ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 9am - September 27, 2026

Episode Date: September 27, 2026

Eyewitness News at 9am - September 27, 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Right now, eyewitness news following several breaking stories happening in and around the triangle. On the left side of your screen, one man is dead and another is heard after a fight inside of Zaxby's ended in shots fire. What new information we're learning from the shooter's father. We're also following breaking news on the UNC Chapel Hill campus. Two football players have been charged after they were pulled over at an apartment complex not far from campus. We'll have more on those stories here in just a moment.

First here tonight, we're following a developing story unfolding in Fuqua Varena. Police are investigating a shooting at a Zaxby's restaurant. A father says his son, a worker at the restaurant, pulled out a gun and shot a man who came into the restaurant. Tom George is there live at the scene in Fuqua Varena with more on this interpersonal conflict that kicked off the violence at dinner. Tom, we know you just talked to the shooter's father. What'd you learn? I did. That father told me that his son works here at the Zaxby's when he says that other man

showed up at his work and jumped over the counter and attacked him. He says his son fired those shots in self-defense. In the meantime, they are still investigating that shooting. Crime scene tape surrounding this Zaxby's on Main Street and Fukukew Arena in a busy area as first responders rushed to the scene of the restaurant. I came out and I heard that there was a shooting and two people got shot. According to police, a man went inside and confronted an employee. The argument turning physical.

That's when a gun was pulled out and shots were fired. One of the men died at the hospital, another still recovering. The restaurant blocked off for hours as police investigated. People nearby shaken up. It's a very scary situation, especially in Bukwe, you know. Vukwe has always been pretty good. I've never really heard any shootings down here. But to see something right across the street where I work at, you know, makes me a little bit nervous.

Now still a lot of unanswered questions right now. Obviously, people still wondering what that employee was doing armed here at the Zaxpies. Again, also, whether what the father said was true about potential self-defense in this case, that is all going to be investigated by police right here. Again, they have not released the name yet of the person who died in this. That man's son, I mean, the man's son that I had spoken to is recovering at the hospital right now. So, Still investigating right here. We're still working to learn more from police here in Fukuave Arena. Reporting live, Tom George, ABC 11. Iwoodist News. All right. Still some questions to be answered tonight, Tom. Thank you.

Now to Western North Carolina, President Trump appearing in Gastonia tonight, speaking in a rally for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Watley. It's a boost. Watley may need as rival candidate Roy Cooper has a lead right now in the polling. The Watley Cooper matchup is one of the most watched Senate races in the country, a new polling from Elon University and East Carolina, University show Cooper is leading Wally. In the Elon poll, Cooper has an 11 point lead among

likely voters over Wally, but the race is closer in the East Carolina poll with Cooper only having a 7% edge over Wally. The campaign event today at Gastonia with the president was a chance for Wattley to get some major exposure at this late stage in the race. At that event, eyewitness News had an exclusive interview with President Trump. He discussed the Hurricane Helene Relief effort,

and he had a message to voters with the midterm election quickly approaching. Michael Perchick spoke with the president and brings you what he learned during that conversation. This evening, we went one-on-one with President Donald Trump, working to learn more about the administration's efforts as relates to Hurricane Helene Relief, the ongoing war in Iran, and the message of voters ahead of the upcoming midterms.

Hello, North Carolina. A packed crowd welcoming President Donald Trump back to North Carolina, a state he has carried in all three races. We will make America great again. Tonight, he encouraged supporters to show up in November. even when he's not on the ballot. The president highlighted candidates in key races across the country, namely Michael Wally at the top of the ticket. The golden age of America is upon us,

but you must get out and vote and vote for Michael Wattley. Speaking glowingly of his time leading the RNC. And I made him the chairman of the party, and he worked with my daughter-in-law, Laura Trump, who's very popular here, by the way. But they did a phenomenal job, and Laura will tell you that Michael Wattley is brilliant. He's tough, he's smart.

He won't stand for crime. U.S. House candidates Lori Buckout in District 1, and Jennifer Balkam in District 11 also addressed the crowd, providing an important stage at each face what analysts expect will be close races. During his speech, Trump discussed the war in Iran. Earlier this year, more than 1,500 troops with the 82nd Airborne based at Fort Bragg were deployed to the Middle East. I asked the president what concessancy seeking to reach a deal to end the conflict. Iran wants to make a deal. They're not ready, in my opinion.

