NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Thursday, March 12, 2026

Episode Date: March 13, 2026

Armed man rams vehicle into Michigan synagogue; being investigated as possible terrorism; Deadly campus shooting investigated as act of terrorism; Rescue efforts underway after U.S. refueling plane crashes in Iraq. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking news tonight, two possible terror attacks inside the U.S., one targeting a Michigan synagogue, the other military officers in training at a Virginia university, what we're learning about the suspects. The terrifying scene in Michigan, a man driving his car into a massive synagogue, security opening fire, smoke pouring out of the building, first responders searching for explosives inside that car. Also tonight, the deadly, school campus shooting, targeting officers in training. What we know about the former Army National Guard member opening fire and his past connection to ISIS. The FBI investigation into both cases are they linked to or motivated by the war in Iran. The update in the Nancy Guthrie case just in, with the sheriff just told us exclusively about whether she was targeted. Also breaking tonight

an American aircraft down in the Middle East in Iraq, plus new attacks in the Strait of Ormuse, an oil tanker struck bursting into flames, a drone nearly hitting the world's tallest building, the first official statement from the new Ayatollah tonight. Dangerous storms hitting millions from coast to coast, a blinding dust storm, and hurricane force winds toppling tractor trailers, firefighters using chainsaws to rescue a trap driver, massive trees crushing homes, plus the snowstorm catching the D.C. area by surprise. Dron theft mystery, the manhunt for mass thieves who stole drones from a U.S. Army base. The popular protein bar accused of having 80% more calories than advertised, how the founder of David Protein is pushing back.

Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We begin tonight with a terrifying day for America. Two horrific attacks, 700 miles apart, both being investigated as a possible terror attack. They come as the war with Iran rages on amid fears of retaliation here in the U.S. Right now, there is currently no known connection between a deadly shooting at Virginia University and a Virginia University and an attack on a Michigan synagogue. But they have sent a chill across the country tonight. This was the scene outside of Detroit today, one of the biggest synagogues in the country, fire pouring out of it

after a man rammed his car into its doors, then security started shooting. The synagogue had trained for an attack and security took down the assailant who died before any lives were lost. And at Old Dominion University in Virginia, a man firing on military officers in training, killing one of them and injuring two others. He had previously been arrested for supporting the terror group, ISIS, both being investigated now. as possible acts of terrorism. The president last night saying they were aware of Iranian sleeper cells inside the U.S. These incidents, experts say, more likely to be lone wolves than directed by Iran.

We'll get into that in a moment, but we begin on the ground in Michigan. Ty Steele from our affiliate, WDIV, is outside that synagogue. A terrifying scene at a Michigan synagogue today that's now being investigated as possible terrorism according to the FBI. Police, bomb squad. and the FBI, all racing to Temple Israel in West Bloomfield after reports of an active shooter and fire that was spreading across the sprawling complex. Authorities telling NBC News a man with a rifle drove a vehicle into the building with preschool in session.

The suspect then managed to drive down a hall, but security guards working for the synagogue opened fire with the semi-automatic weapons, the suspect died. It's hard to say how fast. I mean, he was traveling with purpose down the hall. Smoke, seen billowing from the building, is believed to be from a fire connected to the suspect's vehicle which may have had explosives inside. You couldn't even see that the hall was completely clear. We had to send people in with gas masks to clear that area. The sheriff says one of the security guards was taken to the hospital after being hit by the vehicle, but is expected to be okay. No temple, staff, or children from the daycare or preschool were injured.

They were all evacuated and hours later reunited with their families. The president spoke about today's incident. It's a terrible thing. We're going to be right down to the bottom of it. Law enforcement says it is ramping up security at all Jewish facilities in the area. Many were already on heightened alert after recent attacks against the Jewish community. From arson at a Mississippi synagogue to a car repeatedly ramming into a Habod center in New York, and in December, the shooting on Bondi Beach in Australia at a Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 people.

Temple Israel is one of the largest Jewish congregations in the entire United States, with more than 3,000 families. A rabbi there says they have had a plan in place in case any incidents like this one. And the sheriff says since the war with Iran began, they've been coordinating with law enforcement at all levels. We've been talking for two weeks about the potential, sadly, of this happening, so there was no lack of preparation. Tonight, the community is shaken.

This is senseless. It's senseless. We have to be better than this. This is not okay. So it's all I want. never wanted to be okay. And with that, Ty Steele joins us now live from outside that synagogue. Ty, you spoke with residents in the area who took in people from the synagogue this afternoon. What do they tell you?

