NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, June 6, 2025

Episode Date: June 7, 2025

Kilmar Abrego Garcia charged with human smuggling; Possible mass shooting thwarted at Michigan high school graduation; Trump on Musk: ‘I’m not thinking about Elon’; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Breaking tonight, the mistakenly deported migrant back from El Salvador, now in the U.S. Kilmar Abrego-Garcia just charged with human trafficking. It comes after the Trump administration battled the Supreme Court's order to facilitate his return. It comes as protests break out on ICE raids across Los Angeles. Plus, the president refusing to speak to Elon Musk as the world's richest man seems to be backing down after the giant public blowup. The mass shooting floored at a high

school graduation. Police say they found fully loaded weapons with high capacity magazines. Tornadoes touching down 36 million from Texas to Boston in the path of severe weather. The new damage tonight. Putin's payback after those devastating drone strikes, a Ukrainian first responder in tears over what he discovered. It's difficult to watch a baby struggling to breathe as whooping cough cases nearly double in America, now turning deadly. What you need to know. Our in-depth report, the coach accused of illegally hacking private photos, accessing intimate images of thousands of young women, we hear from a woman who didn't even know she was a victim. This just in the terrifying moment a bounce house goes airborne

with children inside. And a major update that is wild, where they've located Zeke the Zebra. Nightly News begins now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamares. And good evening. Tonight we start with breaking news. The Department of Justice announcing Kilmar Albrego Garcia is back in the US, indicted by a federal grand jury and facing human smuggling charges.

You may remember he was the undocumented man in Maryland deported initially to that El Salvador supermax prison. Then the DOJ said he was mistakenly deported, sparking an international fight over due process. The newly unsealed indictment accuses Abrego Garcia of participating in a conspiracy to move undocumented immigrants from Texas deeper into the country, including members of the violent MS-13 gang. Abrego

Garcia's attorney now saying bringing him back for prosecution is an abuse of power, not justice. Gabe Gutierrez now with what President Trump just said on Air Force One. Tonight, Kilmer Abrego-Garcia, the man who became a flash point in the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration, is back in the U.S. to face new criminal charges. That over the past nine years,

Abrego-Garcia has played a significant role in an alien smuggling ring. The allegations stem from this Tennessee traffic stop in 2022, where Abrego Garcia was driving a car with nine passengers. Where are you working at? Where? Where? San Luis, Missouri.

He's now accused of conspiring to smuggle undocumented immigrants, including MS-13 gang members from Central and South America through Mexico to the U.S. The federal grand jury indictment alleges he routinely transported between six and ten undocumented aliens per trip to maximize efficiency and profits. The defendant abused undocumented alien females, according to co-conspirators, who were under his control. The 29-year-old undocumented immigrant and father of three was living in Maryland when he was suddenly deported in March

to a mega prison in El Salvador. The Justice Department initially said that was a mistake, though the White House later disputed that the Supreme Court eventually ordered the administration to facilitate his return. The president's use of the Alien

Enemies Act to remove him soon led to a fierce legal battle. I could see a decision being made, bring him back, show everybody how horrible this guy is. Democrats travel to El Salvador pleading for due process. I think it is the first step to ultimately bringing him home as the Constitution requires. While Abrego Garcia's wife called for his release.

My family can't be robbed from another day without seeing Kilmar. She previously had accused him of domestic violence. My sister called the police because he hit me in front of my sister. Later saying they were not in a good place and denying allegations of human smuggling, saying he worked in construction

and sometimes transported groups of workers between job sites. Kilmar will finally get his day in court. And so in that sense, I think we have to understand it as a step forward. And Gabe Gutierrez joins us now live in studio. So Gabe, as this story was breaking, we're hearing there were some tense clashes

between protesters and ICE agents in LA. Yeah, that's right, Tom. Immigration authorities were conducting enforcement operations today in LA. You see them right there. And at one point, crowds of people tried to block the officers, and there were clashes with protesters.

