NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, December 5, 2024

Episode Date: December 6, 2024

As the manhunt continues, new images released of a person of interest in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO; Earthquake rattles coast of California and triggers brief tsunami warning; More heavy snow and high winds in Great Lakes and Midwest; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the new clues and the new images in the urgent manhunt in New York City for the gunman who fatally shot the CEO of UnitedHealthcare. The first photo showing the face of the person of interest wanted for questioning in the brazen targeted shooting of that CEO in Manhattan. New video that may show him fleeing on a bike 30 blocks away. The hostel where he's believed to have stayed. And the cryptic clues found written on bullet casings at the crime scene. What we're learning. Also tonight, the powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocking Northern California. Damage reports coming in.

Supermarkets shaking. Doors knocked off their hinges. Residents ordered to move inland. The tsunami warning and evacuations now lifted. But the concerns tonight over aftershocks. The Arctic blast turning deadly as it pushes into the northeast. Dangerous snow, millions on alert from Michigan to Maine. Two kindergartners wounded in a shooting at a California Christian school. The meeting the adult gunman had with the principal moments

before opening fire. The stowaway is snuck onto a flight at JFK to Paris, back on U.S. soil and making her first court appearance. This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. Good evening and welcome. New York City police on the trail of a killer who gunned down the CEO of a major health care company have amassed a string of potential clues and images as part of a massive manhunt. Today, the NYPD releasing a pair of full face photos of a person of interest in the deadly ambush of the 50 year old head of United Health Care, Brian Thompson. Over the past 36 hours, police tracing the killer's movements that included a stop at a Starbucks shortly before the attack, where he purchased and then discarded items that are now pieces of evidence.

And tonight, the investigation placing that person of interest at a hostel where police believe he stayed. And back at the crime scene, bullet shell casings were covered that may hint at a motive. Sam Brock is tracking late developments for us. Sam. Yeah, Lester, good evening. This behind me is that hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side where right now police are investigating whether or not a guest here paid in cash and used a fake ID as at the same time, Lester, three senior law enforcement officials are operating under the belief the

suspect may have traveled here from Atlanta on a Greyhound bus on November 24th. New images tonight show the full face of a hooded man the NYPD is calling a person of interest wanted for questioning in connection with Wednesday's ambush and early morning killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. A law enforcement source confirming to NBC News the images were captured at this hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Where according to an eyewitness, the man in the photo shared a room with two strangers and checked out on Wednesday. One guest, who says she did not share the same room, saw police arrive last night around 6.30.

It makes you second guess who you're actually staying in a hostel with. So it's quite scary that we could have been in the same room. The search for a killer, hinging on an emerging network of crucial camera images. As police are now probing whether this nest video, taken less than 15 minutes after the murder, could be the shooter. The footage showing the rider on a bike just outside of Central Park, 30 blocks north of the scene of the crime. Where Wednesday, a gunman approached the 50-year-old CEO walking toward an investor conference alone at 6.45 in the morning and gunned

down the father of two, firing shots into his back and leg right in front of the Midtown Hilton Hotel. Video obtained by the New York Times also shows a person resembling the shooter walking roughly 175 feet from the scene of the crime, 10 minutes before Thompson was shot, appearing to talk on the phone. Clint Watts is a former FBI special agent. Knowing that the shooter was on the phone talking to somebody else definitely changes the way the investigation goes. Possibly someone knew the shooting was about to happen, or he was maybe calling someone for the last time,

or it could be part of a larger plot. Shell cases from the shooting, now also a key focal point of the investigation. Overnight, a senior New York City law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, telling NBC that the three casings recovered on scene had the words deny, defend, and depose written on them, a possible reference to a 2010 book critical of the insurance industry. There are also new revelations about the minutes before the murder, with an official telling NBC the gunman not only stopped at a Starbucks near the crime scene, but also bought several items, including a water bottle and two energy bars, which were then discarded. The Starbucks purchases are a great opening for

law enforcement to get on top of who the perpetrator is. It could be some sort of physical evidence, a fingerprint, maybe even some sort of DNA that they can trace. The targeted killing now raising new questions across the insurance industry about security. With Thompson, a highly paid executive in a sector frequently facing frustration and even outrage, walking alone from his nearby hotel. Recent corporate statements from United Health don't reveal personnel security expenses for executives. The company hasn't responded to questions about what resources were or were not deployed for Thompson. It comes after his wife, Paulette, telling NBC News Wednesday there had been some threats against her husband, adding,

basically, I don't know, a lack of coverage. I don't know details. In the family's hometown outside Minneapolis, the police department told NBC News they had no record of any such reports, as the staggering and still unfolding murder and manhunt has left a city and industry stunned. Sam Brock, NBC News, New York. All right, and Tom Witter is here now. Tom, you've been working the phones and police sources since this broke. What's the most important challenge for police right now? Well, right now, Lester, the key to this investigation is the timeline. Where did he ultimately come from and what did he do here? The clear photos from a hostel prevent some of their best clues.

