She dropped out of high school to serve our country, and now 70 years later a World War II veteran finally has her high school diploma.

Ninety-one-year-old Rosalie Kone stood in the middle of the Windsor Locks High School graduation in Connecticut and waved proudly to the cheering crowd. She says it's a moment she never thought she'd get.

"It's fantastic. I just like the fella who said I stole the show. I didn't steal the show. I said they hollered hello. I'll take the hellos," said Kone.

In 1944 with her brothers already fighting in WWII, Pfc Kone left high school to serve in the Women's Army Corp for two years.

"I drove a truck all over the country. Wherever the supplies were needed, that's where I went," said Kone.

Kone served in England, France, and Germany and received several medals including three bronze stars. Because of her service, she never got the chance to graduate until an anonymous call was made three weeks ago asking the Windsor Locks Superintendent if he'd be willing to grant a diploma to a WWII veteran.

"Is there a better example that learning is constant and time is a variable than Rosalie Kone? I don't think so," said Superintendent Wayne Sweeney.

"I thought it was quite an honor," said Kone.

Seventy years after leaving to fight in the war the great grandmother of three donned her cap and gown and walked the stage with cane in hand to a standing ovation. Her family was there for the emotional moment.

"She's amazing. Everything about her is amazing. She's my everything," said daughter Cindy Kone.

For many, high school graduation is just the beginning. For Kone, it took a lifetime to achieve, and she hopes other graduates don't take it for granted.

"You just have to get out and push because no one is going to hand out anything to you because, like I said, if anybody knows, I do," said Kone.

Up to three people are missing and two others dead after a boat capsized in the Cal-Sag Channel near Palos Hills, Illinois, Friday night, officials said.

The Coast Guard suspended their search and rescue Saturday afternoon and said they would "support other agencies as they continue to use sonar equipment."

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The 19-foot boat collided with a 66-foot commercial towing vessel around 11 p.m., according to the Coast Guard.

Police said someone called authorities after hearing a loud a noise near Southwest Highway and the Canal Bridge.

First responders were able to locate the barge and the small pleasure craft but did not see anyone in the water.

Officials confirmed at least three people were on board the boat at the time of the collision, but said there may have been two others.

"We're still looking at it like there were five people on board until we prove otherwise," said Jason Neubeuer with the Coast Guard.

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The bodies of a man and a woman were recovered from inside the boat without life vests on. The bodies were identified as Jeremy Muzika and Viengsavanh Bielarz, according to Sergeant Bill Shannon with the Illinois Conservation Police.

The Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed the two bodies were recovered.

Officials said they are still searching the area for one to three other boaters.

"In 26 years it doesn't get any easier," said Shannon.

Several emergency crews responded to the scene but fog prevented air crews from being able to help in the search.

It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, but officials said they are investigating the actions of both the boat and the barge.

According to Sergeant Jeff Crowley with the Palos Hills Police Department, the area is a frequent route for barges.

“I don’t think it is very typical for a pleasure craft to be out this late at night,” Crowley said. “You don’t see a lot of pleasure crafts to be out this late at night.”

Officials said the vessel the boat collided with was a UTV Bill Arnold, which had a cargo of six barges.

According to Chief Warrant Officer Mark Stevens, runoff from this week's rain has left the water murky and makes locating objects difficult.

The channel has been closed to traffic between mile markers 308 and 315, according to the Coast Guard.

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Coast Guard officials said three vehicles were found at a nearby boat ramp, two of which were registered to the same address as the capsized boat.

Another vehicle was registered to a person in the same neighborhood.

Police conducted a wellness check at the boat owner’s residence but there was no response, according to authorities.

Greg Bielarz believes the capsized boat belongs to his brother.

“They go out boating every week, have fun,” Bielarz said. “They know there’s barges, they know the dangers, but things happen.”

Authorities were not releasing the names of the missing boaters, but Bielarz said he believes both his brother and his brother’s wife were on the boat.

“That’s my brother,” he said. “We’re hoping for the best.”

Mourners paid their respects Saturday to the six family members who died in a Newark house fire on Father's Day.

