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King Cobras and Geckos Seized at JFK Airport

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Nearly a half a dozen king cobras and a handful of geckos were seized by border agents at Kennedy Airport, authorities said.

The reptiles were detected by Customs and Border Protection officers scanning an express mail package from Hong Kong late last month.

The contents of the package were described as a “plastic tray,” but an x-ray revealed the slithering outlines of snakes.


The officers contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to examine the package further.

The FWS officers opened the container and found a Styrofoam casing with rows of holes. The parcel was filled with five juvenile king cobras and three geckos.

The animals were all alive, and the package was turned over to the FWS for further investigation, authorities said.




Photo Credit: U.S. Customs
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Watch Woman Rescue Family Trapped After Road Rage Crash

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A woman rescued a family of six after a possible road rage driver crashed into them, trapping the parents and their children inside of their minivan Monday in Huntington Beach, California.

Jonas Dimas started filming the aftermath of the crash in front of a 24 Hour Fitness on Warner Avenue and Spring Street when Amy Greco, a manager at the gym, ran past him to help.

When Greco arrived, she said the driver and the passenger of the van were barely conscious.

"He said, 'I have kids,'" she told NBC4. "I started a kids' club at 24 Hour Fitness. They're my passion for me."

Greco knew what she had to do. Dimas' cellphone video shows the gym manager breaking out the back windows and pulling all four kids out of the van, including a 5-month-old baby.

"She was the bravest of all of us who were standing here watching," Dimas said. "She was definitely the bravest of them all."

The family was exiting the parking lot Monday afternoon when Brandon Pauw, who was possibly involved in a road rage crash just moments before, slammed his SUV into the packed van.

Greco insists she's not a hero, but rather someone who happened to be at the right place at the right time.

"I would hope if I had children that somebody would do the exact same thing," she said.

A statement from 24 Hour Fitness praised Greco and the other employees and the Huntington Beach location for intervening and helping the victims.

"We are very proud of our employees and their quick reaction to rescue the individuals involved in this incident," the statement read. "We wish a speedy recovery to the individuals recovering from this incident."

The family was hospitalized for evaluation and were expected to recover.

Pauw was extricated from his SUV and hospitalized. He was booked on charges of driving under the influence, investigators said.



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV/Jonas Dimas

Homicide Investigation Near Vista

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Detectives with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department are investigating a homicide in unincorporated Vista.

Deputies were called out to Twin Oaks Valley Road, near Gopher Canyon Road, Wednesday around 5:30 a.m., after a man headed to work saw a body lying on the side of the road and called 911. 

Investigators said the person who died was an African-American man, who was about 25 years-old. 

He was found in the 29000 block of Twin Oaks Valley Road.

Investigators told NBC 7 the man had signs of obvious trauma to his body, but did not provide further details. 

The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the man's cause of death, and identity. 

The Sheriff's department has set up a mobile command center, and detectives expect to be in the area all morning, collecting evidence. 

The area is closed to traffic. 

No other information was available.

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

Amazon, Netflix and More Sound Off for Net Neutrality

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Visit the Netflix and Amazon home pages Wednesday and you'll find more than just TV shows, movies and things to buy. They and other major websites are using space on their home page to draw attention to net neutrality, which some feel is under threat by the Trump administration.

"The internet's less fun when your favorite sites load slowly, isn't it?" reads a message on Reddit's home page that loads letter by letter.

Led by three grassroots organizations — Fight for the Future, Free Press Action Fund and Demand Progress — more than 100,000 websites, online services and internet users have signed on to Wednesday’s "Battle for the Net," according to a press release from Fight for the Future.

Net neutrality is the idea that everyone should have equal access to a free and open internet, as opposed to one in which people can pay more for faster service. The principal was affirmed by the Federal Communications Commission in 2015 when it implemented regulations barring internet service providers from giving faster access to certain websites and blocking or slowing down access for others.

But new FCC chairman Ajit Pai proposed reversing those regulations, citing the unnecessary burden they place on providers, and in May, the first step in that process passed.

