Top Story with Tom Llamas - Monday, July 21, 2025

Episode Date: July 22, 2025

Tonight's Top Story has the latest breaking news, political headlines, news from overseas and the best NBC News reporting from across the country and around the world.

Tonight, the shocking death of beloved Cosby show star Malcolm Jamal Warner. The drowning tragedy, Costa Rican police saying the actor died after an intense current swept him to see. Bystanders jumping into help, unable to save him. How the actor best known for playing Theo Huxable on the hit sitcom is being remembered tonight. Also breaking Hunter Biden, alleging Ambien contributed to his father's disastrous presidential debate performance. And blasting actor George Clooney, along with... Democratic leaders he claims forced his dad to bow out of the race. A Bangladeshi military jet crashing into a school full of children,

video showing rescuers racing to put out the flames, parents desperately trying to get to their kids, the investigation to how this happened. Conviction overturned, the man who confessed to the murder of Aiton Pates, the first missing kid ever pictured on a milk carton, now ordered to get a new trial, the reason why. Ecuador's most notorious drug lord pleading not guilty in a U.S. court, extradited on drug and weapon trafficking charges.

The case against the powerful gang leader whose escape from an Ecuadorian prison once triggered a nationwide state of emergency. Caffeine pouch warning the energy drink alternatives, buzzing on social media, but are they safe for teens? We'll talk to a doctor. Plus, singer Billy Joel breaking his silence after his brain disorder diagnosis,

and the FBI records just released on Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. What we're learning. Top story. Starts right now. And good evening. We begin tonight with that tragic breaking news, beloved actor Malcolm Jamal Warner,

who rose to fame as the Huxble on the Cosby Show has drowned at 54 years old. Investigators in Costa Rica say a powerful current swept Warner out to sea while he was swimming at a beach in Limong province. On the eastern side of the country, here's where it is. Bystanders there pulled him from the water. and brought him to the shore, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Warner scored his breakout role in the Cosby Show as a teenager,

even nominated for an Emmy for his performance. But that was just the beginning of a career that spanned four decades and roles in movies, TV shows, and on the stage. Chloe Malas has more on his incredible career, entertaining America, and the tributes now pouring in. Malcolm Jamal Warner was just 14, when the Cosby show catapulted him to super stardom. Hey, what's happening, Dad?

He became a household name, playing Theo Huxstable, the only son of TV parents Bill Cosby and Felicia Rashad. The Cosby Show has been a wonderful beginning and a wonderful stepping stone. Now the beloved actor is dead at the age of 54. Investigators in Costa Rica say that the actor drowned Sunday afternoon while swimming in the province of Limon after he was swept away by a powerful ocean current, according to the investigators who say Warner was rescued by bystanders and taken to the shore. He was treated by first responders, they added, but pronounced dead at the scene due to asphyxia.

Warner leaves behind a wife and daughter. Just a few months ago, he posted this video on Instagram with a flower from his daughter tucked behind his ear. No matter what's going on, there's always a reason to smile. Warner spent eight seasons in his breakout role on the Cosby Show. Then went on to build an impressive on-screen career, starring in Malcolm and Eddie. I don't need you to explain. And taking on reoccurring roles in suits and the resident. Do you think my behavior is a weakness, no, that's my super battle.

Warner was also an accomplished musician, even winning a Grammy in 2015. He recently launched a podcast called Not All Hood, aimed at telling important stories within the black community. The latest episode dropping just days before his death. I just I loved your take and your reminder that the hood should be as celebrated as the rest of the lanes of black culture. Among those honoring Warner tonight, former co-star Tracy Ellis Ross, who wrote what an actor and friend you were, warm, gentle, present kind, thoughtful, deep, funny, elegant. You made the world a brighter place. I think I've been blessed, but I've also worked hard for it, and it feels good. Chloe Malas joins us tonight.

Chloe, I know you've learned more about who he was with on this vacation there in Costa Rica. It was a family vacation, and a source close to him telling NBC News tonight that he was on that trip with his wife and his young daughter, and that his family is currently Tom in the process of trying to get his body back to the United States, start making funeral arrangements. but this source also said that, you know, he wasn't a big drinker. I mean, this is not a guy that would have been using drugs, that there's nothing suspicious about this in their opinion.

And it just looks like all signs point to a very tragic accident. Yeah, such a sad passing. Okay, Chloe, we thank you for that. Now to the White House. We'll turn to politics here. President Trump marking a milestone today six months into his second presidential term in office. This coming as Trump deals with the ongoing questions over his administration's handling of the Epstein files. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell has the report.

The president's push to move on is not dissipating drama around the DOJ files of the notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including top House Democrat Hakeem Jeffreys. What are they hiding from the American people? Release the files. While House Speaker Mike Johnson today stressed Republican unity. There is no daylight between the House Republicans. the House and the President on maximum transparency. But more questions on the White House driveway about whether the FBI will open its files. After the president said he wants grand jury testimony about Epstein released, following pressure from his own MAGA base.

