Friends and family came together for a vigil for Shyheim Samuel in Derby on Friday.

The 20-year-old was killed after a car crash in Seymour on Tuesday, which left five others hurt.

“Every day you wake up hoping it’s a dream and it’s not. The closer you get to finding out what happened, the more it hurts,” Chuck Albea, a family member, said.

Police believe Samuel had been a passenger in a sedan loaded with five other people.

Officers say the car crashed into a utility pole in Seymour on Tuesday night; live power lines fell and trapped people inside.

Samuel who turned twenty-years-old the day before died.

“It was one of our own. So it’s been tough, it’s been tough for the community,” Pastor Dennis Marroquin of New Beginnings Church of God, said.

That’s why Marroquin organized a vigil which marched from his church to the family’s home a few blocks away in Derby.

Samuel had been part of a large and tight-knit family.

“Humble, quiet, always said, "Hello", "Yes, sir." He was raised right,” Marroquin said.

Organizers hoped to calm people’s anger; a previous vigil for Samuel had ended with someone firing a gun.

Thankfully no one was hurt.

Friday was simply a heart-wrenching release; as a family began to say goodbye.

“Parents shouldn’t have to bury their own child. That’s the hardest thing,” Albea said.

Police suspect speed was a factor in Tuesday’s crash and charges are expected.

The other victims – ages 14 to 22 – were treated for serious injuries but were expected to survive.

An arrest has been made in connection with the case of murdered jogger Vanessa Marcotte after investigators matched the suspect's DNA to evidence found at the scene, authorities announced Saturday.

Authorities confirmed Worcester resident Angelo Colon Ortiz, 31, was taken into police custody in connection with the case Friday night. He was charged with aggravated assault and battery and assault with attempt to rape. He is currently being held at Massachusetts State Police barracks in Millbury on $10 million bail.

"We got him," Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said Saturday afternoon during authorities' official announcement. Sources confirmed the arrest earlier in the day.

The DNA match linking Ortiz to the Marcotte case came back Friday afternoon. DA Early said an alert state trooper in Worcester saw a man and a car that matched the Marcotte murder suspect's description, and did a cheek DNA swab test that eventually led to Ortiz's arrest.

Although Ortiz has not been formally charged with murder yet, Early said he anticipates a murder charge soon, and referenced Ortiz as Marcotte's "killer." He also said Ortiz worked in the area and "had been for some time."

Marcotte, a 27-year-old former Google employee, was killed while jogging near her mother's house on Aug. 7, 2016. She lived in New York City but was in Princeton, Massachusetts, visiting her family for the weekend.

She left her mother's home on Brooks Station Road to go for a run but never returned.

Her body was found in a remote, wooded area a half mile away later that evening. Police said her body was naked and partially burned. There were also signs that she had struggled with her attacker.

State police detectives and local police previously said they received more than 1,300 tips in the case.

Meanwhile, Princeton residents said they're relieved to hear a suspect has been arrested in the case.

"I think everyone just wants justice for her, so maybe that can start and a little bit of healing can start maybe," one woman said.

Ortiz is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday in Leominster District Court.

A police officer's arm got caught on a fence while he tried to chase down a potential suspect in the Bronx, severely injuring him, police said Saturday.

The plainclothes officer witnessed a drug transaction inside the Mitchel housing project near 138th Street and Willis Avenue in Mott Haven, according to authorities.

As he chased down the suspect Friday night, he got caught on a fence and severely injured his arm, the NYPD said. He was taken to Lincoln Hospital, where he underwent surgery and remained in stable condition Saturday morning.

There were no arrests.

The City of Poway will soon be unveiling a statue of their most famous citizen --baseball legend Tony Gwynn, also known as Mr. Padre.

A bronze statue, designed by Texas artist Seth Vandable, will be unveiled on May 9, which was Gwynn's birthday.

Poway broke ground on the Tony Gwynn Memorial in July, 2016.

The city hosted a benefit concert last year to kick off a fundraiser for the project. 

