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Superhero Costume Scuffle

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A violent encounter between costumed superhero characters ended with Mr. Incredible slamming Batgirl on the sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard in a fight caught on camera.

It was unclear what set off the altercation Tuesday in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre at Hollywood and Highland, and by the time police showed up no witnesses or victims were on scene.

In the video costumed Chewbacca and Waldo try to hold back Mr. Incredible as he grabs at a woman dressed as Batgirl, eventually throwing her to the ground on the crowded sidewalk. People watching nearby lunge toward the man after the slam, but no further violence appears to take place.

A man dressed as Spiderman said the sidewalk, filled with celebrity impersonators and people dressed as superheroes, is fiercely competitive as the characters collect money for photos with tourists.

“No one has respect for each other out here … it’s do or die,” he said. “Literally, everyone is feeding themselves.”

No arrests have been made. Los Angeles police are investigating the case.



Photo Credit: www.filmon.com

SoCal Doctor Stored $2M in Diet Pills, Narcotics: DA

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A Southern California neurologist was arrested for the third time on Tuesday after the DEA and police say they found $2 million worth of powerful diet pills and narcotics in a Long Beach storage locker, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office.

Dr. Gerard Geoffrey Goryl, 59, who works in Redondo Beach, has also been charged in two other drug cases, officials said.

Goryl was first arrested in May and charged in June after allegedly selling powerful narcotics out of his Redondo Beach clinic, A Better Weigh, to undercover police, prosecutors said.

He was arrested again in August after police said he continued to sell the drugs despite a court order forbidding him to do so.

Investigators later discovered 500,000 diet pills and powerful narcotics, including hydrocodone, in a storage facility, and arrested Goryl on Tuesday, officials said.

The most recent charges against Goryl include 10 counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance, alleging that he did so while out on bail, and eight counts of possession of narcotics with a restricted license.

Goryl is due in court Oct. 29 and Nov. 17. If convicted in all three cases, he faces up to 36 years and eight months behind bars. Because of his pending complaints, Goryl is barred from possessing narcotics.

Phone calls by NBC4 to Goryl's attorney were not returned by time of publication.

Partial Solar Eclipse Visible This Afternoon

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If the normally bright and sunny San Diego sky looks a little darker this afternoon, it isn’t because of clouds.

A partial solar eclipse will be viewable in the area starting around 2:15 p.m. It will peak at approximately 3:33 p.m. and be visible until 4:42.

The eclipse occurs as the path of the moon begins to intersect the light from the sun that we can see. Less than half of the sun will be covered from our viewpoint here, but the quality of light should be noticeably different.

Experts warn that you should not look directly at the sun during the eclipse, as it could cause permanent damage to your eyes. Viewers should use a pinhole to look at the light.

Those who want an expanded eclipse experience can head to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, 1875 El Prado in Balboa Park, where staff members will answer questions and provide safe viewing.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Medical Records Stolen: Police

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Medical records pertaining to about 40,000 patients over nearly two decades were stolen from a doctor's office in New Jersey earlier this week, authorities say.

Police say Nisar Quraishi, a general practitioner with more than 40 years of experience and offices in Jersey City and Manhattan, reported Tuesday that someone had cut through latches on a storage locker at his Jersey City office on Chopin Court and stolen the documents.

Quraishi told police a resident in the neighborhood called him to tell him the shed door was open, and when Quraishi went to check it out, he found all of his medical records from 1982-2009 were missing.

The stolen boxes had personal information, including social security numbers and home addresses, of about 40,000 patients he had treated and may still be treating, he told police.

Quraishi, who is also a clinical assistant professor at NYU Langone , told police he hadn't been to the storage shed since mid-August, at which point it was still locked. He said he had "no idea" who may have broken in, and he couldn't say whose information was stolen.

Police said there were no security cameras in the area.  

City Orders Closure of Four Marijuana Dispensaries

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The City Attorney’s office obtained court orders to shut down four marijuana dispensaries it says are illegally in business this week. They are located in the Mission Valley, Mount Hope and Pacific Beach neighborhoods.

The actions are part of a concentrated effort to shut down more than 200 shops operating without permits since 2010.

City Attorney Jan Goldsmith said the illegal dispensaries are a threat to neighborhood safety.