A funeral was held at the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Irvington for the six, who died when a fast-moving fire roared through the single-family home of Salome and Reginald Stewart, both 58. Prosecutors have said the blaze was sped along by highly flammable plastic flowers that decorated the front of the house.

Salome Stewart's daughter, 43-year-old Noreen "Michelle" Johnson, was visiting with her 15-year-old son, Stephon Sydney, from Crawford, Georgia, when the fire broke out. Zion Forbes, 11, was staying with his grandmother for the night to see the visiting relatives. Natasha Kinsale, 35, was also caught in the blaze.

"It hurts," said Cheryl Sydney, a relative. "You feel like something has been taken out of your chest."

All six deaths were ruled accidental. Authorities said the home didn't appear to have working smoke detectors.

San Francisco's world-famous crooked street will be temporarily off limits to cars starting this weekend.

Lombard Street, between Larkin and Leavenworth streets, will be closed Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m until July 13. It will also be closed on the Fourth of July.

The closure is part of a pilot program put in place after Lombard homeowners complained about traffic in the area.

• Photos: San Francisco's Lombard Street

After the experimental closures, officials will decide if the tourist attraction should be shut down on a more regular basis.

The SFMTA board, at the request of Supervisor Mark Farrell, voted last month to approve the temporary weekend shutdowns.

Some neighborhood residents would like to see the road closed for more than just a few weekends a year. A neighborhood spokesman said their goal is for the road to be closed most of the summer and half of all weekends.

Some residents said in recent years it had gained an amusement park atmosphere, with people blocking their driveways and snapping photos as they drove the street.

One resident, who wished not to reveal her name, said all the pedestrians clogging the street Saturday was more than she bargained for.

"I think I'm more concerned right now about the pedestrians," she said. "First of all, I'm angry, but secondly, people have a split second or they think about moving or not moving."

Local traffic, taxi cabs and pedestrians will still be allowed.

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The issue has been formally debated since 2000, according to an SFMTA report. Other possible solutions that have also been proposed include gating the street, creating a pedestrian mall, privatizing the street, prohibiting right turns on Hyde Street, and closing Lombard between Van Ness and Polk Streets during peak traffic periods.

Summer 2014 Lombard Street shutdown dates:

•  Saturday and Sundays in June: 21, 22, 28, 29
•  Friday 4th of July
•  Saturday and Sundays in July: 5, 6, 12, 13

A wrong-way crash has closed part of State Route 94 Friday night.

According to the California Highway Patrol, a suspected intoxicated driver got onto the westbound SR-94 the wrong way around 10:10 p.m.

As the driver neared Interstate 15, his vehicle collided head on with a semi truck.

Officials say the driver then tried to run from the scene, but officers caught up with him and took him into custody.

Two westbound lanes of SR -94 were closed as officials cleaned the area and investigated the crash. 

New York City's first family is embracing the colorful spirit of Coney Island's Mermaid Parade.

Mayor de Blasio's office tweeted a photo of the family in costume for the wacky procession Saturday at the city's most famous beach. 

The mayor donned a pirate costume, complete with a ruffled white shirt, while his wife, Chirlane McCray, put on a blue wig and blue mermaid costume.

• Photos From Last Year's Parade

Their children, Dante and Chiara, went all out with blue skin. The teenagers are serving as King Neptune and Queen Mermaid for this year's parade.

 A company that partners with hospitals to provide health care screenings is getting blasted by a consumer watchdog group, accusing the company of “fear mongering.”

According to its website, HealthFair touts mobile health screenings that offer discounted tests performed in buses near partner hospitals.

But watchdog group Public Citizen calls HealthFair’s screening programs unethical and unnecessary, and it is urging 20 hospitals across the country – including Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center – to sever ties with the company.

“This particular company that the watchdog is looking at right now is doing a lot of cardiovascular tests, frankly that most people don’t need,” said San Diego Dr. Ted Mazer.

For example, HealthFair’s advertised $179 basic package, which it says is valued at $2,300, includes six screenings like echocardiograms and electrocardiograms.