No word yet on any arrests or injuries, Tom. All right, Gabe Witear is leading us off. Now to President Trump's very public feud with Elon Musk, the world's richest man appearing to back down today while President Trump just spoke about Musk moments ago. Here's Garrett Hake. Tonight, the fiery feud between President Trump and Elon Musk appears to be cooling the president shrugging off questions about his former top ally and saying he has no plans to speak with him soon. I'm not thinking about it. I just wish you well.

And a senior White House official tells NBC News the president is considering selling or giving away the red Tesla he bought as a show of support for Musk in March, still parked outside the West Wing. What do you think about the Tesla? Are you going to keep it or are you going to... I haven't thought about it. Do you have any plans to contact... I mean, I hope he does well with Tesla.

All of it after Trump responded to Musk's barrage of attacks over spending in his signature so-called big beautiful bill. He hasn't said bad about me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next. While Musk, after hurling personal attacks against the president, now appearing to back down. Responding to a post that Trump and Musk quote, should make peace for the benefit of our great country, Musk replying, you're not wrong. And to a post that read, Elon criticized Congress,

not Trump, Musk's one-word response. Exactly. President Trump also looking to turn the political page, posting on social media not about Musk, but about the economy adding 139,000 jobs in May, and later that he intends to build a ballroom at the White House. And late tonight, the Supreme Court handing the White House a victory, ruling that Doe staffers can access sensitive Social Security Administration records to search for fraud.

Tom? Garrett Haig with that new reporting, just saying, Garrett, thank you. Now to Michigan, where authorities revealed chilling details about a potential mass shooting they say was gonna happen at a high school graduation, now showing images of the weapons they say

were fully loaded and at the scene. Adrienne brought us in Pontiac tonight for us. Tonight, these are the fully loaded weapons with high capacity magazines authorities discovered when they say they averted a potential mass shooting at a high school graduation ceremony outside Detroit. Each weapon had a 40 round magazine. Just those two weapons without changing

magazines had 80 rounds of potential firepower shooting into a graduation. You can only imagine the outcome of that. Investigators have arrested two men accused of fleeing after what initially appeared to be a fight at their sports complex on Tuesday. They were not students in the class, but friends and relatives and apparently ongoing disputes

with individuals in the community. After arriving on scene, investigators uncovered a threat on Snapchat to shoot up the event. And the two weapons authorities say the suspects hid under cars, an AR-style pistol and a Glock handgun. Christina Somerville was at the graduation ceremony.

It's just frightening and it traumatizes to think what could have happened. It was plenty of children there, babies, pregnant women, elderly, because we were all there to celebrate. The sheriff says he believes law enforcement's response kept a graduation from becoming a crime scene. Otherwise, this room potentially would be filled with national press again about a mass shooting.

And thankfully that's not what happened. But it could have very easily been the case. The sheriff says someone here at the graduation led them to that Snapchat threat. So far no charges have been filed. Tom? A major tip. All right, Adrienne, we appreciate that.

Now to the severe weekend weather threat. Take a look at this overnight. Massive tornadoes swept across Texas and this morning we found heavy damage in Arkansas as well. Al Roker joins us tonight and Al it could be a bad night, not just tonight, but into the weekend. That's right. Unfortunately, Tom wash, rinse, repeat. That's what we're looking at.

Heavy thunderstorms moving through the Northeast. We've got tornado watches in Tennessee, Kentucky, also back through the western plains. 36 million people from Denver to Nashville down to Birmingham possible tornadoes, 75 mile per hour wind gust tomorrow. 54 million people at risk from Norfolk, Albany, Georgia, Dallas, Texas and Saint Louis as well with strong winds and 33 million people on Sunday, Tom, from Norfolk all the way down to Albany, St. Louis, San Angelo, Dallas as well, tornadoes possible, heavy rain, some places picking up to three to five inches with localized flooding.

