With no official spot on Hollywood Boulevard to mourn Carrie Fisher, fans of the actor, author and activist crafted a pop-up tribute for the icon on the Walk of Fame Tuesday.

Dedicated fans decorated a blank star in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre for the "Star Wars" actor. They surrounded it with candles and white roses and stuck on letters that formed "Carrie Fisher - May the force be with you always - Hope."

"When I found Carrie Fisher didn't have a star I found that to be unacceptable," said Jason Thomas, who was dressed in a Jedi robe and carried a lightsaber. "Decided to take it upon myself to make one for her. She's touched my generation."

The iconic "Star Wars" actor died Tuesday at age 60 following a heart attack she suffered Friday on a flight to Los Angeles from London. Daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actor Debbie Reynolds, Fisher was also an accomplished author. Her memoir "The Princess Diarist" was published this year.

Her portrayal of Princess Leia felt real to many.

"She definitely had that female empowerment, being the ambassador," said Elise Savage, a fan from Washington. "Just, she grabbed the gun! Did everything the guys did!"

Fisher's death sparked an outpouring of grief from her family, her "Star Wars" co-stars, other Hollywood actors and devoted fans on social media.

"She brought the galaxy hope," Thomas said in a Facebook live video. "She deserves a star, now she lives amongst them. She was the flame that lit the fire that burned the empire to the ground.

"Hope is embodied in this woman and she gave that to my generation and hopefully to others."

The ex-lover of a former New York City schoolteacher has been arrested on murder charges after the woman and their 4-year-old son were found dead in her Manhattan apartment Monday. 

Isaac Duran Infante, 22, was taken into custody Tuesday in the deaths of 36-year-old Felicia Barahona and their 4-year-old son Miguel, and confessed to killing them, a law enforcement source told NBC 4 New York.

The medical examiner has determined Barahona died from strangulation by the electrical cord, and her son died of asphyxia from neck compression.

Duran Infante was a former student of Barahona, and their son was born from their affair, which began when he was a student.

A source told NBC 4 New York that Duran confessed to the double killing in part because he was dissatisfied with the way his son was being raised by Barahona. 

Duran Infante said nothing to reporters as he was led in handcuffs from the police stationhouse where he was interviewed.

His anguished grandmother, who lives in the Bronx, told NBC 4 New York in Spanish she wanted justice and that she knows her grandson is innocent of the charges.  

Another relative of Duran Infante, Janiel Santana, said, "It's hard to believe they're dead. When we heard the news, we thought this has got to be a mistake." 

The couple shared custody of the child, relatives said. Miguel's father's side of the family was expecting to see the boy for New Year's Eve to give him his Christmas presents. 

Barahona lost her job as a science teacher at DeWitt Clinton High School in 2013, shortly after she became pregnant and school administrators learned of her illicit relationship with a student. Duran was believed to be that student and the father of young Miguel.

Felicia Barahona was found dead, an electrical cord wrapped around her neck, on the living room floor of her West 153rd Street apartment in Hamilton Heights around 8:15 a.m. Monday after the building super was alerted about a smell, police said. Her son Miguel was found unresponsive in a bathtub, police said. Investigators believe the duo had been dead several days.

Neighbors described Miguel as a sweet boy.

"It's sad. It's a little life," said Elia Flores, adding of his mother, "I've known her for a lot of years that she live here."

Uber passengers at Washington-area airports said some ride-share drivers are refusing to pick them up, because they don’t want to take the travelers where they want to go.

An Uber driver is never supposed to know the destination until the trip has started. Some drivers are calling passengers in advance, finding out where the passengers want to go, which is against Uber policy.

If the driver thinks the trip isn’t worth their time, because they think the trip is too short, too long, or they just don’t want to go to the destination, the drivers won’t pick up the passengers.

"I just wanted to get home,” said Uber customer Landon Geurkink. “We had just been traveling for a couple hours in the air. It was cold out."

Geurkink said he had to go through five separate Uber drivers before one finally picked him up at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. He said the drivers thought his relatively short trip to downtown D.C. wasn't worth the trip after calling him to find out his destination.

