ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 4pm - February 12, 2026

Episode Date: February 12, 2026

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Coming up here on Iwood News at 4 o'clock, closing arguments are now underway for Austin Thompson. He is the teen responsible for the heading him mass shooting. The witnesses, the defense called to the stand today and how they're describing Thompson following the shooting. Plus, what the prosecution is now pushing for. Breaking news out of Chapel Hill star UNC basketball player Caleb Wilson out indefinitely with a hand injury, what this could mean for the Tar Heels. And it is Black History Month. We're taking you to the campus of UNC Chapel Hill, where members of Black.

Greek letter organizations are talking about the importance of diversity on campus. Right now, live coverage from your local news leader, keeping you connected to your community, and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11 eyewitness news. Right now at 4, we're following breaking news unfolding in Durham. You can see police are on the scene of a deadly shooting there. Chopper 11 is over that scene. We can see that scene. We can see police are in what seems or appears to be like a courtyard area in some sort of apartment complex, maybe a housing project there. I'm not quite sure exactly where this location is, but we do know Durham police are on the scene. We're going to keep an eye on that and let you know exactly

what's happening there. Thank you so much for joining us for the news at 4. I'm Lauren Johnson. Barbara has the day off. I'm Amber Repenta. That investigation is unfolding right inside a neighborhood near the intersection of South Roxborough and East Cornwallis Road. Tom George just arrived there on the scene. Tom, the shooting happened in broad daylight. Yeah, we're still working to learn more information about what led up to this shooting. But as you mentioned, this all happening in broad daylight in a pretty busy neighborhood, this entire area full of homes. It's blocked off right now. A little bit earlier, the entire entrance to the neighborhood was blocked off too.

We saw some, an EMS crew rushing away from the scene. But now it is still blocked off right here. I want to kind of show you briefly where we're looking at. So you see that group of officers right there. It appears the investigation is all centering around that row of homes. on the other side near this courtyard area. I want to take you to some

video from Chopper 11 now that shows the area that we're talking about. It all appears to be behind a row of homes. Again, no word on what led up to this shooting. We did see multiple crews on

scene, though. We saw police. We saw an EMS crew leaving the scene as well. But again, this all unfolding right now. And again, in broad daylight, just a few minutes ago,

we saw kids getting off of the school bus coming home to see this crime scene. to see this crime scene tape in their neighborhood. A lot of neighbors have been stepping out to try and see what has been going on. Again, this all unfolding right now, a very active investigation, multiple units from Durham police on scene right now. We're going to continue to talk to investigators and work to learn what led up to that shooting and let you know as soon as we know more. For now we're live in Durham.

Tom George, ABC 11, O, Otis News. All right, Tom. We know you'll be gathering details there from the scene. We'll check back in. Thank you. And we're following more breaking news just into the newsroom. UNC basketball star forward. Caleb Wilson now out for an extended period of time after fracturing his hand.

The injury happened in the first half of UNC's lost to Miami. On Tuesday night, Wilson is a major part of the heel success, putting up 17, 20-point performances, setting UNC freshman records. According to ESPN, at this time, there is no specific timetable for Wilson's return. Trey Miles, following this breaking development, he'll have the latest coming up at 5 o'clock. Right now at 4. Headingham shooter, Austin Thompson will soon learn his fate. Closing arguments are underway right now during the sentencing hearing as the prosecution and defense make their cases. The 18-year-old pled guilty last month to killing five people, including his older brother in Raleigh's Headingham neighborhood in October of 2022. That sentencing hearing has been underway for the past two weeks.

