NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Episode Date: June 4, 2025

Urgent water rescues amid severe storm threat in the Midwest; Boulder attack suspect’s wife and kids taken into ICE custody; Explosive new testimony in Sean "Diddy" Combs trial; and more on tonight���s broadcast.

Tonight breaking news rescues underway as flash floods hit the heartland. Wichita underwater, cars submerged, people abandoning them in the middle of the road as rescuers try to pull them from safety in the driving rain. The overturned tractor trailer snarling a major highway and now the new tornado threat were tracking it all. The terror attack in Boulder, the suspect in custody, now his wife and kids are being held by ICE as well. The White House threatening to deport them as soon as tonight.

The police chief telling us the suspect kept making hateful rants even after being detained for the gruesome attack. The fight over the big, beautiful bill turns ugly. Elon Musk, a top Trump ally, calling the president's giant budget plan, quote, pork-filled and a disgusting abomination. The brutal hotel surveillance video that drew focus to Diddy even before his trial. The dramatic story told in court, including a brown paper bag filled with $100,000 in cash plus why a woman was physically removed from $100,000 in cash. Plus why a woman was physically removed from the trial, what she was screaming.

The warning to keep an eye on your devices when R. Ellison Barber's iPhone was stolen, it showed up at a kiosk that pays cash, how she got it back and what you should know if it happens to you. The zebra on the loose just one day after its new owners brought it home. Now sightings are popping up all over Tennessee. Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamaas. And good evening. Tonight as we come on the air, severe weather gripping the heartland. In Kansas City, sirens sounding with a tornado watch in effect. Plus on the right side of your screen, there are semi truck overturned on a major roadway. A young woman, look at

this nearby, capturing her experience, huddling with shoppers and workers inside of a Whole Foods freezer. And just east in Independence, Missouri. Dark skies and a funnel cloud spotted. In Wichita, Kansas, urgent rescues are underway right now. The dangerous flash flooding there, inundating streets, firefighters look at this racing in to rescue drivers stranded in high waters. Shaquille Brewster is tracking it all tonight for us. Fire department's here.

Tonight, extreme flooding in the Midwest leading to urgent water rescues. Water is just pouring over that car. In Wichita, Kansas, firefighters rushing to the submerged car with the driver trapped inside, eventually pulling her out to safety and onto a nearby lawn.

Colin Fee and Danielle Hart live on the street. But what did you see when you saw the firefighters rescuing her in that moment? She just seemed like just happy to be alive and I think you can see it in her face too. Just one of 77 rescue calls reported by the Wichita Fire Department this morning, the worst of it east of I-35. It was terrifying. Today was crazy. Big cars being rushed down the streets. 18 million people under flash flood alerts today. Sirens

Meanwhile, sirens sounding outside Kansas City. Heavy rain and wind blowing through Kaufman Stadium with a Royals play, with tornado warnings issued across the area. One woman posting on TikTok she was shopping at a Whole Foods when sirens went off and they moved customers into a freezer elsewhere in the Kansas City Metro. This semi overturning blocking multiple lanes of traffic. A city spokeswoman says they're not aware of any injuries. Thousands in the city

without power tonight and this dangerous storm system is expected to continue into the night. States like Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, even Texas, all in the storm zone. Tom? We'll stay tracking it throughout the broadcast. All right, Shaq, we thank you. Now to a major development in the Molotov cocktail and flamethrower attack in Colorado. Today, the Trump administration announcing the suspect's wife and kids have been taken into ICE custody and could be deported as soon as tonight. Morgan Chesky is in Boulder. Tonight as terror suspect Mohammed Solomon sits in a Colorado jail cell his wife and five children are now in ICE custody according to the Secretary of

Homeland Security. We're also investigating to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack, if they had any knowledge of it or if they provided support ice agents taking the family into custody just days after the FBI search Solomons Colorado Springs home after moving to the state three years ago, federal

officials say the Egyptian national had overstated tourist visa but did have a pending asylum claim. Authorities have not confirmed his family's immigration status. On Sunday, video captured the 45-year-old attacking a rally for Israeli hostages armed with Molotov cocktails and a makeshift flamethrower. It's shocking. It's disgusting. I mean, literally seeing this man throwing Molotov cocktails onto human beings.

We spoke to Boulder Police Chief Steven Redfern, who told us once officers took Solomon to the ground. He continued his rant. The quick response of our officers, community members, the fact that he had 16 other Molotov cocktails there and wasn't able to use those, that is somewhat of a win for us. At his synagogue, where private securities now backed up by Boulder police, Rabbi Mark Soloway shared this is where six of the 12 victims come to worship. How would you describe the last 36 hours? It's been brutal, horrifying, exhausting, so many emotions, incredible sadness and grief

and tremendous anger too. He tells us two victims airlifted to Denver remain hospitalized. As for the man behind this attack, tonight he has this message. Look at the humanity of these people. I would want him to just see that he just saw lovely, beautiful human beings and destroyed their lives for no reason. And tonight regarding the status of Solomon's family, the White House sharing in a post online that they have six one-way tickets for his wife and five children, adding they could be deported as early as tonight. Tom?

