NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Sunday, December 14, 2025

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

Officials: father & son kill 15 in Australia mass shooting; Sources: person of interest in Brown Univ. shooting identified; Millions under weather alerts from snow and bitter cold; 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, late developments in two mass shootings, one here at home and one overseas with images of a hero bystander captured on camera. At least 15 people killed when two attackers opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at a world famous beach in Australia. Video, look at this, showing people running for cover and the man who stepped in to take down one of the shooters, a child and a rabbi among the dead. Tonight, what we're learning about the father and son who officials say carried out the attack. The latest out of Brown University and the deadly shooting there. The campus put on lockdown, terrified students taking cover. The hours-long manhunt to track down the gunmen. And tonight, what we're learning about the person police have in custody.

A startling scene in the sky for a jet blue flight and a U.S. military plane in the air near Venezuela. They passed directly in our flight path. Tonight, the response from the Pentagon as the administration surges forces. into the region. The first big snowstorm of the season, blanketing states from the Midwest to the northeast, cars stranded in the snow, and now a new danger, with tens of millions set to be hit by brutal Arctic cold. The growing fallout after the University of Michigan football coach was fired and arrested, why the school's entire athletic department is now facing growing scrutiny.

There is good news tonight about the grandma's giving advice and offering connection to complete strangers. This is NBC Nightly News with Hallie Jackson. Good evening. We are coming on the air with that horrific Hanukkah attack overseas. Fifteen people dead, killed by a father and son targeting Jewish people, according to police. Look at this video showing people who gathered in Bandai Beach in Australia. They're sprinting to find cover. Just chaotic.

And in the middle of it all, an incredible act of courage. Look at this. You see this man here tackling one of the shooters from behind. basically bear hugging him, taking the gun. He's now being described as a hero and is in the hospital after being shot. But for 15 other families, a nightmare tonight, the youngest victim, just 10 years old. And we're learning a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor have also been killed. We have a number of late developments in this story, and our Raf Sanchez is tracking them all.

Tonight, in Australia, horror and heroism. Thousands running for their lives down Sydney's famous Bondi Beach. As police say, two shooters, a father and son, opened fire with long guns on a Jewish community event, celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. At least 15 people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor and around 40 more wounded in what authorities say was a targeted terrorist attack. An act of evil anti-Semitism, terrorism that has struck the heart of our nation. Of the two gunmen, the father was killed, police say. His 24-year-old son, in custody, in critical condition. Three law enforcement sources tell NBC news the son's name is Navid Akram.

I think what was the most shocking was how long the gunfire lasted. The shots were going on for ages by multiple minutes. This is the moment a bystander leapt into action. Wrestling what appears to be a shotgun from one of the attackers. His name is Ahmed al-Ahmad, a father of two who owns a nearby fruit shop, according to Australia's Channel 7. His family says he was shot in the hand and arm. We hope he would be fine. He's a hero.

100% he's a hero. Tonight, his bravery is being hailed worldwide, including by the president. And saved a lot of lives, so a very brave person who's very brave. right now in the hospital. Israel's Prime Minister, accusing Australia's leader of being weak on anti-Semitism. You let the disease spread,

and the result is the horrific attacks on Jews we saw today. Among the dead, Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Joy and happiness, prosperity. A representative of the Habab Jewish organization, remembered for his commitment to spreading joy. Raff is joining us now, and in Australia, Raf,

gun deaths are relatively rare. This is a place with strict gun laws. And we're learning one of the shooters did have a gun license. Yeah, Halley, police are saying the father had legally purchased six guns. They found some of them at the crime scene. Others they recovered during a raid at the shooter's family home. Police also saying they disarmed two rudimentary bombs they found in a car parked at the scene of the shooter. Hallie.

Ralph Sanchez, thank you. Here at home, police say they now have someone in custody after a mass shooting at Brown University with two people killed and nine others hurt. Aaron McLaughlin is in Providence. Tonight, three senior law enforcement officials tell NBC news. They've detained 24-year-old Benjamin Erickson in connection with the mass shooting at Brown University that killed two and wounded at least nine.

The officials adding they're looking into what may be an extensive mental health history and a possible connection to the university. How confident are you that you have the suspect? I'm pretty confident. The culmination of a 12-hour manhunt, involving more than 400 law enforcement. Today, FBI director Cash Patel tweeted

they detained a person of interest in a hotel room early this morning just miles away from the university. It happened hours after police released this surveillance footage showing what they described as a person of interest walking away from the shooting.

Students recounted the chaos that gripped the campus. We could see gurneys being prepared and it was quite uncertain. Police, police. Promise is police. New video shows the moment police stormed a nearby library on Saturday. Students terrified, hands in the air. Obviously, there's something going on.

We're here to help you. Just listen to what we have to say, okay? Researcher Chris Kremmer says he heard what sounded like shots fired. I heard muffled several muffled bangs. Today, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley recalled how one of the victims at the hospital told him he believes another student may have saved his life. By pulling him down and out of the way. and was asking about that other person's well-being. And so here's a guy who's in a hospital bed, gunshot wound, worried about someone else.