Today, the defense called clinical and forensic psychologist, Dr. Jennifer Sapia, to the Stan Sapia, talking about Thompson's brain injury from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and how it has impacted his mental capability. The defense also called Phyllis Jones, a former detention center principal who met Thompson at the Cumberland County Detention Center. And the final eyewitness called to the stand was Robert Fermanides, a volunteer chaplain at the Cumberland County Detention Center. And he described the relationship he developed with Thompson, including that he was baptized two weeks before his birthday and now closing arguments are underway. Elena, Athens joins us live now from the Wake County Justice Center. Elena, what's the latest happening there today? Well, the defense just started its closing argument within the last half hour. Austin Thompson's attorney said what we've heard from a number of the defense's witnesses,

which is that there were no warning signs. The lead prosecutor spent a great deal of time during its closing arguments going through Thompson's online search history. Some of those searches dating back from before he was using a certain medication. The defense has sought out during the hearing to prove the medication might have impacted his decision making. The searches Thompson made, which were entered into evidence, include other mass shooters, the types of weapons used in large-scale killings and even, quote, serial killers that kill for fun. The lead prosecutor started and ended his closing arguments by showing

a picture of all of the victims. He was on a pathway to violence. He was at the start of that and made it all the way on to the path of violence. He committed violence not once, not twice, not three times, seven times that day. He terrorized an entire community for over an hour. To say that he was acting and didn't have a plan and know what was going on, I would submit to your honor, it is not believable. This is a calculated, mature 15.

year old who committed one of the deadliest spree shootings in this state. Each and every victim was innocent. They were living their lives that children are fundamentally different than adults. So again, the defense is giving their closing arguments right now. I'm going to head back into court, have another update here on eyewitness news at 5 o'clock. For now we're live in Raleigh, Elena Athens, ABC 11 eyewitness news. Yeah, this has been going on for several weeks now and they are wrapping things up. Elena, we'll check back in. Thank you. Right now at first, Four o'clock concerns continue to grow in the community as we learn more about possible measles exposures and cases popping up all across the area. The latest one is now in Orange County. Officials there are saying the infected person visited Orange County while contagious.

They visited the Goodwill store located at 1-1-15 Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill on February 6th between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. One of the biggest questions centers around if you need to get a booster for the MMR vaccine, the vaccine that protects against measles. A Duke University pediatric infectious disease doctor says the first dose of the MMR vaccine starts at a year old and then a second dose sometime after, usually around four or six years of age. Doctors say data shows those two doses can cover you for life. We have really good data that the immunity that you get to measles lasts for your whole life. Have a discussion with your doctor about whether or not they think it's a good idea for you. So far as we can tell, there are no problems with people getting additional doses. Doctors say children between six and 11 months old can get a MMR vaccine,

especially of traveling somewhere with a high community spread. Coming up, John Dowding sits down with a Raleigh mom who has immunocompromised children and rely on herd immunity through others being vaccinated to keep her family safe, the steps she's taking at five. And as we know, measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications. So here's what you need to look out for. Symptoms usually start seven to 14 days after infection. They can include a fever, a cough, runny nose.

Within two to three days, tiny white spots can appear in the mouth. Within three to five days, a measles rash appears on the face and starts to spread down. All right, let's turn now to first alert weather on a Friday Eve, the warm temps causing some confusion. We get it for these flowers in Rale. This yellow daffodil popping out as we hit the mid-60s today. But don't let these mild temperatures fool you. It's about to get cold again tonight. Cumberland County is opening one of its white flagged.

It's alters tonight as temperatures drop. It's the Salvation Army of the Sandhills on Alexander Street. Chief meteorologist Don Schwinnaker here with a check of the forecast on a lot of back and forth with our weather these last few weeks. Yeah, it is the season. And we will see those temperatures tonight dropping down into the 20s in spots, but we recover in time for the rain this weekend. No rain out there tonight on the first alert Doppler net. We'll head live on the Pendoz Sky Cam looking into downtown Raleigh. 50 degrees right now, mostly cloudy out of west wind at eight miles an hour. 50 Nightdale, Carey, Apex 51, Holly Springs, Clayton, 47, Rollsville, 48, Wake Forest. You go north, 49 Roxborough, 46, Roanoke Rapids, 50 in Rocky Mount, 54 out your door in Pinehurst, 55 in Fayville, and 55 in Clinton. A first alert to the evening ahead. Those temperatures in the 50s falling through the 40s by 10 o'clock, we dropped to 40 degrees. And we'll talk more about that cold overnight, a nice Friday shaping up, and that chance for rain over the weekend. police forecasts coming up in just a bit. Lauren. All right, Don, thank you. Now's a good time to download that ABC 11 app. It's a great way to stay up to date on the current weather conditions.

