investigation. but we are confirming it was found inside the mall. >> reporter: westfield management issued this statement saying the center is open and operating normally and we are cooperating fully with the investigation. now the mall hours are 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on the website. so the call came in shortly after the mall opened. the investigation still very active and homicide detectives are asking anyone who might have been here and saw anything this morning, anything suspicious, to contact them. that is the very latest, reporting live here in san francisco, lonnie rivera, abc 7 news. >> thank you very much. a contra costa man accused of killing his wife was charged with murder and torture today. the murder and torture charges mean 69-year-old john tourcharia could be eligible for the death penalty. they arrested the former baseball player after finding his wife dead the night before at their home in black hawk.

the gated community is near danville. she died of blunt trauma to the head and filed for legal separation last year. federal agents and local police believe they've made a break in solving multiple crimes in the east bay, including crime as long highway 4 following the arrest of 24 people suspected of belonging to the norteno street gang. fbi agents led a task force that teamed up for ten weeks and then efforts culminated last week when more than 250 officers captured the suspects while searching 21 different houses. >> they say the statistics are that 10% of the people commit 90% of the crime and if you get the right people in custody, the shootings go down. >> i guarantee you that the individuals that are up there, that we arrested on august 3rd were involved in violence and that is why they are in custody today. >> contra costa prosecutors believe the gang members cruised the delta in this boat bought with profits from selling illegal drugs.

tonight cal fire investigators have released what they believe is the cause ever a deadly fire -- of a deadly fire that started last september burning more than 76,000 acres in the so-called valley fire. john bloom is live in middletown with new information released today. >> reporter: investigators told us they believe that this all started because of a hot tub. they say a homeowner in the hills just north of here in the town of cobb admitted he tried to install the wiring for that tub himself. even cop fessed that it -- confessed it wasn't working quite right. now investigators say he could face charged after they determine the hot tub is the reason why all over this this county you see a white picket fence surrounding an empty lot where someone's home used to be. >> there was rumors about the cause of the fire and that it was a pot farm, a hash oil lab or a meth lab and somebody intentionally started the fire. >> but the rumors proved to be fault. >> they've determined that the

valley fire was caused by faulty residential electrical connection. >> what is now the third most destructive fire in california history looks to be caused by what is called a sub stan ard wiring job on a home on high valley road. >> there was electrical conduit or conductors outside and that heated up and ignited the grass. >> reporter: they say that sparked a fire that spread so rapidly four firefighters were seriously injured in the first few hours and four other people lost their lives as it tore through the hills destroying 1300 homes. >> at the same time, it will be turned over to my legal staff to determine whether or not a crime has been committed. >> reporter: the district attorney has a month to file merchandise charges and up to two years if it is a felony but starting a fire is not automatically a crime. >> criminal laws beyond negligence and it has to be gross negligence or recklessness to constitute the crime. >> in all of the evidence there

was one thing missing. >> there is a permit required and to our knowledge we were unable to locate or identify a permit on file. >> reporter: local leaders hope assigning blame doesn't distract from the work of rebuilding. >> we have a lot of work to do. we have years to recover and we need to stay focused on that. >> reporter: in middletown, jonathan bloom, abc 7 news. authorities have arrested a geyserville woman they say purposely set more than a dozen fires in sonoma fires this week. last night someone spotted a woman setting fire along sags spring road. she claimed her boyfriend dropped her off and setting fires so someone would come and help her. she set 13 fires that burned two acres and arrested for arson and possession of ammunition. one man is dead and a woman in serious condition following a violent head-on collision. a honda accord driven by a 41-year-old man from vacaville veered into oncoming traffic on

alexander valley road and narrowly missed one car and slammed into a 2012 kia driven by 41-year-old mooree vol can of woodland and firefighters had to free her from the vehicle and investigators don't know why the man veered into traffic or whether drugs or alcohol were involved. >> an amtrak train headed to los angeles hit and killed a person walking on the tracks in south san jose this morning. sky 7 hd was over the scene after it happened along monterey road and skyway drive. the victim died at the scene. the coast star light train originated in seattle and had 239 passengers on board. none of them were hurt. the train resumed the trip after an investigation. a single engine cessna with a student pilot at the controls overran the runway at reed hillview airport in san jose this morning. sky 7 hd shows you the four-seater crashed through a fence and stopped on nearby tele road. the pilot and instructor walked away unharmed. it happened during a flight lesson.