A donor wall will accompany the statue with recognizing those who donated at least $250. 

The unveiling and dedication will start at 10:30 a.m. on May 9 in Poway, San Diego County.

Former Palm Beach Gardens middle school teacher Corey Perry, who shot himself in a Nashville hotel room today, has died. Multiple sources confirmed his identity to NBC 6 affiliate, WPTV.

A federal arrest warrant was issued March 28 for Perry, 33, for the production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography and enticement.

Nashville Metro Police confirmed that they responded to a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Delux Inn at 3:40 p.m. Friday. The FBI suspected that Perry might be in Nashville, where he has relatives.

The FBI released the following statement:

During the investigation of this matter in the Nashville, TN, area this afternoon, FBI agents approached an individual for questioning when the individual took his own life. No law enforcement personnel were injured. Until local authorities make a positive identification of the deceased and notify next of kin, no further information is available.

Earlier this week, the FBI posted a reward up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the former H.L. Watkins Middle School teacher and coach.

He was last seen in Fort Lauderdale on March 26 around 2:45 p.m., according to the FBI.

His rental vehicle was found in Fort Lauderdale with the doors unlocked and the keys in the ignition on April 7, the FBI said.

Perry was a teacher and coached basketball at H. L. Watkins Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens. He also is credited with launching the Robotics and Engineering Academy at the school where he was even recognized by the governor for his efforts.

This story is courtesy of our news partner WPTV.

An employee at a Yonkers movie theater was stabbed to death during an argument early Saturday, police said.

The 19-year-old worker allegedly got into a fight with the suspect in the theater lobby, then was stabbed in the chest with a knife shortly after midnight, police said.

The suspect fled the Ridge Hill movie theater on Fitzgerald Street. Officers found the knife on the scene, police said. 

Detectives say the men may have known each other.

Police didn't release the victim's name, but his brother-in-law identified him as Daij Thomas of Yonkers.

The victim was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance, where authorities said he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

The area surrounding the theater was cordoned off as detectives from the Yonkers Police Department's Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Unit interviewed witnesses and searched the crime scene. Police recovered a weapon at the scene.

Authorities believe the suspect is about 20 years old and 6 feet tall with a thin build.

Anyone with information regarding the stabbing is asked to call the Yonkers Police Detective Division at (914) 377-7724.

Some people living in the District don't own dogs or cats -- but chickens. The law about owning chickens is currently unclear, but D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed banning chickens as pets. News4's Tom Sherwood spoke to chicken owners who say chickens are perfectly safe to keep in the city.

In what has become an eerily familiar scene in Berkeley, supporters and detractors of President Donald Trump on Saturday exchanged blows, burned flags, and set off fireworks at opposing rallies, resulting in at least 13 arrests, police said.

The political divisiveness reflected across the United States took the form of a makeshift barrier erected between the two equally impassioned factions. The barrier, however, failed to keep the skirmishes at bay.

About 200 people gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park around 10 a.m. on Tax Day as did Berkeley police officers — in riot gear. Before long, attendees of the "Patriot's Day" rally and Antifa-organized counter protest had exchanged heated words and several people had started pushing each other. Police quickly arrested one man. Others were arrested as several fistfights broke out. 

Police initially reported 15 arrests, but later tweeted out a correction. Social media posts indicated that Kyle Chapman aka Based StickMan or Alt-Knight was among those who were arrested. The 41-year-old man was also taken into custody at "March 4 Trump" last month for bashing an Antifa protester in the head with a stick. It's unclear what got him arrested Saturday.

"There continues to be a number of large fights, some property damage and numerous projectiles being thrown, including fireworks," Berkeley police wrote in a Nixle announcement. 

Social media posts described a "small blast," the use of tear gas and pepper spray, fireworks being lit, and a man covering his eyes as blood covered his hands and dripped down his face. 

