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Three Dead in "Random" Killings

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Three people were fatally shot, including two women waiting to go to church, and at least four others were wounded within an hour in the San Fernando Valley, in what police believe to be a series of "random" killings, officials said.

A man and two women were killed in shootings that happened in a span of 55 minutes and within a 5-mile radius in the San Fernando Valley early Sunday.

The first shooting happened at 5:50 a.m. when a 20-year-old woman was fatally shot in the 1400 block of Celis Street in San Fernando, Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Frank Preciado said. The woman was with her family on their way to early morning mass when someone came up and shot at them.

All five members of the family were struck by gunfire. Police said one person was in grave condition following the shooting.

The second shooting happened at 6:35 a.m. in the 13000 block of Borden Avenue in Sylmar. A man between 25 and 35 years old died from a gunshot wound.

Ten minutes later, a third shooting was reported in the 1200 block of Filmore Street in Sylmar. An African American woman was shot in the head, police said.

Sources told NBC News’ Andrew Blankstein that the woman was sitting in a car waiting for a friend to go to church before the gunman or gunmen pulled up and shot her in the head.

Family members said she stopped to pick a friend before heading to Guardian Angel Church.

There was a mattress on the sidewalk with satanic symbols spray painted on it.

Neighbors say the mattress had been there, but it did not have those symbols prior to Sunday's shooting.

Police are looking for two men that witnesses said were driving a gold or tan sport-utility vehicle. Sources did not immediately reveal the weapon that was used.

The area where the shootings occurred is about 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

Police were asking that anyone with information to call 1-877-527-3247.

Reggie Kumar contributed to this report.


What to Do After Quake Hits: 7 Key Things to Know

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California's Office of Emergency Services recommends to check yourself first for injuries after an earthquake strikes before you attempt to help others. Don't try to move seriously injured people unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. And remember to drop, cover, and hold in the event of an aftershock.

Here are seven other key things to remember after a quake strikes:

Do Not Use The Phone
Unless there is an immediate, life-threatening emergency, do not use the phone, or electrical switches or appliances. Sparks can ignite gas. Phone lines are also frequently overwhelmed in disaster situations and they should be clear for emergency calls to get through, California's Seismic Safety Commission advises

Use Battery-Powered Equipment
Listen to a portable, battery-powered radio or television and use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns.

Don't Turn Off Gas at the Meter Unless You Suspect a Leak
Check for a gas leak. If you smell gas, hear gas escaping, or see a broken gas line, evacuate the building, PG&E advises. Find a phone away from the building -- perhaps a neighbor's home -- before calling your utility or 911. If you any one of these conditions is met and the situation is safe, turn off the gas shutoff valve near the gas meter. But DO NOT shut off the gas service shutoff valve near the gas meter if you do not suspect a gas leak. That's because there could be a big delay before the utility turns your gas back on, PG&E says.

Dress for Protection:
Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, sturdy shoes and work gloves can help protect you from getting hurt by broken objects.

Stay Out of Damaged Buildings
Inspect your home for damage and get everyone out if you determine it isn't safe. Damaged buildings may be destroyed during aftershocks. California's Seismic Safety Commission says to check walls, doors, floors, the ceiling, staircases, and windows to make sure your building is structurally sound. Watch for loose plaster or drywall. Be on the lookout as well for cracks and damage to chimneys and foundations.

Stay Away from Downed or Damaged Power Lines
Never touch wires lying on the ground or hanging from poles. Downed wires could kill you if touched, PG&E warns.

Take Pictures
Taking photos of your house and property can help with insurance claims.

Sources: California Seismic Safety Commission, PG&E Earthquake Safety and Preparedness, California Office of Emergency Services, Red Cross Earthquake Preparedness

49ers Prepare for Final Dress Rehearsal at Levi's Stadium

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The San Francisco 49ers get one more dress rehearsal Sunday before their first regular season home game.

With stadium parking and turf still needing some tweaking, it is unclear what kind of experience the fans or the players will have.

The Young family from Milpitas are lifelong 49ers fans. They came to see Levi’s stadium Saturday night before Sunday’s game, and they said they believe events here have gone pretty well.

"It was a lot of traffic, but I think it was much better than San Francisco," Howard Young said.

