Three dogs in the Chula Vista area were poisoned and now Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,200 reward to track down the suspect or suspects.

The dogs were all fed hot dogs, where pesticide was hidden inside, Chula Vista police said.

The first case happened on April 7 when the dog’s owner found the pup ill after a brief backyard break in an Otay Ranch neighborhood. The dog was rushed to a veterinary hospital, where the animal died, police said.

Police said the second and third case happened a week later in the same neighborhood, when a second family found two of their dogs ill, also after taking a backyard break.

Those dogs were also taken to a veterinary hospital, but died on the way there.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Chula Vista Police Department at 619-691-5151 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.

Officials are investigating arson as the possible cause of a fire that spread to an apartment complex in Escondido, forcing more than a dozen residents to evacuate.

The blaze broke out just before 2 a.m. at a complex located in the 920 block of South Hale Avenue.

According to investigators, a row of about 20 Italian Cypress trees caught on fire and the embers, fueled by light winds, blew the blaze into a nearby apartment complex, the Escondido Fire Department (EFD) said.

At least three apartment units on the third level of the building were damaged by the fire, as well as several cars parked at the complex. Officials said the back bedroom of one of those units sustained the heaviest damage.

The family that lives in that unit told NBC 7 they had to escape the flames by jumping off the roof of a neighbor’s unit because the staircase leading to their apartment was next to the trees that burned. Another resident told NBC 7 he woke up to his dog barking and then realized flames were creeping toward his apartment building.

In the end, all residents were able to safely evacuate the complex. Fire officials said a 10-year-old child stepped on hot embers and suffered minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Fire crews made holes in the roof of the units to get the smoke out and tackle the fire. The blaze was knocked down within 45 minutes, the EFD said.

A total of 15 residents were displaced. The Red Cross was called to the scene to help those residents. Hours later, some families returned to board up their homes and gather their belongings.

As of 10:30 a.m., the cause of the fire remained under investigation and officials had not yet determined if it was set intentionally. 

The Escondido Police Department (EPD) confirmed one man was arrested on an unrelated charge shortly after the fire.

Police said that man made some comments about a fire, so investigators are working to determine if he’s in any way connected to this fire.

A wildfire burning in the rugged border community of Potrero, California, has destroyed five homes, including the home of the family of an Army sergeant killed in Baghdad.

With this devastating blow, the family of late Army Sgt. Brud Cronkrite told NBC 7 they have now truly lost everything.

As of 6:20 a.m. Thursday, Cal Fire officials confirmed the Border Fire – burning since Sunday in Potrero, located approximately 42 miles southeast of downtown San Diego – had scorched 6,840 acres and was 20 percent contained.

The Cronkrites are one of five families who have lost their homes to the fire. Cal Fire said 200 homes in the area remain threatened by the blaze.

According to the Cronkites, one of their family members stayed near the home and watched it burn to the ground. That family member was not hurt but watching his home go up in flames was incredibly painful.

The family has been through much heartache.

In 2004, the Cronkrites’ son was killed in a grenade attack in Baghdad while serving overseas. Army Sgt. Brud Cronkrite’s life of service is memorialized in his community, as the Interstate 8 bridge over Potrero is named after him, a green sign still standing near the freeway.

The Border Fire forced evacuations for 700 residents of Potrero, including siblings Rosa Ruiz and Harper McDonald. The pair hiked for miles Wednesday to check on their livestock, which had to be left behind amid evacuations Monday.

Not knowing if their animals were alive was extremely difficult on the siblings.

“Frankly, [I felt] kind of awful worrying the whole drive in and over the last couple days,” Ruiz said.

“Animals, they’re my friends. Our critters,” her brother McDonald said.

The cause of the Border Fire remains under investigation.

Cal Fire said 1,901 personnel continued to battle the blaze Thursday as the fifth day of the fire wore on. In addition to multiple homes lost in the fire, 12 outbuildings have been destroyed.

A SWAT standoff stretched through the night and into Thursday morning after a homicide suspect shot in a man in the neck in Point Loma Heights near Ocean Beach, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD).