Tom? All right. Could be a dangerous weekend. Al, we thank you for being here. We want to head overseas now to Russia's deadly strikes on Ukraine part of it promised retaliation after Russian bombers were destroyed in those astonishing Ukrainian drone attacks here Simmons with the video and the latest Russia calls this Retribution the Ukrainian first responder in tears over the body of a colleague in Kiev One bomb drew them into help, but the second was deadly later

They stand and salute him. A barrage of drones and bombs rained down across Ukraine. Russia's military saying this is its response to Ukraine's recent airfield drone attack on its bombers. While young Ukrainian athletes, part of their national team, were caught in the shelling at their hotel. I was texting my coach, should I do she says I'm scared we have to credit the law you'll survive. Ukraine striking this Russian oil depot today and here a Russian government.

Escapes a drone strike. Russians in Moscow telling NBC News they support Russian president Putin. Well a lot of this couple telling us it's not enough. We need to do more any who criticize the government risk arrest. The Kremlin tonight on says diplomacy is exhausted president Zelensky accusing President Putin of buying himself time to

continue the war Tom. Here Simmons for us here. Thank you now to the second day of emotional testimony back here at home from a former girlfriend of Sean Diddy Combs. She told the court about how the music mogul asked her to transport drugs and how she felt obligated to perform for him. Here's Erin McLaughlin. Through Psalms, the woman identified simply as Jane, described her relationship with Sean Diddy Com comes in graphic detail, including the drug and sex filled hotel nights. She says she felt obligated to have

sex with multiple entertainers at combs is direction. She said some of those entertainers were brought in from other states, even meeting them on a trip to Turks and Caicos Jane said the longest session lasted up to 3 and a half days describing how drugs including ecstasy Molly Xanax and coke were provided by his assistance and how combs directed her to bring drugs from La to Miami combs is pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution today pointed to multiple

texts in which she told the music mogul she wanted the hotel nights to end one reading I don't want to play this role in your life anymore. It's dark, sleazy, and makes me feel disgusted with myself as the only reason you have me around and why you pay for my house. Today, she testified, Combs is still paying her rent. Jane broke down as she told the court how her birthday in 2023 turned into yet another hotel night where Combs watched as she had sex with three different men. I just accepted it sobbing. She added, I just know what my partner likes to see today in court. Jane's lawyer expressed

concern that some are trying to expose her true identity. The judge even threatened to issue a gag order. She's expected back on the stand on Monday. Tom. All right, Aaron, we thank you tonight. There's a frightening rise in whooping cough cases across the U.S. and the family we found who has posted heartbreaking videos of their baby's struggle with that illness. Jesse Kerr spoke with them today and a warning. The video you're about to see is graphic. This is what it looks like. These moments are hard to watch.

One month old Phoebe Stanley struggling to breathe as her mother Donnie Ray tries to keep her awake. Phoebe, you have to breathe, honey. Her father, Mayo, recording the painful scene. I can hear her alarms going off. So she's in distress. How often was that happening while she was in the hospital? Probably every 15, 20 minutes or so and I'm 43 years old. I never been that scared in my life.

In March, Phoebe was hospitalized with whooping cough. The highly contagious respiratory illness that causes aggressive coughing fits. Also known as pertussis, it can be life threatening, especially for babies. So I'm just not hooked up right

and if I lay her back she starts choking. The staley say Phoebe spent more than a week in this Topeka Kansas Hospital. We busted out in the I. C. U. Back in a regular room. So far this year, the CDC reporting nearly 12,000 whooping cough cases in almost 75% increase from the same time last year as vaccination rates among Children are slipping slightly. Today, Kentucky officials announcing 2 infants there died from whooping cough in the last 6 months saying neither the infants nor their mothers had received the recommended

immunizations. Phoebe's parents say she got sick before the recommended age for vaccination, but thankfully she's now getting better and has had her first shot. The CDC recommending everyone 2 months and older get vaccinated, saying that is the best way to prevent whooping cough. Tom, we're glad Phoebe's getting better there. Jesse, we thank you. When we come back, sensitive photos of thousands of college athletes hacked.

