NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Episode Date: December 17, 2025

Rob Reiner’s son charged with his parents’ murders; Police release new images of person of interest in connection with Brown University shooting; Deadly flooding threatens millions in Pacific Northwest; 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.

Breaking news tonight, moments ago the son of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner officially charged with murdering his parents. The new details of their deaths just revealed. Nick Reiner facing two counts of first-degree murder as we learned new information about the murder weapon and how he was captured by police. Plus the high-powered defense attorney he just hired. New video of the person of interest in the Brown University shooting, what police just revealed about his movements, before the deadly attack. Also breaking tonight an MIT professor gunned down in his own home, another college killer on the loose and a campus in mourning.

Devastating floods out west turning deadly, a driver rescued from the roof of a car, the new levy failure as another powerful cross-country storm fires up. The president's chief of staff speaking out in a revealing new interview, saying the president has an alcoholic's personality and calling J.D. Vance a conspiracy theorist how they're responding tonight. New dash cam video of a heroic couple's attempt to stop the horrific attack in Australia before they were killed as authorities revealed the killer's ISIS connection.

The disturbing altercation in New York City captured on video a Jewish man assaulted on the subway. A driver crashing into a supermarket slamming into the checkout aisle. Shoppers running for cover what we're learning tonight. Dramatic 9-1-1 calls after a man shot two alleged porch pirates, and the shocking new stat, 250,000 packages are stolen every single day. And from here in Pittsburgh, the unlikely hero, how Aaron Rogers is winning games and winning over the city. Nightly News starts right now.

This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas, reporting tonight from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And good evening. We are live tonight from the Steel City, as you can see, as we report from across America. Tonight we begin with breaking news, though, from Los Angeles, where just moments ago Rob Reiner's son, Nick, was charged with murder and the deaths of his parents. The 32-year-old faces two counts of first-degree murder. Right now, Nick Reiner is being held without bail in an L.A. jail, the DA confirming he used a knife to allegedly kill his parents. Nick Reiner was expected to appear in court today, but his lawyer says he has not yet been medically cleared by the jail. And we have new reporting tonight on Nick and his complicated relationship with his

parents. Morgan Chesky starts us off tonight at the courthouse in Los Angeles. These are some of the most serious charges that a DA's office can bring against anyone. Tonight, Nick Reiner, son of Hollywood royalty, charged with murder for the brutal slangs of his father, Rob, and Mother Michelle. These charges will be two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders. The district attorney confirming today that a knife was used, which could lead to a more severe punishment. The Reiner's bodies were found inside the couple's bedroom, according to police, who today shared new details about how officers brought Nick Reiner into custody.

He was arrested in a public area, in the Exposition Park area, near the University of Southern California campus. He was approached by the officers and he was arrested without incident. The 32-year-old Reiner now represented by high-profile attorney Alan Jackson, known for successfully defending Karen Reid in her murder trial. Reiner expected to be arraigned soon. Every inmate has to be medically cleared before they can be transported to court. He has not been medically cleared. And tonight, resurfaced interviews are giving a peek into the complicated relationship between Reiner and his parents. Well, I think I'm lucky in the sense that I have parents that care about me.

Appearing on a podcast several years ago, Nick described trashing his parents' guesthouse. I got totally spun out on uppers, and I was up for days on end, and I started punching out different things in my guest house. I think I started with the TV, and then I went over to the lamp, and then progressive, I just everything in the guest house got wrecked. Tonight, authorities calling the case heartbreaking and deeply personal. Their loss is beyond tragic, and we will commit ourselves to bringing their murderer to justice. Morgan Chesky joins us tonight from the courthouse there in L.A., and Morgan, Nick Reiner, could face the death penalty for these charges? Yeah, Tom, potentially, these charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole or the death. But tonight, that decision has yet to be made. Tom.

Morgan Chesky leading us off tonight. Now to that urgent manhunt for the shooter who killed two students at Brown University. Authorities tonight releasing a new video timeline that shows the path of a person of interest hours before the shooting. Aaron McLaughlin reports from the college. Tonight, authorities release this enhanced footage and a detailed video timeline of the person of interest. It starts two hours before the mass shooting at Brown. University. Stitched together from surveillance footage pulled from nearby homes and businesses, even dash cam video. We are relying on the press and public to help get us there. The beginning of

the footage posted today by the FBI is time stamped 2 p.m. Just a block from the university. You see him face covered carrying a black bag walking through the surrounding neighborhood. At 220, he starts to run and rounds a corner. The footage shows him walking past the building where the attack took place, killing two students and wounding nine. He is a never seen entering, but it captures him walking away from campus. Today, teams of investigators continued their door-to-door search. Authorities have spent hours on home visits like this when you can see a canine searching for clues. Authorities asking anyone who was in the building on the day of the shooting to come forward. 19-year-old Porter Berryman was watching the Army Navy game in a

