NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, April 29, 2024

Episode Date: April 30, 2024

Three officers killed in a shooting in North Carolina, police arrest pro-Palestinian protesters as demonstrations grow on college campuses, at least five people killed in a deadly tornado outbreak across the U.S., and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Breaking news tonight, the deadly attack on police officers in Charlotte, North Carolina. A doorbell cam capturing the gunfire erupting as members of a task force attempted to serve a warrant. Eight shot, at least three killed, including a deputy U.S. marshal. One suspect dead, and what police are saying about a possible second shooter. Also tonight, the growing unrest on campus. New arrests as police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters at UT Austin, a massive walkout at UCLA. And at Columbia, the school suspending protesters who refused to clear out. The

deadly tornado outbreak across the central US, at least five killed including a four-month-old infant. The first EF4 of the year hitting in Oklahoma, and now the new severe threat. Al Roker is here tracking it. The U.S. turning up the pressure on Hamas to accept Israel's new ceasefire offer. And the concerns among Israeli officials, could the International Criminal Court issue an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu? Our NBC News exclusive, the Biden administration announcing new automatic emergency brake rules for new cars, how it could save pedestrian lives. Five years after the San Diego Zoo said goodbye to its giant

pandas, the exciting new announcement and the Amazon return with a secret stowaway and her more than thousand mile journey back home. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome everyone. There is breaking news tonight as we come on the air. Three members of a U.S. Marshals task force were shot and killed today near Charlotte, North Carolina. Five others were wounded, including four Charlotte police officers. Officials say they came under fire while trying to serve a warrant today. They were all part of a multi-agency law enforcement task force. Other task force members continue to exchange gunfire with multiple shooters,

prompting local police to warn residents in the area to stay indoors as the confrontation played out. Tonight, the police chief there saying today we lost some heroes. Details are still unfolding at this hour. WCNC's Michelle Bowden is there. Today in Charlotte, this video streamed on Facebook Live, catching the terrifying moments as gunfire erupted. Officials confirm eight officers were struck, three from the U.S. Marshals Task Force have died, four Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers were shot,

one remains in critical condition. Today we lost some heroes that are out just simply trying to keep our community safe. I asked somebody who was on the street what happened, and he said they're shooting. Somebody's shooting. According to Charlotte Police, a local task force, quote, comprised of officers from multiple agencies, was serving a warrant at a residence on Galloway Drive when they were, quote, engaged by active gunfire from a subject. At least one shooting suspect was found deceased inside the house,

and police say they are questioning two other occupants of that home. They knew what they were going into and still held their own in an attempt to apprehend this suspect. The mayor of Charlotte saying in a tweet she is, quote, deeply saddened. Local schools temporarily went into lockdown, and many surrounding streets were closed, causing traffic delays throughout the city. According to a federal official, this is the sixth marshal to be killed since 2011. You know, three people lost their lives today. And the most that I can ask of our community is that we honor and respect them.

All right, Michelle Bowden joining us now from the scene. Michelle, do we know why task force members were serving that warrant in the first place? Lester, the police chief did tell us that the task force went to that house with warrants for someone wanted on possession of a firearm by a felon. We know one suspect dead, two others at this point being questioned at the police station. They are considered persons of interest. A difficult day here in Charlotte. Lester. Michelle, thank you. At America's college campuses, new deadlines, defiance and arrests as protests against the Israel-Hamas war expanded even more from coast to coast. Liz Kreutz has late developments. Tonight at University of Texas Austin, police one by one detaining pro-Palestinian protesters.

