Urban Outfitters is once again at the center of controversy, this time for selling a Kent State sweatshirt that appeared to be splattered in blood.

The $129 shirt, sold as part of the Philadelphia-based retailer's vintage sweatshirt line, was so popular it quickly sold out -- but it also was decried as offensive because of the tragic killing of four students by the National Guard on Kent State's campus in 1970. 

The university, located about 40 miles south of Cleveland, took “great offense” to the shirt:

“May 4, 1970, was a watershed moment for the country and especially the Kent State family,” read a statement posted to the university’s website. “We lost four students that day while nine others were wounded and countless others were changed forever.

“We take great offense to a company using our pain for their publicity and profit. This item is beyond poor taste and trivializes a loss of life that still hurts the Kent State community today.”

Urban Outfitters has yet to return phone calls or emails from NBC10.

The company did, however, tweet that it “sincerely apologizes for any offense our Vintage Kent State Sweatshirt may have caused.”

“It was never our intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State in 1970 and we are extremely saddened that this item was perceived as such,” said a company statement posted online.

“The one-of-a-kind item was purchased as part of our sun-faded vintage collection. There is no blood on this shirt nor has this item been altered in any way. The red stains are discoloration from the original shade of the shirt and the holes are from natural wear and fray," it continued. "Again, we deeply regret that this item was perceived negatively and we have removed it immediately from our website to avoid further upset.”

The retailer dropped a photo of the “bloody” sweatshirt but did leave up the “sold out” page on its website.

Other vintage sweatshirts — including ones with “Penn State,” “University of Texas” and “Cathedral College” printed on them — were also listed as sold out on the Urban Outfitters site. None of those shirts appeared to be bloody, and the photos of each remained on the site.

This isn't the first time that Urban Outfitters has found itself facing public backlash over one of its items. Last holiday season they pulled a pair of socks seen as religiously insensitive.

They've also gotten heat for a pro-booze shirt sold to the 18 to 24 crowd, a "Jewish Star" shirt that drew comparisons to the Holocaust and about a dozen other designs laid out by The Week.

All lanes are reopened on I-95 in Chester as of 5:30 p.m.

An accident caused a 6-mile back up in the northbound lanes Monday afternoon. Travelers maneuvering rush hour in Delaware County experienced delays along the busy commuting corridor when two lanes were shutdown.

A box truck was involved in the accident.

Updates will be provided here.

Two men fired shots at each other on a schoolyard playground Monday afternoon.

Children were on the playground at KIPP Philadelphia Charter School at the time of the shooting.

The children hit the ground when they heard the gunfire. Officials with KIPP tell NBC10 a teacher and several administrators rushed outside after hearing the gunshots to make sure the kids were safe.

Philadelphia Police say the shooting occurred around 3 p.m. and no one was injured. The teacher and administrators escorted the children back inside the building after the area was cleared.

Police are searching for the two suspects.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

A fireball was spotted along the east coast Sunday night, including parts of Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

A fireball is a very bright meteor, generally brighter than magnitude -4, about the same magnitude of the planet venus, according to the American Meteor Society.

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Officials with the AMS say they received over 200 reports of a bright fireball in the eastern part of the country around 10:55 p.m. Sunday.

“There are no major meteor showers active at this time so this meteor was most likely a random occurrence, not associated with any known meteor showers,” said Robert Lunsford, a writer with the AMS.

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Lunsford says the northern hemisphere is currently in a period of elevated meteor activity from now through January 2015.

Officials are encouraging anyone who spotted the fireball to report it to the AMS. You can learn more about fireballs and meteors in general by visiting the AMS website.

The alleged theft of the mask of ‘Ophidian The Cobra’ has wrestling fans rallying on social media to help the luchador find the gear he claims was stolen Sunday morning, in a large navy blue duffel bag.

Ophidian and his fiancée say the gear was stolen from the front steps of their house on the corner of Broad and Snyder, sometime between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday morning, after they arrived home from a wrestling show in Sellersville, PA. The couple has not filed a police report.

“This is the worst time for my gear to be stolen,” Ophidian says. “I have eight shows, one music video, and six seminars, before I leave for my tour in the United Kingdom on September 24.”

Despite the bad timing, fans are doing everything they can to help the wrestler who performs with Chikara Pro, a wrestling promotion based in Philadelphia.

