Big-box retailers may be preparing for Black Friday but for small, family-owned shops, this time of the year is just as important for business. However, it’s not always easy for smaller retailers to compete.

Shopping in the village of La Jolla is far different than walking through your local mall. Still, shopkeepers in the village are also trying to make a living, which is sometimes easier said than done.

Philip Coller owns Everett Stunz on Girard Avenue. It’s a high-end store for beds, bathroom items and linens.

And, though serious competition from big-name retailers is inevitable, Coller says a store like his offers something big retailers can’t match.

“You create a sense of community. You don’t get a sense of community from a big-box store or a shopping mall,” he said.

Still, Coller admits business isn’t always booming during the height of shopping season.

“Particularly for the last five [years], it’s been horrendous,” he lamented.

Across the street, the clothing store Emma Jane gets ready for its first La Jolla Black Friday. The brand-new retailer just set up shop two months ago.

Owner Jennifer Alexander says Black Friday, and the holiday shopping season, is very important to the success of her new small business.

“It’s the most important thing. It’s going to fund us through January, February, March – when retail is actually going down,” said Alexander.

But, in order to get customers in the door, small business owners have to get shoppers to bypass the big department stores and online merchants, and show up where local retailers are sometimes struggling to survive.

For some local shoppers, visiting small stores is second nature.

“My wife shops a lot online, but if I’m going to have $100, I like to spend at least $70 or $80 of it with local communities like where we work or coming down to La Jolla Village,” said one consumer. “It’s nice to spend money in the local communities and obviously keep it in San Diego.”

“I can’t say I never shop in a big-box store, but I far prefer to shop at a small business,” added another San Diegan.

“I like to patronize the regular local people, and I think it’s important for our country,” said another shopper.

Now, it’s much harder for the smaller stores to compete on prices with big-box stores like Target and Wal-Mart, so they have to find other ways of getting consumers through the door.

“The way you compete this time of year, particularly, is service,” said Coller.

Small business owners hope that service will be enough to get people into their stores during this holiday season. Just like the major chain stores, the road the economic success is often found the last few shopping weeks of the year.

Now, a few years back the American Express credit card company and others started Small Business Saturday, the day after Black Friday dedicated to shopping small and local.

This year, Small Business Saturday lands on Nov. 30.

In San Diego, communities like La Jolla Village and North Park will partake in Small Business Saturday, highlighting small merchants and communities in an effort to fuel the local economy.

A 17-year-old boy, convicted of beheading four people, was released from a Mexican prison Tuesday.

San Diego-born Edgar Jimenez Lugo spent the last three years behind bars in the state of Morelos in Central Mexico. He was expected to be released Dec. 3.

New video of the teenager’s release shows several SUVs and pickup trucks leaving the prison in the early morning hours.

In 2010, the case of then 14-year-old Jimenez Lugo received intense media attention, given his age and the horrendous nature of the crimes. He admitted to killing one person when he was just 11 years old.

Jimenez Lugo told reporters he had been drugged and threatened by the cartel.

The boy was sentenced to three years in prison, the maximum sentence allowed within the juvenile courts.

Criminal Defense Attorney Guadalupe Valencia said Mexico is considering increasing the penalties for children who commit serious crimes.

“I think individual states will make changes in Mexico, and I think this case is a catalyst to those changes,” Valencia said.

Valencia said there are also other possibilities for reform.

“In many states in the U.S., we have post-release support. But in Mexico and in many states, they don’t have that,” he said. “Once you’re done with your sentence, that’s it. You’re done.”

Jimenez Lugo was reportedly released to a church in San Antonio where he will receive shelter and counseling.

Rogelio Duarte is the church's groundskeeper and also lives at the church. He described the teen’s demeanor:

“He looked lost, like kind of down, a bit confused,” Duarte said. “It’s his first time being around this kind of thing.”

The teen assassin, known as El Ponchis, dropped out of school in third grade and will face challenges going forward.

“I think if anything positive comes out of this, it brings to light the issue of juveniles and juvenile crime and how you deal with it in a way that helps society,” Valencia said. “It’s hard to argue that the way the system is set up now is good.”