As of 7:40 a.m., the suspect in the deadly shooting -- identified by police as Thomas Burke, 32 -- had been arrested in downtown San Diego near 16th Avenue and F Street.

The SDPD said Burke had been negotiating with detectives over the phone and finally surrendered to police in downtown San Diego.

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Police said the ordeal began around 11:10 p.m. Wednesday when a man walked up to the door of an apartment in the 4100 block of Voltaire Street and Catalina Boulevard and was allegedly shot by Burke, who was inside that apartment.

Witnesses said they saw firefighters administering CPR and a woman yelling, trying to get to the victim.

The victim suffered a gunshot wound to his upper torso, the SDPD said, and died at the scene. He has not yet been identified by officials, but police said he is in his mid-30s.

Following the deadly shooting, Police believed Burke had barricaded himself inside the apartment on Voltaire Street. As a precaution, neighbors were evacuated from the nine-unit complex and roads were closed off to traffic.

SWAT officials were called to the scene, and a lengthy standoff ensued. Police tape cordoned off the area well into Thursday morning.

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As of 6 a.m., police said they weren’t sure if Burke was still holed up inside the apartment, or if he had escaped.

Officers used a bullhorn throughout the morning to call out to Burke, ordering to suspect to come out with his hands up. At least one flash bang was also deployed at the apartment.

There was no response from inside the unit.

Police said Burke was considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. He was described as 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds.

At 7:40 a.m., Burke was taken into custody. He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on one count of murder.

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Police said Burke and the victim of the shooting know one another. The shooting was prompted by some sort of confrontation between the men, though further details were not immediately released.

Residents of the complex remained evacuated Thursday morning as officers worked for several hours to collect evidence and clear the scene.

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A car carrying a mother and daughter fell approximately 200 feet down a canyon in Tierrasanta on Thursday, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) confirmed.

The incident happened at approximately  4:05 p.m. on the 5100 block of Santo Road. The car plunged into the canyon just behind the football field of Serra High School

The daughter was getting a driving lesson from her mom when the car careened into the canyon.

She was extricated and trasported to Sharp Memorial Hosital. Her mother was airlifted out of the canyon and flown to the same hospital.

A witness told NBC 7, the car had been doing circles in the lot before the crash.

The extent of injuries is unknown.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

In wake of the Orlando massacre, San Diego Pride organizers have announced the annual festival will include metal detectors at the entrances for the first time ever. 

Forty nine people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando. The gunman was shot and killed by authorities.

The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history has prompted many in San Diego to express concerns about security at the festival, said Stephen Whitburn, the festival's executive director.

“Our community is no stranger to adversity, and we will not be silenced,” said Stephen Whitburn, San Diego Pride’s executive director, in a statement. “Our movement is far from over, and we have no doubt that our community will come out to Pride as never before to mourn our losses, acknowledge our accomplishments, recommit to the work ahead, and celebrate our diverse community with love and Pride.”

This year, every entrance will have metal detectors, Whitburn said, and the festival will have more entry lanes to avoid long lines.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) will also have a mobile command unit stationed out front. Undisclosed additional precautions will be taken in addition, Whitburn said. 

Whitburn said in the face of such violence, they are preparing for the biggest, most meaningful Pride the city of San Diego has ever seen. 

"We want everyone to feel safe while they’re having fun at this year’s festival,” said Whitburn. “We encourage people to come out and celebrate Pride with confidence.”

The festival will be held Saturday, July 16 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Sunday, July 17 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Balboa Park's Marston Point. 

All evacuations orders have been lifted for the 7,358-acre Border Fire burning in a rugged part of southeast San Diego County, Cal Fire officials said Thursday evening. The fire has destroyed five homes and 12 other buildings is 35 percent contained. 

The blaze, dubbed the Border Fire, began Sunday around 11 a.m. near the border city of Potrero, which is located approximately 42 miles southeast of downtown San Diego. Fueled by a relentless heat wave and dry conditions, the blaze prompted evacuations of 700 residents and closed many roads in the area for several days. 

