NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Monday, July 27, 2026

Episode Date: July 28, 2026

Devastating tornado in Wisconsin; Manhunt for suspect in deadly shootout at Seattle food festival; Savannah Guthrie makes emotional new plea to mother's kidnapper; 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 we're tracking a monster storm, tornadoes and pounding rain slamming the Midwest right now. The giant twister tearing across Wisconsin, a massive funnel cloud sweeping through a neighborhood before ripping apart homes and downing trees. Storms flooding roads and flipping cars, and it's not over yet. Video capturing people running for their lives after a shooting at a Seattle food festival. Three people killed, a gunman possibly still on the live. lose another, captured, and only 15 years old. Savannah Guthrie's new message, seeming to speak directly to her mother's kidnapper what she is asking for in that emotional plea. The convicted

killer in the Idaho College murders now claiming he's innocent, why Brian Koeberger is trying to take back his guilty plea. The wife of a Kansas City Chiefs coach being carried away by first responders allegedly shot by her own son. A secret service agent arrested for hazing pledges at a college fraternity accused of beating them with paddles and canes, nearly killing one student. Shark attack caught on camera, the lightning quick moment this shark lunges at a diver coming up for air, biting his leg.

Lost at sea, the man stranded for 20 days, how he survived after he ran out of water. And there's good news tonight about the fall. firefighter who donated her kidney to another firefighter who happens to be her husband. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. It's great to be with you on this Monday. We want to start tonight with that massive storm tearing through the Midwest. Tornadoes hail and intense downpours, flattening towns and impacting millions right now. In Hardest Hit Wisconsin, you see the video there showing a massive

massive funnel clouds sweeping through one town. In the aftermath, sheer destruction seen from above. Roofs ripped away debris and people's belongings everywhere you look. On the ground, this driver capturing trees snap like twigs and homes reduced to rubble. And out on the highway, look at this, that's a semi-truck completely smashed by the storms. And not far, house after house after her house crushed by huge fallen trees while drivers are stranded by all that flash flooding. And there could be more brutal weather on the way there, thunderstorms and possible tornadoes still in the forecast tonight. And outside of Chicago, word tonight of workers trapped in a storm drain right now, Maggie Vespa's

at the scene, and Maggie, one was just rescued behind you? Yeah, Tom, that's right. One of those workers has now been pulled out. Another one is still trapped down there, and you can see it's still raining here in the Chicago. area, a rescue crews working to reach him frantically as severe weather slams much of the country. Tonight, a monster twister tearing across Wisconsin. Watch as this ominous cloud roars through a neighborhood. This is really bad. This dramatic video capturing the devastation in Manashah. Trees and homes on the main street torn apart. A warning siren still blaring even with car windows

blown out and that building damaged. A similar scene in Appleton, drone video showing houses simply destroyed. Debris scattered across this residential area and mangled vehicles littered across a highway. It's all part of a violent system that slammed the Midwest today. You can hear powerful winds howling

outside this car dealership near Chicago. Those were like golf balls. Large hail slamming the suburbs. Downed trees crashing onto homes and cars, drivers forced to navigate flash flooding. Storms grounding flights at Midway Airport and Chicago O'Hare, where this video shows water pouring in through the ceiling. It comes as more than 130 million Americans are under heat alerts, and overseas historic wildfires ravage Western Europe,

with more than 300,000 people evacuated from multiple iconic sites across Spain, Italy, and France, including that country's world-famous Bordeaux wine. region. Here you see the flames from the cockpit of a firefighting plane. Around the world, Mother Nature's destructive power on full display. All right. And back here at home, Maggie Vespa joins us again live. Maggie, that rescue happening behind you, the workers were trapped inside that storm drain? Yeah, Tom, that's right. And actually rescue efforts have now expanded. Firefighters telling us they're working through three different storm drains within multiple blocks of here to try to reach him as soon as possible. He's been down there for hours,

while this rain has been coming down for much of the afternoon. Tom. Maggie Vespa and her team, as some of those workers were being taken out. Maggie, we thank you. Also breaking tonight, police say they're searching for a third gunman who got away involved in that deadly shootout at a Seattle food festival. And tonight we have videos of the moments the shooters opened fire. Liz Kreutz is at the scene.

Tonight, police arresting a 15-year-old, who they say was part of that deadly shootout Sunday, spraying bullets into a crowded Seattle food festival. Oh, it's right there. Officials earlier saying they were still trying to locate and identify a second gunman. We believe that the bullets that were fired were from two individuals who appeared to be firing at one another. But late tonight in court documents, police say there was also a third shooter, writing the 15-year-old and one of the deceased engaged in a gunfight with at least one other unknown suspect. Police say three people died, a 56-year-old woman and two men ages 19 and 40. Anyone have a small, a child tourniquet size?