Duarte said the teen won’t face judgment while at the church because everyone deserves a second chance.

“Most of us came from violent backgrounds. This is a place where it all begins, the miracles. The life-changing process is right here,” Duarte said. “We just welcome anybody with open arms.”

Mexican authorities and the teen’s family expressed concern about his safety if he stayed in Mexico after his release. It is unclear if he will remain in Texas or return to San Diego.

There’s no denying that we’re pretty lucky in North San Diego.

So, instead of going over your Christmas list this Thanksgiving, take a moment to be grateful for the priceless things we’ve already got. From the perfect weather to the surf, sand and never-ending list of things to do, Yelp found it easy to create this list of “Things to be Thankful for in North County.”

Wine Country:
Oh, wine. Maybe it’s getting you through the holiday or perhaps it’s simply a reduction in your sauce. Either way, North County has an abundance of grown-up fruit juice everywhere you turn. In fact, you could say the region hits the land lottery with sand and Syrah. So, a round of thanks is in order to local wineries like Lorimar and South Coast who bring the bubbly. Also, inland inhabitants are certainly grateful for the grapes at Vindemia Estates and Wien’s Family Cellars.


Parks & Recreation:
After that turkey dinner North County locals race for the coast and the lucky ones burn off those extra Thanksgiving calories with a hike at Torrey Pines. Along the miles of coastline, surfers bob in the waves at Moonlight State Beach and the natives take their relatives for a stroll in the San Diego Botanical Gardens. When out-of-town guests watch the palm trees sway you can bet they’re thinking “Mahalo, San Diego.”


Breweries Galore:
Mashed potatoes? Amateurs! The extra holiday calories should come from an awesome local brew and North SD has plenty of breweries to choose from. Vista's Indian Joe Brewing brings the beer for the feast, while the Iron Fist Brewing Company taps kegs and fills growlers with ease. It’s a world of bountiful brews here, that’s for sure, and a reason to thank the hops ad barley gods.


Shopping Small:
Local businesses thrive with thanks up North, due to residents committed to shopping small. Yelp’s Shop Local events have people taking the pledge and storeowners grateful for the crowds. Shop Solo and Leaping Lotus in Solana Beach, The Village Faire in Carlsbad and The Lumberyard in Encinitas. Why? Because every $100 spent at an independent retailer means $58 stays local.


Community:
Incredible locals are really what make this ‘hood the bee’s knees. They’re generous and kind, volunteering and supporting local organizations like the North County Food Bank, the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation and Rancho Coastal Humane Society. With all that you get up North, it’s great to give back. Next time you’re racing your bike down the Coast Hwy or hiking the seaside cliffs take a moment lucky duck: You've got it good!

Trish Sanderson is the community manager and marketing director for Yelp North County San Diego. She leads the local community of Yelp reviewers both online and off.

Investigators say a clash at the U.S.-Mexico border near San Diego involving more than 100 people pelting Border Patrol agents with rocks and bottles was an event organized long before the chaos began.

“We are still looking into who organized it, but clearly this was an organized event,” Chief Border Agent Paul Beeson told NBC 7 San Diego on Wednesday.

The border riot involving the unruly crowd happened Sunday in the Tijuana River Channel, near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the crowd began hurling rocks and bottles at agents as they tried to illegally cross into the United States.

Now, a video and piece of paper proves the event was planned, according to officials.

Officials said a flier containing a message written in Spanish was distributed in the days leading up to the event. The flier encouraged people to meet at the border on Nov. 24 and attempt to cross over into the U.S. together. The flier mentions reunions with family members and living the “American Dream.”

Cell phone video obtained by NBC 7 shows what actually happened that day.

Lined up by the dozens along the U.S.-Mexico border, the calm in the crowd did not last long. At the same time, roughly 100 people started running towards the border, straight at Border Patrol agents.

As the video shows, the agents immediately call for backup upon realizing what’s happening. Soon enough, people can be seen throwing objects at the agents.

“Rocks are flying. Bottles are flying. That is a recipe for disaster,” said Beeson.