"We propose to put technologists and engineers, rather than lawyers and accountants, at the center of the online world," Pai said in an address before the commission at the time.

But supporters of net neutrality see it differently. 

"Pai has consistently voted against pro-internet user, pro-competition positions in favor of handing control of the network to a small number of powerful companies,” said Candace Clement, campaign director for the Free Press Action Fund, in a statement.

Sites like Netflix are displaying messages urging users to send their comments in support of net neutrality to the FCC and Congress.

“The FCC needs to listen to the public, not just lobbyists from big cable companies,” Fight for the Future’s campaign director Evan Greer said in a statement. “Today, the Internet is showing its political power.”

This is not the first time a grassroots effort has been put forth to protect online egalitarianism.

In 2014, "Last Week Tonight" host John Oliver called on viewers to submit comments to the FCC in opposition to a proposal that would have allowed internet service providers to create internet "fast lanes" for higher-paying users. The FCC's website subsequently crashed.

That same year, the organizers behind "Battle for the Net" as well as advocacy group Engine put together an internet slowdown day. Participants spread awareness by displaying a symbolic loading symbol on their home pages along with a call to action for users to submit comments to the FCC, similar to Wednesday's initiative.

The deadline for open comments to the FCC is July 17.




Photo Credit: Alex Wong / Getty Images, File

Fire Damages 2 Houses in Tijuana Near Border: CBP

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Crews extinguished a fire that damaged two houses in Tijuana near the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday afternoon, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

A fire broke out in the Canon Zapata area of Tijuana, close to Otay Mesa and San Ysidro and to the south of Pacific Gateway Park. The fire started just before noon, confirmed the Tijuana Fire Department.

Two people lived in one of the homes that caught fire. The residents weren't there at the time of the fire. The other house damaged in the fire was abandoned.


Tijuana fire crews battled the flames and were able to put the fire out within 15 minutes, according to the department.

Social workers are currently trying to find a place for the two residents whose home was damaged, said Tijuana Fire Department officials.

There were no injuries, and the scene was cleared.



Photo Credit: US Customs & Border Protection
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School Climate Bill of Rights Approved by SDUSD

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The second-largest school district in California took the next step toward implementing new policies that would keep misbehaving students in school rather than suspend or expel them.

The San Diego Unified School District Board of Trustees approved a framework regarding how students should be punished.

The district is defined, in part, as one focusing on healing, respect, support and general well-being of students and others in the community, according to the School Climate Bill of Rights.

Students, parents, and educators are given the right to be informed about resolving conflicts through restorative practices.

One goal is to keep students in school rather than to suspend or to expel them.

"It is not a simple apology. It is really holding people accountable, not just children, but adults alike," said Felicia Singleton, the Program Manager of the district's newly formed Department of Restorative Practices. “It's learning from their actions.”

Larissa Galeana, who helped write the Bill of Rights, said students should want to be in a school where they feel safe.

She worked as a circle facilitator at Crawford High School, where staff and administrators launched a pilot program.

A community-building circle brings students together to share, and to get to know each other.

"When you're part of a community and you feel supported and wanted, you are less likely to go and do something that is going to cause harm to that community," said Galeana.

Erik Hernandez was part of a similar pilot program at Hoover High School.

He understands there are critics who say this lets students get off too easily.

"It may be too soft to others, but it's helpful because you get to understand the other person's perspective as well," he said.

Lindsay Burningham, President of the San Diego Education Association, said when done correctly, it is something teachers can support.

"It needs appropriate resources, and that comes with money, it comes with time, it comes with training, professional development etc," Burningham said.

The right to comprehensive training is part of the Bill of Rights.

"We will be starting small because we want to make sure were doing it right and we don't want to overpromise and under-deliver," Singleton said.

The School Climate Bill of Rights was proposed by the Mid-City Community Advocacy Network in City Heights.

Firefighters Battle Jennings Fire Near Lakeside

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A fast-moving brush fire that prompted evacuations Tuesday afternoon in San Diego County has been held at 400 acres, Cal Fire officials said. 