Is the president satisfied that his own supporters are not heeding his call to let it go and to move on? I know the president would reject that, Kelly. In fact, he cited over the weekend some polls showing that, His approval rating with the Republican Party is actually at an all-time high. Will he call on Cash Patel to do more? The president has told the Attorney General and the FBI director to release any credible evidence that they find. While exactly one year after Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race, his son Hunter offered a new theory about Mr. Biden's struggle at that fateful debate. If we finally beat Medicare.

Thank you, President Biden. blaming sleep-aid Ambien taken around his foreign travel for his performance. He's 81 years old. He's tired of shit. Give him Ambien to be able to sleep. He gets up on the stage, and he looks like he's a deer in the headlights. All right, that was Kelly O'Donnell reporting for us. We want to dive a little deeper into Hunter Biden's interview there, including his comments about that disastrous debate performance by his father last June. Joining us tonight is Tara Palmieri, host of the podcast, The Tara Palmary Show, and author of The Red Letter on Substack. Tara, thanks so much for being here tonight.

You heard there in Kelly's report, Hunter Biden, claiming his father was given Ambien before that debate. Has any reporting indicated that was the case? And why would they have done that? In fact, the family said that he wasn't feeling well before the debate. They never mentioned that he was taking these drugs. Neither did his doctor when he laid out the numerous prescriptions that he was taking. This is definitely coming out of left field. and it just seems to not exactly ring true.

He seems to be bitter and trying to change the narrative. And it's certainly a gift to President Trump right now when he's trying to move away from the Epstein story for Hunter Biden to keep trying to rewrite history. I do want to show our audience another section of that interview where Hunter Biden rips actor George Clooney for speaking out against his father. Take a listen.

George Clooney is not a f***er actor. He is a f***. Like, I don't know what it is. He's a brand. What right do you have to step on a man who's given 52 years of his life to the service of this country and decide that you, George Clooney, are going to take out basically a full-page ad in the New York Times to undermine the president? And Tara, we didn't even show some of the most profane comments Hunter made about Clooney.

Why is it that Clooney's break with Biden specifically has been so bitter? I don't know. I think this is their anger about everyone. They're attacking everyone in the Democratic community from David Axelrod to James Carville to the guys on the PODs of America. They are angry at George Clooney. They feel like that was the tipping point when he put out that column in the New York Times calling on him to step down. But this all confirms all of the reporting at the time, all of the books that shows a family that was indignant, that was arrogant, that said, how dare you question? Our father, because of the time he gave in public service, in fairness, you know, five decades of public service, how dare you question them.

But this shows you exactly how they were thinking and feeling at the time. They really were not interested in outside opinion from even the American people about whether he was fit to run again. I just see this as a man who's lashing out. And I don't know if you caught this, though, Tom, in the interview, but he did make a comment at one point saying, you know, if I were president in two years or even four. years. It's like, really? Is that how you're thinking? As if this is a legacy? Yeah. This is the Hunter, this is the Biden legacy to be followed. And Hunter, you're the guy to step in there. Right. An interesting comment. I do want to listen to one more section of the interview where Hunter talks about former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's role in the 2024 election.

Let's listen. The people that came out against him were who? Nobody except Speaker Pelosi Emeritus, Speaker Emeritus Pelosi, did not give a full-throated endorsement, which allowed everybody else to kind of go, okay. So, Tara, Hunter also claimed Pelosi in that interview didn't want Harris as the nominee. They're both from California, both served San Francisco. Why would Pelosi have not wanted to see Harris at the top of the ticket? If Hunter's right. Well, she knew that she wasn't, yeah, I mean, I think this is fair, that she knew that she wasn't

the strongest pick. They wanted a mini-primary. They realized that wasn't feasible. If you remember, I'm sure you'd do well that Kamala Harris came in fourth in the Democratic primary in 2020. So they knew that she wasn't – she really wasn't – she wasn't even really popular with the American people, but that was the person that they had to take. But the idea that this was only Nancy Pelosi and it's all her fault, all of the members, they were all speaking privately and then some publicly. many people were speaking for years. Just looking at the polls, the American people, two-thirds of them, were saying for years and years that Joe Biden was too old to run for

re-election. And for some reason, the family just feels like that everyone was colluding against them. Like the inside of the Democratic, you know, the Democratic establishment was colluding against them. No, the American people didn't want it. And yes, the Democratic establishment pushed them out. But I find this whole revisionist history really interesting. And I think it validates all of the books and the media that They're trying to slam right now. It's interesting, too, that they're going to foreign press. Yeah, but I've got to think the Democratic Party also wants to turn the page on this, and they can't because the Biden's and the former president himself either does interviews or is out there in the media.