Mazer told NBC 7 the problem is the mobile screenings are not focused or based on patient symptoms.

“You have to have focused use of these tests,” said Mazer, “and you have to make sure someone is looking at the data carefully and educating the patient as to what that means, not scaring them into having a test or scaring them into doing the next test.”

In response to Public Citizen, HealthFair issued a 17-page response. It says its workers have screened more than one million people and often detected life-threatening diseases.

The company says it provides patients with the choice to obtain further testing.

Sharp Chula Vista hosted four events with HealthFair in May and June, a spokesperson said.

In light of the watchdog report, the medical center released this statement:

“While it is still too early for us to evaluate any results from the four screening events held over the past month, no future screening dates are planned.”

Three off-duty officers on a fishing trip rescued a couple who had been treading water for 14 hours after falling off their boat in Key Largo, Fla.

The Broward Sheriff's Office said two detectives and a firefighter/paramedic were fishing for dolphin Saturday morning about seven miles offshore of Hallandale Beach when they saw what looked like fish jumping or birds feeding on the surface of the water.

As they got closer, they saw it was actually a man treading water and waving his T-shirt at them. Next to him was an exhausted woman.

The three officers and a civilian who was fishing with them helped the couple onto their boat.

The couple told them they fell off their boat in Key Largo about 14 hours earlier. The boat was in gear and pulled away from them, leaving them stranded.

The couple appeared to have mild hypothermia and some jellyfish stings, BSO said.

The family of late San Diego Padres icon Tony Gwynn held a private memorial service for the beloved baseball player Saturday morning at San Diego State University, a school spokesperson confirmed.

The memorial was held at 10 a.m. at the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union on campus and was attended by approximately 200 close family members and friends, as well as representatives from SDSU, Major League Baseball and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

An SDSU spokesperson said pall bearers included baseball players Quintin Berry, Bud Black, Landon Burt, Damian Jackson, Broderick Perkins and Tim Zier.

Those in attendance from the National Baseball Hall of Fame included President Jeff Idelson, Rod Carew, Cal Ripkin, Ozzie Smith, Barbara Robinson, wife of Frank Robinson, and Dave Winfield.

A public tribute will be held for Gwynn at Petco Park in downtown San Diego on Thursday. The event is free and open to all.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the memorial will begin at 7:19 p.m. – the exact time of the first game Gwynn ever played with the Padres in 1982. The time also, of course, signifies Gwynn’s legendary No. 19 jersey.

Read: Public Memorial Planned for Tony Gwynn

On Wednesday night, the Padres played their first home game since Gwynn’s death.

Before the crowd at Petco Park, the team took a moment to honor the unforgettable icon. The players stood around a large No. 19 etched on the field and the entire stadium fell silent for 19 second, in remembrance. The players also wore a No. 19 patch on their uniforms.

Gwynn’s jersey was displayed inside the stadium and the words “Mr. Padre” lit up the scoreboard. His players from San Diego State University, also wearing No. 19 jerseys, threw out the first pitch. Fans – many emotional and wiping away tears – watched a video tribute to Gwynn showing some highlights from his two-decade career with the Padres.

Gwynn died Monday after a long battle with cancer. He was 54 years old. He played for the Padres for 20 years and was extremely devoted to the City of San Diego and his fans.

Since his death fans have flocked to the Tony Gwynn statue at Petco Park to pay their respects, leaving behind tokens of love including flowers, letters, photos and stuffed animals. The makeshift memorial grows with each passing day, joining fans as they mourn the loss of a hometown hero.

On Thursday, San Diegans wore Padres gear to work and around town in honor of the man affectionately known as "Mr. Padre."

Many San Diegans remember Gwynn as an approachable, extremely likeable family man who always made time for his fans.

Following his professional baseball playing career Gwynn was the head baseball coach at SDSU for 12 seasons, maintaining his close ties to the city he adored.

 A man is accused of trying kidnap his nephew in the Colina Del Sol area Saturday, according to San Diego Police. 

Someone called 911 around 1:50 p.m. to report the attempted kidnapping.

