park neighborhood. 

The refugees, in partnership with GRID Alternatives and Get Charged Up, worked through the rising temperatures to learn new skills and help the family in need.

The installation falls on World Refugee Day and Ramadan, organizers said, a challenge for some volunteers. 

"We know it is tough working outdoors on any given day, but, some of the people working today are fasting," said Faisal Elazzouzi, founder of Get Charged Up, a non-profit focused on providing energy education while protecting the environment. 

The event hit home for Elazzouzi - he was a Lebanese refugee whose family fled the country in 1982. 

"It's very personal to me, myself, because I was a refugee at a young age myself and I know that a lot of people in our situations are extremely motivated," he said. "We know we can contribute, we know we can change the world, we know we can change our situation by working very hard. And I know by experience and we see it here live today, that with a little bit of organization, a little bit of support, we can really turn things around, we can really provide jobs, and bring a brighter future to a whole family."

Elazzouzi said as he grew up as a refugee, he met people along the way that helped him out and gave him opportunities, leading him to give back later in his life. 

"There's always been a helping hand," he said. "So it just makes sense for me to do the same."

The solar panels installed Tuesday will help homeowner Dexter, who lives on 55th Street with his wife. Lately, he said, he has been struggling to make ends meet as he takes care of his wife, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. 

"I try to be as positive as possible…but there are moments where you have to deal with what is in my terms, reality," he said.

Seeing the refugees work on his house all morning and into the afternoon, through the blazing sun, moved him.

"It’s a great thing to witness this to see it first hand. I was here when they started to arrive and I listened to them speaking their own dialect and to me that’s very moving, to see people from a different country, who have come from some difficult times, have an opportunity to get hands-on training," Dexter said.

The solar panels will lower the cost of energy bills at the home and lower the family's carbon footprint. In turn, the refugees will get hands-on training in solar installation. 

"We never get tired of, we’re always eager to provide opportunities to people who want to seize those opportunities, help themselves, and build their skills and get a job in the industry," said a representative with GRID Alternative. "We’ve seen many stories like that, people who come out here on their free time. They’re just trying to build a life, whether they’re coming from another country as a refugee or whether they're in this country and want to change."



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Three Sisters Falls Trail Closed Due to Heat

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A popular hiking trail in San Diego County was closed Tuesday due to high heat and public safety concerns, according to the Cleveland National Forest.

Three Sisters Falls, located near Julian, will be closed until Wednesday, as the heat wave scorches parts of the county.

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There were five medical evacuations on the trail Tuesday. Over the weekend into Monday, eight hikers were rescued on the trail.

A heat advisory was in effect for San Diego's inland valleys and foothills, including Santee, El Cajon and Escondido, through 9 p.m. Wednesday, where temperatures are expected to hit between 95 and 103 degrees.

A statewide Flex Alert was also issued Monday by the California Independent System Operation Corporation (ISO), asking residents to voluntarily conserve electricity through Wednesday evening.



Photo Credit: Julie Wright
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Sailor Delayed at Sea Gets His Own Graduation Ceremony

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San Diego's smallest graduation ceremony turned into one of the most memorable Tuesday when National University invited Francis Oladipo into the school president's office for a private ceremony.

The university played "Pomp and Circumstance" and opened the door to Oladipo who was dressed in a traditional cap and gown for the non-traditional commencement.

The U.S. Sailor got stuck aboard USS Anchorage Saturday due to an extended training exercise and foggy weather.

The ship's scheduled return was pushed from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon, forcing Oladipo to miss his big ceremony inside Petco Park where more than 20,000 people gathered to honor the latest graduates of National University.

Oladipo said he was so sad he just kept to himself upon learning the news out at sea, especially because his parents had flown in all the way from Nigeria to see him receive his master's degree in public health.

The USS Anchorage's commanding officer and National University's administration worked together at the last minute to pull together a private ceremony Tuesday.

Oladipo's family, including his parents, and several of his Navy shipmates joined National University's brass for the small event.

"I think I have the best graduation," said Oladipo

Longtime La Mesa Golf Course Closing Thursday

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On June 22nd, the Sun Valley Golf Course in La Mesa will close all golf operations permanently. It will instead be converted into a public park by the city.

The City of La Mesa first entered into a fifteen year lease agreement with Sun Valley Golf, LLC in 1997, to operate a nine-hole golf course in MacArthur Park.