And then now you're seeing Hunter as well as the Democrats try to sort of find their North Star and their message as they regroup for the midterms and eventually a general election. Stuff like this gets in the way. Totally. And it's not the messaging they want. It's a gift to President Trump when he's trying to get away from the Epstein story. And he's making headlines for saying my dad was drugged. And by the way, we were pushed out by Nancy Pelosi who didn't even want Kamala Harris. I just think this isn't helpful.

They're on a legacy tour. Again, the family thinking only about their own power and just probably thinking that they're angry that they're not in office right now when everyone else is thinking that there would be a different outcome if he didn't try to run in the first place. All right, Tara, Paul Mary. you on the broadcast. Great to see you, my friend. Now to the terrifying close call in the air over North Dakota. A B-52 bomber nearly colliding with a passenger jet carrying 80 people. It happened as the bomber was performing a flyover at the State Fair. NBC's Tom Costello has more as the FAA and Air Force investigate. Amateur video at the North Dakota State Fair captured the Delta Airlines

Regional Jet flown by Sky West, making a sharp turn as the biggest bomber in the Air Force fleet of B-52 roars over the crowd below. For those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it. After making a hard 25-degree bank to the right, then diving, the SkyWest pilot apologized to the passengers on board. So sorry about the aggressive maneuvered and caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads-up because the Air Force base does have radar and nobody said, hey, there's also a B-15. passenger Monica Green says the sudden turn felt very sharp. I just remember the plane going like sideways like that and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass. It happened just a thousand feet above the ground. In a statement, SkyWest says flight 3788 had been cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. The Minot Tower doesn't have radar. It operates on visual flight rules. The FAA says the tower is run by a private company and these controllers are not FAA employees. I'm not sure the B-52

crew even knew that the Delta airplane was there. So, and they were not talking to the same controller. It comes just six months after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Eagle regional plane killing 67 people over Washington. Tonight, the private company that operates the Minot Tower is deferring all questions to the FAA. The military says that B-52 was flying on an approved flight path. Tom? All right, Tom Costello, we thank you. Now of the moments of horror inside of Bangladeshi school, a training jet from the country's Air Force,

slamming into the building in the middle of the school day, students and teachers frantically searching for a way out. NBC's Richard Engel has this report. The pilot of the F7 fighter jet was on a training flight and smashed into the K-12 school just after takeoff. First responders combed through the charred building. The plane crash happened in the middle of the air. afternoon while the school was full of teachers and students.

I was picking up my kids and I heard something coming from behind. When I looked back, I only saw smoke and fire, this teacher said. Parents rushed to find and pick up their children, while others watched recovery efforts in horror. Jule found his daughter alive amid the wreckage. When I came here, I saw there was a huge fire and the dead body of a child, he said. In a statement, the military said the aircraft had a technical malfunction. The pilot was killed, along with at least 20 students and teachers.

Richard Engel, NBC News. We thank Richard for that. Back here at home to some breaking news we're following out of Louisville, former police officer Brett Hank had sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for his involvement in the 2020 shooting death of Brianna Taylor. Earlier today, tensions running high outside of court. One demonstrator jumping on the hood of a water truck, that individual in Brianna Taylor's arrested according to the LMPD. Following it all for us, NBC's Shaquille Brewster, who joins us now

from Chicago. Shaq, the judge's decision here, 33 months, a lot longer than what the Justice Department was asking for. Do we know how she got to this number? Yeah, Tom, and you know, she had a real range of numbers to work with. This sentence and this charge came with a maximum sentence of life in prison, but you have the probation office suggesting that Hankinson get a A sentence between 11 and 14 years. And then you had the Justice Department. In that sentencing memo that we saw last week, they say that he should have received the sentence of just one day, effectively time served, plus three years of supervised release.

In the court, in the hearing that went on for about four hours, by the way, Tom, the judge ultimately settling on that two years and nine months, saying that what the Justice Department was recommending was not appropriate, even going after them, somewhat for flipping their position since there's been a new administration and ultimately said that she wouldn't go as high as the 11 years that was suggested by the probation office simply because he went through multiple trials and that they essentially miscalculated when they gave that suggestion in Tom. And how is the family doing Brianna Taylor's family in court today? Because I know after that initial announcement of one day, there was a lot of outrage.

They were initially very outraged. Today we just heard in the past. couple of minutes from her mother who admitted that she was disappointed, but praised the judge for ignoring that recommendation from the Department of Justice. She did go after the prosecution and the Trump administration's lawyers essentially saying that there was no prosecution for Breonna Taylor in that courtroom. At one point, there was a striking moment, and we're just getting this in from our affiliate reporter, where they say she handed the judge, Brianna Taylor's mother, handed the judge a manila folder of victim impact statements, and the judge took that folder, went through some of those statements, and expressed frustration that the Department of Justice lawyers did not hand those in ahead of time.

