Escondido police are searching for a man considered armed and dangerous after a stabbing on Monday.

Travis Thomas, 28, is accused of stabbing his stepfather several times during an argument in the area of 131 North Beech Street.

Police said the victim suffered a stab wound to the neck and was in serious but stable condition.

Police said Thomas had already left when they arrived at the scene just after 12:30 p.m. incident; they found the victim on the ground. The stepfather was taken to Palomar Hospital.

Police are seeking Thomas on an attempted murder allegation.

Thomas is described as white, 6 feet tall, 195 pounds, with a shaved head and goatee. Anyone with information should call the Escondido Police Department.

You can call the anonymous tip line at 760-743-8477 if you wish to remain anonymous.

Cohn Restaurant Group of San Diego has a mid-August opening planned for Coasterra, its new waterfront restaurant at Harbor Island.

Company officials said the restaurant, built at a cost of more than $10 million, will have panoramic views of the city skyline and serve “modern Mexican” cuisine. The menu is being developed by Partner/Chef Deborah Scott and newly named Executive Chef John Gray, whose career includes work at The Ritz-Carlton Resort in Cancun, Mexico.

The 28,000-square-foot venue, at 880 Harbor Drive, will include a lounge and event space, with an airy banquet room that can seat more than 300. It will also soon feature an outdoor floating event deck that accommodates 500 people.

The mid-century-influenced restaurant was designed by the late local architect Graham Downes, and more than half of its space is on the outside. It is adjacent to Cohn’s existing Island Prime and C-Level restaurants and was developed with San Diego-based Sunroad Enterprises.

Headquartered in Old Town, the privately held Cohn Restaurant Group was started in 1982 by David and Lesley Cohn. The company operates more than 20 restaurants in San Diego County and Hawaii.
 

County officials, frustrated over what was described as government bureaucracy, will petition the White House Tuesday to get involved in a regional fight over whether to station one of the government's largest firefighting aircraft in San Diego County.

In a rare move, the County Board of Supervisors will ask President Obama to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to station one of its large firefighting air tankers in Ramona which houses a regional CalFire air attack base.

"Seconds count," said District 2 Supervisor Dianne Jacob. "Seconds in responding to a fire can mean the difference between life and death."

Jacob represents the largest district in San Diego County and one that suffered greatly in wildfires in 2003 and 2007. Her region covers from La Mesa and Poway to Jacumba and Santa Ysabel and includes the Ramona Air Attack Base.

Cal Fire already stations a pair of smaller S-2T airtankers there. However, the larger tankers contracted by the Forest Service can hold 3,000 gallons of fire retardant, two and a half times the amount of the S-2Ts. These could include RJ 85, BAE-145 or C-130 aircraft.

Tony Mecham with Cal Fire said the state has 22 of the next-generation air tankers. One is stationed in San Bernardino.

It takes approximately 45 minutes to load up and fly that air tanker to San Diego County, Mecham said.

“Even if they have to download their retardant a little bit, because of the turnaround time for fires in San Diego is so much shorter we feel we can deliver more retardant on the fire which is ultimately what we want to do,” Mecham said.

Jacob said the county wants one of those tankers stationed here but the U.S. Forest Service has said the runway in Ramona is too short and doesn't have the load capacity to handle the heavier aircraft.

In a letter dated June 25, Tom Harbour, Director of Fire and Aviation Management (FAM) outlined several reasons why the agency decided to place the tankers in San Bernardino.

“Ramona does not meet the accelerate/stop distance requirements for transport category aircraft of this size and weight, with full payload, at the Ramona average summer temperature and elevation,” Harbour writes.

That argument took a hit recently however when a similar aircraft, used by Cal Fire, landed on the runway without any problems.

“So for the Forest Service to just say ‘No, it doesn’t work’, they’re wrong. It works. And it was demonstrated last week” said Jacob. “So, now what’s their excuse? Give us one of these airplanes."

