NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Friday, March 13, 2026

Episode Date: March 14, 2026

Surveillance footage captures Michigan synagogue suspect buying fireworks days before attack; Cadets take down gunman in college classroom; Six U.S. crew members dead in refueling plane crash, and more on tonight's broadcast. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight, the chilling new details on the two suspected terror attacks on American soil, targeting a Michigan synagogue and a Virginia college. Both suspects now tied to terror groups. The new video first obtained by NBC News, the suspect in the Michigan synagogue attack, purchasing $2,000 worth of fireworks. The alleged attacker questioned before about possible terror links, and were learning his own family members were killed in Israeli strikes, just this month. And in Virginia, a convicted ISIS supporter opening fire in a college classroom,

how the student military cadets took him down. What we've uncovered about the suspect's radical past, and is there a growing threat inside the U.S. The death toll climbing, now six U.S. service members killed in that refueling plane crash in Iraq, as the Pentagon now activates thousands of more troops into the region. Back home, winters not over yet, a blow. Lizard set to slam the Midwest, we're timing it out. Growing chaos at the nation's airports, lines stretching all the way outside, and as fuel prices surge, airfares on some routes up more than 50%. The major change to treating cholesterol should you start medication as early as your 30s. The violent end to a high-speed chase, this car going airborne, how that suspect

survived. The viral video that changed everything for a 78-year-old door dash driver. Strangers raising hundreds of thousands of dollars so he can now retire. The moment he found out how much caught on camera. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We begin with a nation on edge. Those two separate attacks, both now being investigated as possible acts of terrorism. The attacks were hundreds of miles apart, but tonight, we have new reporting that both suspects are tied to terror groups. In Michigan, new surveillance video shows the suspect purchasing $2,000 worth of explosives that he packs into the back of his truck. Days later, he ran that

vehicle into the Michigan synagogue, and we just learned he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the attack. We have also learned two of his brothers were members of the terror group, Hezbollah, a Lebanese official telling NBC news they were recently killed in an Israeli irstrike. And at Old Dominion University in Virginia, we have new reporting on just how those military officers in training fought back against that assailant. The suspect had previously been sentenced to 11 years in prison for providing support to ISIS. We have new details on why he was released. All of it happening as the war in the Middle East escalates amid fears of more attacks on U.S. soil. We're covering it all tonight, beginning with Shaquille Brewster in Michigan.

This new surveillance video, first obtained by NBC News, shows 41-year-old Iman Muhammad Ghazali purchasing more than $2,000 worth of explosives at a Detroit-area fireworks store. You can see him nearly filling the back of his pickup truck. Two days later, he rammed his vehicle in this West Bloomfield Township synagogue with 140 preschoolers inside. This could have looked a lot more like Sandy Hook. Let's not lose sight of that. This is not a political debate. This is targeting babies who are Jewish. Here at the home of the suspected attacker, you see these fresh tire tracks on the ground, that window now boarded up. Neighbors say this entire block was closed for hours as law enforcement searched this home. Two senior officials tell NBC News, investigators found

gas canisters and equipment used to launch fireworks in the back of his vehicle, which may have been what caused it to burst into flames after armed guards opened fire. At some point during the gunfight, Gonzali suffers a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The sheriff says 63 officers were hospitalized from smoke inhalation, but no children or staff members at the temple were injured. This was the best outcome of the worst situation. Investigators have not publicly identified a motive. A Lebanese official tells NBC news that several members of the suspect's family were killed in an Israeli air strike. in southern Lebanon last week, adding two of his adult brothers were known to be members of the Iranian-backed

militant group, Hezbollah. Patrols at Jewish facilities now ramped up across the country. Many, including those here in Michigan, already spend millions on private security every year. This is terrible, that is the number one thing we have to fund is security. We have to raise dollars just to keep everybody safe so they can be Jewish. And, Shaq, this is alarming. We've learned that the suspect has been questioned by authorities before? That's right, Tom. And while the FBI just said he was never the subject of an active investigation, a source familiar telling NBC news that after traveling overseas, he was questioned multiple times

about potential contacts with suspected members of Hezbollah. Tom? Shaquil Brewster for us. Thank you. Now to Virginia, where the FBI is also investigating a terror attack at Old Dominion University, where a gunman opened fire in a classroom full of military cadets. who then fought back, stabbing the shooter to death. Here's Ryan Nobles.

Tonight, new details about the attack in a Virginia college classroom full of military officers in training. Mohamed Jallo entered the classroom with a stolen Glock firearm that he illegally purchased, according to the Department of Justice, opening fire in a class full of ROTC cadets who went after him, one of them fatally stabbing the shooter. I feel like it is a small miracle that they were able to jump in and subdue him.

