U.S. Park Police have surveillance video of the vandal who defaced the Lincoln Memorial overnight, and are now seeking a person of interest, sources tell News4.

The memorial was closed early Friday morning after green paint was found splattered on the base and lap of the statue of Lincoln. U.S. Park Police investigated the act of vandalism and National Park Service maintenance crews cleaned up the mess.

About 12 hours later, much of the rest of the memorial was reopened to visitors, though the area around the statue remained closed.

A visitor saw the paint on the statue and on the floor around it just before 1:30 a.m. Friday. No words or symbols were written on the statue, News4's Megan McGrath reported.

Morning joggers, who frequently run up and down the memorial's stairs as part of their workouts, found their path blocked off with yellow tape Friday morning.

"I have no idea who would want to do something like that," said Scott Arndt, who was out on his morning run shortly before 6 a.m. "To me, it's defacing America. It's not just defacing the Lincoln Memorial, but it's something against all of America."

"People come from all over the world, and to show that they can't get into one of our national landmarks because somebody vandalized it is kind of a black mark on our country," said jogger Keith Gillespie.

Visitors flocked to the memorial, hoping to get a close look at one of Washington's most famous attractions.

"Everyone got up so early, and we were trying to take photos and go inside and take a look, but we were told we cannot go in. It was quite disappointing," one tourist told McGrath.

Another tourist said, "They just desecrated one of our most memorable monuments, our president, you know...I'm just so surprised. I'm surprised. Why would they want to do that?"

Investigators spent the morning snapping photos while a police dog sniffed around, looking for the suspect's trail.

The cleaning, meanwhile, was performed by a special historic preservation team. Fortunately, there is no permanent damage.

"I can tell you it is on the base of the statue. It is also on the lap of the statue. It is not solid, let's put it that way. It is a splatter," said NPS spokeswoman Carol Johnson. 

This is not the first time vandalism has been reported at the site of one of the National Mall's memorials.

Back in 2007, an oily substance was found on the memorial wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Police determined the case to be an act of vandalism and not an accident, The Washington Post reported. The removal process took weeks to complete.

Two additional incidents of vandalism have been reported at  Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the past. In 1993, the directory stands at the entrance of the memorial were burned, and a swastika and scratches were found etched in two of the memorials panels in 1988. Both panels were replaced.

Other than those incidents, Johnson said she cannot recall any other cases of vandalism at the National Mall.

The Lincoln Memorial, which was dedicated in 1922, is open to the public 24 hours a day. 

U.S. Park Police Union President Ian Glick released the following statement:

"This type of reprehensible act is unfortunate but it did not permanently damage the memorial and this incident further underscores the need for the National Park Service to provide more funding and more personnel so as to provide a higher level of deterrence through officer presence. We are fortunate that this deplorable act can be remedied but caution that we are lucky that this wasn't an act of terrorism."

UPDATE: This story has been corrected from a previous version. 

 MORE ON NBCWashington.com:

• Virginia Woman Killed in Spanish Train Derailment
• Md. Court: Bars Not Liable for Patrons' Accidents
• Threatening Emails Allegedly Sent to Cuccinelli
• Police: Man Named Honesty Lies About Bomb
• Man Arrested After Computer Virus Sends Him to Police Station

All students in the Los Angeles Unified School District will receive free iPads by 2014, CITEworld.com reported Friday.

As part of a June agreement with Apple, 31,000 iPads will be distributed this school year and will be paid for with $30 million in tax money. All 640,000 K-12 students in the country's largest school district will have the device for use in the classroom by 2014.

“Education is in Apple’s DNA and we’re thrilled to work with Los Angeles Unified public schools on this major initiative as they plan to roll out iPads to every student across 47 campuses this fall,” Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing said in a press release.

Apple's signature tablet won't be used for "Angry Birds" or "Temple Run" however. The iPads will come pre-loaded with educational apps, textbooks and other software to aid students the LAUSD says wouldn't normally be able to afford the technology.

"The most important thing is to try to prepare the kids for the technology they are going to face when they are going to graduate," Mark Hovatter, the chief facilities executive for the LAUSD, told CITEworld.

