Source: Suspect in coach's slashing death flees US

NEW YORK — A man suspected of slashing a 25-year-old youth soccer coach to death and slicing off his ear last weekend on a New York City street fled to Mexico City on Tuesday, a law enforcement official said. Only on NBCNews.com Jerry Sandusky gets 30 to 60 years for child sex abuse Teen blogger shot by Taliban 'critical' after surgery More migrants dying on illegal journey to US Ex-soldiers enlist Afghans to craft military-themed flip-flops Daredevil to break sound barrier with 23-mile plunge? First Read: Election focus shifts to Ohio One in eight of world population going hungry: UN Orlando Orea, also known as Orlando Gutierrez or Orlando Estevas, bought a one-way ticket on an Aero Mexico flight with cash moments before it was scheduled to leave from Kennedy International Airport on Tuesday morning, according to the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing. Detectives discovered Orea's name at about 4:45 p.m. Tuesday and immediately placed him on a no-fly list, but he was already gone, the official said. Orea, 32, is suspected of killing Michael Jones at about 4:30 a.m. Sunday after the two men were seen together, possibly arguing, on 14th Street in Union Square, one of Manhattan's busiest neighborhoods, the official said. Click here for more stories in Crime & courts Jones, 25, had been out with his girlfriend earlier but they parted around midnight, police said. Police were called to the bloody scene where Jones lay on the street. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The Liverpool, England, native was a coach with the New York Red Bulls Youth Training Program. He lived in West Harrison, in Westchester County. Police late Sunday released surveillance footage of the suspected slasher, a man with a ponytail wearing a dark jacket. The motive remains unclear, but it's possible it was a case of mistaken identity, police said. The suspect, who lived in Queens, was in an earlier fight at a nearby bar that may have involved a woman. And he was apparently seen by witnesses with a knife in the bar, the official said. The suspect left, then encountered Jones on the street. It's not clear what, if any, ties Orea has to Mexico. The New York Red Bulls, a Major League Soccer team, plan to hold a memorial Wednesday in Westchester County. Jones' father, Perry, 50, of Tarleton, near Liverpool, told the Daily News of New York that he wanted his son's body returned to England. "We just want to get Mike back here as quickly as we can really and finish off what's going on in America," Jones told the newspaper. © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sheriff reinstated despite domestic-abuse conviction

Noah Berger / AP Suspended San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and his wife Eliana Lopez arrive at a Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday in San Francisco. The Board planned to vote on removing Mirkarimi, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in a domestic violence case, from office. By Reuters SAN FRANCISCO -- A divided San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to reinstate Ross Mirkarimi to his elected post as sheriff late Tuesday after he was suspended by the mayor following a domestic-abuse conviction. The vote to return Mirkarimi's badge came after a nearly year-long political firestorm within San Francisco over a New Year's Eve quarrel with his wife, Venezuelan soap opera actress Eliana Lopez, that turned violent. Mirkarimi, a co-founder of California's Green Party, watched during five hours of emotional public testimony from more than 100 of his supporters who called for him to stay, and about 15 domestic-violence advocates who called for his ouster. The board's 7-4 vote was two votes shy of what was needed to strip him of his elected position. "The system worked in this case," Mirkarimi, 51, said after the vote. "It took a long way to get here. The next step is mending fences and moving forward." 'Jewel in the crown' Many of the speakers told supervisors how Mirkarimi had become a voice of the voiceless in the community, showing up at homicide scenes in the middle of the night. "Ross is the jewel in the crown of San Francisco," said Ursula McGuire, 76, who spoke from her wheelchair. "I want you to reinstate the jewel." San Francisco sheriff in domestic abuse case to face ethics charge Domestic-violence advocates urged the board to oust the sheriff. "If reinstated, Ross Mirkarimi would represent San Francisco's tolerance of domestic-violence crimes," said Katharine Berg, associate director of La Casa de las Madres, a Bay area women's shelter. Domestic abuse billboard aimed at sheriff's comments Mirkarimi had launched a legal case seeking reinstatement to his post and his salary. He said he could not be removed for official misconduct because his offense occurred more than a week before he took office as sheriff. In a cellphone video a neighbor recorded the day after the argument, a tearful Lopez, 36, pointed to a bruise on her arm and said her husband had grabbed it with such force that he left it black and blue. A day in jail, probation Lopez testified before a city ethics panel that the neighbor convinced her to document the bruise in case she and Mirkarimi separated. Lopez said she feared her status as an immigrant could cost her custody of her son if they separated. Lopez refused to testify against her husband and has stood by him, though a family court judge only recently allowed the couple to reunite after seven months apart. Biden to lead push for domestic violence law San Francisco's district attorney charged Mirkarimi on January 13, five days after his installation as sheriff, with misdemeanor counts of domestic violence battery, child endangerment and dissuading a witness. He struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to a single, lesser charge, and was sentenced to a day in jail and three years of probation. But the mayor said Mirkarimi's conduct was a violation of the public trust and his role as a law enforcement officer. The city's ethics commission voted 4-1 in August that Mirkarimi committed official misconduct. More content from NBCNews.com: 'Warmest year' looking more likely for 2012 across continental US Jerry Sandusky's victims said to be largely satisfied with sex abuse sentence Gay Scouts come out, rally around teen's Eagle Scout bid 1 in 5 Americans is not religiously affiliated, survey finds Deadly crossing: Death toll rises among those desperate for American Dream Video: Mexican authorities arrest suspect in tourist murder Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Toyota to hold world's biggest car recall for 16 years