In return, Beeson said agents used pepper spray, pepper balls and tasers in an attempt to thin the crowd.

CBP officials said many of the Mexican nationals in the crowd were ordered to stop by Border Patrol agents, but they continued walking into the U.S.

Even with backup assistance, the agents were outnumbered by the crowd. Officials said one agent was even hit on the head with a full water bottle. Once agents used “intermediate use-of-force” devices, the group retreated back to the Mexico side of the border.

Christian Ramirez of The American Friends Service Committee said the entire situation is worrisome. His group tracks border violence and Ramirez said it’s important to find out which side first instigated the violence, and how it got to that point.

This isn’t the first time border agents have been attacked, which is exactly why the Border Patrol said it takes any violence very seriously.

“This was a stupid thing to do. You’re placing the agents at risk and also those individuals you are encouraging at risk,” said Beeson.

Despite potential for a much bigger disaster, in the end, most walked away from the chaos just wiping their eyes from the pepper spray. No one was seriously injured, and no one made it past border agents.

Beeson said that if investigators do find out who distributed those fliers and organized the event, that person or persons could face criminal charges.

A New York man's dream of cycling cross country has been put on hold in San Diego.

That's because the bike he was riding was stolen in Coronado.

Greg Butterick has spent the past few months cycling across the United States. He and his wife, who drives alongside him, had to change their route because of weather and decided to stop in Coronado.

Butterick never imagined the Hotel Del Coronado’s parking lot would be where someone would steal his bike.

“The bike I’ve had for 25 years. I’ve literally been across the country with it,” he said.

After years planning, Butterick started his journey in June at the Empire State Building. Thousands of miles and months later, he made it to Coronado on Saturday.

To commemorate the moment, Butterick did a ceremonial “tire dip” in the Pacific Ocean. On Sunday, he enjoyed a celebratory brunch at the Hotel Del.

“We figured the parking lot is real secure. There’s a guard and security cameras and all that stuff,” Butterick said. “By the time we got out of brunch, it was gone.”

Someone had taken Butterick’s beloved bike off the back of his wife’s Jeep.

"The perpetrator actually rode up on their bike with bolt cutters, cut my bike off and left theirs,” Butterick explained.

Coronado police are helping to find the bike, checking websites like Craigslist and reviewing surveillance video.

Butterick had these words for the bike thief:

“To them, it was just a simple bike theft. To me, it was almost putting a stop to a lifelong dream,” he said. “They should really consider what they're doing.

This setback won’t stop Butterick from reaching his final destination, the Golden Gate Bridge. He tells NBC 7 that his brother, who lives in Los Angeles, got him a new bike. Butterick will continue his journey Thursday.
 

As many as 60,000 passengers are expected to pass through San Diego International Airport each day this week.

Because the airport typically serves 40,000 to 50,000 passengers a day, there will likely be a large number of people visiting the airport this week who are unaware of the transformation that's occurred.

Travelers will be exposed to a new line-up of restaurants, shops and other features that have landed at Lindbergh Field.

Of course, most of those features are part of The Green Build, a $1 billion project to expand the airport’s bustling Terminal 2. The expansion includes 10 new gates, a duel-level roadway, additional aircraft parking and more security lanes.

Improvements also include new concessions where travelers can grab a drink and some grub before embarking on their trip.

For instance, over at Terminal 2 West, gate 45 now boasts a San Diego classic: Phil’s BBQ. Over by baggage claim, near carousel 4, travelers can now grab a cup of fresh java from Ryan Bros. Coffee.

After grabbing a bite, travelers can now pamper themselves at the airport’s first-ever spa, which opened for business over the summer. Located at gate 36 in Terminal 2 West, Be Relax Spa sells beauty products and on-site health services and treatments.

Meanwhile, in Terminal 2 East – right near gate 27 – tech fans can spend their time between flights browsing through gadgets at The Sharper Image store. In that same area, InMotion Entertainment sells headphones, cameras, tablets and other goods. Right past gate 26, the Old Town News & Market is a newsstand and retail store that sells locally-themed items.

