The cycling community is mourning the loss of a local cyclist who died in a crash at the San Diego Velodrome.

Jackie Price Dunn, 33, a newcomer to cycling, died from fatal injuries sustained in a crash while racing at the Velodrome in Balboa Park on Tuesday. Details of the fatal cycling crash have not yet been released.

According to a biography about Dunn posted on the website Crank Cycling, the amateur cyclist moved to San Diego in 2008 with her husband, who is a naval officer. The bio says Dunn took up cycling in 2012 after competing in her first-ever triathlon.

She began working with Crank Cycling coach Chris Daggs in December 2012, and had been actively riding and racing ever since. The bio says she had “recently added track racing to her repertoire” prior to her untimely death.

Dunn was part of the local Catalyst Racing Cycling Team.

Dunn’s coach and teammate, Brian Wilson, told NBC 7 that although Dunn was new to cycling, her enthusiasm for the sport was infectious. Wilson said Dunn had found a sport she loved dearly.

Wilson witnessed Dunn’s fatal crash at the Velodrome on Tuesday. He calls the incident a freak accident.

Dunn’s friends are choosing not to talk about the accident that took her life. Instead, they want to focus on who Dunn was when she was alive -- a bright, vivacious person.

Teammates say that once Dunn got on a bike, she became even more motivated and driven compared to other sports she had tried. Eventually, they say she began partaking in road races and had recently taken up track racing.

Friends also say Dunn inspired others to race, doubling the number of women on her team just by talking to riders about racing.

“She always found those people and she immediately said, ‘You should try bike racing it's the most amazing thing ever.’ And she just wanted to go on about it and she had a smile that got bigger and bigger. You could see the passion behind it,” said Wilson.

On Saturday, friends and fellow cyclists will participate in a memorial bike ride for Dunn.

Organizers say more than 200 riders are set to partake in the ride, including many of Dunn’s friends, co-workers and racing teammates. The ride begins at 8 a.m. at CoronadoTidelands Park. The route will then move through the Silver Strand Bikeway path. Watch this video for more route details.

Meanwhile, the San Diego Velodrome website has posted the following statement about Dunn’s death:

“The San Diego Velodrome and the entire cycling community has experienced a terrible loss, and words cannot express our shock and sadness. Jackie was an enthusiastic rider and experienced success in a short amount of time. She was a big proponent of women’s racing, but wasn’t afraid to race with the men. Jackie was a tenacious racer with a vibrant personality who quickly became a true member of the Velodrome community.”

Dunn’s friend, Angel Castillo, has established an online memorial fund for Dunn. All of the funds raised will go to Dunn’s family to help cover funeral expenses and help Dunn’s husband, Durward, establish a community-focused, non-profit organization in his late wife’s name, the web page says.

According to a recent post by Castillo, Dunn was an “open, warm and fierce competitor.”

“The amateur cycling world is very small. When we lose one of our own, it's like losing a family member,” the post continues.

In another post uploaded on Thursday, Castillo said a memorial service for Dunn will be held Monday at La Jolla Presbyterian Church. Dunn will then be buried in College Station, Texas.

On Friday the following message from Dunn’s husband, Durward, was posted to Dunn’s memorial fund page:

“Thank you to everyone who has already given their support. Our insurance has covered her medical expenses and all funds raised here will go to fund programs she was passionate about to include women's empowerment/mentorship, women's programs in STEM, faith based youth and ministry work, and amateur cycling programs. Jackie was so loving and generous in her life that she could not help but impact those around her. I love her and hope to carry on her legacy of love and involvement.”

To donate to the memorial fund, click here.

The FBI says it has finally arrested the North Texas man believed to be the "Mesh Mask Bandit."

The FBI said Luis Delagarza, 59, of Farmers Branch, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with committing armed bank robbery.

Delagarza was once considered one of the most dynamic local leaders in the Latino community.

"This was somebody that associated with some of the most important people in Dallas," said Carlos Quintanilla, Accion America president and longtime community activist.

NBC 5's sister station Telemundo interviewed Delagarza several years ago about immigration reform.

The FBI said a witness identified Delagarza from a photo lineup.