Turning now to some other local headlines in your speed feed first. Carrie police are investigating a stabbing that sent one person to the hospital. It happened this morning in the 3,000 block of Renaissance Park Place. The victim was taken to the hospital after being stabbed in the leg. They are expected to be okay. One person was taken into custody. Police do believe this was a domestic violence situation. In Durham, a man is dead after being shot and killed on the sidewalk of East Umsted Street just off Fayetteville Street. Homicide investigators spending nearly seven hours at the scene. Police have now identified the victim as 47-year-old, Tavares, Joyner, and so far there's no word on any suspects.

Also happening right now, a Durham teenager recovering after a drive-by shooting last night near Rosedale Avenue and Halley Street, Police say a 13-year-old boy was walking around 9 o'clock when a car drove by and opened fire in the boy's direction. They say the teen was hurt in the incident but is expected to be okay. And new at 4 tomorrow is the last day. Wake County Public Health will operate out of its current location. It comes as the center prepares to move into its new location. All next week, the center will be closed to the public for all services except for prescription pickup next week. As staff make that final move to their new location, the new public health.

Health Center will be located at 200 Swinburne Street in Raleigh, and it will be open to the public on Monday, February the 23rd. And that's your speed fee. Lauren, back to you. All right, in your voice, your vote, early voting is officially underway here in North Carolina. People all across the state heading to the polls today, including Democrat Roy Cooper, who's running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Tom Tillis, who is not seeking re-election. We were there today as Cooper stopped by Chavez Park in Raleigh to cast his vote. His opponent, Republican Michael Watley, was also out today visiting the Gastonia Board of Elections. We'll have more from voters at the polls today coming up at 4.30.

Still to come, a new FBI report shows domestic violence is on the rise. It comes as one local family is still mourning the loss of a beloved mother of three who died in a domestic violence dispute. And new clues in the case of Nancy Guthrie. Investigators are now turning to neighbors for help. We'll have more on that ongoing search after the break. Don? We're taking a live look. I-40, Avent Ferry Road at this hour.

Traffic moving along on both sides of the road just. as we hit a break here, your traffic hotspots brought to you by your first alert weather team. The ABC 11 First Alert forecast team is working to keep you safe. WONDES across the region. Some cloud cover starting to build. That rain is going to push on through. Cold air coming in. The first alert forecast team.

Only on ABC 11, I Witness News. I witness news. We are local news weeknights four to six 30 and 11. I knew it four. I knew FBI report shows domestic violence is up over a. five-year period, the impacts are felt at home right here in the triangle. Cindy Bay is live in Durham, where just last week, Durham police was investigating a domestic murder suicide. Hi, Cindy. Hey, good afternoon, Lauren. Well, just as nationally domestic violence is up, North Carolina

is also seeing an increase as well. This comes as one Durham family, for example, is still mourning over the loss of a beloved mother of three. Domestic violence is up, according to an FBI data analysis that finds there have been more than 11,000 domestic violence murder victims from 2020 through 2024. We saw homicides go from around 53 per year to 90 a year. The impact is felt here in North Carolina, where Nisha Williams, who is the legal director for the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, says the number of homicide cases nearly doubled in 2024. She says it's the highest rate they've seen of domestic violence. homicides. This comes as a family in the Bull City is mourning over the loss of a 27-year-old

mother, Shikiva Dixon, who was shot and killed at this apartment on Crest Street by a man police say she was once in a relationship with before he turned the gun on himself last week. Dixon's family says she had ended their abusive relationship. When a person is actually trying to leave their relationship or has recently left the relationship, that is the time that they are the most at risk of a homicide. And so that's why I, It's important that we have safety plans for them. Dixon's family says her young children were home with her at the time of the incident. They were not harmed, but her family is navigating the loss of their loved one together with Dixon's three children temporarily in their custody.