Photographs from the scene  showed people clad in "Make America Great Again" sweatshirts and flags and others with their faces hidden behind helmets and masks. Flags read "Anti-fascist anti-racist," "Free speech" and "Fascist scum your time is done."

As of 12:18 p.m., Allston Way between Milvia Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way was blocked, as the protest moved from the park to the streets. As protesters swarmed the area, police urged residents to avoid the area of Center and Miliva streets. Soon the warning extended to include Shattuck Avenue and Center streets.

NBC Bay Area's SkyRanger captured people burning flags — with one man posing for a selfie beside the torched cloth — and others punching each other and using helmets and skateboards as weapons. Demonstrators were also seen tipping over a garbage can and igniting its contents. 

In order to prevent a bloody riot, city leaders had announced that pipes, bats, bricks, rocks, glass bottles, shields, pepper spray, sticks, and other potentially dangerous items were not allowed at the park during the rallies. 

Toward that end, police checked backpacks before allowing them into the park. Even so, they tweeted that officers had confiscated a knife, a stun gun, flagpoles, and other contraband.

Berkeley police were forced to call in Alameda County sheriff's deputies for backup as rocks and bottles were launched at officers and many were assaulted, according to Twitter. 

The downtown Berkeley BART station was also closed.

A weekly farmers market at the Berkeley park was called off amid the scheduled political protests, according to reports.

Saturday's rallies follow a "March 4 Trump" rally and violent protests when controversial speaker Milo Yiannopoulos came to the UC Berkeley campus.

Dozens of students in Woodbridge gave up their Saturday to give back by raising money and awareness for the bone marrow registry called Be the Match.

“Even though there’s over ten million people on the registry already there’s still cancer patients that do not have matches and it’s important that we understand that we’re able to help," Amity High School Senior Lillian Zhang said.

“Many of these patients are receiving chemo and radiations to kind of kill off a lot of the cells in their bodies and these donations are actually used to help take over their bodies and new immune systems," said Jon DeCasanova of Be the Match.

Zhang founded the Amity High School “Give a Spit Club,” two years ago.

“When you donate marrow the first step is to swab and so you have to donate saliva cells, and so that’s why it’s Give a Spit," Zhang explained.

Members of the club started planning Saturday's 5K run and walk in September. Nearly 100 people registered and more than $2,000 was raised.

“Very proud of these students. I mean you can just see their drive and motivation," said Amity High School Advisor Deborah Day.

Before the race, some runners even added their own names to the marrow donor registry.

“It’s just a simple cheek swab on site usually and a little bit of paperwork to get into the registry," DeCasanova demonstrated.

Cynthia Campos of Orange ran in honor of her friend’s daughter Briana.

“She’s been so incredibly brave and inspiring," said Campos.

The New Jersey 12-year-old is in her second battle with leukemia. Campos hoped someone the race would wind up being the girls match.

She and her family have had trouble finding a match because there aren’t many minorities on the registry. So, it’s important for folks that are part of the Hispanic community to recognize and become aware of the need for them to become part of the registry," said Campos.

DeCasanova said that Be the Match is also focused on getting more minorities signed up in the registry.

“Patients that unfortunately have blood cancers like leukemias and lymphomas and some blood disease such as sickle cell or a plastic anemia, this can be their cure," said Jon DeCasanova of Be the Match.

Campos said her goal isn’t to cross the finish line first, but to help Briana finish her fight against cancer.

State police arrested a man on drunk driving charges and seized a gun during a traffic stop in Killingly early Saturday morning.

Brent Walker, 31, of Danielson, faces charges of operating under the influence of alcohol, driving the wrong way on a divided highway, reckless endangerment, and carrying a dangerous weapon.

Police said that troopers pulled Walker over around 3:15 a.m. on I-395 near exit 38 because he was driving the wrong direction on the highway. Walker failed field sobriety tests, police said. Troopers also found a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol and two fully loaded magazines during the traffic stop.

Walker was arrested and issued a $2,500 bond. He is scheduled to appear in Danielson Superior Court on April 26.