According to the FBI's complaint and affidavit, the witness saw the face of the man who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank in the 13000 block of Josey Lane in Farmers Branch on April 22.

The bank is blocks from Delagarza's home.

The witness reported seeing the man's face both before he pulled on his dark mask and entered the bank with a handgun and after the robbery, when he removed the mask outside the bank.

"The identification of the 'Mesh Mask Bandit' by the FBI's Bank Robbery Task Force was the result of collaborative local and federal investigation across nine cities," said Diego G. Rodriguez, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Dallas Field Division. "The arrest of this dangerous individual illustrates the effectiveness of task forces, the support provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office and cooperation within the law enforcement community."

The FBI had dubbed the bank robber the Mesh Mask Bandit because of his mesh mask that hid his face.

The Mesh Mask Bandit was linked to robberies at 19 banks in North Texas since New Year's Eve.

Bank customers said they are relieved an arrest has been made.

"I'm glad they caught him," Brandon Vidal said. "It's a good thing. Put him away."

Delagarza made his initial appearance in federal court Friday. A judge ordered that he remain in federal custody.

He will be back in court on Tuesday.

Delagarza was arrested twice before on charges of speeding and theft.

Previous Reports:

• Mesh Mask Bandit Frustrates Bank Customers
• 18th Bank Robbery Linked to Mesh Mask Bandit
• FBI Works to Catch "Mesh Mask Bandit"
• Grand Prairie Police Search for Bank Robber
• FBI Offers $15K Reward for "Mesh Mask Bandit"
• "Mesh Mask Bandit" Robs Three More Banks
• FBI Search for Bank Robber in Mesh Mask

NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.

Ten days after a successful double-lung transplant surgery, 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan is out of a coma and responding to questions, according to a family spokesperson.

Murnaghan received her new lungs on June 12, after spending three months at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with end-stage cystic fibrosis.

Sarah's mother Janet posted an update on her Facebook page Saturday.

"Sarah's less confused this afternoon. She is pointing to every tube that's coming out of her and wanting me to explain it. She seems less scared, seems to understand she got her transplant. All your prayers are working. Thank you!!!"

The Newtown Square girl made headlines after her parents battled national policy over how children under 12 are placed on the waiting list for donated lungs.

Her new lungs came from an adult donor, after a judge decided that the under 12 rule could be modified in her case-- a decision that put her on the adult list.

The transplant isn't a cure for cystic fibrosis, but it can extend her life by years.

RELATED STORIES:

Successful Surgery for Sarah Murnaghan

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Judge's Ruling Challenges U.S. Transplant System

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During his lifetime, Saint Francis of Assisi was famously devoted to animals. Paintings and statues depict the saint frolicking with birds, dogs and other beasts.

The lore of San Francisco’s namesake seemed an ideal fit for a city where dogs outnumber kids. Inside the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in San Francisco’s North Beach, tributes to the saint’s life abound, especially in its annual blessing of the animals.

On a recent weekend, the shrine’s rector Father Gregory Coiro blessed some 500 pets during the two-day stretch.

“Mostly dogs,” said Coiro, wearing a brown robe and tangled beard. “But there were a few cats and a few angora rabbits.”

The Shrine has long opened its doors to living pets in the spirit of Saint Francis. But now, it’s also opening them to the dead. In a newly discovered grotto beneath the shrine’s front steps, Coiro has envisioned the building of a columbarium to house the ashes of the dearly departed of the pet world.

“The people who bring their pets here can be Catholic or they can be non-Catholic,” said Coiro. “Cause afterall, the animals have no religion.”

Currently the concrete pillared cave looks like the ruins of a Roman temple.

Though work on the site has not yet begun, the Shrine recently released a brochure with depictions of glass-walled partitions where pets’ ashes will be interned.

Visitors will be greeted by a large portrait of Saint Francis himself, and a video monitor will play video loops of pets enshrined in the space. In another corner, a large memorial will pay tribute to police and rescue dogs, like those who searched for survivors and bodies amid the rubble of the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11.