As of 6:30 a.m. Thursday, the Border Fire was 35 percent contained. 

Cal Fire said 1,901 fire personnel using 184 engines, 18 helicopters, 24 water tenders and 11 bulldozers were working to further contain the blaze, which continued to threaten about 200 structures Thursday morning.

Cal Fire said the acreage increase was held at a minimum overnight due to hard work of firefighters and more favorable weather conditions. Firefighters were able to construct more containment lines overnight around the flames, and also strengthened containment lines built earlier in the week, Cal Fire said.

The Border Fire has proven especially challenging due to the steep, rugged terrain which is difficult to access, and extremely dry vegetation in the area created by years of drought in California. Cal Fire described the conditions as fueling “erratic fire behavior.”

Temperatures are expected to remain hot again Thursday, however, so another day of hard work is ahead for firefighters.

In addition to the five homes destroyed by the fire, one more home has been damaged. Los Coches Creek Middle School, located at 9669 Dunbar Ln. in unincorporated El Cajon, served as an evacuation shelter for residents.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO), the following communities are no longer under mandatory evacuation orders:

• Forrest Gate
• Star Ranch
• Cowboy Ranch
• Dog Patch
• Canyon City
• Lake Morena
• Big Potrero Truck Trail/Hauser Creek Road to the south
• West of Buckman Springs Road from Lake Morena Drive to Morena Valley Road
• Morena Stokes Valley Road (Corral Canyon) at Sky Valley Ranch (Sky Valley Road) to the west and Morena/Stokes Valley Road (Corral Canyon) at Buckman Springs Road to the east

There will be three traffic control points restricting access to the fire burn area.

One spot will be located approximately 1 and a half miles north of Highway 94 on Harris Ranch Road, allowing access to all residential locations on Harris Ranch Road.

Another closure will be at Vollmer Road, approximately a quarter of a mile north of Highway 94 at the Y intersection.

A third closure will be at Martin Road approximately a quarter of a mile west of Highway 94 at the Y intersection. This closure will allow access to residents located on Martin Road.

The Pacific Crest Trail is also closed in the area due to the fire.

Updates on the fire and emergency evacuation shelters can be found here. Potrero residents can also call 211 for information on the Border Fire.

Cal Fire said officials will hold a community meeting to give residents updates on the Border Fire at 7 p.m. Thursday at Los Coches Creek Middle School.

Many Potrero residents own livestock and the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services has been on-hand to help evacuate livestock and pets in the Border Fire area. Animal Services said sheep, chickens, dogs and even 25 mini donkeys have been safely removed from the path of the fire over the past several days.

A child riding a bicycle was hit by a car in Tierrasanta on Friday, the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) confirmed.

The incident happened at approximately 6:34 p.m. on the 10,000 block of Esmeraldas Drive.

According to SDPD, the child was reported to be awake and complained of pain in the foot.

This was not a hit and run.

The child was transported to a local hospital.

No other information was immediately available.

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

The San Diego Junior Lifeguard Foundation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ocean Beach Pier on Saturday during the Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chile Cook Off Festival.

The foundation will be at Ocean Beach celebrating the milestone from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., along with the Ocean Beach Main Street Association and beach goers galore.

The San Diego Junior Lifeguard Foundation’s mission is to save lives by promoting aquatic safety education, drowning prevention and awareness.

For more information on the celebration, contact Corey McClelland, CEO of the San Diego Junior Lifeguard Foundation at 858-412-9545.

NBC 7 launched the Listen to Our Veterans Project on Memorial Day with partners Donovan’s Steak and Chop House and HundredX’s Expresit, as well as veterans organizations across San Diego County, including Support the Enlisted Project and the Armed Forces YMCA.

The goal of the project is to give veterans and other interested parties an opportunity to share their experiences with veteran services in San Diego.

Respondents were asked what's good and not so good in the categories of medical care, civilian transition, and other veteran benefits. Early results show the responses are closely split between good and not so good. Among all of the programs, medical care was the most commented on, however more of the comments are coming in negative than positive.

The counseling and education assistance program was the next most commented on, with a more positive response for educational assistance but negative for Counseling.