"Marijuana dispensaries, like any other business, must obtain proper permits and conform to zoning regulations,” he said. “There is now a process for legally zoned dispensaries and that process should be followed."

The four dispensaries closed this week:

Planet Greens, 936 Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach

Dank on Turquoise, 841 Turquoise Street in Pacific Beach

Market Greens, 4255 Market Street in Mount Hope

Kindest Meds, 3455 Camino del Rio South in Mission Valley

The process of closing a dispensary begins with the city obtaining temporary a restraining order against the dispensary, which then has 24 hours to close.

"We've had success at shutting down illegal dispensaries using the swiftest and most effective due process available through the courts," Goldsmith said. "Our lawyers have achieved a nearly 100 percent success rate in cases referred to us for prosecution."



Photo Credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Alaska to Launch Non-Stop Flights to Kona, Hawaii

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If you're looking for a getaway, Alaska Airlines will soon offer new non-stop flights from San Diego to Kona, Hawaii.

Starting in March 2015, San Diegans can fly to the Big Island on Alaska Airlines in one of three flights leaving Lindbergh Field each week.

The airline has an introductory fare rate of $219 one way for tickets on some flights if purchased by Oct. 28 and used between March 5 and June 6, 2015.

"We're delighted to see Alaska Airlines grow its presence here in San Diego with this new nonstop service to Kona, Hawaii," Thella F. Bowens, President/CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority said in an Alaska Airlines release.

Alaska already flies nonstop from San Diego to Honolulu, Kahului, Maui and Lihue.

For reservations, visit the airline's website.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Ebola Patient's Fiancée Unable to Find New Home

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The fiancée of Thomas Eric Duncan, the first patient diagnosed with Ebola in the United States, has been unable to find a new home in Dallas, even though she was released from monitoring on Monday after showing no signs of the virus.

Louise Troh, her son and a nephew were quarantined at a Catholic Church camp in Oak Cliff, but they are still living there while they look for new housing.

Pastors at Troh's church, Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, have been trying to help her rent a home.

“We’re hopeful today. Things are looking better,” said the Rev. Mark Wingfield, associate pastor at Wilshire Baptist. “The last few days we’ve ended the day very disappointed in the way things have gone.”

Troh and her family left their unit at The Ivy Apartments in the Dallas Vickery Meadow neighborhood when workers in hazardous materials suits were decontaminating the place.

Family possessions were removed and incinerated as a precaution against spreading the disease.

Thomas Eric Duncan stayed in the apartment before being admitted on Sept. 28 to isolation at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, where he later died.

“You can imagine your own residence, and you were taken out of it, and everything in it was destroyed and you’ve got to start over again,” Wingfield said.

Experts say Troh and her family pose no threat to anyone, and they have nothing from the old apartment to bring to a new one. Still, that has not satisfied landlords to whom Wingfield has spoken.

“One larger complex in the area we talked to said we just don’t need any publicity out of this, and she’s welcome to fill out an application, but if she does it will not be approved,” Wingfield said.

Non-profit organizations serving other families in the Vickery Meadow neighborhood are facing difficulty operating programs since many volunteers are refusing to work in the area where an Ebola patient was, according to Laura Ward, with the Dallas Foundation.

“They're understaffed. They are short on volunteers. There have just been all kinds of needs that have come up in the community and for the non-profits as the result of something unexpected,” Ward said.

The Dallas Foundation is helping the other organizations return to normal.

“We've been overwhelmed by the number of people who come forward in our community and said, 'How can I help?'” Ward said.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings is working with Wilshire Baptist on finding a new home for Troh and her family.

“It is challenging,” Rawlings said. “And that’s why we as a community have got to be sure we understand the science and the medicine behind this so she can be welcomed back into a community and pick up her life again.”

The mayor said he is encouraged by the number of possible contacts leaving the watch list with no symptoms.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday that 66 contacts have now completed a 21-day monitoring period disease-free and 108 are still being monitored. All possible contacts will be released Nov. 7.

“You see me knocking on wood right now, everyday. That’s what I do,” Rawlings said.



Photo Credit: NBC 5 News

Questions Raised About UT's "Slippery" Editorial

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Controversial and highly disputed emails provided to NBC 7 Investigates include statements from Congressional candidate Carl DeMaio where he appears to be bragging about his campaign writing a UT San Diego editorial that was highly critical of DeMaio’s opponent and had a “UT San Diego editorial board” byline.