"This is phase one, a mix of high school, middle school, and elementary students. We're targeting kids who most likely don't have their own computers or laptops or iPads. Their only exposure to computers now is going to be in their schools."

Nearly two dozen undernourished horses – plus many other animals – were seized from a ranch in Ramona this week by the County Department of Animal Services (DAS).

According to the DAS, 22 horses and foals, along with eight dogs and puppies, one cat, one rabbit, one guinea pig and three mice were taken from a property belonging to Ramona resident Lori Patton on Monday.

Just two months ago, the DAS seized 10 horses from Patton’s ranch. The animals were found near the roadway along highway 78, undernourished and without food and water.

Since then, the DAS had been monitoring Patton’s herd to ensure her animals were receiving the proper care.

In recent weeks, animal control officers noticed several horses becoming thin. Officers posted a notice at Patton’s property on Jul. 15 stating the animals would be seized if conditions did not improve.

Officials say Patton requested a hearing to contest the seizure. That hearing took place on Friday, at which point a hearing officer authorized the DAS to seize all animals on Patton’s property.

DAS officials say a veterinarian examined all 22 horses and determined they were below the proper weight. Some were also in need of dental care.

The animals are now receiving treatment.



Animal Services director Dawn Danielson says the investigation into this case is ongoing, but believes seizing the animals was the right move.

“The owner was not providing the necessary care to improve the health of the horses which left us no choice but to seize her animals and take them into protective custody,” said Danielson.

From here, the DAS says Patton has 14 days to reclaim her animals if she’s able to show that she can provide the necessary care for them and pay the cost of their impoundment, housing and medical care.

As for the 10 horses seized from Patton’s ranch back in May, the DAS said most of those horses have since been adopted.

A brush fire burned at Lake Hodges Thursday evening, according to officials.

The fire started around 5 p.m. near Lake Drive and Del Dios Highway and spread  to roughly 10 acres.

Escondido and Rancho Santa Fe firefighters responded to the scene, while CAL Fire assisted with firetrucks and an aircraft making water drops.

By  5:50 p.m., officials said the majority of the fire had been extinguished and firefighters had the flames surrounded.

Aerial views showed homes near the site of the fire, but there were no reports of structures damaged. No one was injured.

A reverse 911 call was placed to nearby residents and deputies also went door-to-door to warn people. Any residents displaced are advised to proceed to the North County Fair Mall.

A woman from the D.C. metro area was among the more than 80 people killed when a passenger train derailed in Spain Wednesday.

Ana-Maria Cordoba, 47, worked as a benefits specialist for the Catholic Diocese of Arlington in northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C.

Cordoba was traveling with her husband and daughter, who were also in the crash and are now listed in stable condition at a local hospital. The three were on their way to visit Cordoba's youngest son, who had just finished the Camino, a pilgrimage across northern Spain.

Mike Donohue with the Arlington Diocese said the staff found out Thursday afternoon Cordoba had passed away.

"Initially we had just heard she was missing, [and] a noon mass was held [Thursday]," Donohue said. "She was very well-liked... [and] very helpful. She had a deep faith and was so very sweet."

At least five other Americans were also injured in the crash.

Excessive speed has been identified as the likely cause of the accident, which occurred near the city of Santiago de Compostela in the Galicia region. Security video that surfaced Thursday shows the train speeding around a right curve.

The driver of the train was detained and put under formal investigation Thursday, NBC News reported.

• READ MORE: Driver of Train Detained

The Spanish government has declared a national mourning period of three days in the wake of the crash, which was Europe’s worst mainline rail accident for more than 25 years.

President Obama issued a statement that said he and the first lady were "shocked and saddened" by the news of the crash.

"We offer our deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the more than 80 people who lost their lives," the statement read.

Mayor Bob Filner appeared at groundbreaking ceremony to kick-off construction on the trolley's Blue Line on Thursday.

A swarm of media was at the area, as Filner has he's missed several public appearances since he was accused of sexually harassing multiple women.

Special Section: Mayor Under Fire

NBC 7 San Diego asked what he makes of the sexual harassment allegations against him. Filner replied saying he wants due process to fully play out, and that a fair procedure is underway.