the plane was towed back to the airport. it looks look a medical plane that crashed on the way to oakland last month broke up mid-flight. a preliminary report from the ntsb said both engines separated from the compartments. debris from the plane was found north of mckinleyville in humboldt county and taken off from crescent city. the pilot declared an emergency because of smoke in the cockpit when he lost contact. tonight the san bruno city manager believes the guilty verdicts against pg&e mean justice was serve and adds the utility put profit over safety but many residents in the neighborhood, the epicenter of the explosion and fire that killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes, are not happy with yesterday's verdict. abc 7 news vic lee is there live with the story. >> reporter: well, dan, most of the folks we spoke with here at the neighborhood, the epicenter of the fire, who are disappointed with the verdict believe the fine, the $3 million, is simply a drop in the bucket for such a large

utility company. but the city's position has always been that this was never about money. that they wanted pg&e held accountable for what happened here and they believe the guilty verdicts do that. >> it was an entirely man-made disaster. one that resulted from negligent decision making and actions by pg&e cooperate executives over six decades. >> reporter: the city manager connie jackson minced no words. it has been almost six years since the fire and explosion took eight lives and destroyed 38 homes. the city of san bruno fought tooth and nail against pg&e. fighting to bring the corporate utility giant to justice. the federal jury verdict -- guilty to six criminal counts of violating the federal pipeline safety law, including one count of obstructing the investigation. san mateo county attorney steve

wagstaff interpreted the decision this way. >> you are held accountable. you are a company that is properly described as felons. >> reporter: pg&e now faces fines of up to $3 million. at the last minute, federal prosecutors backed off, asking for hundreds of millions in penalties. in the evidence, which the da has seen, did not support prosecuting the company's executives. >> you know how it works. the fingers point. i was just following directions or i didn't know what was going on down there. >> somebody should be charged and held responsible for murder of everybody that died. >> reporter: tammy echoed the sentiments of many who live in the neighborhood near the epicenter of the explosion. while not commenting directly on the verdict, pg&e said it won't forget the lessons of the past and that they are fully committed to safety. vic lee, abc 7 news. a san francisco paramedic accused of setting off an explosive in front of his

neighbor's home has been ordered into an alcohol and drug treatment program after missing a case date. he went in for a make-up hearing after facing 26 felonies including skploes exploding a device with intent to cause injury. he pled not guilty. they believe it is related to a parking dispute with the neighbor. screams in sunnyvale. a crosswalk turning terrifying until a bystander rushes in to help. >> i realized this guy was assaulting her. >> i do feel like we don't belong here. >> also ahead, protesting and patience pay off. the new safe space for african-american students. plus the meteor shower that is about to reach a 1-year peak. and why these pittsburg police officers are ready to play ball. >> more to get to. stay with us. california's clean air laws are working.

we've cut toxic pollution. we're seeing fewing cases of asthma in kids. and the new clean energy economy has created more than half a million jobs. i'm tom steyer. just when we're making progress, the oil companies are trying to weaken our clean air laws. but we can stop them. send them a message. we're going to protect our kids - not their profits. ♪

a sunnyvale man is being called a hero for stopping a sexual assault in progress during the day on thursday in a busy crosswalk at the intersection of vuny vail and evelyn avenue. melanie woodrow spoke with the man who held the suspect until police got there. it is a story you will see only on 7. >> it was about here where we heard the girl scream. >> reporter: brian and his girlfriend were about to get a massage when screams for help stopped them in the path. >> just a few feet off the sidewalk. >> reporter: it was 4:00 p.m. on thursday in this busy crosswalk at sunnyvale and evelyn as cars and other people went by, brian went into action. >> scanned him for weapons. >> he pulled this man off a petite woman as he was thursting

himself on her. >> here is where i stuck my foot out and i tripped him over me and he fell on to his back. >> reporter: brian said he pinned him down until police arrived. >> i do security to so it was second nature that i acted. >> that is heoic to make that decision but sometimes the circumstances could not work out for the best but in this circumstance it worked out for the past. >> i asked him if he did that before and he said he had and gotten away with it. >> and we've looked and right now we can't find anything that matched. >> the d.a. office said he is charged with felony assault and done with sex un intent and assault with intent to commit a felony and that felony being rape. he is being held on $65,000 bail. >> the family did mention there is a possibility of a history of mental illness. >> hope he gets the help he

needs. >> reporter: brian would do it again if it happened today. in sunnyvale, abc 7 news. the search for a missing hiker in north korern californis been called off after a volunteer was shot. steve wolf is recovering from a bullet wound to the hip as part of a search team looking for a 75-year-old man missing for seven days it happened near the town of washington in the digins historic state park. so far no motive and no gunman has been found. after more than a year of negotiations, the black student union at cal will have its own resource center. it is one of the demands put forward to help african-american students on campus. leen mel mel has the story. >> reporter: home to the new resource center for black students at cal. it will be named after fannie lou hamer who helped african-american register to vote. >> it is a place to come together and feel comfortable with one another and have a safe