The person told police a man tried to take his 9-year-old nephew on 51st Street between Trojan and Orange avenues.  

A suspect has been detained in this incident, and police say they are preparing to take him into custody. 

Refresh this page for details to come. 

In an effort to crack down on crime, a new security camera is being installed in San Diego’s Ocean Beach community, but not everyone thinks it’s a good idea.

Though OB is known for its eclectic community, there is an element of “trouble” there that town officials are trying to get rid of so the community can be a safer, more enjoyable place for all.

“For many years there's been an element that wants to cause a little more trouble than we want down there,” explained Ed Harris, Ocean Beach Town Councilman.

Within a week or two, Harris said OB will have extra help keeping the seaside community safe as a new security camera is installed on the San Diego Police Department's trailer at the foot of Newport Avenue, focusing around the pier, which is a frequently visited attraction.

“We want people to go down there at night, in the day – any time of the day – and feel completely comfortable like this is a great place to be, and I have no reason to be scared to be here. That's our goal,” said Harris.

It’s welcome news to some people who work in that area, including OB resident Katie Brown, who works at Java Jungle.

“It's frustrating, especially working here. We have to kick some of the people out or sometimes they deter normal, regular customers,” Brown said.

She believes the camera will provide another layer of security.

“I think it will be a good thing. I mean we want to keep this really community friendly,” she added.

But OB business owner Eileen Hogan disagrees.

“I’m leaning towards people’s privacy,” she said.

Hogan’s shop, Raindrops, is on the Ocean Front looking at the pier.

While she says something should be done, she doesn't think a camera is the answer.

“Maybe a little more police presence but not cameras,” she said.

Harris said there are already security cameras on businesses in that area but this new camera will target an area those cameras cannot see.

 

Firefighters worked to put out a fire in the Old Town area that sparked Saturday afternoon. 

A large amount of smoke was first reported near Morena Boulevard and Napa Street around 3 p.m. 

Fire officials say the blaze was burning vegetation in a riverbed. 

Crews were able to fully contain it at roughly an acre and a quarter, and nothing was damaged by the flames. 

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. 

An arrest has been made in the triple-homicide mystery that has enthralled San Diego since Christmas Eve 2013, San Diego police and family members of the victims confirmed Saturday.

The San Diego Police Department said Carlo Gallapo Mercado, 29, was arrested Friday in the 8700 block of Westmore Street in San Diego. He was booked on three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the slayings of Ilona Flint, 22, and brothers Salvatore Belvedere, 22, and Gianni Belvedere, 24.

Mercado was booked into San Diego Central Jail. Inmate records indicate he's scheduled to appear in court for the first time Wednesday.

At a quick media briefing held Saturday, Antoinette Belvedere, sister of Gianni and Salvatore, said the family had gotten a phone call from detectives Saturday morning telling them an arrest had been made in all three of the killings.

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She said the family did not know the suspect tied to the triple-homicide case.

"We ask that you please respect our privacy as we process this new information," said Antoinette. "Our families want to extend our deepest appreciation and thanks to the men and women of the San Diego Police Department."

Antoinette said the family feels "relief" at this point, but is still trying to process the news.

"We're holding up. You know, it's a sense of relief to get this information that somebody's been caught, and we just got the news, so we're still processing everything," she added.

Flint and Salvatore were gunned down in a parking lot outside a Macy's department store at Mission Valley Mall in the early hours of Dec. 24, 2013. Flint died at the scene, while Salvatore died a few days later from injuries sustained in the shooting.

Gianni -- Salvatore's brother and Flint's longtime boyfriend-turned-fiance -- went missing following the shooting of his loved ones. The San Diego Police Department launched a missing person search for Gianni over the next several weeks.

• Timeline: Brothers, Fiancee Killed in Triple-Homicide Mystery

Finally, on Jan. 17, 2014, Gianni's body was discovered in the trunk of his car in Riverside, Calif., about an hour-and-a-half north of San Diego County. He, too, had been fatally shot.

The case has remained opened and unsolved for nearly six months.