Still, the Mayor dodged most media questions – the once-talkative mayor now silent.

There was a lot of attention on the mayor Thursday because with three alleged victims have gone public, but not a lot of answers from him.

Mayor Filner said he wants a fair chance to defend himself, but that's all he voiced to media.

Others at the event did not want to comment.

"I don't express an opinion on things that I don't know,” said Harry Mathis, chairman of the Metropolitan Transit Service board of directors. “I’m going to pass any judgment here. It's not my place."

NBC 7 San Diego put in a request to speak with the Mayor's new chief-of-staff, a woman, but did not hear back from Bob Filner's office.

An Escondido woman was inappropriately touched in her sleep by an unknown intruder who entered her bedroom through an open window early Wednesday morning, police confirmed.

The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. at a home on Magnolia Place.

Police say a man reached through the open window of a ground-level room and touched a woman’s body while she was asleep in bed with her two young children.

The suspect fled the scene before police could arrive.

According to investigators, this incident may be connected to several other similar cases recently reported in  Escondido and San Marcos.

In most instances, the suspect targets young girls who live in ground-level bedrooms. He enters the rooms through open windows late at night while victims are sleeping and then proceeds to touch the girls in their sleep.

Last Friday, an incident like this happened to a young girl in San Marcos. An unknown man entered her bedroom through a window and touched her, but fled once the girl began screaming.

Police say this most recent incident in Escondido is now being investigated as part of this ongoing series involving what appears to be the same suspect. A suspect description has not yet been released.

Officials want to remind residents to lock all doors and windows, especially overnight. Residents should also consider installing motion detectors or keeping one exterior light on overnight.

Any suspicious activity should be immediately reported to the Escondido Police Department.

Neighbors are to thank for saving the life of an El Cajon family who were sleeping when their garage caught fire.

Nearby residents said they heard a loud boom around 5:30 a.m. and then saw flames shooting from the home on North Ivory Avenue.

One person went in to awaken the family of three.

Firefighters said there was ammunition inside the garage but was never a real danger.

The homeowner owns a nearby gun shop.

Fire crews said they were able to extinguish the fire in approximately 10 minutes.

Fire investigators will determine the cause of the fire later Friday morning.
 

At first, when 35-year-old Jen Bulik developed a cough that she couldn't shake, doctors diagnosed it as pneumonia. But when it still didn't go away with treatment, further tests showed the fateful diagnosis: Stage IV lung cancer.

Last month, after five months of treatment, Bulik received the dreaded news from her doctors: Even with continued treatment, she had less than six months to live.

"So when I heard that, I said, 'Let's get married,'" said Bulik, who had been dating longtime boyfriend Jeff Lang for six years. "Because I wanted to focus on life."

With time running out, Bulik and Lang chose to plan a simple, small wedding with close friends and family -- barbecue food served on paper plates in Jen's parents back yard.

Instead, thanks to the help of strangers, the couple will get married on Saturday, and Bulik will get the wedding of her dreams. Thirty Bay Area wedding vendors are donating $50,000 worth of goods and services to make Bulik's wedding dreams come true.

The dream wedding is being organized by Erica Ota, a wedding planner who saw a message about Bulik and Lang on a Facebook group for wedding planners.

Their story touched her.

"I just feel that in life there are opportunities every day to do extraordinary things for other people,” Erica says. “This was an opportunity I saw to do something for somebody else. So why not?”

At first, Ota planned on helping out the day of the wedding. But as she got to know the couple, she decided she needed to do more.

“I got the impression from reading excerpts from her [Jen’s] blog that she’s the most positive, optimistic person," Ota said. "And despite this grave prognosis, she seemed like she wasn’t going to give up, it still seems that way.”

Over the last few weeks, she used Bulik's Pinterest wedding board as a guide to plan the dream wedding. She enlisted the help of more than 30 Bay Area wedding vendors to provide everything on the Pinterest board -- and the couple didn't have to pay anything.

“It was my goal for them not to pay a dime,” Erica says. “I thought to myself these people have already suffered enough, why not be able to give them a gift? A wonderful gift that they, and their families will never be able to forget.”