I'll have more on the resources available for domestic violence survivors ahead on eyewitness news at 5 in Durham. Cindy Bay, ABC 11 eyewitness news. Very valuable information. people can get access to. Cindy, thank you. Turning now to the search for Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old, believed to be taken from her home 12 days ago in the middle of the night. And investigators have a new request for neighbors as her daughter today's show host Savannah Guthrie posts a new message to the public. ABC's Jacqueline Lee has more on that new message. Investigators back at Nancy Guthrie's home Thursday, where they put up a white tent at the

front door. That tent up for about an hour. Those are typically used for privacy. Investigators appearing to carry a laser measuring device and a large pelican case labeled video forensics. The Pima County Sheriff's Department today sending a request across the entire county for people to check for any video footage they may have from January 1st through February 2nd. Investigators say they believe Nancy Guthrie was taken from her home in the early hours of February 1st. Her daughter, Savannah Guthrie, posting this family video on Instagram today, writing, Our lovely mom, we will never give up on her. The FBI looking in and around the Catalina foothills in Arizona, investigators combing through roadside brush, drainage basins,

and parsing through more than 18,000 tips as the search for the 84-year-old grandmother stretches through its second week. The Sheriff's Department also today saying investigators have recovered several items of evidence, including gloves. They are currently being analyzed. The Pima County Sheriff's Department says they've received a new influx of calls after the FBI publicly released this doorbell video, the subject wearing gloves.

gloves, a mask with a backpack, and appearing to be armed with a gun. I think the real key in this video is if you know this person, he walks a certain way, like all of us do, a certain way. Source is also telling ABC News, the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department are looking into video posted online by TMZ, showing a man with a backpack about five miles from Nancy Guthrie's house before her abduction. It is not confirmed if the backpack in that video is the same backpack in the same backpack in the same. the doorbell camera footage released by the FBI. Jacqueline Lee, ABC News, Los Angeles. New this afternoon, the Trump administration is dismantling a long-standing U.S. climate policy

revoking the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Today, President Donald Trump announced the repeal of the EPA's 2009 endangerment finding and the elimination of vehicle emissions standards tied to it. The move is expected to face legal challenges, though. Experts say that the fight could take years and it could ultimately reach the Supreme Court. But they say no future EPA will be able to regulate carbon dioxide emissions if the Trump administration's repeal is upheld in court. All right, Don Schwinnaker, it's been a pleasant work or I was going to say work week. It has been a pleasant work week, but a good weather week though as well.

It really has. I mean, we've had some nice stretches. Now tomorrow we start off colds and we'll see 20s in spots to start today. But we recover in the afternoon and we get some of that much needed ring coming up at 6 o'clock. We'll show you the drought report, and it's getting worse around here. And we need all the rain we can get. Live look at First Alert, Doppler net tonight, scanning the sky, is not seeing any rain out there to deal with. We're looking live out at RDU, some high thin clouds working through 50 degrees, lots of sunshine, technically mostly cloudy with those clouds up above, and at west wind at 8 miles an hour.

48 now in Oxford, 49 in Roxburgh. We should be at 54, so we're just below average in Raleigh, Durham, Carbro at 50, 50, 51 in Smithfields, 53 in Goldsboro and pair of fives from Clinton over to Fayetteville. Tonight, expect those temperatures down into the 20s for those partly cloudy skies that will be cooler out there on a north wind at five miles an hour and even so it feels like temperatures mid-20s. Now satellite radar composite, we're clear around here. As the moisture gets shoved up against the mountains, it is causing a little bit of snow at some of the higher elevations out in western North Carolina. We're seeing rain through southern Iowa into central Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. This will track off to the south and to the east.

Your first alert predictor forecast model. As we go through the afternoon and into the evening, temperatures will fall. When you join us for ABC 11 at 11 tonight, we're down in the 30s, but we're still above freezing. We go below freezing and the overnight with some 20s to start the day tomorrow. But we recover quickly, and by the afternoon, we're back to about 50 degrees. Lots of sunshine, great end to the work week on Friday.