The families of the victims have tried diligently to increase the reward for information on this case in hopes of bringing forward fresh leads. The San Diego Crime Stoppers reward fund for this case increased to $10,000 earlier this year.

The San Diego Police Department said Chief Shelley Zimmerman plans to hold a news conference on these latest developments on Monday at 11:30 a.m. NBC 7 will stream that briefing live on our website.

The mysterious killings of local residents Ilona Flint, Salvatore Belvedere and Gianni Belvedere have rocked San Diego. Now, more than a month into this unsolved case, many questions remain unanswered as the San Diego Police Department continues to put together pieces of the puzzle.

Here’s a timeline of key events in this triple homicide case, which first began on the early hours of Christmas Eve with a deadly shooting outside Westfield Mission Valley Mall.

Dec. 24, 2013 – The Christmas Eve Shooting:
At around 1:15 a.m., Ilona Flint and Salvatore Belvedere, both 22 years old, are critically shot in a parking lot outside the Macy’s department store at San Diego’s Mission Valley Mall. Despite being shot in the head, Flint manages to call 911 to report the shooting, telling dispatchers she’s injured near the mall. Minutes later, officers locate the wounded duo inside a vehicle in the 1600-block of Camino Del Rio North. Flint is pronounced dead at the scene. Salvatore, suffering life-threatening gunshot wounds to the head and torso, is transported to a local hospital. SDPD Lt. Mike Hastings holds a briefing on the Christmas Eve shooting and says police are looking for a possible suspect, described as a 5-foot-9 to 5-foot-11 man wearing tan pants.

Dec. 26, 2013 – Gianni Belvedere is Missing:
Two days after the parking lot shooting, the families of both Flint and Salvatore hold a brief news conference announcing that 24-year-old Gianni Belvedere – Sal’s older brother and Flint’s fiancé – has gone missing. Police confirm Gianni was last seen on Dec. 23 around 10 p.m. at his Tierrasanta home. “Gianni, we need you to come home,” pleads one family member, between tears. "Please call us." Investigators confirm the Christmas Eve shooting does not appear to be connected to any sort of robbery. Lt. Hastings says a possible vehicle of interest in the case is a 2008-2011 dark gray Honda sedan.

Dec. 27, 2013 – Salvatore Succumbs to Injuries, Search Continues for Gianni:
The Belvedere family confirms that Sal has died from injuries sustained in the Christmas Eve shooting. Police say they’re still searching for Gianni, and issue a missing person bulletin describing Gianni as an Italian-American man with brown hair and brown eyes. He’s 6 feet tall, 165 pounds and likely driving a four-door, dark green 2004 Toyota Camry XLE with the Utah license plate B154VZ. The Belvedere family says Gianni may have also been at the mall with Flint and Sal at the time of the shooting.

Dec. 28, 2013 – Vigil Held for Flint:
Loved ones hold a public candlelight vigil for Flint at La Jolla Shores. Friends describe Flint as a loyal friend and hard worker. Friend Andre Briones tells NBC 7 that Flint and Gianni had been dating for about eight years and were engaged to be married. Both Flint and the Belvedere brothers were originally from Utah. Flint moved to San Diego after Gianni and his family relocated here from Utah. Briones also says the Belvedere brothers would often take turns picking Flint up from work and says the trio were the best of friends.

Jan. 1, 2014 – Vigil Held for Sal:
Approximately 100 loved ones gather at Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach at sunset on New Year’s Day to pay tribute to Sal in an emotional vigil. The family says Crystal Pier was one of Sal's favorite surfing spots. The Belvederes also say Gianni is still missing and announce that a reward for information leading to his safe return has climbed to $10,000. "If you've seen the car, seen him, think you've seen him, please report it to Crime Stoppers, San Diego PD, to the news media, anybody," Gianni's uncle Paul Donato pleads. "We need any clues we can get our hands on to bring him home to put a little closure to this whole nightmare that we're living right now."

Jan. 7, 2014 – No Gianni, No Anwers:
Two weeks to the date of the shooting outside Mission Valley Mall, investigators say there is still no trace of Gianni. Lt. Hastings tells NBC 7 that this is one of the most unusual cases he’s seen in his 20-year career. Officials also confirm that Gianni’s cell phone and credit cards have not been used since he vanished.

