A Mission Valley man says he was hit with an aluminum bat and threatened with a gun after he walked in on two burglars ransacking his home.

The victim, identified as Martin, said his head was down when he walked into his home at the River Colony Condos last Friday night. He was immediately struck in the head with the bat and found himself on the ground begging the burglars to spare his life.

“He yelled out ‘Shoot him! Shoot him!’ At which point I just looked over my shoulder to see another individual standing right over me. I could see the barrel of a gun,” Martin said.

In what Martin described it as a moment of desperation, he begged the man not to shoot him.

“I thought that was it,” he said. Martin said the gunman was attempting to pull the trigger but the gun never went off.

“I just thought about my son and my family, and just knowing that I was probably not going to see them again. That was probably the hardest thing to kind of face,” he said.

Martin says he was able to take the bat from one of the suspects and hit him in his legs or midsection before the two of them made their escape through his sliding door.

He said they entered his home through his bedroom window. They took a PlayStation 4, laptop and several watches, items Martin says are not worth anyone's life.

It was dark in Martin’s home when he walked in and he was not able to get a good look at the two suspects.

The best he could do was describe one of the men as between 5 feet 9inches and 6 feet tall, weighing about 200 pounds.

Police haven't made any arrests.

Martin says that in the past year In the last year he has had his car broken into in the complex's secured parking garage, and says someone also attempted to take his bike from his balcony.

A judge will decide Friday if the "Bolder Than Most" rapist, a sexually violent predator a little more than halfway through a 50-year sentence handed down to him in the 80s, will be released into a remote east county community.

Alvin Quarles was granted release from a state hospital by Judge David Gill on Oct. 12 into a supervised conditional release program.

Judge Gill ordered Quarles’ release to a Jacumba Hot Springs residence at 43050 Desert Rose Ranch Road be completed by Nov. 30, but East County residents upset by the placement, and victims of Quarles upset that he’s being released at all, rallied Thursday to try and stop it.

Victims and their family and friends demonstrated in Downtown street with hopes of sending a message to the judge they want Quarles to stay in a state hospital for his entire 50-year sentence.

"It has hit me very hard and I see it in every aspect of my life,” victim Mary Taylor said. She has been outspoken in protesting Quarles release since it was announced.

Quarles had 14 victims, four of whom were raped at knifepoint. His brutal attacks earned him the "Bolder Than Most" rapist moniker before his sentencing in 1989.

"Once I knew he was gone for 50 years I worked on my own healing and I did a good job,” Taylor said. Since he was granted release, Taylor has started a petition to keep him in a state hospital. The District Attorney’s office has also filed a motion to stop his release.

Taylor hopes the judge changes his mind and puts an end to her reoccurring nightmare.

"I also stand here with every sexual assault survivor out there and say ‘You know what? We gotta change the laws."

The sexual assault survivors will not have the chance to speak at Friday’s hearing but they will be allowed in the courtroom. Quarles will not be at the hearing.

This series examines several battleground races in the fight for control of the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections.

Carried by grassroots momentum, Democrats must take 23 seats from Republicans to win the balance of power. They are contending with Republicans' experience and organization, and an outspoken but polarizing president.

NBC Owned Television Stations is taking a look at some of the most closely fought races across the country to see what issues matter most to voters and how the national headwinds are affecting the candidates. Those district profiles can be found below, with more coming as Election Day nears.

We also asked viewers why they are or aren’t inspired to vote in the midterms and compiled hundreds of replies for an interactive display. 

Freshman's Test: How to Keep This Moderate Philadelphia Suburb Republican

Dem Seizes on Rohrabacher’s Russia-Friendly Views in SoCal

National Issues Loom Large in Key House Race Near DC

Health Care Vote a Pre-Existing Condition for Illinois GOP Congressman

A nationwide search is underway for the culprit or culprits responsible for targeting critics of President Donald Trump with crudely made mail bombs and investigators now say some, if not all, of the packages were mailed from the South Florida region. 

Officials added that although they have honed in on the Sunshine State, they do not have a specific suspect or motive just yet. They are looking for ongoing forensic work or tips from the public to help them catch a break in the bizarre case quickly. 

The NYPD swarmed a mall at the Time Warner Center Thursday after unattended toys sparked a suspicious package scare, just a day after the Columbus Circle office that houses CNN was evacuated. It was deemed a false alarm; however, authorities at the same time flocked a mail facility north of Miami to search for clues they say was the real deal. 