The Jennings Fire produced a massive amount of smoke above the East County and prompted the closure of Interstate 8 in both directions for several hours.

One lane of eastbound I-8 east at Dunbar Lane will be closed Wednesday because of fire equipment. 

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire reported the fire was 30 percent contained. 

Officials plan to increase containment lines and mop up hot spots throughout the day, Cal Fire Capt. Issac Sanchez said.

Two firefighters were transported to a hospital for evaluation. A third was evaluated at the scene. No details were given on their conditions.

Temperatures, this afternoon, will climb to a very warm 87 degrees, according to NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh. Winds are expected to be light. Humidity levels will drop to about 48 percent, which is average for this time of year.

"While weather conditions are not as bad as they could be, the amount of available fuel and the dry brush is a much bigger concern," Kodesh said. "The grasses dried out in late April, and the brush dried out at the end of June. Any wildfire, from this point on, could be explosive." 

Investigators found a piece from a car's exhaust system that they say was responsible for starting the fire where I-8 meets Highway 80. 

"We have determined the cause of the fire is related to carbon particles from a vehicle exhaust, but we do not believe it is the cars that were actually on fire, that's separate from this incident," Cal Fire Chief Tony Mecham said Tuesday, referring to several car fires in the area. 

At least five homes were threatened at one point, Mecham said. Strike teams were requested for structure protection along Montana Serena, a road along a ridge south of Interstate 8 and east of Rios Canyon Road.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for Viewside Lane, Peutz Valley and the upper end of Harbison Canyon in the Hunter Pass area.  All evacuation orders and warnings for the Jennings Fire have been lifted.

Seven air tankers, four helicopters, 43 engines and a little more than 250 personnel were involved in battling the blaze.

Are you and your family prepared for a brush fire? 

County officials advise residents to download the free emergency smartphone application SDEmergency and follow three key steps. 

GET READY: Do your 100-foot defensible space in advance

GET SET: Have an emergency plan. Pack your car when Santa Anas arrive.

GO: When told to leave, leave.

For updated information on the fire, you can also call 211.



Photo Credit: Richard Brown

La Mesa Bank Robbed by Man in Apron

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A man wearing an apron and a straw hat held up a San Diego-area bank. Now, federal agents are asking for help from the public to find the person responsible.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the San Diego Violent Crimes Task Force are seeking the public’s assistance to identify the individual responsible for a bank robbery in La Mesa.

A man robbed the Cal Coast Credit Union on La Mesa Boulevard Tuesday just before noon, agents said.

The man gave the teller a handwritten note demanding money. After he got some cash, he walked out of the bank.

Agents described the suspect as in his 30s, standing approximately 6-feet tall, with a medium build. The robber wore a large straw hat and a chef’s apron over a dark colored t-shirt.

If you have information you can contact the San Diego FBI at 858-320-1800 or San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.



Photo Credit: San Diego County Crimestoppers

5th Death Linked to Hepatitis A Outbreak in County

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A fifth person has died as a result of a hepatitis A outbreak in San Diego County.

There have been 228 total cases of the virus and 161 people have been hospitalized since the outbreak in the county. The viral liver disease can cause mild to severe illness.

“It is imperative that anyone at risk for hepatitis A get vaccinated,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., county public health officer, in a statement. “We cannot stress this enough – get vaccinated and make sure you wash your hands after going to the bathroom."

Homeless people and drug users account for at least seven in ten of the illnesses, said county officials. One in five people diagnosed with hepatitis A also have hepatitis C.

High-risk groups for the virus include travelers to certain countries, drug users, homeless people, people with chronic liver disease, people who work at homeless services agencies, health care personnel and people involved in sanitizing areas where the homeless are located.

“Lives are at risk. Protect yourself, your family and the community," added Wooten.

The disease can be spread through sexual contact, as well as touching objects or eating food contaminated with the virus, according to the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA).