Former DeMaio staffer Todd Bosnich said he and campaign spokesman Dave McCulloch were the authors of an editorial entitled “Scott Peters and the Mount Soledad Shuffle.”

Bosnich accused DeMaio of improper sexual conduct in an interview with CNN on October 10. The DeMaio campaign says Bosnich was fired for plagiarism.

Bosnich now tells NBC 7 Investigates that he and McCulloch were the actual authors of a December 2013 editorial, which blamed Peters for San Diego's pension crisis and questioned the sincerity of Peters’ support for the veterans’ memorial on Mount Soledad.

“I worked with Dave on it,” Bosnich said. “So it was, basically, the two of us who wrote it.”

The December 2013 editorial says that “The newly renewed debate over the Mount Soledad Veterans Memorial — and how Rep. Scott Peters, D-San Diego, actually feels about it — isn’t just a tiff over trivia. Instead, it’s a revealing reminder that Peters has a history of being both slippery and insubstantive.”

UT San Diego Editor-in-Chief and Vice-President Jeff Light told NBC 7 Investigates that the editorial was written by a UT San Diego editorial writer and no one else.

“My only on the record comment would be that this story is absolutely, categorically false, and NBC knew that before broadcasting it,” Light said.

The emails provided to NBC 7 indicate that after the editorial ran, McCulloch reached out to a consultant, other campaign staff and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) boasting that “UT San Diego scorched Peters over the Soledad Cross today, saying ‘Peters has a history of being both slippery and insubstantive’ and that ‘rewriting his own history and ducking responsibility for his actions have always come easy to Scott Peters.’"

In response, Alleigh Marree of the NRCC said: “This is great. Will be able to use these lines A LOT.”

In the email thread provided to NBC 7 Investigates, DeMaio wrote back, “Well, we did wrote (sic) it ourselves.”

William Osborne, editorial/opinion director of UT San Diego, told NBC 7 Investigates that UT San Diego editorial writer Chris Reed wrote the editorial. According to Osborne, the DeMaio campaign claimed the email thread had been fabricated.

“If that email is authentic, I cannot explain it and won’t speculate,” Osborne said. “I can only tell you that Carl DeMaio personally denied to me that he wrote it and said it (the email) was a ‘fabrication.’”

Bosnich said the email thread was not altered in any way, adding that the editorial appeared almost “exactly word for word” as he and McCulloch wrote it.

NBC 7 Investigates provided the email thread with the metadata, information that describes content and context of data files, to a cyber-security expert for review. Stephen Cobb, a senior security researcher at ESET, said the metadata and emails looked genuine.

NBC 7 Investigates watched Bosnich pull up the email from his Gmail server, which the cyber-security expert said would leave zero doubt about the validity of the contents of the emails.

Bosnich also allowed NBC 7 to go through the emails in his Gmail account to show nothing was forged or altered on the thread in question or in other campaign emails in the news.

In response to questions for this article, McCulloch declined to comment.

“We had an extremely cozy relationship with the UT San Diego that always struck me as something that was frankly unethical,” Bosnich said, adding that Reed regularly stopped by DeMaio campaign headquarters, “just to say a friendly ‘hi.’"

After the original version of this story posted, Reed tweeted: "Claim that I "regularly stopped" by DeMaio headquarters 100 percent false." He added in the tweet: "Never there once. And I wrote that edit."

“There’s nothing new about a partisan newspaper, but the length the UT would go always shocked me,” Bosnich said.

By contrast, Peters’ campaign aides said that starting in June 2013 the UT San Diego editorial board would not accept any op-ed articles from their campaign because the newspaper already considered Peters a candidate for re-election.

Peters’ campaign manager provided NBC 7 Investigates with a copy of an August 2014 email thread that discussed an op-ed submitted for consideration by Ed Lorenzen, a Peters supporter.

“Thanks, Ed, but we will not be able to use it,” Osborne replied to Lorenzen. “We have a policy of not using unsolicited op-eds supporting one candidate or another this close to an election.”