Many respondents are including negative and positive comments in their express feedback.

Recent positive comments include: "The Education benefits application process was easy and the service is quick. Staffs are also knowledgeable in answering questions and make good referrals for questions that are not their scope."

“Women's services have been great and the VA home loan helped me to become a homeowner as a single 27 year old woman in a hostile housing market,” a comment posted on June 16 read. “I am now using my GI Bill to attend school and the monthly stipend has helped me tremendously.”

Some respondents also praised veteran services in San Diego, touting the short wait times for appointments, the friendliness of the staff and health care physicians.

But “not so good” comments indicated the opposite reaction to wait times for veteran services.

Respondents stated they were waiting hours to receive services in the ER due to a lack of doctors and staff. While some commented that it took months to even get the care they needed.

"It's hard to say anything good about Veteran treatment," one respondent said. "I waited two months after an initial complaint of shoulder pain, just for an MRI. Two months after, the MRI shows I have a complete tear on my rotator cuff. I am still looking to wait another six months before I can even see the orthopedic surgeon."

Another respondent said: “It seems like the goal is ‘how fast can we get you off the phone or out of our office.’”

Overall, responses did show that job related challenges for veterans were a common theme.

Responses to the question “would you recommend veteran services” received 30 percent who gave it a poor rating, compared to 17 percent who said it was outstanding.

The Listen to Our Veterans Project will run through July 4.

The results of the project will be aggregated and published with an objective to provide content and useful insights surrounding veteran services.

If you are a Veteran, or the family member of a Veteran, you can submit your responses here. Please share this article with any friends or family who may be interested in participating.

A 33-year-old man was stabbed after getting into a verbal argument with three or four suspects in Rolando Friday evening, San Diego police confirmed.

The man and a friend were standing on the corner of 63rd and Acorn Street when the suspects approached. During the argument one of the suspects stabbed the man twice in the leg and twice in the arm.

The suspects then got into a black mid 2000’s Nissan Altima and drove westbound on Acorn Street.

The first suspect was described as a dark-skinned man 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-7, with a medium build and a white baseball cap.

The second suspect was described as a dark-skinned man, 5-foot-10, with a medium build, no shirt and tattoos on his back and shoulders.

The third suspect was described as a dark-skinned man, 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8, with a medium build, wearing a white hat and a blue polo shirt.

The victim was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

San Diego Mid-City Detectives are investigating.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

An Alaska Airlines flight from Maryland to Seattle, Washington, was cancelled after one of the plane’s wheels got stuck in a pothole on the tarmac.

Flight 761 was scheduled to leave Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Friday at 5:25 p.m. According to a passenger, Elizabeth King, the plane, heading to Seattle-Tacoma Internatinal Airport, was originally delayed due to approaching weather.

King said as they prepared to move to the runway, one of the tires got stuck in a pothole. She said the pilot attempted to power out of the hole, but the plane would not move.

She said three tow cables broke as ground crews tried to get the plane to move.

Cole Cosgrove, a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines, said the passengers deplaned on the tarmac. He said there was damage to the wheel, which is why the flight was cancelled.

Cosgrove said repairs to the plane were being made, and they plan to have it ready for an 11 a.m. Saturday departure.

After decades of indecision, funding shortages and outright neglect, the San Diego region's homelessness problems are getting a greater level of attention from the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

The “displaced” community is seeing better coordination, innovation among the programs, and expansion of “outreaches” beyond downtown.

But there are still tactical "cleanup" and police "enforcement actions” under way -- as Major League Baseball's All-Star Game festivities will attract coast-to-coast attention playing out at Petco Park in East Village next month.

“Certainly I think there's a lot of people who are applauding it, and saying 'yes, let's move people out,'" says Michael McConnell, a leading advocate on homelessness issues. “But what's short-sighted about that, is what's going on will simply lead to more homelessness."

And the numbers are still growing, even though more money than ever is being invested in medical and “wrap-around” social services, rehabilitation programs, shelters, transitional, and permanent housing.

The County of San Diego is allocating $35 million over two years for mental health initiatives.

