NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, July 14, 2025

Episode Date: July 16, 2025

9 people killed in fire at Massachusetts assisted living facility; Firefighters battle wildfires raging near Grand Canyon; New flood watches in Texas after deadly flooding on the 4th of July; and more on tonight’s broadcast.

Tonight, the deadly fire at an assisted living facility killing at least nine patients. Residents hanging out of windows screaming for help. The intense rescues as fast spreading flames were trapping seniors and filling the facility with thick smoke. Several dead and 30 more taken to hospitals. The mounting questions tonight about how it all started. A private plane crashing into a Florida neighborhood. A family on board flying back from Turks and Caicos, people rushing out of their own homes to help those trapped in the wreckage. Also

tonight the dangerous inferno near the Grand Canyon, wildfires exploding near the northern rim, this historic lodge entirely engulfed. One inferno growing nearly 20 times in size in a single day. Parts of the park now shut down. The deadly church shooting in Kentucky, a mother and daughter shot on the day of Sunday service. The chilling words the gunman reportedly said before pulling the trigger. In Washington, President Trump announcing plans to rearm Ukraine and making terror threats

against Russia. What he revealed about his phone calls with Vladimir Putin. Our exclusive with the parents of Idaho murder victim Ethan Chapin. What it was like for them to see Brian Koberger in court for the first time. The dangerous stunt caught on camera. A teen dying a week ago after subway surfing. Now a group including 12 year olds seem doing the same thing on speeding subway trains. The miracle rescued a paraglider flying directly into power lines and plunging down into

the river somehow surviving. And the good news about an army of volunteers helping this flooded Texas camp reopen. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamaas. And good evening. We begin tonight in Massachusetts where a deadly fire tore through an assisted living facility. Some people stuck inside seeing hanging out of windows, desperately screaming for help, according to officials, as flames and thick smoke enveloped their rooms, among the people trapped inside, senior citizens who rely on wheelchairs to get around and oxygen tanks to breathe.

At least nine people were killed, dozens more rushed to the hospital. There are growing questions about how the fire began and the living conditions at the facility where it happened. Emily Akeda is there tonight. Dramatic rescues at a senior living facility where a fire tore through late Sunday killing nine people between 61 and 86 years old. Firefighters squeezing residents through windows and carrying them down ladders at the Gabriel

House in Fall River, Massachusetts. All the smoke. All right my face and all I could do is just stand there choke residents desperation worsens by physical limitations so many pulled from windows relying on oxygen tanks wheelchairs and walkers 71 year-old Lorraine for era says when she opened her door smoke engulfed her room. What was going through your mind when you realized you couldn't reach the exit?

That I was going to die and I was breathing in the smoke and I just knew I was not going to make it. After screaming for help, a firefighter was able to break her second floor bathroom window. What would you want to say to that firefighter? I want to say I love you. And you'll always be in my prayers and thank you so much for saving my life. Ambulance after ambulance transported around 30 people to local hospitals. One person, according to authorities, remains in critical condition. There were more rescues out of this building last night and that have been in the 23 years that I've been

a firefighter. Investigators saying tonight the cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious, but some residents are raising concerns about the condition of the facility. The owner of Gabriel House did not respond to a request for comment fire officials say he is cooperating as the city's mayor promises a thorough investigation. What was the staffing like at the facility? What were the fire detectors working like? What were the sprinklers like? As a heartbroken community remembers the lives lost.

I'm just happy that I got to talk to him. Sad, sorry, it's just sad. It is terribly sad and Emily joins us now live from outside that facility. Emily, firefighters describing a really challenging scene I can imagine. Tom, that's right. There were AC units blocking the largest windows and exit points and the firefighter union describing that if they had been properly staffed, adequately staffed, then more lives could have been saved, Tom.