The couple will say their vows in a park down the street from Jen's childhood home. The dream reception will be follow in the back yard of her parents' house.

“I think it’s amazing the generosity in their heart,” Bulik said, “and they’re so touched by our story and that’s I guess it’s like people have feelings.”

If you would like to contribute to a fund set up to help the couple during this difficult time, you can donate at giveforward.com.

A 66-year-old Florida woman was crushed by a homemade elevator when she went to visit her friend's Gulf Coast home earlier this week, authorities said.

Margaret Elizabeth Harrison went to Jean Blair's home on Tuesday morning at about 7:30 a.m, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office said.

Blair has a motorized wheelchair and uses a homemade elevator to get around her three-story house, authorities said.

On Tuesday, Blair rode the elevator from the third floor to the living area on the second floor. She then sent the elevator to the first floor for Harrison to use, the sheriff's office said.

When Harrison hadn't arrived by 9 a.m., Blair called Harrison's boyfriend, who drove to the house and saw Harrison's car in the driveway. When he got in the house, he turned on elevator's power to raise it and saw Harrison was underneath.

Fire Rescue pronounced Harrison dead at the scene. Autopsy results showed that her death was an accident, the sheriff's office said.

The homemade elevator was added to the home after it was built about 17 years ago, the sheriff's office said. It was made by Blair's husband using a fork lift, wood and welded material. The couple told deputies it was maintained monthly, and it had never failed before.

However, when Hernando County Building Department arrived at the house, it determined that there were no permits issued for any "lift" or elevator in the house. The "lift," which was found to have dangerous electrical connections, was deemed illegal and unsafe.The Hernando County Building Department shut it down, the sheriff's office said.

Weird Stories:

• Man Arrested After Ranting Store Didn't Sell His Favorite Drink: Cops
  
• Campgrounds Shut Down Due to Squirrel With Plague
  
• Man Arrested in Deadly 'Dine and Dash:' Deputies

One month after the Supreme Court struck down a crucial provision of the Defense of Marriage Act, gay Americans and the government alike are still sorting through the ramifications of the ruling — just as advocates double down on their efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in the states.

When the court declared unconstitutional a key part of the 1996 law that barred the federal government from recognizing same-sex couples’ marriages, it changed how married same-sex couples would be treated under the law, laying the groundwork for them to get the same federal spousal benefits and immigration rights as straight couples. It also gave a huge boost to the idea that same-sex marriages are marriages like any other.

“The Supreme Court ruling has added a great deal of momentum, understanding and sympathy,” said Evan Wolfson, founder and president of national gay marriage advocacy group Freedom to Marry. “We still have to take that momentum, understanding and sympathy and put them to work.”

Putting them to work has meant, for Wolfson’s group, parsing the meaning of the Supreme Court’s ruling, and ensuring the federal government complies. It has also meant a renewed focus on shoring up public support for same-sex marriage nationwide and a flurry of new campaigns in states seen as ripe for legalizing it.

BACK TO THE STATES

Just as the court struck down a key part of DOMA, it also dismissed an appeal over California’s gay marriage ban, clearing the way for same-sex marriages to resume in the nation’s most populous state.

California began marrying same-sex couples just two days after the Supreme Court handed down its ruling. It appears set, for now, to continue doing so, too: Despite efforts by Prop 8 proponents and by a San Diego county clerk, saying the ban was state law, the state’s Supreme Court refused this week to halt same-sex marriages.

Illinois and New Jersey, both of which now recognize same-sex couples’ civil unions, are next on the list of states where advocates see a shot at legalizing same-sex marriage. So is Hawaii, also a civil unions state — and the state where the possibility of same-sex marriage recognition back in the '90s was enough to spur Congress to pass DOMA.

Advocates say that where civil unions might once have been thought enough by state legislatures, the Supreme Court’s ruling suggest otherwise, and could help state efforts toward expanding protections.

“The ruling was so clear in talking about how personally demeaning and unfair it is to gay couples like Edie and Thea, effectively saying, 'Your love is not respected,'” Wolfson said. “The ruling also made clear that there is no good reason for this discrimination.”