At Great America Parkway, Tasman and 237 did get jammed last weekend. When drivers exited the freeway, they had to make their way past the pedestrians.

"It was about an hour-and-15 to an hour-and-30-minutes from the time we got off the highway until we actually got into our parking lot," Joe Durrenberger of Brentwood told NBC Bay Area last week.

More than 60,000 people attended the first 49ers preseason game at Levi's Stadium last Sunday. Security lines moved quickly, and because of a painful defeat, many fans left early which may have eased congestion.

But Sunday is a new game--a new test to be played out on new turf. The 49ers replaced the original because they felt like it was too slippery.

Pictures were taken Saturday by a fan on a tour at Levi’s Stadium, and he tweeted these photos:

The 49ers said the turf is twice as thick as before and is laid down with an improved process to help it stick.

Young said he thinks it will all work out. He is just ready for a win.

"Nothing’s perfect," he said. "They got it 99 percent perfect, so 1 percent is no big deal."

The 49ers sent NBC Bay Area this statement about the turf:

"The turf has been set, but there is no way to know if the turf is 'holding up' until you play in it. We are confident it will be ready for the game."

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. against the San Diego Chargers.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Quake Reaction: Tweets From People Near the Epicenter

Hundreds Remember Foley

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People came by the hundreds to honor the life of a hero Sunday in Rochester, New Hampshire.

James Foley stood, worked and lived for love.

"I'm proud of him, as the young man that he was," said Martha Piper, a friend of the Foley family.

In the moments of prayer, friends and family gained comfort.

Foley was kidnapped by ISIS militants two years ago, killed by captors in a video released last week, all as he worked for peace and those who knew him prayed for his release.

As his parents have so often done, they showed courage Sunday at a time when their hearts are broken, giving thanks for prayers and support.

"The prayers of so many people throughout the world will be their source of strength at times when they can't pray," said Piper.

The Rochester community is forever changed by a man some never knew.

"His confidence, his fearlessness, is just something to be honored," said Jon Arnold, who attended the service. "I'd love to live a life that resembles something like that someday."



Photo Credit: NECN

Tourist Held for Bridge Climb: NYPD

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A 24-year-old Russian tourist accused of scaling the Brooklyn Bridge is being held on reckless endangerment and trespass charges after allegedly climbing a cable beam to the top of the span to take photos.

The NYPD released a video that shows a man who they say is Yaroslav Kolchin climbing on the beam and then getting arrested. 

Kolchin, who was not injured, allegedly took photos from one of the bridge's towers, police say. He was arrested on the bridge by the NYPD's Aviation, Harbor and Emergency Service units.

Police say he didn't damage the bridge or take anything. A court complaint says he allegedly told police he did it for fun.

Kolchin's attorney, Paul Liu, says his client works in advertising and was visiting the city with a Russian tour group. Liu said nothing about the charges as he left court following Monday's arraignment.

Kolchin is being held on $5,000 bond, and his passport was revoked. 

There have been concerns about the bridge's security in recent months after people climbed to the top and raised white flags on the world-famous span. No arrests have been made in that case.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

4 Dead, 24 Hurt in Chicago Violence

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Four people were killed overnight in Chicago shootings.

Police say the most recent victim was a 17-year-old boy shot in the 2200 block of South Marshall at around 6 a.m. Sunday.

The victim was speaking with friends when two men approached the group shouting gang slogans and fired a gun. The teen was struck twice in the chest and taken to a local hospital in critical condition where he was later pronounced dead.

No arrests have been made in the shooting.

Four men were shot and one was killed when police say someone fired shots from a passing car at Ruth's Mini Club in the 8300 block of South Halsted at about 2:40 a.m.

A 30-year-old man was shot in the chest and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. A 39-year-old was shot in the buttocks and was listed in stable condition, a 32-year-old was shot in the chest and taken in serious condition to Stroger Hospital, and a 41-year-old was shot in the left ankle.

No arrests have been made in the case.

A man was killed in front of a home in the 800 block of West 50th Place at about 2:45 a.m.

Police say the 40-year-old male was sitting on a porch when a light-colored vehicle pulled up. The victim walked up to the car and someone fired a gun, striking him in the left part of his chest. No arrests have been made in the case.

Shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, three people were shot and one was killed at a party in the backyard of a home in the 5000 block of West Potomac.