By NBC News wire services Japan's car giant Toyota will voluntarily recall 7.4 million vehicles globally, including certain Vitz, Yaris and Corolla models, due to malfunctioning power window switches, the company said Wednesday. The firm will recall 2.47 million vehicles in the United States, as well as 1.40 million vehicles in China and 1.39 million vehicles in Europe, making it the biggest single recall since Ford Motor Co pulled back 7.9 million vehicles in 1996. Government investigates Honda Pilot, Odyssey rollaway risk The recall comes a day after Toyota reported its sales fell 48.9 percent year-on-year in China in September. Japanese car brands have suffered as a result of an outbreak of anti-Japan sentiment in China in response to a territorial dispute between the two countries. In Japan, Toyota is recalling about 459,300 vehicles, including the Vitz, produced between 2006 and 2008. GM recalling almost 474,000 cars over problem with gear shift The firm is also recalling 650,000 vehicles in Australia and Asia, 490,000 vehicles in the Near and Middle East, 240,000 vehicles in Canada and 330,000 vehicles elsewhere, said Shino Yamada, a spokeswoman for Toyota. The vehicles recalled outside of Japan include certain models of the Yaris, Vios, Corolla, Matrix, Auris, Camry, RAV4, Highlander, Tundra, Sequoia, xB and xD produced between 2005 and 2010. No accidents, injuries or deaths have been reported as a result of the window problem, Yamada said. Toyota recalls 3.8 million vehicles over potentially dangerous floor mats In 2009, Toyota recalled 3.8 million vehicles in the United States -- the company's largest-ever U.S. recall -- to address problems with a removable floor mat that could cause accelerators to get stuck and lead to a crash.The recall involved popular models such as the Toyota Camry and the Toyota Prius, the best-selling gas-electric hybrid. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

2 arrested at airport in terror probe

British police arrested a man and a woman at London's Heathrow Airport as part of an investigation into travel to Syria for alleged terror activity. The suspects, both 26, were arrested after arriving on a flight Officers are also searching two homes in London (CNN) -- British police arrested a man and a woman at London's Heathrow Airport as part of an investigation into travel to Syria for alleged terror activity. The suspects, both 26, were arrested Tuesday night after arriving on a flight from Egypt, London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement. Read more: Spain 'al Qaeda cell' may have planned strike to coincide with Olympics The statement did not say whether the pair was headed to Syria or had returned from there. Authorities did not release their names. The two were taken to a central London police station and authorities began searches of two homes in east London as part of the investigation, police said. The British Foreign Office did not want to comment directly on the arrests but said the "deteriorating security situation (in Syria) leaves dangerous space for foreign fighters." "We are concerned about reports of extremist groups operating in Syria and we take very seriously any claims that British nationals are among foreign fighters there," the foreign office said. CNN's Lateef Mungin contributed to this report.