An effort is underway in Oregon, meanwhile, to overturn a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, as well as to pass a new amendment legalizing same-sex marriage into the state constitution. If successful, the effort would be the first such successful effort at writing same-sex marriage into a state constitution.

Also on advocates’ radar is Pennsylvania, one of the few states where there is no constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, even though a law exists that effectively bans it. That law is called the Defense of Marriage Act and, like the now-gutted federal version, was passed in 1996.

Pennsylvania’s attorney general refused this month, after a lawsuit was filed challenging that ban, to defend it in court and called it “wholly unconstitutional.” And this week, an official in charge of marriage licenses for a county just outside Philadelphia forced the issue when he began issuing  licenses to same-sex couples despite the state’s ban.

A PATCHWORK OF LAWS

“The challenge is that the ruling doesn't recognize marriage in all states,” said Allison Steinberg of the New York LGBT rights advocacy group Empire State Pride Agenda. “It's confusing to people if their place of residence or their place of employment isn't in the same state as where they were married.”

That, for many advocates, is another reason to double down on the state-by-state effort toward recognition of same-sex marriage in the states.

But even states that had already recognized same-sex marriage are making their own efforts to comply with the ruling. This week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that married same-sex couples — like Edie Windsor, the widow whose Supreme Court challenge ultimately felled DOMA — would be refunded the state estate taxes they had had to pay because the federal government didn’t recognize their marriages.

The ramifications elsewhere aren’t so clear.

“What the Supreme Court ruling did was create kind of a patchwork of laws,” Steinberg said. “What we're doing is trying to sift through that and communicate to our community the benefits that they’ll soon have access to.”

That has meant working with federal agencies as they update their rules and policies to reflect the new federal status of married same-sex couples. Immigration agencies and the Pentagon have already taken major steps toward implementing the new rules, Wolfson said.

“What's been impressive has been not just the overall momentum that the court has added to the campaign, but also the tangible protections that so many people have begun to share in — the lives that have already benefited,” he said.

Still, more guidance is still needed from other agencies, particularly the Internal Revenue Service, he said. “Every day of denial is a day of real hardship and uncertainty for families.”

An apartment fire in City Heights was extinguished on Friday morning, according to officials.

The incident happened around 10 a.m. at 2868 47th St. near Polk Avenue. People called 911 when they saw smoke and flames in the area.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames in 5 minutes. The incident was isolated to one bedroom inside the complex.

Officials said two adults and three children have been displaced and Red Cross is assisting.

A man who sneaked up behind a Central Park jogger, threw her to the ground and dragged her off the path last month in an alleged attempt to rape her says it was all a joke and "her eyes" made him think she had a sense of humor and would find it funny.

Saul Alvarez was arrested about half an hour after the assault the night of June 28 and pleaded not guilty to first-degree attempted rape at his arraignment in Manhattan Supreme Court Thursday.

Shortly after he was taken into custody, the 21-year-old suspect told investigators "her eyes made me think that she had a good sense of humor and she would be a good person to play the prank on," according to court papers. 

He told authorities he jogged behind her for a few minutes, then made his move when a potential witness on a bike rode away. He said he hooked his right arm under her arm from behind, and "took her down to the ground." Once he grabbed her, the woman began screaming, managed to break free, ran off and called police.

"When I first took her down, I said 'prank," he told cops. "I've never done this prank in my life. This is the first time ever."

"My prank was supposed to be to scare her by grabbing her from behind and taking her down to the ground," Alvarez said.

He later clarified: "The only other time that I ever played this prank was on my wife few years ago and that's how we met."

The self-professed prankster says his other favorite jokes are to switch out skateboard wheels with marshmallows and replace people's coffee with water.

"I always 'Gotcha,'" he said. 

Alvarez faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. Information on an attorney for him wasn't immediately available.

An El Cajon man accused of killing his wife broke down in court as his daughter described finding her mother lying in a pool of blood.

Kassim Al-Himidi faces charges of first degree murder in the violent beating of his wife, Shaima Alawadi, 32.

Alawadi – an Iraqi immigrant -- was found unconscious inside her home in the 500 block of Skyview Street in March 2012.