The FBI said they think that regional post office processing center is where the pipe bombs first passed through, meaning some if not all of the 10 bombs were mailed from that area to top Democrats and others in New York, Washington, Delaware and Los Angeles. 

It's small break in the four-day case. As of Thursday evening -- several days after the first device was found at the New York home of billionaire George Soros -- there were still no leads on a suspect in the case. It also remains unclear if their builder intended for them to actually explode or were part of some politically motivated hoax.  

Hours after authorities found devices addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden and one to actor Robert De Niro Thursday, investigators revealed the devices examined so far were poorly made.

So far, there have been 10 packages discovered, none of which have been detonated. Three -- two addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden in Delaware and one addressed to Robert De Niro at a building he owns in Manhattan -- were discovered in a flurry of frenzied hours before 10 a.m. Thursday.

Officials said a retired NYPD detective watching the news Thursday morning alerted them to a device mailed to De Niro. He recognized the suspicious packages on the broadcast as similar to one he had screened earlier in the week.

The others came in the prior 72 hours: two were addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters of California; others were also addressed to Hillary Clinton, former President Obama, ex-Attorney General Eric Holder and former CIA Director John Brennan. The first was left at Soros' home in Westchester County on Monday.

According to sources, the explosive devices were made from PVC pipe and contained a timer (likely a digital alarm clock) to set off the detonator. The powder contained in the bombs comes from pyrotechnics. X-rays show there was likely shrapnel inside the PVC pipe, law enforcement officials say.

Officials in several states have described the devices as live explosives, and a number of senior bomb technicians briefed on the probes said they all had the needed components to detonate successfully.

"As far as a hoax device, we're not treating it that way," said Police Commissioner James O'Neill.

Officials didn't elaborate on the reasoning, but the return address listed on each one was the Florida office of ex-Democratic National Committee chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Investigators are looking into any past incidents involving her office to determine if there could be any connections to the current probe, but have said there is no suggestion she had involvement.

Investigators are working to glean forensic clues to help identify who sent them, gathering fingerprints and DNA evidence while tracking the origin of the packages and the components used. While some have made note of the fact that the devices were not postmarked, multiple officials have said this was not uncommon, and that because of the soft packaging they could not go through automated sorting machines to have their postage canceled.

Larry Johnson, a former head of criminal investigations for the U.S. Secret Service who also served as a special agent in charge of the presidential protective detail, said it is highly likely the person or people who built the bombs have been previously flagged by law enforcement.

At a joint NYPD/FBI briefing in New York Thursday afternoon, Mayor Bill de Blasio urged people to come forward with any information on suspicious packages.

FBI New York assistant director William Sweeney said initial analysis of powder found in packages in New York found it posed no biological threat. But investigators cautioned that the analysis is far from complete, and they say anyone who encounters one of the parcels should treat them as dangerous. Officials said they were treating the items as "potential explosive devices."

The latest development could lend credence to a theory New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo mentioned in a Thursday interview with CNN, where one of the devices was sent. 

"There’s a theory that the bombs were not intended to explode, but were intended to intimidate," Cuomo said. "If that is the intent, then this is having the desired intent. And it could actually be fueling the group that’s doing it." 

Investigators familiar with such probes caution against a rush to judgment on any theoretical motive, suspect or group of suspects.

If you have info that could assist the #FBI's investigation of suspicious packages, call 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) or use http://tips.fbi.gov. 

San Diego's coastline was socked in by dense fog Friday morning, creating conditions of low visibility that may affect commuters, weathercasters said. 

The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory until 8 a.m. Friday due to a thick patch of fog extending inland from the coast to Interstate 5.

The more inland I-15 was experiencing some fog on the roadways as well, though not as severe. 

Visibility in some parts of the region, including La Jolla, Downtown San Diego and Mira Mesa, was reduced to less than a quarter-mile, NBC 7 Meteorologist Sheena Parveen said.  

Other areas strongly affected by fog include Chula Vista, City Heights, La Mesa, El Cajon and Escondido, according to Parveen. 

Flight delays may also be possible at San Diego International Airport, NWS said. Check for delays here. 

Fog is expected to clear by 8 a.m. 

Two more suspected mail explosives were discovered in New York City and in Florida early Friday, one addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and one to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, law enforcement sources and officials familiar with the investigation tell News 4 and NBC News.