We're going to either make a deal that's good or we're not going to make a deal at all. We've already ended their capability toward getting a nuclear missile. If we would not have used our B2 bombers, we would not, we would right now have an Iran with a nuclear weapon, and they would use it. From foreign to domestic, recovery from Hurricane Helene continues to be a major issue. Back in June, Governor Josh Stein met with the state's congressional delegation, requesting just over $10 billion in federal appropriations towards disaster recovery, saying more support is needed. Trump tells me the administration does plan to release further funding as he criticized Roy Cooper's handling up the storm. It was during his term that it happened. And if you remember, it was only until January 20th when I came into office that we took care of business.

Yeah, we're going to take care of the state. Wally similarly backed additional federal relief money towards recovery. We need to make sure that that area is in a position to rebuild and recover. The Cooper campaign highlighted his experience handling natural disasters, saying Wally failed his recoveries are. Writing in part, Roy Cooper will work with leaders in both parties to fast-track federal funding to ensure Western North Carolina get every federal dollar to owed. The main theme tonight for the president was public safety, which Wally has made his top issue. The reason I'm here today is to espouse Michael Wattley. He's fantastic.

He's an incredible, talented, wonderful human being, but he's a talented man, and he will do a great job as a senator. Roy Cooper's a disaster. He's a radical left liberal guy that guys is a sort of a modern, but he's not moderate and he believes in letting criminals out all over the street. Wally highlighting endorsements from law enforcement groups attacking Cooper's record. He marched with the rioters back in 2020. You know, this is a pattern right now. His entire career has been focused on coddling criminals and we're going to make sure that they're behind bars where they belong. The Cooper, who served 16 years at the state attorney general prior to governor

defended his time in office. A campaign spokesperson tells ABC 11 in part, Roy spent his career putting rapists and violent criminals behind bars and signing tough on crime laws as governor. Both Trump and Wally attacked a COVID-19 era settlement during Cooper's tenure as governor, which shot the release from more than 3,500 inmates. It came after civil rights groups filed a mandamus petition the state Supreme Court in April 2020. In June of that year, Superior Court judge ruled the plaintiffs were more likely than not to win their claim, that those incarcerated during the pandemic were being held unconstitutionally. And months later, in February 2021, the settlement was reached by the state and civil rights groups, which prompted the release of those prisoners over 180 days.

The Cooper campaign pointed to the Federal Cares Act passed in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic, which expanded discretion of the Bureau prisons to transfer lower risk inmates to home confinement to serve their full sentences, a figure which has since topped more than 13,000 people. While the Justice Department during Trump's first term called for individuals to ultimately re-enter prison when the emergency period ended, the department during the Biden administration allowed them to remain at home. To read more from our exclusive interview with the president. Log under the story at ABC11.com. In Gastonia, I'm Michael Perchick. ABC11, High Witness News. Michael, thanks. And Michael's interview is right there on the homepage at ABC11.com. We're following some breaking news unfolding

in Johnston County. A person is dead after getting shot in the town of Smithfield. Take a look at the pictures on your screen. Police responded to reports of shots fired on South Brightleaf Boulevard. Just after 5 p.m. tonight. Several agencies responded to the scene. When they arrived, they found someone dead near the road. So far no one has been arrested. And Durham, a man was rushed to the hospital after being shot in broad daylight there. Eyewitness news has been covering that breaking news since we first learned about that shooting during eyewitness news at 4 o'clock. It happened on Glenbrook off of East Club Boulevard. Police say a man was shot. He was taken to the hospital where he is expected to be okay. So far there have been no arrest. Tonight we're learning more about a deadly crash in

Johnston County. At least one person who's dead after a dump truck flipped on its side before getting hit by a pickup truck. Chopper 11 was over the crash on Lowell Mill Road in the town of Kenley earlier this evening. You can see the damage and the mess the accident left behind. We've now learned the pickup truck was going westbound on Lowell Mill Road, crossed the center line, and then side-swip the dump truck that was going eastbound. After the impact, the pickup truck ran off the road, went down an embankment and hit a tree. The driver was thrown out, and the dump truck overturned on its side after crossing the center line. The driver of the pickup truck was not wearing a seatbelt and died on the scene. The dump truck driver was taken to the

hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Speed and alcohol are not believed to have been factors. Police think distracted driving or cell phone use may be to blame. Now to some breaking news about the UNC football program. Two Tar Heel football players pulled over by police and one arrested for having a concealed handgun. It's the latest setback for a program that can't seem to escape negative headlines. Trayvon Miles is here now with the details from Chapel Hill Police. Hi, Hey Lauren, Steve. These are the police reports of two at UNC freshman football players pulled over last night in Chapel Hill. Police say they stopped a Cadillac escalade last night around Northfield Drive at 10.08 p.m. for going 60 to 65 miles per hour in a posted 35 mile per hour zone.

