NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas - Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Episode Date: September 25, 2025

‘Anti-ICE’ message found on bullets after deadly shooting at Dallas ICE facility; Deadly Super Typhoon kills at least 17 people; Growing controversy over Camp Mystic Reopening; 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, new details in that deadly sniper attack at an ice facility in Dallas. The gunman opening fire from a nearby rooftop. One detainee killed, two others in critical condition. The gunman, leaving behind shell casings with anti-ice messages, bullet holes seen in an office window and this framed American flag. What the 29-year-old suspect's brother revealed to us, as the acting director of ICE tells me his agents are under assault. Also breaking tonight, the Justice Department, weighing whether to indict former FBI director James Comey over allegations of lying to Congress.

Plus, we're tracking the most powerful typhoon on Earth so far this year, called the King of Storms, the devastating images coming in, floodwaters, shattering these hotel doors, families being rescued. And closer to home, tropical storm Umberto and another system close by in the Atlantic could impact the East Coast next week. Will they interact or even combine are Bill Cairns standing by? The scene of an unspeakable tragedy this summer can't miss it, now announcing plans to reopen the outrage reaction from victims' families. The massive sinkhole opening up, swallowing part of a neighborhood. And you'll meet the self-taught 10-year-old chess prodigy

a global sensation, and what happened when our RAF Sanchez tried to take her on? Nightly News starts right now. This is NBC Nightly News with Tom Yamas. And good evening. We come on the air with yet another deadly sniper attack, this time directed towards ICE officers in Texas. DHS calling this an attack on ICE law enforcement, with the FBI releasing this image of shell casings found, near the scene at an ice facility in Dallas with these words anti-ice on them.

These photos showing bullet holes in a window and a frame of an American flag. Authorities on the scene investigating the site where the gunman fired multiple rounds from a nearby rooftop. The Department of Homeland Security says the shooter fired indiscriminately, including at a van where three detainees were shot before taking his own life. Tonight officials say at least one detainee is dead and two others are in critical condition. according to multiple senior law enforcement officials, the suspect is 29-year-old Joshua John. Tonight, the acting director of ICE telling me there is a 1,000% increase in assaults on

ICE officers this year. Priscilla Thompson starts us off tonight, live from the scene. You can hear the gunshots. Denisi's Robletto was waiting for her mother at the Dallas Ice Field Office and started filming. I was with my sister, praying, she said. At least three people shot, multiple people shot. Police say the gunman perched on a rooftop, killed one detainee, and wounded two others before taking his own life. No ICE officers were injured.

DHS calling it an attack on ICE law enforcement. The FBI releasing this image of shell casings found near the shooter, engraved with the words, anti-ice. Tom, speaking with the acting ice director. There were some brave men and women on the ground that went into those vans. We're pulling those detainees out while they're under fire. And they were all shot while they were in the vehicle. They were shot while they were in the vehicle, right? So the shooter obviously didn't know who was in the vehicle.

He was just randomly shooting at windows into vehicles that they already seen down there. The agency releasing images of bullet holes in a window and American flag inside the facility. Authorities say the gunmen fired multiple rounds from the top of that building into this ice facility a few hundred yards away. Tonight, NBC News has learned the shooter is 29-year-old Joshua John, according to multiple senior law enforcement officials. John's brother described him to NBC News as unique, without elaborating, saying he didn't have strong feelings about ice as far as I knew, and that he was not a marksman, that's for sure. It comes, as DHS says there's been a 1,000% increase in violence against ICE officers, including an ambush-style shooting outside an ice facility in Texas. and a man appearing to open fire at immigration agents during California protest. President Trump tonight blaming Democrats,

posting, I am calling on all Democrats to stop this rhetoric against ICE and America's law enforcement right now. All the vile talk against ICE, calling us Nazis, Gestapo. That's something like this was going to happen, and it did. For me, it's my worst nightmare. Never thinking that in our own facility, our own location, we take sniper fire in a major city. All right, Priscilla joins us now live.

And Priscilla, I know you have some new reporting on the victims in this shooting? Yeah, Tom, as you can see, still an active scene here. And Mexican authorities are confirming that one of those injured is a Mexican national. DHS says that both of the people injured are in critical condition. And the DHS secretary tonight saying that she is praying for the victims and their families. Tom. Priscilla Thompson for us tonight, Priscilla, we thank you. We're also following breaking news out of Washington. And new reporting tonight that the Justice Department is weighing whether to charge former FBI director, and fierce Trump critic, James Comey, with lying to Congress.

I want to bring in Laura Jare right now. Laura, what have you learned? Tom, this would be a first, the first criminal case against one of the main people that the president has long called on for the DOJ to prosecute. According to officials and those familiar with the matter, the focus here is whether Comey lied to Congress back in 2020 about authorizing a leak to the press. Now, he's denied any wrongdoing, and our team is told that there are still matters still left to be sorted out here within DOJ.