Woman dies after 'beauty' treatment

One of the stores operated by DR, a Hong Kong chain of beauty clinics that claims to serve 1,000 clients a day, is pictured. Woman, 46, dies at a local hospital one week after receiving DC-CIK therapy She was one of four women being treated for septic shock after receiving the treatment DC-CIK therapy normally only offered to cancer patients, experts say Hong Kong police are investigating beauty clinic attended by the women Hong Kong (CNN) -- One of four Hong Kong women struck down with septic shock after receiving a "beauty" treatment normally given to cancer patients has died. The 46-year-old died Wednesday morning at a local hospital one week after receiving DC-CIK therapy through the DR beauty center, local authorities said. According to the Hong Kong Health Department, the DC-CIK procedure involves the "concentration and processing of blood taken from the person, and subsequent infusion of the mixture back into the patient." It's not clear whether any of the women who received the treatment had been diagnosed with cancer, though the Hong Kong Health Department said in an earlier statement that the 46-year-old had been in "good past health." The woman, who has only been identified by authorities by her surname "Chan," was admitted to hospital last Thursday suffering fever and diarrhea, hours after receiving the treatment. She was diagnosed with septic shock, and on Sunday authorities announced her blood samples had grown the bacterium Mycobacterium abscessus. Dr. Ho Pak-leung, President of the University of Hong Kong's Center for Infection told CNN that, under normal circumstances, M. abscessus did not pose a threat to healthy people. I have serious doubts about the medical and scientific basis of the treatment. Dr. Ho Pak-leung, University of Hong Kong "It's common, it's widespread. It can be found in dust and soil and water. People often come into contact with a small number of this bacteria and it's of no harm at all unless you have a wound," Dr. Ho said. However, he said it appeared as though the bacteria had entered the woman's blood. "For blood infection involving internal organs, it's very difficult. It has to involve multiple drugs given at the same time and there are uncertainties about the effectiveness of the treatment," he told CNN on Monday. Three other women remain in hospital after having the treatment, health authorities said Wednesday. A 60-year-old is in critical condition, a 56-year-old woman is in serious condition, while another, 59, is stable. Dr. Ho said the use of the DC-CIK treatment for cosmetic purposes was not something he'd ever heard of before. "I have serious doubts about the medical and scientific basis of the treatment," he said. Professor KY Yuen, Chair of Infectious Diseases at the University of Hong Kong's Department of Microbiology, said the procedure was "only indicated for patients with metastatic cancer and often as salvage therapy when there are no other feasible options." The Hong Kong Health Department and police are investigating the matter but, as of Wednesday morning, police said no arrests had been made. Health authorities have instructed the DR beauty clinic to halt the procedure. Over the weekend, the founder of DR, Dr. Stephen Chow Heung-wing, told local media that his staff referred clients to an independent doctor who administered the therapy. He denied suggestions that it was offered as a medical treatment. The clinic has yet to respond to CNN requests for reaction to Wednesday's death. "I didn't say that it can cure any diseases. Remember that we are a beauty clinic. We refer clients to doctor(s), and we have had the clients to sign a liability-free form, which states that it is not for medical use," he said. A statement on the beauty clinic's website says that the treatment "was conducted by an independent doctor at a medical clinic, and the doctor is not hired by our beauty store." The statement also said it was up to the independent doctor to decide whether the client is suitable for treatment before he or she receives it. It added: "We will assist related government departments to find out the causation of this particular incident." According to its website, the DR group of clinics was established in 1995 and provides services for more than 1,000 clients each day.