Fans learned of Ophidian’s stolen gear through the Facebook post from his fiancé, Kate Nickerson, where she posted that his two masks, gauntlets, kick pad covers, belt, ring jacket and $80 in an envelope were stolen.

“Our entire lives were stolen from our front porch,” Nickerson says.

From Facebook, to Twitter, to Reddit, fans are showing their support for Ophidian. One fan is giving Ophidian back an old mask that he bought from him at a show. Another fan started a PayPal page to raise money to buy a new mask. Ophidian claims they have raised $1,100 since Sunday.

Nickerson has been making costumes for Ophidian and other wrestlers for years, and always finds the leftover fabric she throws away in the trash at night, shredded along the streets in the morning.

“I know people go through my trash, and hang around my house at night. We just need this bag returned. No questions asked,” Nickerson says.

If anyone finds the mask or outfit, they are encouraged to email the couple at theclosetchampion@gmail.com. If they prefer to remain anonymous, they can call their Google Talk Number: 267-627-GEAR, or through social media. Wrestling is the engaged couple’s primary source of income.

While Nickerson is working diligently to make Ophidian a new outfit from scratch, the mask needs to be specially ordered from Japan. The price of the custom mask is around $500, and the total estimated value of his gear in the bag was around $3,000.

“The person who took the bag probably sees a pair of tights and a crazy mask, and doesn’t think it holds any value, but to me, and to my fans, it means everything,” Ophidian tells NBC10.com “My identity has been stolen. The only person who has seen me without my mask on is my fiancé. I don't go anywhere without it.”

“Our whole lives revolve around wrestling,” Nickerson says. “We are even having a wrestling theme wedding planned, where everyone will be wearing wrestling masks. We are counting on the watchful eyes in our Philadelphia community to find our gear, and help bring it back to us.”

A teenager is recovering after a shooting in the Hunting Park section of the city.

The 13-year-old boy was on the 3600 block of North Marvine Street when a gunman opened fire.

The teen was struck twice in the stomach. He was taken to Temple University Hospital where he is currently in stable condition.

Police say an arrest was made in the shooting though they have not yet revealed the suspect's identity or specific charges.
 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

“Ten years ago, the place was hopping,” Ed remembered.

That wasn't the case Monday, another worker at the Trump Plaza's restaurant EVO conceded. Andrea Gant, 29, is moving to Boca Raton, Florida, to waitress in another of the owner’s restaurants for the winter. "It’s hard to get a job here in the winter," she said.

It wasn't just during the winter that business had lagged, though, she said. With fewer patrons to serve, she could tell the casinos were suffering.

"You can feel it," she said. "The whole vibe is different."

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

A gay couple who was brutally assaulted in Center City last week is speaking out about what led to the attack.

"They were screaming, 'you dirty f****t, you dirty f****t,'" said one of the victims.

The couple, who wanted to remain anonymous, say the ordeal began Thursday around 10:45 p.m. as they were walking to a pizza shop. The 28 and 26-year-old men were on 16th and Chancellor streets when they say they were approached by a group made up of about a dozen men and women.

The victims say someone in the group asked whether they were a couple. When they told them yes, the group allegedly began to attack them, punching and kicking them in the face, head and chest.

Police say one of the suspects then snatched a victim's bag containing a cellphone, wallet and credit cards. The group then fled in an unknown direction.

"Three guys were on me taking turns on me," said the 26-year-old victim.

The men say their attackers, who appeared to be drunk, screamed homophobic slurs at them during the assault.

"I had three, four guys on me. I turned around and saw his(my boyfriend's) head hit the ground, like hard," said the 28-year-old victim. "I was horrified. I thought he was dead."

Both men suffered injuries in the attack. The 26-year-old victim, who just returned home from the hospital, says his mouth was wired shut and he'll need eight weeks to recover.

"I have multiple facial fractures on both sides of my face," the man said. "I have an orbital fracture, which is like the eye socket. I had a big laceration that was from the tip of my nose all the way to my lip that was gushing blood."

Police have yet to confirm whether the assault was a hate crime, though both victims insist they were attacked because of their sexual orientation.

"It's not just us," the 28-year-old victim said. "I don't want this to happen to anyone else. It's not fair." 

Police are looking at surveillance video from the area to help track the group down. Investigators have not released a description of the female suspects but say the male suspects had a "husky" build, brown hair and were wearing brown shirts and shorts.

If you have any information on the assault, please call Philadelphia Police.

A teenage girl is recovering after she was found unconscious in Northeast Philadelphia Monday night.

