Campus officer kills naked freshman

Police have identified 18-year-old Gilbert Thomas Collar as the student who was shot Saturday morning by police. The University of South Alabama says the student was acting erratically The school says the student charged the officer, who drew his gun 18-year-old Gilbert Thomas Collar was killed in the Saturday shooting (CNN) -- Authorities in Mobile, Alabama, are investigating why a University of South Alabama police officer shot and killed an 18-year-old freshman who they say was naked and acting erratically outside the campus police station early Saturday. The campus officer heard a loud banging noise on a window at the station at 1:23 a.m. CT (2:23 a.m. ET) Saturday, the university said in a statement. When he left the station to investigate, the school said, "he was confronted by a muscular, nude man who was acting erratically." The man, later identified as Gilbert Thomas Collar, of Wetumpka, Alabama, repeatedly rushed and verbally challenged the officer in a fighting stance, the school said. The officer, whose name hasn't been released, drew his weapon and ordered Collar to stop, the school said. The officer retreated several times to try to calm the situation. "When the individual continued to rush toward the officer in a threatening manner and ignored the officer's repeated commands to stop, the officer fired one shot with his police sidearm, which struck the chest of the assailant," the school statement said. "The individual fell to the ground, but he got up once more and continued to challenge the officer further before collapsing and expiring." Campus police immediately contacted the district attorney's office to request an external investigation, and the Mobile County Sheriff's Department will assist, the school said. The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and external investigations, the school said. School spokesman Keith Ayers called it a "campus tragedy" for the university family but offered no other details, citing the active investigation. The University of South Alabama, located in Mobile, enrolls about 15,000 students. Wetumpka, located just north of Montgomery in the middle of the state, has nearly 8,000 residents.

Infant's remains found in backyard

Authorities went to check on the welfare of a 6-year-old child in Farmingdale The child's mother said another child had died, but his death wasn't reported "Infant remains" are found in the backyard of the home the couple shared (CNN) -- Authorities have discovered the remains of an infant in the backyard of a Long Island home after child protective officials were sent this week to check on the welfare of a 6-year-old. While they did not positively identify the recovered infant, New York State Police said Saturday that the woman who lives in the home told investigators that the death of one of her children had not been reported. The boy, named Justin Kowalczik, would now be around 3 years old. "This interview also revealed a possible location of Justin's remains," police said of their talks with Heather Kowalczik. Based on the interview, authorities obtained a warrant to search the family's property. "It is absolutely a suspicious death," New York State Police Major Patrick Regan told reporters, saying authorities "believe the child was there since approximately July of 2010." The woman's boyfriend was identified by police in a news release as "a person of interest" in the case. A state police spokesman could not be reached Saturday for further comment. No charges have been filed. "The Medical Examiners Office is conducting their investigation and the State Police are waiting for the confirmation of the identity and cause of death of the remains found," police said in the news release. The couple lived together in a two-story house in Farmingdale, a Long Island community about 35 miles east of New York City. According to police, they "parented" the 6-year-old child whom Suffolk County Child Protective Services employees had gone to check on earlier this week. It was during that investigation that authorities learned Justin Kowalczik, who was born in 2009, "was unaccounted for." Meanwhile, a 9-year-old child of Heather Kowalczik and her boyfriend was briefly sought by authorities after he didn't show up for school Friday. Authorities said the boy's father had driven off with him. Both were later found, state police said.