The “slippery” line from the anti-Peters editorial was later used in a television campaign ad against Peters, who appears in the ad as a cartoon character driving a convertible BMW with an announcer saying: "Why did the press call Congressman Scott Peters 'slippery?'"

McCulloch did not provide to NBC 7 Investigates any emails or documents that back up his position that the emails provided by Bosnich had been altered, falsified or fabricated.

Osborne also did not provide copies of edited versions of the editorial or internal discussions that would indicate Reed wrote the piece.

But before this piece published, Light created a website with links to a UT San Diego news article, the editorial in question and an email from McCulloch. The website included a full statement from Light about Bosnich’s claim:

“The claim that DeMaio's operatives were the secret authors of an editorial about Scott Peters' record on the Mt. Soledad issue is false. The editorial was written by Chris Reed, whose distinctive style is evident throughout the piece. Reed was responding in part to an email from DeMaio campaign spokesman Dave McCullouch. The editorial argues the same points raised in McCullouch's email, but there is no ethical (sic) breech there. The editorial board is lobbied daily by partisans of all stripes. As a matter of course, the editorial writers promote the arguments they agree with and attempt to refute the rest. Our writers do their own writing and their own research. Anyone familiar with Chris Reed's formidable intellect and scrupulous character would be struck by how utterly preposterous this claim is. There was nothing untoward about the process on the Soledad editorial. The claim that it was authored by DeMaio's team is bogus.”

Ed. Note: We updated this article to clarify William Osborne's response to the DeMaio email thread and to include Chris Reed's response that he has never been to DeMaio's HQ.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Will Smartphones Replace Credit Cards?

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The week, Apple Pay launched around the country. The program allows users to scan their smartphone instead of pulling out their wallet and credit card. Is this just a novelty, or will it revolutionize the check-out process? Here’s NBC 7’s Consumer Bob.

Photo Credit: Invision for Disney Store

Surfer Remembered as Kind, Generous Role Model

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The surfing community is mourning the loss of a local father and husband described as a generous role model to many.

A relative of Stephen Fujii, 67, say he spent his last moments on earth doing one of the things he loved most: surfing.

He was found unresponsive Wednesday morning, lying by his surfboard stuck in the sand of La Jolla.

Lifeguards tried to perform CPR but could not revive him. An autopsy, scheduled for Thursday, should give insight as to his cause of death.

Fujii’s relative Kevin Nakada told NBC 7 the Clairemont man was a true waterman, participating in everything from surfing to fishing.

A familiar sight at local beaches, he garnered the nickname “Seal Bite” because he was nipped by a seal a few years back.

“He was a great person, and he was much more than what an uncle or cousin would be,” Nakada said. “He taught me a lot of things. He was a great family man.”

Fujii leaves behind a wife, son and daughter.

Nakada decided to talk with NBC 7 because he and his family wanted to remember Fujii, a retired Navy employee, in the best way and to never forget the great person he was — the kind who leaves an impression on you very quickly.

Echoing that sentiment, young surfer Ethan Schauer said he has looked up to Fujii as a mentor for about four years now.

"He was very generous. He showed me how to be like, a good man. Never got super angry at anyone. He had good style,” said Schauer.

Friend Bruce Herridge told NBC 7 a Torrey Pine planted by Fujii 15 years ago stands as a living memorial to him in La Jolla. He hopes to install a plaque in front of it in his friend’s honor.

"He was a role model for many people,” said Herridge. “Just a really nice guy, always had a smile on his face and a gleam in his eye, always positive. He was a good surfer, and he's going to be missed by all of us."

The family said they are planning a paddle-out to memorialize Fujii, but the date has not been determined.

Zahau Lawsuit Alleging Murder Is "Baseless": Attorney

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Attorneys for a woman accused of killing Rebecca Zahau call a lawsuit against her “baseless and senseless.”

Dina Shacknai’s lawyers released a statement Wednesday to refute the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Zahau family.

The suit gives the family’s account of what happened on July 13, 2011, when Zahau’s nude body was found hanging from the historic Spreckels Mansion in Coronado.

While sheriff’s investigators found Zahau killed herself over the death of her boyfriend Jonah Shacknai’s son, Max, her parents allege she was murdered by Jonah’s relatives.