And we are told tonight that is leading to a lot of tips. Those photos will allow the NYPD facial recognition unit to see if they can match the photo to a name. They can also try to see if he's captured on surveillance cameras at train and bus stations to determine where he may have come from or where he went, Lester. All right, Tom Witter, thank you. Now to several earthquakes rocking the California coast today, the largest in magnitude 7.0, triggering brief tsunami warnings. Damage appears to be mostly light, but smaller quakes continue. Liz Kreutz is in Northern California. Tonight, a disaster warning sending shockwaves along the Pacific Coast.

A 7.0 earthquake striking Northern California, knocking bottles to the floor and doors off their hinges. Here, littering supermarket aisles, making waves in swimming pools. This is a big one, guys. And bringing fears of a tsunami. It wasn't over, you know, in a nanosecond. It kept going and it was building and you hear things falling. NOAA issuing a tsunami warning for hundreds of miles of coastline stretching from California's Bay Area to southern Oregon. The potential of devastating flooding forcing evacuation orders in California cities like Berkeley and Half Moon Bay. Residents ordered to move inland immediately. You take cautious steps to protect your safety so that's why I'm up here at a high point. The tsunami warnings lifted a few

hours after the quake. Today's quake coming nearly two years to the day after a 6.4 struck the same area in Humboldt County. Two died and several buildings were damaged. Historically, this point just offshore of Northern California has had more magnitude 7s than anywhere else in the state. Because we have three different tectonic plates that come together there. Governor Gavin Newsom declaring a state of emergency for the area. It's another reminder of the state that we live in and the state of mind that we need to bring to our day-to-day reality here in the state of California in terms of being prepared for earthquakes. And Lester, officials say there's also been reports of a water main break in some

homes off their foundation. Thousands of people without power right now, but thankfully there have been no reports of injuries or deaths. Despite the size of this quake, it did not happen in a densely populated area and there has not been significant damage. Lester. All right, Liz Kreutz, thank you for that. Let's get to the blast of winter weather now. Roaring back, millions again under winter alerts and blizzard warnings from the Great Lakes to the northeast. Erin McLaughlin is in Erie, Pennsylvania tonight. Erin, what are the conditions there right now? Lester, we've seen a lot of snow this week. Now add to that the wind.

It's creating even more of a wintry mess. Tonight, across the northeast and midwest, a fast-moving clipper system unleashing dangerous snowfall, powerful winds, and freezing temperatures on millions. Winds in excess of 50 miles per hour wreaking havoc on the roads, with whiteout conditions in many places. This truck flipped on its side. The deadly storm killed at least two people clearing snow in New York. And in hard-hit Erie, Pennsylvania, the first blizzard warning in two years. That alert on top of the five feet of snow already on the ground.

We're just running out of room to push snow. The treacherous road conditions costing ambulances potentially life-saving time. It's been tough. Most of our rigs have been stuck. I do most of the critical care before you start moving, because I'm not going to start going down the road. Today, the community pulled together to save the local volunteer firehouse after the roof buckled under the weight of the snow. When you saw the roof caving in, what went through your mind?

Panic, a lot of craziness. You know, we've been running nonstop for the last week with no sleep. Volunteers from across the county scrambled to help. Our community is a great community, so everybody's helping everybody else. Tonight across the Northeast, folks facing the brutal winter weather together, with even more snow on the way. Erin McLaughlin, NBC News, Erie, Pennsylvania. One day after the shooting at an elementary school in Northern California, two kindergartners remain in critical condition as authorities investigate what motivated the

shooter. Jesse Kirsch has more. In Northern California tonight, authorities are trying to figure out why a man allegedly opened fire at the Feather River Adventist School shooting two kindergartners before apparently turning the gun on himself. When you're talking about little kids like this who can't defend themselves, it just, it really does tear at the heart. The sheriff saying the boys, five and six years old, were taken to the hospital in critical condition. The suspect was found dead with a handgun nearby. Shots fired, 2-7 Cox Lane between Highway 70 and Simpson Road. According to the sheriff, yesterday the suspect had a cordial meeting

with the school principal about enrolling a student. It's unclear if that was just a ruse. Shortly after concluding that meeting, the principal heard shots being fired, heard screams. Sixth grader Jocelyn Orlando says she raced to hide in the gym I looked back and I saw a shadow with a gun so I told most people to run even faster so far investigators have not announced any definitive motive we have received some information that he may have targeted this school because of its affiliation with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Authorities say the small K-8 school has fewer than 40 students.

No school resource officer is stationed there. And no security guard was on site yesterday. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News. To Washington now, and Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick for defense secretary, fighting to save his embattled nomination. Garrett Haig now on the new signs he may not have enough Republican votes to be confirmed. Tonight, new public hints of potential Republican opposition to president-elect Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Iowa's Joni Ernst saying she's not ready to support him.