“As somebody walks through and visits the columbarium it’ll be like an on-going history of people involved with the shrine; animals that have been involved in families lives,” said Bill McLaughlin, a church volunteer who’s helping organize the construction.

Some of the shrine’s neighbors have complained they weren’t notified in advance of plans to store ashes amid hundreds of businesses. Fabio Giotta, one of the owners of nearby Caffe Trieste said he was surprised by plans to build a “pet cemetery in a national shrine.” Coiro said the shrine hasn’t yet applied for permits from the city.

Both the San Francisco Health and Planning Departments referred calls on the matter to each other. A Health Department Spokeswoman said the department was only interested in dead animals when people ate them.

Coiro admitted the columbarium would also help generate money for the upkeep of the shrine.

He said the church hadn’t determined the fees for housing pet cremains, although the brochure was seeking donations to the project in the $1000 to $40,000 range.

Coiro said he was moved by his childless sister who considered her dogs family, and was distraught when they died.

“I understand for many, many people, their animals are very dear to them,” said Coiro.

A man was stabbed 14 times in downtown’s East Village neighborhood Friday night and survived the attack, police confirmed.

According to authorities, the 36-year-old victim got into an altercation with another man in the 1000 block of F Street around 9:45 p.m. The other man allegedly stabbed the victim 14 times in the torso and then fled the scene.

The stabbing victim was taken to local trauma center for treatment. On Saturday morning, police said the man was still hospitalized and his condition had stabilized.

Police describe the knife-wielding suspect as a black male between 40 and 50 years old. He’s 6-foot-3, 185 pounds and was wearing a grey sweatshirt and cargo pants at the time of the alleged assault.

Anyone with information on this case should contact the San Diego Police Department.
 

A San Diego Police Department cruiser was involved in a crash in Encanto Friday night, officials said.

The collision happened around 10:30 p.m. at 65th Street and Imperial Avenue.

Medics were called to the scene for at least three patients who sustained minor injuries.

It is unclear what led to the crash and who was at fault, as the investigation is pending.

Officers temporarily shut down Imperial Avenue at 65th Street following the accident and provided traffic control in the area.

The name of the officer involved in the crash was not released.

As beach-goers flock to the beaches this summer, lifeguards and one Whittier man are warning about the presence of stingrays.

Blake Carter, 23, had been recovering from a sting he suffered Tuesday at Sunset Beach, near Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.

"It's right there, the sting ray barb was right there," said Carter, as he pulled off his sock to reveal a swollen foot.

The picture he took on his cell phone showed his heel, bleeding from the sting he got when he stepped onto a stingray and felt what he described as intense pain.

"It felt like a dog bit me, it was really powerful," said Carter. "It was pretty excruciating, actually."

Warm weather and water attracts the stingrays to Southern California beaches. Last year, Huntington Beach city beaches reached an all-time high of 438 stingray incidents by November due to unseasonably warm weather and water, which are conditions that attract the stingrays, according to the Orange County Register.

Lifeguards are educating beach-goers on how to "shuffle" when approaching the water, a method known as the "stingray shuffle."

"It's very simple," said Kevin Pearsall, a lifeguard supervisor with Bolsa Chica state beach. "You're trying to let the stingray know that you're in the area. As you enter the water, you kind of shuffle to get the sand moving and the area moving, so they know you're coming and they will flee."

Stingray injuries are so common at Huntington Beach city beaches that there is a dedicated recovery room to treat injuries.

"I'm definitely a little bit more cautious and aware," said Carter. "But it's important to realize we are playing in the place they live."

As the Afghanistan War comes to an end, hundreds of volunteers gathered for the last “packing party” Saturday, putting together the last shipment of “comfort kits” for troops serving in Afghanistan.

The Operation Caregiver group got together from 10 a.m. until noon at the USN USMC Reserve Center on Pomerado Road.

For almost a decade, Operation Caregiver has been supporting men and women in uniform stationed at the "tip of the spear” fighting in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

The founder and organizer of Operation Caregiver, Michael G. LaMar, said the program started back in 2003 when he found out marines fighting overseas were running out of basic hygiene products.

”We found out that they were taking showers with baby wipes and they were running out of toothbrushes, toothpaste,” he recalled.