Jan. 17, 2014 – Body Found in Trunk of Missing Man’s Car in Riverside, Calif.:
The dark green Toyota Camry with the Utah license plate described in the SDPD’s missing person bulletin for Gianni is found in Riverside, Calif., about an hour-and-a-half north of San Diego County. A passerby calls authorities at around 11:45 a.m. and reports that a foul odor is coming from the trunk area of vehicle, which is parked at a shopping center. When officers arrive on scene, they open the trunk and find the decomposed body of a man inside. On Jan. 18, a Belvedere family member confirms the victim in the trunk is Gianni. The SDPD says it’s working with the Riverside Police Department on this development. An autopsy is scheduled for the following week.

Jan. 23, 2014 – Confirmed by PD: Victim in Trunk is Gianni:
Police officially confirm that the man found dead in the trunk of the car in Riverside is, in fact, missing San Diego resident Gianni Belvedere. The cause of death is not released but detectives clarify that Gianni was a victim of homicide.

Jan. 24, 2014 – New Suspect Details Released, Police Determined to Solve Case:
At a press conference, SDPD Lt. Mike Hastings releases more details of a possible suspect tied to the triple homicide case. He says the suspect – seen at Westfield Mission Valley on Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, 2013 – is a man wearing a black hoodie with white bands in the biceps area of the sweatshirt, tan pants and white tennis shoes. He is described as standing 5-foot-10 to 6-feet-tall. It's believed the suspect was at the Mission Valley mall at 11:15 p.m. the night before the shooting of Flint and Sal and then returned to the mall at 12:15 a.m. on Dec. 24. Lt. Hastings assures the Belvedere family and the public that the SDPD is working diligently to find answers and says investigators have spent hundreds of hours on the case. “If this case can be solved, this case will be solved,” Lt. Hastings says.

Feb. 7, 2014 -- SDPD Confirms Gianni Suffered Shot(s) to Head:
In the first bit of new information released in two weeks, the SDPD confirms that Gianni died as a result of gunshot wound(s) to the head, according to preliminary findings from an autopsy. The autopsy has not yet been completed by the Riverside Medical Examiner, so police say this is the only insight into Gianni's manner of death at this time.

March 2014 -- Family Launches New Website in Search for Leads:
After three months with no leads, the Belvedere family sets up a new website filled with new information on the case and the victims.

April 2014 -- Family Desperate for Answers:
Desperate to find answers to the murders, the Belvedere family hosts fundraisers to raise money to add to the reward fund.

June 21, 2014 -- Police Confirms Arrest in Triple-Homicide Case
Nearly six months to the date of the Mission Valley Christmas Eve murders, the Belvedere family and SDPD confirm that an arrest has been made in the slayings of Ilona, Sal and Gianni. Carlo Gallapo Mercado, 29, was booked on three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the killings. 

At this point, we now wait. No further information has been released on the triple killings, though the SDPD says investigators will continue briefing the media when there are major developments.

The National City community came together Saturday for a fundraiser for the family of a man shot and killed outside a restaurant Tuesday while attending a World Cup viewing party.

With sponges in hand, loved ones held a car wash and shared fond memories of Josue Crook, 36, an active member of Cornerstone Church of San Diego known for his kind demeanor and willingness to always lend a helping hand or shoulder to lean on.

“He was a great man. He was a godly man. He taught me how to be a man and how to worship the Lord,” said Crook’s 21-year-old nephew, Jaime Valenzuelo.

“He was always there for me and for everybody here in this city. He was always supporting my family, his family, friends – even people that he would just meet on the first day, he would support them and show them nothing but love,” he added.

Crook died from injuries sustained in a shooting outside the Rincon Del Mar restaurant at 324 Highland Ave. on Tuesday evening. The suspect or suspects responsible for the fatal shooting remain at large and the investigation into the murder is ongoing.