It's looking nice around here. Let's talk Saturday as we go into Saturday morning, 9 o'clock. We're above freezing, 40s. Good morning on Saturday. Then as we get into the afternoon on Valentine's Day, we'll actually see temperatures in the 60s. Saturday is the day to be outside because by Sunday morning, the next system approaches from the south.

And you can see by 6, 7, 8 o'clock in the morning. We will see showers starting to spread through the region on Sunday. And those showers stay with us Sunday into Sunday afternoon, possibly into Monday morning. Forecast looks like this for tomorrow. Temperatures across the region will top out in the, the 50s, 52 degrees Raleigh, Durham, 54 in Fayetteville, sunshine and lots of it, looking at numbers from across the region tomorrow. You'll hit 52 in Carborough, 52 in Clayton and Garner, 53 in Holly Springs and Lillington, 53 in Clinton.

You go north, 48, South Hill, 47 Roanoke Rapids, and 51 in Wilson. First alert, seven-day forecast, showing temperatures into the 60s on Saturday. Sunny in the morning, clouds increasing in the afternoon. Sunday, that soaking rain, we could pick up up to an inch and a half of rain in spots. And that may cause a little localized flooding. Not too worried about it, we can take a lot of rain on this dry ground. Monday, we dry out 58 degrees. Tuesday, more clouds, 64.

Yeah, those aren't mistakes. Wednesday and Thursday, we've got 70s working in on into next week. So feeling more like spring around here. And just think about it, ladies, in another week or two, people will start complaining about the pollen. That's true. It's always the weather. The land of yellow. It should hold off in so much. I just keep thinking we just had snow like a week ago.

Yeah, yeah, back into the 70s next week. Don, thank you. You back. Coming up, a recall alert for those of you who might like seafood after the break, while one salmon brand is being pulled from store shelves. Plus, if you like Duncan and UNC basketball, we have got a story for you. The special deal to university and the coffee chain are teaming up for.

It's time now for news you can use. We have a salmon recall to let you know about Slade. Gorton and company is recalling two pound bags of its Wellesley Farm's farm-raised Atlantic salmon. That's after food and drug officials found Listeria in a random sample. The product was sold only at BJ Wholesale Club in a number of states, including North Carolina. Keeping your home warm could be getting more expensive. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association says home heating costs are expected to jump 11% this winter. That's an increase from the original 9.2% projected. The higher bills can be attributed to rising prices for

natural gas, electricity, and heating oil along with sustained frigid temperatures. The vast majority of Americans heat their homes with electricity and natural gas. Industry analysts say those prices will likely keep rising for the next few years. Calling all Duncan lovers and UNC Chapel Hill fans next Tuesday, the coffee chain is celebrating national random acts of kindness day at the Chapel Hill Duncan location on East Franklin Street. The first 99 guest will get a free $5 gift card. The 100th guest will receive two tickets to the UNC men's basketball home game on March 3rd at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill. Duncan will also be giving away some UNC and Duncan gear.

That is news you can use. Amber, back to you. All right, Lauren, thank you. Coming up here at the bottom of the hour, a fatal teen now charged in the murder of his mother. We're talking with friends of the victim as they remember her today. Plus, get ready to head to the polls. Early voting is now underway. For the March primary, we are talking with people who got out to vote. today. We are local news. ABC 11 eyewitness news continues now. New this afternoon, Isaac Tracy,

the Fayetteville teenager charged with stabbing his own mother appeared in court today by webcam. Penelope Lopez is joining us live now at the Cumberland County Courthouse. So Penelope, I know that you spoke with a nearby neighbor here who knew the mother and son. What did that neighbor have to say? Good afternoon. Amber eyewitness news has learned that Catherine Zivaldi and her teen son Isaac Tracy had lived in that home for a little less than a year. One neighbor telling me that they were mostly quiet and they kept mostly to themselves. Very sharp. This is I've been married to my husband almost 40 years. I never heard like this in my neighborhood. Neighbors along Daphne Circle in Fayetteville are still struggling to process

what happened. I see the boy every day when he go to school and his mom. I say, I saw her twice. Police say when they arrived at the home just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, they found a woman suffering from stab wounds. That woman, 49-year-old Catherine Savaldi, she died at the scene. The following day, detectives arrested her 17-year-old son, Isaac Tracy, charging him with first-degree murder. Because of the severity of the crime, Tracy is being charged as an adult. Can you imagine your mom, you kill your mom? That's very sad.