Law enforcement tying up this demonstrator by their hands, dragging them out of their encampment while screaming. The university says protesters ignored repeated directives from administration and that a majority of the protesters are believed to be unaffiliated with the school. So far, more than a thousand people have been arrested since the demonstrations across college campuses against the war in Gaza began. At UCLA, hundreds of students and faculty walking out of class in support of the protests. These students here, there are hundreds of them. They were not able to get into the encampment, so they are now attempting to storm one of the buildings here on campus. At Columbia University, school officials telling demonstrators the administration won't agree to divest from Israel and that they must leave the encampment by today or face suspension. We demand divestment. We will not be moved unless by force. NBC's

Erin McLaughlin is there. That 2 p.m. deadline has arrived and this is the students' response. They're marching around campus. Over that way is the encampment. You can see everyone there wearing neon vests. Those are the faculty members and they say they're here to protect the students. As graduation nears, many universities making similar pleas to students as they continue to grapple over the debate between free speech versus hate speech. At USC, the president warning that if protesters don't leave their encampment voluntarily, the university will take action early this week. This morning, some students protested outside the president's home.

Meanwhile, back at UCLA, school officials allowing their students' encampment to grow as the protesters call for the university to cut ties with Israel. I think we're planning to keep the pressure up until the demands are met, until the UC divests. Dov Waxman is a professor of Israel studies. He supports the students' right to protest, but not their demands. I happen to think it's not likely to happen or be effective. And Liz, joining us now from UCLA. Liz, what is the administration there saying? Well, Lester, school officials say the university does not plan to divest from Israel. Meanwhile,

here on campus, protesters continue to camp out here, and you might be able to hear it. Nearby counter protesters have showed up. They are blaring video footage showing the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th. Lester. Liz Kreutz, thank you. Now to wave after wave of severe weather in the plains and beyond, including more than 130 tornadoes that left at least five people dead and a path of sheer destruction. Jesse Kirsch is in hard-hit Oklahoma tonight. Tonight, a trail of heartbreak runs through the American heartland. The whole town is just, it shivers and it's hard. Officials say at least five people are dead after a violent tornado outbreak across multiple states.

Oh my God. violent tornado outbreak across multiple states. Sulphur, Oklahoma, especially hard hit. The small city's downtown decimated. A woman killed. Sulphur's fire chief calls her a hometown girl. What should people remember about the person who died here in Sulphur? Well, I just so happen to know her. She's just a blessing to everybody and we're going to miss her. Kerry Lee was in another neighborhood when he says he heard the sound of a train. We jumped in that closet. I just grabbed my arm and here it come. Boom, boom, boom. It ripped the roof off. Shea Patrick says her cousin was trapped with her two-year-old son inside this home down the block. Eventually, they got to safety. This is my whole life and it's just gone and it happened

just like that. Roughly 60 miles away, officials say a four-month-old baby died. Authorities report four deaths total in Oklahoma, another in Iowa, as dozens of twisters hit this weekend from Nebraska to Texas. When I drove up, I lost, I mean, my stomach went down. And now I know how other people feel. And I feel bad for them too. In all, more than 130 tornadoes were reported from Thursday to Sunday. The images chilling. Now homes and businesses are in shambles as several communities find a new path forward. It was our dream. We're hoping to recover and see.

It's been almost 48 hours since the tornado struck here in Sulphur, Oklahoma, but you can still see an uprooted tree crashed into what's left of this building. A similar story block by block in this neighborhood. And there's the potential for more strong storms in this community on Wednesday. Lester? Yeah, that leads us to where we are right now. Some of those same areas, Jesse, that have suffered so much about to get hit again. Al Roker is tracking it.

Al, how bad is this next wave? Look, fortunately, not as bad as this last one, Lester. But still, anything is going to be difficult for these folks. That one in where Jesse is, that's the strongest one to hit in 10 years. Then tomorrow, a new frontal system will bring more storms, Texas to Minnesota. We're looking at that risk from Sioux Falls to Wichita. The biggest risk is going to be going to be two inch or more hail, damaging winds and tornadoes possible. Wednesday, another severe risk outbreak from the south

central plains. Strongest storms in the afternoon from Kansas all the way down into Oklahoma. That same area again. And we've got a flash flood risk for one to two inches of rain. Some places, Lester, going to pick up another three to four inches before it's all over. All right, Al, thank you for that. The U.S. is leading an urgent push to reach agreement on a ceasefire and hostage deal with time running out before Israel potentially launches a new offensive in Gaza. Andrea Mitchell is traveling with the Secretary of State in Saudi Arabia. Tonight, urgent calls by the U.S. and Arab leaders to reach a hostage deal before Israel launches a ground assault on Rafah, where Palestinians say at least 25 people died in airstrikes today.