Hartford firefighters jumped into action to help rescue a goose that got stuck in a storm drain at Bushnell Park Saturday.

The department said in a Facebook post that firefighters, along with the Department of Public Works and Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, all responded to rescue the bird and nurse it back to health.

Many of the accused teachers in the Choate Rosemary Hall sexual abuse report were able to get other teaching jobs after leaving the elite boarding school in Wallingford.

The superintendent of Regional School District 6 in Litchfield posted a letter to the community on Friday saying that the district was recently notified that the Wamogo Regional High School principal the district hired last summer is one of the accused.

According to the 50 page report, former students at Choate reported that Jaime Rivera-Murillo came onto a 15-year-old female student.

Witnesses also reported seeing Rivera force himself on a 17-year-old student at a pool. That student told school administrators that he performed anal sex on her.

Rivera's employment was terminated but the accusations were never reported to the state. According to the report, Rivera was later hired as an administrator at Newtown Public Schools. The report says he worked there for eight years.

When Regional District 6 was notified of the investigation in March they said they confronted Rivera. He denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, and did not return to Wamogo. On April 6, he officially resigned, according to the district's website.

"Region 6 was unaware that Mr. Rivera had ever worked at Choate Rosemary Hall School since his employment at the school was neither included on his job application nor revealed through subsequent follow-up on his work history prior to him being hired. The fact that any school would not report alleged sexual abuse to Department of Children and Families and law enforcement is alarming. Inaction by others has put Wamogo and Region 6 in an untenable situation, a situation that is unfair to our students, parents, and community," Litchfield's superintendent, Edward Drapp, said in a statement.

Two former students who graduated before Rivera was hired said they were shocked.

“It’s actually kind of terrifying. I wouldn’t have expected that. I feel like it should be some kind of background check that should have gone through for that. It should have been somewhere. They should know that," said Faith Healy of Harwinton.

“I’m really surprised actually. I think it’s kind of ridiculous that they would hide something that and then hire someone who’s accused of something like that," said Megan Moore of Torrington.

The district has been on spring break this week, and will return on Monday with counselors for the students.

Rivera could not be reached for comment, but no charges have been filed.

The Wallingford Police Department confirmed that it have received a copy of the report and is looking into whether charges can be filed in any of the cases or if the statute of limitations has expired.

Firefighters are battling a brush fire in a remote section of Giuffrida Park in Meriden.

Firefighters on scene said that as of 5:30 p.m. the fire was contained, but not out. The flames burned about eight acres and spread quickly due to high winds and dry conditions.

Between 25 to 30 firefighters from multiple departments responded. Crews had to use ATVs and four-wheel drive vehicles to reach the fire.

No injuries were reported. The cause is not yet clear.

The Forest Fire Danger Level for Saturday is very high, according to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

This is a developing story.

A U.S. military veteran deported to his home country of Mexico 13 years ago after serving time for a conviction received a full pardon Saturday from California Gov. Jerry Brown.

Hector Barajas was born in Mexico’s Zacatecas state and crossed the border illegally into the United States at age 7. After growing up in the U.S., he served in the U.S. Army from 1995 to 2001 in the 82nd Airborne Division. 

After an honorable discharge from the Army, Barajas had a difficult time adapting to civilian life. He developed a substance abuse problem. He was in a car when a firearm was discharged and was convicted for the crime of shooting at an inhabited vehicle.

In early July 2002, Barajas was sentenced in the Superior Court of the State of California, in the County of Los Angeles, for the crime. Barajas served just over one year in prison and the same amount of time on parole. He was released on Sept. 2, 2004, after completing his sentence.

Upon his release, Barajas was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and deported to Nogales, in the Mexican state of Sonora.

In an interview with the Associated Press last month, Barajas described feeling “lost” that moment he found himself back in Mexico. Unsure of how to make a living, the military veteran crossed back into the U.S. six months later.

He was deported again in 2010.