“I’m praying that whoever did this, that if anyone knows anything, please talk,” begged his sister, Sara Crook, at Saturday’s fundraiser. “I’m going to keep pressing on. This is family, this is my brother, and we’re not going to stop [until we find who did this].”

Though the pain of losing her older brother is unbearable, Sara said she and her family are at peace with his death and are putting everything into God’s hands, just as Crook would’ve wanted it.

They find solace in the fact that God took him for a reason, she said, and she’s thankful for the outpouring of love and support from the community, Crook’s church, friends and loved ones.

Sara said her brother was a father-figure to her growing up, and a role model and counselor to her and so many others. She said healing will be difficult for the family, but not impossible.

“There’s still a lot of heartache, there’s still a lot of sadness,” Sara told NBC 7.

“He meant everything to me; he was my everything. He was always there to help me,” she added, holding back tears.

Valenzuelo said he’ll always be thankful to his uncle for encouraging him to read the bible and for the life advice he often gave him – up until the very end.

Valenzuelo said he got a chance to see Crook for the last time just a few days before the deadly shooting. The two ate pizza together and Crook shared more of his wisdom.

“God allowed me to say my goodbyes. [My uncle] told me he loved me,” he said.

Again, the killing remains under investigation and anyone with information should contact the National City Police Department Communications Center at (619) 336-4411, ext. 0.

Crook’s family believes he was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Earlier this week, a friend told NBC 7 that Crook had been watching the World Cup with friends at Rincon Del Mar and was trying to break up a random fight at the restaurant when he got caught in the crossfire. Loved ones have insisted Crook wasn’t a violent or aggressive person.

In addition to Saturday’s event, the family has set up a memorial fund and an "In Memory of Josue Crook" Facebook page in honor of the victim. Memorial plans have not been set just yet.
 

A 37-year-old Santa Ana man was arrested Thursday night for slinging glass marbles at Santa Ana Police officers with a slingshot.

Hector Luis Perez (below) did not successfully hit any of the officers, but police say one marble struck the back of a unit and caused it to shatter.

• Read: Brazen Graffiti Suspect Accused of Tagging San Diego Courtroom

Officers sent Orange County Sheriff’s Air support "DUKE" to the area where the man was slinging marbles and after reviewing the in-flight surveillance system, were able to identify the man behind the marble slinging.

Perez faces charges of vandalism and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.

 Six people were arrested across San Diego County this week during an insurance fraud crackdown dubbed Operation Bogus Burglary.

The suspects face wide variety of charges for allegedly staging thefts and then trying to recoup insurance money from it, according to the California Department of Insurance (CDI).

The CDI announced all six were arrested Wednesday and listed each of their stories in a release.

Suspect #1

Angel Rzeslawski, 47, of Chula Vista is accused of filing a suspicious claim for more than $40,000.

In it, he said items like a $26,000 Rolex watch, $6,000 ring and a laptop computer were taken from his vehicle during a trip to the gym.

However, when CDI investigators began digging into it, they found that gym records did not place Rzeslawski at any of the gym’s locations on the day of the supposed theft, officials say. They also discovered that the laptop the suspect claimed was stolen actually belonged to his previous employer and was no longer in his possession.

Suspect #2

The second suspect, Revan Qajar, 26, of El Cajon told police his photography studio was burglarized, and he submitted a $26,200 suspicious claim to his insurance company for camera equipment and computers.

The El Cajon Police officer who took the initial report noted that the broken window, which was 27 inches by 13.5 inches, was too small for most adults to fit through. The jagged pieces around the frame were still in place, and there was no blood or torn clothing to show that someone had crawled in, the officer said.

Additionally, the CDI says Qajar had video surveillance for his business, but he claimed he did not have the password to access the footage.

El Cajon Police soon contacted the CDI to report suspected insurance fraud after interviewing Qajar.

Insurance detectives discovered the suspect had sold one of his reportedly stolen camcorders, and when officials tracked down the person who bought it, the purchaser confirmed that Qajar was the one who sold it, the CDI says.

Based on this evidence, detectives served a search warrant to Qajar’s home and studio, where they found many of the items the suspect had reported stolen, according to the CDI.