"He's, like, I just wanted to know where you are headed? I just said, ‘Oh, downtown D.C.,’” Geurkirk said. “Another minute later, he canceled."

Other drivers may have manipulated the Uber app or used a separate app to figure out the final destination and then decided they didn't want the trip. Some Uber drivers said they knew all about this technique, and some admitted they have ended trip requests based on destination.

"I know that I have canceled drives before that I thought were too long," one driver said.

Uber released a statement about the practice.

“Ridesharing apps are changing a transportation status quo that has been unequal for generations, making it easier and more affordable for people to get around, no matter where they live and where they're going."

Per Uber's deactivation policy, each city has a maximum cancellation rate, based on the average cancellation rate in that area, after which point a driver may be barred from using the app.

Uber riders can rate their driver and provide anonymous feedback about their trip. Uber said they do take feedback seriously.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said they are looking into the practice of the Uber drivers avoiding some trips.

The family of a young mother of three who was killed in Oceanside earlier this week says they are in state of shock over her death and can’t understand why someone would want to hurt her this way.

The body of the 22-year-old mother was discovered in a car in front of the home of her suspected killer near Luna and West Redondo drives Monday evening.

NBC 7 spoke with Jessica Contreras, the cousin of the victim. The two were very close and, at one time, lived together.

“We’re really upset. She was a really good girl and we have no idea why anyone would do anything like this to her. Her little baby was close to her,” said Contreras.

Uriel Leon, 24, was arrested Tuesday in connection to the victim’s death. Contreras said he is the father to two of victim’s children.

“We were shocked because he wasn't like – he didn't seem like a bad person – so we were shocked thinking, ‘Why would he do something like that to her?’” she said.

Police have not released information on how the victim was killed. The victim’s name has also not been officially released by authorities, pending more family notifications.

Americans will likely name President Barack Obama the most admired man in 2016 — the ninth consecutive year he will get the nod, according to a Gallop poll. 

The poll was conducted Dec. 7 to 11 and asked a random sample of more than 1,000 Americans to name the man and woman they most admire. Obama was mentioned by 22 percent of respondents, earning him the number one spot. 

President-elect Donald Trump finished second in the poll and was mentioned by 15 percent of those surveyed. 

Hillary Clinton earned the top spot in the female category for the 15th year in a row, with 12 percent of those surveyed responding with her name. Michelle Obama was second, with eight percent of respondents replying with her name. 

Reverend Billy Graham also made it into the top ten most admired men this year, making it the 60th year he's done so. 

Graham has been in the top ten every since 1955, with the exception of 1962 and 1976, when the survey was not conducted, Gallop said in a statement. 

Checkers Drive-in Restaurants Inc., which operates hamburger eateries under the Checkers and Rally’s brands, plans to open a new Rally’s at 931 S. 30th St., in Logan Heights near downtown San Diego.

A company statement said the restaurant will open in the first quarter of 2017. It will be operated by veteran local franchisee Bruce Ong, who was recently recognized as the company’s Franchisee of the Year at its national conference.

Florida-based Checkers Drive-in Restaurants, selling burgers, fries and other items, currently operates more than 800 eateries nationwide, including five in San Diego County. The company recently announced plans to open 68 franchised Checkers and Rally’s in San Diego County over the next seven years, with other locations not yet announced.

A man driving to Fairfield in August 2015 was arrested after "weaving in and out of traffic almost causing several collisions," but he wasn't under the influence of alcohol, according to the arresting officer.

Following a blood test, caffeine was determined to be only drug pumping through the driver's system, as reported by NBC affiliate KCRA.

After stopping the driver, who was identified as 36-year-old Joseph Schwab, the arresting officer found legal workout supplements in the car, conducted multiple field sobriety tests and noticed that Schwab's pupils were dilated, according to KCRA.

Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams added that "the driver seemed very amped up, very agitated, very combative, and (the arresting officer) thought he was under the influence of something," according to KCRA.