Tonight, with finals and classes canceled, Brown University is mourning lives lost. While some say they're now resigned to a grim reality. This isn't going to change. No one's going to change this. Aaron is joining us now from Providence. And Aaron, we're also learning more late tonight about the military service for the man who's in custody, right? That's right, Halley. Public records show that he served as a specialist in the Army. He lived in Washington, D.C., and before that, Wisconsin, he had no criminal record. Halley. Aaron McLaughlin, thank you. Let's bring in our senior national security and intelligence correspondent Tom Winter now. And Tom, police are going to want to know more about this weapon and how this attacker got into the school. Oh, that's right, Hallie. As a matter of fact, investigators are looking deep into the mental health history of this person of interest to try and figure out why he may have done.

this and to ask questions about his past. Some of those questions had any gun store owners previously flagged Erickson in any potential purchases or permits he had sought. They're asking what his specific ties were to Brown University. Was there any prior disciplinary action taken? And law enforcement officials in New England also have questions about the security at Brown University. Should doors have been locked? Should there have been better efforts to limit access? It will likely strengthen calls from law enforcement for greater funding and access to mental health care as they struggle to stay on top of a host of threats from targeted killings to acts of terrorism. Back in Providence, state charges against Erickson could be filed

as soon as Monday by the state AG's office. The investigation is ongoing. And if federal laws were determined to have been broken, well, the feds could bring charges too, Halley. Tom Winter, thank you very much for that. To a startling mid-air scare now, and new air traffic control audio after a U.S. military plane apparently came uncomfortably close to a jet blue flight in the skies near Venezuela. Here's Yamish Al-Sindor. We had to stop our climb. Tonight, a tense incident between a JetBlue flight and a U.S. Air Force plane flying near Venezuela. We almost had a mid-air collision up here.

The JetBlue pilot describing the harrowing moments, which happened on Friday, to air traffic control and blaming the military plane for crossing his path. They passed directly in our flight path. They don't have their transponder turned on. It's outrageous. How dangerous was this incident? The airplanes were still several miles apart, so the tanker crew could, and all likely was aware that the JetBlue airplane was there. There was a loss in normal separation, and it would have been very disturbing to the Jet Blue crew to all of a sudden see an Air Force tanker much closer than you would normally expect to see other traffic. The JetBlue flight was coming from Curacao just off the coast of Venezuela and heading to New York City's JFK Airport. Tonight, JetBlue saying in a statement, we have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation.

And a Southern Command spokesperson tells us they're currently reviewing the matter. The incident comes as the U.S. has stepped up activity in the Caribbean, with President Trump targeting alleged drug traffickers in several boat strikes. And last month, the president posting this online to all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela to be closed in its entirety. Yamish is joining us now from the White House. And Yamish, it's not unusual for military aircraft to have their transponders off, right? That's right. The expert we spoke to said the U.S. military often turns off transponders because they don't want to broadcast positions of any military aircraft to potential adversaries. He also noted he did not think there was a high risk of collision here.

Halley. Yamish Alcindor at the White House, thank you. Also tonight, millions of people from the Midwest to the Northeast are bracing for record cold temperatures as a brutal deep freeze threatens to paralyze parts of the country following the first big snowfall of the season. Our Stephen Romo reports. Tonight, a winter wallop pummeling millions, with snow blanketing much of the Northeast and New England. Major cities like Boston, Philadelphia, and New York getting their first measurable snow of the season. Some parts of Pennsylvania slammed with up to 13 inches of snow.

The winter blast, leaving cars stranded and roads treacherous, plows struggling to keep up with the near whiteout conditions. Ground stops today at New York's LaGuardia and JFK airports, thousands of flights delayed. This is the cold as weather I've ever been in my life. And a deep freeze causing concern from the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf Coast. More than 62 million Americans now under cold weather alerts and bracing for a new blast of Arctic air overnight. On the football field, it's still game on at MetLife Stadium in New York. Work started early, crews clearing the seats before the Giants game. While in Chicago, fans braving the cold for the Bears game.

Two pairs of socks, warmers, everywhere. cardboard for insulation on the floor to keep our feet from freezing. But some leaving early. It's not even halftime yet, and we are heading home. Meanwhile, the Pacific Northwest faces a flooding crisis. Very heartbroken. As people are still cleaning up from flooding last week, now more heavy rain expected tomorrow. As dangerous coast-to-coast weather threatens so many just as the holiday season gets underway.

Stephen is joining us now from Rhode Island and Stephen this deep freeze will last a little longer. Yes, that is what forecasters are saying, Hallie, a lot of people, fans of these snowy views. These overnight temperatures, though, likely less popular. It's set to feel like negative one degree here through tomorrow. And the holiday travel season, that is set to pick up at the end of the week. A whole lot of people are hoping that this winter weather will cooperate, Halley.

