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Man Fires Shots Into Air Near Wal-Mart

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Chula Vista police are investigating an overnight incident involving a young man who allegedly fired a gun into the air in the parking lot of a Wal-Mart.

According to officials, the shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. near the Wal-Mart located at 1360 Eastlake Parkway.

An 18-year-old man allegedly pointed a gun into the air and fired, but didn’t shoot at anyone. Officials say the suspect then fled the scene in a white PT Cruiser that had paper plates.

Officials say the car was also occupied by another man and possibly two women.

No one was injured, but the Chula Vista Police Department is now searching for the suspect.
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Boy Caught in Rip Current Drowns in IB

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A 13-year-old boy from Mexico drowned in Imperial Beach earlier this month after getting caught in a rip current and being swept out to sea, the county medical examiner’s office confirmed.

According to a report released Friday by the medical examiner, the boy was swimming in the ocean off Playas de Tijuana on Jul. 15 when he became caught in a rip current.

The rip current pulled him out to sea and efforts to rescue him were unsuccessful.

On Thursday -- 10 days after the incident -- the teen’s body was found by U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife officers on the shoreline at the Monument State Park Beach, about a quarter-mile south of the Tijuana River mouth, the report said.

Deputies and the medical examiner were then called to the scene.

The boy’s official cause of death was determined to be accidental drowning. His name was not released.

According to the report, the boy had been swimming with one other person when the rip current took hold of him. It appears that second person survived, though further details regarding that swimmer were not immediately available.
 

NJ Man Gets 90 Years for Sexually Assaulting Daughters

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A New Jersey man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Friday after being found guilty of sexually assaulting his daughter, adding a half century to the 40 years he was sentenced to in November 2011 for sexually assaulting another of his daughters.

Aswad Ayinde, 55, was found guilty of the charges against the second daughter, whom he impregnated four times, in March. The jury found that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with her when she was between the ages of 8 and 22. 

At Ayinde's 2010 trial, his former wife said he was trying to create "pure" family bloodlines by impregnating several of his teenager daughters.

Arrested in 2006, Ayinde has been accused of raping five of his daughters, three of whom are believed to have given birth to a total of six children.

Authorities say the assaults began in the mid-1980s and lasted until 2002, when the parents separated, and occurred at residences in Paterson, East Orange, Orange and Eatontown. The time period overlaps with the family's coming to the attention of the state's child welfare agency.

According to court records and published reports, Ayinde was arrested in 2000 and charged with kidnapping for allegedly trying to take three of his children from state custody at a Monmouth County medical center. He posted bail and later pleaded guilty to assault and child endangerment and was sentenced to a year's probation.

Prosecutors in Passaic County say one of the daughters, then in her early teens, was raped as late as January 2002.

Ayinde's wife and one of his daughters testified in the earlier trial that New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services had removed at least one of the children from the family's home, and that the family had temporarily moved, first to Jersey City and then to Florida, to avoid the agency's investigation.

In her testimony at that trial, his daughter described experiencing and witnessing beatings administered with wooden boards and steel-toed boots. She said minor transgressions often were punished by the withholding of food.

The girl's mother testified some of the babies were delivered at home and never received birth certificates, and said in at least two instances babies who died in the home were buried without authorities being notified.

The children were home-schooled, she said, and were discouraged from interacting with other kids.

"No one really asked questions of each other because somebody would tell on somebody and somebody would get in trouble," she said.

Even after she became aware of sexual abuse, she said she was too frightened to confront him.

Patient Jumps Out of Ambulance, Steals Another

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Police said a patient being transported by an ambulance jumped out and stole a different ambulance for a joyride Saturday morning.

Police said Darren Ethedge, 31, of northeast Washington, was high on PCP and was being transported by a DC Fire EMS ambulance at 9:30 a.m. Saturday when the vehicle got into a minor crash in the 300 block of Florida Avenue, Northeast. As is protocol, a second ambulance wass called to transport the patient.