nearby classroom when he heard shots fired. It was just pops, just a lot of pops. And then we heard the people running. We walk out and there's like eight guns pointed out and they start like patting us down. Ph.D student Jensen Kagan says she reached out to investigators last night. As a student here as someone who was in the building at the time of the shooting,

do you have confidence that authorities are going to find him? I have confidence in the authorities and it's going to depend on how far he got within those five hours that we were in lockdown. I mean the three days after the lockdown. Fenin Magarisa says he wants justice for his friend Mohammed Aziz Morsakoff killed in the

attack. He tells us the freshman wasn't even enrolled in the class. He was there with a friend because he loved to learn. He wanted to be a doctor. He wanted to serve people and people like him. And Aaron joins us now live from Providence, Rhode Island. But Aaron, just over an hour away from where you are, there's another college campus grieving tonight. That's right, Tom. Tonight we're learning that an MIT professor was shot and killed at his home in Massachusetts, authorities here say that at this time, there is no connection to the mass shooting at Brown. Tom. Another terrible incident there. All right, Aaron. Now to the harrowing new video from the

moments before that anti-Semitic terror attack in Australia. Bystanders bravely stepping in to try to stop the gunman before he went on his rampage. Shera James reports from Sydney and a warning some of the images you're about to see are disturbing. tonight the courageous confrontation dash cam video showing a bystander wrestling with a gunman bravely trying to stop him but the attacker killing him and his wife boris and sophia german died on the street in each other's arms just weeks before their 35th wedding anniversary investigators say two terrorists a father and son went on to unleash an anti-semitic massacre killing in all 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach. Jewish Australians were hunted down in broad daylight. Early indications point to a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State. Tonight, authorities say the two suspects, Sajid and Navita Kram, were inspired by ISIS, that explosive devices were found in their car, along with ISIS flags, and they had recently

traveled to the Philippines. The terror attack comes after a growing series of disturbing anti-Semitic incidents in Australia, including a synagogue firebombed. This woman and her son survived Sunday's attack. Since the 7th October and with all the anti-Semitism happening around the world, everyone thought it was only a matter of time. While tonight in New York, a federal investigation has been launched over this video showing a Jewish man assaulted on the subway. Mayor Eric Adams calling it a despicable act of hateful violence. here in Australia, the first funerals for two rabbis killed in the terror attack with those in the Jewish community saying more needs to be done to combat anti-Semitism. Tom?

All right, Sarah. Thank you. Now to that surprising new interview with the White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, who rarely speaks to the media. Tonight, the president reacting to what she said, including that he has a, quote, alcoholics personality. Peter Alexander's at the White House tonight for us. Tonight, those remarkably revealing comments about President Trump, from his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, her relationship so close, the president recently suggested she's part of the family. Do you know Susie Trump? Yeah.

Sometimes referred to Susie Wiles, Susie Trump. But tonight she's facing new scrutiny for a series of interviews with Vanity Fair. About criticism the president is targeting perceived political enemies, Wiles says, I don't think he wakes up thinking about retribution, but when there's an opportunity, he will go for it. She also says President Trump, who does not drink, has an alcoholic's person. personality, adding he operates with a view that there's nothing he can't do, calling herself an expert in big personalities. Tonight, President Trump's saying he agrees with her, telling the New York Post he has a

possessive and addictive type personality. I'm fortunate I'm not a drinker, praising Wiles saying, I don't read Vanity Fair, but she's done a fantastic job. Then there's the vice president who Wiles describes as a conspiracy theorist for a decade. Vance today brushing it off. Sometimes I am a conspiracy theorist. but I only believe in the conspiracy theories that are true. And by the way, Susie and I have joked in private and in public about that for a long time.

And she contradicts the president's claim Bill Clinton visited Jeffrey Epstein's Island, saying there is no evidence those visits happened, acknowledging the president was wrong about that. Wiles tonight is strongly pushing back against the article, calling it a disingenuously framed hit piece on me and the finest president, White House staff, and cabinet in history. adding significant context was disregarded to paint an overwhelmingly chaotic and negative narrative. Peter joins us now live, and Peter, I know you're tracking another headline there at the White House this time about the future of those Obamacare subsidies which impact millions of Americans.

Tom, 22 million Americans are now expected to see their health insurance premiums on average double after Affordable Care Act subsidies were not extended today. The Republican House Speaker, Mike Johnson, deciding not to put it to a vote, saying an agreement could not be reached. And that's sparking criticism from some in his own party, one moderate Republican calling it idiotic. The tax credits are now set to expire December 31st. Tom, we should note we have also just learned that President Trump will deliver an end of the year address to the nation tomorrow night. Tom. And we'll carry that live here. All right, Peter, we thank you for that. to the Pacific Northwest now in that historic flooding that has turned deadly.