Police say a person appeared from an alley and began firing. A 33-year-old man was shot in the torso. He was unresponsive when emergency crews arrived. Two other men were also shot but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

The father of a 3-year-old boy shot Friday morning after finding a gun in a West Side home has been charged in connection with the incident.

He was at least the second juvenile to be shot in the city this week. On Wednesday, a 9-year-old boy was gunned down in a backyard on the city’s South Side. A $13,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the boy’s killer.

Several more people were wounded in shootings throughout the weekend Friday evening through Sunday morning:

 

  • A 17-year-old male suffered a graze wound to the leg shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday in the 1200 block of West 112th Place. Police say the victim was walking on the sidewalk street when he was shot by someone across the street. The teen refused medical attention at the scene.
  • A 21-year-old man was shot in the abdomen shortly before 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the 3300 block of West Madison. He was listed in stable condition.
  • An 18-year-old man suffered a graze wound to his back at about 2:30 p.m. in the 10400 block of South Avenue N. Police say he was sitting in a vehicle when someone approached and began firing. The victim was treated and released at the scene.
  • Around 6 a.m. Saturday, an 18-year-old man was shot in the 2700 block of West 24th Street, police said. The teen was shot in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition. Details surrounding the shooting weren’t immediately available.
  • About 15 minutes earlier, another 18-year-old man was shot in the 10700 block of South Hoxie Street in the South Deering neighborhood, police said. The teen was shot in the temple and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition. Authorities said the teen was in an alley at the time of the shooting, but further details surrounding what happened were not immediately known.
  • Around 3:30 a.m., a shooting the 9900 block of South Torrence Avenue in the Jeffery Manor neighborhood left a 22-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the groin and both legs. The man transported himself to Trinity Hospital after the shooting and was later transferred to Advocate Christ Medical Center in stable condition, according to authorities. Police said the man was being uncooperative with officers and details surrounding the shooting were not immediately clear.
  • Roughly 15 minutes earlier, a 26-year-old man was shot in the 9800 block of South Yates, also in the Jeffery Manor neighborhood. The man was shot in the calf and taken in good condition to Trinity Hospital. The man told police he was standing outside when he “heard shots and felt pain.” He suffered a gunshot wound to the lower leg and police said he was being uncooperative with investigating officers.
  • Just before 3 a.m., a 31-year-old man was shot in the 1600 block of West Juneway Terrace. The man told police he was walking on the block when someone walked up and shot him in the leg. The man was taken to Evanston Hospital by a family member and was listed in stable condition.
  • Around 1:20 a.m., police said a 20-year-old man was shot in the arm in the 100 block of North Hoyne Avenue. The man was transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in stable condition. He told police he was with a large group of people in a lot on the block and was seated on the passenger side of a vehicle when shots rang out and he realized he had been shot.
  • About an hour earlier, a 24-year-old man was shot while driving on Lake Shore Drive. The man was in the 2500 block of Lake Shore Drive near the Park West neighborhood when someone inside a light-colored vehicle pulled alongside him and fired shots. The man was shot in the left cheek and exited at Fullerton where he called police. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in stable condition, police said.
  • Just before 11 p.m. Friday, a 20-year-old man was shot in the 4500 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue. The man was standing outside when someone drove by in a silver-colored SUV and opened fire. The man was shot in the knee as he attempted to flee the scene, police said. He was taken by a friend to Mercy Hospital in stable condition.
  • A 34-year-old man was shot in the leg around 10:30 p.m. in the 6400 block of South Rockwell Street in the Marquette Park neighborhood, police said. The man told police he “heard shots and felt pain.” He was taken in stable condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center.
  • Around 9:50 p.m., a 19-year-old man took himself to Provident Hospital with a gunshot wound to the groin. The man told authorities he had been shot hours earlier in the 700 block of West Garfield Boulevard. He said he felt pain in his abdomen but did not immediately realize he had been shot.
  • Just after 9 p.m. Friday, two people were shot in the 12300 block of South Emerald Avenue in the West Pullman neighborhood on the Far South Side. A 20-year-old man was shot in the stomach and a 24-year-old man was shot in the shoulder. Both were taken in stable condition to Advocate Christ Medical Center. The two told police they were standing on the street when two men walked up and fired shots at them.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

Flight Diverted After Threat

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Passengers aboard American Airlines Flight 362 from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to San Diego had to make an emergency landing in Phoenix, Ariz., Sunday. 