Okay, Morgan Chesky with that new reporting. We do want to turn to politics now. Top Trump ally, Elon Musk tonight with his sharpest criticism yet of President Trump's budget bill, saying the amount of spending is an abomination. Kelly O'Donnell joins us tonight live. Kelly, this comes as the White House is urging the Senate to pass it. That's the tension, Tom. The White House was caught off guard by that explosive Elon Musk social media post, according to a source familiar with the matter, only days after leaving Doge, the top Trump ally vented about the president's bill, writing, this massive, outrageous, pork-filled congressional

spending bill is a disgusting abomination. A source argues that Musk's frustration is likely tied to a few factors, like electric vehicle tax credits being dropped and his desire to see the FAA use his Starlink satellite system. Musk's team did not respond. The president is, of course, urging Republican senators to pass this bill. Tom? Kelly O'Donnell for us. Now to that explosive testimony in the Diddy trial today

about the disturbing 2016 hotel video involving Sean Combs and his then-girlfriend. explosive testimony in the Diddy trial today about the disturbing 2016 hotel video involving Sean Combs and his then girlfriend. Stephanie Goss now in the effort to keep the video from emerging and $100,000 cash in a brown paper bag. In federal court today, focus on the shocking 2016 video of Sean Combs hitting and kicking his then girlfriend Cassie Ventura in an L. an LA hotel. On the witness stand, a former security guard at the hotel, Eddie Garcia. He says Combs knew the video would be damaging.

Combs' assistant calling Garcia after the incident, asking for a copy, according to testimony. When Garcia said no, the assistant showed up in person at the hotel. Garcia testified that he told her to contact his manager at the security company. But then Combs himself called multiple times, sounding nervous according to Garcia and telling him the video would ruin his career. Garcia says he and his manager cut a deal to turn it over in

exchange for money. He hand delivered it himself to Combs. He asked if this was the only copy, Garcia told the jury. And I said, I believe so. Garcia says he signed an NDA. Then Combs handed him a brown paper bag with $100,000 in cash. Combs pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Among the federal government's accusations,

the hip hop tycoon used his business, including certain employees, to carry out, facilitate, and cover up his acts of violence. Even with the lurid accusations, Combs still has fans. A woman standing up in court today screaming profanities and yelling, it's not right what they are doing to him. The judge had her quickly removed. Stephanie Gossk, NBC News.

And a major development tonight in the search for those two remaining inmates after that jailbreak in New Orleans. One of the fugitives appearing to post a video with a message to his followers. Here's Priya Sridhar with that video. Tonight, a new video circulating of one of the two New Orleans inmates still on the run. They say that I broke out, I didn't break out, I was let out. My name is Antoine Massey. The social media post appears to show 32-year-old Antoine Massey, who escaped from the Orleans Parish Prison with nine other inmates on May 16th. Massey faces charges in multiple parishes.

He's now claiming that many of those charges are false. All allegations against charges are false. Authorities have not verified the authenticity of the video, but Massey's mother and pastor confirmed to NBC News that it's him on camera. The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office says they're aware of the post and in a statement wrote quote, if the individual depicted in the video is indeed Antoine Massey we strongly urge him to come forward and turn himself into the proper authorities pastor Robert Brown says he's close with the family.

We're extremely happy that he's alive and we are sure that at some point he's going to reach out to one of us to turn himself in. And one's mother shekeeta Massey. Let me get on on the line. Telling us through Pastor Brown that she's begging her son to turn himself in. If you do nothing else, do this for mom and I promise you with every breath in my body that God give me, we're gonna fight this out the right way. Authorities are now offering up to a

$50,000 reward for each of the 2 inmates who remains on the run Tom. All right for you thank you for that now to another astonishing attack by Ukraine against Russia this time underwater explosives detonated on a critical bridge use to Simmons. Tonight another stunning Ukrainian operation against Russia and explosions striking pillars of the coach bridge connecting Russia to Crimea and again video of the attack released by Ukrainian security forces the

blast sparked by almost 2500 pounds of underwater explosives, the Ukrainians say and it comes 2 days after Ukraine targeted Russia's long-range bombers in another astonishing covert operation drones full of explosives launched remotely to attack the jets you can see one leaving this truck parked near a Russian military base. Both attacks were months in the planning Ukraine says Russian president Vladimir Putin commissioned the bridge and personally opened it in 2018.

Today is the 3rd time it's been struck in 2022 a massive blast ripped it apart closing the crucial military supply and civilian road and rail line we were there when it reopened 2 years ago. This is where that explosion hit this bridge around this time in the morning this latest strike more evidence Ukraine is going on the offensive aiming to pressure Putin to compromise tonight Tom after two attacks against targets President Putin highly values there's no word from the Russian leader the Kremlin promising retribution Tom.