Tonight, another levee breaching with more rain on the way are Steve Patterson and his team are in Washington State tonight. Steve, flooding is still a major threat there. It is time. Rushing water from that breach flooded this community overnight. Thankfully, a lot of it has gone down, but as you see, pockets are still submerged. This happened at about 1.30 overnight. Thousands of residents getting that go now warning. authorities going door to door. They evacuated about 200 homes. It's the second breach to occur within the span of about 12 hours. So authorities now really worried about how saturated the soil is, how saturated the infrastructure, the levies are. All of this while authorities are dealing with their first flood-related death. A 33-year-old man confirmed drown after driving through a flooded road. All of this happening, while residents are now bracing for the worst new bands of rain moving in as we speak. Tom?

Steve Patterson for us tonight. Steve, thank you. That storm in the Pacific Northwest is really ramping up tonight. So I want to bring in WPXI chief meteorologist from right here in Pittsburgh, Stephen Cropter. Stephen, how bad is it going to get over there? Well, the Pacific Northwest just can't seem to catch a break. We're looking at more heavy rain coming into the Pacific Northwest starting tonight. Take a look at the maps in more than 8 million under floodwatches. Tonight that runs from Seattle, southward through Eugene, down through northern California. heavy rain tonight, two to four inches, not out of the question.

Some areas see up to eight inches before all is set and done. That system rakes across the inland mountains, bringing heavy wind and snow. It continues to move eastward across the upper Midwest. And this will be a travel impact for areas running eastward across the I-95 corridor, looking at heavy rain and flooding southward through Florida, and expect some travel delays as we're rolling into the Christmas holiday. Tom. And Stephen, before you go, what's the feels like here?

here in Pittsburgh. It's pretty chilly tonight. It is. It's actually 27, which is warmer than it has been. All right, good to know. Stephen Cropar, thanks to you. Now to some frightening scenes inside of Georgia's supermarket today after a car slammed through the building in the checkout aisle. Here's release. Tonight, this video capturing the horrifying scene inside a Kroger's supermarket in Athens, Georgia. You can clearly see a car that authorities say crashed into the store and injured at least four people. It's unclear how the driver lost control and ended up next to the checkout lanes. I was walking down one of the aisles, and all I heard was a huge crash towards my back. Cody Johnson capturing the dramatic aftermath as he also tried to lend a hand.

There was an absolute disaster with candy and just boxes everywhere. A lot of screaming, a lot of people just running around not knowing what's going on. One of the workers were pinned between the front of the car and a banister behind her. Johnson says he saw the driver get out of the vehicle in shock. It was hysterical, crying, Freeman. In a statement to NBC News, Kroger's saying in part, we are grateful to the first responders for their swift response. Tonight, police saying at this time the injuries are not suspected to be life-threatening,

adding the investigation is active and ongoing. George Solis, NBC News. We'll be back in 60 seconds with the porch pirates gunned down by the homeowner they were allegedly stealing from the charges he now faces. That's next. We're back now with a homeowner fighting back against porch pirates and now facing charges after he gunned down the alleged crooks. It comes as we learn just how widespread these thefts are nationwide. Here's Sam Brock.

Across America, scenes like these play out thousands of times a day. But a recent attempt at porch piracy in Atlanta... I think he's clues to two people that have been shot. Nearly came with deadly consequences after police ate two teenagers. who acknowledged trying to steal freshly delivered packages were shot by a homeowner as they approached. I heard outside a young man screaming for help. Both are expected to survive,

and the man has been charged with aggravated assaults and another felony. Just in the last few weeks, police investigating countless incidents of porch piracy, like the thief in this video, arriving as the Amazon delivery person leaves, swiping a package literally 10 seconds later in Fort Worth. I was home and about to open the door.

To a Kentucky Bandit you see here, looking around before stuffing stolen goods into a pizza box. One report estimates 104 million packages were stolen in the last year. That comes out to a whopping 250,000 a day, costing Americans $15 billion. As for the cities hit the most, Chicago, New York, Miami, Houston, and Baltimore are the top five. Experts advise giving specific delivery instructions for somewhere not visible from the street and using home cameras with lights or sirens. With tonight a fresh reminder, the criminal act can be costly in more ways than one.

Sam Brock, NBC News. We're back at a moment with the doctor's sentence today for his involvement in Matthew Perry's death. Stay with us. We're back now with a frightening incident in Florida. Watch this surveillance footage. It seems to show a tow truck driver hauling a car away with a four-year-old still inside.

The child's father then appears to approach the truck before chasing after it drives away. Attorney said the girl later fell out of the car and onto the roadway. She's expected to be okay. Also tonight, a former California doctor has been sentenced in connection with friend star Matthew Perry's accidental deadly overdose

two years ago. Mark Chavez was sentenced to eight months of home detention and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring. to distribute ketamine. Prosecutors say he sold ketamine to another doctor who then gave it to Perry. Now, to Mexico City, where a heated congressional session turned physical, take a look at this,

video from the chamber showing several legislators at the podium shoving, hitting, even pulling each other's hair. The clash unfolded on Monday while lawmakers debated a proposal to reform the city's transparency agency. And a big thank you tonight to our partners at WPXI here in Pittsburgh for all their help in this great city. That's Nightly News. I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching tonight and always. We're here for you. Good night.