These new offerings – with many more to come – are part of the airport’s Concession Development Program (CDP) to revamp shopping and dining options for travelers, with a focus on local fare. The program launched in December 2012, with all new businesses expected to be up and running by March 2014.

Upon completion, the number of businesses at the airport will increase to 87, up from 55. The bulk of new concessions are housed in an area known as Sunset Cove, which will eventually feature floor-to-ceiling windows, seating, public art and views to the airfield.

A highly-anticipated upcoming addition is Stone Brewing Co., which will open up two locations, one at Terminal 2 East and the other at Terminal 2 West, where travelers can enjoy San Diego’s craft beer culture.

Another improvement travelers might notice this season is the expanded security checkpoint at Terminal 2, which includes six new security lanes. The lanes are designed to cut the average wait time in half and make the process of traveling a bit smoother. Those lanes opened back in March.

In May, the San Diego International Airport also unveiled a brand-new, $35 million baggage handling system at Terminal 2. The fully-automated system processes a bag from intake to airplane in about 10 minutes and is designed to increase efficiency. It could also mean fewer chances for lost baggage.

For U.S. service members, the brand-new USO center at Terminal 2 may be the best addition to the airport. The USO facility – the largest of its kind in the world – spans nearly 10,000-square feet. It opened this past September and provides a comfortable space for service members and their families to rest and enjoy some time together between flights.

The USO center includes a pool table, computer banks with Skype to call loved ones, Wi-Fi and a large patio for service members to soak in the San Diego sunshine.

So, though The Green Build continues and the airport continues to debut new features, there is plenty to see, eat and do now at Lindbergh Field.

The airport should see plenty of buzz on Thanksgiving weekend, as the holiday travel season officially kicks off.

According to AAA’s 2013 Thanksgiving Travel Forecast, approximately 43.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home on Thanksgiving weekend. An estimated 3.14 million of those travelers will be flying. AAA says Wednesday (Nov. 27) will be the busiest single day of travel with 37 percent of travelers departing for their trips that day.

To check out the full list of businesses at the San Diego International Airport, travelers can visit the airport website.

Thanksgiving is here, and you’ll probably be loading your plate with enough food to keep you full for days.

So on Friday, when you're still in a food coma, you may think about the growing trend of juicing.

Some people call it cleansing or detoxing, but either way, it’s a nationwide phenomenon. In fact, one of the market's top juicing companies is based in San Diego.

These companies that sell prepackaged bottles of organic juice, often for close to $10 per bottle.

“There's 2-3 pounds of produce in each bottle. It's non-GMO verified. We have a very low carbon footprint. We try to source locally,” Suja co-founder Annie Lawless said.

Suja, based in San Diego, launched in Sept. 2012. Before that, Lawless sold her concoctions to her yoga students in La Jolla.

“We weren't looking to do a business like this at all. We were this little home delivery service, unofficially doing it out of our house,” she explained.

In just 18 months, Suja says it's a $20 million revenue company.

“Suja is the number one selling juice brand at Whole Foods, which a year ago, we weren't even on the map,” Suja CEO Jeff Church said.

Suja, like other brands including BluePrint and Starbucks' Evolution, use cold press technology along with high-pressure processing to extend shelf life.

That drives up costs. Suja's three day cleanse is about $200 with shipping to Southern California residents.

Some dieticians say that's a high price to pay for something that isn't any better than eating whole produce.

“A low-calorie liquid diet might give you kind of a quick fix,” Alia Altamimi, UCSD Medical Center Registered Dietician, said.

Altamimi believes weight loss is possible on a cleanse, but the results are temporary. She also says that the sense of detox purity only lasts with a sustained healthy lifestyle.

“Once you juice all these fruits and lose all these features and characteristics of fiber, I think you're losing,” Altamimi said.

Health experts say the vegetable drinks can be good for you, but supplemental ingredients, like apples and pineapples, can add a lot of sugar.

“Even though there's a lot of benefit to detoxing and cleansing, it isn't the magic bullet,” Kerry Tepedino, Holistic Health Practitioner, said.

Suja plans to open up a Philadelphia plant next year to have better access to the East Coast market.