Emily Aketa leading us off tonight. Emily, thank you. Now to that stunning scene in Florida, a plane crashing into a neighborhood, barely avoiding hitting homes, with residents then rushing out to rescue survivors. Tom Costello with the incredible video tonight. The people who live nearby say it sounded like a semi truck

crashing on their street plane debris on their front lawns. A small says the sky master slamming into a tree just after 8PM. Immediately neighbors ran to help as smoke poured from the plane, one neighbor grabbed a garden hose. Others grabbed an ax and fire extinguisher working fast to pull the victims out. Meanwhile, fellow pilots radioed air traffic control. Yeah, there is a down air. It looks like your final two 11 NBC six in Miami reports four people were on board, including members

of a family, all with minor injuries. There's a blessing in this that nobody was killed, and that's primarily because the plane didn't blow up. Flight aware shows the plane had spent more than three hours flying from the Turks and Caicos to the North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida, the North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines, Florida. Where it crashed short of the runway. The mayor of Pembroke Pines says there have been more than 35 crashes over the past five years involving that airport.

He's calling on Broward County to launch a full investigation, Tom. All right, Tom, we thank you for that. Tonight firefighters are battling two wildfires near the Grand Canyon that have forced hundreds of evacuations. We wanna go straight now live to Steve Patterson who is there and Steve we can see right there all that smoke behind you. Tom from here you can see it, you can feel it and right now crews are fighting against it on the cliffs

of a six million year old canyon. Firefighters hoping to extinguish the flames threatening a natural wonder. Tonight, for Grand Canyon tourists taking in that iconic, ever breathtaking vista, the view now comes with an unwanted filter, towers of smoke. What's it like to see it just covered in smoke? It's very depressing. Across Arizona's majestic canyon,

firefighters struggling for control as the twin fires rage, forcing hundreds of evacuations. We are all getting evacuated right now as fast as possible. The destructive Dragon Bravo fire began on July 4th along the canyon's north rim. Days later, the massive white sage fire started 35 miles north at one point growing 20 times in size in 24 hours, both still burning out of control. The remote beauty of the North Rim devastated any progress at this point. We still have 0% containment. We're in full suppression mode. We're

throwing everything we got at it. Park officials confirmed 70 structures, including the homes of park employees have been destroyed. At least 500 people forced to evacuate, leaving everything behind. It has been a trying week for everyone. The loss is devastating. A big part of that loss, the nearly century old Grand Canyon Lodge. Only about 10% of the canyon tourists traveled to the North Rim, now shut down for the rest of the season. While across the border, winds whipping up this fire NATO as firefighters take on the Deer Creek fire in Utah. Tonight, back here at the Grand Canyon.

You can barely see the photos. It just looks black. The flames still staining that picture-perfect beauty. Steve Patterson, NBC News, Grand Canyon National Park. And we want to turn now to Texas where a flood watch is in effect in the Hill Country, complicating an already challenging search for those still missing from the deadly flooding on the 4th of July. Here's Morgan Chesky. Tonight dangerous downpours threatening the Texas Hill Country with flood watches covering

areas in recovery mode. The death toll statewide from the flooding now more than 130 people. As new details emerge about the crucial moments the waters rose. At 1.14 a.m. on July 4th, a family spokesman tells NBC News Dick Eastland, the owner of Camp Mystic, received a National Weather Service alert on his cell phone. The spokesman says Eastland then walked outside to assess the property, called family on walkie-talkies, and between 2 and 2 30 a.m. staff began moving campers to the Mystic Rec Hall. Eastland later died in the floods. Following the tragic loss of life, growing scrutiny over the lack of warnings from officials who

are the only ones able to tell residents to evacuate or shelter in place. It wasn't like a tornado. It wasn't like a hurricane even it lasted all day. We asked Kerrville city manager Dalton Rice on who has authority to issue alerts at a city level. What person with so ultimately ultimately it's it's me ultimately I have the ultimate authority to be able to make those decisions based on setting he was managing rescues and says other local officials can also blast out citywide warnings. Did you issue one?