The $10 million lawsuit claims Adam and Dina Shacknai — Jonah’s brother and ex-wife — and Dina’s twin sister Nina Romano “actively participated in the planning, implementation, execution and subsequent concealment of the scheme to murder (Zahau).”

One week ago, a judge denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the wrongful death complaint, allowing it to move forward.

“The court's ruling is not a statement as to whether or not the allegations are truthful, or proper, or even have any basis in fact,” said Kim Schumann, attorney for Dina Shacknai, in a release. “The complaint only contains allegations, and no evidence has been presented to the court to support these allegations.”

According to Schumann, the beginning phase of litigation allows plaintiffs to “allege almost whatever they want.”

The amended complaint accepted by the judge on Oct. 15 is the fourth incarnation of the lawsuit. Other versions were rejected because they were not specific enough in their allegations.

The latest lawsuit accuses Dina of striking Zahau in the back of the head four times with a blunt object as she and Nina confronted the alleged victim about Max’s death.

Once Zahau was unconscious, Adam, Dina and Romano had to plan what to do next, the lawsuit says.

The plaintiffs say Adam carried Zahau’s body into the house, where the trio stripped off her clothing, gagged her and tied her up with tape.

According to the lawsuit, Adam allegedly bound Zahau with a rope and choked her to death, later throwing her body over the edge of an adjacent balcony while “either Dina or Nina was sitting on the bed to which the rope was secured,” the court document states.

Zahau’s family accuses Dina of instructing Adam to paint the cryptic message “SHE SAVED HIM. CAN YOU SAVE HER” on the door outside.

Keith Greer, the Zahaus’ attorney, claims Dina thought Zahau was involved in her son’s death and that she stole her husband – the motives for killing her.

“The general public needs to be aware that the court did not determine or substantiate the accuracy of these allegations in making its ruling,” said Dina’s attorney Schumann in a statement. “The Plaintiffs obviously wish to portray their allegations in a light that will support their claims for recovery of money.”

She says when the facts come to light, Dina and Romano will be vindicated in Zahau’s death.

“Let me be perfectly clear. This is a baseless and senseless lawsuit,” said Schumann.

The attorneys say Dina’s reputation has been irreparably damaged by the allegations.

“We intend to swiftly and aggressively put an end to this matter by every legal means necessary, and will be taking appropriate steps to remedy Ms. Shacknai’s reputational damages and the harm done to the judicial process,” Schumann said.

Greer told NBC 7 depositions started this week. He expects the case will not be settled but will instead go to trial.

Company Paid Workers $1.21 An Hour

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A Bay Area tech company has been slapped with a fine and ordered to pay thousands of dollars in back wages after a United States Department of Labor investigation revealed the company paid workers $1.21 an hour.

The Labor Department said about eight employees of Fremont-based Electronics For Imaging were flown in from India and worked 120-hour weeks to help with the installation of computers at the company's headquarters. The employees were paid their regular hourly wage in Indian rupees, which translated to $1.21.

EFI, which posted third-quarter revenue of nearly $200 million, released the following statement on Thursday: "During this process we unintentionally overlooked laws that require even foreign employees to be paid based on local US standards."

Last year, another company, Bloom Energy in Sunnyvale, faced similar charges and was fined for underpaying employees from Mexico an hourly wage of $2.66.

Federal officials said both cases are particularly egregious, given the booming labor market and the wealth in Silicon Valley.

"It is certainly outrageous and unacceptable for employers here in Silicon Valley to bring workers and pay less than the minimum wage," said Alberto Raymond, an assistant district director for the United States Department of Labor.

EFI has been ordered to pay $40,000 in back wages to the employees. In addition, the company was hit with a $3,500 fine.



Photo Credit: NBC Bay Area

Man Accused of Trying to Set Fire to Vista Apartment Complex

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A man tried to set fire to a Vista apartment complex roof and then hid in a shed at a nearby church, officials said Thursday.

Firefighters rushed to the Mesa Garden Apartment Homes on East Bobier Drive near East Vista Way just after 11 p.m. Wednesday.

When they arrived, they found large tree branches on fire atop Building M.

Firefighters fought the fire from the rooftop as well as from inside the unit. Residents inside the apartment had to be evacuated while crews worked to fight that fire.

The apartment building had some charring on the rooftop, officials said.

San Diego County Sheriff’s Deputies set up a perimeter and began searching for the person who set the fire.

