NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, June 22, 2024

Episode Date: June 23, 2024

Extreme weather grips the nation in first weekend of summer; Deadly rip currents plague start of summer beach season; New details emerge on deadly Arkansas mass shooting; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the dangerous extreme weather across the U.S., the unrelenting heat, and now life-threatening flooding. States of emergency. Parts of Iowa underwater as floodwaters overtake entire communities. Residents rattled awake by sirens and rushed to evacuate. We could not get them out fast enough because the water kept going up so fast. Plus nearly 100 million baking across the U.S. ER visits skyrocket. Rip currents turned deadly. At least seven people killed or missing after

being swept away off the coasts of New York and Florida. This is a tragedy. This is another parent's worst nightmare. What you need to know before your next trip to the beach. Police identify the alleged gunman behind the supermarket rampage in Arkansas. Three killed, ten injured. What authorities revealed about his motive. Former President Trump says he's made his choice for vice president, but hasn't told anyone yet. NBC News reporting on his final three contenders. A massive cyber attack crippling car dealerships nationwide.

Why it may be much harder to get the car repaired. Powerful new images. The hiker lost in the mountains of California for 10 days finally found. DC Nightly News with Jose Diaz Ballard. Good evening. A huge portion of the country is baking right now under a heat dome that's not letting up. Weather patterns over much of the U.S. are simply stalled. Other parts of the country are trapped under severe storms.

This is what happened in northwestern Iowa today. Residents woken up by sirens designed to alert people to tornadoes, now warning that a levee had broken and floodwaters were rushing toward them. Entire communities evacuated. Many residents had to be rescued by boat. Meanwhile, the heat indexes in parts of the East Coast hit 109 today. And if you're hoping for relief soon, you may be out of luck. Take a look at this.

Two hundred and sixty million Americans will have temperatures above 90 for most of next week. George Solis is covering it all from a sweltering Philadelphia where temperatures hit 99 today. Frightening moments as tornado sirens blared overnight in Rock Valley, Iowa, warning residents to evacuate immediately because of imminent flooding after a nearby levee broke. The water, too much to contain. We could not get them out fast enough. Rescue crews quickly mobilizing to try and evacuate people from some 500 homes. There was a couple people on their roofs because it was the only place they could get to. Wow, what a mess, guys. Heavy rains for days, forcing rivers from their banks. From the air, harrowing scenes like these.

Entire neighborhoods underwater. With a flood emergency already in effect. This afternoon, Governor Kim Reynolds extending a disaster declaration for some of the hardest hit areas. Meanwhile, extreme heat gripping parts of the country. More than 100 million people under heat alerts from California to New York. In some places, it feels like it's more than 100 degrees. Cities like Philadelphia are sweltering. Scale of one to just torture, what would you rank this heat at right now? For me, torture. Today, Baltimore hitting a record 101 degrees. It's been terrible. I've just been making sure I've been staying inside.

The heat turning deadly in Idaho. Officials there reporting two heat-related deaths. The CDC is tracking the extreme heat across the country in real time. Last year saw more than 2,300 heat-related deaths, up from years prior. And hospitals across the country are bracing for more patients. But the extreme heat just won't let up. Are you seeing a spike in patients coming in with heat-related injuries? Right now we are seeing a spike. It's a little bit of a mixed picture with patients who have chronic medical problems,

and their problems are being exacerbated by the heat illness, too. George joins us from Philadelphia tonight, and they could see a record broken there this weekend, George. That's right, Jose. And we have the thermometer at the ready to confirm it. The forecasted expected heat expected to reach 98 degrees, which, if true, would break a more than 130 year record here in the city of Philadelphia. Jose. George Solis in Philadelphia. Thank you. And breaking news about another deadly summer danger.

Rip currents now blamed for a rash of drownings in the past two days. Marisa Parra has the latest on what you need to know to stay safe. What have you got? Oh, God. Get this mother... Get my friends back! Tonight, a heartbreaking start to summer in New York. At Jacob Rees Beach in Queens, search and rescue from land, air, and sea,

looking for two missing teenagers swept away by dangerous waters and never resurfacing. This is a tragedy. This is another parent's worst nightmare. We think that it might be a riptide, but that's still in the investigation. Rough surf posing challenges for even the most experienced rescuers. The currents are extremely extremely. Divers had to come out of the water because the current was extremely

dangerous and it's too rough for them. Florida has already seen two deadly swimming incidents within two days. Overnight tragedy striking in Panama City Beach. Police say three tourists were swept away in a rip current, launching an all-out search and rescue mission for Harold Hunter, Jamonda Ray, and Marius Richardson. None of them survived. This after a rip current took the lives of a mother and a father of six across the same state in Stewart Beach just one day earlier.