You could tell there was somewhat of a gap between the family of Rihanna Taylor and this new prosecution team that ultimately tried to get the judge to sentence him to just one day. Again, the judge rejecting that and sentencing the former police officer to 33 months behind bars. Shaquille Brewster with a lot of new reporting there, Shaq. We thank you for that. Next tonight to the weather right now for more than 60 million Americans under heat alerts as temperatures soar across the country. Flood watches are also stretching from New Mexico up to Wisconsin. This summer of relentless floods now claiming the life of a 62-year-old woman who was walking on a popular nature trail near Kansas City, Kansas, when high waters rushed in. I want to bring in meteorologist Bill. Cairns. Bill, let's start with that flooding. What are you tracking? Yeah, way too many flash flood fatalities this July. I mean, it's almost like every day.

We're seeing something this morning. That heavy rain fell over Kansas City and the areas just to the south of town. And that's where we had that tragedy take place. Outside of Kansas City and north central Kansas, we still have some severe thunderstorms that are producing some very heavy rain and some flash flood warnings. We're also watching the mountainous areas. I always worry about the mountains because when it rains hard in the mountains, the water just collects really quickly and heads into a lot of our rural communities.

We have two flash flood warnings. One's in Virginia. One is here in areas of eastern Kentucky. And then as we head into areas of New Mexico, of course, So it's only in two weeks since that horrific burn scar mudslide that happened to Rudy Oso. We have two flash flood warnings now, one near Santa Fe, the other near Las Vegas, New Mexico. And this one I have my eye on because this is over a burn scar that happened to about a year ago. So already about two and a half inches of rain has fallen.

So we'll keep a close eye on that time as we go throughout the rest of this evening. All right, Bill, before you go, the dangerous heat, we can't let go just yet, right? Summer people have to be careful. Yeah, it's the dog days of summer. And by the way, this is typically the hottest time of year for just about everywhere. one in the entire country, but it doesn't mean we like it. And it's still brutal. Tomorrow we're going to be up to 108 heat index in Omaha, everywhere from the south, all the way up through the Midwest. The next two days are about as hot as it typically gets. And it's just day after day.

There's not much relief at night either, where it's so humid. It's just, you know, the AC's cranking 24 hours a day. The heat index 11 in Memphis. And then by the end of this week, all of that mess heads to the East Coast. Another heat wave arriving, DC 96 Friday, 94 Saturday. And that spreads up through the Northeast, too, Tom. So yes, it's, you know, the days are slowly going to get shorter, but for a lot of people, the heat's not going anywhere. All right, Bill Cairns, I'm sure we're going to be talking all week long. Still ahead on top story tonight. The traffic stop now under investigation in Florida warning the video is very violent. An officer smashing the driver's side window, then punching the face of the driver, why they stopped him and what they say they found in the car.

Plus, the Trump administration releasing 230,000 pages on the FBI's investigation to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., what we're learning, and an urgent recall for parents with young kids, the popular above-ground pools with a possibly fatal flaw will explain. Stay with us. We're back now with a traffic stop turned violent in Jacksonville, Florida.

Newly posted video of the February incident viewed more than four million times. It's now raising some questions about the police who were involved and why the video is being released now. NBC's Marissa Parra reporting, and a warning we do want to tell you some of this video is disturbing. Exit the vehicle now. Exit the vehicle. Show me your hands.

Here. Violent moments captured on camera during a traffic stop in Jacksonville, Florida. This February video going viral after driver William McNeil Jr., who shot it inside his car, posted it Sunday, drawing swift reaction since. It shows an interaction with police already in progress, including the moment. The Quentin officer breaks McNeil's window and strikes him in the face. Can you call your supervisor? All right, go for it. Exit the vehicle now.

Exit the vehicle. Show me your hands. Here. But the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says that the video doesn't tell the whole story. Social media is not reality. One video clip, devoid of context, can be very misleading. The sheriff tonight releasing Officer Warren body camera footage, showing McNeil pulled over for driving.

pulled over for driving without headlights in the rain. They say he wouldn't provide his license in registration. I'm about to break the window. You can hear officers repeatedly warning with Neil that if he did not comply with getting out of the vehicle, they would break his window and put him under arrest. Exit the vehicle now. Enter the vehicle. Show me your head. Here. What is your reason? Get out. No, no, no, no. The sheriff says none of the involved violated criminal law, but an administrative review is ongoing. Yes, there absolutely was force used by the arresting officers. And yes, that force is ugly.

And just because force is ugly does not mean it's unlawful. NBC News has not spoken to McNeil directly, but his lawyer says he's still recovering. His teeth actually went through his lip when he was slammed to the ground. So he's still recovering and dealing with those injuries. The attorney says they plan on filing a lawsuit. All right. With that, Marissa Para joins us tonight from Miami. So, Marissa, what do we know about the responding officers, and have we heard anything from the attorneys representing the driver in tonight's presser from beyond from what we just saw you there have with the lawyer?