Moments later, deputies found a man hiding in a shed at a nearby church.

Juan Bojorquez was arrested for arson and being under the influence of a controlled substance, officials said.

Officials say it’s not clear if the suspect has any connection to the apartments or the residents there.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

City Heights Residents Protest SDPD After Deadly Shooting

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A group of protesters in City Heights joined people in cities all across the country Wednesday as they marched against police brutality.

More than 100 people chanted 'Justice for Victor Ortega' along with 'Hands up. Don’t shoot', a reference to the call for action after the death of Michael Brown.

The Ferguson, Missouri teen was shot and killed by Officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9.

In City Heights, protesters marched for Victor Ortega, a 31-year-old father and husband who was shot and killed by a San Diego Police Officer in June 2012.

“It’s been hard,” said Ortega's widow Shakina. “I can't see my best friend , my husband anymore.
My kids don’t have a father anymore.”

Shakina was among the group of people rallying through the streets of City Heights calling for an end to what she calls police injustice that she says her husband and others have suffered

“You can't trust police," exclaimed Cathy Mendonça of United Against Police Terror. As the rally’s organizer, she urged residents to keep watch over their own communities and hold police accountable.

“ Film them at all times. Encourage everyone it is your right if you're out in public it is your right to film police," Mendonça said.

Ortega was shot during a struggle with an officer who was responding to a domestic violence call at the couple's Mira Mesa home.

Officer Jonathan McCarthy, was attempting to arrest Ortega when a fight began. One of the officer’s guns dropped to the ground according to police spokesperson Lt. Kevin Rooney.

The officer then shot Ortega with a second gun, killing him.

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office reviewed the shooting and found the officer's actions were justified. No charges were filed.

“Why is he still working and my husband is not here with his kids? “ questioned Ortega’s widow. “For what? That I can’t get over that and that’s why I’m going to be fighting.”

An SDPD spokesperson released a statement saying the department stands behind the people’s right to rally peacefully.

New Trail Will Link Santee to Lakeside

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East County officials broke ground today on a new trail at the Walker Preserve that will link from Santee to Lakeside.

The $2 million project will create a 1.3-mile addition to the 52-mile San Diego River Trail that runs along the San Diego River. It should be done in the next several months.

“There are still some gaps in the trail along the way, but little by little we’re closing those gaps and today is a critical piece where we’re closing a big gap,” County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said.

Jacobs said it will be accessible for walkers, hikers, bikers and horseback riders.

“It not only adds to our quality of life in East County, but it’s critical for our recreation opportunities for people of all ages to enjoy,” Jacob said.

The Walker Preserve is 107 acres of open space with migratory birds, bobcats and coyotes.


$57,500 Reward Offered to Find 9-Year-Old Girl's Killer

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A more than $50,000 reward was being offered Thursday to find the killer of a 9-year-old girl who was was playing with her friends in front of her family's Anaheim home when she was fatally shot.

Ximena Meza was struck by at least one round outside the 2300 block of Greenacre Avenue (map) on Wednesday and later died at UC Irvine Medical Center. She would have been 10 next month.

Her father told NBC4 he heard gunfire before his daughter ran back to the residence bleeding from her side.

"She ran in there and she died in my arms. I just held her...I know she is with God right now," father William Meza said. "We don't have any idea about it. They were just playing right there. We just heard the shots -- three shots. She ran inside the apartment. When I grabbed her she was bleeding from the side.

"She was amazing -- awesome daughter. I just love her. She is an angel," Meza said.

No arrests had been reported Thursday. What began as a $5,000 reward for information in her killing reached $57,500 Thursday night with funding from the Anaheim Police Officers Association, the city of Anaheim, and the Orange County Attorney's Association.

Community members packed a recreation center Thursday night to demand justice for Ximena.

"I don't live in the area but this is my community. My son goes to the junior high. My kid goes to the school with the girl who was murdered," one resident said. "It upsets me."

Balloons, stuffed animals and other items were left outside the residence in memory of Ximena, the oldest of three sisters whose family moved to the neighborhood about three months ago. School excellence awards for math, language arts and other achievements also were placed at the site of the shooting.

One of the certificates called the fifth-grade student a "shining star."