When the second ambulance arrived, Ethedge jumped out of the back of the first ambulance and into the driver’s seat of the second. He sped off with police in chase.

The pursuit ended at Mount Olivet Road and Brentwood Parkway where police ordered him out of the ambulance. He was arrested and is expected to be charged with theft of the vehicle.
 



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Shopping for Cell Phone Insurance

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How important is it to buy insurance for your fancy new smartphone? NBC 7’s Consumer Bob discusses how to shop for a cell phone insurance plan, and why it may come in handy.

Unknown Man Robs Same Gas Station 5 Times

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Detectives are searching for an unknown man accused of robbing the same San Diego gas station five times over the past nine months.

According to the San Diego Police Department, an unknown man has robbed the Arco gas station located at 3724 Del Sol Blvd. five times between November 21, 2012, and this month. The latest robbery happened on Jul. 19.

The recurring robberies have been dubbed the “Groundhog Commercial Robbery Series.”

Police say there are similarities in each case.

For example, the man casually enters the gas station mini-mart between the hours of 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. and approaches the sales clerk. In the first three robberies, police say the man threatened the clerk with a kitchen knife.

In the last two incidents – including the one on Jul. 19 – the man held his left hand inside his hooded sweatshirt acting as if he was armed with a handgun.

Investigators say the suspect has only robbed female clerks, and has spoken in both English and Spanish during the robberies. Each time, he flees the scene on foot, heading westbound towards the Del Sol Apartments at 3662 Del Sol Blvd.

The man has been caught several times on surveillance video.

Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic man between 25 and 35 years old. He’s 5-foot-3 to 5-foot-6 with a medium build, black hair, brown eyes, crooked teeth and a thin moustache. Occasionally, his head is shaved.

Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of the “Groundhog Robbery Series” suspect should contact the SDPD Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters can remain anonymous.
 



Photo Credit: SDPD

South Bay Mother Sentenced for Manslaughter

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The mother who pleaded guilty in connection to a deadly DUI crash that killed her 5-year-old daughter and another girl was sentenced to eight years in prison on Friday.

Arlene Hernandez, 23, was driving in August 2012 when her car rolled into Otay Reservoir, killing two children in the backseat. The passengers were 32-year-old Eric Figueroa, his 5-year-old daughter Giuliana and Hernandez's daughter Lesette Silva, 5.

In March, Hernandez pleaded guilty to six felonies, including vehicular manslaughter and driving drunk, in addition to two misdemeanors.

The courtroom was filled with people, many who were emotional during the sentencing.

"My daughter never intended to hurt her daughter or Giuliana," said Hernandez’s mother, who was crying at the stand. "She made a lot of mistakes... I think she should be punished.”

Her father also spoke, and apologized for any harm that Hernandez had caused.

Giuliana's mother also spoke, saying she has no sympathy for Hernandez.

"I'm tormented by the loss of my daughter," said Natasha Sierra. "I feel guilty even that I couldn't save my daughter and I wasn't the one that caused this."

Police Identify Fla. Apartment Shooter

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Officials identified the shooter involved in a hostage situation at a Hialeah apartment complex as 42-year-old Pedro Vargas at a Saturday press conference.

SWAT officers shot and killed Vargas after he killed six people in an apartment building in Hialeah, just a few miles north of Miami, ending an hours-long standoff early Saturday, Hialeah Police said.

Officials identified the victims as Italo Pisciotti, 79, Camira Pisciotti, 69, Carlos Javier Gavilanes, 33, Patricio Simono, 64, Merly S. Niebles, 51, and a 17-year-old female.

"I'm torn apart by all this," Hialeah mayor Carlos Hernandez said Saturday.

Hialeah police spokesman Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez told NBC News that two people were rescued alive from an apartment building where they were being held hostage.

“This is one of the worst shootings we’ve probably had ever in Hialeah," police spokesman Carl Zogby said.

Fire rescue crews were first called to the scene at about 6:30 p.m. after Vargas lit apartment 408 where he lived at 1485 West 46th Street on fire with some sort of combustible liquid, Zogby said Saturday.