Schwab maintains his innocence.

"I was 100 percent confident that I was not under the influence of anything," he told KCRA.

That plea doesn't seem to be working.

Abrams is still attempting to finalize a DUI charge, but she admitted that a conviction will not be simple to pull off, as reported by KCRA. The district attorney claims that an unknown drug, which did not register on the original blood test, is what truly impaired Schwab's driving ability.

Yes, caffeine is a drug, but it is not often associated with impaired driving, independent forensic toxicologist Edwin Smith told KCRA.

Smith believes that the drug could actually improve a driver's ability to stay focused behind the wheel.

Schwab and his attorney have filed a motion to have any charges be dismissed, according to KCRA. In their minds, driving while being under the influence of caffeine is not a criminal act.

New Year’s Eve is upon us, San Diego, and there are plenty of ways to ring in new beginnings across our county – it just depends what type of outing suits your personality. Whether you’re a laid-back reveler, a high-end party animal or celebrating with the kids, these spots should offer something for everyone.

Balboa Park (For the museum enthusiast)
During the day on Dec. 31, museum enthusiasts looking to learn one more thing or two before the end of 2016 can stroll Balboa Park and visit many of its museums, including the San Diego History Center, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Mingei International Museum or the San Diego Air & Space Museum. Most museums close at 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve but after you’ve finished feeding your mind and curiosity, feed your belly at Balboa Park’s landmark restaurant, The Prado. On New Year’s Eve, The Prado will offer a three-course dinner priced at $54.95, served from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Revelers can stay until the clock strikes midnight by upgrading to the dinner and dancing package priced at $84.95, which includes a sparkling champagne toast while counting down to midnight, music and dancing in the lounge.

The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Club & Bungalow (For those with a passion for vintage)
North Park’s cool, vintage, boutique hotel plans to ring in 2017 by hosting a “Psychedelic Masquerade” bash that takes it back to the mind-expanding era of the 1960s. Revelers are encouraged to wear masks and masquerade attire to this 21+ affair; the night includes a three-course dinner and live music from cool local bands including The Midnight Pine and The Verigolds. Tickets to this party range between $45 and $190.

Big Night San Diego (For the energetic party animal)
The name of this 21+ New Year’s Eve event – Big Night San Diego – says it all. This high-energy, all-inclusive, glamorous gala at Hilton San Diego Bayfront includes drinks, food, party favors and live music and dancing across 10 party areas and eight dance floors. Also, check out the “Silent Disco” for a quieter zone sure to make you giggle. Tickets range from $89.99 to $189.99.

The Grass Skirt (For those who like that laid-back, tropical vibe)
If you’re looking for a laid-back way to ring in the New Year, then perhaps a night of tiki culture in Pacific Beach is the answer. The Grass Skirt – a buzzy new tiki lounge and restaurant on Grand Avenue – will host a New Year’s Eve party where attendees are encouraged to trade in the suit-and-tie attire for relaxed Hawaiian shirts. Matt Spencer, of The Grass Skirt, tells NBC 7 patrons can even wear their sunglasses at night for this party – no judging. “We’re trying to take New Year’s Eve – which can be a little bit of an intense evening – and make it kind of fun. It’s the place to go if you don’t want that intense, high-end experience,” Spencer explained. Fittingly, instead of regular champagne, the midnight toast here will include some sort of pineapple-flavored bubbly.

The San Diego International Auto Show (For gearheads with a need for speed)
This annual auto show runs on New Year’s weekend at downtown’s San Diego Convention Center and will showcase more than 400 of the newest, drool-worthy rides from a long lineup of manufacturers. In addition to strolling across the exhibit floor, attendees can take part in some test drives and buy the latest auto products. The show revs up from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve – still plenty of time to hop in your car and head out somewhere else afterwards. Come back on New Year’s Day, too, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The San Diego Zoo (For a family-friendly outing)
Grab the kids and head to the San Diego Zoo on New Year’s Eve, where the holiday-themed Jungle Bells event continues through Jan. 10. The zoo is open until 8 p.m. on Dec. 31 – giving you plenty of time to admire the twinkling lights, special music, animals and more and the landmark’s centennial comes to an end. For a special multi-course holiday meal, head over to Albert’s Restaurant for the “Midly Wild New Year’s Eve Dinner” prepared by Executive Chef Chris Mirguet and Chef Charles Boukas. Seating starts at 5 p.m.; the dinner is $65 per person and for an extra $15, you can add wine pairings. Check out the menu here. 