Authorities arrested the driver of a bus, which crashed at Miami International Airport almost a year ago, killing three people and injuring dozens of others.

Ramon Ferreiro, 47, faces three counts of vehicular homicide/reckless manner in connection to the Dec. 1, 2012 crash. He was arrested on Wednesday.

The arrest warrant said his bond amount was at $50,000. Ferreiro was released from jail at 4:50 a.m.

It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.

A chartered bus carrying 32 members of a Jehovah's Witness congregation slammed into an overpass at the airport on the day of the accident.

Ferriero had been scheduled to take the group to a Jehovah’s Witnesses gathering in West Palm Beach but apparently got confused and drove to the airport before the 12-foot-high bus struck the 8-foot-6-inch concrete overpass entrance, police said.

Serafin Castillo, 86, was killed on impact, while Francisco Urana, 56, and Gliceria Emerida Garcia, 75, died at the hospital.

Authorities said that witnesses told them that just before the crash, Ferreiro was traveling at 33 miles per hour in a 15-mile-per-hour speed zone.

"Before he hit the overpass, he diregarded eight (8) low clearance warning signs equipped with amber lights," the statement of facts in support of the arrest warrant said.

Passengers aboard the bus also warned him that he was going the wrong way, and he continued to drive until the bus crashed into the lower level arrival entrance, the statement of facts in support of the arrest said.

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Nearly two dozen lots of blood glucose test strips are being recalled because they may calculate wrong results when used with certain meters, a Southern California company announced Wednesday.

Abbott Diabetes Care is recalling FreeStyle® and FreeStyle Lite® Blood Glucose Test Strips sold in the U.S.

The recalled test strips may produce erroneously low blood glucose results when used with the OmniPod® Insulin Management System, or with the "FreeStyle® Blood Glucose Meter" and "FreeStyle® Flash Blood Glucose Meter" – neither of which have been made since 2010.

When the test strips are used with the newer FreeStyle brand meters, the test results are not affected.

The affected test strips are from lots with expiration dates between May 2014 and March 2015.

The following lot numbers are included in the recall:

• 1281732
• 1363321
• 1367917
• 1283345
• 1365056
• 1373262
• 1283603
• 1365920
• 1374907
• 1285007
• 1365934
• 1366515
• 1366111
• 1366337
• 1366006
• 1363015
• 1366347
• 1350414
• 1363109
• 1365921

Based in Alameda, Calif., Abbott Diabetes Care said it is alerting health care professionals, pharmacies and distributors about the recall.

Customers can call 1-888-736-9869 for a replacement of the affected test strips at no charge.

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A fight broke out in the parking lot of a Walmart in San Bernardino County Thursday night as shoppers jostled in line to take advantage of Black Friday door buster deals.

Tensions were high at the retail giant's Rialto location because shoppers were cutting in line, said Sgt. Nicholas Borchard, with the Rialto Police Department.

At least three people were involved in the brawl and two have been taken into custody, Borchard said. A police officer broke his wrist as he broke up the brawl.

The incident happened at 7 on Thanksgiving night at a Walmart at 1610 Riverside Ave. (map). Police say there were three fights total at the store, two of which were inside over merchandise and the third outside that injured the officer.

A Walmart spokeswoman could confirm no other details, saying only that police responded quickly and customer safety is the store’s top priority.

NBC4 obtained witness video of the brawl, which showed what appeared to be a police officer drag at least one person in the parking lot. A crowd had gathered around the fight.

Shoppers were welcome at the mega-retailer's Rialto location -- about 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles -- starting at 7 a.m. Thursday.

The store was set to remain open until 10 p.m. Friday.

Refresh this page for updates.

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More Southern California Stories:

• Father Suspected of Abducting Sons
• Mother Turns Tragedy Into Hope
• Teen Cyclist Hurt in Hit-and-Run
• Bomb Hoax Halts I-15 Traffic
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• Weekend: Hollywood Christmas Parade

A 12-year-old boy and three children were injured Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a tree in south suburban Olympia Fields in Chicago.

The crash occurred about 12:45 p.m. in the 600 block of Brookwood Terrace, according to statement from Olympia Fields police. Authorities believe the driver may have been speeding at the time of the crash.