Building managers Italo Pisciotti and Camira Pisciotti ran towards the apartment when they noticed smoke was coming out of it and Vargas came out the door, shooting and killing both of them at the scene, Zogby said.

Vargas then ran back into the burning apartment, walked out onto his balcony and fired 10 to 20 shots into the street, killing Gavilanes who was at the apartment building across the street, according to Zogby. He said Gavilanes, a father, had just arrived home from work and was standing in the parking lot next to his car when he was killed.

Vargas then ran out of the apartment building, firing shots at random in an irrational fashion, Zogby said. Police officers had already arrived on scene and fired at him as he fired back in the hallway.

He then entered another apartment where he took two hostages at gunpoint, Zogby said. Negotiators were talking with Vargas, and police sent a robot into the scene, authorities said.

But after police discovered that six people were dead, and that the man had two hostages in an apartment, the SWAT unit decided there was no more time to negotiate, Zogby said.

About eight hours after the situation began, a SWAT team entered the apartment, killing Vargas and saving the two hostages.

"The end result: seven people have lost their lives in this incident, six innocent victims and the one shooter," Zogby said. "Now starts the investigation, how and why this happened.”

VIDEO: Police Respond to Active Shooter Scene in Hialeah

Zogby said the hostages were not hurt, and he did not believe that any officers were injured.

Shamira Pisciotti said she found her parents, Italo and Samira Pisciotti, after hearing the shots. She ran over to them and found her mother dead and her father clinging to life.

"I guess there was an altercation and the person opened fire on both of them. My mom was dead the moment that she was shot and my dad still had a pulse when I got to him," Shamira Pisciotti said.

He died soon after, she said.

Merly Niebles and husband Patricio Simono, along with Niebles' daughter, were found in one of the apartments, Hialeah police spokesman Sgt. Eddie Rodriguez told  NBC News.

Agustin Hernandez and Alberto Martinez confirmed Niebles' daughter's name was Priscilla Perez (pictured below). Hernandez and Martinez, who are married to Niebles' sisters, said Patricio was a handyman at the apartment complex and worked with the building managers.

American Christian School principal Sergio Chavarri said Perez was a student at his school and would have gone into 11th grade this year. Perez, who wanted to be a nurse, never missed one day of class in the four years that she attended the school which takes pre-K through high school students, he said.

"She was a very nice person," Chavarri said. "We can't believe that such a nice person should be, you know, something like that."

Shamira Pisciotti said she believed that there was a complaint about the shooter and that he confronted her parents about it, and that he then shot them.

She said she heard about 15 to 20 gunshots. Several other witnesses said they heard between 10 and 12 shots.

Dozens of people were evacuated from their homes, and a couple of streets in the area were shut down.

Claribel Dominguez said she believes she was one of the last people to see her friend Samina Pisciotti alive. She shared that news with Pisciotti's grieving family.

“But I was just with her mom before it happened, like 15 or 20 minutes ago before it happened we were at Kmart,” Dominguez said.

She said that she heard several shots from inside the store, a few blocks away from the scene.

She got a call from Shamira Pisciotti, who told her that her parents had been shot and killed.

"And I still don't believe it," Dominguez said.

Police were investigating the motive behind the killings and were still identifying those who were killed, according to NBC News.

 

 

 

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Photo Credit: NBC 6 South Florida

Grammy Winner J.J. Cale Dies

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Influential musician J.J. Cale, whose best-known songs became hits for Eric Clapton ("After Midnight") and Lynyrd Skynyrd ("Call Me the Breeze") has died. He was 74.

Cale's manager, Mike Kappu,s has told The Associated Press that the architect of the Tulsa Sound died Friday of a heart attack at Scripps Hospital in La Jolla.

The Oklahoma native cut a wide path through 1970s rock & roll, influencing some of the most famous musicians at the time with songs that were laid-back and mellow, yet imbued with a driving groove.