San Diego’s Casinos (For those who are feeling lucky)
Feeling lucky as you head into 2017? Go with the vibe and ring in the New Year by heading to one of San Diego’s many casinos. In the East County, you’ll find Viejas Casino – among many others (Barona; Golden Acorn; Sycuan; Hollywood Casino: Jamul). The party at Viejas goes from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in both the Oak Ballroom and the open-air venue, The Park at Viejas. Tickets range from $50 to $175. If you’re in the North County, you’ll find the Valley View Casino & Hotel – among others (Harrah’s Resort Southern California; Pala Casino Spa & Resort). The New Year’s Eve bash at Valley View goes from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and includes a concert from ‘80s funk group Midnight Star at the Main Stage Bar. 

San Diego’s Landmark Hotels (For those who like glitz and history)
For those who want lots of glitz and history on New Year’s Eve, San Diego’s landmark hotels might suit you. The Hotel Del Coronado will host several parties – its 21+, exotic black-tie gala, Far East Fantasy and its 21+ Club Crown bash – as well as its New Year’s Eve Kids and Teens party for little ones ages 4 to 17. Prices for these parties range from $120 to $470 per person. The US Grant in downtown San Diego is also offering several NYE options – from a special Celebration Dinner at Grant Grill to a fancy midnight countdown; prices start at $75 per person.

Craft Breweries (For those looking to toast to the year ahead with a locally-brewed beverage)
There may not be a more authentically San Diego way to toast to the New Year than with a craft beer in hand. Look up your favorite local brewery in a sea of dozens for specific NYE hours and events. For instance, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens at Liberty Station will host a party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. that includes a dance floor, food stations, desserts, an outdoor cigar lounge and, of course, tasty beers. Tickets are $125 per person.

These are just a few samplings of what's happening in San Diego County on New Year's Eve. We wish you a happy and safe celebration!

The community of Coronado will remember one of its own Wednesday: a man killed in the devastating warehouse fire in Oakland, California, which claimed the lives of dozens. 

Nick Gomez Hall, a 2009 graduate of Coronado High School, was one of the 36 people killed in the fire. On Wednesday, his family and friends in Coronado will gather for his memorial service. Gomez Hall’s sailing coach in Coronado calls his death a “tragedy for the whole town.”

Gomez Hall, 25, is also being mourned all over social media by friends across the country. In one online post, a childhood friend said that growing up with Gomez Hall was an “incredible gift.”

In another social media post, The Steel Yard in Rhode Island – where Gomez Hall attended college – called him an inspiration and a friend.

Gomez Hall was part of a band. “The Indy” college newspaper posted about his band, saying they’re deeply feeling the impact of the young man’s loss. In Berkeley, California, publishing house Counterpoint Press also posted a tribute on Facebook to Gomez Hall, saying they’re devastated over his death, saying he was a part of their family.

It's a tradition for NBC News to sum up the oddest, silliest and most head-scratching political moments of the year, but this year was a strange one.

Even if the social media fodder from the deeply divisive battle between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton election now feels as stale as Christmas leftovers, there were plenty of other hilarious moments from 2016 that remind us that we're all human — even in politics.

There was the good old-fashioned physical humor of Ben Carson spectacularly bungling his entrance to the February ABC News debate. That month, fellow candidate for the Republican presidential nomination Jeb Bush implored an audience to "please clap" as he spoke at a town hall.

Democrats weren't strangers to unintentional comedy either: California Senate candidate Loretta Sanchez tried dabbing at the end of a debate, earning a side-eye from her eventually victorious opponent.