Investigators say the 15-year-old girl was first reported missing by her family around 7 p.m. Around 7:40 p.m., a man walking by found the girl on the ground unconscious along the 7500 block of Roosevelt Boulevard in Pennypack park. Investigators say the girl was about two to three feet from the sidewalk on the other side of the guardrail.

The girl had scratches and bruises on her body as well as a knot on her head, according to investigators. Officials also say the girl was dressed in her school uniform.

The girl regained consciousness on the way to the hospital but was too disoriented to tell investigators what happened to her. She is currently being treated at St. Christopher's Hospital where she is listed in stable condition.

At some point Monday, the girl was on a SEPTA bus making her way home but police still haven't determined how she ended up unconscious in the wooded area. They continue to investigate. 

A gunman shot and killed a man inside a Philadelphia bar Monday night. 

Police say the gunman opened fire inside the Family Tavern at the corner of East Luzerne and Bennington Streets in the Juniata section of the city shortly before 10 p.m. striking the unidentified victim in the chest.

The victim was later pronounced dead. No arrests have been made.

This story is developing. Stay with NBC10.com for updates.
 

A Philadelphia mother who was arrested for carrying a legally-owned gun in the wrong state says she now has renewed hope. The prosecutor who initially punished her is now taking another look at her case.

Shaneen Allen, 27, told NBC10 Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain sent her a letter stating her trial has been postponed several weeks as he reviews his office's position on the matter.

"I grabbed my kids and started praying," Allen said. "I was like, 'oh my God, maybe things can look up for mommy. Maybe mommy won't be going to jail.'"

On October 1, 2013, Allen, 27, was pulled over in Atlantic County, New Jersey for a routine traffic stop. When the officer approached her vehicle, the mother of two informed him that she had a handgun in the car and presented her concealed carry permit for Pennsylvania.

Allen quickly learned that her Pennsylvania gun license held no legal weight in New Jersey when instead of getting a traffic ticket, she was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and armor penetrating bullets. She now faces a possible 3 ½ to ten years in state prison.

Records show the director of Atlantic County’s Pretrial Intervention recommended Allen for the program. Entry into the program would have kept Allen from serving jail time and expunged her record of any charges.

McClain and Superior Court Judge Michael Donio denied Allen’s acceptance into PTI however. The prosecutor and judge have received criticism for allowing NFL player Ray Rice into that same program after he punched his fiancée in an elevator at the Revel Casino, knocking her unconscious.

The Atlantic City Press reports McClain sent a letter to Donio asking that Allen's case be adjourned to allow a review. Donio granted the request, according to the Atlantic City Press. Allen's trial has now been rescheduled from October 6 to October 20 as McClain reviews her case.

Since her story first surfaced, Allen has received support from various groups and individuals. The New Jersey Second Amendment Society recently put up billboards in Atlantic County which read, "Free Shaneen From Unfair Prosecution."

Planning on getting to and from Washington, D.C. Tuesday morning? You might be waiting a while to get where you are going.

Amtrak indefinitely suspended service along the Northeast Corridor Line (which also serves Acela Express service) between Washington and Wilmington, Delaware around 3:30 a.m.

Amtrak tweeted that the closure was due to downed overhead wires and that they would continue to update commuters.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 10 Philadelphia

Officials at a New Jersey elementary school are apologizing for an apparent mix-up in which a staff member sent a 3-year-old pre-K student home with a stranger last week. 

A grandmother went to Dale Avenue School at dismissal time to pick up her granddaughter and was accidentally sent home with a girl who had the same first name, according to a school district spokeswoman. 

The Paterson Press reported the grandmother had not seen her granddaughter for nine months, and didn't realize she was picking up the wrong girl. She hugged and kissed the girl before taking her home.

School officials realized the mistake when the girl's mother called the school to say she was on her way to pick up the child and was told that someone had already picked up the girl.

The girl's father told NBC 4 New York he and his wife were terrified when they realized their daughter, Madison, was with a total stranger. 

"Your child is missing, you don't know where she is," said Gemar Mills. "We're hysterical, we're going crazy." 

School spokeswoman Terry Corallo said in a statement to NBC 4 New York: "Within minutes, the school principal realized the mistake and she worked quickly to ensure the child was returned safely to the school, which she was (within 30 minutes). Our head of security was notified, and so was the child's mother."

Mills said 30 minutes could have meant life or death for Madison, who has a peanut allergy. 