Here Simmons again for us tonight here we thank you tonight a real eye opener of a story based on the experience of one of our own correspondence. Ellison Barber had her phone stolen but it's where she found it that had all of us talking in the newsroom today. That is the NYPD with me trying to get my stolen phone out of an eco ATM automated kiosk. I'll help you price and sell your device. The company says it has more than 6500 of these machines across the country

where people can sell and recycle old devices for cash possibly earning hundreds of dollars on the spot the condition of your device will affect the price. But let's rewind for me this ordeal started on the subway on May 7th. Personal phone was sitting, I guess, kind of where somebody could easily grab it and somebody did. Using my work phone, I texted my partner to check, find my phone and lock it. I could see it went from a subway stop near the office to 29th Street, and it seemed like it wasn't moving. So the next day, we followed it and wound up at a Czech cashing store.

Or I guess they sold it for cash and somehow didn't have to prove they actually owned the phone. They were selling because it was accepted. It's been in here since yesterday. The kiosks are supposed to offer a home for unwanted cell phones, but in my case it was a stolen phone

and when I very much wanted back. That NYPD officer out working right now come here so I can file a stolen phone report with them. The company says to get money for a phone, the seller has to appear on camera, scan their state issued ID and submit a fingerprint, which in the event of a theft is information that's shared with police. And EcoATM says 99.8% of sales are from a phone's rightful owner. You should be able to open that and the phone should be in the car. But in the case of a stolen phone like mine,

the company has to give police access to the machine, which thankfully for me, since my phone was still in there, led to a sweet reunion. And Ellison joins us now on set. So Ellison, you got your phone back. Got the phone. That's good news. Someone likely got hundreds of dollars

for sticking that phone into the machine, but the company is adamant they are not incentivizing stealing iPhones. Right, and as you heard in the piece, in order to sell a phone, you have to show and they scan your ID, they take a photo of you, they even get a fingerprint, and they will give that information to the police if they want it, which in my case, they did. But ultimately, where it goes from there, that's up to local authorities.

All right, Ellison Barber for us. Ellison, we appreciate that. Next, when a delivery driver came back for a cash tip, he allegedly brought a gun. The confrontation captured on video. Sam Brock has that store next. We're back now with a confrontation caught on camera a door dash delivery driver allegedly upset over a tip showed up to a family's door with a gun demanding more

money that's when grandpa stepped in here's Sam Brock. In a quiet suburb of Washington state Thursday morning, a knock on the door and a side of chaos with breakfast. I put up my hand and I said hey you know stop you know you're too close. Anthony Vellino confronting them ripping a firearm away from his daughter's door dash delivery driver from the previous day who he says returned to demand a cash tip

police say the driver was arrested for harassment DUI and assault the altercation captured on video from fully knows home. In the House at the time I had 4 kids under the age of 4. As the grandfather empty bullets from the gun, he told his daughter to call for help. I feel grand I could hear the back of my head young Papa Papa. Worry the weapon could have been fired at his grandchildren or daughter

who he says ordered roughly a $100 worth of groceries the day before and did tip on her phone. It's just the latest run in involving app based deliveries that have ranged from the impolite say it's a nice house for $5. A Texas man cursing out a $5 tip on a $20 pizza order. To the disgusting to even violent incidents like a Florida woman arrested for stabbing a pregnant customer with the Washington confrontation door dash

telling NBC News the company has a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any kind what happened was unacceptable and the Dasher involved was immediately deactivated thankfully no one was injured, but nerves certainly shaken. Sam Brock, NBC News. All right, when we return, missing for 18 years. Why the search for Madeline McCann is heating up again right now. That's after this. We're back now with a major update in the decades long search for Madeline McCann. German prosecutors say they are launching a new search operation for the three-year-old British girl

whose 2007 disappearance from a resort in Portugal gripped the world. They're searching an abandoned building near the resort. Authorities prime suspect 48-year-old German Christian Bruckner, a convicted rapist, denies any involvement in that disappearance. Back here at home, a Texas man is charged with trespassing after he allegedly jumped over a wall into Mar-a-Lago.

23-year-old Anthony Reyes, you see him right here, was detained by Secret Service agents around midnight, and according to police, said he was trying to, quote, spread the gospel to President Trump and marry his granddaughter, Kai Trump. He has pleaded not guilty. Police say he is also trespassed at Mar-a-Lago on New Year's Eve.

And a strange story out of Tennessee tonight where authorities are warning that an escaped zebra, you see it right there, remains at large. Take a look there, you can see the zebra casually trotting through a neighborhood and then running by the roadside. The sheriff's office asking anyone with info to call into their tip line,

and in case you were wondering, it is legal to own a pet zebra in Tennessee. That's Nightly News for this Tuesday. Remember, tonight and always, we are here for you. Thanks so much for watching. I'm Tom Yamas.