Five other people were injured, including a two-year-old boy. At this point, we believe this could be gang-related. There were two groups firing in the area near the armory. Well, city officials are facing backlash after Seattle's mayor incorrectly told the public Sunday all shooters were in custody. We are doing the best that we can to provide accurate information in a timely manner. According to officials, the gunfire erupted just after 6,000. P.M. Multiple people down. One person shot in the back. What's going on?

Sending thousands running to safety. Oh my God. People even forced to seek shelter in the Space Needles gift shop. You can just get a sense being here of how chaotic it must have been. There's trash littered everywhere and dozens of abandoned tents like this one. In fact, take a look. You can get a sense of how quickly they must have gotten out. Their food is still out on the counter, pancakes even still on the griddle. Vender, Akika Bullock, was nearby when the shooting. started. The altercation happened right over there towards the intersection. He says he ran towards the bullets to save his pregnant wife and saw many of the victims on the ground. How are you doing?

It's it shakes you. It's really sad. So many still shaking up in that community because of these shootings. Liz, we saw the confusion there in your report over what authorities have told the public, but as of now, we believe this third gunman is still at large tonight? Yeah, Tom, that's right. In fact, just moments ago, we got confirmation from the mayor's office that they are, in fact, searching for that third gunman. They say that second gunman is the 19-year-old who is now deceased. And as for that 15-year-old, he had his first court appearance today. He faces firearms and assault charges. Tom.

Liz Kreutz for us, Liz, thank you. We turn out to a new emotional message from our colleague, Savannah Guthrie, seeming to speak directly to a mother's kidnapper. The 84-year-old now missing for nearly six months. Aaron McLaughlin with Savannah's new video. I'm coming on today with a very specific message. It has been months since our mom was taken from us. Our family is in agony. Tonight, Nancy Guthrie's daughter, Savannah, posting this heart-wrenching message to her mother's kidnapper.

We are in a nightmare that will not end. Nothing about our situation has changed. We have done our part. And we will never stop looking for her. we will always ache for her and feel that hole in our hearts. The world can be a cruel and unforgiving place, and I know that you have tried to do things the right way. Back in February, the Guthrie family announced a million dollar reward for information leading to Nancy's recovery.

Now Savannah is seeming to speak directly to the person responsible for taking her. So I'm asking you, begging you to do the right thing now, make the right choice. help us find her, tell us where to look for her. I truly believe it is never too late to do the right thing. Help us bring this situation to an end. For all of us, no matter where we've been and what we've done, I believe there is always a way home. Please make the right choice.

Always so hard to see those videos of Savannah. Aaron joins us now live here in studio. Aaron, the big question is, do we know why Savannah posted the video today? And it's still unclear, right? Yeah, that's right, Tom. It's unclear what prompted this message. As of today, Savannah and her siblings have posted seven emotional video messages begging for help finding their mother.

Law enforcement sources told us today that there have been no significant developments. Okay, Aaron, thank you for that. Now, to a stunning reversal. Convicted killer Brian Coburger says he wants to withdraw his guilty plea in the 2022 murder of four University of Idaho. Idaho students. Stephanie Goss joins us now in studio. And Stephanie, he's already been convicted. So what happens now? Yeah, so he wants to withdraw that plea and he wants to go to trial. Remember, that trial never happened. And in court documents, Koberger says he is innocent and had

ineffective counsel that advised him to lie and confess in order to avoid the death penalty in exchange for a life sentence. Legal experts we talk to say his chances of getting that trial are slim in a hearing last summer. The judge asked Koeberger multiple times if he was guilty. of killing the University of Idaho students. And he said he was. So tonight, the family of one of the victims, Kaylee Gonzalez, called Coburger, the mosquito, you just can't seem to swat.

They also suggested, Tom, that he might be doing all of this to get back in the spotlight. Yeah, they might have a point. Okay, Stephanie, we thank you for that. Also, tonight, a violent crime hitting the Kansas City Chiefs Organization. Police say the wife of their offensive coordinator

was shot by their son. New video shows officers rushing to savor. Our Shaquille Brewster picks it up from there. This dramatic moment captured on doorbell camera video shows deputies running. Carrying out Mia Bienami, the wife of Kansas City Chief's offensive coordinator, Eric Bianami, after authorities say she was shot by their son. Watch as officers move toward the home with their weapons drawn. Oh, shit, they're breaking down the door.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office says Mia called 911 herself, deputies responding around 7.30 Sunday evening to a home in Ashburn, Virginia. reported is shot in the check arm. Eric Bianami rushing from