The two parcels seized Friday bring the total number of suspected mail bombs to 12. Postal workers flagged the parcel at the Hell's Kitchen facility, NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said. The NYPD immediately shut down West 52nd and West 51st streets between Eighth and Ninth avenues to pedestrian and vehicle traffic.

Workers were seen streaming out of the post office and a nearby urgent care center also had to be evacuated as a safety precaution while bomb squad techs secured the package. O'Neill said they were in the removal process.

Both parcels are described as similar to the other 10, which were all in manila packaging with six stamps and listed the same return address in Florida. 

The device intercepted in Florida Friday morning was addressed to the Camden, New Jersey, office of Booker, another high-profile Democrat. It was located at a sorting facility, Royal Palm Processing and Distribution Center, in Opa-lacka.

The device intercepted in Manhattan was addressed to Clapper at CNN. Clapper was tapped to lead the national intelligence program by former President Barack Obama, another target of the packages, in 2010.

Clapper, speaking on CNN shortly after the device was secured, said, "This is definitely domestic terrorism, no question in my mind." 

Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, he said he was glad no one had been hurt or killed. Clapper also had a clear message: "This is not going to silence the administration’s critics."

A Booker spokesperson declined comment and referred all questions to law enforcement. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted that he was "saddened and angered" that Booker had been targeted. Murphy said the NJ Office of Homeland Security was working with federal, state and local partners on the response. 

NARROWING SEARCH 

Friday's developments come as authorities narrow their focus and initial search for a suspect to south Florida; the FBI said Thursday they think the regional post office processing center is where the pipe bombs first passed through, meaning some if not all of the bombs were mailed from that area to top Democrats and others in New York, Washington, Delaware and Los Angeles.

None of the bombs have detonated, no injuries have been reported and authorities said Thursday it appeared some of the devices were flawed and incapable of exploding, though it wasn't clear if they were purposefully structured that way or it was just bad construction. 

Three of the packages -- two addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden in Delaware and one addressed to Robert De Niro at a building he owns in Manhattan -- were discovered in a flurry of frenzied hours Thursday.

The others came in the prior 72 hours: two were addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters of California; others were also addressed to Hillary Clinton, former President Obama, ex-Attorney General Eric Holder and former CIA Director John Brennan. The first was left at Soros' home in Westchester County on Monday. 

According to sources, the explosive devices were made from PVC pipe and contained a timer (likely a digital alarm clock) to set off the detonator. The powder contained in the bombs comes from pyrotechnics. X-rays show there was likely shrapnel inside the PVC pipe, law enforcement officials say.

The return address listed on each one was the Florida office of ex-Democratic National Committee chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Investigators are looking into any past incidents involving her office to determine if there could be any connections to the current probe, but have said there is no suggestion she had involvement.

Crude pipe bombs addressed to prominent Democrats and others who have drawn ire from the right were found in mail sorting rooms across the country this week.

No one has been hurt since the first device was found on Oct. 22, and it's not clear if they were ever meant to explode. Multiple law enforcement agencies have scrambled to find the culprit or culprits and understand the motive behind the mailings.

Click the arrows for more information about the incidents, and click here for the latest news about the investigation.

Two more suspected mail explosives were discovered in New York City and in Florida early Friday, one addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and one to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.

The two parcels seized Friday bring the total number of suspected mail bombs to 12 and they all bear the same unusual hallmark -- a lumpy manila envelope with six uncancelled stamps. 

But if they were sent through the mail, why weren't the stamps postmarked?

Four separate officials briefed on, or involved with, the investigation have told NBC this week that some packages were not postmarked because the soft packaging could not go through the postal machines.

In fact, the U.S. Postal Service's own website says postmarks aren't required in all cases.

"Postmarks are not required for mailings bearing a permit, meter, or precanceled stamp for postage, nor to pieces with an indicia applied by various postage evidencing systems," the USPS says on this page. 

Friday's developments come as authorities narrow their focus and initial search for a suspect to south Florida; the FBI said Thursday they think the regional post office processing center is where the pipe bombs first passed through, meaning some if not all of the bombs were mailed from that area to top Democrats and others in New York, Washington, Delaware and Los Angeles.

None of the bombs have detonated, no injuries have been reported and authorities said Thursday it appeared some of the devices were flawed and incapable of exploding, though it wasn't clear if they were purposefully structured that way or it was just bad construction. 

Three of the packages -- two addressed to former Vice President Joe Biden in Delaware and one addressed to Robert De Niro at a building he owns in Manhattan -- were discovered in a flurry of frenzied hours Thursday.