Now, as for timing, why now? Well, there's a five-year statute of limitations on charges of lying to Congress. That would expire next week. The Justice Department declined to comment here, as did a rep for Comey, Tom. And this follows President Trump's very public pressure campaign in the former U.S. attorney to look at Comey. Yes, you'll remember he quit last week. And really, the leadership within that office, the same office that's investigating Comey,

did not think there was any evidence to prosecute him, Tom. Okay. Laura, Jared, first Laura, great to have you here. We're also tracking deadly typhoon slamming into Hong Kong. the massive system, now the most powerful tropical storm this year, and blame for at least 17 deaths. Janice McEugh-Frayer reports. The typhoon called the King of Storms hammered Hong Kong and southern China. With powerful winds and rains so heavy that seawater rushed through the doors of this Hong Kong hotel and swept through the lobby.

At the harbor, rescuers pulled a family to safety, while on the coast, cameras captured storms. surges inundating restaurants. This owner's showing the damage done. They're completely gutted right throughout, yeah, the whole bottom floor. Pressure of the wave that came right over the wall. In neighboring Macau, streets were underwater as typhoon Raghasa churned across the South China Sea. The store making landfall a second time here in China, slamming into Guangdong province, where authorities had evacuated nearly two million people to shelters. The strongest tropical storm on Earth this year,

Raghasa has cut a path of devastation that started in the Philippines and passed south of Taiwan, where a barrier lake burst, triggering raging floods that killed at least 17 people. Experts say storms like this are only getting worse here, due to warming seas and climate change, causing heavier rain that's lasting longer. Raghasa has been weakening as it moves now to Vietnam, but keeping the entire region on high alert. Janice McAfreyer, NBC News, Beijing. All right, and closer to home, we're also watching two systems converging in the Atlantic right now that could impact the East Coast.

Bill Cairns is here now, and he's tracking these storms for us. Bill, a lot of viewers at home are going to be asking, could these storms combine? Yeah, this is a complex forecast, and the interaction between these two systems will be fascinating and keep you on the edge of your seat. So we have Umberto and then over Puerto Rico, what will eventually become Imelda as we go throughout the upcoming weekend. That's the ones going to be closer to home. That's likely going to develop over the Bahamas and be somewhere near South Florida. Now, Umberto itself is going to be very similar to Aaron. It should become a powerful hurricane and be somewhere near Bermuda by the time we get to Monday or Tuesday. But these two storms are very close to each other. And the way they interact with each other will determine the final impacts. How close will Alberto get to the East Coast and what happens to what's likely Imelda next week? All right, Bill, we thank you for that.

Now, to a growing controversy tonight over the announcement to reopen Camp Mystic, the all-girls camp in Texas was the scene of devastating and deadly flooding in July, and some victims' families are outraged by this new development. Here's Priya Shri there. Tonight, less than three months after devastating floods in Texas claimed the lives of 27 young girls and their counselors at Camp Mystic, the owners informing the families of the victims and the community in an email shared with NBC News by a source close to them, that they have plans to partially reopen the camp next summer

with a memorial, quote, dedicated to your precious daughters. The move shocking many of those families who told the New York Times they weren't consulted about the memorial. The mother of eight-year-old Seale Stewart, who is still missing telling the times, the camp is still pressing ahead with reopening, even if it means inviting girls to swim in the same river that may potentially still, hold my daughter's body. The parents of seven of those girls, now known as Heavens 27, sat down with NBC's Jenna Bush Hager earlier this month. And as I started looking into the different facts and circumstances, it became very, very clear that this wasn't an accident. The owners say they'll reopen the area of the camp that was not damaged by the floods while they work to

evaluate how to rebuild along the Guadalupe River. Also emphasize, they'll comply with the requirements of the newly passed Heavens 27 Camp Safety Act, which bans building cabins and flood zones and requires camps to have detailed emergency planning and training for all staff. Priya Shreather, NBC News. All right, we turn out of Jimmy Kimmel's return to late night TV. In his first night on the air in nearly a week, the comedian growing emotional addressing the comments he made following Charlie Kirk's assassination and criticizing threats to freedom a speech. Here's Liz Kreutz. Jimmy Kimmel finally breaking his silence.

The government threat to silence a comedian the president doesn't like is anti-American. Tonight, ABC saying Kimmel's return is now his highest rated episode in more than a decade. Kimmel addressed his suspension and conservative outrage to comments he made about Charlie Kirk's alleged shooter. I do want to make something clear because it's important to me as a human. And that is, you understand that it was never my intention to make life. of the murder of a young man. And for those who think I did point a finger,

I get why you're upset. If the situation was reversed, there was a good chance I'd have felt the same way. In a searing defense of free speech, Kimmel went on to criticize the FCC chairman and President Trump. The president of the United States made it very clear he wants to see me

and the hundreds of people who work here fired from our jobs. Our leader celebrates Americans losing their livelihoods because he can't take a joke. The president slamming Kimmel's return, saying the White House was told by ABC that his show was canceled, suggesting he may take legal action again against the network. Kimmel's show already racking up more than 26 million views across YouTube and social media. After ABC says Kimmel didn't air in 23% of TV households because of Nextstar and Sinclair's decision not to run the show. And St. Clair has not commented since Kimmel's return, Nextstar says they are continuing their discussions with Disney to bring the show back.