There have been exposures to the virus at a number of county detention facilities, with 12 reported cases of the virus. See the following list of possible exposures:

George Bailey Detention Facility


  • Area 1A: from April 10 to April 24
  • Area 2A: from May 17 to June 5
  • Area 3A: on April 24
  • Area 3C: from April 24 to May 1, on May 5, and from May 15 to May 18


San Diego Central Jail


  • Area 4A: from May 8 to May 10
  • Area 7B: from April 24 to May 26
  • Area 8C: from April 24 to May 7


East Mesa Detention Facility from May 6 to May 8

Anyone who may have been exposed to the virus can develop symptoms up to 50 days after the exposure.

County officials said the best way to prevent hepatitis A is to get vaccinated. The vaccine has been available since 1995 and is recommended in routine childhood vaccination schedules.

Visit San Diego County's HHSA to learn more about San Diego's immunization program.

Good hygiene can also help to prevent hepatitis A. County officials recommend washing your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before eating, after using the restroom or changing a diaper.

They also advise against directly touching the door handle when exiting a public restroom, as well as sharing food, drinks or smoking materials with other people.

General information on hepatitis A is available on the HHSA hepatitis website with regular updates, and a county fact sheet is available here.

Colleges Issue Alert Concerning Potential Threat

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Southwestern College officials have issued a safety alert to students and employees regarding a college student.

The student, identified by the college as Nataliya Holmes, has made statements that may be a potential threat to the safety and welfare of herself and others, according to the statement from college police.

Southwestern campus police have released a photograph of the student with the advice to anyone on campus to call police at (619) 482-6380 if she is spotted on any college campus. 

Point Loma Nazarene University forwarded the alert to its students and staff because the PLNU Adult Degree Completion program is located on the campus of Southwestern.

Questions about campus safety at any PLNU location may be directed to the PLNU Department of Public Safety at (619) 849-2201.

No other information was available.

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

Wage Theft Often Goes Unreported in San Diego: Study

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A new study suggests that wage theft often goes unreported in San Diego County.

The survey of roughly 300 workers shows that a lack of information and fear of retaliation are among the top reasons why claims are rarely filed against an employer.

Most ‘wage theft’ claims deal with workers not getting paid the legal minimum wage or overtime.

The study was carried out by the San Diego State Department of Sociology, the Center on Policy Initiatives and the Employee Rights Center of San Diego. It shows that over the last year, an estimated 40,000 local workers were not paid the legal minimum wage in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

“Most people are afraid to come forward,” said Director of the Center on Policy Initiatives, Kyra Greene. “While the violations are taking place and they’re actively hoping to get at least some of their pay.”

The study was released July 11, one year after San Diego’s Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Ordinance became law back in 2016.

The construction, restaurant, retail and transportation industry are among the most affected by ‘wage theft.’

Advocates said the Labor Commissioner’s office in San Diego is understaffed and overworked. They’re calling for the city and state to offer more resources so complaints can be investigated properly.

“Our message to Mayor Faulconer is that it’s time for him to stand up for working families and workers who play by the rules,” said Greene. “They have earned their pay and are being denied that by employers who refuse to follow the law.”

NBC 7 received the following statement from Mayor Kevin Faulconer:

"On September 2, 2016, the City's Earned Sick Leave and Minimum Wage implementing ordinance became effective, designating the Office of the City Treasurer as the enforcement office. Since that time, all minimum wage laws have been enforced."

Ed. Note: The story has been edited to reflect current information.

Man Tries to Force Woman into Car in Oak Park Pursuit: SDPD

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A man trying to force a woman into his car prompted a police pursuit in Oak Park Wednesday, confirmed the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

Police received a call about a man attempting to abduct the woman around 3:36 p.m.

The woman was able to escape. Police said she took off running, as the driver sped after her. SDPD officers responded to the scene and a pursuit began.

Police chased the suspect's vehicle, a red Dodge Charger. At one point, the man threw a gun out of his car's window during the pursuit.

Later, he stopped at the 5800 block of Streamview Drive, got out of his car and started running away. A police helicopter patrolled the area, and SDPD officers formed a perimeter around the scene.

The suspect was taken into custody at 4:24 p.m., confirmed police.