All four passengers were less than 16 years old and residents of Olympia Fields, police said.

Armani Kreamer, 12, of the 2000 block of Corinth Road in Olympia Fields, was pronounced dead at Franciscan St. James Health in Chicago Heights at 2:21 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Kreamer's mother said he was supposed to be grounded but sneaked out for a joyride with friends. She said the car was driven by a 13-year-old girl. 

The three other individuals in the vehicle were initially taken to Franciscan St. James Health in Olympia Fields and Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, but were all later taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, police said.

Eyewitness Anapam Razdan said he was shocked that anyone survived. 

"There was some movement in the car, and I kept hearing some women or girls screaming and saying, 'Oh, let me out, let me out, look at the car,' which I thought was kind of strange that they were alive," Razdan said. 

An autopsy for Kreamer is scheduled for Thursday.

Olympia Fields police are investigating.
 

STNG Wire

A man who walked into a San Jose home on Thursday morning and allegedly started stabbing people was fatally shot by police officers after after allegedly ramming a patrol car, police said.

The incident began at about 10:35 a.m. when the suspect, who has not yet been identified, allegedly stabbed three people in the 2100 block of Luz Avenue, police spokeswoman Sgt. Heather Randol said.

The stabbing victims' injuries are considered serious but not life threatening, Randol said.

The suspect then carjacked a vehicle in the 100 block of Jackson Avenue, police said. Officers in pursuit of the suspect tried to stop the carjacked vehicle, which was at one point driving the wrong way on an Interstate 680, police said, but the driver wouldn't stop.

San Jose Police Sgt. Heather Randol said the pursuit ended when officers spotted the suspect's vehicle about 10:50 a.m. near Mabury Road and Kirk Glen Drive in East San Jose. According to police, after the suspect rammed a patrol car, the suspect exited the vehicle and began moving toward police, at which point officers opened fire.

The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. The man's identity was not immediately released.

MORE: Two Shootings, One "Random" in San Jose

San Jose police homicide detectives are investigating the case.

Neighbors witnessed the incident.

"He tried to do a U-turn into the cop car to hit the cop car, and the cops started shooting at him," neighbor Katrina Orta said. Orta was interpreting what her deaf sister Serena Orta was saying.

Another neighbor, Michael Phan, heard the shots.

"Actually, I was inside the home and suddenly, I hear the shot," Phan said. "I heard pop, pop."

Neighbors said they saw the minivan crash into a tree.

"[My sister] thought it was crazy," Katrina Orta said. "She's never seen nothing like that before."

Police said they had to stop him before he killed someone.

Neighbor Robert Newman said the suspect's minivan hit his parked truck before it hit the tree.

"It was a police action," Newman said. "It was something that needed to be done. I'm glad they were on top of it and took care of it."

Phan said he was planning on cutting down the tree, but he now believes it prevented the minivan from going into his home.

"I think [I feel] relieved," he said. "Now, I can take the whole family out and have a happy Thanksgiving and get some turkey."

Investigators said they are still trying to figure out why the suspect went on this crime spree on Thanksgiving day.

Earlier on Thursday, San Jose police were investigating two other shootings, one of a young couple on a porch on State Street at 4 a.m., and another about 2 a.m. in the 2200 block of Dobern Avenue.

No suspects were taken into custody in those two shootings, and all the victims are expected to survive.

Despite enduring a terrifying ordeal, Sasha Fleischman couldn't be more grateful this Thanksgiving.

“It just feels really great to be home, and I'm really glad I can be home for Thanksgiving,” Fleischman said.

The California high school senior, who is agender, suffered severe burns to the legs when another teen set Sasha's skirt on fire aboard an AC Transit bus three weeks ago.

VIDEO: Sasha Fleischman Interview, Part 1
VIDEO: Sasha Fleischman Interview, Part 2

Fleischman talked to reporters for the first time Thursday morning.

“I look down and my skirt is on fire,” Fleischman said. “I freak out because I'm on fire.”

For the first time, Fleischman is speaking publicly about the ordeal, describing the moments of panic after seeing and feeling the flames.