Neighbors are still trying to come to terms with what happened this week. Coming up in the next hour, hear from one of Catherine's friend, how she wants to be remembered. Live in Fayetteville, Penelope Lopez, ABC 11, eyewitness news. Yeah, tragedy for that family. Penelope, thank you. New at four leaders in Chatham County have approved a temporary ban on the permitting of data centers, data processing facilities and cryptocurrency mining operations in the unincorporated areas of Chatham County. and it comes after a public hearing just yesterday. The moratorium takes effect immediately,

and it will stay in place until February 2027 or until new zoning regulations are adopted, whichever comes first. The action allows the county time to study the impacts of these uses and to develop clear modern standards to guide where and how data centers may operate in the future. In your voice, your vote. Today is the first day of early voting in North Carolina for the primaries. There are 319 early voting locations across the state,

which is a slight increase from the May 22 primaries. That year saw the highest voter turnout for a midterm primary in the state in two decades. Today we spoke with voters in Raleigh who shared what motivated them to cast their ballots. Everybody's concerned about immigration, affordability, you know, on the state level, people are concerned about the budgets, people concerned about public schools. So it's so much, but I know that it's so much that each candidate can tackle. I think it's clear, very clear from former elections that your vote does make a huge difference. And it's a privilege. Early voting runs through Saturday, February 28th, Election Day is Tuesday, March 3rd.

If you are looking for a place to vote in Wake County, 12 polling sites are available. The locations are there on the screen. The sites are open from 8 a.m. until 7.30 p.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturdays. and 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays. in Durham, 8 early voting sites are also. listed on your screen. Hours are similar to Wake County early voting except on Sundays. Polling sites are only open from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. in Durham County. And here's a look at the seven early voting sites in and around Cumberland County. It's important to note voters will only have

one Sunday to vote early in Cumberland County. That is this Sunday from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. No early voting sites will be open Saturday and Sunday, February 21st and 22nd. Now to some other headlines in your speed feed. First, the North Carolina Alliance. for safe transportation held its annual sweetheart some safety awards luncheon today. The yearly event honors those working to help keep roads across the state safe for drivers. This year's honorees include State Highway Patrol Communications Office leaders, including Sergeant Chris Knox and Marcus Bethlehem. We're honored to be included in this and I think it represents the commitment that

our agency has made, our leadership has made to prioritize, connecting to people, not just through tickets, but connecting through people. and however we can connect to them to keep them safe on the roadways. And this was the third year of that event. In Vance County, a senior advanced charter school is getting national recognition for his achievements on and off the basketball court. Colin Hughes received the 2026 Jersey Mike's Knysmith High School Basketball Courage Award today. During his time on his high school basketball team,

Colin overcame a rare life-threatening blood disorder and multiple hospitalizations, fighting his way back up to the starting lineup, earning all conference honors, and helping lead his team to its first conference championship. Over in Raleigh, Nonprofit Food Lion Feeds is helping to stock the food pantry on the campus of NC State University. Today, Food Lion Associates and campus staff delivered and stocked the pantry shells with $2,000 worth of shelf-stable pantry products. This is just one of nine pantries that Food Lion feeds will stock over the course of February. That is your speed feed, Lauren, back over to you. All right, still ahead of North Carolina town is facing two lawsuits, accusing the mayor of doing some unusual things, including being in town hall without any pants on.

Now that mayor is setting the record straight. Plus honoring our local educators, Wake County Schools announcing the people in the running for Teacher of the Year. And as we go to break, here's a live look at the skyline on this Thursday, beautiful Thursday. Great temperatures outside. Don says a chill-up is coming and then a warm-up is on the way. Covering the Carolinas now, a Marine with ties to Camp Lejeune has been declared dead after being lost in the Caribbean Sea. Officials say 21-year-old Lance Corporal fell overboard from the USS Iwojima last Saturday night, and his death comes after an extensive 72-hour search and rescue operation.