How Border Patrol 'friendly-fire' incident unfolded

Sources have told NBC news that the shooting at the Mexico border near Naco, Ariz., that killed border patrol agent Nicolas Ivie and wounded two others involved friendly fire. NBC's Mark Potter reports. By Kari Huus, NBC News Investigators say that the Border Patrol shooting that left one agent dead was likely the result of three agents all responding separately to a tripped sensor on the U.S.-Mexico border, and unknowingly shooting at one another in the dark, according to several reports. The reports offer more detail on how Tuesday's incident unfolded. Agent Nicholas J. Ivie, 33, was killed and a second agent was wounded in a rugged area known for drug and human smuggling. According to Cochise County acting Sheriff Rod Rothrock, the three agents were patrolling on horseback along several miles of the U.S.-Mexico border when all responded  to the tripped sensor. George McCubbin, president of the National Border Patrol Council, a union representing agents, said all three agents fired their weapons. McCubbin told The Arizona Republic that the agents had split up as they investigated the sensor alarm. In the darkness between 1 and 2 a.m., the three converged from different directions into a saddle in the hills where the brush is relatively thick, Saturday's Los Angeles Times reported, citing McCubbin. Gabriel Guerrero / AP file Law enforcement forces gather at a command post in the desert near Naco, Ariz. Tuesday after a border patrol agent was shot to death near the U.S.-Mexico line. The agents had been in communication earlier, and were aware of each other's presence in the area, according to Rothrock. It was not clear why they didn't talk when converging on the target area. McCubbin told the Times, "Maybe they tried to reach each other but couldn't. They have lots of dead spots in the desert." Ivie was about 20 yards away from the other two agents when they apparently spotted each other, and started trading fire. Ivie "interpreted defensive postures from the other as aggressive postures," Rothrock said. Cole Kynaston / AP Border Patrol Agent Nicholas Ivie, who was was shot and killed in a rugged border area on Tuesday, in an undated photo. In the exchange of fire, Ivie was killed, and a second agent whose name has not been released was shot in the buttocks and the ankle. He was treated and is reportedly recovering at home. A third agent, who also remains unnamed, was unharmed. A high-powered rifle and a handgun were found near the shooting scene, the Times reported, citing government documents. It was not clear whether they were connected to the incident. State and federal officials initially said that the shootings were committed by armed criminals.  More content from NBCNews.com: Video: School dinner is keeping some US children from going hungry Abu Hamza, 4 others tied to al-Qaida arrive in US to face terrorism charges Toddler's remains found buried in Long Island backyard Amber Alert for Colo. girl, 10, who vanished on way to school Bear cub tries chocolate cake after breaking into home Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Video: School dinner saves some kids from hunger

West Virginia's Doddridge Elementary is just one of 120 out of 700 schools statewide where more than 50 percent of its students qualify for federally subsidized school dinners. NBC's Rehema Ellis reports.

Colombian leader has cancer surgery

On Monday, President Juan Manuel Santos announced his prostate cancer was "small" and "not aggressive." "I'm totally cured," says Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos He says the tumor had not metastasized, thanks his supporters Doctors have diagnosed several current and former South American leaders with cancer (CNN) -- Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was at home Saturday after leaving a hospital where he underwent surgery for prostate cancer this week. "A million thanks to everyone for their support and solidarity," the president wrote on his official Twitter page. On Monday, Santos announced that he had prostate cancer, but described the tumor as "small" and "not aggressive." He underwent surgery Wednesday at a hospital in Bogota, Colombia's capital. Upon leaving the hospital, Santos spoke to reporters, according to CNN affiliate Caracol. The 61-year-old president said the tumor had not metastasized. "In other words, I'm totally cured," Santos said. The news comes about one week before the government is expected to start peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, commonly known as the FARC. Talks to end the nearly 50-year war are set to begin in Oslo, Norway, on October 14, Caracol reported. They had previously been scheduled to start Monday. Recently, doctors have diagnosed several current and former South American leaders with cancer. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez first announced his diagnosis last year, though neither he nor anyone in his government has specified the type of cancer. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff overcame cancer while she was a candidate for the office, and former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva underwent treatment for throat cancer. Then-Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2010, while Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was treated for thyroid cancer this year.