Cale eventually made his home in Valley Center and his ties to the region were made obvious when he released an album with Clapton titled The Road to Escondido. The pair received a Grammy in 2007 for Best Contemporary Blues album.

A former member of the Grand Ole Opry touring company, Cale never rose to the level of success of his admirers, but his fingerprints could be heard all over the genre in the 1970s, and his music remains influential.



Photo Credit: AP

Men Cage Girl as Pot Farm Sex Slave: Cops

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Police connected a third suspect to two men accused of forcing a 15-year-old runaway from Los Angeles to work in a Northern California pot farm and using her as a sex slave, officials said on Saturday.

Eric Edgar, 45, was arrested in LA in May on a sex assault charge after the girl identified him as one of her assailants, said Cmdr. Andy Smith of the Los Angeles Police Department.

Edgar is connected to a case involving two suspected pot growers who allegedly sexually abused a girl who was trimming marijuana buds for them, police said. They allegedly locked her in a metal toolbox near the Northern California city of Clearlake, in Lake County, more than 100 miles north of San Francisco, authorities said.

Edgar was briefly held in an LA County Jail before being released to Lake County authorities. His status was not known on Saturday.

Lake County Sheriff's officials were not available for comment.

Ryan Balletto, 30, and Patrick Pearmain, 25, were arrested two months ago. They face charges of cultivating pot for sale and sexual assault, among others, according to a press release issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.

The case broke after deputies visited Balletto's home asking about the missing girl on April 29, according to court documents unsealed on Monday.

The next day, the girl called authorities to say she was OK and in Sacramento.

LAPD investigators traced the call and police located her at a West Sacramento hotel, where authorities arrested Pearmain, court documents said.

At the pot farm, authorities seized over 1,300 marijuana plants and what police said was the largest weapons cache in recent Lake County history.

Authorities also uncovered sex toys and the 4-foot by 2-foot metal box authorities said the girl was imprisoned in.

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Vietnam-Era Ordnance Found at Home

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Officials were called to a house in Clairemont Saturday after an old, rusty, Vietnam-Era ordnance was discovered in a homeowner's yard.

Police say a homeowner in the 4900 block of Dell Place, near Gallatin Way, was doing yardwork and digging when he discovered the unexploded military device just before 2 p.m.

The homeowner called the fire department, and as a precaution, bomb squad officials were called to investigate. The street was blocked off as crews worked.

The bomb squad crew X-rayed the ordnance and found it contained no explosives or detonation mechanism, officials said. Essentially, the device was a dud and posed no threat.

The street was re-opened following the investigation.

Neighbors were relieved, with some laughing, after officials determined the device posed no danger.



Photo Credit: Chris Chan

Shoe Store Robbed at Gunpoint

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A man armed with a handgun robbed a Payless ShoeSource store in San Ysidro Saturday, the San Diego Police Department said.

The robbery happened just before 1 p.m. at the Payless located at 501 East Ysidro Blvd.

Police say a man in his 20s entered the store and walked around for about 30 minutes before approaching the female clerk with a handgun and demanding cash.

The suspect then told the clerk to go into the back of the store, and he fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. No one was injured.

It is unclear if there were any customers in the store at the time of the incident.

Police say a witness last saw the suspect running westbound on East San Ysidro Blvd. The man is described as white or Hispanic, 5-foot-6 and 150-pounds. He was wearing a white shirt and shorts at the time of the robbery. Anyone with information should contact the SDPD.
 



Photo Credit: Google Maps

Man, 95, Dead After Confrontation With Police

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A 95-year-old resident of an Illinois nursing home died early Saturday, hours after being shocked with a Taser and bean bag rounds in a confrontation with police.

Authorities said John Warna was a resident at Victory Centre of Park Forest, on the 100 block of South Main Street in the south suburb. He was threatening paramedics and staff with a cane and a metal shoehorn when police arrived at the complex, they said.

Police said they struck him with a Taser and bean bag rounds after he threatened officers with a 12-inch butcher knife.

Warna was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where he later died.