Officials say Navy ships, an inflatable boat, and 10 aircraft from the Navy, Marine Corps, and the Air Force were all used in the search efforts. The Marine was an infantry rifleman who enlisted in October 2023. He graduated school of infantry at Camp Lejeune. The circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation. A Charlotte community holding a vigil to remember a mother of five who was shot and killed during her break at work. Police say, Ina Lange, a longtime Bank of America employee, was shot twice in the back last Friday. Court documents say the gunman pulled up at a vehicle, walked towards Lange before firing the shots as she was walking away. 22-year-old Simone Andrew Smith was arrested in connection to the shooting.

Investigators have found no indication that the suspect and the victim knew each other. In Irdale County, the town of Moresville is facing two lawsuits from former employees who claim they observed unusual behavior from Mayor Chris Carney. The first lawsuit was filed by a former IT professional at the town hall who claims he was fired in retaliation after he reported seeing the mayor walk around the building without pants on back in 2024. Carney admits that he was captured on town hall surveillance video after an evening of prescribed anti-anxiety meds mixed with half a bottle of wine. I got sick in my trash can and then jumped up and ran to the bathroom and I was sick there. I have thrown up on them. I took them off. They were getting to clean up. That was it. A separate complaint was filed by the former assistant police chief. He claims that a police captain took part in a traffic stop involving Carney and that the captain, quote, observed behaviors. suggesting the mayor may have been impaired.

Carney denied that he was impaired behind the wheel and both lawsuits are still pending. Up next year at 4.30, Cumberland County delivering some picture mail just in time for Valentine's Day. Plus a hair fail turning into a teaching moment for one social media star, the celebrity who stepped in to give her some hair tips.

ABC 11 First Alert Weather on eyewitness news every day. New this afternoon, Wake County Public Schools has now announced the semi-finalist for the 20-2526 teacher of the year. 20 educators from all across the district made the list. They were recognized by their peers and school leadership for the work they do in the classroom each and every day. 10 finalists will be named in early April and then the winner will be announced at Wake County's Teacher of the Year banquet on May 20th. Congratulations to all of them. All right, it is time for today's top trending stories in real news.

First, a sharp pixie cut has become a signature look for an actress, Tiana Taylor, if you know her. And when one social media influencer tried to pull off the same style, things didn't quite go as planned. This was Chanel Sykes after trying to recreate the curly pixie. And as you can see, things did not work out. It doesn't look anything like Taylor's hair. And she went viral for this hair fail. Well, Tiana Taylor herself stepped in and brought the pros along for the ride. Check out this video of the actress and her glam squad, giving Sykes a full makeover while also teaching her how to style her own hair.

Now she can do it on her own. Such a sweet moment. All right, Fayetteville native and rapper Jay Cole has been making his round since the release of his new album, the fall off. The rapper has been spotted all across the East Coast, prompting the album, including Crabtree Mall, UNC, UNC, Cole has been visiting places where he said he sold copies of his debut project, the come up for $1 out of the trunk of his old Honda Civic. Well, now he's been driving that same Honda Civic to different college campuses and locations, meeting with his fans talk about a full circle moment. So humble.

In California, a tiny kitten spotted or stopped an entire freeway in Los Angeles. Take a look at what happens when the officer comes to the rescue of the cat. You can see the officer hop out of his patrol car, walk over to the cat, and simply pick it up. The kitten was safely removed from the road and taken to a nearby animal shelter. Scary moments for that little kitty. That's real news. Amber, back to you. Glad that that ended just fine for that sweet kitty. All right, we're just two days away now for Valentine's Day,

and Coverland County Animal Services is helping to spread love virtually. Right now, the shelter is offering virtual Valentine grams from its furry friends. For $5 a donation of $5 bucks, you or someone special can receive a personalized digital Valentine from a sheltered dog or cat. Look at that face. All donations will go directly to their medical fund to support injured animals. That is a great value. Valentine idea.