Stephen Romo, thank you. Let's bring in meteorologist Brandt Miller now from our NBC station in Chicago. And, Brand, this snow may be moving out, but that brutal cold is right on its heels. That punch of cold air pushes all the way down to the Gulf Coast, Hally. 62 million Americans impacted. Look at the dangerous cold near freezing all the way down to the Florida panhandle, single digits in the Great Lakes. Now, what's it like tomorrow? Temperatures moderate a bit.

20s in the Great Lakes near freezing to the south. and look at the trend as we've pushed toward the holiday week. Those are numbers in the 40s. Halley, back to you. Brand Miller, thank you. Some tough new questions tonight for the University of Michigan Athletic Program after the firing and arrest of that school's football coach. Camilla Brunall has the latest.

Tonight, an expanding investigation at the University of Michigan's athletic department after the firing of former football coach Sharon Moore. Two people familiar with the situation tell the Associated Press. Moore was terminated for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. That afternoon, prosecutors say he barged into her apartment. Immediately then proceeded to a kitchen drawer, grabbed several butter knives, and a pair of kitchen scissors. He was charged with alleged home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering. The married father of three was released from jail on a $25,000 bail, and a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.

The Associated Press, reporting that the law firm hired by the university to investigate Moore's relationship with that staffer, will continue its probe of the program and is prepared to expand its inquiry throughout the athletic department, according to two people familiar with the situation. I think what we're seeing is the university trying to take stock of the culture of its entire athletic department. Moore's firing the latest scandal in an athletic program that has come under fire in recent years. Moore's predecessor, Jim Harbaugh, now head coach of the L.A. Chargers, reacting to the news this week. Still processing that like a lot of people, I'm sure. Harbaugh himself, punished by the NCAA for recruiting violations while he was coaching Michigan. And under his leadership, a sign stealing scandal. What's next for the University of Michigan?

What's next for the school is they're going to have to do two very important things concurrently. This investigation is going to look into the past. What has Michigan done that's got? gotten it to this point, while a coaching search will very much be about the future of the football program. Camila Bernal, NBC News. Still ahead tonight, the new warning signs for President Trump from the latest NBC News poll. New warning signs tonight for President Trump and his support among Americans.

A new NBC News decision desk poll shows his approval rating at 42 percent, the lowest since his re-election. He's also losing support on key issues with the majority of people saying they trust Democrats more to handle health care costs and also when it comes to who they think can best handle rising prices. Some potential progress in talks to try and end the war in Ukraine today. Top U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff meeting with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for more than five hours in Germany. Zelensky says he's prepared to drop his country's demand to join NATO. That's been a major sticking point for Russia. Whitkoff and Zelensky are expected to meet again

tomorrow. And in India, officials are looking into what happened after a scheduled appearance by soccer superstar Leonel Messi descended into chaos. Look at that. Fans at the stadium stormed the field Saturday after the Argentinian World Cup champ cut his appearance short because of security concerns. The event organizer is now being held without bond. When we come back, there is good news tonight about the advice-giving group of grandmas sharing their wisdom and a smile with those who need it. There is good news tonight on this first night of Hanukkah about a little encouragement and a reality check from some friendly faces sharing wisdom about what they've lived and learned. That's a great idea.

As advice giving goes, guidance from a grandmother usually can't be beat. I think that you're going to learn some things about yourself. But if you can't talk to your own, these ladies have your back. That's because here in Washington, anyone feeling lost or confused can ask, what would Bubby do? And this cast of Bubbies, Sandy, Esther, and Andrea all have the answer. They need to know that someone believes in them. Chat GBT doesn't have a soft shoulder for you, and your phone can't try your tears. D.C.-based synagogue Sixth and I is bringing together these Bubbies, or Jewish grandmothers,

to let people talk out their problems with someone. older and wiser. We have an X-factor based on 5,000 years of history, and that's Chutzpah, the Yiddish bravado. We're non-judgmental grandmothers who are open to listening to whatever story it is you have to tell. Offering perspective. Do you kind of look around and see what else is out there? Empathy. Try not to be too anxious about it. And someone to lean on. Our big thing is like, What do we do? How do we deal with it? I was almost like tearing up because she like took my hands and she's like, I've been there before. Like I understand you and trust your gut.

No matter the topic. Do you think I should just go for it? Careers. Like there's a new job recently. Love. I know it's a tough time. It's so bad. Or life.

She brought up a good point, Sandy, that mistakes aren't really a thing. You know, everything's a learning experience. The bubbies are here to help with heart and yes, Hootspah. I do want people to take the lead. Find what's good and go with it. The solution is there. It's on the other side of the river, and you know how to swim. You just got to jump in and take a chance.

And that is good advice. That's nightly news for this Sunday. But stick around. Sunday night football is up next. Vikings versus the Cowboys. Tom will be back tomorrow. I'm Hallie Jackson. For all of us here at NBC, thanks for watching and have a great week. Thank you.