Later on, disc golf was added to the facility and most recently foot golf, in an effort to expand participation and increase revenue at Sun Valley.  

"They've been struggling financially and golf is a difficult venture right now," said Susan Richardson, community services director for the City of La Mesa.

Richardson added the course has been struggling financially since 2011.

In October 2016, the operators of the golf course requested early termination of the lease and have been on a month to month agreement since March 2017. Golf operations will end Thursday.

Richardson said the new park will have jogging and walking trails. It will open towards the end of July.

The city has $50,000 from a general fund that will go towards filling the golf course holes, landscaping and making the park ready for the public, according to Richardson.

She added after that, the city will hold public meetings in August to ask citizens what amenities they will want at the park, such as outdoor fitness equipment, gardens or an area for a dog park.

Golfers who have been going to the course for decades are upset it is closing.

"Yeah, it will be sad. It will be. I've been feeling it for the last three weeks coming here to play every day," said Robert Reid, who has been golfing at the course for over 33 years.

Richardson said they are hoping that making the land a park will attract more people to it. 

"We are short on park land in La Mesa for the citizens, so it was the perfect opportunity," said Richardson.


Escondido Man Accused of Killing Mother Appears in Court

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An Escondido man accused of killing his mother with a claw hammer appeared in court for a preliminary hearing in Vista Tuesday.

One of the first responders, Thomas Hankins, a Fire Captain with the Escondido Fire Department, said they questioned the mental condition of the defendant.

"He didn't seem all there," said Hankins. "His eyes were bugged out. He was talking incoherently and didn't make much sense."

He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in connection with the death of his mother.

David McGee, 25, was booked on a first-degree murder charge in February. He is suspected of killing his mother and then trying to hurt himself, according to the Escondido Police Department.

McGee's mother, 55-year-old Rebecca Apodaca was found dead on Feb. 1 inside a home on North Hickory Street, between E Washington Avenue and Valley Parkway.

Police found the victim with major trauma to her head and a hammer laying on the table next to her bed. McGee was lying naked, half in and half out, of the bathroom when first responders arrived.

There was water coming out from under the bathroom door, soaking the floor, according to first responders.

Investigators stated the victim's injuries were consistent with a homicide.

McGee faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life. His readiness conference is scheduled for Sept. 26 and his jury trial is set for Jan. 18 next year.

2-Year-Old Child Falls into Vista Pool, Nearly Drowns

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A two-year-old child was hospitalized after nearly drowning in Vista Tuesday afternoon, confirmed the Vista Fire Department.

The toddler fell into the pool, according to Vista Fire.

Emergency crews responded to the apartment complex on the 1400 block of Melrose Way around 4:30 p.m., said Ned Vander, Deputy Chief of the Vista Fire Department.

Paramedics flew the child to a nearby hospital on an air ambulance. No other information was immediately available on the child's condition.

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



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Stephan Appointed Interim San Diego County District Attorney

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The San Diego County Board of Supervisors appointed Summer Stephan as interim District Attorney Tuesday.

After 14 years, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will step down in July, with 18 months still left on her fourth term. 

Stephan, serving as the Chief Deputy District Attorney currently, will finish off Dumanis' term as the interim DA. She has filed papers to run for DA in the 2018 election as well.

Tuesday afternoon, dozens packed into the meeting--many of them supporters of Stephan.

But her appointment was opposed by the family of 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe, murdered in 1998. The Crowe family feels Stephan botched the homicide case against their daughter's suspected killer, leaving her family without justice.

Cheryl Crow, Stephanie's mother, made an emotional plea to the Board Tuesday, asking them not to appoint Stephan.

"My daughter Stephanie is in her grave. She was murdered. Her killer got away with it," she said. "I think it would have been a lot different had Summer Stephan not been assigned to the case."

Stephan responded to the family's criticism of her, saying she wants peace for them.

"I can't imagine what it's like to lose a child like that--a beautiful child," Stephan said. "She associates me with that case, with that pain, with the fact that there is not justice, and I just hope for peace for her."

During the meeting, former prosecutor Adam Gordon and another candidate for the position stated he should be the Board's pick for interim DA because he would not be running for the office in 2018. 

"This isn't Mrs. Dumanis’ election. This is the people’s election," he told the Board.