Yeah, so I did not, but that does not mean that something did or did not get issued. I don't know. We haven't dove into looking at the after action stuff. Officials say full reviews are still coming. Until then, the search for the missing now in its second week. These divers clearing off debris above before scouring the murky depths below a painstaking process for closure that may never come and Tonight with river levels still up and potentially more rain on the way

Authorities asking all volunteers to stay on higher ground Tom and Morgan We can already see that rain headed your way our Roker is joining us now Al we see it right there just south of Kerrville That's right. We have these flash flood watches, flash flood warnings. Also for Texas, we're talking about two to five inches of rain already that's fallen and we could be looking at even more tonight. Now we also move to the east where we have flash flood warnings, flood watches, airport delays. We've got flooded out highways, a real mess. We're talking anywhere three to five inches of rain on top of this and then we head to the south, Florida Already picking up several inches of rain. They could see another five inches and before it's all over

There's this area of development area 93l looking to come across, Florida and into the Gulf This could be Dexter before we get toward the end of the week. All right we'll stay tracking that we know those waters are warm how we thank you now to the new move by President Trump announcing the U.S. will send military aid to Ukraine paid for by NATO allies and issuing a warning to Vladimir Putin if he does not make a peace deal Garrett Hake is at the White House. Tonight as Russian troops push across the battlefields of eastern Ukraine. President Trump unveiling a new plan to

force Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, rearm Ukraine with American military aid, including Patriot air defense systems that will be distributed and paid for by NATO allies. This is billions of dollars worth of military equipment is going to be purchased from the United States, going to NATO, et cetera. They're paying for everything we're not paying

anymore. President Trump also setting a 50 day deadline for Putin to make a deal to end the war or face imposition of what he called secondary tariffs meant to choke off Russia's economy through steep penalties on its trading partners. We're going to be doing second there. So we don't have a deal in 50 days it's very simple and they'll be at a 100%.

The president making plain his frustration with Putin's flattery and failures to follow through on talks of peace. I go home, I tell the first lady, and I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation. She said, really? Another city was just hit. So it's like, look, he's, I don't want to say he's an assassin, but he's a tough guy.

Ukraine's President Zelensky reacting saying I'm grateful to President Trump for his readiness to help protect our people's lives. Tonight, President Trump also responding to former President Biden, who in a new interview with the New York Times called Trump and other Republicans liars for saying his aides had used an auto pen without his authorization for thousands of pardons and clemencies issued in his administration's final weeks. Biden telling the Times, quote, I made every decision while acknowledging his staff used

an auto pen to apply his signature because he said we're talking about a whole lot of people. Trump, who has also made use of an auto pen, responding. I guarantee you he knew nothing about what he was signing. I guarantee it. And tonight, in a victory for President Trump, the Supreme Court ruled he can fire nearly 1,400 employees in the Department of Education after lower court blocked the mass layoff.

The president wants to eliminate the department, which only Congress can do. Tom? All right, Gary, Thank you. Not a Kentucky where authorities are investigating a deadly shooting spree that ended at a Baptist church. The daughter of one victim saying the gunman knew her family schedule. Maggie Vespa has the details. New details tonight in the deadly shooting spree that police say left a Kentucky mother and daughter dead and three others injured, including a state trooper. My mom was down there cooking

defeat everybody doing what she loved. State police say 47 year old Guy House shot the trooper who pulled him over near Lexington's Bluegrass Airport Sunday, then carjacked another car and drove to Richmond Road Baptist Church family of the victims telling the Lexington Herald leader, House entered looking for the mother of his three children who they said wasn't there. They told the paper he said, well, someone is going to have to die then and opened fire, killing her mother and sister, Beverly Gumm and Christina Combs, also critically injuring Gumm's husband, Pastor Jerry Gumm and another man.