“My first instinct was kind of dumb,” Fleischman said. “I started waving it around trying to put it out with air, but that just fanned the flames and made it bigger.”

What Sasha did next, something learned in kindergarten, may have saved the teen.

“My second reaction, which is probably what saved my life, I went back to kindergarten class and stop, drop and roll, so I just dropped on the floor and started rolling around,” Fleischman said.

Fleischman's injuries required three surgeries and three weeks in the burn unit, yet Sasha doesn't seem bitter.

MORE: Attorney for Teen Accused of Skirt Fire Calls Incident Prank

“I don't want to be too harsh, because people do dumb things, especially when they're teenagers,” Fleischman said.

Fleischman believes the 16-year-old suspect Richard Thomas shouldn't be prosecuted as an adult, though the teen is not sure what Thomas's intent really was.

“I think it was a really dumb thing he did,” Fleischman said. “I think you should really know better than to light someone's clothing on fire. You should be able to realize that's not just a funny prank.”

The case has drawn worldwide attention, and Fleischman, who doesn't identify as male or female, hopes it will lead to a better understanding of gender-identity issues.

As for the skirts, don't expect any changes.

“I'm going to keep wearing the skirt. I'm not going to give it up,” Fleischman said. “It's a big part of who I am and I don't like pants.”

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New Haven, Conn., detectives are investigating the sudden death of a Yale professor who was being held in a cell at the Union Avenue Detention Facility.

Police said Samuel See, 34, of New Haven was arrested on Saturday night. On Sunday, he was found unresponsive in his cell and later pronounced deceased.

Police went to See's home after receiving a complaint of a domestic dispute at 5:15 p.m. Saturday.

According to police, See's husband, Saunder Ganglani, 32, of New Haven, had gone to See's home to retrieve his belongings despite a protective order that was in place.

Ganglani told officers that he’d spent about two and a half hours at the house on Saturday before police responded.

Officers charged Ganglani with violating the protective order and spoke with See, who told police to remove Ganglani from the home, police said.

As officers were speaking with See, they mentioned there is also a protective order filed for See to stay away from Ganglani and See “became enraged," police said.

He yelled that it was his house, said he shouldn't be arrested and fought with the officers when they tried handcuffing him.

As he was being brought to the cruiser, he yelled "I will kill you. … I will destroy you" to one of the officers, police said.

See had suffered a cut over his eye and police called for EMS to evaluate him, police said.

An ambulance transported See to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was treated.

After being released, he was placed in police custody, taken to the detention facility and charged with violating a protective order, interfering with Police and threatening in the second degree.

Detectives from the New Haven Police Department are investigating the death.

"Mr. Samuel See was delivered to the detention center on Nov. 23 at approximately 9:10 p.m. by New Haven Police and was alert and communicating with Judicial Marshals throughout  his detainment until Marshals assigned to the detention center found him non-responsive in his cell at approximately 6 a.m. on Nov. 24. Marshals  immediately provided CPR and other lifesaving efforts, until relieved by New Haven Fire and Rescue," Rhonda Stearley-Hebert, program manager of communications for the Connecticut Judicial Branch, said in an e-mailed statement. 

See was an assistant professor of English and American Studies who was on leave this semester.

"The University community is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Samuel See. Our condolences go out to his family, faculty colleagues, and students, and his friends at Yale and elsewhere," a statement from Yale says.

The school is encouraging anyone at Yale who needs support to reach out to friends in the community or to use university resources that are available for consultation and counseling, including the university chaplain.

Students can seek help from Yale Mental Health and Counseling . Staff can seek help from Magellan Health Services.

An elementary school in San Diego's North County was broken into overnight for the fourth time this year, according to officials.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department confirmed that Solana Santa Fe Elementary School, which is located at 65570 El Apajo Road, was broken into around 2 a.m. The school's alarm system went off and alerted authorities.

When deputies arrived at the school, they discovered shattered glass from a large window that had been broken.

Deputies searched the campus but nobody was there, Lt. Maxim with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. It is unclear what, if anything, was stolen from the school, but the incident is under investigation.