The others came in the prior 72 hours: two were addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters of California; others were also addressed to Hillary Clinton, former President Obama, ex-Attorney General Eric Holder and former CIA Director John Brennan. The first was left at Soros' home in Westchester County on Monday. 

According to sources, the explosive devices were made from PVC pipe and contained a timer (likely a digital alarm clock) to set off the detonator. The powder contained in the bombs comes from pyrotechnics. X-rays show there was likely shrapnel inside the PVC pipe, law enforcement officials say.

The return address listed on each one was the Florida office of ex-Democratic National Committee chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Investigators are looking into any past incidents involving her office to determine if there could be any connections to the current probe, but have said there is no suggestion she had involvement.

It appears that the New Jersey Senate race between incumbent Sen. Bob Menendez and his opponent Bob Hugin is a toss up, according to a recent The Cook Political Report analysis.

The latest report, published Friday, says the toss up is due in part to Democrat Menendez’ alleged ethics problems and Hugin’s outspending his opponent in political television ads.

Hugin, a Republican and former pharmaceutical CEO, has outspent Menendez $27.7 million to $11.8 million, according to the pre-election FEC report, and most of Hugin’s money has funded television ads, The Cook Political Report says.

Hugin has poured millions of dollars into ads attacking Menendez over his 2017 corruption trial. Menendez denied wrongdoing in the bribery case and the trial ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors dropped the charges.

The Senate Majority PAC, which is the Democrats’ Senate super PAC, has now invested almost $6.5 million in the race, including a $3 million advertising buy this week alone. The investment “levels the playing field somewhat, but Hugin still holds a very definitive advantage on television,” the report says.

The analysis determined that the biggest threat to Menendez’s re-election is not Hugin, but rather the voter who goes to the polls and decides to send Menendez a message in the same way that many did during the primary when 38 percent voted for his unknown primary opponent.

Though it seems the scale is tipping in favor of Menendez, who is said to have a lead of between four and six points, The Cook Political Report says that the race is close enough to warrant a move to a toss up in New Jersey, which tends to be a blue state.

The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) has started deploying drones as first responders, as part of an initiative with the Federal Aviation Administration.

"No other public safety agency in the nation is doing what we're doing in Chula Vista," said CVPD Captain Vern Sallee.

Under a public safety waiver from the FAA, police can fly drones over people to respond to crimes in progress. Officers can see a drone's live feed on their phones or on monitors in the department's dispatch center.

Currently, the drones are allowed to fly within one mile of CVPD headquarters on 4th Avenue, and must be within a pilot's visual line of site.

The drones are deployed from the dispatch center by a FAA certified pilot, who is a CVPD officer, and monitored by two other pilots on the building's roof.

"For the watch commander, we end up having a lot of calls during the course of a shift. A lot of times we don't get people out there in a timely manner," said Lt. Chris Kelley. "It allows us to clear calls in a timely manner and put the resources to the right calls and get officers on scene to take reports."

The drones first deployed on Monday and have responded to more than 30 calls. The drones can arrive to an emergency call within two minutes.

CVPD Chief Roxana Kennedy said the drones are not replacing officers, but enhancing their safety along with the public's.

"With drones, officers can see if suspect has that weapon so they can plan that game plan or that avenue of approach that's safer," said Kennedy.

The city's vision is to eventually place a drone on top of every fire station in Chula Vista. Sallee said a lot of work needs to get done before that happens, which includes developing safety regulations with the FAA, and ensuring public confidence.

"If we got to that model, we'd be able to respond to any call for service in the city of Chula Vista in two minutes, and give real-time data quality decision to any police officer, live via their phone," said Sallee.

In three months the department will evaluate the program to see if it's sustainable and what improvements can be made. A lot of that sustainability depends on the FAA changing regulations and allowing for automation.

"It's a whole new way of doing business, and we're going to have to align our finances and operations to support it ongoing," said Sallee.

The initiative falls under the FAA Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Integrated Pilot Program (IPP), and includes the City of San Diego, San Diego Regional EDC and Cape.

CVPD has been slowing rolling out its internal drone program over the last few years, and now has a fleet of six drones.

A Florida man is in custody in connection with the pipe bombs mailed nationwide this week, law enforcement sources told NBC News.

Three officials identified the suspect as 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc Jr., originally from Brooklyn and currently of Florida. Public records show he has an extensive record of arrests for battery, theft, moving violations, and steroid-related charges. They also indicate he had a 2009 foreclosure and a 2012 bankruptcy. 