"We were flying along and all of a sudden they came across the intercom and said, 'We are making an emergency landing,'” said passenger Ashley Cain.

The airline confirmed a security threat forced pilots to land the plane just before 1 p.m. Central Daylight Time. There were 179 passengers and six crew members aboard to the plane.

"We just wanted to know what’s going on and they said there has been some sort of a bomb threat called in," said Cain.

A comment on Twitter was posted by a user named ‘Lizard Squad’ several minutes before the plane landed safely in Phoenix. The tweet reads, "@AmericanAir We have been receiving reports that @j_smedley's plane #362 from DFW to San Diego has explosives on board, please look into this."

The Twitter handle @j_smedley belongs to John Smedley, who is the president of Sony Online Entertainment, according to a spokesperson for the company. Around the time the plane landed in Arizona, Smedley sent out a tweet saying, "Awesome, flight diverted to Phoenix for security reasons."

“Two marshals escorted a gentleman off the plane,” said Cain. “About 20 minutes later everybody else de-boarded the plane.”

The FBI has not confirmed if any arrests were made or who was escorted off the plane.

The K9 unit searched through bags on the tarmac and passengers had to wait several hours, before they were allowed back on the plane to continue their flight to San Diego. 

"I think this was kind of an unusual bomb scare in that they pretty well knew one of the people on the plane was the target," said aviation expert Denny Kelly. "You don't have any choice. If somebody says there's a bomb on this airplane, you to put it on the ground as soon as possible."

The FBI is leading the investigation and has not confirmed if any weapons or explosive devices where found on the plane. Nobody was injured and there were no additional incidents.  

The FBI is also investigating whether the same group is responsible for the weekend service outage of the Sony PlayStation Network.

"I think you have to take every threat seriously. The first time that you don't is the first time that you're going to regret for the rest of your life," said Danny Defenbaugh, formerly with the FBI in Dallas.

NBC 5's Kevin Cokely contributed to this report.


Police Find Body Parts in 2 Bags

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Prince George’s County police are investigating an incident in Laurel, Maryland, where a body was found in three bags Sunday morning.

On Monday, the victim was identified as Jacinto Perez, 28, of Finsbury Court in Laurel.

Police were called to the 8800 block of Enfield Court in Laurel Sunday for a check on a person's welfare. The spokesperson for the department said they got several calls asking police to check on a person.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found the bags containing body parts. Cadaver dogs were called in to search the scene.

Police have searched 39 unoccupied apartments in the area where the bags were found but have not yet located the crime scene.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to call 866-411-TIPS.



Photo Credit: Prince George's County Police

Watch: Baby Tries to Sleep as Quake Rattles Crib

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Whoa, baby!

Video taken from a baby monitor shows how strong the magnitude 6.0 Napa quake was felt in San Francisco.

In the video, which was recorded in a San Francisco home, a 21-month-old baby, Matthew, is seen moving in his crib as the ground starts to shake.

The video was provided by Artem Russakovskii, who reported everyone in the home was fine after the temblor.



Photo Credit: Artem Russakovskii

By the Numbers: Napa Earthquake's Impact

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The strongest earthquake in 25 years shook Northern California early Sunday, causing significant damage and injuring scores in the heart of the Napa wine region.

Here's a look at the toll the quake has taken so far:

6.0: The magnitude of the temblor, making it the largest in the Bay Area since the 6.9-magnitude Loma Prieta quake in 1989.

3:20 a.m.: The time the earthquake rattled residents awake across the region.

10-20 seconds: The length of the earthquake, which hit about six miles south of Napa, according to the United States Geological Survey.

208:  The number of patients treated or admitted at Napa's Queen of the Valley Medical Center, according to a representative. Of those, 17 were admitted and one person there is in critical condition. Another 13-year-old boy was taken in serious condition to UC Davis Medical Center. St. Helena Hospital reported treating eight people as of 6 p.m. Sunday.

50: Number of fires the Napa Fire Department put out.