space to discuss things and just have a bigger sense of communities. >> reporter: black students represent 3% of the student body here. for years most african-american students have felt there isn't a place for them to meet and stay connected. the california voter approved proposition 209 banned race-based admissions. since then, california has seen the number of african-americans decline. >> i do feel like we don't belong here. but you have to cross barriers to make a difference. >> reporter: having the center was the most important demand by the black student union more than 15 months ago. >> there have some that have been address and some completely ignored. >> reporter: one of the most controversial demands is the renaming of barrows hall. he was a former cal president who is said to have supported colonialism. ironic because it happens to be home of the african-american studies program. the bsu wants the university to rename it a shot of shackir

hall, a convicted black panther who escaped from prison and sought asylum in cuba. the the university said the dialogue continues. in the meantime, the center will open in the fall completely renovated and furnished. abc 7 news. two recalls and a new warning about a phone scam. >> seven on your side michael finney is here with all of it for you. >> a lot going on for you. the city of calistoga is issue a warning about a phone scam from migrants. they receive a call from 911 and the caller is from the department of homeland security or u.s. immigration. then they threaten the victim on one of two ways. that their alien ren administration number is out -- registration number is out of status or they owe money for a warrant. they are told not to hang up or dial 911.

>>, then they will be arrested. if you get a call like this, hang up and call your local law enforcement agency. if you are sitting in a swivel chair made by hampton bay, get up. it may be recalled. more than 280 hampton bay fall river swivel dining and lounge chairs have been recalled because of a fall hazard. there have been more than 400 reports of the chair breaking during normal use, during 16 reports of injuries and they are sold at home depot. we have more information on the recall at abc7news.com. another massive recall this afternoon from fiat chrysler. the automatic is recalling -- the automaker is recalling 500,000 vehicles equipped with a confusion gear shifter. we told you about it. the action comes six monthsar a similar recall linked to one death and 68 injuries and hundreds of crashes. the vehicles are equipped with the nine speed automatic transmission include model year

2014 and 15 jeep cherokee and 2015 chrysler 200 and the jeep renegade and ram pro master. we'll put all of this information on our website to check it out if one of these cars are yours. back to you. former oakland slugger conseco finds himself in the headlines again. this after his car was broken into at a hotel in pittsburg. he started for oaklandond three straight teams from 1988 to 1990. the 52-year-old now plays for the pittsburg diamonds, an independent minor league. these two men were found with two bats belonging to conseco. he tweeted his thanks to the two officers who got the bat and said the guys who rescued my bats. >> and they are indeed exactly that. and let's turn to the accuweather forecast. a gorgeous day around the bay area. >> great for baseball or any kind of game out there.

>> that is right. it is that kind of weather where you could enjoy a nice baseball game. and out here, as i look along theembarcadero, people are out and about in shorts and t-shirts. a nice day. let me show you live doppler 7 hd, we'll keep it for tomorrow and change it up on friday and saturday when it gets hot inland. live doppler 7 hd sewing you the low clouds and fog hugging the coastline. from the santa cruz camera. >> cou you could see people are enjoy the beach and haze in the hair from the fire. smoke from the fire along with the smog will create poor air quality for thursday in the inland east bay and the rest of you moderate so a spare the air alert for thursday. and some of the smoke from fire burning around the state affecting the lake tahoe area and visibility is not good. 62 in san francisco. 67 in oakland. and 80 in th is. mountainview, half moon bay 67

degrees. and we are watching a 2,000 foot marine layer and again with us tomorrow and awrong the coastline not to hot. 76 in santa rosa. 72 napa. 88 in livermore. upper 80 toss low 90s along the coast and upper 50s to low 60s. and from the emeryville camera we're watching the fog roll in. overnight fog, hazy skies tomorrow and a spare the air alert has been issued and heating up on friday and saturday. tomorrow morning when you get going for the commute, you will notice the clouds around the coast and the bay. most areas starting out in the 50s. now as the day goes on, you will notice what is going to happen to the marine layer. so 5:00 a.m., quite a bit of coverage around the coast and the bay in terms of over cast skies but as we head into 10:00 a.m., the bay and inland is clear and along the coastline we hang on to the cloud cover to keep you foreman you and if yo don't like it too sunny, that is where to go. in the south bay, hazy and 85.