Guy knew the scandal. He knew they were all about to let out for churches. Why? You know, came down to the fellowship home. House later died in a shootout with police court records show he had a lengthy criminal history, including felony robbery, for which he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Records show House was due in court this morning for an ongoing domestic violence case involving a different woman who filed a restraining order against him earlier this month. Authorities say that state trooper has serious injuries but is stable and the investigation

remains ongoing. Tom. Okay, Maggie, thank you. Next, our NBC News exclusive, the parents of one of the four murdered Idaho college students speaking out about that chilling confession, their reaction to seeing Brian Koberger for the first time just ahead. Now to our NBC News exclusive, the parents of Ethan Chapin, one of the four victims in the Idaho College murders case, speaking out about the moment they saw their son's killer

in court. Here's Liz Kreutz. He's going to get what's going in court. Here's Liz Kreutz. He's going to get what's going to him. I really don't care what happens to the guy. He's off the streets. He can't hurt any more kids. Jim and Stacey Chapin say they can finally breathe again,

knowing that Brian Kobreger, the man who killed their son, his girlfriend Zena Kurnodle, and her housemates Kaylee Gonzalez and Madison Mogan will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Did you kill and murder Ethan Chapin human being. Yes. Coburger recently pled guilty in a deal that allowed him to avoid the death penalty and gave the parents the assurance he'll never be allowed to appeal. The Chapin spoke to

NBC exclusively for the first time since that chilling confession. It's your first time seeing Brian Coburger in person. Yes, what was that like. I really didn't give it a thought because it doesn't matter. It's done is just shocking. The wreckage that is that person.

They're focused now remembering Ethan his parents and triplets siblings Maisie and Hunter reflect on his life in a new Amazon prime documentary one night in Idaho. It was definitely like the leader like I'm going to him and Hunter would go to him. We were raised very centered around family. So we were friends with everyone but we were best friends with each other.

The family remembers their best friend by holding on to things he loved. Ethan's Jeep still parked in the garage. It was just so him. I mean, he even had the flag and the grill. In what ways do you feel Ethan's presence? Everywhere in this house. Yeah.

I mean, he just could just blow into any room and had something funny to say. We feel very fortunate to have had him for 20 years. Is closure a word you could use to describe the plea deal for your family? Yeah. Oh, absolutely. Now we get to just move on. Yeah. Yeah, there's big time closure.

Liz Kreutz, NBC News. When we come back, the stunning moment a paraglider crashed into power lines, then fell into a river. The miracle rescue. Next. We are back now with a stunning moment caught on camera. Take a look at this. Paraglider North Dakota crashing into power lines, sending sparks flying, then plunging

down into the river below. The fire department told local media they were able to rescue the paraglider from that water. The person who took this video confirming the man somehow survived. Here in New York City, four kids were spotted by police drones riding on top of train cars, a dangerous trend known as subway surfing. Two of the boys are only 12 years old. Police boarded that train and all four kids were taken into custody. Earlier this month, a teen died after being found on top of a train car.

Police believe he had been trying to subway surf. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter Tour is one of the hottest shows of the summer. But during a stop in Atlanta, two people identifying themselves to police as members of Beyonce's team said their car was broken into and that hard drives with future set lists and unreleased music were stolen. So far the superstar hasn't commented.

When we come back the camp where so many volunteers showed up to help after flooding, they had to turn some away. The good news is next. Finally there is good news tonight in Texas where one camp is reopening a week after those floods after hundreds of volunteers came together to make it happen. Ryan Chandler has this story. Welcome to camp. After 10 dark days, smiles start to rise above the Guadalupe River.

It's these campers' first day back at camp and spirits are high. In center point Texas, this is a place for those who can't always go to other camps, a refuge for kids and young adults with disabilities. 21 year-old Kenny is a veteran camper. I'm grateful that I get this opportunity that at the same time it's

it's rough knowing everyone else is still suffering. Parts of the campgrounds were destroyed by those deadly flash floods more than 1500 volunteers stepped up some of shovels others with chainsaws the outpouring so large some were turned away. It gives you an incredible belief that yet tomorrow can be better than today because there are people out there who will make it so.

This community has a lot of hard tomorrow's ahead. But today camp is open once again. This river has caused so much pain this week. But as you've seen it can also be a source of joy. The most hit it and growth often happens after the largest tragedies. Sometimes the darkest storms can bring the largest growth. After so much heartache, a glimmer of hope. Ryan Chandler, NBC News, Centerpoint, Texas. And that's nightly news for this Monday. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching. Tonight and

always, we're here for you. Good night.