Top Story with Tom Llamas - Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Episode Date: July 5, 2023

A mass shooting in Philadelphia leaves at least five people dead. Another round of severe storms threaten Fourth of July celebrations across the country. A tractor trailer truck driver takes police in Texas on a high-speed chase down the wrong side of the highway. A mother and son injured in last year’s July 4th Highland Park shooting speak with Tom about his paralysis and recovery in the wake of the attack. And a group of U.S. military service members are sworn in as new naturalized American citizens.

Tonight, a 4th of July tragedy in Philadelphia. Police investigating this chilling surveillance video after a gunman armed with an assault-style rifle went on a deadly rampage through the city streets, killing five people and wounding several others, the injured ranging an age from 2 to 59. The shooter surrendering to authorities, police now desperately searching for a motive as we learn more about the lives lost. Also, tonight, severe weather creating dangerous conditions from coast to coast as Americans gathered to celebrate the holiday. Lightning tearing across the sky, interrupting firework displays. Nearly 40 million people in the risk areas for violent thunderstorms and flash flooding. And that relentless heat still baking the West.

We're tracking all of it. Oversees a violent ramming attack rocking Israel, a car barreling into a bus stop. The driver then going on a stabbing spree, wounding several people. This after Israel launched its largest military operation on the West Bank in two decades. We'll have a full report from the site of that deadly assault. High-speed smuggler chase police in Texas racing to catch a truck speeding down the wrong side of the highway. The dramatic moment officers finally caught up and who they say jumped out of that vehicle. Plus pulled from the flames dramatic video showing the moment a Georgia police officer broke open a window

to rescue a woman trapped inside a burning car. And Twitter killer, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, launching a new app called Threads that will allow public text-based conversations. By some tech experts think this could spell the end of Twitter and how soon you can download it on your phone. Top story starts right now. Good evening. I'm Ellison Barber in for Tom Yamis on America's independent We begin top story with a horrific act so uniquely tied to this nation's identity.

Police investigating this surveillance video after a gunman wearing body armor and wielding an AR-style rifle stalked the streets of Philadelphia, firing randomly at cars and people along the roadway. Police racing to the scene tracking that shooter down until he ultimately surrendered. Five people killed, several others wounded. The youngest person shot was just two years old. the birthplace of America bloodied by just one of the 345 mass shootings already reported this year. Tonight, we are learning more about the lives lost, including 15-year-old to John Brown, who died trying to help a friend who had been injured, his family speaking

to our Philadelphia station, and 59-year-old Ralph Morales, who, according to the Philadelphia inquirer, was supposed to walk his daughter down the aisle this weekend. Police now working to determine a motive as yet another community. Grieves. NBC's George Solis leads us off with more. Questions mounting in Philadelphia tonight about a gunman who opened fire in a neighborhood killing five, including one teenager.

Is there any reason to believe this was a premeditated attack against this community? With the evidence that we do have available to us that these acts were done knowingly and intentionally. The shooting, also injuring at least four other people, including a set of twin toddlers in their car with their mother. One twin officials say suffering a gunshot wound to the leg.

The other sustained injuries to their eyes from shattered glass. Everybody used to us, and we still got to find out there fired a shot. Go shot, go shot. Authorities say the 40-year-old suspect wearing a ski mask and body armor, armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun and police scanner, shot aimlessly at drivers and cars and people as they walked by, firing more than 50 rounds. Police say they're now looking at this surveillance video as part of their investigation.

What happened last night in our concessing neighborhood was unimaginably disgusting and horrifying. Robert Rouse says he heard the hail of gunfire. So my first thing wasn't running the house and make sure my family will okay. Is your family okay? Yeah, they're fine. Get a little shook up. While tending to the victims, authorities say officers heard more gunshots and began chasing the suspect on foot until they surrendered. Now in custody, the motive still under investigation. A second person was taken into

custody after authorities say he picked up a gun at the scene and fired at the shooter. That person was later released. Based upon limited information I have, that we do not see a basis for concluding that that person's discharge of a firearm was illegal. Hours later in Fort Worth, Texas, police say three people were killed, eight others injured in a shooting during a Fourth of July celebration. Lots of people just trying to flee the area from the multiple gunshots. Police say several males fired into the crowd and fled the scene. No arrests have been made. President Joe Biden addressing the rampant gun violence saying, we pray for the day when our communities will be free from gun violence and urging states to call upon Republican lawmakers

in Congress to come to the table on meaningful common sense reforms that the American people support. George Solis joins us now from Philadelphia. George Solis joins us now from Philadelphia. When do we expect the suspect in the Philadelphia shooting to be charged? And do we know if he could face any sort of elevated or federal charges given the apparent premeditation here? And the fact that local authorities were telling you, acknowledging that in their words, this act was done knowingly and intentionally. Yeah, Allison, officials very clear to point out that this case could easily be investigated by federal authorities. The district attorney, Larry Krasner, is saying the suspect. will appear in court sometime tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon. Well, they will also

reveal the suspect's name. And as you mentioned, this suspect likely to face a number of murder charges, Alison. And George, in terms of the victims here, those two twin toddlers you talked about in your piece, do we know how they're doing tonight? Yeah, fortunately we can't report that those two toddlers are expected to survive. Authorities saying the toddlers were actually riding in their car with their mother when the shooter opened fire. One of those toddlers receiving at least one gunshot wound to the leg, the other sustaining eye injuries as a result from the glass shattering in the car. Really harrowing stuff, Alison.