Gas prices roar to Calif. record: $4.614 per gallon

In California, the average price of gas is up 36 cents in a week, to $4.49. And on Friday, some stations neared $6 a gallon. NBC's Kristen Dahlgren reports. By Jason Kandel and Antonio Castelan, NBCLosAngeles.com Gas prices hit a new record in California on Saturday: an all-time average high of $4.6140 per gallon. The news comes as prices are expected to continue to go up in the next couple days, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Gas prices have gone up 47 cents in the past week in California. A refinery shortage and a recent power outage at a plant in Torrance were to blame for the recent fuel price spikes. Also on NBCLosAngeles.com: LA fuel search: Find the lowest prices Prices in California were the highest in the nation, leapfrogging Hawaii's this week. The national average was $3.81 per gallon. "This is ridiculous," said Edgar Marutyan, a taxi driver. "I don't know how long we can go like this." Commuter Darryl Atlas agreed: "Five dollar gas prices -- now 6 -- is very unreasonable." The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in Los Angeles County recorded its largest single-day increase on Friday, rising 19.2 cents to $4.539 -- its highest amount since July 12, 2008. It is 40.3 cents more than a week ago, 36.4 cents higher than a month ago and 71.5 cents greater than at this time last year, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. The record price in LA County is $4.626, set on June 21, 2008. The record was set by a fraction of a penny, according to AAA spokesman Michael Green. The previous high was $4.6096 on June 19, 2008. Mike Blake / REUTERS People line up to purchase gasoline at a Costco Gas Station in Carlsbad, Calif., on Friday. The Orange County average price also recorded its largest single-day increase Friday, rising 19.5 cents to $4.525, its highest amount since July 9, 2008. It has also risen by more than 1 cent on each of the past seven days, including 9.4 cents on Thursday and 5.9 cents on Wednesday. It is 41.4 cents more than one week ago, 37 cents higher than one month ago and 73.8 cents greater than one year ago. The record price in Orange County is $4.598, set on June 19, 2008. Jeffrey Spring of the Automobile Club of Southern California said that local refineries were dropping production levels, exporting supply to Mexico and other countries, and allowing inventory to dwindle in anticipation of switching over to production of winter blend gasoline. He also said that a refinery power outage and a pipeline incident occurred on Monday that sent wholesale markets into a panic about the adequacy of California fuel supplies. It's not clear how much higher prices will go, he said. "A lot depends on whether the perceived supply issues are quickly addressed," Spring said. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Toddler's remains found in Long Island backyard

By Jonathan Vigliotti, NBCNewYork.com Police have discovered what they believe to be the remains of Justin Kowalczik, a missing 17-month-old boy in Farmingdale, Long Island. According to investigators, Kowalczik's remains were found buried in the backyard of the home Justin's mother Heather Kowalczik rented with her boyfriend and their two other children. The search for Justin was ignited Wednesday after police say someone called Child Protective Services out of concern for the health and welfare of Justin's 6-year-old sibling. Police said when officials inquired into Justin's whereabouts, his mother first said he was with relatives, but then revealed he died in 2010. It was unclear how he died and why he was buried in the family's backyard. Kowalczik and her boyfriend Robert Rodriguez have been questioned by police, but have not been charged. An investigation is ongoing. "It is absolutely a suspicious death and it is being investigated as such," said State Police Major Patrick Regan. "We don't have a cause of death, and to our knowledge, there was never a report made of the child being missing." Also at NBCNewYork.com: Tour bus overturns On Friday, an Amber Alert was issued when Rodriguez abducted his 9-year-old son, after allegedly learning of the investigation. The Amber Alert was canceled a short while later when the two were found by police. A medical examiner is performing an autopsy on Justin, who would have been 3 years old. Police say Kowalczik and Rodriguez are no longer cooperating with authorities. Their two surviving children were in the custody of county child welfare agents, police said.   Neighbor Tekiera McCormack told Newsday that she was stunned.   "I can't see this," she told the newspaper. "This is crazy. She was a good mother. Those kids loved her." Get the latest from NBC 4 New York anywhere, anytime: iPhone/iPad App | SMS Alerts | Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | Instagram | RSS More content from NBCNews.com: Samaritans lift car to rescue woman, 2 grandchildren trapped underneath Amber Alert for Colo. girl, 10, who vanished on way to school Cougars killing pets, residents of Seattle-area city fear Video: Survivor of 'internal decapitation' talks of recovery Friendly fire killed Border Patrol agent, sources tell NBC News Video: 'Coking' accounts for loose seats, airline says Unemployment rate dips for veterans, but not ex-servicewomen Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook