ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - January 3, 2026

Episode Date: January 4, 2026

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Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, preparing you for tomorrow starting tonight, and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. Tonight on eyewitness news, we continue following the breaking news in the American military operation in Venezuela. The Venezuelan president, Nicolas Maduro and his wife are now in New York, facing federal charges after they were captured in a large-scale military strike in We have new video tonight showing the ousted leader in handcuffs, getting escorted by law enforcement off a government plane there in New York City. There is mixed reaction coming in from across the country and around the world. These are scenes in New York City, Cuba, Colombia, and Miami. Some people celebrating Maduro's removal from power and others demonstrating against the American military operation.

And here in the triangle, people are demonstrating tonight members of our local Venezuelan community in Raleigh, gathering this afternoon in Moore Square to celebrate the capture of the man they view as a. dictator and in Durham people voice their concern about the U.S. involvement in that South American country. Thanks very much for joining us here for the news at 11. I'm Steve Daniels with you on this Saturday night to bring you the latest on the big breaking news being watched around the world. The Trump administration and the American military capturing the Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Tonight they are in federal custody in New York City after this large scale operation overnight in South America. The strike coming after weeks of tension between the U.S.

in Venezuela. Here's what we know at this hour. Maduro and his wife are both in New York City facing a number of charges, including narco-terrorism, conspiracy and cocaine importation, as well as weapons charges. The indictment claims they've been involved with a 25-year-long conspiracy accusing them of flooding the United States with cocaine and corrupting their own country. Maduro is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Top American officials say they'll continue to diplomatically engage with those remaining in the Venezuelan government. But the Venezuelan vice president is demanding the immediate release of President Maduro and his wife. We have team coverage for you tonight.

John Dowding is in Raleigh, where he spoke with members of the local Venezuelan community. But first, let's go to ABC's Lionel Moise in New York City with the latest on the operation. And what's next? Steve, Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro is being held in a Manhattan jail facing numerous federal charges. His first court appearance could come as early as Monday. Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro and his wife are now in New York after being captured by U.S. forces. Landing earlier today at Stewart Airport in Orange County, New York, escorted off the plane by more than a dozen federal agents. In New York, NYPD blocking off streets as a heavy security motorcade carrying Maduro made its way to the Manhattan detention center where he will be processed.

President Trump announcing his capture early this morning, posting this picture showing the Venezuelan leader in U.S. custody. According to two sources, the military operation was carried out by the Army's Delta Force after the CIA identified the leader's precise location. In total, more than 150 aircraft, bombers, fighters, intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, rotary wing were in the air last night. The president now saying the U.S. will run Venezuela until there can be a transition of power and also says he has not ruled out boots on the ground. Are you saying that Secretary Hegseth and Rubio are going to be running Venezuela? And will you be sending a U.S. military troops to provide? They're going to be a team that's working with the people of Venezuela to make sure that we have Venezuela right. Because for us to just leave, who's going to take over?

I mean, there is nobody to take over. Venezuela's vice president demanding the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, saying Venezuela has a duty to safeguard its sovereignty that has been attacked. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Congress was not notified prior to the mission, saying doing so would have, quote, endangered the mission. On Capitol Hill tonight, at least four House Republicans releasing statements criticizing this military operation in Venezuela. Democrat leaders in both the House and Senate are calling for an immediate briefing for the gang of eight and a full briefing for all members of Congress next week. In New York, Lionel Moyes, ABC 11 eyewitness news.

Lionel, thanks. And as Lionel mentioned, the military operation was carried out by the Army's Delta Force. The Delta Force is based at Fort Bragg here in North Carolina. We've reached out to Fort Bragg to learn more about the extent of their military. involvement. They put us in touch with the Department of War. They have not responded to our request for more information. We're also working to confirm a detail from the New York Times tonight that 40 Venezuelans were killed in the operation, both military and civilians. And here in the triangle tonight, the operation in Venezuela is sparking some mixed reaction in the Venezuelan community. Some people are excited about that move against the man they view as a dictator, but

others are worried about the precedent set by the actions of the Trump administration. John Dowding joins us live outside our downtown Raleigh- Eyewitness News Center. John, tell us. That's what you're hearing from people tonight in the Venezuelan community. Well Steve, many of the people we spoke to letting out a sigh of relief tonight that Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro is no longer in power. But others worry about the other members of his regime still in the country and about what a long-term U.S. involvement could look like in the country. From excitement, to concern.

U.S. out of everywhere. Venezuelans across the triangle expressing mixed reactions tonight after the United States launched early morning strikes in Venezuela and captured President Nicholas Maduro and his wife. When I woke up, I was in shock. I think I'm still processing. Some Venezuelans gathered in more square to celebrate the news. Brainer Amistee says he was forced to flee Venezuela

after speaking out against the regimes of Maduro and former Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. He says, today we find ourselves filled with happiness because we finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. And I know that we're going to reach that light because there's nothing more important than freedom. President Donald Trump announcing details of the mission Saturday and saying the U.S. will oversee Venezuela's governmental operations. Going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition. News of the action in Venezuela sparking protests across the country. Chopper 11 over a rally that shut down streets in downtown Raleigh.

I think it needs to go back to the people and making sure that we're not exploiting. If it is about that the resource of state and that we keep our sovereignty. Paola Davila left Venezuela with her family at 12. Although she's relieved Maduro is no longer in power, she says she worries about what the long-term U.S. involvement looks. like. I think this is a moment where we get back to fighting for what our country, what we want, what we want to see it become, instead of letting it in the hands of U.S. But others we spoke to say U.S. support could help remove Maduro's regime from power.

There are questions in this moment about the future of Venezuela, debaughal of the president of Trump and the U.S. How do you see in this moment, about the future of the control of Venezuela, of Venezuela? He says, we have a political coalition led by Maria Corino Machado, who is the leader of the opposition. We consider her the political leader of Venezuela, and if we have Trump's support for her, then we feel we have a legitimate foreign backing towards true freedom in Venezuela. And while there were some mixed feelings shared in the Venezuelan community here in the triangle, the main similar feeling, the main feeling shared by everyone, we spoke to. today hope that the people of Venezuela might finally have a voice again. Live outside the Raleigh, I Witness News Center. I'm John Doubting.

ABC 11, eyewitnesses. And that's because John, many world leaders believe Maduro was not legitimately elected, and that is a feeling echoed in the Venezuelan community around the world as well. Thanks for that report from Raleigh tonight. Demonstrators also taking to the streets in downtown Durham this afternoon, opposing the operation in Venezuela. More than 100 people gathered at the bull statue in CCB Plaza calling for peace in Venezuela. The group is asking members of Congress to end the U.S. involvement in that South American country.

Because I think it's outrageous what's happening, and we all need to speak up and let everybody know that this is not acceptable. It's up to us. It's up to us to say this is our democracy, this is our Constitution, and we are not going to stand by and let you do whichever you want. We're going to hold you accountable. Demonstrators also spent the afternoon singing and praying for Venezuela. Tonight some people trying to return here to North Carolina from their holiday getaways to the Caribbean are stuck because the government closed airspace as the situation unfolds in Venezuela at the RDU airport six nonstop flights to and from San Juan were canceled today and more than 613 other flights also canceled to and from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Aruba, and more than a dozen other destinations in the lesser Antilles Island group that's north of Venezuela. And we'll have continuing coverage of the breaking news coming up here on eyewitness news and also tomorrow morning right here on ABC 11. Now the latest on today's big breaking news in Wake County, a teacher murdered in a home invasion and a Raleigh neighborhood inside the Beltline. Zoe Welsh, a teacher at the Ravenscroft School, was on the phone with 911 when the burglar attacked her.

It happened inside her home near Wade Avenue in St. Mary Street. Diane Wilson is here now with the details from the RPD and also reaction from neighbors. Diane. Steve, you know, shock from many people who live in this area where their murder happened and the Ravenscroft community mourning the loss of one of their beloved teachers. Police telling us they got a 911 call from the victim, Zoe Welsh, around 6.30 this morning from her home on Clay Street, reporting a man was inside her home. While on that 911 call, investigators say the suspect 36-year-owned Ryan Camacho began assaulting her. When officers arrived at Welch's home, police say she had life-threatening injuries. She was taken to the hospital where she later died.

Police charge Camacho with Welsh's murder and felony burglary. Neighbors in the area say they don't recognized Camacho and can't believe this type of crime happened in their neighborhood. Mind blowing. It's devastating for people who live on this area, but it's crazy. Yeah. I mean, kind of shocking to hear about this sort of stuff going on so close to me. I mean, literally like right down the street here. Yeah, got a lot of kind of, I don't really how to process what I can do. Welsh was a teacher at Ravenscroft in Raleigh, the school providing this statement. The Ravenscroft community is devastated by the loss of our beloved colleague and friend Zoe Welsh. Zoe has been a cornerstone of her upper school science department in the Ravenscroft community for years. Her loss

is deeply felt by all of us who had the privilege of working with her and learning in her classroom. The school adding they will be providing grief counseling and support resources for faculty, staff, and students when they return to campus on Monday. Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce providing this statement, saying, I am deeply heartbroken for this mother, friend, and mentor to many in our community and for the unimaginable trauma her family must endure. We extend our deepest sympathy to Miss Welsh's family during this incredibly difficult time. And police adding, their investigation is ongoing. The suspect Ryan Camacho is behind bars and expected to make his first court appearance on Monday. Steve? Such a tragedy for people in the Ravenscroft and Raleigh community.

Diane, thank you. Also breaking to Tonight, two people are dead after a shooting at a restaurant in Fayetteville. This happened just before 7 o'clock this evening at Max Speed Shop on North McPherson Church Road. Police say when they arrived, they found two people shot. One person died there at the scene and the other died at the hospital. Police have not shared their names or what led to the shooting. We do know a person of interest has been located and is being questioned by detectives. All right, let's turn now to the first alert weather and we have the view from the Pendo Sky Cam over downtown Raleigh.

The sky is clear tonight after a day of some light sprinkles across the viewing area. It was chilly too. The good news tomorrow is looking a little better and a little brighter. Meteorologist Cruz Medina joins us now in the first alert forecast center with a look ahead to Sunday. Cruz. Hey there, Steve. Yeah, I think these are going to be some welcome changes to most folks across the area as we hop into these 50s, which is going to feel better than the 40s that we had today. And of course, the sunshine comes back out. And it's been pretty cloudy today, but we've got some pretty sunny days coming up this week. Now, as we go into the middle of the week, notice, it's going to be very warm. That's spring-like warmth. And that's just the start of that warm up that's going to stick around for quite some time. We'll talk a bit more about that in just a moment.

But tonight, notice the thick clouds from earlier today have now pressed off to the east. So it's mostly clear at this point, but we will see some clouds redevelop back to our west. Even with a few clouds around tipters are still going to be cold tonight. Tipters in the upper 20s to lower 30s as you step out the door tomorrow morning. And so that means if you're waking up early to walk the dog, you're going to want some layers on. So those lower 30s will stick around for several hours in the morning. By noon, though, we're reaching the mid-40s, which is warmer than what we had anywhere in Central North Carolina today. And then for the afternoon, many of us do achieve those low to mid-50s, especially from the triangle and Point South.

It'll be slightly cooler in areas like Henderson and Roanark Rapids, topping out in those upper 40s. Now, like I said, those 60s that we talked about for the middle of the week, that's just the start of that stretch that's going to linger through most of next week. So coming up in a few minutes, we're going to take a look at that seven-day forecast and see those warm temperatures. But I can also tell you for tonight, it is much colder than what we're going to see next week. So 30s across the region, 60s next week. We'll take a deeper dive into your seven-day coming up in just a few minutes. All right, crew is chilly right now, but a great-looking warm-up on the way. We'll see you soon. Thanks.

Still ahead here on eyewitness news. We'll have more on the breaking news, the American military capturing the president of Venezuela and taking him to New York to face federal charges. You'll see how members of Congress here in North Carolina are now reacting to the operation and whether the White House had the authority to make the move in the first place. Also coming up, it's a dream come true for the ultimate Wolfpack fan. We'll show you how the NC State men's and women's basketball teams help put a smile on the face of this Raleigh teenager coming up. We are back now with more on the big breaking news tonight. The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife are now in New York City,

where they're facing federal drug and weapons charges. The couple was captured by American Special Forces soldiers last night at the presidential palace in Caracas. They landed in New York City this evening on board that government, 7.57 you see there. One big question people are asking is focused on the legality of the operation in Venezuela. And what's next for Maduro now that he's in New York facing the federal charges. We spoke with UNC Chapel Hill International Relations Professor Navine Bapat about the operation and the role of Congress.

So typically when the U.S. does use military force abroad, again, the law is that the president can do that for 90 days, and then after that they need congressional approval, right? That's the war powers act. That's the law. Normally, since the norm has been that the U.S. presidency or presidents have tried to keep key congressional leaders informed if they're going to do something like this, if there's going to be a military action abroad, even if it was eventually going to be subject to war power, there is sort of a norm that they do get kept in the loop. Again, but what I will say is that if we look at the Trump administration, there's two observations here. One is that this is a norm-defying presidency, right? The Trump administration often does things that, you know, previous presidents didn't do or behaves in a way that previous presidents had not. And so that's consistent with this. If the president chose to engage in this behavior and didn't follow the norm, not necessarily the law, didn't follow the norm, that is not a precedent for this administration. The other thing is that the president, as you mentioned, did couch this as a law enforcement operation. And in law enforcement operations, you don't typically go to Congress.

It's the president's job to enforce laws. It's the executive branch's jobs to enforce any types of laws. So this was a drug operation, right? That's not something the president would normally consult with Congress about. And President Trump said today he did not inform Congress in advance because he was concerned about someone leaking details of the military operation. Members of Congress from North Carolina are weighing in on the operation in Venezuela. We're getting mixed reaction about the capture of the Venezuelan president and his wife. Democratic Congresswoman Deborah Ross issuing a statement saying in part Donald Trump authorized a military operation

to enact regime change in Venezuela. He acted without regard for the Constitution and without considering the long-term consequences for our security and our democracy. Republican Senator Ted Bud posting on X in part, Maduro was an illegitimate dictator who has long been wanted in the U.S. on charges of narco-terrorism, corruption, and drug trafficking. POTUS's decisive action to capture and bring him to justice is monumental, not just for ending his brutal regime in Venezuela, but will save countless American lives. These actions are within the president's authority and send a clear message to America's enemies. Our nation will not allow threats to our safety and security to continue unchecked.

The view from members of the Democratic and Republican Party representing North Carolina in Congress tonight. All right, Cruz is back with us, taking a look at the week ahead. And chilly night tonight, chilly morning tomorrow. You said we might need to bundle up the dogs as well when we go off for a walk. But we've got a nice looking warm up on the way. Yes, we do. I think we're going to be breaking out the shorts next week instead of the winter jacket. So that's going to be a welcome change after a chilly start to our weekend.

And I can tell you, even tomorrow, better and brighter what tipter's in the 50s. It's just the morning that is a bit on the chilly side. So improving conditions for the back half of the weekend. Obviously, next week's looking pretty nice. Monday will be the first day with those tipters in the 50s to start. the week and then after that we go into the 60s that lasts for an extended period of time through your seven day forecast but also what you won't see in the seven day is a whole lot of rain chances now why that's significant is because we're coming out of a big deficit as we ended out last year and now we start this new year we are somewhere near eight inches below where we should be for this part of the year so coming out of last year we're carrying that deficit into this new year and we could really use some rain but some of you got at least a few sprinkles today. It was nothing significant and that has now pressed off into the Atlantic. So tonight we just have a few fair weather clouds around and without the presence of

thicker clouds tonight, we're going to see those tipters drop into the 20s. So it will be a chilly start today tomorrow. You're waking up a few clouds around in the morning, but through the afternoon we see abundant sunshine. Tipters will range from the upper 40s up north to low and middle 50s from the triangle and points to the south into the sand hills. Now as we go into early Monday. We've got a few batches of clouds moving in. Tipgers then should start out a little bit milder in the mid 30s. And like I said, tipgers for Monday afternoon will be similar to what we see tomorrow. So we're expecting more of those 50s tomorrow overall kind of where we should be for this time of the year. So we'll call it seasonable. We at least have sunshine. If you have any

outdoor plans tomorrow, be a nice day to be outside. You might just need a light jacket or a hoodie. Now as we go forward, high pressure slides off to our east. This turns our wind. out of the southwest. And so that's where the warm-up starts. We've also got a front that's going to come in mid-week, and ahead of that, those winds will ramp up. So it turns breezy, but southwest winds push our temperature into the mid-60s. And you can see that it's not just for us, it's most of the south and the southeast that are going to experience those much above-average temperatures as we go forward in time. So get ready for the warm-up. It's just not going to take place throughout tonight. So tipters go down into the 20s again tonight, mostly clear sky. And then

for tomorrow. We see more sunshine. Tipters will range from the 40s up north and 50s for the triangle and points to the south. Your first alert, ACUweather 7-day forecast. Here it is. Feeling like spring as we go into the middle of the week. So the warm up begins on Tuesday. That's where those mid-60s come into play. Upper 60s as we go into the back half of the week as well. We will notice the clouds increase by that point. We could also see a stray shower as we go into late Friday or Saturday. Right now that rain chance looking fairly low but it's something that will keep an eye on as we go forward in time. Temperatures though in the near term looking like we should for this time of the year. Those 50s and

then of course the 60s as we go into the middle and back half of the week. Overall Steve I'm really looking forward to the shorts weather. Yeah let's get the shorts out and that's really amazing right here in January talking temps near 70 a few days this week. As a warm weather fan, I'm excited. I'll take it. I'm with you on that. Sounds great. All right, Cruz, thanks.

We'll see again in a few minutes. Coming up next here at 11, a restaurant in Clayton is closed right now after a car went crashing right into it. What police say led to the crash and what we know about that driver tonight. New tonight, a Clayton restaurant is closed for the rest of the weekend after a car crashed into it. Town officials sharing this picture of the Vincent's Pub and Restaurant in East Main Street. You can see that Red Dodge Charger partially inside the dining area.

It happened about 10.30 this morning when the driver was going west on Main Street, veered off the road and crashed there into the restaurant. The restaurant was closed at the time of the crash. The driver is believed to have had some kind of medical emergency, and that led to the crash. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to be okay. The building, though, has been deemed unsafe. We have a traffic alert for drivers in Wake County for the next four nights. The DOT is closing one ramp each night at I-40, I-4-40 and the U.S. 1 interchange for soil testing. The first detour tomorrow is for US1 northbound and I-440 westbound.

The detours will be in place from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Wednesday there on your screen. All right, Kate is joining us now with a look at sports, and the Panthers are looking at a game tomorrow because they're hoping to make the playoffs in a game they're not even playing in. Only in the NFC South would the division be decided by two teams who are not playoff contenders that have known they're not going to make the postseason for what? Months now? That's right. The Carolina Panthers didn't get the job. done versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers so it's going to come down to the Saints and Falcons we show you what went wrong and what the guys have to say after this

I'm going to be able to be. I'm going to be. Thank you. I'm going to be. I'm going to be. We're going to be. We're going to be. We're going to be.

We're going to be able to be. We're going to be able to be. The canes are banged up and I feel like losses like that aren't any easier. brent burns ejectory who do play for the abs so the canes got to get their act together but we hopefully have some more positive news coming up in sports because today we'd a huge slate of men's basketball so stick around we'll get you updated on the pack duke and unccc all right more to come yeah the home ice in the new year has not been kind to the canes and they're right back at it in new jersey yeah quick turn around turn right around all right k we'll see again in a few minutes thanks still ahead here on eyewitness news the venezuelan president nicholas moduro in new york city tonight facing those federal charges and we'll take you to new york next where meduro is being held in a

detention center. The reaction there in the Big Apple plus what comes next in the legal case now being built against him.