When's Valentine's Day again, Don? That would be Saturday. I just got my flowers for it yesterday. It's all done. My gifts are done. Hi-bye. There's your warning out there if you haven't done anything for it. Let's talk about Valentine's Day real quick and the weekend.

If you've got plans to be outside, Saturday's the day, 61. We'll see clouds moving in as the day moves along. Sunday 53, it's going to be wet across the region. So be ready. Not seeing any showers out there tonight, live. at our first alert Doppler net scanning the skies. It's dry across our part of the Carolina. So let's head live down into Fayetteville on the self-help sky cam there on Haystreet.

You can see the sun up behind our logo there. It should be a beautiful sunset, though, with those high clouds working through the cotton candy sunset. 55 right now, sunny skies on a west-northwest wind at nine miles per hour. If you've got plans this evening, maybe to head out and about temperatures falling through the 40s. You'll need the jackets throughout the evening. But we stay above freezing. The time we go on for ABC 11 or 11, we are down to 40 degrees. Taking a look at our rain chances over the next several days,

and you'll see Sunday heavy rain is possible. That could be a very wet day around here, and the possibility of a soaking rain inch to an inch and a half, and you may see some localized flooding. I don't think it's going to be a big concern, but if you have leaves that have clogged up some of the drainage spots in your area, that's going to be a problem. Shower's left on Monday, and it starts to work out of here.

A look at your weekend forecast. Tomorrow, 52 degrees Saturday. Sunny in the morning clouds work in in the afternoon, 63. Sunday 53 with a soaking rain. By Monday, we dry out. And oh, by the way, there is something for our sports fans out there on Sunday. The Great American Race, the Daytona 500. Temperatures at the start, 79 degrees.

They should be able to get this race off on Sunday. And they'll be raining around here. It will be dry to start to race by the end of the race, though they could see spotting storms and see some rain delays. So we will have to watch for that down in Daytona, Florida on Sunday for the Super Bowl of Stock Car. All right, let's find out what's coming up at 5 o'clock for more on that. We check in with Steve Daniels. Hi, Don, thanks a lot. We are just hours away from a Wake County judge announcing the prison sentence for Raleigh mass shooter Austin Thompson. And new at five, his defense lawyers make their

closing argument saying Austin is different from a stereotypical mass shooter and explaining why they think he should be able to get out of prison on parole in the future. Also new at five, I team troubleshooter Diane Wilson comes to the rescue of a Durham woman who was in a battle with Walmart. They said they delivered a bunch of computer gear to Lakeisha's house, but her doorbell camera told a different story. We'll show it to you coming up. And eyewitness news checked in on the moral march. The Reverend William Barber leading the walk from Wilson arriving in Raleigh will explain what he's hoping to accomplish this time around. And a new study says most dog food has dangerous levels of heavy metals and other contaminants.

Researchers say it could contribute to higher cancer rates in our dogs. We're breaking down the worst offender when it comes to dog food. Lauren, I'll see you for the news at five in just a few minutes, and we'll make sure Diamond Johnson doesn't have that stuff on her menu, okay? I know. Poco too, we've got to be careful. I'll be right back. I'll be making poca some boiled chicken for the rest of the evening.

All right, Steve, thank you. Coming up, we're highlighting the legacy of black Greek letter organization. After the break, we will take you to UNC Chapel Hill, where members of the black fraternities and sororities are pushing for more diverse groups on campus. Tonight on ABC, a 911 Nashville Marathon. We're coming to you. First at 8.7 Central, Don, Blue, and Ryan take extreme measures to prevent a distillery explosion. At 9-8 Central, Nashville is under siege with each missed ransom escalating the stakes.

I think this is an attack. Somebody hacked their implant. And at 10-9 Central, the city's been hacked. A power outage triggered by hackers wreaks havoc at the hospital. It would be a catastrophic loss of lives. You are learning about the first responders and their families in a way that I think is definitely very fun and very interesting and complex. That's followed by your late local news. Then Jimmy Kimmel Live with guests, Tyler Perry, May Martin, and Marriacci El Bronx.