That's right, Tom. Ten yards from where I'm standing right here. A homeowner was home at the time of the evacuation of that preschool. He took about 40 children into his garage and held them there for about 30 minutes until school buses arrived and took them to a safe location. He says he is so grateful that he was there to help. Tom, back to you. Ty Steele, our thanks to you, now to the deadly shooting on a university campus in Virginia, being investigated as an act of terrorism.

We're learning the suspect was once convicted of providing material support to ISIS. Ryan Noble's reports it was a student who stepped in to take him down. Tonight, the suspected terror attack playing out on a campus in Virginia. Old Dominion University on high alert after a shooter opened fire in a classroom. The reports have an active shooter in the building. Just before 11 a.m., officials say 36-year-old Mohamed Baylor Jala specifically targeted an ROTC class on the Norfolk, Virginia campus. We have confirmed reports that prior to him conducting this act of terrorism, he shouted, all of our stated, Al-Aqvar. O. Germain Bego's son was in the room and called soon after the gunfire broke out.

He was very distraught and nervous. You can hear it. in his voice, but he wanted to let me and his mother know that he was okay, that he was unharmed. A group of brave students stepped in to subdue the suspect. And if not for them, I'm not sure, you know, what else he may have done. According to police, one person was killed, two others injured. The shooter also died. The secretary of the Army tonight saying both people injured were Army personnel. Jallo is from Sterling, Virginia, and was a former member of the Army National

guard. He was arrested in 2016 for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to to court documents, and allegedly attempting to gather weapons to be used in an attack in the U.S. The complaint at the time, Sejala also attempted to provide funds to people hoping to join ISIS. Documents show that he pleaded guilty to a terrorism-related charge. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison and was released in 2024, according to the Department of Justice. Tonight, classes Old Dominion University are canceled for the remainder of the week as the investigation is ongoing. Released after those terrorism charges, Ryan Nobles joins us now from Newport News, Virginia. Ryan, any word whether officials are looking into if these two incidents from today are related?

Tom, at this point, officials have said that they've not found any direct evidence that the two incidents are connected. And here in Virginia, they're trying to determine what the suspect's specific motives were. And they're asking the public for help. They want to know where he was. before this incident, who he may have been talking to, and if anyone was feeding him information. Tom. All right, Ryan Nobles for us. Ryan, thank you. None of that breaking news overseas. USNCOM announcing a refueling aircraft has gone down in what it calls friendly airspace in Iraq.

That plane, part of U.S. airstrikes on Iran, all as the Iranian regime is escalating its attacks on oil tankers. Here's Richard Engel. Tonight, U.S. Central Command is saying the KC. 135 refueling aircraft went down in friendly airspace in Western Iraq, that it was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire, and rescue efforts are ongoing. All as Iran is unleashing new attacks on oil tankers, this fuel-laden ship bursting into a fireball, part of Iran's strategy to drive up oil prices by stopping tankers from passing through

the Strait of Hormuz. They've got no Navy. They've got no air force. They've got no anti-air traffic, anything. They have no systems of control. We're just riding free range over that country. And now we're going to look very strongly at the straits. The straits are in great shape.

We've knocked out all of their boats. On Iranian state media today, a presenter reading what she said was the first message from Iran's new supreme leader, Ayatollah Moshtaba Hamenei, who said the lever of closing the strait of Hormuz, must still be used, but neither his image nor his voice were broadcast. And Iran isn't only lashing out at sea, new video showing a high rise in Dubai hit by an Iranian drone, and fires raging after an Iranian strike on a fuel depot in Bahrain. It's all leaving Iran increasingly isolated.

135 nations voted at the UN to condemn Iran for its attacks on Gulf countries and Jordan. Iran today also pulled out of the upcoming World Cup in the U.S. President Trump responded, the team is welcome, but, quote, I really don't believe it's appropriate that they be there for their own life and safety. Six members of Iran's women's soccer team were recently granted asylum in Australia after players flashed help signs on the team's bus. But Iran does have one ally that has jointed in open war, the Lebanese militia Hezbollah firing more than a hundred

rockets at Israel. And one of those Hezbollah rockets landed right here, and Israel's defense minister is now threatening the Lebanese government, saying if it can't stop Hezbollah from doing more attacks like this, Israeli troops will take more Lebanese territory. Israel is bombing Beirut, and Israeli troops have crossed into Lebanon to battle Hezbollah. Nearly 700 people have been killed so far, according to the Lebanese government, with more than 800,000 displaced. And Richard, back to the loss of that U.S. refueling aircraft. We know there was another aircraft also involved? Yes, two aircraft involved.

One of them landed safely. Now, Tom, I've been on an American fighter jet while it refueled in midair. It is a very fast, highly skilled and inherently dangerous operation. At this stage, we don't know much. We have no information about the fate of the crew of the plane that went down or the rescue operations. Tom. All right, Richard. we thank you for that. Back here at home, we turn out of the search for Nancy Guthrie.