Check back on this developing story for updates.

Narcotics Trifecta Seized at I-5 Checkpoint: CBP

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A 45-year-old man was arrested at a Border Patrol checkpoint after agents discovered heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine in his vehicle.

The man was arrested around 1 p.m. Tuesday near Basilone Road on Interstate 5, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

A K-9 alerted agents to the man's 2006 Chevrolet Equinox and agents discovered 41 bundles of narcotics hidden inside the vehicle door panels. 

According to the CBP, 28.66 pounds of heroin, 4.96 pounds of cocaine, and 24.91 pounds of Methamphetamine were discovered in the vehicle.

The drugs are worth an estimated street value of $560,334.

Agents turned over the man and the narcotics to the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

His vehicle was seized by the CBP.




Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Top Tested Insect Repellents

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Whether you’re headed into the woods or just hanging out in the backyard, Consumer Reports says a good insect repellent is a must.

The best ones can help protect against bites from mosquitoes and ticks which can spread diseases like West Nile and Lyme. Consumer Reports is out with new testing that reveals which repellents provide the most protection.

Consumer Reports looked at repellents with synthetic chemicals like DEET. As well as ones that contain Picaridin and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus which mimic chemicals found in nature. And there were also plant-based repellents labeled, “natural” with ingredients like citronella, lemongrass and cedar oils.

Your best protection against mosquito and tick-borne diseases like West Nile or Lyme is to avoid getting bitten in the first place; that’s why an effective insect repellent is so important. The good news is that you should only need one product to protect you against both insects. CR’s testing indicates that anything that protects you from mosquitoes should also protect you from ticks.

The best repellents protected for six and a half hours or more while the lowest scoring ones only lasted for two hours or less.

Consumer Reports says it’s best to avoid the plant-based, natural products. The thing about “natural repellents” is that these products are not registered with the EPA. Because the agency deems the chemicals they contain to be of minimal safety risk, they don’t bother to evaluate them for safety or effectiveness.

What that means is that the companies that make these products are not required to prove to federal regulators that they work

What did make a difference in the tests were the active chemical ingredients. Out of a total of 25 products that CR tested, all of the ones that earned their recommendation contained one of just three different active ingredients - and each one at a limited range of concentrations: so 20 percent Picaridin, between 15 and 30 percent DEET, or 30 percent Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.

Two products with DEET earned top scores - Total Home Woodland Scent Insect Repellent with 30 percent DEET from CVS and the OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent. If you want to skip the DEET, Repel Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus formula performed almost as well. Or, consider the Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent with 20 percent Picaridin.

Consumer Reports says DEET products are safe for everyone including children. It recommends choosing a repellent with 30 percent DEET or less. And even when you are wearing a repellent remember to always do a thorough check for ticks after being outdoors. 



Photo Credit: Consumer Bob

Same Deputy at Center of 2 Fatal Shootings Months Apart

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The San Diego County sheriff’s deputy who shot and killed a man in Vista last week has been involved in two fatal shootings in the one year he’s been employed by the department.

Deputy Christopher Villanueva has been identified as the deputy who fired his service weapon, killing Jonathan Coronel, 24, on Wednesday, July 5. Villanueva has been employed by the sheriff’s department for approximately one year.

On Aug. 11, 2016, Villaneuva was one of two deputies involved in the fatal shooting of Sergio Weick, 33. In this incident, Weick, a known gang member, was unarmed at the time of his death. Deputies shot Weick on the left side of his body when they said he reached for his waist and “appeared to reach for a weapon."

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office ruled the Weick shooting justified.

After Villaneuva was cleared, he resumed his duties as a deputy. Now, Villaneuva is under investigation once again, this time for Coronel's death. 

Wearing T-shirts with the young man's face and name on them, family members spoke with the media on Wednesday. They said they have not been contacted by the sheriff's department.

Diego Coronel said it’s been a terrible time for the family.

“We’ve got a lot of questions and we want answers,” Coronel said. 