The U.S. fears a major operation could widen the war and threaten the lives of surviving hostages. Hamas has before it a proposal that is extraordinarily, extraordinarily generous on the part of Israel. And in this moment, the only thing standing between the people of Gaza and a ceasefire is Hamas. A senior Arab diplomat at today's talk said this could be the last chance. U.S. officials say it is all up to one man, Yahya Sinwar, viewed as the mastermind of the October 7th massacre and likely living in Hamas's vast network of tunnels. For the first time, Israel

now offering an extended ceasefire if Hamas releases vast network of tunnels. For the first time, Israel now offering an extended ceasefire if Hamas releases the most vulnerable hostages, the women, children, elderly, and injured or sick. Israel says Hamas says it has only 33 hostages in that category. Hostage negotiators see some hope in proof-of-life videos released recently of three hostages, including Keith Siegel, originally from North Carolina. I just can't believe it's still going on. NBC's Raf Sanchez spoke to his daughter and

wife Aviva, herself a hostage for 51 days. I couldn't even get myself even to be strong enough to see it. It just takes me to those moments with Hamas that they threatened us and all I can see is kids' face. The Siegels and other hostage families speaking out today, adding to growing pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu to make the hostages his top priority instead of defeating Hamas. Netanyahu is also pressing the U.S. to push back against potential arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court, accusing him and his military leaders of war crimes for their conduct of the war. The U.S. says the court does not have the legal authority

to do that. Lester. All right, Andrea Mitchell, thank you. We turn out of the vacations turned nightmares for American tourists accused of violating the law by bringing ammunition to Turks and Caicos. As Sam Brock reports, many of the accused say it was all an accident. On the islands of Turks and Caicos, the number of Americans detained for possession of ammunition continues to climb. I'm not going to be able to talk to you in prison. I love you. Goodbye. Jerry Ann Wenrick's husband, Tyler, has been behind bars for more than a week after authorities uncovered two rounds of ammunition in the paramedics' luggage as he tried to leave the island. It was an accident. Our airport didn't catch it, and the cruise ship didn't catch it.

Tonight, Turks and Caicos confirming they're prosecuting four men for violating a recent law meant to crack down on gun violence that carries a 12-year mandatory minimum sentence. That includes Michael Lee Evans, a 72-year-old retired Texas teacher, and Ryan Watson, a father of two who was traveling with his wife. I never recall putting that ammunition in that bag, but somehow they ended up in there. Like, take me through this roller coaster. The thought of our kids not having either one of us for potentially 12 years was very scary and heart-wrenching. Valerie Watson has since been released, and the couple says they carried the bag on the plane, but TSA missed the ammunition.

TSA telling NBC News it's working on an algorithm to more effectively and efficiently detect such items, but an oversight occurred that the agency is addressing internally. The other suspects appear to have checked their bags, like Brian Hagrich, whose trial starts Friday. Probably the most critical day for all of us. My fate is likely the fate of others as well. While that remains up in the air, the U.S. government continues to warn travelers to check their bags. Sam Brock, NBC News. In 60 seconds, buying versus renting, the shocking new finding about the cost of housing. And later, our exclusive, could automatic emergency break rules save lives? The new plan just out.

It's an age old question and so many people are asking it in this tight housing market. Should you rent or buy a home? CNBC's Diana Olick now with a new report just out about that. And it may surprise you. Claire Murray has been renting for almost a decade. The 30-year-old pharmaceutical researcher says she can afford to buy a home, but isn't sure it's the right investment for her. I have seen the economy change. I have seen the house market really balloon up in a way that kind of scares me from buying a home right now.