Yes, and we actually did just get an updated statement moments ago, Tom. I'm going to read this for you word for word. They said in part, quote, the body camera shows exactly what we thought it would show. Nothing to justify the acts of the officers, nothing to justify a punch, a sucker punch, nothing to justify a subsequent punch outside the car, and a subsequent. assault on Mr. McNeil. Now, the sheriff tonight says the responding officer, the main one, has been stripped of his law enforcement authority that is effective immediately because even though the state's attorney's office says no criminal law was violated, as we know, Tom, there is an administrative review of officer actions that is ongoing. Okay, Marissa Parley, thank you for that. Coming up next, the warning about products growing in popularity with teens, pouches that can contain hundreds of milligrams of caffeine are being touted on TikTok, the risk parents, should be aware of. And yet another high-flying scare for pop star Katie Perry, the terrifying

malfunction as she's short above the crowd. Look at that. But first, Top Story's top moment and the top golfer in the world, Scotty Schaeffler, taking home his first British open title over the weekend, winning his second major of the year. But it was the celebration with his youngest fan that stole the show. Take a look. This guy sports first. Bennett is on the loose. There he comes. No. It's not easy up those slopes. First-time learner right there. That was Sheffler's one-year-old son Bennett,

who got a little assistant out onto the green to celebrate his dad's victory. Now the 29-year-old golfer just needs a win at the U.S. Open to complete golf's career grand slam. All right. Stay with us. We are back in just a moment. Okay, we are back now with Top Stories News Feed.

We start with the Trump administration, releasing more than 230,000 pages of documents related to the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. An executive order from Trump declassifying those documents against the wishes of King's children who asked to review the files first. The documents include FBI investigative details, internal memos, and information about conviction. assassins James Earl Ray. That same executive order also calling for full transparency on the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Two people are dead after a group of six people were swept over a 15-foot waterfall in Bend, Oregon. Rescue team still searching Dylan Falls for one person in that group who remains missing. Three others were rescued from the water and taken to a hospital. It's still not clear what their conditions are.

The sheriff's office posting this photo of a sign warning visitors of the waterfall downstream. More than 5 million above-ground pools recalled after they were linked to the drowning deaths of nine children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission saying those children climbed into the pool by standing on a compression strap outside. The recall covers a range of Best Way, Intex, Recreation, and Polygroup pools that were sold by major retailers as far back as 2002. Katie Perry nearly falling into her audience after a prop malfunction mid-air. Look at this. Video shows the moment a giant butterfly prop felt. several featuring a concert in San Fran.

Perry briefly stopped singing to steady yourself. You can see that, then continued the performance. That incident coming weeks after a similar malfunction in Australia, where a sphere carrying Perry began to tilt while she was inside of it. Okay, we want to turn now to the stunning developments in the kidnapping and murder case of six-year-old Aiton Pates. He was one of the first kids whose missing photos was placed on milk cartons in the 1970s. Tonight, a federal appeals court ruling that man who,

was once convicted of his murder should go free or face a new trial. NBC Stephanie Gosk has the latest. Six-year-old Aiton Pates disappeared on May 25, 1979, on his way to the school bus stop in New York City. The crime shocked the country. He was never found. Aiton simply disappeared. Nearly 40 years later in 2017, the state of New York convicted former shop clerk Pedro Hernandez.

Pates' father speaking after the murder verdict. It's about time. really is. But tonight, a federal appeals court has overturned the conviction. In its ruling, the three-judge panel says instructions given to the jury during deliberations prejudice the verdict. It is really, really rare that this happens because the legal standard is so stringent. There has to be judicial error, but also that error must be harmful or have mattered. With no physical evidence, the case focused on a confession. According to today's decision, Hernandez, who has a history of mental illness admitted to the crime after approximately seven hours

of questioning before being read his Miranda rights. Investigators recorded him admitting to the crime again after he was read his rights. But Hernandez ultimately recanted, and questioned surrounding that confession led to a hung jury when the case was first tried in 2015. In 2017, Hernandez was convicted. Tonight, his defense team writing in a statement, for more than 13 years, page, has been in prison for a crime he did not commit and based on a conviction that the Second Circuit has now made clear was obtained in clear violation of law.

Okay. Stephanie got to join just now. So Stephanie, kind of walk us through what happens here and what the next steps are. Well, it's all in the hands right now of the Manhattan District Attorney and he needs to decide, Alvin Bragg, whether or not he wants to go forward with a third trial. That's what it would be. It would be a third trial against this man. Exactly. Against Pedro Hernandez. 2017, that was almost a decade ago. Alvin Bragg was not the DA at the time. And obviously, this is a tough case. There is not any physical evidence. And this confession that has been recanted by Hernandez since is at the very heart of it. You can see how troubling it is for juries. It's why there was a hung jury in 2015. It is what ultimately led to this federal court decision

today throwing out that conviction. So, you know, there's a real question, Mark. whether or not they proceed with this. And Pedro Hernandez would walk free if they decided not to. All right. Stephanie Gosford's, that'd be a stunning development. Okay, we'll see what happens. Now to a massive post office blaze in California after a car was apparently driven into the building, authorities saying they arrested the brother of former NFL star and Army Ranger Pat Tillman in connection with that incident. NBC's Liz Croix has the latest on this developing story. Tonight, this fiery scene at a post office in San Jose, California, remains under investigation. that was backed in purposefully TV has him in custody and that's the initial cause.