And that doesn't even touch on Ken Bone, Birdie Sanders and the rest of politics' funniest moments of the year.

Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday said American allies "won't be swayed or intimidated by a tweet" from President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly weighed in on foreign affairs despite not yet taking office, NBC News reported.

In an exclusive interview with NBC's Andrea Mitchell, Kerry said he would not get into a "debate" with Trump, but suggested U.S. allies have been "affected" by the president-elect's recent commentary on U.S.-Israeli relations and other sensitive foreign policy issues.

Trump's rhetoric recent is widely seen as a break from the tradition of deference to the sitting president during a period of transition.

Shaking was reported across a widespread part of Southern California following a magnitude-3.9 earthquake Wednesday morning that was centered in southern San Bernardino County.

The quake was centered west of Morongo Valley, about 100 miles east of Los Angeles. There were no immediate reports of damage.

The initial shaking was followed by a magnitude-2.5 earthquake about one minute later and at least eight other aftershocks.

Weak shaking was reported as far south as Oceanside and Carlsbad. Weak to light shaking was reported in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including the communities of Yucca Valley, Big Bear Lake, Desert Hot Springs, Banning, Palm Springs and other inland and mountain areas. 

The quake was initially reported with a magnitude of 4.1. That figure was later revised to 4.0, then 3.9.

The quakes follow a morning of seismic activity in the West, where two magnitude-5.7 earthquakes were reported early Wednesday in Nevada. Those quakes near Lake Tahoe have been followed by a series of aftershocks and a magnitude-5.5 earthquake.

San Diego firefighters worked overnight and into Wednesday to clean-up a massive fire that tore through a warehouse in Sorrento Valley. 

The blaze began at around 2 a.m. at an unoccupied warehouse in the 1100 block of Spectrum Lane and burned for more than four hours, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) said. Roughly 100 firefighters from several agencies worked together to tackle the three-alarm fire.

As the flames raged on, the roof of the building collapsed. The fire eventually spread to the other half of the building and nearly jumped to another nearby building and some surrounding brush.

Overnight, crews remained at the scene monitoring hot spots and making sure the fire did not reignite. On Wednesday, crews planned to stay at the scene, tackling major clean-up efforts and again, monitoring for potential flare-ups.

Due to the heavy structural damage to the building, fire investigators have not yet been able to go inside the warehouse. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Officials said the limited access to the building has proved challenging; because firefighters could only safely attack the fire from the outside, the process has been long and tedious.

The scorched building was completely destroyed. SDFD officials said the damage is estimated at approximately $3 million. Officials said a dietary supplement company was planning to move into the warehouse.

No one was hurt in the fire.

What did San Diegans care about and share on social media in 2016?

It was an array of stories -- from the major rain storms of January to the killing of a San Diego police officer in August.

This past year was a year of milestones, the Rio Olympics and the contention presidential election, to name a few.

Here are the stories that most captivated NBC 7’s audience on Facebook:

Most-shared stories:

The day after the U.S. presidential election, a homeowner in San Francisco proudly flew a Nazi flag above his home. The video touched a nerve and the post was shared 13,720 times.

During a week of pounding rainfall in January, many local residents were sharing photos and videos of flooding. One resident sent us a video of garbage cans floating down a roadway, and the post was shared thousands of times on our Facebook page; 111,482 times to be exact.

In May, when now President-elect Donald Trump came to the San Diego Convention Center to campaign, tension with protesters mounted.

NBC News reporter Jacob Rascon captured an aggressive exchange between protesters and San Diego police. The video was shared 11,210 times.

Most-liked Facebook posts:

After San Diego Police Officer Jonathan DeGuzman was killed in a shooting in Grant Hill, many residents and firefighters turned out to pay respects.

A video showing mourners lining Interstate 8 was liked on Facebook 18,046 times.

The rain storms of January also took center stage in the No. 2 and No. 3 most-liked Facebook posts of 2016.