"I have absolutely know idea why it would be a school that's targeted, as opposed to other businesses," said Sgt. James Cady with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. "That school is kinda in a remote location, out in the Fairbanks Ranch area, so that may be a contributing factor just because of the location" 

Neighbors were unhappy about the elementary school being targeted.

"I think it's ridiculous and I'm actually kind of sad for that person because here we are on Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for. We live in a free country. And here's someone doing something really destructive," said Debi Foli, a bicyclists who rides in the community.

She added: 

"They're stealing from kids. I mean these kids are trying to learn and we're providing a wonderful opportunity for them and yet this person, whoever it is, (needs to) just stop. Stop it. And go out and build something with your own life, stop taking from the kids."

Lt. Maxim said this is the fourth break-in at this elementary school in the past five months.

Sgt. Cady said there are not yet any suspect descriptions for who may have been responsible.

"All the school's property is serialized so if they try to get rid of that stolen property or sell it, it's going to turn up," Cady said. 

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Chula Vista officials are investigating a suspicious fire that sparked in an empty high school cafeteria Thanksgiving morning.

According to Deputy Fire Chief Jim Garcia of the Chula Vista Fire Department, an unknown suspect or suspects broke into Chula Vista High School and vandalized several rooms on campus, including the school cafeteria.

At around 7:50 a.m., fire officials rushed to the school after smoke was reported coming from the cafeteria.

Garcia says a fire, which officials found to be suspicious in nature, had sparked in the kitchen area. Crews were able to quickly knock it down, and no injuries were reported.

Officials believe the suspect or suspects responsible for the vandalism on campus may have also intentionally set the blaze. The investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.

According to Garcia, the vandalism at the high school included broken windows and ransacked classrooms. Some unspecified school equipment was also destroyed, he said.

As of 9 a.m., two investigations are happening on campus: one concerning the break-in and vandalism and the other concerning the suspicious fire.

The Chula Vista Police Department is handling the break-in investigation. At this time, there are no suspects in custody.

Chula Vista High School is located at 820 4th Ave. and is part of the Sweetwater Union High School District.

Six-year-old Lucia St. Lorenzo wondered how police working the holiday would get their Thanksgiving meal. So, to make sure officers in Newtown got to celebrate Thanksgiving just like everyone else, she went out of her way to bring it to them herself.

“Some police officers were working and they don't get to stay home with their families,” said 6-year-old St. Lorenzo.

Lucia and her father, Antonio St. Lorenzo, delivered the catered feast to the police station Thursday night.

Originally Lucia offered to pay for the whole dinner herself with the money she had gotten for her birthday, but restaurant owners from the Newtown Inn agreed to donate the dinners for 8 officers to support Lucia’s act of kindness.

Linda Antignani, who’s behind the Newtown Adopt-a-Cop program, also helped Lucia and her father make the night happen.

“It falls in that category of a little girl knowing that the officers would be alone on a holiday and wanting to give them a little piece of home,” said Linda Antignani.

Lucia's father, says he's so proud to see his daughter follow in his footsteps. He spend this life giving back to homeless veterans and other causes.

“It really makes me feel proud that she's got that kind of heart. That it's not all about her. She gets. It's about giving back,” said Antonio St. Lorenzo.

Lucia, a Head O'Meadow student, said she wanted to thank Newtown's finest for keeping a close eye on her school and on the town.

“They are outside my school so nobody comes in and hurts the kids,” said Lucia.

Newtown officers told NBC Connecticut the gesture gives them a little slice of home on this holiday. It also reminds them of the special bond they have with the community.

A parking lot fight at a Virginia Walmart was void of any holiday spirit as two men fought over a parking spot Thursday night.

The two men were arguing over a parking spot at a Claypool Hill Walmart when the discussion got heated, WVVA reported.

Following a firearm threat, 61-year-old Ronnie Sharp grabbed a knife and cut 35-year-old Christopher Jackson, authorities told WVVA.

Sharp was charged with malicious wounding and released on a $5,000 bond.

Jackson was treated at an area hospital before he was charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery. He is also out on a 5,000 bond.