The coach, the DOJ says, was behind it. That's next. We are back now with a massive hack into the intimate photos of thousands of college athletes around the country and the Department of Justice says the man behind it is a former college and NFL coach. Tonight we're hearing from one of his victims for the first time. Here's Liz Kreutz. He spent years on the sidelines of some of the most storied football programs in the

country, most recently as an assistant coach at the University of Michigan. Now, the Department of Justice says Matt Weiss was the mastermind of a massive data breach, mostly targeting female college athletes. This is the second email that I got. A few months ago, former Cal State San Bernardino volleyball player Ali Torline started getting letters and emails from the DOJ telling her

she may have had sensitive photos and information stolen by wise a man she says she's never met. It's really hard to find the words to explain what a violation it was. According to an indictment between 2015 and 2023 wise illegally access the personal accounts of more than 33,300 people, obtaining private photographs and videos never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners. The indictment says he did it in part by hacking into a system that maintains databases that store the personal information of athletes from more than 100 colleges and universities.

He then downloaded the data of more than 150,000 people and used it to crack passwords for email, social media and cloud accounts. The DOJ says he kept notes on his victims commenting on their bodies and their sexual preferences. For him to take his position, basically a position of power and fully abuse it, I mean, it's gross. What if anything were you told about what Matt Weiss obtained from you? The most information I got was

that it was personally identifiable, so not knowing what's out there is definitely something that is intimidating. Now 30 Ali is part of a class action lawsuit alleging negligence in the handling of student data. We see this as a form of sexual assault. We do not want this happening a form of sexual assault.

We do not want this happening to young adults ever again. Weiss, who was fired from the University of Michigan in 2023, has pled not guilty to multiple counts including aggravated identity theft. His attorney did not respond to NBC News' multiple requests for comment. Alley's University says it is no record of any contracts or payments to the 3rd party system named in the indictment. She now coaches high school volleyball and worries about her own students.

The institution have to do a better job of protecting student athletes, especially female student athletes. This creates NBC News. And we're back in a moment with a terrifying scene look at this about House going airborne with kids stuck inside. We'll tell you what happened. That's next. All right, we're back now with some breaking news. The escaped inmate, a former police chief convicted of murder, has just been arrested after days on the run. These new photos of Grant Hardin are just in after his arrest. He was called the Devil of the Ozarks and he donned a makeshift uniform that looked

like a Corrections officer's to make his escape. Harden had pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Overseas a warning before we show you a terrifying scene out of South Africa where this bounce house went totally airborne with children inside of it. Two of those kids fell out but thankfully thankfully they are okay, and though injured were discharged from the hospital, it all happened at a school fundraiser and is a good warning to all parents. In the UK, David Beckham appears to be about to become Sir David Beckham. Multiple British outlets reporting the former soccer captain is set to be knighted by King Charles.

It also would mean his wife and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham will now become Lady Beckham. And finally a fugitive has been spotted after almost a week on the run. New drone footage found Zeke the Zebra near Nashville told you about him earlier in the week. Authorities say they are finally closing in on him, trying not to scare him. Zeke's already been caught on camera becoming a social media sensation, even shutting down a highway after he got free from his owner. Alright, when we come back there's good

news tonight about the graduate who brought this crowd to their feet and the major challenge she beat to get there. That moment next. Finally, there's good news tonight. A college senior shocking her graduating class as she crossed the stage. Here's why. This year during George Mason University's graduation, one student had everyone on their feet cheering for Samantha Lewis, a psychology major major on stage in a wheelchair and about to shock the crowd. I knew that I worked so hard for this that I knew that I

could get across the stage. In January, Samantha lost feeling in both her legs practically paralyzed from the waist down she was now fighting a rare neurological disorder, but she made a courageous decision she would finish school and not only get her degree but walk across the graduation stage. I'm going to try my best because I can't give up without trying first.

For 5 months she underwent physical therapy spending hours trying to get strong and relearning how to walk. All of this while enrolled in six courses. Then, on graduation day, the final exam she gave herself. Could she, would she walk on stage? Proving to her classmates and herself, she's a fighter. And she had the courage to take that first step. What inspires people is who you become despite what you've been through. Congrats to Samantha.

That's nightly news for this Friday. Make sure to watch Jose Diaz-Balart and Hallie Jackson this weekend. And remember, tonight and always, we're here for you. I'm Tom Yamas. Have a great night.