Authorities arresting 44-year-old Richard Tillman, the younger brother of former NFL star turned Army Ranger Pat Tillman on suspicion of arson. So you can see the vehicle into the structure right there. So that was it under investigation, but that looks to be the initial cause of the fire. The incident happening around 3 a.m. Sunday, firefighters at the scene saying a car had been driven into the post office, sparking a massive fire that engulfed the entire building. We had three battalions here to fight this fire. Authorities say no one was injured, but they're now looking into the possibility the fire was intentional, calling the circumstances suspicious.

Why were you saying that this seems suspicious and potentially intentional? Mostly from the circumstances for car to be driven into a post office backwards at three in the morning and a fire to start and the person to still be standing there. with a partial message spray painted on the wall, that just doesn't seem like an accident. Pat Tillman died in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan, famously putting his multi-million dollar NFL career on hold after the attacks on 9-11 to join the U.S. military. At his funeral, his brother Richard getting emotional. It was really amazing to be his little baby brother.

Tonight, the Tillman family releasing a statement. In it, Richard's brother, Kevin Tillman, acknowledges the incident, Writing in part, it's no secret that Richard has been battling severe mental health issues for many years. Unfortunately, securing the proper care and support for him has proven incredibly difficult or rather impossible. As a result, none of this is as shocking as it should be. And the family says they are communicating with law enforcement. Richard Tillman is expected to appear in court later this week. He is currently being held on $60,000 bond.

Tom. Liz, Liz, we thank you for that. Next tonight to Top Story's health check and an alarming warning for parents on an energy product flooding the market. Health experts and educators raising concerns about caffeine pouches. Have you heard about this? Well, if you're not familiar, the products are comparable to energy drinks or multiple cups of coffee. They contain between 25 to 200 milligrams of caffeine per pouch. There are no federal age restrictions, but they're recommended for ages 18 plus, and they are consumed by placing the pouch between the cheek and the gum. The concern tonight that social media influencers may be pushing this product to teens who are under the recommended age of 18 years old. They're even being sold on TikTok shop with creators specifically targeting this group.

Take a listen. I'm 13 and I old enough to use these. So that's the best thing about these little lip pouches. You can guide them and use them at any age. You can get upper decades from the TikTok shop at any age. Okay. Well, that's a little disconcerning there. With that, I want to bring in Dr. Ayala Wegman.

And she's a pediatrician at Hassanfield Children's Hospital at NYU Langone here in New York City. Doctor, always a pleasure to have you on Top Story. Good to see you again. I want to put up a stat related to this, you know, that concerned us. America's poison control centers reported a 24% increase in medical calls related to energy drink consumption among people younger than 20 from 2022 to 2023 with products like these caffeine pouches. What are the biggest medical concerns for young people? Young people are particularly naive to the effects of caffeine. So a young body and a young mind that is exposed to caffeine is more likely to have adverse side effects.

And that could be anywhere from tremulousness, an increase in heart rate, anxiety, and, you know, there are other certain medications that can contraindicate, it can contradict the caffeine use. I also want to talk about the marketing of these products. One of the leading companies in this space, it's called WIP, WIP. It's run by the same person who was the marketing executive at Jewel, a company widely blamed for creating the teen vaping epidemic. The company telling NBC News in a statement that they are not marketing to people under 18, saying, quote, our efforts include engaging on platforms where adults are more active, particularly those age 20 to 39, including Instagram and TikTok, and we do so responsibly using content created by and featuring audiences aged 18 and over. Are you at all concerned about how the products are being marketed?

Absolutely. They're marketed with fruit flavors. They have really engaging colorful displays. It looks like a lightning bolt is on the product. And so it's absolutely marketed towards younger people. You know, you deal with young people. I have a couple of kids, but I'm trying to understand why kids would like this. I mean, you can drink a cup of coffee. Starbucks has all these great coffees of all types of flavors. What's the deal with these pouches? Why are they so, I don't know, interesting to them? So these pouches are really discreet. So when people use them, you don't necessarily know that they're actually in their mouths. And it delivers the caffeine much more quickly to the system. Bypasses the gut. So what it does is it goes in through the oral mucosa into the bloodstream. It's basically like one step away from mainlining the caffeine directly.