Her 17-year-old daughter, Fatima, found her on the floor of their dining room with a suspicious note nearby.

Fatima was home the morning of the attack and said she heard a squeal and glass shattering. When she came downstairs, she saw her mother's feet near the kitchen entry and blood on the floor. She called 911.

As she testified Thursday, her father cried openly in court. Speaking in Arabic to his defense team and translator while wiping away tears.

The courtroom was filled with members of Alawadi's family, visiting from Houston, including the victim's brother, Hasseneen Alawadi.

Fatima testified that her parents' marriage started experiencing trouble in August 2011. Things really got bad in January, she said.

Her mother had planned to get a divorce and move to Texas, Fatima said. She testified that her father saw the divorce papers and laughed at her mother. She said her mother was furious that he wasn't taking her seriously.

Fatima also testified that her father would beg Alawadi to stay with him, telling her that he loved her.

When the family found a handwritten note on the carpet of the home (pictured right), the daughter testified that she begged her parents to call 911 but her mother thought it was a prank.

Then after her mother's death, Fatima testified she heard Al-Himidi say he had thrown objects out of his van "shoes and a metal thing."

"He said yes, that he did throw it away because he was afraid that the cops will suspect it was him," she testified.

After Alawadi's death, the defendant immediately traveled to Iraq to bury his wife.

He returned to the U.S. two weeks later and said he came back because he had nothing to hide.

Fatima also testified that even with the troubled marriage, she never witnessed her father striking her mother or any other member of the family. 

Alawadi's death reverberated across the nation until El Cajon police detectives later said the killing was an isolated incident and records suggested Alawadi's death may not have been a hate crime but rather one of domestic violence.

On Thursday, the victim's brother, Hasseneen Alawadi, told NBC 7 he knows Al-Himidi is guilty.

"We know the truth, but it has to be proven here in court today. The truth is, Kassim Al-Himihi killed my sister," said Hasseneen.

"When [Shaima] left home for two days [before her murder], she was coming to my house, to me and my other brother's house, to run away from him [Al-Himidi]," he added.

After a standoff lasting for more than 6 hours overnight, a man wanted for shooting his girlfriend in front of her 4-year-old daughter has been taken into custody.

The attempted murder suspect wanted by deputies barricaded himself inside an Imperial Beach home after shots were fired, officials said.

According to deputies, shots were fired around 6:20 p.m. at 3rd Street and Elkwood Boulevard, prompting deputies to call for back-up.

Officials said deputies were trying to arrest attempted murder suspect Ramiro Espinoza when gunfire erupted. At first, it was unclear if Espinoza or deputies had fired the rounds.

Witnesses later said a neighbor had fired shots at Espinoza, but officials would not immediately confirm that information. Officials did say, however, that deputies at the scene did not shoot their service weapons.

Following the gunfire, Espinoza barricaded himself inside a nearby home, leading to lengthy standoff with law enforcement that continued through the night.

Deputies called for assistance from SWAT around 6:50 p.m. Many residents in the area were told to shelter in place as officials honed in on the neighborhood.

As of 11 p.m., Espinoza remained barricaded inside a home, with SWAT and other law enforcement teams surrounding the area both by ground and air.

Just before 11 p.m., officials ordered residents in 22 nearby homes to evacuate. Residents were told to go to Mar Vista High School as the standoff continued, and the Red Cross was called to assist displaced residents.

Those who live in the Imperial Beach neighborhood told NBC 7 the incident left them on edge.

One man said he heard the gunshots that prompted the standoff, describing the gunfire as a series of rapid, loud popping sounds.

Resident Jake Skuze told NBC 7 his family was very scared after hearing shots.

“When [we heard] the gunshots – we just hit the ground. My little niece was obviously very frightened,” said Skuze.

John Brazaeu said his daughter lives across the street from the standoff zone and was holed up with her children inside their home for the entire afternoon.

“She's nervous. She has all the kids holed up in a back room playing video games and laying low,” he explained.

According to officials, Espinoza is accused of shooting his ex-girlfriend multiple times in the chest, head and neck in front of her 4-year-old daughter on May 24.