A cause of death was not released by Saturday evening.

Prosecutors: Teen Threw Bleach on Cabbie to Avoid $175 Fare

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An 18-year-old man allegedly threw bleach at at taxi cab driver to avoid paying a $175 ride to Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood this week, officials said.

Oliver Dickens, of Carpentersville, was arrested Friday and charged with aggravated battery of a taxi driver, theft of labor and criminal damage to property, according to police.

Prosecutors alleged Dickens hired the cab driver Thursday from an Elgin cab company to drive him to the South Shore neighborhood.

Dickens became upset when he learned his fare was $175 and, instead of paying the tab, threw bleach in the cabbie’s face, stole his tablet and ran, prosecutors said.

Court documents show the cab driver, 34, of northwest suburban Dundee, suffered "burning and irritation" in his eyes and skin, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The incident reportedly occurred in the 7400 block of South Euclid Avenue.

It was not clear where exactly the driver picked Dickens up, but a drive from Carpentersville to the South Shore neighborhood is just over 50 miles.

Dickens was ordered held on $125,000 bond Saturday.


 



Photo Credit: Chicago Police News Affairs

At Least 9 Injured When Deck Collapses at Illinois Home

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At least nine people were reported injured Saturday when a deck collapsed during a party at a home in Tinley Park, Illinois.

The incident occurred during a birthday party around 9:15 p.m. in the 16700 block of Beverly Avenue when a deck came apart from the house it was attached to, officials said.

Initial reports indicated more than 30 people were out on the deck when it collapsed and 14 people were injured, however, only nine people were reported at area hospitals.

Four people were treated at Advocate South Suburban Hospital, one of which remained hospitalized Sunday morning, according to the hospital.

Palos Community Hospital said they received five patients, four of which were treated and released. No information on the conditions of the injuries was available.

Depsite the large number of people on the deck, whether the collapse was caused from overcrowding or structural issues remains unclear, officials said.

“Most people usually maintain [their decks] very well and it’s never been a problem with anything as far as collapse or anything like that,” said area resident Pam Byczek.

A combination of adults and children were reportedly on the deck at the time of the collapse.


Radio Host Kidd Kraddick Dies at 53

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Beloved Radio Host Kidd Kraddick died in New Orleans on Saturday. Kraddick was attending a golf tournament organized to raise money for his Kidd's Kids charity. He was 53 years old. 

Kraddick, whose birth name is David Peter Cradick, was best known for his hugely popular syndicated morning radio show 'Kidd Kraddick in the Morning' on KISS-FM in North Texas.

A statement was released late Saturday night from his family, through Kelly Kibler Owens, with Clear Channel.

It is with a very heavy heart, that I am sending you this e-mail. It has been confirmed that Kidd Kraddick passed away today in New Orleans at a golf tournament organized to raise money for his beloved Kidd’s Kids charity. He died doing what he loved, and his final day was spent selflessly focused on those special children that meant the world to him.

All of us at KISS-FM, ClearChannel Dallas, YEA Networks and the Kidd Kraddick in the Morning crew are heartbroken over the loss of our dear friend and leader. Kidd devoted his life to making people smile every morning, and for 21 years, his foundation has been dedicated to bringing joy to thousands of chronically and terminally ill children.

We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and his colleagues. At the appropriate time, we will release more information about the cause of death.

 His death was first reported on Twitter by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. 

Kraddick was originally  from Toledo, Ohio and grew up in Florida. He first discovered his passion for radio when he was in the 10th grade while serving as the president of his high school. In fact, according to this bio on www.kidnation.com, his high school didn't have enough money to hire a deejay for the senior dance so Kraddick snuck his dad's stereo out of the house and deejayed himself.

Kraddick's deejayed in Tampa, Miami, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City before moving to North Texas. Kraddick moved to Dallas in 1984 and quickly made his transition to the morning drive. According to his bio on Kid Nation, Kraddick's show was syndicated in 2001 and is now heard in close to 100 cities around the nation. You can also hear the show on American Forces Radio.