On July 5, Villaneuva was in the area of North Melrose with the Gang Enforcement Detail when officials spotted Coronel, who had an active felony warrant for his arrest.

Lt. Kenn Nelson said Villaneuva had been briefed on Coronel and was told he was known to be armed. The deputy was also told that Coronel had made previous threats to kill law enforcement officers, according to Nelson.

Homicide investigators said when deputies approached Coronel, he jumped out of a car and led a pursuit, jumping over fences and through private yards.

A witness told NBC 7 he saw Coronel before the shooting. Coronel tried to hide near a children's pool in the yard and asked him to keep quiet, the witness said.

However, the witness said he worried for his family's safety and urged Coronel to give himself up and not resist authorities.

According to the witness, Coronel was unarmed and lying on his stomach.

Homicide investigators said a confrontation occurred and Villaneuva fired his weapon fearing for his life.

“Mr. Coronel was crouched down with his right hand covered by a t-shirt, when the deputies approached him. He stood up or was beginning to come out of his crouch. He pointed that covered hand toward the deputy,” Nelson said Wednesday.

The deputy fired 16 rounds. He did reload but he did not fire after reloading.

Coronel was struck multiple times, Nelson said.

Sheriff's investigators spoke with the witness who said Coronel was lying on his stomach.

“The physical evidence and the additional statements that we received from the deputies that were on scene would suggest it happened differently, more likely in the description I’ve given you here today.

Nelson would not release the location of the gunshot wounds Coronel suffered until the medical examiner’s office finalized the autopsy report.

Sergio Weick, 33, was shot and killed on August 11 after a confrontation with deputies.

Weick was a known gang member and had a warrant out for his arrest when deputies spotted him leaving the home of another known gang member in Vista. 

The sighting soon led to a short high-speed, wrong-way pursuit through Vista until Weick's car crashed - and deputies pursued him on foot through a condo complex, deputies said. 

The foot chase ended when deputies Peter Myers and Christopher Villanueva caught up to Weick standing near some bushes.

Deputies shot Weick on the left side of his body when they say he reached for his waist and “appeared to reach for a weapon." The deputy yelled several times for Weick to put his hands up, Dumanis said. 

Fearing the suspect was holding a gun, one deputy shot Weick. A second deputy then saw Weick reach for a what appeared to be a gun on his left hip. "Fearing he was about to be shot, that deputy also shot Mr. Weick," Dumanis said. 

Weick collapsed and deputies handcuffed him. He later died.

An autopsy report shows Weick was shot 18 times and suffered 27 separate wounds as a result. 

Investigators say Weick had shotgun shells and knives on him. They later found a sawed-off shotgun, knives and drug paraphernalia in his car.

No video of the incident exists because Sheriff's deputies are not equipped with body-worn cameras, Dumanis said. 

Nelson said there is no personal bodycam video available for the Coronel shooting.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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UCSD Medical Student Not Letting Brain Tumor Stop Him

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A local UC San Diego (UCSD) medical student and aspiring neurologist is not letting anything get in the way of his dream -- not even a brain tumor.

Dave Carlson was in his third year of medical school when his life changed.

“I was on the surgery rotation, which is known for being difficult, and I was having these headaches,” Carlson told NBC 7.

The headaches never went away. Then, his vision started to blur.

When Carlson went to get an eye exam, doctors noticed his swollen optic disks. An MRI revealed a large tumor in his brain, deep and dangerously close to his brainstem. 

He was immediately hospitalized and had his first of two brain surgeries a week later. 

“I was okay with it,” Carlson said. “I thought maybe this is an opportunity. I can use my story to help others.”

Carlson had his first surgery on December 7 and a second surgery the following month. The surgeries were followed by six weeks of proton therapy and chemotherapy.

Even in his darkest days, Carlson said, he never lost hope. He believes his experience will be an opportunity to be a better doctor in the future.

“There are a lot of challenges that we all face throughout life,” he said. “but there is a lot of hope too, and I think that hope is useful.”

Dave’s latest MRI shows tumor shrinkage. He still has to have chemo treatments, however, five days each month.