Okay. And then you get the instant buzz. Instant buzz, which is so problematic because, you know, you could imagine that younger patients that are taking this are going to probably, be consuming more than the recommended amount, and that it's going to hit their bloodstream much more quickly than it would if it went through the gut. And are you seeing these sort of cases? Because, I mean, I know growing up, there was obviously always Coca-Cola that had caffeine,

and there was Jolt Cola, which was like the crazy cola, if you will, at the time. But, I mean, are we talking about a different level of caffeine with these pouches with kids consuming the powders too? Oh, it's much higher. It's much higher. One pouch can contain as much as 100 to 200 milligrams of caffeine, and people can put multiple pouches in their mouth at the same time, which is very much contraindicated. Wow, not going to be able to sleep either. Okay, Dr. Wegman, we thank you so much for being here

on Top Story, as usual. It's very, very insightful. Okay, we're going to move over to Top Story's Global Watch now, starting with an incredible rescue at sea after a passenger ferry was caught on fire in Indonesia. Dramatic video, watch this, it's a crazy video, capturing passengers jumping off the boat as the vessel is engulfed in flames. The Coast Guard and local fishermen helping rescue at least 575 people who are on board. At least three people are dead and two are still missing. The cause of the fire is under investigation. And after decades long fighting in eastern Congo,

Rwandan-back rebels and the Democratic Republic of Congo are pleading to end the conflict. Both sides signing a declaration which aims to restore Congo's authority in eastern cities controlled by rebels and facilitate prisoner exchanges. The UN has called the conflict in the Congo, quote, one of the most serious crimes, crises on Earth. A final deal is set to be signed by August 18th.

And in Vietnam, a little boy describing his miraculous survival after a tourist boat capsized, killing dozens on board. At least 11 people were rescued after a sudden storm in the country's famed Ha Long Bay overturned the sightseeing ship on Saturday. A 10-year-old boy says he sheltered in an air pocket. As the boat continued to sick, first responders were able to locate him and bring him to an area hospital. Incredible. Now to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, health care workers warning about the rising number of children and families dying of malnutrition and the growing international concern over reports of civilians being killed while attempting to collect aid.

Matt Bradley has the latest. Tonight, Israel expanding its war against Hamas and Gaza in areas Israeli officials believe Hamas may be holding its remaining hostages. While Israel faces growing criticism over a humanitarian crisis, with Gazans desperate for food. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry saying at least 100 people were killed when Israeli soldiers opened fire on an aid distribution site. We went to get flowers, says this man. That's when the Israelis started shooting at us. Israel disputes the casualty figures and says the IDF fired warning shots to remove an immediate

threat. Tonight, 28 Western countries, including France and the UK, criticizing Israel over what they call the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, at the aid distribution sites. Israel saying the blame should be placed on Hamas, which, quote, started the war and is prolonging it. Embrain Salimi is an American doctor working in Gaza for the past three weeks. I have seen so much malnutrition here.

She says many patients struggle to fight off infections and heal from serious injuries because they're starving. I have never seen anything like what I've seen here in Gaza. The lack of resources, the siege, the inhibitions. The inability to bring things that are needed has really been challenging. And Gaza health officials say at least 19 people have died from acute hunger in Gaza in just the past 24 hours. Tom? Matt Bradley for us tonight. Matt, we thank you.

Now to the Americas where Ecuadorian officials have extradited a notorious drug lord known as fetal to the U.S. Prosecutors call the king bin a ruthless leader saying he's responsible for bringing copious amounts of drugs and weapons into the U.S. NBC's George Solis has the latest. Tonight, an Ecuadorian man, the U.S. Department of Justice, says, was the leader of one of the country's most violent gangs responsible for international chaos and bloodshed facing a New York City judge. 45-year-old Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, known as Fito, pleading not guilty today to federal charges related to international drug and weapons trafficking. Federal prosecutors describing him as a ruthless leader, adding the defendant and his co-conspirators. flooded the United States with drugs and used extreme measures of violence

in their quest for power and control. DOJ official Seifito is the kingpin behind Los Choneros, a criminal organization out of Ecuador. The accused gang leader was known to throw parties with alcohol and cockfighting inside Ecuadorian prison while serving a 34-year sentence. Sending video messages to the public, even from behind bars, with guards by his side,

massias escaping from the country in January of 2024, prompting a state of emergency in the country, as well as this 2024 TV station takeover from the gang known as La FIrma. After being on the run for a year and a half, Ecuadorian authorities recapturing Macias after he was tracked down to an underground bunker in the city of Manta. He's seen here on the ground, cuffed hands behind his back and surrounded by armed guards. Ecuador's Minister of Defense saying Macias was the nation's most wanted criminal, calling his capture a victory, adding it took time and a lot of effort to achieve.