At these packing parties, a group gets together to form an assembly line and pack care kits that contain 15 basic hygiene or comfort items for troops who need them most. Volunteers mail the kits to a command level Sergeants Major who then distributes the supplies to servicemen and women in Afghanistan and Iraq.

At the final "packing party," LaMar elaborated a bit on why he likes to help.

“I get these wonderful notes back from the marines on the little MRE postcards and they tell me: ‘Thank you very much. Here at 10,000 feet into the Hindu Kush it feels like home,’” he said.

This last packing party was a bitter-sweet event for LaMar. He said volunteers have put many hours of hard work into the project, but he's very happy the troops are coming back from Afghanistan.

“I’m glad the guys are coming home. I’d rather be put out of business that way,” he said.

There was a lot of emotion among the hundreds of volunteers who filled the gym Saturday, packing kits for the very last time.

As they finished up with the last shipment, Operation Caregivers went on to celebrate at an after party.

An overnight neighborhood safety sweep in Chula Vista targeting repeat gang and weapon violations offenders yielded arrests and the seizure of firearms, Oxycodone pills and drug paraphernalia.

The sweep was conducted by officers from the Chula Vista Police Department, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, San Diego County Probation and U.S. Border Patrol. Officers conducted compliance checks on known weapon and gang offenders who are on probation.

Authorities say the first compliance check in the 1100 block of Industrial Avenue netted two arrests for weapons and drug violations.

Officers seized a short-barreled shotgun, five rifles, Oxycodone pills and methamphetamine pipes discovered in a suspect’s workshop in the back of his home.

Police say the suspect – identified as Chula Vista resident John Christie, 63 – also appeared to have been allegedly manufacturing suppressors for the rifles. Police arrested Christie at the scene.

Christie’s acquaintance, Robert Wooster, 53, was also arrested. He was wanted for a misdemeanor drug court violation. Both suspects will be booked into county jail.

The safety sweep was funded with federal funds associated with Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Chula Vista Police Chief David Bejarano said the operation was a success in its mission to make local streets safer.

"Tonight's operation is an important means to take weapons off the streets and ensure known criminals are complying with the terms of their probation or parole. When we partner with allied law enforcement agencies, the public wins because we can be more efficient and effective,” said Bejarano.
 

Heartland Fire and California Highway Patrol officials rushed to the scene of a multi-vehicle car accident in Lakeside Saturday.

According to officials, the crash involving three to four cars happened around 2:40 p.m. off northbound State Route 67 near the Winter Gardens exit.

Details surrounding the crash were not immediately available. It is unclear how many people were involved, but officials did say it was a serious injury accident.

CHP officials said at least two lanes of traffic were blocked on the freeway following the collision between Bradley Avenue and Winter Gardens Boulevard. Check this map for traffic updates.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

Friends and loved ones gathered Saturday morning for a memorial bike ride honoring a local cyclist who died following a crash at the San Diego Velodrome.

Jackie Price Dunn, 33, a newcomer to cycling, died from fatal injuries sustained in an accident while racing at the Velodrome in Balboa Park on Tuesday.

On Saturday morning, hundreds of cyclists – including Dunn’s husband, Durward Dunn – turned out to remember one of their own.

The memorial ride began at 8 a.m. at Coronado Tidelands Park. Cyclists then made their way through the Silver Strand Bikeway Path.

Dunn’s friend Kat Keivens helped organize the ride. She said the event was the perfect way to remember Dunn, who absolutely loved the sport.

“It was something that Jackie loved to do. She loved cycling, so it was just a common passion for everybody. So I thought it was a great way to honor and remember her, doing what she loved doing, and that was cycling,” Keivens told NBC 7.

Keivens described Dunn as a “very compassionate, caring and loving person” who was always smiling.

She was also extremely generous, even after her death.

“She was always giving and never expected anything back in return. She even did that after her death, she donated her organs, and that helped six other people in the process,” said Keivens.

Dunn’s husband, Durward, also took part in the ride. He said he’ll forever remember his wife as a person who always gave everything she did her all.