The kids, one or both, got caught in the riptide and Brian and or Erica went after and then the other one, they both went after and they got the kids out and they got caught. Family of Brian Warder and girlfriend Erica Wishart say they were athletic and strong, but no match for the dangerous waters. Anything were to come of this, it was that people were aware of how dangerous rip currents can be. Rip currents are a powerful channel of water formed when waves break near the shoreline, and they're often hard to see from the ground. But signs like a line of white foam or a narrow passage of darker water in the ocean

can be clues of a rip current that could save lives of even the strongest of swimmers. Marisa joins us from Hutchinson Island, Florida. Marisa, there's still a risk for rip currents on the East Coast. There is a heightened risk for rip currents in the state of Florida through Sunday and into the middle of the week for the mid-Atlantic. Jose? Marisa Parra in Hutchinson Island, Florida. Thank you. We have new details tonight about that deadly shooting rampage in a small Arkansas town that left three dead, 10 others injured.

Authorities now naming a suspect. Priya Shrether is there. First responders in the small town of Fordyce, Arkansas today washing away the bloody remnants of yet another deadly mass shooting in America. Spraying down the parking lot outside a Mad Butcher grocery store, the scene of yesterday's shooting rampage that left three dead and 10 others wounded, including two law enforcement officers. Authorities identifying the alleged gunman as 44-year-old Travis Eugene Posey, who's facing at least three charges of capital murder. The suspect now held at a local jail after being wounded himself in yesterday's shootout. It's just really overwhelming.

Angela Ashley says her mother, Shirley Taylor, was one of the victims killed. What has the last 24 hours been like for you? Total hell. She was a rock. Also killed 23-year-old Callie Weems, grocery shopping on a day off from her job as a nurse, according to her mother, leaving behind a 10-month-old baby. Wailing and screaming. Because my daughter's 23 years old, this isn't supposed to happen to her. NBC News also confirming the third victim killed as 50-year-old Roy Burton Sturgis,

according to his daughter. This graphic video appears to show a man with a long gun pointing and shooting at cars in the parking lot outside the grocery store Friday, though police have not verified it is the suspect named in the case. It was rough, man. I seen people lying in the parking lot, didn't know they were dead or not. This Arkansas community now among the latest trying to find peace in the aftermath of senseless gun violence. Priya joins us now from the scene of the shooting. Priya, what more have we learned about the motive in the shooting? Well, law enforcement officials who were briefed on the shooting tell us there are no indications of any sort of extremism as a motive. Jose? Priya Sridhar, thank you. To politics now and the high stakes debate prep

ahead of next week's presidential showdown. Joe Biden cramming this weekend while Donald Trump is out on the campaign trail. And we have new details on his top contenders for vice president. Dasha Burns is on the campaign trail in Philadelphia. As debate night approaches, a contrast in preparation. Former President Trump campaigning tonight in Philadelphia. I think this is prepping. These people know better than anybody what they want. And on the stump.

Nobody's going to be watching the debate on Thursday night, right? Nobody? Will anybody be watching? Sources tell NBC News campaigning is his debate prep, along with some informal policy sessions with advisors and members of Congress focusing on inflation and immigration. How is debate prep going? Well, President Biden has hunkered down at Camp David for intensive prep sessions led by former Chief of Staff Ron Klain that will include mock debates.

Playing the part of Mr. Trump is former White House Counsel Bob Bauer, who took on the same role back in 2020. The president looking to focus Thursday night's debate on abortion rights and what his campaign says is Trump's record of undermining democracy. Tonight, Trump's saying his yet to be named running mate will be at the debate and that he's made his choice, but hasn't told anyone who it will be. I'm excited to hear who your vice president is.

Pick, toss, or steal. In my mind, yeah. Sources tell NBC News the focus has been on three top contenders, each with a history of being critical of Trump. Florida Senator Marco Rubio ran against Trump in 2016. What we are dealing with here, my friends, is a con artist. He is a con artist. Before entering politics, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance adamantly opposed Trump.