Harbour added that Brown Field, with its 8,000-foot runway, would be a backup for San Bernardino if needed.

He also said it’s not cost effective to operate such large aircraft at less than full payload.

Jacob admits an appeal to the president is a rare move saying the last time she remembers doing it, President Bill Clinton was in office.

On Tuesday, the supervisors voted unanimously to send a message to President Obama asking for him to get involved in the placement of the tankers.

Harbour's letter was addressed to San Diego County’s Congressional leaders and offered additional helicopters and water scoopers that can “safely operate” out of Ramona in the event of a wildfire incident.

San Diego County owns three firefighting helicopters, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has two firefighting helicopters and Cal Fire has helicopters and fixed wing aircraft based here in San Diego.

UC San Diego Health and its associated hospitals have been ranked No. 1in San Diego and recognized by the U.S. News & World Report as one of the best in the nation, UCSD Health Sciences announced Tuesday.

The “Best Hospitals 2015-2016” ranking indicates which hospitals excel at treating patients with the most difficult conditions. By ranking departments individually, a patient can use this as a guide to determine which hospital could best help them if they suffer from an unusual or complex ailment.

U.S. News & World Report evaluated hospitals in 16 adult specialties and ranked the top 50 in most of the specialties. Less than 3 percent of the nearly 5,000 hospitals that were analyzed for "Best Hospitals 2015-16" were nationally ranked in even one specialty.

Meanwhile, UC San Diego Health ranked in Cancer (#23), Cardiology and Heart Surgery (#24), Diabetes and Endocrinology (#31), Ear, Nose & Throat (#33), Gastroenterology & GI Surgery (#24), Geriatrics (#18), Gynecology (#44), Nephrology (#20), Neurology & Neurosurgery (#22), Orthopedics (#31), Pulmonology (#6) and Urology (#25.)

"Ranking in the top 50 nationally in 12 specialties is a remarkable achievement for UC San Diego Health and represents an important tool for consumers in choosing a health care provider," said Paul Viviano, CEO, UC San Diego Health, in a press release. "UC San Diego's yearly rise in rankings is evidence of the extraordinary efforts of our team to offer demonstrably superior clinical care to all patients across a range of diseases and chronic conditions."

Amongst this triumph, UC San Diego Health will also open the Jacobs Medical Center in 2016, the largest hospital project in California. Specializing in cancer care, advanced surgery and women and infant care, the Center will be a 10-story high, 509,500-foot expansion of UC San Diego Health’s La Jolla facilities.

To read the full rankings, click here.

Guided-missile frigate USS Gary will decommission on Thursday after more than 30 years of service. 

The ship, which returned from its final deployment in April, will be decommissioned at a ceremony on the Naval Base San Diego. The U.S. Navy is in the process of phasing out frigates.

Bronze Star recipient and World War II veteran William R. Albrecht is scheduled to deliver the main address at the ceremony.

During its many deployments, the guided-missile frigate helped target illicit trafficking routes during Operation Martillo, a counter-transnational organized crime mission. The ship helped intercept nearly 14,000 kilograms of cocaine and other drug shipments. Additionally, the ship participated in more than 70 small boat operations.

The ship’s tenure has not been without controversy, however, The ship returned from a tumultuous deployment in April 2013. Cmdr. James "Slim" Pickens was temporarily relieved of duty because of "offensive comments and behavior" while at sea, according to the Navy.

The ship was named after Medal of Honor recipient Cmdr. Donald Arthur Gary when it was commissioned on Nov. 17, 1984.

Congress will consider legislation to allow members of the Armed Forces to carry a weapon while working at recruiting centers following the last week’s deadly shooting in Tennessee.

A gunman killed four U.S. Marines and a Navy sailor at two Chattanooga military facilities on Thursday. The gunman was killed by police officers responding to the scene.

U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R -CA) announced Tuesday that he has co-authored proposed legislation dubbed the “Semper Fi Act” that, if approved, would make it legal for military personnel to carry a sidearm for protection.