Now he is one of the first to be extradited to the United States from Ecuador and will remain in an undetermined U.S. prison until his trial. George Solis joins us tonight from Miami. George, what is Vito's attorneys saying tonight following his plea in current detention? Yeah, hey Tom, his attorney telling us tonight he is eager, to review the evidence in the case, including claims that his client was involved in the straw purchase of weapons here in the U.S., the illegal purchase of weapons, when his client has never actually been here. Tom? Yeah, and then talk to me about the prosecution here. They're bringing

them over and what's going to happen next. Yeah, Tom, according to court documents, federal prosecutors basically say that because of the weight of the crimes here, his lack of legal status, and because he's tried to avoid being captured by law enforcement, he's going to remain in custody until his trial. Tom? All right, George's release for us tonight. George, we thank you for that. Coming up next, Billy Joel opening up about his battle with a brain disease, the new interview on Bill Maher's podcast, and how he says he's coping with a buildup of fluid in his brain. That's next. We're back now with an update on Billy Joel's battle with a brain disorder. The 76-year-old giving his first

since the announcement of his diagnosis and cancellation of his tour in May. Let me see Sam Brock has this one. Tonight, The Piano Man, opening up for the first time about his ongoing health battle, Billy Joel discussing his brain disorder diagnosis on Bill Maher's Club Random podcast. Did we fix it? It's not fixed. It's still being worked on. You look good.

You sound good. You're looking sound like you. I feel fine. Oh, okay. My balance sucks. It's like being on a boat. The 76-year-old all-time rock and roll figure and Hall of Famer announcing he was canceling all of his upcoming shows back in May.

After he says he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid builds up in the brain, sometimes causing problems with hearing, vision, and balance. What causes that? Nobody knows. They don't know. I thought it must be from drinking. But you don't drink?

Not anymore. Yeah. I used to, like a fish. Joel's team at the time of diagnosis said the time off from touring would allow him to recover from surgery and to undergo physical therapy. It's a very simple procedure. What's called a ventricular shunt is put in. It takes just a short time in the operating room, and that allows the fluid to drain without blockage. About 80% of patients improve.

While staying off stage during that recovery, Joel is working on promoting his new HBO documentary, Billy Joel, and so it goes. I think music saved my life. It gave me a resonant live. The second half of the two-part chronicle of Joel's rise to fame and lessons learned set to be released on Friday. Everything I've done and everything I've lived through

I somehow found its way into my music. The title, a nod to his 1989 ballot. Now more than ever, his fans cheering him on from afar, hoping for a healthier tomorrow. The star, leaving his supporters with a bit of hope. But you're good. You look good. I feel good. I think they keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder. So it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling.

Brock, NBC News. When we come back, a Brit takes on America's pastime, comedian John Oliver, giving one minor league baseball team a total rebrand. Our Aaron McLaughlin takes us to their sold-out first game right after this. Finally tonight, meet the Moon Mammoths, Erie Pennsylvania's newly rebranded minor league baseball team and mascot. The makeover of an American pastime coming thanks to British comedian John Oliver. Eric McLaughlin had the chance to catch up with him at the team sold-out debut. Congratulations to the Sea Wolves. You're about to be called something else.

When the Erie Seawolfs won a contest for a total rebrand, courtesy of John Oliver and his HBO show last week tonight. Everyone had written him off. Few could have imagined this. Right over there is your mascot. I would argue that now is the people of Erie's mask. They hopefully will adopt him today and then raise him as one of their own. NBC News was there for Fuzz and the minor league teams first at bat as the moon mammoths. Musk to the face.

Now temporarily named after Erie Pennsylvania native George Moon and the remains of the prehistoric mammoth he discovered at the bottom of a local lake. He's looked better than he did at the bottom of the lake, that's for sure, right? Right. We're not going to go back to that time. Not going back to that time. He's here now. Yeah. MAMP is your time! Erie went all out to welcome their new mascot with a sold-out ball game.

Moon-themed merch, even Mammoth-inspired foo. Also as a Brit to have rebranded an American baseball team. Oh, yeah. Or are you suggesting that's kind of an act of hostility? Is it? It's a colonial act. I wasn't suggesting anything. I mean, I will say, when the British move to a place and start changing the names of things,

you should be on edge historically. And why Erie? It seemed like their application was really fun. Buzz is only expected to appear at a handful of games. Oliver says what happens next depends on the team and the fans. I love an excuse to be silly. What does a moon mammoth mean to you? I have no clue.

And is there a deeper message that you're sending here? I think it is. If you're a mammoth and things are looking bad, and you feel yourself sinking to the bottom of a lake and you're thinking, I'm pretty sure this is it. Just know you'll end up being branded as a minor league baseball team. There's hope for us all.

Yeah, life is never fully over, right? Look what that mammoth gave us. Aaron McLaughlin, NBC News, Erie, Pennsylvania. Let's go, mammoths! Tusks up. All right, love that sign. Thanks so much for watching Top Story tonight. I'm Tom Yamis in New York.

Stay right there. More news on the way. Thank you.