Jallo was sentenced to 11 years in prison for providing material support to ISIS, but released early in 2024. While there, he participated in a substance abuse treatment program. The campus now mourning the loss of Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shaw, killed in the attack. The governor tonight promising answers. It's extraordinarily important that we know, you know, either here in Virginia or, frankly, anywhere else in the country,

where there are lapses in the system. With increased political tensions in the U.S. And a war raging overseas, the possibility of terror attacks are increasingly in the back of people's minds. When you hear it's like, it could be a terrorist attack. It's like, just hits you a second time. According to terror expert Colin Clark, there is reason to be concerned. We absolutely need to brace for more of these attacks going forward. We've long known Iran to rely on a strategy of forward-deployed sleeper cells.

And if there was ever a time for the regime to use it, it would be now. And that threat is something. than Governor Spanberger hopes the Trump administration is paying attention to. This is a hopefully a wake-up call that the FBI should be permitted to focus on their core priorities to include investigating and thwarting terrorist attacks against the American people. Ryan joins us now live. And Ryan, there were also bomb threats today at several other universities in Virginia. That's right, Tom.

At least five different Virginia colleges reported some form of a bomb threat, including the University of Virginia, but all those threats did not turn out to be legitimate. Tom. Ryan Nobles for us. Overseas now to the war with Iran and our new reporting tonight that thousands of Marines are now heading to the region. We've also learned more about the toll of this war. All six U.S. crew members on a refueling plane were killed when it crashed in Iraq. Here's Garrett Hake. President Trump tonight announcing a U.S. bombing raid has, quote, totally obliterated all military targets on Iran's strategically important Karg Island, and warning that unless Iran allows ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the critical oil infrastructure there could be next.

All, as the Pentagon says, all six crew members on a U.S. refueling plane died when it crashed in the Iraqi desert, saying the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire. The number of U.S. fatalities in the war now 13. The incident occurred over friendly territory in western Iraq while the crew was on a combat mission. It's a reminder of the true cost of the dedication and commitment of the joint force. That joint force set to expand by some 5,000 service members, including 2,500 Marines based in Japan, now streaming west towards Iran. Three U.S. officials tell NBC News. The Marine units specially trained for crisis response, including evacuations, protecting embassies, and to be first on the ground in dangerous areas.

All is the Pentagon tonight saying, after 13-9-19. days of airstrikes, it's hit more than 6,000 Iranian regime targets. Never before has a modern, capable military, which Iran used to have, been so quickly destroyed. But now the question of how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran's new Supreme Leader vowing to keep attacking oil tankers, though his words were only in a written state read on state TV. We know the new so-called not-so-supreme leader. is wounded and likely disfigured. Iran has plenty of cameras and plenty of voice recorders. Why a written statement? I think you know why. And Garrett joins us tonight live from the White House.

Garrett, one of the goals here, according to the president, is preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. But tonight the president says the U.S. is not currently trying to recover uranium stocks it believes Iran has? That's right, Tom. The president said the U.S. is, quote, not focused on that. but he also didn't rule it out in the future, saying that for the moment, the priority is taking out those Iranian missiles and drones. Tom. All right, Garrett Hake for us. Tune in to meet the press this Sunday when moderator Kristen Welker asked Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright, what the administration could do to bring oil and gas prices down.

And we are tracking yet another major snowstorm this winter. This one, a late-season blizzard, set to hit the Midwest and Great Lakes this weekend. Bill Cairns is here live for us. And Bill, how much snow are we talking about? A lot more than our friends in Minnesota and Wisconsin-Waunt. Blizzard warnings already issued proportions of South Dakota. We will see these spread, I'm sure, as we go through the weekend. 22 million people will at least experience this winter storm.

And these snow totals are going to be some of the highest we've seen all winter in this region. Some areas could even get top-time snowfall, like maybe top five all-time in Minneapolis. Look at Green Bay. The National Weather Service is forecasting 29 inches of snow, so a paralyzing storm. And with those high winds, people will be trapped for one or two days in their homes until the roads can get clear. And then we're also going to see severe weather with this Sunday and then Monday on the East Coast. All right, Bill, we thank you for that. We'll be tracking it. Now to the growing economic and energy crisis in Cuba.