I'm a never Trump guy. I never liked him. And North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum briefly ran against Trump for this year's nomination. Would you ever do business with Donald Trump? I don't think so. Why? I would, I just think that it's important that you're judged by the company you keep and I just wouldn't do business with him. No, I wouldn't. All three VP contenders are now loyal allies of the former president. Sources say the campaign wants a candidate who won't overshadow Mr. Trump,

but also someone who could be the future of the Republican Party. Dasha joins us now from a Trump rally in Philadelphia. Dasha, what have we learned about when Mr. Trump may announce his running mate? Jose, the campaign is still deciding whether to announce before or after sentencing for his conviction last month. Sentencing is set for July 11th, just days before the Republican National Convention. Jose? Dasha Burns in Philadelphia, thank you. And you can watch that first presidential debate Thursday night right here on NBC.

A trip back to Earth has been delayed for two American astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams blasted off on Boeing's Starliner earlier this month. They were supposed to return last week, but they're staying to study some technical issues that developed with the spacecraft, so the Starliner is now scheduled to head home next week. Still ahead tonight, emotional homecoming for an American arrested in a tropical island paradise.

An American tourist is back home tonight following a nightmare ordeal, arrested and detained for months after accidentally bringing ammunition on his vacation to the islands of Turks and Caicos. Now, a major change may make it easier for another detained American to get out soon. Dana Griffin has the story. This was the moment. 70 days of anxiety quickly melted away ryan watson reunited with his family in oklahoma captured by nbc affiliate kfor i stuck a family uh photo in the lining of a bible when i was in jail and i prayed about this and to see that this has been answered. I'm so I'm so grateful.

Watson was released from Turks and Caicos after being held on charges of bringing ammunition to the popular beach destination, punishable by up to 12 years in prison. Hours earlier, Watson learned his fate at this Turks and Caicos courthouse. So happy that the judge took a holistic approach. But before boarding the plane back home, he wanted to dress the part. So much better. Recently, a total of five Americans have been arrested after small amounts of ammo were found in their bags. Watson is now the fourth back in the U.S. receiving a $2,000 fine, $500 for each hunting round he says he accidentally brought to the island back in april

sharita greer is the last american still on the island she hugged watson goodbye after a month's long bond over their vacation misfortune we still gotta get sharita home she's my adopted sister now i won't be able to rest completely until she's home turks and caicos which depends on tourism for 95 of its economy just amended a law requiring a mandatory 12 year minimum sentence for firearm offenses. After a U.S. congressional delegation last month visited island officials calling for leniency. It was a huge weight that was lifted. This latest release giving new hope to the last American stuck in paradise limbo. Dana Griffin, NBC News.

Coming up next, car dealer chaos, the massive cyber attack that's putting the brakes on dealerships around the country. Also, miracle rescue, one hiker's wilderness survival story. We've got a remarkable story to tell you about. This is the emotional moment. A missing California hiker finally reunites with his family after being lost in the Santa Cruz Mountains for 10 days.

The 34-year-old drank from streams, ate wild berries, and yelled for help. And someone finally heard those yells, and police sent in a drone and a search dog and finally got the hiker out. Car dealerships around the country are under attack tonight by cyber criminals, compromising data and impacting everything from buying new cars to fixing vehicles you already own. Jesse Kirsch reports. If you're trying to buy or service a car, tonight you might have to pump the brakes because of cyber attacks

potentially slowing down business at thousands of car dealers. Address, vehicle price, customer name, that kind of stuff, like titling information. Obviously, you got to make sure your date of birth, full name are correct. At Zoc Toyota in Waterford, Michigan, Eric Schlensky says normally software from CDK Global helps with that information. It is what we run all the car deals out of, all the repair orders for service, all the parts orders. In Austintown, Ohio, Justin Bradley says his team at Jim Shorkey Auto Group has been using a typewriter. We are hand-doing contracts and hand-doing paperwork. That means it's been taking longer for customers to buy a car. The challenge is arising after software provider CDK Global said it experienced two cyber incidents this week

and proactively shut down most of our systems. Today, the company adding, we have begun the restoration process. We anticipate that the process will take several days to complete. CDK says it works with more than 15,000 retail locations in North America. It's not clear how many dealerships are impacted, but cybersecurity expert Katie Brooks says these challenges reach beyond the auto industry. This incident is part of a growing trend of cyber attacks towards small and medium-sized businesses across the country. It is very much a crime of opportunity and a crime of financial gain.

And so if there is money involved, there is the chance that this could happen. Brooks says it's too soon to know the impact on things like personal data, as the auto industry tonight navigates a bumpy road. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. That's NBC Nightly News for this Saturday. I'm Jose Diaz-Balart. Thank you for the privilege of your time and good night.