Passenger in body armor arrested

Man was arrested at LAX on Friday in international arrivals area He was dressed suspiciously and authorities pulled him aside for another inspection When they opened his checked bags they found a smoke bomb, knives, other items He faces up to five years in prison (CNN) -- A federal court session for a man who tried to enter the United States allegedly with a veritable potpourri of weaponry and related paraphernalia was delayed Tuesday, leaving unanswered until a rescheduled hearing Friday questions about the man, his baggage and his intentions. Yongda Huang Harris, a U.S. citizen of Chinese decent, was detained in the international arrivals area of Los Angeles International Airport last Friday, and charged with one count of transporting hazardous materials. He faces a series of court dates, beginning with Friday's detention hearing. He won't enter a plea until October 29. Authorities were alerted at the airport about a man didn't look like the typical airline passenger. He stood out in his trench coach with a bulletproof vest, flame retardant pants and knee pads underneath. But it is what authorities said they found when they inspected the man's luggage that landed him in jail. A smoke grenade, knives, a hatchet, three billy clubs, a respirator and body bags were among the items in his checked bags. Harris' lawyer, Steve Seiden, declined CNN's request for comment Tuesday. Harris, 28, boarded a plane in Kansai, Japan, on Friday and made a stop in Inchon, Korea, before flying to the United States, according to a federal affidavit. Customs and Border Protection officers at LAX decided to pull Harris for secondary inspection. According to the affidavit, Harris was asked by customs enforcement officers if he wanted to amend his customs declaration form. Harris said he had a knife but didn't mention any other items, the court document states. The affidavit said that Harris' suitcases contained: * A pyrotechnic smoke grenade capable of covering an area of 40,000 cubic feet with smoke * Three lead-filled, leather-coated billy clubs * A collapsible baton * A full-face respirator * Various knives and a hatchet * Body bags * A Tyvex biohazard suit and various masks * Duct tape and batteries * Oven mitts and cooking tongs * Hand cuffs, leg irons, and plastic flexi-cuffs * A device to repel dogs Harris lives and works in Japan but has a permanent home in Boston, officials said. The charge against him could bring up to five years in prison upon conviction.

Dragon capsule on course for space station rendezvous

The SpaceX rocket lifts off Sunday, October 7, marking the first commercial flight to the International Space Station. It was the first of a dozen NASA-contracted flights to resupply the station. People watch as the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and its unmanned Dragon capsule are readied for launch Sunday in Cape Canaveral, Florida. On May 22, SpaceX launched a successful test flight that attached a spacecraft to the International Space Station. It was the first company to do so. Dragon's recovery team poses in front of the first commercial capsule to reach orbit and return safely to Earth. The Falcon 9 rocket launches on May 22 in Cape Canaveral. This image shows how Dragon returns to Earth, under parachutes, to splashdown in the ocean, much like the spacecraft of Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. The Falcon 9 rocket awaits May's launch date. The first Dragon capsule to make it into orbit and return to Earth was launched in December 2010. Here, crews haul the charred capsule out of the ocean. SpaceX's Falcon 9, carrying a Dragon space capsule, launches from Cape Canaveral in December 2010. This rendering of the Dragon capsule shows the craft's solar panels fully extended. The capsule launched in May extended its panels in orbit. SpaceX's capsule to begin docking with International Space Station on Wednesday morning Dragon capsule is on schedule despite one of its nine booster rocket engines failing Capsule will spend about 18 days at the ISS and bring back scientific experiments (CNN) -- SpaceX's Dragon capsule is just hours away from an on-schedule meeting with the International Space Station. The crew of the space station will use a robotic arm to "grapple" the spacecraft, which is filled with 1,000 pounds of supplies for the astronauts, at 7:17 a.m. ET Wednesday, a written statement from SpaceX said. The time could change, the company said, and the capsule will pause three times for go/no-go checks using information from its close-range guidance systems before berthing. About two hours after it is captured, the unmanned capsule will be bolted into place for its two-and-a-half-week stay. After the resupplies are pulled off, astronauts will reload the craft with scientific experiments and failed equipment that can be repaired and sent back. SpaceX launched the first commercial space cargo mission on Sunday night. But a minute and 19 seconds after the Falcon 9 booster lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, one of the nine Merlin engines that power the rocket "lost pressure suddenly," the company disclosed Monday. The rocket "did exactly what it was designed to do," as its flight computer made adjustments to keep the Dragon headed into the proper orbit. California-based SpaceX said earlier that controllers are reviewing flight data in an effort to figure out what happened to the booster rocket, but initial readings indicate the No. 1 engine fairing broke apart under stress. Sunday's launch was the first of a dozen freight runs SpaceX, founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, is slated to make to the station under a contract with NASA, which plans to turn much of its focus toward exploring deep into the solar system. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden called it "a critical event in space flight." SpaceX, meanwhile, is looking beyond just cargo flights to developing a human-rated version of the Dragon that would carry astronauts to the ISS. It's one of three companies, along with Sierra Nevada and aerospace giant Boeing, that NASA has chosen to work on the project. And within the next few months, Orbital Sciences is expected to fly its own demonstration flight to the space station. Instead of using Cape Canaveral as its launch site, the company's rocket will take off from Wallops Island, off the coast of Virginia. Orbital has a nearly $2 billion contract with NASA for station resupply missions.