"They are targets, as are others in uniform, and they should be afforded the type of protection that is adequate for the threat they face," Hunter said in a written statement. "We need to make it tough for anyone who might think of busting into a recruiting office with the intent to harm."

His co-author is U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT).

Tennessee Congressman Scott DesJarlais said he has also drafted legislation that would repeal bans on military personnel carrying firearms at military recruitment facilities and bases.

Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said he plans to introduce a similar bill.

Currently, those members of the military working at recruitment centers around the country are unarmed.

Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, a reservist serving on active duty in Chattanooga died alongside four U.S. Marines. They have been identified as Lance Cpl. Squire K. Wells, of Cobb, Georgia; Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, of Hampden, Massachusetts; Sgt. Carson Holmquist, of Polk, Wisconsin, and Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, of Burke, North Carolina.

Federal officials identified the shooter in Chattanooga as 24-year-old Muhammed Youssef Abdulazeez, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Kuwait. Abdulazeez's motives remain unclear, although authorities are treating it as a domestic terrorism investigation.

In Wisconsin, Republican Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order Tuesday authorizing National Guard personnel to carry firearms while on duty.

Walker, who is seeking the 2016 presidential nomination, on Friday called for an end on a ban on service members carrying guns in federally operated military recruiting offices. Jeb Bush and Donald Trump, two other Republicans seeking the presidential nomination, called for an end to the ban on the same day as Walker.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, yet another GOP presidential hopeful, issued an executive order on Friday authorizing his state's National Guard leader to arm personnel. A number of other governors have issued similar orders as well.

A truck fire on State Route 52 east has closed one lane of the freeway as firefighters work to put out the flames. 

The fire started 4:58 p.m. Tuesday on SR 52 near Mast Street for unspecified reasons, the California Highway Patrol said. 

When the Ford Truck towing trailer full of wood went up in flames, the fire spread to the rest of the car. Smoke could be seen coming from the truck as traffic backed up.

No further details were immediately available.

A proposed hike in city water rates has some residents asking, are we being punished for cutting back on our water use?

"It's not punishment," said the San Diego Director of Public Utilities Halla Razak.

She is asking the city of San Diego to raise water rates next year 16.7 percent. The director said the increase is needed because conservation due to drought restrictions means less money is coming into the water department. Plus, water costs have risen. 

"The customers have done a great job cutting back," said Razak, "but I need to capture these costs and that's why we need to raise the rates."

If the proposal is approved by the San Diego City Council, the first increase would be 9.8 percent and take effect Jan. 1, 2016. The second 6.9 percent increase is slated for July 1, 2016. Last year the city approved a 7.5 percent increase.

Many took to Facebook to weigh in on the proposal.

"I believe everyone should share the consequences of the water shortage," Rena Krystle wrote. "The people are required to cut back and the water department should bare with it until the shortage is over."

Paul Monson Rockwood said: "We are doing everything we can think of to cut back on water and it is working, and they want to punish us?"

Razak said that the water department's operating costs are the same whether people conserve or not and that the increase is necessary.

"Water is a fickle thing," said Razak. "With the drought and with what is happening with climate change, we have to start looking at our water use and how much we pay for water in different ways because the reality is changing." 

The proposed increase will be discussed by the city council's Environment Committee on Aug. 5. After that the full council will set a date for a public hearing and then vote on the change.

Matthew Hunter said on Facebook that he doubts the city will go along with the idea: "The city council better not approve a rate hike or they may not be re-elected."

Bob Gardner is frustrated the change. "The only constant with government is that they will always want more money," he said. 

Razak said 36 percent of the water department budget is for buying water and imported water costs have gone up. She told NBC 7 in 2003, it cost them $500 for an acre foot of water; today that same amount costs the water department $1,300.

The drought only assures people that they will continue to have water, not that water rates will stay low, according to Razak. 

"Cutting down on water use was not about saving money," she said, "but rather saving water because of the drought."

One person was seriously injured and a dog narrowly escaped injury after a truck rolled over on Interstate 5 Tuesday.

At 6 p.m., a man driving a pickup truck north on I-5 near I-15 lost a wheel, veered into the center divide and rolled three times, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

As it flipped, the truck threw debris into the southbound lanes, damaging several vehicles. But inside the truck, a pit bull managed to get clear of the crash as it rolled.

Bystanders cared for the animal, which is expected to be OK, as its owner was taken to the hospital for serious injuries. He died there Tuesday night.

The CHP issued a Sig Alert for the area as the crash was cleared.

Seven California police officers say they were wrongfully terminated in an alleged revenge plot by the department’s interim police chief in a lawsuit they filed this week against the chief and other city leaders.

It's the latest turn in the corruption saga in the small border city of Calexico, since newly appointed interim Police Chief Mike Bostic tearfully told the press he'd asked the FBI to help investigate what he called a mafia-style "extortion racket."

An independent program is looking at the department’s policies, practices, training, tactics and accountability methods around key issues facing law enforcement.

The lawsuit alleges that Bostic, interim City Manager Richard Warne, Police Lieutenant Gonzalo Gerardo and City Councilmember Maritza Hurtado all went to “great lengths” while violating federal law to extract revenge. The suit was filed by law firm Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone in San Diego court on Monday.

Hurtado allegedly wanted to eliminate those trying to cross her during her election, while Bostic and Warne are accused of wanting to secure large employment contracts from the city in exchange for helping Hurtado.

When Bostic took over the department, he fired seven officers, the lawsuit alleges, for common mistakes that most other officers had made, not for corruption. Six of those officers also held union leadership positions, the lawsuit said.

“The councilmembers in conjunction with the police officers association and members of that association have used city funds and city resources to run what I would call an extortion racket,” Bostic said at the time.

“I’ve literally had it,” Bostic said. He was brought in last October to replace former chief Pompeyo Tabarez who was fired Oct. 13 “in the interests of the citizens.”

He claims some of the elected officials and POA members were using thousands of dollars in surveillance equipment recently purchased with department funds to follow other members of the city government.

NBC7 has reached out to the City of Calexico, its City Manager and the Police Chief for comment. They did not immediately reply. 

Hundreds of mourners turned out for a funeral service for one of the four women who were killed when the limo they were riding in was t-boned by an alleged drunk driver in Long Island's wine country over the weekend. 

Services for Amy Grabina of Commack were held at Gutterman Funeral Home in Woodbury Tuesday.

Grabina was killed along with 24-year-old Lauren Baruch, 23-year-old Stephanie Belli and 23-year-old Britney Schulman in Saturday's crash in Southold. Four other women, including a young bride, were injured. The group was out celebrating a birthday at the time of the crash. 

Funeral services for the other three women who died are pending.

Grabina, 23, was a beloved camp counselor who had recently landed a job at the business firm Ernst & Young, one friend told NBC 4 New York. Her father and her boyfriend delivered moving eulogies at the service. 

Emotions were so raw outside the funeral home that no one from the crowd wanted to speak on camera. But the tragedy has struck a nerve on Long Island.

"You have your whole lives ahead of you -- I just graduated like a lot of those women," said Jennifer Jamin, who was in the area from Astoria, Queens. "I don't know what I want to do but I have my whole life to figure it out, and it's just horrible that was taken away." 

In a funeral program note, Grabina's family asked friends to share their memories of her by using #celebrateagrabina on social media, or emailing photos and memories to amygrabinamemories@gmail.com, or adding them to this photo-sharing site. They also asked that instead of sending items to the home, donations be made in her name to a Florida State University campus recreation program close to her heart.

Earlier this week, Steven Romeo, 58, of Bethpage, pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving while intoxicated from his hospital bed at Eastern Long Island Hospital, about an hour's drive from Stony Brook University Hospital, where three of the four survivors were in various stages of recovery. 

The limo tried to make a U-turn at the intersection of County Route 48 and Depot Lane when Romeo's truck plowed into them, Town of Southold police said. The limo driver told authorities he was turning to head westbound to take the women back to Smithtown and did not see the red pickup truck in the westbound lanes of the highway, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

A witness heading eastbound who reported seeing the "entire crash" -- including the limo making the U-turn, the pickup truck driving westbound and the impact -- told authorities the limo "was turning right in front of the truck and the crash occurred at that point," according to Spota.

The limousine driver showed no evidence of being influenced by drugs or alcohol at the scene, Spota said, and chemical tests confirmed he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Spota said U-turns at the accident site are not prohibited, but limo drivers have been getting summonses for the way they are making the turns. They have to "swing way out" and "many are virtually blocking the two westbound lanes" as they turn around, Spota said.

The limo driver, Carlos Pino, 58, of Bethpage, was also taken to an area hospital with injuries but was expected to survive. 

San Diego’s city's hurry-up environmental process for a new Chargers stadium in Mission Valley now looks certain to draw legal opposition that could delay the project beyond NFL timelines.

A Hermosa Beach law firm has just filed a preliminary document -- in response to a call for public comments to the city’s draft report – that figures to be an obvious forerunner to formal litigation once the EIR is certified. Click here to read the full document.

City officials aren’t impressed with the issues it raises.

But the Chargers and leading team backers see it as a real threat to keeping the Bolts local.

"These folks have already start to dissect the environmental and legal issues,” said San Diego attorney Cory Briggs. “Even at this early stage, they've got 135 pages of legal defects. It's only going to get worse because when you rush something of this magnitude, you exponentially increase the likelihood of mistakes."

While Briggs isn't involved with the filing by attorneys from Chatten-Brown & Carstens LLP, he echoes the concerns raised by that firm, which also represents environmental activist groups throughout the state.

"Truth is stranger than fiction,” Briggs said in an interview Tuesday. "Here it's turned out that what the city is doing is worse than anybody could have imagined."

That's a major concern for the San Diego Stadium Coalition, a 20,000 member group working to keep the Chargers in town -- either in Mission Valley, or downtown's East Village, where the team has been holding out for a hybrid stadium-convention facility.

But that idea is opposed by downtown hoteliers who fear losing room tax proceeds to a scheme that would go toward funding a stadium project there.

"When you look at that giant document, all the things they laid out, these are common concerns, commonly addressed in the EIR process,” said Jason Riggs, the stadium coalition’s founder. “But unfortunately the timeline's so compressed that there's no way you can address all of those."

Given a worst-case scenario in which the city’s EIR winds up in court, with the stadium project delayed for who-knows-how-long, Riggs told NBC 7 that the city may need to pivot toward East Village.

"The big caveat is the mayor has to get the hoteliers on board,” Riggs said. “The Chargers aren't going to spend a bunch of money on a citizens initiative if they have to go and fight the mayor and hoteliers while trying to promote this thing to the voters.

“If the mayor would just open up downtown -- he's said he may be open to it -- I think that would really eliminate all of these issues that we're seeing,” Riggs continued. "And the team would actually, I think, get back to the table and start negotiating -- which is what we all want … if it does happen we think a citizens' initiative could be put together and on the ballot by next November."

No comment was forthcoming from Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s office, but the upshot of a response from the city was that the challenge is based on unfounded assumptions and arguments that'll get tossed out of court.

This written statement was offered by Councilman Scott Sherman, whose district includes the stadium site: "Petco Park was sued 18 times, but was successful at every turn. If we halt progress just because of lawsuits, nothing will ever get accomplished."

Local police officers and deputies gave an inside perspective to the benefits and challenges of officer body cameras Tuesday night during a seminar and discussion at the University of San Diego.