90-100: The total number of homes and buildings rendered uninhabitable by the earthquake, the director of California Governor's Office of Emergency Services said, according to The Associated Press. Thirty-three buildings in Napa itself have been "red-tagged" as uninhabitable. Six mobile homes were destroyed and several other houses damaged in blazes that broke out following the earthquake.

90: The number of water lines that broke and needed repair in the city of Napa. Eight were repaired Sunday night.

150: The number of customers who remained without power as of 4 a.m. local time Monday. At one point Sunday, the number left in the dark following the earthquake was estimated to be about 70,000.

Up to 70: The number of aftershocks expected over the next week, according to USGS. At least 50 have been reported so far.

$1 billion: The amount generated annually by wine-related tourism, according to a 2012 report from the Napa Valley Vinters. The trade association pegs the industry's total economic impact in Napa County at $13 billion a year. While officials say it's too soon to tell what effect the earthquake will have on the region's wine producers, some tasting rooms and wineries reported damages and lost inventory.

$500 million to $1 billion: CoreLogic, which conducts natural hazard assessments, estimated the economic loss from from the quake in the region could range from $500 million to $1 billion.

7.7 million: Number of people exposed to light-to-moderate shaking, according to CoreLogic-EQECAT. A total of 60,000 people felt the greatest level of severe shaking, and 86,000 were subjected to very strong shaking.

 -NBC's Daniel Macht and NBC Bay Area's Lisa Fernandez contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: AP

Ft. Lee Suicidal Soldier Dead

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The soldier who shot herself at Fort Lee on Monday morning, prompting a temporary lockdown of the Army post, has died, U.S. military and law enforcement officials told NBC News.

Fort Lee officials say the shooting was reported at Combined Arms Support Command Headquarters, Building 5020 around 8:45 a.m. The woman entered the building "brandishing a small-caliber gun," which she reportedly turned on herself.

Fort Lee officials reported the "active shooter incident" around 10 a.m. Everyone inside the building was evacuated, and the post was placed on lockdown.

The woman locked herself inside a third floor office, throwing things around before putting the weapon to her head, said Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, a commanding general at Fort Lee.

The woman, who has only been identified by her rank of Sgt. 1st Class, was flown to an area hospital. Monday afternoon U.S. military officials said she had died.

Lyons said the victim has been in the Army for 14 years; she had been at Fort Lee for three years. She also spent 15 months in Iraq in 2007.

The last shooting on a military installation was reported in April, when an Iraq War veteran killed three people and injured 16 others at Fort Hood, Texas, before shooting himself. The shooter was identified was Ivan A. Lopez, 34.

Just weeks before the shooting at Fort Hood, a sailor was fatally shot at Naval Station Norfolk. Security forces on the base killed the male suspect shortly after aboard the guided-missile destroyer.

Last year, 12 people died when a government contractor began shooting inside the Navy Yard complex in Washington, D.C. Another four were injured. The gunman, a former Navy reservist identified as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, was killed by officers.

Fort Lee is an Army post and headquarters of the U.S. Army's Combined Arms Support Command and a number of other defense training institutions. The daily population of Fort Lee averages about 34,000, including members of the military, their families and civilian contractors, according to the base’s Web site. It is the Army’s third largest training site, with as many as 70,000 troops spending time in its classrooms each year.

The base has grown enormously over the last decade as a result of base closings and its designation as a training base for military supply, maintenance, munitions and more, its Web site says.

Fort Lee is located about 25 miles south of Richmond, Virginia.

MTV Video Music Awards: Best Moments

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The biggest and most outrageous moments from the 2014 MTV Video Music Awards.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Most San Diego Homes Not Earthquake Insured

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The devastation in Napa serves as a big reminder many San Diegans aren't ready for "The Big One."

Because strong quakes don't happen very often, seismologists say Southern Californians are lulled into a false sense of security to the point that 90 percent of homes in the state don't have earthquake insurance.

In Napa, some parts of buildings collapsed and others burned to the ground after an unexpected 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck wine country.

"You can have structural damage to a house. You could have damage to the water systems or the gas mains, things like that," says Scripps Institution of Oceanography Seismologist Frank Vernon.

It's problem that earthquake disaster experts say not many Californians are prepared for.

"We insure close to one million homes, and that's the good news,” says California Earthquake Authority CEO Glenn Pomeroy. “But the bad news is that 90 percent of the state homes in California are without any form of protection "

In fact, the California Earthquake Authority says only about 16 percent of San Diego homeowners are covered.