training camp in Missouri to help take care of her. According to the criminal complaint, Mia's son

shot her with a 22 caliber gun in the left forearm and shoulder. Mia by enemy had been

shot more than once and there are other people in the house to include Elijah

by enemy who we determined at the time was the suspect in the incident. This video

shows a man handcuffed outside the home. 27-year-old Elijah Zion Bianemi was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm and commission of a felony, and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling. Now he's being held without bond. As the team says, Mia is in stable condition. She's a saint. We all know that,

the people that know her, one of God's good blessings that right there now, I'm really a special person. Tonight, law enforcement still investigating this disturbing shooting. Shaquille Brewster, NBC News. And tonight's Secret Service agent is under arrest facing disturbing accusations of brutally beating college students during a hazing ritual. One of the students was almost killed. Kelly O'Donnell has the latest. Tonight, a Miami-based Secret Service agent now has a mugshot and was pulled from his elite law enforcement job, accused of unleashing days of severe beatings in an alleged fraternity hazing ritual, linked to an alumni chapter of Kappa Alpha Sun. that left two unnamed victims so bloodied that extensive skin grafts and critical emergency care were required. Today in a Florida court...

It's charging you with attempted manslaughter with a deadly weapon. 29-year-old Marquez Pinder appeared by video, ordered to have no contact with victims or the fraternity. Do you understand the stayaway order, sir? Yes, no. Pinder and two other men face it. felony charges. According to an arrest warrant, the first of several April hazing incidents happened at Pinders Miami apartment. An affidavit states two victims were struck repeatedly on their buttocks. With paddles and canes, one man bled through his underwear and pants. The

laceration so severe that substantial portions of skin and soft tissue was surgically removed. One victim was intubated to prevent further physical deterioration. and death. The national fraternity said Kappa Alpha Psi is a non-hazing fraternity and said the suspects are not active or financial members. The Secret Service says Pinder has been an agent for fewer than three years and was removed from duty on leave. The judge ordered house arrest and he's due back in court in September. Tom? Kelly, thank you. Welcome back. A diver fought off a shark and likely saved his own leg and it was all caught on video. Henry Gibbs was spirit. fishing in Fiji. He spots a shark in the distance when it suddenly, you see it spins around and attacks

biting his calf. He manages to get it away poking the shark with his spear gun. He suffered serious injuries, but he says his leg is intact. And take a look at this, a small plane landing in the middle of Huntington Beach in California. The pilot called air traffic control with an urgent mayday just after takeoff from John Wayne Airport saying he lost his engine. He put the piper down in the sand, and the pilot told our station NBCLA that he just followed his instincts to land it safely and avoid the crowds. And an incredible rescue at sea, this is the moment sailor Kai Sato was pulled the safety after he says he was adrift at sea for weeks. He was sailing from California to Hawaii when he says his mask snapped and his phone died. He figured out how to make fresh water to survive.

A ship passing by somehow spotted him and rescued him after a month at sea. When we come back, a firefighter comes to another's rescue when it was needed most, and he just happened to be her husband. That's next. Finally, there's good news tonight about a life-saving act of love for a firefighter in need of rescue. Here's Emily Aketa. When Robert Coleman Jr. and Maddie Geer exchanged vows last year, they never anticipated such an early test of in sickness and in health. I started having a little bit of blurry vision and spots in my eyes. So I ended up going to urgent care and they sent me directly to the emergency room.

Coleman had reached stage five kidney failure and the spring learned he would need a transplant. Finding a donor for many can take years. But it turns out these newlyweds were a perfect match in more ways than one, geared donating her kidney to save her husband. We just always say it was meant to be because who knows what would have happened if we didn't need. The surgery was successful. And as they both recovered from their operations, Coleman's sweet talked the nurse into letting him see his beloved

and be present for the discharge ceremony. She wheeled me down to the third floor, and my heart was overwhelmed. It's just a huge blessing for us. The pair, both firefighters, now looking forward to returning to duty and saving more lives. This is the biggest test that we could possibly give

and she passed in the flying colors. She's incredible and I'm truly blessed to have her as my wife, that's for sure. It's all up from here. Emily Ikeda, NBC News. All right, that's nightly news for this Monday and a programming note. Tomorrow I anchor live from the Vatican ahead of a historic broadcast,

Pope Leo's Concert for Peace, which you can only see on NBC and Telemundo on Wednesday. I'll then speak with Pope Leo now in his second year leading the Catholic Church. We look forward to our time with His Holiness. Thanks so much for watching tonight and always we're here for you. Good night.