"I'm not angry, I just have pain in my heart," grandfather Alonso Ortiz said.

The coroner's office identified the victim Thursday morning, hours after a 12-year-old boy discovered his playmate had been wounded by the gunfire. The two were among several children playing on the sidewalk in front of the apartments next to Brookhurst Park, police said.

"Her eyes were just like all rolled back," Hector Jiminez said.

Police were called to the neighborhood southwest of the 5 Freeway by witnesses who reported the sound of gunfire, said Anaheim Police Lt. Bob Dunn said.

Authorities are attempting to determine whether Ximena was caught in crossfire of a group of boys or men nearby.

"One male exited the white car and fired several rounds in the direction of a group of males," Anaheim Police Chief Raul Quezada said. "Ximena was struck with one of the rounds. Following the shooting, the male re-entered the vehicle and left."

"We have very limited information on any type of suspects. All we know is that there were some males involved. Whether that's more than one or six or more, we don't know," Dunn said.

Neighbors told NBC4 they have witnessed gang activity in a nearby park, but authorities have not confirmed whether the shooting involved gang members.

Anaheim Police believe potential witnesses at the park and apartment buildings nearby may provide them with additional information. Quezada said solving the case was the department's "number one priority."

"Innocent children shouldn't be dying so young," said neighbor Kimberly Rodriguez, who grew up in the neighborhood and left a stuffed animal with a flower at the site of the shooting. "It's just ridiculous.

"I can't imagine what (the family) is going through right now."

Ximena's aunt started a GoFundMe account at GoFundMe.com/g6n68k.

Beverly White contributed to this report.



Photo Credit: Family Photo

Rare Trees Killed in Drought to Be Reused

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Employees of San Diego Botanic Garden worked with Bishop's Tree Service to remove the rare trees and prepare them for transport.

Man, Estranged Wife Arrested in Child Porn Probe

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A Skyline man is facing child pornography charges and his estranged wife is accused of child endangerment after an FBI investigation led them to find disturbing images of two young female victims.

Jonathan Gastelum is accused of sharing child porn images with two different law enforcement officers during online chat room visits.

The images allegedly depicted a female toddler and a prepubescent female, FBI agents said.

Gastelum was arrested Tuesday after federal officials executed a search warrant at a granny flat behind the home on Skyline Drive. He faces distribution of child pornography charges.

In one of the sessions on Sept. 16, a user identified as "4yodau" shared a Kik user account with the investigators in order to share four images, according to court documents. 

The Kik user asked the investigators, "Do u have children or toddlers in pain? Movies."

Officials allege the IP address connected to the chat room user was tied to Gastelum. In court documents, investigators claim Gastelum admitted to sharing the images through a Kik account.

Jennifer Gastelum, Jonathan's estranged wife, was also arrested Tuesday. San Diego Police took her into custody and transferred her to the Las Colinas Detention Facility. She’s accused of child endangerment and assault charges, officials said.

A neighbor who identified herself as Kim told NBC 7 the couple had two young daughters under the age of seven.

“I’m mad, I’m disgusted, I’m angry,” the neighbor said.

She claims Jennifer Gastelum moved out of the home three months ago and started the divorce process.

The neighbor also told NBC 7 that Jennifer Gastelum would babysit her two sons from time to time.

Jennifer Gastelum is scheduled for arraignment on state charges Friday.

Coast Guard Rescues Man Off Point Loma

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A man experiencing symptoms of a possible heart attack was medically evacuated by a Coast Guard Sector San Diego air crew off the coast of Point Loma early this morning.

The 63-year-old was aboard the San Diego-based sport fishing vessel Royal Polaris about 170 miles of Point Loma when the master of the 103-foot boat called for help around 1:30 a.m.

The crew took him in an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, landing in San Diego just after 6:30 a.m., where emergency personnel was waiting. There is no word as to the current condition of the man.

"These are the kinds of missions our crews really enjoy," said Lt. Cmdr. Jon Bartel. "We love helping people, and that's exactly what we got to do this morning."
 



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Locally Grown Foods Come to SD School Cafeterias

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A experimental food approach kicked off on Oct. 23, 2014, as 27 schools in the San Diego Unified School District as students are served fresh, local food once a week. NBC 7's Bridget Naso has more on "California Thursdays."
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