The San Diego American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a statement in response to Stephan's appointment, which read, in part:

"The Board of Supervisors’ decision to appoint Ms. Stephan was made despite considerable urging by community groups, including the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, San Diego Organizing Project, Center on Policy Initiatives, Partners for Progress and The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board, to appoint an interim district attorney who would pledge not to run for the office in 2018. At the heart of the matter is concern over the power of incumbency to tip the scale in favor of Ms. Stephan in the upcoming election – when as interim DA she has not been vetted and democratically elected by the voters of San Diego County."


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Man Pleads Not Guilty to Setting Fire in Camp Pendleton

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A man suspected of arson pleaded not guilty to setting a fire that scorched 85 acres near Camp Pendleton in Vista Tuesday.

Jose Antonio Torres, 35, is also facing assault charges in Los Angeles in a separate legal case. While pleading not guilty to starting a fire near a golf course in Camp Pendleton, Torres appeared very nonchalant about the charges.

Once the prosecutor began to read his past criminal history, his overall demeanor changed and he visibly smirked in court.

"We saw a guy cut through the golf course, and about 10 minutes later, we saw a little fire start up," said Jay Miller, a witness of the fire.

On June 14, crews worked rapidly to put out the brush fire. They worked with ground crews and helicopters to douse and extinguish the flames. Torres was later arrested in connection with the fire, after several witnesses told investigators they saw a man running from the area.

Although no homes were damaged in the fire, residents near the area were asked to voluntarily evacuate. One firefighter suffered minor injuries to her hand.

Witnesses say they saw the suspect run through the golf course. Moments later, soaring flames and billowing smoke spread throughout Camp Pendleton.

His bail was initially set to $75,000, but a judge increased it to $175,000 at the arraignment because of his lengthy criminal record. Torres is due in court again later this month.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

San Francisco Advances Ban on Flavored Tobacco Products

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The city of San Francisco is on the verge of banning the sale of flavored tobacco products because of the danger they present to children.

Supervisors on Tuesday advanced a proposed ordinance that would eliminate the sale of vapor products, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.

Supervisor Malia Cohen authored the ordinance and said Tuesday she knows it’s going to hurt corner stores, smoke shops and vaping retailers, so she’s willing to put off implementation until April 2018 to "help those businesses transition."

Shop owners in the city say the ban, regardless of when it happens, will put them out of business.

Inside Gone With the Smoke, a vape shop on Geary Street in the city's Nob Hill neighborhood, owner Christoher Chin said the argument that he’s catering to children with flavored nicotine is ridiculous.

"As you can see on my sign, it says no one under 21 allowed in here," Chin said.

But outside the supervisors chambers on Tuesday, a co-sponsor of the proposed flavored tobacco ban says that is exactly what's happening.

"They’re indistinguishable from candy," District 8 Supervisor Jeff Sheehy said, adding that flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes are the tobacco industry's tools for hooking new nicotine addicts. "They’ve actually priced menthol cigarettes cheaper to get people hooked on them."

Cohen agreed.

"They taste good, and they mask the harsh flavor of tobacco," she said.

The board vote Tuesday was unanimous in the ordinance's first reading. A second reading takes place next week, when it is expected to pass.

Chin anticipated the ban would be approved, as a majority of the supervisors had co-sponsored the ordinance.

"That puts myself out of business," he said. "It puts many other people out of business."

Chin is considering a new business venture: selling marijuana from his Union Square-area store.

"There’s a little hypocrisy there; you’re still inhaling something that’s burning, but you don’t want to inhale the cigarettes," Chin said. "I don’t get that one."



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

100-Pound Pet Pig Snatched From San Jose Family's Home

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The search is on for a 100-pound pig reportedly stolen in San Jose.

The animal's owners, Mark and Jeannie Ackerman, says someone stopped at their house at Ocala Avenue and White Road and took the female pig from the backyard.

In addition, the kennel for the pig is missing and surveillance cameras were ripped off from the front of the home.

Mark Ackerman posted the alleged incident in a Sunday evening Facebook post, including videos and pictures of the missing pig named "Pig Pig."

"She is definitely a member of our family," Jeannie Ackerman said. "We've had her since she was two months old."

The owners said this is the second time the 3-year-old pig has been stolen. Ackerman said Pig Pig was stolen two years ago and was later found after someone dumped her at Emma Prusch Farm Park in San Jose.