“California is Earthquake Country, and earthquakes happen. They happen without warning. They happen when we least expect them, and they're going to happen again. That is a matter of scientific fact. And it's just important that we take steps to be prepared," says Pomeroy.

Vernon says the San Andreas Fault and the San Jacinto Fault have the potential to cause a stronger magnitude quake than the one in Napa Valley.

"The two biggest hazards for San Diego County are the San Andreas out here, which could go into a high magnitude 7,” says Vernon. “The San Jacinto, which is closer, could go to about a 7 and a half. "

"We don't know when the big one is going to occur,” he says. “We know they will occur, but we don't know when."

The San Diego Red Cross says only about 7 percent of people across the region are prepared for a disaster. To learn how you can get earthquake insurance, click here.
 



Photo Credit: AP

PETA Vows to Pay Any Fines Against 'Jackass' Star

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One of SeaWorld's most vocal critics says it will pay any fines levied against "Jackass" star Steve-O in connection with a prank that included changing the words of a freeway exit sign so that it read "SeaWorld Sucks."

The well-known TV prankster claimed responsibility last week for the May prank in a YouTube video that shows him scaling the sign on southbound Interstate 5 to express his strong dislike for SeaWorld.

In a news release on Monday, PETA called the prank “spot on.”

“…His friends at PETA – whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment – think his message was spot on, and staffers have offered to pay the rumored $7,000 fine that he’s set to incur for the prank,” the news release read.

While the California Highway Patrol announced last week that they would be investigating Steve-O for possible charges, no information about fines has been released.

In reporting on the $7,000 fine, PETA was referencing an earlier California Department of Transportation news release that said it would cost that amount to replace the sign.

CHP Officer Jake Sanchez said he could not comment on PETA’s news release, but did say to expect details on whether Steve-O would face any charges, possibly as early as Tuesday.

Since last Wednesday, Steve-O’s YouTube video had amassed more than 767,000 views.



Photo Credit: YouTube

CT Woman Mistakes Raccoon for Cat

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An 88-year-old Hamden woman who opened her sliding door to let in her cat was attacked when the animal she was petting turned out to be a raccoon.

The woman had opened the door of her Brinsmade Road home at 11 p.m. Sunday after hearing a sound to let in her cat, but unbeknownst to her, a raccoon followed her cat inside, police said.

The raccoon attacked her while she petted it, thinking it was her cat, and it bit her elbow, hand, forearm, lip and chin, police said.

"She's a tough old bird," said the victim's son, Malcolm McKernan. "She fought it off and was able to call on the phone. That's pretty remarkable."

Police said the raccoon charged at two officers when they arrived on scene. They were able to get it outside, where the animal was euthanized.

Hamden's Animal Control Division took the raccoon to the Connecticut Public Health Laboratory to be tested for rabies.

The victim was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, and she was treated and released.

She received a round of rabies shots just in case, and McKernan said they should receive the test results within the next day or so.

The victim spoke to NBC Connecticut at her home Monday and said she was doing well.



Photo Credit: NBCConnecticut.com

Earthquake Warnings Worked: Experts

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University of California, Berkeley, scientists say an early-warning system gave them a 10-second alert when a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck southwest of Napa early Sunday morning.

A video posted to YouTube shows the ShakeAlert countdown moments before the temblor was expected to be felt at the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory. It also sent a warning to users in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, according to the video description.

The alert said light shaking was expected from an estimated magnitude-5.7 quake.

The early-warning system has yet to be fully funded for statewide deployment.

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom told NBC Bay Area that the Napa Valley earthquake should serve to motivate California officials to make funding for the system a priority.

"It's crazy we're not funding it," Newsom said. "We have to fund it. I mean, we had a 10-second warning here, we can get up to 60 seconds (warning) most of the experts believe."

Newsom added that earthquake detection should be a top priority. He said he would like to see the Governor's Office take the issue more seriously.

"We have the technology," Newsom said. "We could provide at least a little bit of warning."

Serious policy conversations about early-detection technology are likely to take place in the coming weeks, but immediately, the state's focus will be on providing support to local first responders. Once the dust has cleared and the damage assessments have been filed, Newsom said he hopes California gets an early start on receiving early notice for the next big regional earthquake.