Today marks 40 days since she was abducted from her Tucson home. NBC's Liss Croyd spoke to the sheriff tonight, who for the first time says while they're not disclosing it, they have an idea of a motive. Tonight, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos giving an update on the search for Nancy Guthrie nearly six weeks since her disappearance. Do you think that this suspect could strike again, whoever did this? Well, absolutely. We believe we know why he did this. And we believe that it was targeted, but we can't, we're not 100% true of that. And so it'd be silly to tell people, yeah, don't worry about it. You're not as target.

Don't think for a minute that because it happened to the Guthrie family, you're safe. No, keep your wits about you. We pressed Nanos about that potential motive. There is something that's come out in the investigation that gives you a sense of motive here and why this person did this? You know, I think it's come out from day one. I think from day one, we had some strong beliefs about what happened, and those beliefs haven't diminished.

Do you believe it was a burglary gone wrong? I'm not going to get into those theories. We have our beliefs. Everybody else has theirs. Nano says he's intentionally withholding their theory and other details in the case, citing the integrity of the investigation. He confirmed investigators have been asking about potential internet issues the night of Nancy's abduction and said they're looking into the possibility, a Wi-Fi

jammer could have been used or if there was some other electrical disruption that night. The sheriff also says he's still hopeful the DNA found in the home will lead to the suspect. Liz Croix, NBC News. And we are tracking a new round of devastating severe storms today. Everything from hurricane force winds to a surprise snowstorm in Washington, D.C. Maggie Vespal with that story. Tonight, just when you thought winter had thawed heavy snow slamming the mid-Atlantic. In Richmond, Virginia, temperatures plummeting nearly 60 degrees in 24 hours after hitting a record high of 89 just yesterday.

The wild weather stretching coast to coast. Multiple trucks overturned on a Wyoming highway experiencing high winds. This is not good. This is not good. In Colorado, dust storms so severe, drivers had to pull over. This semi-flipped. on its side. In Washington State, severe winds bringing a large

tree down onto this car, authorities confirming one person was killed. Violent storms also wreaking havoc down south. Heavy winds and rain in Louisiana knocking down trees and power lines, turning them into roadblocks. In Mississippi, firefighters using

chainsaws to free this driver. Dron video showing trees toppled onto homes. Oh, sht. This after Tuesday's fatal tornado outbreak slammed the Midwest. The governors of Illinois and Indiana touring damage as cleanup crews swarm. We're devastated. There's too many people that are in really need of help.

And tonight, people in this community are trying to kickstart the recovery process, organizing belongings into piles. Now, that home back there, that's where a couple died in Tuesday's storm, so their family cleaning up amid immense grief. Tom. So much damage and tragedy out there. All right. We thank you, Maggie. In 60 seconds as Americans packed protein into their diet, how healthier some of the beloved bars on store shelves, the lawsuit claiming they may not be as good for you as advertised. We'll explain next.

We're back now with a consumer alert and the new lawsuit alleging that some popular protein bars actually contain a lot more calories than advertised. Here's Stephanie Goss. wildly popular David protein bars under fire. What the hell, David Barr? A new class action lawsuit alleging the calories and fat in each bar are way more than what is claimed on the nutrition label. I'm devastated. The suit says the bars have roughly 80% more calories and nearly four times the fat, like the red velvet flavor.

The label says it has 150 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. According to the lawsuit, independent test show it actually has 271 calories and 12.31 grams of fat. Peter Rahal is the founder of David Barr. Are people getting more calories than they think they're getting from David bars? So the simple answer is no. It's a frivolous case where they're using the wrong measurement and method to measure calories. David bars are made with an ingredient that is not actually absorbed, by the body. It's really a special ingredient that allows the food to taste like fat, but doesn't have

the caloric impact. It's called EPG, a modified plant-based oil. When you eat it and it goes into your body, you don't digest it. Because you don't digest it, you don't absorb the calories from that ingredient. Ray Hall says the company complied with FDA regulations when it developed David Protein bars, which exploded in popularity through social media. Now, Rahal says he's ready to fight for its reputation. Stephanie Gosk, NBC News, New York. And we're back in a moment with the manhunt after suspects stole drones from an army base. That's next.

Welcome back. The Army is offering a $5,000 reward for these two mass suspects accused of stealing four drones from Fort Campbell. Officials also posting photos of these vehicles that may have been involved in the crime, which initially happened in November. and NASA announcing they successfully knocked an asteroid off course using a spacecraft. It happened back in 2022, you may remember, but new research shows it marks the first time a human-made object has been able to alter objects orbit around the sun. And we thank you for watching Nightly News tonight. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight.

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