Mark and Jeannie Ackerman have been posting fliers around their neighborhood in hopes of finding Pig Pig.

"With this heat my big concern is that she is cared for properly," Jeannie Ackerman said.

A police report has been filed and the Ackermans are offering a $500 reward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ackerman at 408-679-5832.



Photo Credit: Mark Ackerman/Facebook
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No Retaliation on Rizzo; Padres Silenced By Cubs

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Well that was deflating.

Rarely does a Tuesday regular season game in June between a fourth place team (the Padres) and a club barely over .500 (the Cubs) garner so much attention.

But one day after Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo barreled into Austin Hedges and injured the Padres catcher in a controversial collision at the plate, many fans expected San Diego to retaliate.

On Monday, Padres manager Andy Green called Rizzo’s decision to “deviate from the pathway” to home plate and hit his catcher “egregious” and “a cheap shot."

Cubs manager Jim Maddon defended his player’s decision and sounded convinced that Rizzo had done nothing wrong.

San Diego sports talk radio and social media was a buzz all day leading up to the first pitch with many fans wondering if Jhoulys Chacin would plunk Rizzo right out the gate.

It was clear there was a “to bean, or not to bean,” question lingering over the rematch with the potential for a baseball brawl after what transpired in the series opener.

Especially once word leaked out that Major League Baseball informed both clubs that Rizzo did violate the home-plate collision rule but that he would not be suspended.

The first pitch by Chacin to Rizzo (the Cubs new leadoff hitter) in the bottom of the first inning was taken low for a ball.

The second one made contact.

Contact with Rizzo’s bat.

The baseball landed over the centerfield ivy and the Cubs took an immediate 1-0 lead as Rizzo trotted around the bases after slugging his 17th homer of the season.

A fan base looking for a response – or at least something to get excited about other than which high draft pick could be multiple years away from the show – instead had to stomach a disheartening, 4-0 loss in which the Padres managed just four measly singles and a double.

Before the rematch Tuesday, Green went on San Diego’s 1090 AM radio station and stated the Padres would not seek retaliation for the Rizzo-Hedges crash.

"What do you accomplish by hitting somebody? You accomplish nothing," Green said. "You put a man on first base, and you give them an opportunity to win a baseball game. ... I think it's absolutely asinine to even take that approach."

After Tuesday’s defeat, Chacin admitted that Green “asked me to give my word I wouldn’t hit (Rizzo) on purpose.”

Green and Chacin stayed true to their word, but a number of Padres fans were pretty outspoken on social media that the Padres missed a giant opportunity to make a statement and standup for their catcher.

On top of that, Hedges did not play Tuesday as a precaution after suffering that thigh bruise during Monday’s collision.

Luis Torrens served as the starting backstop and collected two of the team’s base hits.

Chacin finished with just two earned runs allowed on five hits in six innings but with no run support he saw his record fall to 6-6 with the loss.

In other injury news, Yangervis Solarte was pulled from the starting lineup after hurting his left oblique taking a swing before the game.

Chase D’Arnaud started in Solarte’s place and batted cleanup.

Green implied that Solarte is headed to the disabled list and that the club has multiple options to pick his replacement from Triple-A El Paso.

The recently demoted Ryan Schimpf and rookie Carlos Asuaje would be prime candidates to be recalled to take Solarte’s active roster spot.

Wednesday’s getaway game at Wrigley Field begins at 11:10 a.m.

San Diego sends Miguel Diaz to the mound while the Cubs will hand the ball to Eddie Butler.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

'Mark Hamill Drive' Coming to Clairemont

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You most likely know him as Luke Skywalker from the Stars Wars franchise.

But soon, some San Diegans will know Mark Hamill to be the inspiration behind a certain street name in Clairemont.

San Diego City Council approved a portion of Castleton Drive, between Mount Abernathy Avenue and Clayford Street, to be named "Mark Hamill Drive."

Hamill lived on Castleton Drive for a few years, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

"We are hopeful we can continue to work with Mr. Hamill, to install, dedicate, and unveil Mark Hamill Drive at a later date at the corner of Castleton Drive and Mount Abernathy Avenue,” stated Councilmember Chris Cate.

Hamill attended Hale Junior High School in Clairemont, according to IMDB.

He is most known for his iconic role as Skywalker, which shot him to fame.



Photo Credit: Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Disney
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