Family, high school grieve Los Altos student's death from possible fentanyl poisoning

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (KRON) -- A Mountain View family and the Los Altos High School community are grieving this weekend.

Early Friday morning, Mountain View police were made aware of a student found unresponsive because of a possible fentanyl poisoning, KRON4 previously reported.

KRON4 spoke with officials about why fentanyl is like nothing they've ever dealt with before.

While this fentanyl poisoning is hitting the Los Altos High School community particularly hard right now, officials say it's a region-wide concern.

It's often laced in other narcotics or drugs and even the tiniest dose could be deadly.

Mountain View police public information officer, Katie Nelson, says this is still an open investigation, but based on items found at the scene, they believe it could be a fentanyl poisoning.

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"The thing about fentanyl that parents need to be aware of is that it can be in anything a student or really anyone can have in their possession," Nelson said.

Nelson says police want to get this message out there to potentially save other lives.

"At least as many people as possible knew about this in the event that there were other narcotics out there have parents talk with their kids or have students who may be in possession think twice," Nelson said.

Dr. Christopher Colwell is the chief of emergency medicine at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.

He says he has been in emergency medicine for 25 years but never has faced the challenges that fentanyl is presenting.

"The risk of there being added or tainted with fentanyl is so much higher because it's so available, inexpensive and it can be added to anything."

He also says it's very potent and a little goes a long way.

"You can put a little bit of fentanyl in a large amount of product," Colwell said. "The problem is if you're off by just a decimal point. It can have a fatal effect."

Olga Novikoa is a parent of a Los Altos student, and she says it's important to have an open dialogue with your children about these types of situations.

"I teach them not to take anything from strangers or from their classmates," Novikoa said.

Police tell me that the coroner is still working on determining the exact cause of death of the student.

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Family, friends pay tribute to cinematographer killed on 'Rust' movie set

(KTLA) – Family and friends gathered in Hollywood Saturday to pay their respects to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, who was killed Thursday following a shooting incident on the set of the Alec Baldwin film "Rust" in New Mexico.

A chapter of the International Cinematographers Guild is raising funds in memory of Hutchins, who is one of the guild’s members. The ICG Local 600, based in Hollywood, launched a GoFundMe page for Hutchins on Friday afternoon.

"Local 600 mourns the passing of Halyna Hutchins, a Director of Photography who died from injuries sustained on the set of 'Rust' in New Mexico, on Thursday, October 21," a statement on the page said.

"Halyna is survived by her husband, Matthew, and her 9-year-old son," it continued. "In memory of Halyna, Local 600 has set up this GoFundMe page to help raise funds for her family at this difficult time. We encourage you to donate if you can."

As of Saturday morning, the campaign has raised over $81,600.

Additionally, a candlelight vigil has been scheduled to take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Saturday evening, as seen on the Instagram Story of fellow ICG Local 600 member Lane Luper.

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On Thursday, authorities responded to an incident at the Bonanza Creek Ranch set of "Rust" around 1:50 p.m. local time.

Upon further investigation, the sheriff's department learned that Hutchins and director Joel Souza, 48, were "shot when a prop firearm was discharged" by Baldwin, 63.

An assistant director had unwittingly handed Baldwin a loaded weapon and told him it was safe to use in the moments before the actor fatally shot the director of photography, according to court records released Friday.

According to a search warrant filed in a Santa Fe court, the assistant director announced the weapon was a “cold gun.” However, the gun had been loaded with live rounds, according to court records. When Baldwin pulled the trigger on the set, he struck cinematographer Hutchins, as well as Souza.

Hutchins was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she died from her injuries, according to the sheriff's department. Souza was also taken to a hospital for treatment.

Director of photography Halyna Hutchins, third from left, is pictured on the set of the film "Archenemy" on January 10, 2020, in Los Angeles. (Jack Caswell via AP)

Baldwin described the killing as a “tragic accident” in a statement released Friday.

“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation,” Baldwin wrote on Twitter. “My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”

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So far, no charges have been filed. The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

Just days before the incident, Baldwin expressed his support for a potential IATSE strike to improve working conditions for crew members. In a video shared on his Instagram on Tuesday, Baldwin said, "I want to say to the people in IATSE, do what you need to do."

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Video shows NYC officers plunge into floodwaters to rescue toddler, family

NEW YORK (WPIX) — Officers desperately tried to get into a basement apartment in Queens, New York, where a toddler and his parents drowned during Hurricane Ida.

The New York Police Department released video Sunday that shows one officer struggling to make his way through chest-deep waters in a hallway. The officer is also seen reaching into the murky water, then submerging himself into the water and coming back up with what appeared to be a bag of clothes.

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Toys were also seen floating in the water.

Officers responded to an unconfirmed report of people in a flooded basement on Wednesday. When they arrived at the building, around 10 p.m., they were met with rising waters.