Despite his treatment, he is already back at UCSD Medical School, following his dream of becoming a neurologist.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help him pay for his medical expenses. To donate, click here. 

Two Arrested on Suspicion of Smuggling Drugs Taped to Torso

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Two people were arrested at a Border Patrol checkpoint on suspicion of smuggling narcotics taped to their bodies.

The man and woman were arrested on July 7, around 6 p.m. at the Highway 86 checkpoint, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Agents were alerted to the vehicle by a K-9.

During a secondary search, agents discovered packages of methamphetamine and fentanyl taped to the man and woman's torsos.

The drugs are worth an estimated street value of more than $45,000.

Both suspects were turned over the Drug Enforcement Administration.




Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

San Diego Unified to Participate in San Diego LGBT Pride Parade

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San Diego's annual LGBT Pride weekend kicks off Friday.

For the fourth consecutive year, the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) has announced its participation in the Pride Parade with all of its LGBTQIA students, staff and faculty.

The district will have a superhero theme this year.

The parade will feature the district's school buses displaying "United with Pride" school spirit banners which have been decorated by members of the Gay-Straight-Alliance (GSA) student club.

According to SDUSD, the Pride Youth Marching Band will also participate and kick off the Stonewall Rally Friday at 6 p.m. on University Avenue in Hillcrest.

The Pride Parade starts at 11 a.m. at the Hillcrest Pride Flag, located at the intersection of Normal Street and University Avenue.

For more information about Pride Weekend in San Diego, click here.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Human Remains of Missing Penn. Man Found: Official

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Cadaver dogs helped lead investigators to a patch of Bucks County, Pennsylvania farmland where the remains of at least one missing young man were buried deep underground, the county's district attorney announced early Thursday.

The discovery marked a grim turn in the intense search for four men who disappeared late last week.

Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said the remains of 19-year-old Dean Finocchiaro, of Middletown Township, were positively identified. 

Weintraub said there were other human remains buried in the 12-and-a-half foot deep "common grave" on the vast 90-acre Solebury Township farm, but that investigators are still working to distinguish the identities of others.

Weintraub also revealed that Finocchiaro's death was ruled a homicide though he did not have an exact cause.

"This is a homicide, make no mistake about it," Weintraub announced shortly after midnight during a news conference attended by a throng of media and residents, as well as friends of the missing men. "We just don't know how many homicides. We are yet to know the answer to that question."


Finocchiaro, along with 22-year-old Mark Sturgis of Pennsburg, Montgomery County; 21-year-old Tom Meo of Plumstead Township; and 19-year-old Jimi Tar Patrick of Newtown Township, vanished last week.

Cosmo DiNardo, 20, was named a person of interest in the case on Tuesday. His family owns the farm, located along Lower York Road in Solebury Township about 30 miles north of Philadelphia, where the remains were found.

DiNardo was arrested Wednesday after investigators determined he tried to sell Meo's 1996 Nissan Maxima to a friend after his disappearance. He has not been charged, however, in Finocchiaro's death. DiNardo is being held in the Bucks County jail on $5 million cash bail.

DiNardo was also arrested Monday on an unrelated weapons charge but left the Bucks County jail Tuesday night after his father, Antonio DiNardo, posted 10 percent of $1 million bail.

According to an affidavit obtained by NBC10, DiNardo was accused of possessing a 20-gauge shotgun and ammunition in February despite being barred from owning a firearm due to a history of mental illness that included an involuntary commitment. A district judge dismissed the charge in May, but the district attorney authorized for it to be refiled on Monday.

A family lawyer released a statement Wednesday, before the human remains were discovered, on behalf of DiNardo's parents.

"As parents, Mr. and Mrs. DiNardo sympathize with the parents and families of the missing young men and they are cooperating in every way possible with the investigation being conducted by law enforcement," the lawyer wrote.

High-powered attorney Fortunato Perri Jr., who has represented several local celebrities including Philadelphia hip-hop artist Beanie Sigel, was also hired to represent DiNardo in court.

DiNardo and the missing men all appeared to know one another, prosecutors said.