Suspect #3

Imperial Beach resident Javier Jimenez, 38, bought a new owners insurance policy for his condominium in Aug. 2013 and reported a burglar two days later, officials say.

He then filed a burglary report with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and an insurance claim with Farmers Insurance, which included a 50-inch television, microwave, Panasonic Toughbook and a safe with $200 in cash inside.

CDI detectives reported the receipts Jimenez turned in to prove he had purchased the items were fakes.

Suspects #4 and 5

Two people were involved in the next scheme, the CDI says. Chula Vista residents Stephen Niceler, 39, and Joanna Yeary, 38, are accused of purchasing renters insurance on Aug. 8, 2013 and filing a suspected false burglary claim on Aug. 17.

The suspects reported $1,625 worth of cash and jewelry were stolen, and when their insurance company asked for proof of purchase, the duo allegedly bought a receipt book from a local office supply store and forged a jewelry receipt.

According to the CDI, Niceler and Yeary claimed the goods were from a jeweler in National City and faxed over the receipt, which detectives soon realized was a fake.

Suspect #6

The final suspect, 41-year-old Christopher Minnehan of San Diego, repeatedly filed fraudulent claims for the same loss of an iPhone and iMac computer, the CDI says.

According to investigators, Minnehan filed the claim four times to three different insurance companies over a period of three years.

The suspect was discovered when one company ran a loss history search on him, found the suspicious activity and reported him to the CDI.

Thanks to Operation Bogus Burglary, the suspects face charges including grand theft, filing a fraudulent insurance claim and submitting false documents in support of a false claim.

The CDI says penalties if convicted could include fines, restitution and up to five years in prison for each violation.

 The first day of summer Saturday also marks the first World Giraffe Day, and the San Diego Zoo has special reason to celebrate: its new baby giraffe.

Of course, baby is a misleading word, for this calf would certainly be the biggest on an animal preschool playground. Born June 16, the cutie already stands 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 146 pounds.

The yet-to-be-named giant is his mother Harriet’s second calf, and his father is the herd’s sire, Silver.

To honor its newest member and World Giraffe Day, the zoo opened up its giraffe barn, giving guests a behind-the-scenes look and a chance to ask the keepers questions about the six Masai giraffes.

The purpose of the new holiday is to raise awareness about the tallest mammal and the challenges facing the species.

According to the zoo, giraffe populations have been in decline since the late 1990s, dropping from about 140,000 to less than 80,000.

Experts blame habitat loss and competition with livestock for the decrease.

A mysterious disease deforming and killing sea stars along the West Coast, causing their limbs to dissolve, has reached the waters off San Diego’s coastline.

The condition is called a number of things, including “melting disease” and “sea star wasting syndrome. The animals typically produce lesions causing their limbs to fall off and dissolve.

The impacted creatures have also been referred to as "zombie sea stars."

“You would see a trail of arms and [think] 'Oh, this is going to lead me somewhere bad,' and then you keep following the arms. Sure enough there's this zombie sea star,” said UCSB research diver Sarah Sampson who is currently working in the North County. “You see the arms crawling away.”

Sampson says there are about 11 species of sea stars in the San Diego area and she hasn’t seen about 75 percent of them since last October.

Similar die-offs have occurred before in the 1970s and 1980s but never at this magnitude and across such an widespread region.

According UC Santa Cruz researchers, since April the number of cases increased dramatically in areas including Carlsbad, La Jolla, Mission Bay and Point Loma.

“In a matter of a day or few days it can go from a lesion to taking the whole star and it just falls apart,” said UCSB research ecologist Steve Schroeter who is based in Carlsbad.

Shroeter is worried about the possible longterm impact of these dying sea stars.

“They’re a very import part of the ecosystem and you get rid of predators and the community is going to change in some ways we know, some we don't,” he told NBC 7.

More sea stars are expected to die off in the coming months. Still, Sampson said she has also seen baby sea stars in local waters, which is evidence of at least some recovery. However, what remains unknown, is whether this new generation of sea stars can survive the mysterious disease.