I think for a number of our senators, they want to make sure that any allegations have been cleared. And that's why we have to have a very thorough vetting process. Other Republicans noncommittal after their meetings with Hegseth. I know he's having meetings. I know it's all on my top. I wouldn't say mine was the easiest. But Hegseth telling us he's optimistic. Mr. Hegseth, you feel like you're making progress in these meetings? Great meetings. And this is how the process works. It's not going to be tried out here. It's going to be discussed inside the offices, how we rebuild our military, put the warfighters first. That's what Donald Trump, President Trump has asked me to do.

Are there any circumstances where you would withdraw from this process? I'm here with the support of President Donald Trump. As long as he supports me, which he told me this morning, I'll be here. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and decorated combat veteran, facing negative headlines, including an NBC News report that 10 current and former Fox News employees say he drank in ways that concern them. Hegseth saying he does not have a drinking problem. And a sexual assault claim from 2017, which he denies. Police investigated and he was not charged. It sounds like you're still not fully determined whether you'll support this nominee. Most nominees, what

you'll do is you'll wait, you'll have your open hearing. Pete Hegseth went a long way today, in my opinion, in getting my full support. But I want him to be able to answer in front of everybody else the questions that are there. I have seen no reason at this point to not be supportive of him. And Garrett, another headline tonight, we're following the first appearance there on Capitol Hill by Elon Musk as part of the Trump effort to slash government spending and regulations. That's right, Lester. Elon Musk here today with his son perched on his shoulder as he and Vivek Ramaswamy met with Republican lawmakers.

They're leading a Trump effort called the Department of Government Efficiency, which can only make recommendations, not actual cuts. Those will still have to come from Congress. Speaker Mike Johnson today describing this as just the start of a potentially lengthy process. Lester. All right, Garrett. Thank you.

In 60 seconds, the woman accused of getting herself on a plane to Paris without a ticket appears in federal court. Charges she faces, plus our exclusive with the head of the TSA. Next. The stowaway who allegedly snuck onto a plane from the U.S. to Paris last week, back in the U.S. and appearing in a federal court in New York today. While her motive remains under investigation, big questions remain about how she did it. Here's Tom Costello. She's the stowaway at the center of a major security lapse investigation. After being escorted by French security back to New York last night, Svetlana Dali appeared before a federal judge today.

Charging documents allege she snuck onto Delta Flight 264 and flew as a stowaway to Paris. The arresting FBI agent says Dali first tried to get through a TSA checkpoint at 8.24 p.m., but without a boarding pass, was turned away. Five minutes later, she tried again and was successful by entering through a special lane for airline employees masked by a large Air Europa flight crew. TSA Chief David Pekoske has reviewed the airport camera footage. We saw her going into a queue that was really designed for aviation employees. Then we watched her look at the family and then kind of scoot around them while the officer was distracted. While she did go through a full body scan and bag check at 10.03 p.m., she slipped past Delta agents at gate B38 who were busy helping ticket at passengers board. It wasn't until the plane was in the air that flight attendants discovered Dolly. In a statement, Delta says deviation from standard procedures is the root cause of this event.

Is it this easy to slip around a TSA checkpoint? No, it's not that easy, and it rarely happens. This is the only case that we're aware of where somebody slipped past identity verification. So it's not easy, it's rare, but it's serious. And we need to make sure that we put better solutions in place to prevent it from happening again. Dolly's attorney says she's a permanent resident of the U.S., but declined to comment further. The judge ordered her held until 2 p.m. Friday so she can come up with a bail package. Lester. All right, Tom Costello, thanks. Coming up, the insurance company that wanted to place limits on coverage for anesthesia. The quick backlash and what followed next. While we still don't know the motive behind the killing of the CEO of UnitedHealthcare,

the shocking crime has sent a chill through the insurance industry. And it comes as many Americans are voicing their frustrations over coverage denials. And tonight, one insurer is reversing course after facing major backlash. Anne Thompson reports. An about-face tonight from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, reversing its plan to put time limits on anesthesia care in three states. An idea blasted by doctors. I would love to have a one-on-one talk with a person that thought this was a good idea. And policymakers. I think the outpouring of concern that I heard

from my constituents was just shock. Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon runs the largest health care plan in the state. It's not in the best interest of the patient to cut off their coverage for anesthesia in the middle of a surgery just because it's reached some arbitrary time limit. New York Governor Kathy Hochul called it outrageous. Dr. Gregory Levittin is a vascular birthmark surgeon. Is this even workable in surgery? I don't see how this could be applied across the board. Anesthesiologists do not control the amount of time that is spent under anesthesia. A surgeon who is well-trained has a protocol or step-by-step process for performing a surgery. It's not something that's time-dependent,

but it's technically dependent. In announcing the reversal, Anthem cited what it called widespread misinformation and said it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem cited what it called widespread misinformation and said it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield not to pay for medically necessary anesthesia services. Relief for patients, doctors, and policymakers tonight. Ann Thompson, NBC News. And that is nightly news for this Thursday. Thank you for watching. I'm Lester Holt. Please take care of yourself and each other. Good night.