The university just launched their new online “Masters of Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership” program aimed at preparing the next generation of law enforcement leaders. The officers, turned students, gathered for a seminar and discussion dealing with the future of body cameras.

“This is an evolving area and we’re here all learning,” said Michael Begovich, a San Diego County deputy public defender who led the seminar. “It’s here to stay and it’s going to evolve. Digital technologies I think can be very useful. There will be some growing pains, but ultimately I think they will prove to be a good thing." 

The officers talked about some of those growing pains first-hand, including concerns about undercover officers having sensitive information revealed through recordings on other officers’ cameras.

Officers also discussed their worries over when to turn them on and off and what type of contact requires a recording.

One San Diego Police officer said ever since they’ve been required to have the cameras recording during the transport of suspects to jail, the car rides have been much quieter as officers seem hesitant to engage in personal conversation, something he once enjoyed.

But most of the officers seemed to think the benefits outweigh the negatives.

Another San Diego Police officer, who had his camera running during a recent shooting, said the footage made him feel more at ease during the routine questioning and investigation that followed.

“It makes a situation where the person that you’re dealing with, what they’re saying and doing, that’s recorded, what you’re doing and saying, is recorded," said Begovich. "So there is some accountability. Plus sides: there is transparency and I think it’s very useful evidence inside the courtroom.”

The new USD Law Enforcement Masters program is 100 percent online and the first classes start this fall.

After torrential rains flooded roads and damaged homes in Ramona Sunday, many homeowners will be paying for the damage themselves because they don’t have flood insurance.

Most residents either didn't know they needed additional coverage or didn’t purchase it because it’s too expensive.

Over the weekend, a river of mud and debris submerged Cindi Schildhouse’s yard, flooding the house and garage, killing dozens of koi fish in a pond. Because of the costs, however, flood insurance wasn’t an option.

"The price for what they're willing to cover just isn't worth it. It wouldn't have covered most of this damage anyway…So, it'll be out of our pocket,” Schildhouse said Tuesday.

Luis Gonzales, another neighbor whose property was damaged by the storm, said he will also have to cover the costs himself. "I have AAA, called them, and they said we're not covered for flood," he told NBC 7.

Gina Adair left her home after the flood buried it in more than a foot of mud. She said she didn’t know flood insurance wasn’t considered an act of god. “We have catastrophic damage,” Adair said of her house. "We're looking at a lot of money to repair this."

People with property damage due to the flood can fill out this form on the county’s website, which decides if it might qualify for federal assistance.

Those who need immediate assistance should call the Red Cross at 858-414-8051.

While investigating an assault at a Chula Vista building, police discovered what they are calling an illegal gaming and gambling operation. 

Now, the Chula Vista Police Department, the Department of Justice and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office are involved in the investigation.

On July 9, patrol officers were called to a building at the corner of Anita Street and Broadway. They were told a man had been badly beat up there. Upon arrival, they found a man in front of the building with serious head injuries.

Chula Vista Police Lt. Fritz Reber told NBC 7 the injury was a "coincidental incident" related to gambling going on there, but it was not a direct result of it. He said the victim and his alleged attacker may have been patrons of the business. The victim is a known gang member with a felony warrant.

"We have done prior investigations at that location related to illegal gambling. [Our] Special Investigation Unit is aware of the investigation," said Reber. "They have done enforcement there. They have identified several individuals that are involved in the business."

The evening of the attack, police obtained a search warrant to try to get surveillance video of the assault.

When they got into the building, they found the illegal gaming operation in a backroom. It was equipped with dozens of computer monitors and office chairs.

“The business itself accepts money from patrons. They give them credit on casino-based games on a computer and after players can cash out,” said Lt. Reber. “Essentially the business would be a conduit for online gaming. “

According to Lt. Reber, no one has been arrested yet in connection to the illegal gaming operation.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lashed out at his rivals and sounded off on a range of topics during a campaign stop in Bluffton, South Carolina, on Tuesday.