Richard Allen, director of the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory, said construction of the system along the West Coast would take around $38 million. The annual operational costs of the program would be roughly $16 million.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates the average annual cost of earthquake damage in the U.S. is $4.4 billion.

Officials say the early warning system would be able to provide a few seconds to a minute of warning, depending on the person's distance from the epicenter of the earthquake.

The warning could come from many different sources including radio, television or smartphone applications.

UC Berkeley is hosting a conference on "Implementing Earthquake Alerts" in September to "address current challenges, lessons learned from systems currently in operation worldwide, and ultimately forge a path toward fulfillment of public early warning systems in the U.S. and around the world."

NBC Bay Area's Alyssa Goard contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory via YouTube

Random SoCal Shootings Suspect Held

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Police have identified a suspect in connection with a series of random killings Sunday morning in the San Fernando Valley.

Alex Hernandez, 34, was arrested on an unrelated animal cruelty charge after an hours-long standoff with SWAT. He was accused of killing two dogs. Authorities took Hernandez into custody after a brief struggle at a home on Polk Street near Gladstone Avenue in Sylmar Sunday night.

He was being held on $1 million bail.

Investigators consider him a suspect in three separate shootings, which left three people dead and four others wounded Sunday. Police connected the suspect to the cases after responding to the standoff and found a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's vehicle in the weekend shootings.

Police were also looking into the possibility that Hernandez was involved in a car-to-car shooting in Atwater Village Wednesday that left a woman hospitalized and the fatal shooting of a man who was driving to work in Pacoima on Thursday.

The three people killed on Sunday were all found within a five mile radius, police said.

A man and two women were killed and four other people were wounded in shootings that happened in a span of 55 minutes and within a 5-mile radius in the San Fernando Valley early Sunday.

The first shooting happened at 5:50 a.m. when a 20-year-old woman was fatally shot in the 1400 block of Celis Street in San Fernando, Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Frank Preciado said.

The woman was with her parents and twin siblings on their way to early morning mass when someone came up and shot at them.

All five members of the family were struck by gunfire. Police said the twins were injured and the mother and father were in critical condition following the shooting.

The second shooting happened at 6:35 a.m. in the 13000 block of Borden Avenue in Sylmar. A man between 25 and 35 years old was shot dead while walking near the Sylmar Recreational Center.

Ten minutes later, a third shooting was reported in the 1200 block of Filmore Street in Pacoima. A Hispanic woman in her late 50s was shot in the head, police said.

9-Foot Croc Attacks Fla. Swimmer

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A man was hospitalized after a 9-foot crocodile attacked him while he took an early-morning swim in a canal Sunday, Coral Gables Police said.

The man was visiting friends at a home in the 1300 block of Lugo Avenue when he decided to go for a swim in the brackish water around 2:30 a.m., police spokeswoman Kelly Denham said.

Officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who are investigating the incident, said a second person was also bitten.

The man bitten by the crocodile managed to free himself, Denham said. He suffered multiple lacerations to his arm, shoulder and back.

Coral Gables Fire Rescue responded and took the man to South Miami Hospital.

The crocodile was reported to be between 8 and 9 feet long and hasn't been captured, Denham said.

FWC officials said that there are clear warnings posted in the area that no swimming is allowed and to beware of crocodiles.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego



Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife and Conservation Commission

Great White Shark Spotted Off Mass.

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Swimmers were ordered out of the water after a great white shark was spotted in Duxbury, Massachusetts, Monday afternoon.

The beach has since reopened, with the Duxbury Harbormaster telling people they should go up to their bellies.

A Massachusetts State Police helicopter on routine patrol spotted the shark near the Powder Point Bridge. The 15-foot great white was swimming about 150 yards offshore.

On a nearby beach, someone drew an image of a shark in the sand with a simple message: "YOU'RE GONNA NEED A BIGGER BOAT."

"I thought of 'Jaws' when I was watching it. But it wasn't that bad," said swimmer Ken Greene. "I've never experienced this before, so it was pretty neat."

Life guards say the evacuation was without panic.

"We just told everyone to clear the water. We did not want to tell them why at that point, because we did not want to have mass panic," said Rob Benting.



Photo Credit: NECN
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