The state of California will spread around $400 million in the fiscal year starting July 1st.

But is this area becoming a magnet for refugees from Skid Rows in other cities?

Local surveys indicate only 1 in 4 transients have migrated here.

A comprehensive study recently was conducted by the Veterans Administration, with surprising results.

"They've found that only 15 percent of folks who used VA services during a two-year period migrated,” says Lisa Halverstadt, who’s written extensively on homeless issues for Voice of San Diego. “And in fact San Diego, the region that includes it, actually saw a net loss in folks through migration."

Meantime, San Diego may be in line for increased funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The city's HUD grants under a 1970s-era formula rank only 23rd, even though it has the 5th largest homeless population.

Given feedback on lobbying efforts aimed at HUD Secy. Julian Castro by U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (D-50th) and Mayor Kevin Faulconer, officials are optimistic about San Diego getting a fairer share.

“Changing the funding formula could position San Diego to receive millions more federal dollars each year,” Faulconer told reporters this week. “This is a major step in the right direction.”

Southbound 163 at Clairemont Mesa Boulevard will be reduced to two lanes in the evening over the next three weeks for construction, Caltrans said.

The lane reductions run from Friday at 9 p.m. to Saturday, July 16.

Caltrans construction crews will also close all southbound lanes of SR-163 between State Route 52 and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard for three nights in June. 

The closure includes the connector ramp from eastbound SR-52 to southbound SR-163 as well as the westbound lanes of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard over SR-163.

That closure will take place on the following nights: 

• Saturday, June 25 at 9 p.m. to Sunday, June 26 at 9 a.m.

• Sunday, June 26 at 9 p.m. to Monday, June 27 at 4:30 a.m.

• Monday, June 27 at 9 p.m. to Tuesday, June 28 at 4 a.m.

Drivers on southbound 163 will be detoured to westbound SR-52 to southbound 805 then to the I-805/SR-163 Interchange.

Eastbound SR-52 motorists will be detoured to southbound Interstate 15, then to the I-15/Interstate 8 Interchange.

Westbound Clairemont Mesa Boulevard drivers will be detoured to southbound Kearny Villa Road.

Signs have been placed to alert motorists about the upcoming closures.

If hitting truly is contagious then the Padres needed to wear Hazmat suits on Friday night in Cincinnati.

San Diego scored a run in every inning but the 9th en route to a 13-4 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Friars line score looks kind of like a social security number:

111-11-1250

They got a single run in each of the 1st through 6th innings, two more in the 7th and hung a five spot in the 8th. The Padres had 15 hits, including four home runs.

The first long ball was also the first run of the night. Wil Myers continued his torrid June with a solo home run in the 1st inning. For the month Myers has hit 10 homers, driven in 28 runs, scored 22 runs, and rolled up 1.176 OPS. That’s Babe Ruth territory.

Myers had three hits and drove in five runs, making him possibly the only man in a San Diego uniform that had a better night than Melvin Upton Jr. The Padres left fielder also had three hits, two of them home runs, and drove in four. Upton’s first long ball came in the 7th inning, a 2-run blast to right field to put the Padres up 8-4. His second dinger, another 2-run shot in the 8th, capped the high-scoring night.

Adam Rosales also went deep for the Padres, who unleashed a 15 hit attack against five Reds pitchers. San Diego starting pitcher Colin Read had really only one bad inning. Rea gave up four runs, all of them coming in the 3rd inning, when Cincinnati took their only lead of the night at 4-3. Rea ended up going 5.0 innings with seven strikeouts to get the win.

The Friars have won five of their last six games, including the first two of their 4-game set in southern Ohio. They can win the series on Saturday if Drew Pomeranz can beat Brandon Finnegan.

June 27 is National HIV Testing Day, and in San Diego County, one in ten people who are infected with HIV are not aware of it, according to the County Health and Human Services Agency.