At that point, he moved to Tijuana and founded a place called the Deported Veterans Support House – or “The Bunker” – a place where many deported veterans just like Barajas can get a little bit of help adjusting to their new life as deportees. There, Barajas puts veterans in touch with lawyers, psychologist and job counseling programs.

"I think the hardest part is being separated from their families and their kids," Barajas tells NBC7.

Once settled in Tijuana, Barajas went on to apply for executive clemency in the form of a gubernatorial pardon from the California governor’s office.

Brown granted that pardon on April 15.

“Since his release from custody, [Barajas] has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character and conducted himself as a law abiding citizen,” the governor’s pardon states. “Indeed, Mr. Barajas served in the United States Army and received the Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, among other awards.”

The pardon also mentions the veteran’s work with the Support House and adds that by completion of his sentence and good conduct, Barajas “has paid his debt to society and earned a full and unconditional pardon.”

"I'm not perfect, you know and I will never be perfect," Barajas said. "But I can sure try to prove to the people back home that I'm a better person."

With the pardon, Barajas could now apply for re-entry in to the U.S.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of California has served as an advocate for deported U.S. veterans like Barajas. In addition to requesting pardons for deportees, the ACLU is also supporting legislation at the state and federal level aimed at addressing the problems faced by deported veterans.

The group formed the Honorably Discharged, Dishonorably Deported (HDDD) Coalition in September 2016 to advocate for an end to deportations of U.S. veterans and a pathway home for already deported veterans.

Via the ACLU, Barajas released this statement Saturday, following his pardon.

“There are no words to describe the joy I feel today. I thank God for the grace of Governor Jerry Brown and am eternally grateful to all of those who advocated on my behalf. I have dreamed everyday of returning to the country I love. We have taken a big step forward for deported veterans and their families.”

Barajas also posted a short video on his Facebook page in which he thanked Brown and everyone who has advocated for his pardon:

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"This is huge," he says in the video, smiling and tearing up. "The process will be easier for me to go home to my family. I'm very thankful. I'm still at a loss for words."

San Diego-based politician Nathan Fletcher appeared alongside Barajas in the video and also praised the pardon.

“This is a significant step forward in our efforts and has the potential to make a life-changing difference for these veterans,” he said in a press release from the ACLU. “However, the sad reality is there are hundreds, possibly thousands of others waiting for help. We are renewing our call on Congress and the President to honor its commitment and ensure every soldier comes home.”

Fletcher took to Twitter Saturday to post a photo of him hugging a smiling Barajas as the deported vet looked at his pardon from the governor:

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In the past, Fletcher’s wife – San Diego-based California State Assembly member Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D – 80th District) has proposed a legal fund to help deported vets apply for readmission in the U.S.

Gonzalez Fletcher also expressed joy on social media Saturday on the news of Barajas' pardon:

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Along with the pardon of Barajas, the HDDD also praised Brown for granting full pardons to two other deported California veterans: former U.S. Marines Erasmo Apodaca and Marco Antonio Chavez Medina.

“Brown’s action is historic and represents the first time that a governor has recognized and taken action to address the injustice of deported veterans of the United States armed forces,” said the HDDD. “These pardons help pave the way for the veterans’ eventual return to the country they took an oath to defend.”

According to this March report by the Associated Press, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said it does not have figures on how many deported veterans have requested naturalization and that it considers each petition individually.

Editor's Note: This story previously erroneously reported that Barajas fought in Operation Desert Storm. 

Construction on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge – that connects Groton to New London over the Thames River – is starting this week.

The construction is expected to continue for the next five years.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) said structural steel repairs, concrete deck patching and re-paving will begin on the southbound side of the bridge.

Drivers can expect long-term lane closures and lane shifts through November 2018. The $26 million construction project is starting just in time for the summer tourism season.

"Traffic is just horrendous in the summertime and there's a lot of accidents too in this area,” said Tammy Sisco of Gales Ferry, who drives the bridge often.

"Big jam traffic because people go to work every morning and they have to be there at a certain time,” said Mary Ayala of Norwich.