“She doesn’t do anything half-heartedly. She goes 100% for everything. It’s tough on me as her husband when she goes 100% on everything, because I can’t keep up sometimes, and even here, after she’s gone, I still can’t keep up,” Durward told NBC 7.

Durward said that just last Friday, he and his wife rode the very same route along the Silver Strand with friends. He said Dunn rode much faster than him that day but made sure to later come back and help him catch up with the group.

“She doesn’t even realize how strong she is,” said Durward. “That’s kind of how she is – she comes back to pick you up.”

Durward said his wife’s passion for cycling was infectious. She was part of the Catalyst Racing Cycling Team and her love of the sport enticed other women to take up cycling.

“I think her legacy is just to include people. She got eight people to join a women’s team with her because she just asked them to race,” he added.

Keivens said her friend will also be remembered as a fierce risk-taker who lived life to the fullest.

“Jackie always said, ‘If there’s not risk involved, you’re not living.”

Friends have established a memorial fund for Dunn. The money raised will eventually help Durward establish a community-centered, non-profit organization in his wife’s name. To donate, visit this website.
 

Hundreds of people who have been affected by addiction celebrated hope and recovery Saturday at the 2nd Annual 5K Walk for Sobriety.

The McAlister Institute, an addiction treatment center, organized the 5K walk at the NTC Park at Liberty Station to raise awareness about sobriety and the support needed for addicts on the road to recovery.

Participants began checking in at 8 a.m. and the actual walk started at 9 a.m. San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts and Tommy Sablan from KyXy’s “Jeff & Jer” show hosted the event.

More than 400 walkers and runners showed the power of recovery by wearing the number of days themselves or their loved ones have been clean and sober. They also added messages to their numbers about what it means to them to have taken the journey toward sobriety.

By walking and making donations, attendees celebrated treatment solutions that have made long-term success possible.

All proceeds from Saturday’s event will benefit McAlister Institute's 26 treatment and education programs across San Diego and Napa Counties.

The McAlister Institute says it has accumulated over 1,100 years of sobriety. Their mission is to “provide professional services that heal the lives of individuals and families, improving the quality of life in communities through the miracle of recovery.”

Southwest Airlines flights departing from Lindbergh Field are up and running again after a system outage caused delays Friday night.

According to San Diego International Airport officials, several Southwest Airlines flights were impacted beginning around 8:30 p.m.

A statement from Southwest Airlines said a system outage had caused the airline to temporarily hold departing flights. However, flights already in the air were not at all affected. The airline had all hands on deck Friday night to resolve the issue.

The system outage caused flight delays nationwide, not only at Lindbergh Field.

A few hours later, Southwest resumed take offs, still expecting some cancellations following the overnight glitch.

In San Diego, Southwest travelers were frustrated and upset by the unexpected delays. At least 11 local Southwest Airlines flights were impacted by the outage. Some of those planes were bound for Las Vegas, Sacramento, Austin, Chicago and Denver when the outage occurred.

One traveler, Sian Slater, said she was irritated by the situation, as she was scheduled to be in a wedding Saturday. Her flight had actually already boarded when the system went down, and since then she hadn’t received much information.

“I’m frustrated. There really haven’t been that many updates. They’ve run a couple of announcements, but they really haven’t said anything except that the system is partially up, but no word on when the planes will leave," Slater told NBC 7.

By about 11:15 p.m. the system was partially up and running and some flights were gearing up for takeoff.

On Saturday morning, the San Diego International Airport website showed that the majority of outbound Southwest Airlines had either taken off or were on time for their scheduled departures.

For the latest information on today’s Southwest flights leaving from San Diego, check the airport's website.
 

Two former Border Patrol agents have been sentenced to three decades in prison for their involvement in a human smuggling ring that brought hundreds of illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border.

On Friday, a federal judge sentenced brothers Raul and Fidel Villareal to serve 35 and 30 years in prison, respectively. Raul is accused of leading the human smuggling ring, while Fidel is accused of actually managing the operation.

Prosecutors say the brothers both worked as Border Patrol agents while smuggling illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Mexico using their official Border Patrol vehicles between 2005 and 2006.