DNA evidence played a role in finding him, several officials said. 

The Department of Justice planned a news briefing for 2:30 p.m. ET.

THE ARREST

Authorities towed away a large white van, its windows plastered with photos of President Trump and Vice President Pence, from an Autozone parking lot in Plantation, Florida, Friday morning, as part of the investigation. Sayoc is a registered Republican, according to voting records.

Autozone says Sayoc is not an employee of the store and apparently had been there to shop when taken into custody.

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"There was a loud boom, and when I looked out, I saw a whole lot of police cars," one witness to the arrest, a woman who declined to give her name, told NBC News. "There’s a lot of commotion out there. All I know is they arrested the bomber."

A 'VERY NICE' PERSON 

A cousin of the suspect described Sayoc as a "very nice, thoughtful person." Asking not to be identified, the woman said she was stunned to hear about his arrest. She knew nothing about his political beliefs or arrest history, she said. The two hadn't connected in 20 years until recently, when her father died.

"It was mostly just small talk, how's your family, that kind of thing," the woman said. "I don't really know that much about him. We have a very big family."

The arrest news followed shortly after the discovery of two more suspected mail explosives in New York City and in Florida, one addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and one to New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker.

12 BOMBS

The two parcels seized Friday bring the total number of suspected mail bombs to 12. All of the packages were irregularly shaped, in yellow manila envelopes, with six stamps that were not postmarked. 

None of the bombs detonated, no injuries were reported and authorities said Thursday it appeared some of the devices were flawed and incapable of exploding, though it wasn't clear if they were purposefully structured that way or it was just bad construction. 

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According to sources, the explosive devices were made from PVC pipe and contained a timer (likely a digital alarm clock) to set off the detonator. The powder contained in the bombs comes from pyrotechnics. X-rays show there was likely shrapnel inside the PVC pipe, law enforcement officials say.

The return address listed on each one was the Florida office of ex-Democratic National Committee chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Investigators had said they were looking into any past incidents involving her office to determine if there could be any connections to the current probe, but have said there is no suggestion she had any involvement whatsoever.

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Law enforcement officials are investigating a suspicious package at the Colonial Post Office in Sacramento, the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department told KCRA News.

The post office is located in the 6000 block of 44th Street.

The Sheriff's Department did not comment on who the package was addressed to.

Rep. John Garamendi's Office told KCRA the package was addressed to U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris.

It is unclear whether the package was related to the 12 suspicious devices mailed to CNN, including notable Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, earlier this week.

A man has been arrested in Florida in connection with the mail bomb investigation, the Department of Justice said Friday, and law enforcement officials tell News 4 they believe he is the individual who sent 12 crude package explosives to top Democrats and others in several states across the country.

Three officials identified the suspect as Cesar Sayoc, Jr. a man formerly from Brooklyn who lived in Florida. He has past arrests, including for battery, theft and other offenses. Officials say DNA evidence played a role in the arrest. It's not yet clear whether investigators believe Sayoc, a registered Republican, according to voting records, may have acted alone or had help. Additional details are expected to be released at a news briefing later Friday.

As investigators analyze at least 10 suspicious packages sent across the country to high-ranking Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Robert De Niro and Maxine Waters, you may be looking for ways to deal with a suspicious package if you come across one.

Here are some tips on how to handle the situation from the United States Postal Service.

What to Look For on Envelopes:

• No return address.
• Restrictive markings, like labeling it "personal."
• Envelopes sealed with tape.
• Badly typed or handwritten wording.
• Misspelled words.
• Possibly mailed from a foreign country, or using excessive postage stamps.

What to Look For on Packages:

• Excessive tape.
• Oily stains, discoloration, or crystallization on the wrapping.
• Strange odors.
• Incorrect title or addressed to the title only at a business. 
• Rigid or bulky packaging.
• Lopsided or uneven packaging.
• Protruding wires.

The USPS suggested the following tips for dealing with the package:

• Stop, don't handle the item.
• Isolate it immediately.
• Don't open, smell or taste it.
• Activate your emergency plan, if you have one, and notify a manager.
• If you spot a suspicious package that you think may contain a bomb, or a chemical threat: isolate the area, call 911, and wash your hands with soap and water.

NBC has canceled "Megyn Kelly Today" days after the anchor was embroiled in a controversy following her remarks regarding blackface. 