Freshman wide receiver, CJ Sadler, was a driver. He was issued a speeding ticket. Fellow freshman wide out Keon Chapman was also in the vehicle and arrested in charge with carrying concealed weapons. According to the report, that weapon was classified as a handgun. Details of the rest were first reported by Inside Carolina. Chapman, the young man, arrested for the gun charge, has not appeared in a game for UNC yet this year. But Sadler, the driver, is the young man number 14 on the screen. He's been one of the best young playmakers on Bill Belichick's team. He's currently third on the team in both catches and receiving yards.

The report also said that 15.1 grams of marijuana were seized from the vehicle during the stop. Here is the statement from UNC football. They say, quote, we are aware of the incident involving UNC football student athletes Tuesday night in Chapel Hill. We are cooperating fully with the university and local officials and will have no further comment while gathering additional information, end quote. Belichick's team is 2 and O and gearing up to play Clemson on Saturday. will have more on these players and their availability in that game coming up in sports. All right, Trey, thank you. Still to come at 11 after months of debate about a team curfew following a series of violent

teen takeovers of vote on that curfew has been dropped. We'll have the latest on pushback from the mayor of Raleigh and the Raleigh Police Chief and how business owners in Raleigh are responding to that news. Plus, the Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest rate for the first time in more than three years. We've got the latest on what led to that rate hike and the concurrent spike in diesel price. causing pain in the pocketbooks for many consumers. And Cruz is with us. Check out on the temps outside right now.

All right, tipters right now in the 60s and low 70s. We're expecting it to heat up in the days to come and we really need some rain. Thankfully, we are finally going to get some rain, not only as we close out the week, but as we go into next week as well, that's just in time for the start of fall. The details coming up in your seven-day forecast. And before we go to break, the Country Music Association is producing a two-hour television event. It's a tribute to Dolly Part. The production is titled, C.M. I will always love you a celebration of Dallie Part.

And that's special, what air live on Wednesday, October 21st at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on ABC and Disney Plus, tune in for a joyful yet emotional celebration of the legendary artist life. Could a teen curfew now be off the table in the city of Raleigh? City leaders first proposed that curfew after a violent teen takeover during the 4th of July holiday weekend. The council was supposed to vote on the curfew ordinance on Tuesday, but they delayed that vote. City council members say there won't be a vote on the issue at all. Raleigh's police chief and the mayor say not so fast. A teen curfew is still an option.

Tonight, Denise Price found out Glenwood's small business owners are still in support. Business owners along Glenwood South said there should be no reason for anyone under 18 years old to be on Glenwood South or downtown late at night. And any mood to remove a teen curfew from the table is the wrong one. I think it was just the perfect storm that day. Milk bar owner Kunal Patel remembers July 4th clearly. He shut down his bar early that night. I went to tell my security at front. I was like, hey, just be vigilant.

And that was the first time I actually saw out the window and around the garage doors. How many people that were probably not even 21 or 20 running around throughout the intersection out here. So it was kind of alarming. And that concern is why he supported a potential team curfew. The proposed curfew would have applied to anyone 18 and under. from 11 at night to 5 in the morning, with some exceptions like going to and from work. But today, several city counselors, including Corey Branch, whom I spoke with by phone, shared the teen curfew is no longer up for a vote.

We were really hoping that maybe that curfew could still be instilled because it would just, you know, control the crowd a little bit and give our comfort to our patrons as well. Disappointing for some, but a step in the right direction for others like community advocate Don Blagrove, who has been an opponent of the proposed curfew since day one. To expend extra dollars and extra resources, creating a band-aid for a problem that needs a real solution just seems to be, to me, to be irresponsible. Blagrove is the executive director of Emancipate NC. She says the curfew would have negatively impacted teens of color. Instead, she hopes the city will look at other options to support

teens in Raleigh. I will certainly hope that we would see places for our children to gather at night, places for them that are safe and that are age appropriate. I would love to see them invest more resources into public schools, into our library programs. Mayor Janet Cowell will share with eyewitness news that the council has not made a formal decision about the curfew. Instead, they're slowing down the process to get more input and that conversation. continues next month where the council will hear directly from teens.