An unconfirmed report of people in a flooded basement brought police to a Woodside home. Without special equipment they made valiant efforts. Locked doors, rising water level & live electricity forced the officers to call for the @FDNY. (1 of 2) pic.twitter.com/zlbw828pvP

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 5, 2021

According to the NYPD, the officers were forced to call for the fire department's assistance due to the locked doors, rising water levels, and live electricity.

Police said that Lobsang Ang, 2, along with his mother Mingma Sherpa, 48, and father Ang Lama, 50, were found dead in their basement apartment before rescuers could get to them.

Deborah Torres, the family’s upstairs neighbor, said water rapidly filled her first-floor apartment to her knees as her landlord frantically urged her neighbors below to get out. But the water was rushing in so strongly that she surmised they weren’t able to open the door to escape.

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Family, friends mourn 24-year-old man killed in San Jose hit-and-run

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) - The search continues tonight for a person wanted in connection with a fatal hit-and-run in San Jose.

Family and friends have been pleading for help after 24-year-old Jose Esparza was killed in the crash Saturday near McKee Road and 33rd Street.

It's been almost a week since that driver struck and killed Esparza and ran from the scene on foot.

Police say the unidentified suspect was speeding and trying to avoid officers when they smashed into Esparza's car.

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The 24-year-old is being remembered as someone who had a bright future that was tragically cut short.

Heartache in East San Jose following the tragic killing of a youth counselor and respected member of the community.

Jose Esparza was driving early Saturday morning when police say he was struck by another car and ejected through the windshield.

Investigators released this picture of the suspect's car.

Vito Chiala was Esparza's principal at Overfelt High School.

He remembers the 24-year-old as a determined and humble student as well as a football star, who overcame tremendous odds but Chiala says Esparza's goal from early on was always to give back.

“He was so hardworking and so determined and so positive and all that work was not for himself or his personal gain but to make a difference in the lives of others and I mean we can all aspire to that,” Chiala said.

San Jose police say the hit-and-run driver was avoiding a traffic stop before speeding through a red light and smashing into Esparza's car.

The unidentified driver then took off on foot.

Candles and flowers have been set up as a way to keep Esparza's memory alive as police work to find who killed him.

“At some point, this guy knows what he did and he's going to have to live with that for the rest of his life and that's going to be a tremendous punishment for whoever he is,” Chiala said.

A number of fundraisers have been set up to help Esparza's family pay for funeral expenses.

Those with information about this crash or who the hit-and-run driver might be are encouraged to call the San Jose police.

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Family, city leaders demand investigation into Antioch PD after Angelo Quinto's death

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KRON) - On Wednesday night, the family of Angelo Quinto held a vigil outside of the Antioch Police Department, marking six months since Angelo's death.

Quinto's family and their attorney say he was murdered by police back in December after they called 911 for help, they say Quinto was in the middle of a mental health crisis.

Family, friends, and city leaders gathered to continue their demands for an investigation into the police department.

An emotional day for the family of Angelo Quinto.

It's been six months since his death -- Quinto's family and their attorney say he was murdered by Antioch police back in December after they called 911 for help. 

They say Quinto was in the middle of a mental health crisis when officers put their knees on his neck.

On Wednesday, Quinto's family finally laid him to rest but say they still have no peace or justice. 

That's why they're here, along with friends and city leaders on the steps of the Antioch Police Department the very same day. The family's attorney says they'll be filing a lawsuit in the coming weeks.

“December 23, 2020 is a day that will live in infamy in Antioch. It will live in infamy because that's the day that Antioch police officers killed Angelo Quinto by restraining him to death and that's what happened. We've had an independent coroner retained. He's reviewed the case and evidence. It is clear that this is an asphyxiation case. we'll be filing a lawsuit in two weeks demonstrating that,” family attorney Ben Nisenbaum said.

Mayor Lamar Thorpe joined the crowd on Wednesday and says Quinto's death will continue to make ripples within city government.

“Since day one we've been committed to police reform. We have the body cameras. We have the dash cams. We are creating an independent oversight committee, commission and we have a temporary one,” Mayor Thorpe said.

But says more work still needs to be done.

“We're still committed as a city to support the Quinto family and find the answers that they need but we're also committed to making sure your police department is accountable to you, not themselves,” Mayor Thorpe said.

Now the Quinto's are continuing to call for an investigation into the police department, the city attorney's office, and coroner's office, saying there was a cover-up in Angelo's death.

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Family, dog rescued from heavily wooded ravine in Alameda County

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (KRON) -- Deputies with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office rescued a family and their dog from a car accident overnight on Sunday.

Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff's Office

The sheriff's office said the driver called around 2 a.m. for help after they drove off the road and into a heavily wooded ravine.

His family was still in the car.

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Deputies said the car was heavily damaged when they found it.

They seemed to have fallen 200 feet down into the ravine from the roadway at 5363 Crow Canyon Road.

The family and dog were removed from the car and evaluated by on scene medics.

The sheriff's office did not provide specific details on the family's condition.

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