In addition to his nationally syndicated radio show and appearing on the television show "Dish Nation," Kraddick is best known for his Kidd's Kids foundation. For over ten years the charity has provided free trips for seriously ill children to Disney World, along with their families.

Kraddick has one daughter, Caroline Cradick. She tweeted about her father's passing early Sunday morning.



Photo Credit: 106.1 KISS FM

Crews Tackle SR-94 Brush Fire

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Firefighters rushed to the East County Sunday morning to battle a blaze that ignited near State Route 94.

The “Flume Fire,” as it was named by officials, began just before 10 a.m. off SR-94 at Barrett Lake Road.

At around 10:45 a.m., Cal Fire officials said the brush fire had scorched 25 acres, but was no longer spreading. No structures were threatened, and no injuries were reported.

The fire was knocked down by around 12:30 p.m., but firefighters remained at the scene monitoring the brush and mopping up hot spots.

Beginning around 10:30 a.m., CHP officials shut down portions of SR-94 while crews worked to tackle the fire. A SigAlert was issued for SR-94 from Otay Lakes Road to SR-188 for an unspecified amount of time. Get traffic updates here.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Check back for updates.

Meanwhile, at around 12:15 p.m., another fire sparked near the 14000 block of Otay Lakes Road. Cal Fire officials said that blaze -- the "Lakes Fire" -- burned approximately 5 acres.



Photo Credit: Adam White

Man Fatally Stabbed in Alley

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A man was fatally stabbed in plain daylight Saturday in an alley in Barrio Logan, the San Diego Police Department confirmed.

The stabbing happened around 3:15 p.m. in the 2200 block of Newton Avenue and Sampson Street. Police say one man was stabbed in the chest by an unknown assailant who had fled the scene by the time officers arrived.

Investigators believe the victim got into an altercation with the stabbing suspect in a nearby alley. The suspect stabbed the victim and chased him for a few blocks before the victim collapsed on the ground.

Officers found the victim in the middle of the street suffering from critical stab wounds. He was transported to a local hospital where he died shortly thereafter, police said. His name has not yet been released.

The stabbing remains under investigation. Police say the suspect is described as a Hispanic man between 28 and 30 years old, 5-foot-10 and 200-pounds. He was wearing white shorts and had no shirt on.

Anyone with information on this case should reach out to the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous.



Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Parents Arrested in Baby’s Death

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Police have arrested the parents of a 4-month-old baby boy who died after being left unattended inside a hot car overnight at an apartment complex in San Diego’s El Cajon area.

The baby’s father, Israel Soto, 30, was booked into San Diego Central Jail on one charge of willful cruelty to a child resulting in injury/death. The mother, Jessica Quezada, 23, was booked into Las Colinas Detention Facility on charges of willful cruelty to a child resulting in death and possession of a controlled substance.

Both are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

According to new details released by the El Cajon Police Department on Sunday morning, an investigation has revealed that the parents had left the baby in the car overnight after returning home from shopping. The car was parked at an apartment complex in the 500 block of North Mollison Avenue.

The baby was discovered unresponsive inside the hot vehicle around 1:30 p.m., and police were called to the scene.

Officers performed CPR on the infant and transported him to a local hospital, where the baby died a short time later.

The county medical examiner’s office will now determine the child’s exact cause of death.
Police say the Soto’s and Quezada’s three other children – ages 1, 2 and 3 – have been taken into protective custody by Child Protection Services.

According to NBC 7 meteorologist Greg Bledsoe, it was 80-degrees in El Cajon on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., when the baby was found in the car.

According to a study from the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco University, there have been at least 24 deaths of children left unattended in vehicles so far this year. In 2012, that number was 33.



Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego

Dying Bride Has Dream Wedding

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NBC Bay Area's Garvin Thomas, who reported on this touching story, attended the wedding Saturday. The ceremony was just as the couple imagined--outside, under sunny skies, with lots of live music, smiling faces, and a giant cheer as the groom kissed the bride.
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