In Raleigh, Jimmy's Price, ABC 11, eyewitness news. James, thanks. Let's turn now to today's major news about the economy. They'll have a big impact on all of our lives. Today, the Federal Reserve decided to raise its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point. The move is the first interest rate hike in more than three years. The Federal Reserve hopes this interest hike will help put a slowdown to inflation. The move will make it more expensive for you and your family to borrow money for a new car,

house or to refinance your mortgage and pay off your credit cards. And the hike could even impact hiring plans for businesses. Wall Street reacted quickly to the hike. The Dow Jones, S&P 500 and NASDAQ, all closing down to the Dow sunk by 631 points, dropping by 1.21 percent. And the interest rate increase comes as the price of diesel fuel hit an all-time high, both here at home and across the country. The average is now 609 a gallon here in North Carolina, putting a real strain on people who diesel. Triple A Carolina says there'll be a trickle-down effect on all of us as consumers. We're just trying to scoot by just because diesel is so expensive right now. Diesel, you know, fuels the trains, the trucks, the equipment that we need to move our goods

throughout the nation. And the price of regular unleaded gas is also at a painful high. The average in North Carolina now 413 a gallon. Triple A says some ways to save money include combining errands when you're out running around, reducing, speeding, and making sure your car is well maintained. What about getting rides, carpool? Oh, that's a good idea. Carpool, absolutely. I call you tomorrow.

Come get me for work, Steve Daniel. All right, we'll save a little money, huh? And have a lot to talk about the car ride. We always do, don't we? All right, should we talk about the weather? Let's talk. Cruise, come along for the ride. AC needed.

As long as the AC's blasting, I'll be there, so make sure you scoop me on the way. All right, the next three days are expected to be a little warmer, especially as we go into your Friday. That's where we expect tipters to be somewhere between the low to mid-90s. For the second half of a day, the front that we've been talking about moves in from the north. That's going to bring a scattered rain and storm chance.

We could still be dealing with the lingering shower chance on Saturday. Those chances continue to go down as we speak. Through the rest of tonight, we'll just have a few clouds passing through. Tipters will be very comfortable stepping out the door tomorrow. Still very low humidity, 50s and low 60s stepping out the door and lots of sunshine. By the afternoon, enjoy the sunshine. It's going to be another nice day. Again, still low humidity, but it's going to be hotter tomorrow.

Tipters can reach around 90 degrees in the triangle and upper 80s elsewhere. As we go throughout the day, you'll notice that the sunshine is going to be a constant. So even though the tipters are rising, it's going to be a nice sunny day. If you want to get out for something like a walk or run early in the morning, do it before it gets too hot. In the afternoon, if you're getting outside for a walk or something like that, be prepared to sweat, even though it's not overly humid, but of course we are expecting the temperatures to rise a bit as we go forward in time. Going into Friday, we should start the day dry by the afternoon when that front starts to move in. Scattered rain and storms will start to develop to our north. Those will drop to the south.

This is what the radar could look like at 6 p.m. Those storms continue to push to the south, and we could, of course, be left with a lingering shower into early Saturday. The good news is it will be a little cooler Saturday, highs in the mid-80s by Sunday, drying out. partly cloudy highs around 90 degrees. Next week looks a bit more unsettled with scattered rain and storm chances each day. Tuesday, the first day of fall will feature highs in the 80s, but a front moving through wax that bring our tipters

down into the 70s for the second official day of fall. That sounds pretty good, more like it. More like fall, right? Cruz, thank you. Still ahead, eyewitness news is highlighting prostate cancer awareness month. We're speaking with the men's health program manager about the importance of routine testing.

In tonight's health check, ABC 11 together, raising awareness about prostate cancer. It comes as September is prostate cancer awareness month. Today we spoke with men's health program manager with the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, William Allen Moore. Moore emphasized the importance of those routine screenings. We use specifically the prostate-specific antigen tests that helps to measure the prostate antigenes that are in the bloodstream.

And so specifically for men who get that test, if they notice that it's a little bit higher, then the doctor will know, or specifically the urologist will know the next steps to see what should be done there and how it should be monitored and maybe even what next steps need to be taken. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men in the United States. All right. Trey is back to dive into sports right now and we need to talk about the canes. They had a short season, a short off season.

And I'm sure they're fine with that because they won the Stanley Cup and they're going to be back at work tomorrow. Yeah, you know what, Steve, the cool part is the Carolina Hurricanes are the Stanley Cup champions. There's one person not happy. We're going over why Alexander Nekishian will not be at training camp tomorrow when we come back with sports. Points in the regular season. Putting on your skates too. Great.

Thank you. And thank you at home for watching. That's going to do it for us here tonight. Remember, we're always on at ABC11.com, Disney Plus, and wherever you stream. We'll see you back here tomorrow night.