According to Sturgis' father, Mark Potash, Sturgis and Meo are longtime friends who work in construction for him. Finocchiaro was a mutual friend of theirs, Potash said. Investigators began looking at DiNardo after they received tips indicating he was seen with the men shortly before they went missing.

Patrick went missing on Wednesday, July 5. He has not contacted family or friends or shown up for work, police said. Finocchiaro was last seen alive Friday around 6:30 p.m. getting into a vehicle on Hampton Drive.

According to a newly obtained criminal complaint, Meo's mother reported him missing Saturday. Meo's girlfriend said she last texted him Friday at 6:53 p.m. and didn't hear from him after.

Sturgis, who was last seen leaving his home on Walt Road in Pennsburg around 6 p.m. Friday, told his father he was going to meet with Meo in Doylestown.

On Sunday at 2:10 a.m., Sturgis' vehicle was found in the area of Peddler's Village in Buckingham Township about two miles away from a DiNardo family home on Aquetong Road.

Less than two hours later, Meo's car was discovered at the DiNardo home. Detectives say they found Meo's car keys hanging up on the wall of the garage. They also found Meo's diabetic supplies inside the vehicle.

On Sunday at 4:30 p.m., Bucks County detectives interviewed DiNardo's friend, whose identity police are withholding. The friend told police DiNardo had called him Saturday at 5 p.m. The two then met on Bristol and Galloway roads in Bensalem where DiNardo allegedly offered to sell Meo's Nissan Maxima to him for $500, the criminal complaint reads.

Police also interviewed DiNardo Sunday. DiNardo allegedly told detectives he was driving a silver Ford pickup truck Friday night.

A Solebury Township police mobile license plate reader data found DiNardo's Ford pickup truck was on 2541 Street Road in Solebury Township Friday at 7:49 p.m. Within a few seconds, the license plate reader also captured Meo's vehicle at the same location.

The location where both vehicles were captured is within two miles away of the DiNardo home and less than one mile away from where Sturgis' vehicle was found.

Based on the information, investigators say they had probable cause that DiNardo did "unlawfully take and retain control" of Meo's vehicle.

Law enforcement members scoured the DiNardo family's Solebury Township farm for several days.  Investigators also used heavy equipment to dig on the property and deployed canines to search for clues.

Susan Coleman, a woman who lives near the farm, told NBC10's Deanna Durante that she heard gunshots from around the property on Saturday — hours after Meo and others were last seen.

"We heard a series of blasts, they were loud," Coleman said.

Coleman said she was sitting outside with her husband when she heard the gunfire but at first didn't think much of it since people go hunting in the area. But, she decided to talk to investigators after hearing what sounded like more gunshots then yelling and commotion.

Family members kept vigil Wednesday though some relatives of one of the victims were seen fighting amongst each other in the early evening. 

Weintraub said he notified Finocchiaro's family about the discovery of their son's remains shortly before he made the public announcement.

About 50 students, faculty and staff also gathered at a chapel at Loyola University in Maryland where Patrick was a rising sophomore to pray for him and the three other men. Director of Campus Ministry Sean Bray told the Baltimore Sun the group wanted to honor the request of Patrick's grandmother to "storm heaven with our prayers for Jimi's safe return."

Officials continue to work to identify the other human remains that were found Wednesday night. The investigation is ongoing.

"We're going to remain strong," Weintraub said after announcing Finocciaro's death. "We're going to see this investigation to the end and we're going to bring each and every one of these lost boys home to their families, one way or another. And we will not rest until we do that."

This story is developing. Check back for updates.



Photo Credit: Handout Photos / SkyForce10
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One Dead in Crash on State Route 98 in San Marcos: CHP

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At least one person has died in a crash on the State Route 78 in San Marcos Wednesday night, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) confirmed.

The crash happened around 9:52 p.m. on the westbound SR-78 at Twin Oaks Valley.

The crash involved multiple vehicles, CHP said.

One lane on the eastbound SR-78 and lanes one and two on westbound have been blocked until further notice, 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.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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