The garbage cans floating down the roadway in Oceanside generated 13,807 likes.

Then, a video of a wayward sea lion seeking solace on someone’s front porch during the rainfall garnered 11,985 likes.

On Twitter, pop culture and politics, the rain storms and a local high-interest crime story dominated for NBC San Diego.

The most clicked, retweeted and liked tweet of 2016 involved the arrest of a Santee teen accused of assisting in the killing of a homeless man.

That June tweet was retweeted 1,827 times and liked 1,566 times.

A story in February about Adele requesting that Trump not use her music on the campaign trail generated 654 retweets and 1,100 likes.

The January rain storms emerged again as a social media talker: A video of a professor continuing his lecture even while his classroom was flooded was retweeted 305 times and liked 290 times.

At the end of the year, we take stock in what happened and for San Diego's business community that include new openings, new technologies, new launches and new expansions.

Here's a look at the top 10 most visited articles from our Local Business Spotlight for 2016:

10: The announcement by Las Vegas-based Allegiant Airlines that it would be offering new flights between San Diego and Stockton out of Lindbergh Field. Perhaps it was the introductory fare of $39 that piqued everyone's interest?

9: Phil’s fanatics were excited to see the water tower go up in Rancho Bernardo. The new Phil's BBQ location in April 2016 was our ninth most popular post to the Local Business Spotlight.

8: The popular restaurant Mary's Donuts, a staple in Santee for 30 years, announced a new location opening in March 2016. Our article, one of our most viewed, let loyal customers know they could still get their apple fritters, doughnut holes and bagels there.

7: San Diego Business Journal reported that San Francisco-based Bizness Apps planned to move to San Diego in April 2016. The idea of the company bringing nearly 100 jobs with it made it one of our most popular posts.

6: Say the word "Dunkin" and most everyone will respond with "Donuts!" The famous food chain was spotted in National City in July 2016. When we let our users know the new location was not only opening but included a drive thru window - well, let's just say the interest was extraordinary.

5: It wasn't a first for the historic landmark but when a new buyer stepped in to purchase the Hotel del Coronado, San Diegans wanted to know more. Our March 2016 piece about the Blackstone Group selling Strategic Hotels & Resorts to a Chinese firm for $6.5 billion made our list of most popular business news for 2016.

4: After an 11-year career with the NFL (including 3 with the San Diego Chargers) Cory Withrow, debuted The King’s Craft Coffee Co. in Poway. The September 2016 story really caught our users' attention and came in as our fourth most popular post of the year.

3: Third in our most popular local business stories is an article about a new system of electronic signs and traffic signal meters that will allow drivers to quickly get around major accidents clogging up Interstate 15. The system went into effect in April. Here’s Artie Ojeda explaining what it means for commuters:  

2: Mention The Cravory and chances are you’ll get a craving for a sugary treat. When we reported about the new shop opening in the Bressi Ranch Village Center (2629 Gateway Rd.) in Carlsbad, it was our second most popular article. Here's the piece from August 2016:

1: The most popular item in our Local Business Spotlight for 2016 was a look at the Seaport Village proposals. The Port of San Diego was reviewing six proposals for developments spanning 70 acres of prime property along downtown San Diego’s waterfront. When renderings of the proposals were released in June, San Diegans wanted to take a look!  

San Diego R&B songstress Andra Day continued her meteoric rise to the top of the music world with a stellar performance at the 39th annual Kennedy Center Honors in Washington D.C, which were held on Dec. 4 and later aired on CBS Dec. 27.

The star-studded gala -- which celebrated 2016 Kennedy Center honorees singer/songwriter James Taylor, rock group the Eagles, actor/director Al Pacino, Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich, and soul singer Mavis Staples -- hosted a rapt audience including President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Sean Penn, Don Cheadle, Yo-Yo Ma, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Goldblum, Ringo Starr, and Itzhak Perlman, among others.

Every year, Kennedy Center honorees are chosen for their lifetime contributions to U.S. culture through music, dance, theater, opera, film or television.