A spokesperson for Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA is criticizing Kimmel's response, saying it wasn't good enough. Tom. All right, Liz Kreutz, we thank you. And tonight, NBC News investigates a growing scam on social media, praying on apartment renters, looking for housing in a very competitive market. Here's chief consumer investigative correspondent, Vicki Wynn. Big bedroom with a balcony. The ads look real and appealing, but experts say beware of apartment hunting on social media apps like, Instagram and TikTok. Many of these videos we found are posted by scammers, impersonating real

agents and manipulating real listings. New York real estate agent Mike Bussey runs real NYC apartments. So that's your video. That's my video. 12 million views on that. He showed us how fraudsters repost his videos on bogus accounts, claiming to have rents far below market rate, all with the intent of luring potential renters to send an application fee quickly before the deal disappears, a growing scam, according to FBI data. The scammers say this goes for 1,700 a month. What's the reality? The reality is it's $12,000 a month. Twenty-eight-year-old Jenny Diaz thought she found her dream apartment in Manhattan for $1,100 a month. Everything looked legit. It made me hopeful. So she contacted the number

in the listing and paid a $350 application fee that she was told was refunded. How did you feel when you realized it was a scam? It really sucked. It just, it broke my heart. NBC News reviewed dozens of incidents from around the country of online impersonators using photos and credentials of licensed real estate agents. Realtor Shane Boyle says he's been targeted by dozens of scammers. None of these accounts are actually yours? They're not mine, no.

But that's your picture. They're all my picture. And your name? Honestly, I've put in my stomach looking at that. I mean, it's horrible. NBC News sent Meta and TikTok links to accounts that appeared to be scams, and both companies took those profiles down. TikTok tells NBC News it proactively removed 97% of content that violated its guidelines on impersonation in the first quarter of this year. Meta says it uses automated

and manual systems to block accounts that abuse the company's standards, but that scammers are constantly changing their tactics. How many of these accounts have popped up over the last couple of years? Let's say I put down one today if I report it to whatever social media channel, maybe two goes up the next day. So it's like it's such a whack-a-mole situation where I'm not sure I've lost going. And with that, Vicky joins us now in studio. So Vicki, what tips do you have so people can avoid these scams? Well, first time, you want to research the market rate so you know exactly what rents are going for in that area. Also, never send money for a rental or a unit that you haven't seen in person.

Keep in mind, application fees are typically $25 to $50, not hundreds of dollars. And finally, Tom, you do want to make sure that when you contact someone, you look up their information independently. Don't just click on the link in that post or ad. All right. Great advice, Fiki. We thank you for that. We're back in a moment with huge news for that social media platform with President Trump set to sign a deal as soon as tomorrow. And check this out a massive sinkhole swallowing cars on a city street where this happened.

That's next. We are back down with huge news for TikTok users. President Trump is set to sign a long-awaited TikTok deal tomorrow, according to two senior White House officials. That deal will keep the platform in the U.S. owned by a majority of American investors. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and the Murdoch family will play roles in that deal. Also tonight, check out this massive sinkhole in Thailand, which opened up after a road collapsed. No casualties were reported, but Thai officials say three cars were swallowed. Officials say it might have happened because of construction.

a nearby underground train station. All right, when we come back, what happened when our Raff Sanchez tried to take on a 10-year-old chess prodigy? Trust me, you're going to want to watch this. That's next. I did a little better that time, right? There's good news tonight about one of the world's best chess players, a fifth grader who's racking up wins against accomplished players six times her age.

We had R. Raf Sanchez, Challenger. At just 10 years old, Bedana Sivananda is so small, she needs a booster seat to see the board. But that hasn't stopped her from becoming a giant of global chess. The fifth grader from the UK regularly trounces adult champions decades her senior, and is now the youngest ever female international master, the game's second highest rank. How does it feel when you play people who are so much older than you and you beat them? I try kind of not to worry about it. factors like that, and I just try and focus on the board and play the boards.

When Bedana was just five, her father brought home a secondhand chess set. I was quite interested in the pieces, and I wanted to use them as, like, toys to play with. Within weeks, she was beating her dad, learning to master the game not from a coach, but from lessons on YouTube. And today, videos of her defeating veteran players regularly go viral. She's just beaten me, and I'm an ex-British champion. I'm not exactly a veteran, and my time at middle school chess club wasn't much help. As Badana beat me again and again, and again. Experts say this may be the start of an all-time great chess career.

Do you ever feel like it's too much pressure? No, because I just try and enjoy chess as a game. And so just trying to, like, kind of play for the achievements or anything like that. An ancient game, where a kid, can be a queen. Ralph Sanchez, NBC News, London. She is a queen. That's nightly news for this Wednesday.

I'm Tom Yamas. Thanks so much for watching. Tonight and always, we're here for you. Good night.