"The grandmother said, 'I took her to the store and I gave her a granola bar,'" said Mills. "Well, she has a peanut allergy, so it was a miracle she didn't eat the peanut version." 

Mills said the experience left his daughter shaken. 

"She keeps telling me, 'I went to the lady's house and then the man yelled out, 'That's not our baby, bring her back,'" he said. "She remembers that stuff." 

"She says, 'I don't wanna go to school, I don't want that lady to get me," he said. 

The father is angry that the school didn't follow its own protocol of checking if the woman was on the list of people authorized to pick up his daughter, and didn't call police when they realized Madison was missing. Instead, the school reached out to the grandmother first. 

"They called the abductor instead of calling the police," Mills told the Paterson Press. "How can we trust that they're going to keep any child safe?" 

He said he's reported the incident to state child protective services. 

The school has disciplined the staff member who released the child, and has taken additional steps to tighten security during dismissal, said Corallo. Authorized adults must now show identification at the main office before leaving with a child. 

Follow Checkey Beckford on Twitter @Checkey4NY

A severely emaciated puppy found dumped near a baseball field in a New Jersey park last month has gained some weight and is being welcomed into a new, loving home. 

A jogger at East Side Park in Paterson, New Jersey, found Bunny, now known as Pocket, and her brother, Bugsy, Aug. 25. Animal control officers had said they found Pocket standing over her brother, apparently trying to comfort and protect him. Bugsy died a day later.

The 6-month-old pups barely weighed 14 pounds when they should have clocked in at a healthy 50, according to officials. Animal care authorities believed they had been starved for months, and an attending veterinarian called it an "extreme, extreme case of neglect."

Pocket gained 11 pounds in two weeks and now weighs more than 25 pounds. She was adopted by Karla Barricella, a Bergen County woman who read about Pocket's case in a newspaper.

Barricella's beloved Rottweiler passed away nearly two years ago, and she says that when she saw Pocket, she knew she was ready for another dog.

"My heart opened up again," says Barricella, who owns a horse farm in Warwick and lives in Ramsey. "The love -- you can just feel it. She is the sweetest, dearest animal ... and I will give her the warmest, dearest home in the world."

Pocket's growth has been stunted by malnutrition and she will always be smaller than other dogs of her breed because of that, but "is totally healthy now," according to Dr. Paul Sedlacek, who owns the clinic where Pocket was treated.

Barricella plans to make sure Pocket stays that way. Her son, James, said he was immensely happy his mother found another dog to love.

"Her dogs get more presents at Christmas than we did as kids because she takes good care of them," James Barricella said.  

Authorities are looking for the suspect or suspects who abused and then abandoned Pocket and her brother. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information. Anyone with information can call Paterson Animal Control at 973-881-3640. 

"There's no such thing as bad animals in the world. There's bad people that allow it to happen," John DeCando of Paterson Animal Control said when the pups were found. "This has got to stop." 

Here are the dramatic before and after photos of Pocket. See her playing with her new family below those photos.

Follow Jen Maxfield on Twitter @JenMaxfield4NY

Two men opened fire on a woman overnight as she sat on a friend's porch along a Philadelphia street.

Philadelphia Police responded to the 2400 block of Braddock Street in the city’s Kensington neighborhood around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to find the woman lying on a neighbor's steps.

Police rushed the 24-year-old woman to Temple University Hospital in very critical condition suffering from three gunshot wounds to her torso.

"We found 10 spent shell casings on the sidewalk and on the street within feet from where this 24-year-old victim was sitting on the front steps of a friend's," said police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Police didn’t reveal a motive but did say that two men wearing hoodies could be seen fleeing the scene.

Police sorted through a slew of possible scenarios after a resident shot and killed a man inside his Northeast Philadelphia home overnight.

Someone called Philadelphia Police to a second-floor apartment at the Holme Circle Apartments along Axe Factory Road in the city’s Holme Circle neighborhood around 11:30 p.m. Monday.

Police said that a preliminary investigation showed that a 32-year-old man broke into a rear window. A 41-year-old resident then shot the intruder once in the head, killing the man.

“There possibly may have been a struggle,” said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Later, investigators said that the victim was possibly dating the 41-year-old resident’s 20-year-old daughter and that the young woman let the victim in before the deadly shooting.

Homicide detectives interviewed the daughter and the father, both of whom cooperated with the investigation.

Police didn't file any immediate charges.