During the event, Trump responded to having been called a "jackass" by GOP presidential candidate and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham a day earlier by giving out what he said was Graham's phone number. He urged his audience to call Graham. 

Graham's campaign manager responded by saying on Twitter that Trump "continues to show hourly that he is ill-prepared to be commander in chief." 

And Graham seemed to wryly acknowledge the comment on his own Twitter account:

Here are a handful of Trump's colorful one-liners from the event:

On China:
"We give state dinners to the heads of China. I say, 'why are you doing state dinners for them? They're ripping us left and right. Just take them to McDonald's and go back to the negotiating table.'"

On GOP presidential candidate and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry:
"He put glasses on so people will think he's smart. It just doesn't work."

On GOP presidential candidate and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham:
"What a stiff," "a total lightweight," and "this idiot."

On politicians in general:
"They run and they run and they win and sometimes they lose. ... Most of them don't know what they're doing. They just keep running. It's like, you wind them up and they run for office."

On Twitter:
"It's like owning a newspaper without the losses."

On the military:
"I will build a military that's so strong that we'll never have to use it. Because they're gonna say, 'we're not messing with that guy and we're not messing with that country.'"

The gunman who allegedly killed four Marines and a Navy sailor last week in Chattanooga, Tennessee, had downloaded audio recordings of Anwar al-Awlaki, the American-Yemeni cleric who was a recruiter for al Qaeda, law enforcement officials told NBC News. 

Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez had CDs of al-Awlaki's sermons, the officials said. Al-Awlaki was killed by an American drone strike in Yemen on 2011.

Abdulazeez's uncle is believed to be "radical" and officials are investigating his influence on Abdulazeez, the law enforcement official told NBC News. The gunman went to visit his uncle in Jordan from April to November 2014. 

The alleged shooter's family said Tuesday that the uncle is not radical as was described. They said the uncle, 40, is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Kuwait, and is a business owner in Jordan who moved to that country in 2010 to help take care of his parents.

Jaxon Cota is 11 years old and has an IQ score of 148.

When he was only 9 years old, he was admitted into MENSA and does high school level math for entertainment when he gets bored.

"Numbers have always just kind of stuck out to me," Jaxon says. "There are just so many things about numbers that are fascinating and so many things to learn."

When Jaxon was two, he started to read numbers like "78" on a thermostat or "350" on his mother's oven. It was then that he started reading numbers up to fifteen digits long.

"There's a rhythm to numbers," said Jaxon's father, Matthew Cota. "And just something about that is, in a  weird way, very simple for him."

Today, Jaxon competes in math competitions and his love for numbers has overflowed into a love for baseball. 

Knowing she won't be around to see her daughter grow up, one Wisconsin mom has set out to write her four-year-old a letter for every milestone in her life — from a bad day to her wedding day.

Heather McManamy was diagnosed with breast cancer that has since spread to her bones and liver.

"Once you're stage 4, there is no cure," McManamy told NBC station WMTV.

Letter by letter, the McFarland mother wrote herself into every stage of her daughter's life.

"Her first tooth that she loses, her first wedding anniversary," Heather McManamy said. "Oh, I have one for her first baby. The last one I did was for her 30th [birthday]."

Little Brianna is heading off to kindergarten this year. McManamy is hoping to be able to read that one to Bri herself.

Prosecutors are intensively reviewing the fatal shooting of an unarmed Cincinnati man by a University of Cincinnati police officer, NBC News reported. The officer pulled the driver over for having a missing front license plate and fired on him after a brief struggle, authorities said Tuesday.

The man, Samuel Dubose, 43, who was African-American, was shot once in the head as he sat behind the wheel of his car Sunday night, university and city police said. The officer, Ray Tensing, who is white, was placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

The deadly shooting occurred amid a national conversation of race and policing, with critics alleging that black suspects are more likely to have force used against them during encounters with police.