“Megyn Kelly Today is not returning. Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors,” an NBC spokesperson said.

The announcement comes as Kelly is in talks with NBC News about her future at the network, which sources said were likely to include her leaving the company.

Florida resident Cesar Sayoc Jr. was arrested Friday in connection with mail bombs sent to several prominent Democrats and others who have been critical of President Donald Trump.

San Diego County sheriff’s deputies are investigating the theft of a backpack containing a Poway teenager’s school supplies.

The 19-year-old teenager left his backpack inside Larry’s Automotive on Poway Road on Wednesday, Oct. 17.

Deputies say the backpack was filled with thousands of dollars worth of textbooks and supplies needed for the teenager’s midterm exams.

Deputies pulled some surveillance video that shows a black SUV pulling up outside of the story and a person is seen walking to the SUV with a backpack.

The sheriff's department has not confirmed if the person in the video did, in fact, steal the backpack. They say they are investigating.

The renovation is complete on the tallest border fence in the southwestern region of the U.S. and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary called on Congress to move forward with funding of President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.

Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen spoke Friday in Calexico, California along the repaired fence near the El Centro Port of Entry.

“Walls work,” she said. “We’ve seen the success of walls in El Paso, in Yuma, in San Diego and in the past, right here in the El Centro sector.”

She also addressed the heightened security around the U.S. due to a series of mail bombs and her department's request for military troops along the border. 

The repairs to an old, dilapidated fence made of landing mats were funded by 2018 appropriations. The construction began in February and ended on Oct. 4.

"Currently, this 30-foot wall is the tallest border wall deployed along the southwest border," said El Centro Sector Border Patrol Chief Gloria Chavez.

A steel bollard wall has been built in the area considered to be the most active in illegal crossings and attacks on federal agents, Chavez said. 

Early next year, DHS will begin construction on 11 more miles of 30-foot fence. Three more miles of fence will extend to the east and eight more miles of fence will be built to the west. 

The fenced area toured Friday is not part of the prototypes built last year near the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

The eight prototypes that stand about 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide are made from a variety of materials.

In a report released in September, some of those prototypes were breached when they underwent testing by tactical teams, including experts from CBP, U.S. Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps Special Operations Command.

Nielsen called on Congress to approve funding for the proposed border wall. There are two bills in Congress that would offer amounts varying from $1.6 billion to $5 billion for funding a border wall, according to NBC News.

NBC News reported in August that White House officials have suggested the entire wall project could cost $8 billion to $12 billion and internal DHS assessments suggest that the cost could be even higher - as much as $21 billion.

While in El Centro, Secretary Nielsen addressed the current investigation into mail bombs intercepted in several states as well as the news this week that the Department of Defense has approved deploying troops along the U.S.-Mexico in support of President Trump.

The department has heightened the security posture at federal facilities around the nation in response to the devices targeting a number of high-profile politicians, Nielsen said.

“If you notice a strange package or if you see something that appears out of the ordinary, do not remain silent,” she said. “If you see something, say something.”

Nielsen also addressed a question regarding the military deployment of troops to the border.

“We have asked for engineering support, logistics support, “ Nielsen said. “I don’t have any information with respect to particular troop numbers, that’s up to DOD to meet our request.”

San Diego police have identified the woman who was shot and killed earlier this month in the Midway District.

Police said Octavia Williams, 20, was shot by Joe Bennette Conway around 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 9 in the parking lot the Barons Market on the 4000 block of West Point Loma Boulevard.

Conway then fled in a red Chevrolet Cavalier sedan, possibly with Arizona license plates, San Diego police Lt. Anthony Dupree said.

When police arrived they found Williams, who is from Phoenix, with a gunshot wound in the upper body. She was transported to the hospital where she later died.

An employee at the nearby Domino's Pizza said the Williams and Conway came into the pizzeria as a couple and Williams asked to use the bathroom. When she came out, the two went outside to talk.

The conversation turned into an argument and minutes later, a single gunshot was heard, the employee told NBC 7.

The Williams was still alive when the employee ran out to help but she was unable to speak.

She died at UC San Diego Medical Center around 2:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Police are still looking for Conway. He is described as 5-foot-7 and weighing 150 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue, button-down shirt, black pants and sandals at the time of the shooting.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Conway was urged to call the SDPD Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

A Florida man with an extensive criminal background and a fervent admiration for President Trump is in custody in connection with the pipe bombs mailed nationwide this week.

Read the complaint against him below.