gilroy and morgan hill and 84 in san jose. 65 santa cruz, 23479 sunnyvale. on the peninsula nice. 76 redwood city. pacifica 59 and foggy with daly city in the upper 50s. 67 downtown san francisco. north bay, 80 napa, santa rosa 58 at bodega bay and staying cool and cloudy. in the east bay. 69 berkeley. 70 in fremont. temperatures like today. hazy and warm around livermore and antioch. 89 degrees. 86 in walnut creek. we do have a meteor shower peaking on thursday and friday. it is the perseid shower and they are estimating double the amount of meteors per hour. 200 per hour. look northeast between midnight and dawn. so we are coming up on the peak the next few morns, late night and morning hours. the accuweather seven-day forecast, hazy sunshine and upper 50s 0 to low 90 the on

thursday. the best chance to catch the% said is inland. mid-90s on friday and then turning up the seat on saturday, almost 100 inland and low 60s coast side and temperatures drop down to the mid-90s for the second half of the weekend into next week. and low 60s along the coastline so we'll have our summer spread with us. we do have quite a show coming up. so stay tuned, kristen and dan. >> thanks. quite a show, take a look at this amazing photo from mt. tam. hey ingle catched it during a mother's day shoot. share your pikes on social media with the hashtag abc 7 now. >> up next, the blue whirl, the new fire that could have big implications, that is on world news with david muir. >> breaking news, coming up, tense moments for hillary clinton, secret service rushing the stage. and the wife and retired librarian shot and killed by accident during a police drill. a possible tornado reported late today and the man climbing trump

tower. police watching the pictures coming in right after abc 7 news. david, thanks a lot. new at 6:00, from michael finney, how a special brand of travel insurance proved to be a life saver for a man traveled on mt. everest by a

authorities in the south bay are looking for two suspects involved in a burglary at a building belonging to apple. a security guard spotted three people stealing laptops from one of the buildings in cupertino at 4:20 this morning. the trio hopped into a getaway car and led police on a chase in san jose and authorities eventually captured the driver at a starbucks nearby. his two alleged accomplices are still on the loose. and an equally strange chase from the peninsula to the east bay went on for three hour this is morning. it began in menlo park around 2:30. police tried to pull the driver

over for possible dui. the suspect backed up and instead tried to run over the officers. that officer was not hurt. at one point the driver even dangled garden sheers -- it looks like a sword, they were stuck out the woepd and the chase ended at 5:30 in the oakland hills when officers fired nonlethal bean bags at the windows. the man was taken to a nearby hospital. there is a discovery of a new bird species. only one catchch it is skinks. two fly catchers should be elevated to full species status. but one of those newly recognized species hasn't been seen in its home, the galapagos islands for nearly 30 years. you are looking at a new and eekal friendly way to clean up

oil spills. researchers showed their work with fire tornados. they've developed something called a blue coral, that is a flame that burned cleaner than yellow flames and produces less smoke and fewer harmful particles and now they contain the task of controlling the flames outside of the lab. a little practical application. >> go fly a kite takes on a whole new meaning. >> coming up, one guy suddenly earps the

california's clean air laws we've cut toxic pollution. we're seeing fewing cases of asthma in kids. and the new clean energy economy has created more than half a million jobs. i'm tom steyer. just when we're making progress, the oil companies are trying

to weaken our clean air laws. but we can stop them. send them a message. we're going to protect our kids - not their profits. ♪ i'm daama daetz, coming up, mom's turn from pain to power and what she is doing after the tragic berkeley balcony collapse. and a costly mistake. a solar array is being constructed on a possible native american burial site and the steps being taken right now. all of that and much more in

just half an hour on abc 7 news at 6:00. >> we'll see you then. in mary poppins they sing let's go fly a kite. >> but for one man, the kite really ended up flying him. >> the wind was blowing strong in scotland. daniel simpson put his strength to the test and in this video up loaded to you tube you could see him lying on the grass. >> he is holding on to the handle of the kite and his buddy is 40 feet away and watch what happened when his friend said let go. >> you can hear him taking the video and giggling about what happened. he flies 20 feet across the ground before landing and getting drags across the grass more. >> everybody thought it was a funny. one guy who saw the clip said the kite was one size too large for the wind. could you imagine if that were a little kid. >> it would have taken off. funny if you are watching not but so much if you are hanging on.

>> exactly. world news tonight is next. i'm kristen zse. >> and i'm dan ashley. for you will of us, we tonight, breaking news. tense moments on the campaign trail. the secret service rushes the stage at a hillary clinton rally. as donald trump tonight stands by his words aimed at, quote, second amendment people, that they could do something. and late today, this image. a man climbing trump tower. police watching. also tonight, the police officer who discharged a live round during a practice drill, killing a wife, a retired librarian. the news conference late today. severe weather at this hour. a tornado just confirmed here in the northeast. and the flood worries tonight across the south. the webcam warning. parents who thought they were protecting their twin daughters, strangers then hacking into that camera. gold rush. michael phelps, and that moment with his rival. the story behind it. and the mystery solved tonight.