Back in August 2012, a federal jury in San Diego convicted the Villareal brothers of conspiracy to bring in illegal immigrants for financial gain, multiple counts of bringing in illegal immigrants for financial gain and conspiracy to launder money.

They were also convicted of receiving bribes by public officials.

The former Border Patrol agents were arrested on Oct. 18, 2008, in Tijuana, Mexico, along with additional suspects Armando Garcia and Claudia Gonzalez.

In August 2012, prosecutors revealed that Garcia would lead groups of illegal immigrants into the U.S. by walking them across the border at locations other than official ports of entry. The Villareal brothers would then pick up those illegal immigrants using their official Border Patrol vehicles and bring them into the country.

Garcia and Gonzalez also allegedly conspired to launder money with the brothers.

During his career as a Border Patrol agent, Raul Villareal served as a spokesman and public face of the agency. He was featured in public service announcements warning people about the dangers of illegal immigration and human smuggling.

The driver of a car that fatally collided with a fire truck in Poway early Thursday morning had been released from jail just two days before the crash, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department confirmed.

According to officials, 44-year-old Robbie Gillespie had been released from jail on bond just 48 hours before his red Honda collided with a fire truck at Poway Road and Midland Road.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department has now confirmed that Gillespie had been previously arrested for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gillespie’s passenger – 19-year-old Poway resident Evelyn Courtney – died in the Thursday morning crash. Gillespie became trapped inside the vehicle and was later extricated by crews at the scene. He was taken to a local trauma center with unknown injuries.

On Thursday, investigating deputies said a broken alcohol bottle was found inside Gillespie’s car at the time of the crash. Officials have not confirmed if drugs or alcohol played a factor in the deadly collision.

Investigators say the fire truck, occupied by a crew of three Poway paramedics and firefighters, was en route to an emergency call when the engine and Honda collided. No firefighters were injured in the crash.

Courtney, the young victim killed in the collision, was an aspiring print and runway model who worked at Steinmart. On Thurday night, Courtney’s co-workers and friends held a candlelight vigil on the road where she was killed.

They prayed and shared stories about Courtney and left cards and flowers in her memory. Friends said the young woman had a promising career and life ahead before her untimely death.

Charges have not yet been filed against Gillespie, as the investigation is ongoing.

On Friday night, the victim’s father, Wade Courtney, and brother, Jonathan Courtney, spoke to NBC 7.

Wade said he’s deeply saddened by the loss of his young daughter, but is touched by the flowers, cards and online messages people have been leaving behind in Courtney’s memory.

As part of his grieving process, Wade has been posting his thoughts and photos he’s taken of his daughter over the years on Facebook.

He said Courtney was a natural in front of the camera, even at a young age, smiling and happily posing for endless photographs.

“I think I have a couple thousand [photos of Evelyn],” he told NBC 7.

Wade said looking at the pictures of his daughter is all part of the slow healing process.

“I didn’t cry a lot yesterday, but I cried a lot today and will cry more tomorrow,” said the father.

Wade said he walked right past the fatal accident in Poway Thursday morning on his way to catch the bus to work. He said seeing the crash gave him a sick feeling to his stomach, but at that time, he had no idea his daughter had been killed in the collision.

The teen’s brother, Jonathan, told NBC 7 he’s still in shock over the death of his sister.

Jonathan said he and his sister were close friends, and spent hours sharing their aspirations and dreams. Now, he said it’s hard to imagine fulfilling those dreams without her here.

“Her smile; I’m going to miss her smile the most. She almost always had a smile on her face,” said Jonathan.

Wade said his daughter didn’t know a stranger and touched many lives. He too will remember her picture perfect smile he so often photographed.

“She had a great sense of humor. She loved to make people laugh; she loved to laugh herself,” he added.

Investigators have not released details surrounding the nature of the relationship between Gillespie and Courtney but according to Wade, Gillespie was a mentor and friend to his daughter.

Wade said Gillespie was taking Courtney home early Thursday morning after she had finished working on a fashion project with Gillespie’s wife.

A memorial fund for Courtney has been established online. To donate, click here.