Pre-Exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), the use of taking prescription drugs to help people avoid HIV infection, can reduce a person’s chances of getting HIV by more than 90 percent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

“PrEP can help someone prevent getting HIV if the person is exposed to the virus,” said Patrick Loose, chief of the HIV, Sexually Transmitted Disease, and Hepatitis branch for the County Health and Human Services Agency. “PrEP is an HIV prevention medication that works by taking one pill every day and has the potential to significantly reduce new HIV infections.”

A drug called Truvada, which is commonly used as part of a combination therapy to treat HIV, can also be used by people without the disease to help prevent infection, according to the CDC.

In studies patients who used Truvada had up to a 92 percent lower risk of getting infected than those who did not take the pill.

“PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool and can help us to get to zero new infections,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “When PrEP is combined with condoms and other prevention methods, the risk of HIV infection is much lower. However, people should not stop using condoms because PrEP does not offer any protection against other sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea.”

Federal guidelines recommend PrEP to HIV-negative people in an ongoing sexual relationship with an HIV-positive partner, people who engage in high-risk sexual behaviors, people who have injected drugs with shared needles, people who work in a drug treatment center or people who have been in treatment for the last six months.

PrEP is covered by many health insurance plans, and a commercial medication assistance program provides free PrEP to people with limited income and no insurance.

For more information about PrEP, visit the CDC PrEP resources page.

The City of San Diego recommended moving from a Level Two Drought Alert to a Level One Drought Watch, which would reduce water restrictions.

The suggestion came Thursday after the San Diego County Water Authority’s (CWA) determination that the region has an adequate water supply for the next three and a half years thanks to conservation efforts and new water supply sources.

San Diego currently has mandatory water use restrictions, but under a drought watch residents would voluntarily conserve water. 

The City Council’s Environment Committee may consider the recommendation in the new few weeks.

If approved, the full City Council would consider the recommendation, and the new Level One Drought Watch would go into effect afterwards.

Football stadium lights, noise, and traffic are the basis of a new lawsuit filed against the San Diego Unified School District.

Neighbors living near Point Loma High School are concerned about what they call commercialization of the football field.

“I support the students, I really like them. I don't want to be considered their enemy. It's just that we don't want loud noise, loud music,” says neighbor and plaintiff Carol Simpson.

Carol Simpson's late husband coached at Point Loma High school for 25 years.

It's a special place.

She is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit just filed against the San Diego Unified School District by neighbors living around the field.

“You have to draw the line somewhere to just be a good neighbor,” says neighbor and plaintiff Frank Cuenca.

Right now there is only one night game a year on the field and mobile lighting is brought in.

According to the lawsuit, the school district plans to install permanent lighting, increase the seating capacity, and rent out the field hundreds of days a year.

“If that's what they want to do to our neighborhood for a hundred and two hundred days, it's an unacceptable way to live,” says neighbor and plaintiff Alan Leff.

Bedrooms are literally feet away from the football field and it's lighting in this neighborhood.

“I don't need to turn any lights on in any room in my house to read a book in any room,” says Cuenca.

Neighbors hope the lawsuit helps.

“I always want to be a good supportive neighbor to our high school and the students,” Carol Simpson.

The San Diego Unified School District said it cannot comment on pending litigation.

A man and woman were found dead inside a home in San Diego's Southcrest community Friday in what police believe was a murder-suicide.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) received reports just after 5 p.m. of two people found shot to death inside a home in the 3800 block of Gamma Street just east of Intersate 5. A roommate reported the grisly discovery to police.

When officers arrived on scene, they found to people suffering from deadly gunshot wounds to their upper bodies, SDPD Homicide Unit Lt. Ray Valentin said.

Both the man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the SDPD, the man and woman are both in their 40s, though their names have not yet been released.

Valentin said the deaths are being investigated as a murder-suicide.

On Friday night, family members and friends stood outside the Southcrest home and were being comforted by crisis intervention specialists. Meanwhile, homicide detectives cordoned the home and worked into the night collecting evidence and trying to piece together what happened.

NBC 7 spoke with some residents in the area Saturday who said they were shocked by what happened in the neighborhood.

Terri Lopez, who's lived in Southcrest for four years, said she noticed police officers on Gamma Street, surrounding the home where the bodies were found.