The yearly black-tie events often feature musical medleys performed by other well-known acts and this year’s was no different: Bob Seger, the Kings of Leon, Vince Gill and Juanes performed some of the Eagles’ biggest hits; Sheryl Crow, Garth Brooks and Darius Rucker paid tribute to James Taylor; and Day, along with Elle King and Bonnie Raitt, honored Staples by singing some of her most renowned tracks.

Highlighting Staples’ contributions to the civil rights movement, Day and Raitt performed an electrifying duet of “We Shall Not Be Moved” and “Freedom Highway.”

The Kennedy Center Honors performance caps off a spectacular 2016 for Day -- which found her receiving two Grammy Award nominations, selling out a nationwide tour, and duetting with Alicia Keys on the Fox TV program “Taraji’s White Hot Christmas” (not to mention being named our Artist of the Year in our 2016 SoundDiego Music Awards). 

A former Versace employee has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the company, alleging it uses a code word to alert workers when black shoppers enter the store.

Christopher Sampino, 23, says he was fired from the Versace outlet store in Livermore, California, after two weeks despite meeting and "exceeding expectations." 

Sampino accuses the company of training him and other workers to use the code "D410" or hold up a black colored shirt when a black person entered the store, the lawsuit alleges. "D410" is the same code used for black-colored items of clothing, the suit states.

He alleges to have complained about the discrimination during new employee training, telling a manager "You know that I'm African-American?" In the lawsuit, Sampiro self-identifies as one-quarter African American. 

The lawsuit claims after the revelation he was denied proper training and rest breaks, and was fired because "he didn't understand luxury."

Sampino is suing for damages and unpaid wages. He earned $13 an hour and worked 40 hours a week. His lawyers, Michael Robert Hoffman and Stephen Noel Ilg, said that he is owed $59,800 in back pay and other monetary losses, $25,000 for emotional distress, and at least $100,000 for "race-related" punitive damages. The attorneys noted they should also be paid $65,000 in attorney fees.

In a statement, Versace denies the allegations and attorney Joseph Alan Schwachter said the company plans to file for dismissal.

"We do not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, national origin or any other characteristic protected by our civil rights laws," the statement says.

The suit was filed Dec. 16 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, although a version of the allegations was first filed in Alameda County Superior Court on Nov. 16, before it moved to federal court.

According to court documents, Judge Kandis A. Westmore ordered the case be assigned to an Alternative Dispute Resolution. The first case management conference is scheduled for March 21.

An inmate found critically injured in his cell at a San Diego prison on Christmas Day died Tuesday, and officials say his cellmate is the suspect in the possible homicide.

On Wednesday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) confirmed that inmate Robert Charleston, 36, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) in Otay Mesa on Dec. 25.

Staffers found Charleston just before 9:30 p.m.; he was taken to a local hospital where he died two days later.

The CDCR said the case is being investigated as a possible homicide.

Officials at RJD have determined Charleston’s cellmate, Michael LaBrunda, 42, is the suspect involved in the inmate’s death. LaBrunda is currently being housed in the prison’s Administrative Segregation Unit while the case is under investigation.

According to the CDCR, LaBrunda, of Los Angeles County, has been imprisoned since April 19, 2012. He is serving a 50-year to life sentence for one count of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder.

Charleston – who also came to the CDCR from Los Angeles County and was booked on Aug. 20, 2009 – was serving a 14-year sentencing for resisting and deterring an officer with threats and violence. He was slated to parole in January 2020, the CDCR said.

The investigation into the inmate’s death behind bars is ongoing. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the San Diego County Coroner’s Office are aiding in the investigation. The CDCR said the Office of the Inspector General was notified of the inmate’s death.

The RJD, which opened in 1987, houses approximately 3,000 minimum- to-high-security inmates and employs 1,850 people.

The prison made headlines earlier this month after a group of inmates somehow filmed their own version of the “Mannequin Challenge” behind bars, which wound up being posted online. The video showed inmates holding cellphones, which are not allowed in prison. Officials said that incident was also under investigation.