Possibly starting in spring 2018, the northbound side will see work begin. It’s estimated to cost $250 million dollars, according to CTDOT. Work should begin underneath the bridge. So, traffic will not be impacted initially.

The CTDOT said construction will include replacing the entire bridge deck and strengthening and upgrading the steel.

The northbound side of the bridge was built about 30 years earlier than its southbound counterpart. Updates will bring the structural steel up to current standards to accommodate the cars and trucks on the road.

CTDOT said this type of work is expected to preserve the bridge for years to come.

"I remember they were doing construction in New Haven on that bridge and it just was a dreaded drive for years,” said Keely Dennis of Mystic.

"My folks live in Groton and I live in new London. So it's going to be a lot of back-ups and a lot of patience,” said Cindy Weiner of New London.

A 33-year-old Connecticut woman is dead after a valet accidentally accelerated a car, pinning the victim between two vehicles outside an Atlanta restaurant Saturday.

Fulton County police said that the valet at Einstein's restaurant got out of the vehicle without shutting the engine off. The car started rolling, so the valet jumped back in and tried to stop it, but hit the gas instead of the brake.

Police said that six other people were also hurt but have been released from the hospital.

The victim has not been publicly identified, but friends on scene said she will always be remembered.

"She was a beautiful person. Laughing. Smiling," said Shawn Williams, who was also injured in the accident.

A partner at the restaurant said the independent valet company has been working with them for almost a year.

The victim’s exact cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner.

Connecticut State Police arrested a man caught riding a stolen dirt bike after first spotting him as he rode by troopers while doing wheelies on the highway, according to police.

Police said that around 3 p.m. Saturday troopers were parked on Interstate 84 west near exit 4 helping a driver with a disabled vehicle when two dirt bike riders drove by doing wheelies.

One trooper attempted to stop the dirt bikes but they drove off, exiting off exit 4. police said.

The trooper later caught up with one of the suspects off Mill Plain Road in Danbury. The rider, Jose Javier Garcia-Polanco, 20, of Bethel, was arrested when police discovered the bike he was riding had been reported stolen out of New Milford in 2016.

Garcia-Polanco was charged with third-degree larceny and several motor vehicle charges. He was released on $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 5.

The second dirt bike rider was later found and issued an infraction for motor vehicle violations, police said.

Wolcott police are trying to identify a suspect seen entering a vehicle on surveillance video.

According to police, the suspect entered a vehicle parked in a driveway on Green Ridge Terrace in Wolcott early Saturday morning.

Police are looking to identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Wolcott police at 203-879-1414.

Police departments across Connecticut have issued warnings about vehicle burglaries and thefts. Authorities remind drivers to keep valuables out of sight and to lock their vehicles to reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

Hundreds of pint-sized parishioners dressed in their Sunday best rushed the field at Conard High School in West Hartford looking for Easter eggs this morning.

Calvary Fellowship sponsored two Easter egg hunts after church services. Organizers scattered 14,000 eggs filled candy and toys on the turf.

"We have a wonderful children's ministry here and it's something that we are very passionate about and it's just a lot of fun and a great way to build community and bring community in," said Marni Lewis of the Calvary Fellowship.

On any given Sunday about 600 parishioners attend Calvary, but today there were 1,600 people on hand for Easter services.

Connecticut State Police said they've arrested a man after finding illegal weapons in his motorcycle during a traffic stop.

According to police, troopers were driving on Route 7 north Saturday around 11 a.m. when they spotted a motorcycle speeding in the left lane. When the motorcycle rider spotted troopers, he slowed down and did not pass the troopers.

Police pulled the rider over near exit 12 in Brookfield. During the traffic stop, troopers found a small bat with spike strips at the end of it, and a knife, according to police.

The rider, identified as 49-year-old Domingos Reis, of Danbury, was arrested and charged with weapons in a motor vehicle and motor vehicle infractions. He was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 5.