Today, Cuba's president said they are in talks with the Trump administration to find a solution. I'm joined tonight by George Solis. And George, this is significant because it's the first time Cuba has acknowledged the discussions with the U.S. Yeah, that's right, Tom. President Miguel Diaz Canal didn't really provide details about the talks, only saying that certain international factors led to the exchanges. Cuba today also said it would release 51 prisoners as part of a Vatican broker deal. And it's worth noting Raul Castro's grandson was in attendance during the announcement today.

While he has no official role in the government, he's been reportedly in talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Now, President Trump has ramped up pressure on the communist country, suggesting it could fall. Cuba is facing a growing economic crisis. It's been three months since fuel has arrived there, leading to rolling blackouts. Its leaders blame the U.S. energy blockade since the U.S. capture of Venezuelan's authoritarian leader, Nicholas Maduro. Tom. All right. George, so leaves for us, George, thank you. We have a health alert tonight.

There are major changes to how doctors are recommending managing your cholesterol. I'm joined tonight by Stephanie Gosker. And Stephanie, this really affects younger patients. Yeah, it does. You know, this is the first time that these guidelines have been updated in eight years. And the overall message is really clear. People need to start paying attention to their cholesterol levels. At an earlier age, many,

in their 30s, and that could include going on medication younger. The guidelines reestablish specific target levels for bad cholesterol. People with borderline risk should be under 100, and people at high risk need to be under 70. There is a new, more precise risk calculator as well for heart disease, designed for people ages 30 to 79. And clinicians also recommend everyone get a test called the lipoprotein A test at some point in adulthood. this is another tool to assess heart disease risk. Finally, Tom, the same old adages apply. Eat better, exercise more. And that test, the lipoprotein A. All right, we're going to remember that. Thanks, Stephanie. We're back at 60 seconds with the long lines today at a major airport, and the warning, it could get worse.

Plus, why airfares spiked as much as 50% since the war in Iran began. Stay with us. We're back now with two major big warnings for spring break. TSA lines are green. growing again and tickets jumping more than 50% in some cases because of the price of oil. Here's Tom Costello. 542 a.m. in Austin. Currently in the Austin security line and this is how long it is. Time lapse as the security line ran out the airport's front door winding down the sidewalk. Finally at the end and here's the airport again.

That line she says an hour and 40 minutes. Long lines in Atlanta too. In Tampa, Patricia Souter wasn't taking any chances. So we came two and a half hours early for our flight. With TSA officers missing their second paycheck today, some continue calling out sick to take a second job. The checkpoint at Philadelphia Terminal C closed to move TSA staff to other terminals. We had depleted all of our savings. In Salt Lake, nine-year TSA veteran Robert Echavaria quit this month, not willing to repeat the stress from last fall when officers worked without three paychecks.

and seeing my wife how she much struggled trying to keep up with how she was going to feed our kids. It was a big toll on her and her emotions. Tonight, the airlines are calling it a disgrace that Congress cannot reach an agreement or act on viable bipartisan solutions. While in Virginia, a food bank for the TSA. And we're focused on making sure they're nutritious meals. Meanwhile, with the war sending oil and jet fuel prices soaring, so are airfares. Deutsche Bank reports domestic advanced booking. tickets have jumped 15 to 57 percent. Now the focus is on the weekend, with spring break

travelers fearing more TSA officers may simply not show up. Tom. All right. When we come back, what prosecutors just announced about those teenagers involved in the prank on a teacher that turned deadly. And at 78 years old, he was delivering for DoorDash. Now, one customer's act of kindness could mean he'll never have to work again. We'll explain. We're back now with an update on the Georgia high school teacher killed in a prank gone wrong. Prosecutors announcing today they have dropped all charges against the teens involved in the death of Jason Hughes. The teacher's family had pleaded for mercy saying he loved his students and wouldn't want a second tragedy. Dramatic new dash cam out of Wisconsin, a high-speed chase ending in a violent rollover.

You see it right there. The suspect's vehicle hit a ditch, then goes airborne flipping repeatedly before crash. deputies smashed the windshield to pull two people out. Police say the driver was on probation and going nearly 100 miles an hour. Both survived somehow with only minor injuries. And a double dose of good news tonight. First from Tennessee, 78-year-old Richard Pulley had to come out of retirement. His wife lost her job so the couple started working for DoorDash to make ends meet.

A customer spotted Richard and posted this video of him making a delivery, working but struggling because of his age. Strangers from all over the world stepped in raising more than $600,000, and here's the moment that customer told Richard how much was raised. We appreciate every one of them because it's taking a lot of pressure off of us and making life livable once again. All right, that's nightly news for this Friday. I'm Tom Yamas.

Thanks so much for watching tonight. And always, we're here for you. Good night.