Homeownership has become so expensive that renting a home is now cheaper than buying one in all 50 of the largest U.S. cities, according to a new report from Bankrate. Buying a home is pretty expensive due to high mortgage rates, high home prices, and there's also a lot of competition in the market because there is low inventory. The monthly mortgage payment for a median priced home, which is around $412,000, was $2,703 as of February of this year. That includes property taxes and insurance. Compare that to the national monthly rent of $1,979, which includes renter's insurance. That's a 37% gap between the two. In some cities, that gap is even wider, including San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Austin, Denver, and Dallas.

Cities with the smallest gaps, though still more expensive to own, include Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis, and Tampa. It's all giving today's renters a different take on the so-called dream of home ownership. I think renting can also be a good financial decision, and I don't know if society has always viewed it that way. While the math shows renting is cheaper, it doesn't factor home appreciation into the equation. Historically, home prices have gone up over time, making home ownership one of the best ways to build wealth. Lester. Diana Olick, thank you.

Coming up, our exclusive reporting on the new requirements for cars all aimed at saving lives. Back now with an NBC News exclusive. The Biden administration ordering a big upgrade to the automatic brakes found in so many new cars and a new requirement to do a better job of stopping pedestrian accidents. Here's Tom Costello. The video is hard to watch. Nine-year-old Landon McKay thrown in the air after being hit in the crosswalk by what police say was an unlicensed driver. I feel like it really could have been avoided if she was paying attention.

In the ER, Landon's injuries proved minor. In Washington, D.C., you have to look closely to see a woman in the crosswalk hit by a delivery van. She suffered serious injuries. One of the big challenges we have right now is pedestrian fatalities. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg tonight announcing new automatic emergency brake or AEB standards for all cars and light trucks within five years to reduce the 43,000 people who die on Americans' roads each year. AEB works by using radar, video, or infrared sensors to scan for potential collisions. Most new cars already come with automatic braking, but the government is telling car makers they need to make the technology even better. A AAA study found current AEB prevents 85% of rear-end crashes

under 30 miles per hour, but just 30% of crashes at 40 miles per hour. The new standards will require cars to avoid collisions at up to 62 miles per hour, automatically applying the brakes at up to 45 miles per hour for pedestrians, and able to see pedestrians in both daylight and darkness. It's especially important because the data are showing us that about 75 percent of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities happen after dark. The auto industry says automakers voluntarily committed to install AEB in new vehicles and have already met that commitment. The DOT hoping to save at least 360 lives and prevent 24,000 injuries a year. We want to set a high standard for what it should be like for the future and have it be something that's in every car, not just one of the bells and whistles.

Hitting the accelerator on braking. Tom Costello, NBC News, Washington. Coming up, the new chapter in panda diplomacy. When more bears could return to the U.S. And catastrophe averted after the family pet gets shipped by mistake to an Amazon warehouse. How they got her back. A big announcement from the San Diego Zoo. Five years after the zoo said goodbye to its giant pandas, a new pair will

soon journey from China to San Diego. The zoo hopes the bears named Yunxuan and Xingbao will arrive this summer. And finally, the unexpected journey for a beloved pet, all because of an Amazon return that one couple will never forget. Here's Blaine Alexander. If every cat has nine lives, little Galena surely relied on every single one. She loves to play in boxes. But nearly three weeks ago, Galena found herself in a rather hairy situation when she decided to take refuge here. The very box her parents, Utah couple Matt and Carrie Clark, were using to return a few items to Amazon. They taped the box shut and took it back, all before realizing Galena was nowhere to be found. She just mysteriously disappeared.

We put tons of flyers up. We contacted friends and family to help us search. Turns out Galena's great adventure took her much farther from home. Tucked in her box, she made the more than 600 mile journey from Salt Lake City, Utah to Riverside, California, where she then spent six days in an Amazon packaging facility, unbeknownst to anyone, no food, no water, all the makings of a catastrophic shipping blunder, if not for Amazon employee Brandy Hunter, a self-proclaimed cat lady. She tracked down the Clarks, thanks to Galena's microchip, then treated her new feline friend to a little TLC and a trip to the vet, where she was reunited with a very relieved pair of cat parents.

Call it the perfect ending for a very curious cat. Blaine Alexander, NBC News. That's a cute little survivor. That's nightly news for this Monday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.