The woman sustained life-threatening injuries, but survived. The child was not injured.

Espinoza fled the scene following the shooting and has been at large ever since. For the past two months, Espinoza has had a $1 million arrest warrant for attempted murder, domestic violence, felony assault and felony possession of a weapon.

On Jun. 13, police released a photograph and detailed description of Espinoza in hopes of tracking him down.

Officials consider Espinoza armed and dangerous, and ask the public not to approach him.

“Our goal is to find this man, and get him into custody,” Jan Caldwell of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said at the scene Thursday night. “That's our number one concern. After that, we'll figure out exactly what happened.”

Flash bang rounds were deployed and the suspect was taken into custody just after 1 a.m. Friday.

Take advantage of gorgeous summer weather this weekend by checking out some of San Diego’s fun events.

Here’s what to do around the county:

Thursday, July 25

Taste of Pacific Islands
6-9 p.m. at 2230 Shelter Island Dr.
Local restaurants are gathering at Shelter Island to serve up a delicious Pacific Islander-themed menu. Tickets start at $25.

Friday, July 26

La Jolla Fashion Film Festival
Noon at 700 Prospect St.
Check out the best of fashion-focused film at this weekend-long event. Tickets start at $50.

Saturday, July 27

Super Heroes Fun Run
7:30 a.m. at Lake Murray
Even though Comic-Con is over, you can see see caped superheroes running around San Diego at this event.

Beer Fest
1 p.m. at Del Mar Fairgrounds
Sample some of your favorite suds at the racetrack on Saturday from some of Southern California’s best breweries. Ten tastings cost $20.

Pig & Poke
1-5 p.m. at 1047 Fifth Ave.
Try a taste of Aloha at Hotel Salomar’s SummerSalt Pool Lounge when chefs serve up roasted pig and fresh ahi poke. Tickets cost $35 in advance, $45 at the door.

Sunday, July 28

Obon Festival
Noon to 8 p.m. at 150 Cedar Road
This free Japanese festival is open to the whole community and features folk dancing, teas tastings and more.

La Jolla Concert by the Sea
2-4 p.m. Ellen Browning Scripps Park
Soak in the blues when the Bill Magee Blues Band plays at La Jolla Cove. The event is free and open to the public.

Two years ago, Tim Shockley’s blood pressure suddenly shot through the roof.

"It was a sudden change. From one doctor to the next, roughly six months in between, no cause, no difference. And all of a sudden at this doctor’s appointment the blood pressure was crazy high," Shockley said.

He took four drugs at maximum dosage but still, his blood pressure was high.  

"The side effects were intolerable. One gives you joint pain -- can’t get around the block. Another one, the fatigue is such that you just can’t operate," he said.

Then he got a stroke in his right eye.

"Your sight is everything. I’ve got an 18-month-old grandson. The thought of not being able to watch him grow up, it’s terrifying," he said.

Desperate for a solution, Shockley volunteered to be the first in the U.S. to try out a new device being tested at USC Keck Medical Center.

Barostim Neo, a pacemaker-like device implanted under the collarbone that sends electrical signals through a wire that is connected to the carotid artery in the neck, could help control high blood pressure without drugs, surgeon Dr. Karen Woo said.

"We’ve known for a time that this area of the artery controls blood pressure, but this is the first device that has tried to utilize that to help people with high blood pressure," Woo said.

The nerves here transmit the signals to the brain, activating the body’s natural blood pressure control mechanism.

"When the brain gets this signal, what it does is crank down that fight or flight response, and basically tells your body to relax," Woo said. "And the brain will send out signals that will in turn decrease your blood pressure."

Tim received the implant in May. Researchers are turning up the stimulation gradually, to ease him in.   Already it is starting to lower his blood pressure slightly.

"I just want it to work. I want the pills gone, and I just want to go about the rest of my life, not thinking about blood pressure," Shockley said.

When the stimulator is turned onto full power, Tim will see the full benefits.

USC is enrolling patients with uncontrollable blood pressure for this clinical trial.

The device is already being widely used in Europe, and researchers here hope it will eventually be approved in the U.S.