“It’s scary. I feel sorry that it happened,” said Lopez. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve never heard of something like that happening before. It’s just strange. It’s sad.”

Olivia Garrison was babysitting when she saw officers in the area Friday night. Officer knocked on doors, including the house she was in, asking if she'd heard any strange noises.

“The police were here a long time,” she recalled.

As of noon Saturday, further details had not been released by the SDPD. Check back for updates on this developing story.

Believe it or not, Summer Fun on the 101 -- Leucadia's annual free music festival -- basically began in 2010 as a spiritual awakening for one Michael Schmitt.

"I was walking around, just enraptured with this funky old surf town I’d fallen in love with and how beautiful the vibe was," Schmitt, the festival's creative director and mastermind, told SoundDiego. "I started strumming this lovely little two-chord phrase on my ukulele and had an epiphany. I decided right then and there to dedicate myself to throwing a surf music festival in Leucadia. 'Wayne's World 2' may have also been a factor. About 10 minutes later, I met Artie Mattson who told me about her twin sons’ jazz band [the Mattson 2] and I took that as a sign. Year one, I used Kickstarter and flew without permits and year two, I convinced the Leucadia 101 Main Street Association to partner with me. We legitimized. Now, I’m on the L101 board of directors. The rest is history. It’s a celebration of Leucadia."

That history continues to grow. This Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26, marks the fest's seventh incarnation and it's safe to say it's become bigger and better with each passing year. While it kicks off on Saturday at Leucadia's Roadside Park with an all-day show featuring 10 bands, Sunday gets the entire business community involved with a music walk that taps 16 acts set to play at several different locations along North Coast Highway 101.

Raffles, art displays, fun contests and a beer garden (for adults, of course) contribute to the all-encompassing laidback vibe and helps to accomplish the event's main goal: Raising money for music education in Encinitas. Last year, they gave $500 scholarships to two hard-working San Dieguito Academy students and are hoping the amount is even more this year. It's something, Schmitt said, that they're continuously working toward.

"We had a small but enthusiastic crowd the first few years. It did take a couple tries to do better than breaking even. Free festivals are difficult. But I’ve never been disappointed with the turnout and it grows every year."

The event's 2016 lineup is one after our own hearts, with some of our local favorites included. On Saturday, the big Roadside Park concert features Sacri Monti, Ocelot, Birdy Bardot (a SoundDiego Record Club inductee), Second Cousins (who're also in our Record Club), Montalban Quintet, the Casey Hensley Band, David J (formerly of Bauhaus, and Love and Rockets) and others. Pro tip from Schmitt: "Sacri Monti, Monarch and Ocelot are going to be red hot. Grab your ear plugs though because they are loud and tinnitus is a terrible thing."

Sunday continues with bands performing at Encinitas locales along the 101, which include Priority Public House, 454 Tattoo & Body Piercing, Ducky Waddles, Lou's Records and more. Scheduled performers include the Gloomies, Monarch, the Mattson 2, Inspired and the Sleep, Heather Nation and more. Seems like you can't throw a rock without hitting one of San Diego's finest bands (but please don't throw rocks).

According to the 32-year-old Schmitt -- who's been involved in nearly every operational role at some point or another for the event (promotion, booking, administration, stage manager, etc) -- putting on Summer Fun on the 101 every year is completely worth it, even though it's a ton of work and a lot of sleepless nights.

"There's nothing as awesome to me as hearing from local families about how much they love and look forward to the event every year...So long as Encinitas keeps giving me world-class talents to promote, I will keep doing my part in giving them a great community event to rock. I’ve been to plenty of large festivals in my life, but nothing really compares to big talents in a small, intimate setting. I get to make that happen every year. It’s magical."

Summer Fun on the 101 takes place on Saturday and SUnday, June 25-26, 2016. Visit here for the full lineup, set times, locations, and more information.

Dustin Lothspeich books The Merrow; plays in Diamond Lakes and Boy King; and runs the music-equipment-worshipping blog Gear and Loathing in San Diego. Follow his updates on Twitter or contact him directly.