George Solis, thank you. The other big story tonight, another round of extreme weather hitting the U.S. today from coast to coast, threatening 4th of July fireworks and celebrations. NBC's Emily Aketa has the latest on the storms and the flight problems that continue to plague travelers as they get set to head home for the holidays. Even as stormy skies sweep across parts of the country, Americans' patriotism shining through this Independence Day. Happy for us. Love you. God bless you.

This 4th of July parade pressing on in Connecticut, while the Twin Cities got their own kind of light show Monday. And in our nation's capital, torrential rain clearing up just in time for today's parade. But many quintessential Independence Day events weren't as lucky. As soon as we saw that first lightning, that's it, cut it off. Nathan's hot dog eating contests delayed as thunderstorm slammed New York City. Nearby, fire officials say two people were rushed to the hospital after a lightning strike in Coney Island. As sweeping storms continue, so does the travel chaos.

More than 3,000 flights delayed today and more than 400 canceled. In parts of the south and out west, it's the record-breaking heat hampering the holiday. Many turning to America's shorelines for relief from triple-digit temperatures. How am I keeping cold, jumping into water and a whole lot of liquor. In impressive heat, fueling ferocious wildfires in Arizona and Washington. Between the wildfire and thunderstorm threats, many wondering whether the hallmark of the holiday will be a washout. Forecasters say fireworks should be a go in most of the West, while severe storms will threaten events in the country's midsection. And along the East Coast, it will be hit or miss, with a chance of isolated showers and the

lingering storms. Residents in New York holding out hope for the nation's biggest firework show. I hope the storms do not get in the way. We'll probably just don an umbrella or a poncho if it comes to it. Emily joins us now from outside here in Manhattan. Emily, New York City hosts the largest firework display in the country on July 4th. What is the latest there? Dare I say it, will the show go on? Well, everyone is certainly hoping that will be the case. Alison, good to be with you. While earlier today, we saw bouts of lightning, some pretty serious winds, even localized flooding event.

Organizers are hopeful we will see the Macy's July 4th fireworks play out later this evening, rain or shine, barring any severe conditions. Not far from me on the East River, there will be more than 60,000 shells launched from barges to light up the night sky. And as you mentioned, the nation's largest fireworks display this July 4th. And, Emily, while we have you for people who are already looking ahead to how they get home, a lot of people have seen airport delays disruptions in recent days. What should people coming home expect?

Yeah, absolutely, Alison. Just today, we saw all three of New York City's major airports experience a ground stop. We could see more travel delays tomorrow with more than 30 million people. particularly in the Midwest, in the line of severe weather tomorrow, just as so many people will begin to make their way home from the holiday. Alison. Emily, Aketa, thank you. As Emily said, there is still a threat of severe storms tonight and tomorrow in some parts of the country.

So let's bring in NBC News meteorologist Michelle Grossman for the specifics and the latest on the July 4th forecast. Michelle, how will tonight be impacted by the threat of storms and what should people expect over the next few days? Hi there, Allison. Well, we've remained very unsettled in the east. Even just taking a look at radar, you can see lots of lightning across the east from the middle of the nation into the northeast, the mid-Atlantic, the southeast. The good news is, though, we expect in places like New York City, Philadelphia, D.C. as the sun begins to set, we're going to lose the power for the storm. So we are expecting dry fireworks. But looking at radar, we're very active right now in the middle of the country, we are looking at the chance for severe storms. So still tonight, 13 million people at risk for winds gusting up

60 miles per hour, some damaging hail, could see a few tornadoes or two, especially in the middle of the country where you see the yellow and the orange shading. So places like North Platte, Colby, Dodge City, into Denver, we are tracking the chance for some severe storms. How will this affect the fireworks? Well, we're expecting places like Boston, New York City, D.C. to be dry. Also, Philly, could see some showers and thunderstorms and portions of the Gulf Coast state, certainly in the middle of the country where I just showed you parts of Colorado and Denver We're expecting some soggy conditions there. The West Coast, we're going to be warm in Phoenix, but we're going to be dry.

That's the good news. And then as we look towards tomorrow, Emily sort of pointed this out in portions of the middle of the country into the Midwest, the plains, into the Rockies, we are expecting the chance for some strong storms. That's going to impact some travel, especially with a major hub like Chicago. Back to you. All right, Michelle Grossman. Thank you.

Now to the escalating violence in the Middle East, the Palestinian militant group Hamas, claiming responsibility for a car ramming attack in television. an attack that left nine people injured. It comes after at least 12 Palestinians were killed in the biggest Israeli military operation in the West Bank in almost 20 years. Matt Bradley is on the ground for us tonight. For Palestinian militants, this was payback. This security video shows a 20-year-old Palestinian ramming pedestrians with his car.

He then gets out and tries to stab several people before an armed civilian shoots him dead. The Palestinian militant group Hamas claimed and praised this one. rare attack in Tel Aviv that injured nine people, calling it an initial response to an Israeli attack on the West Bank city of Genie, where Israel has launched its largest military operation in the West Bank in two decades, killing at least 12 people and pushing thousands more to flee. But Palestinian youth are fighting back with rocks, Maltov cocktails, and small arms. He says the Israelis are firing missiles using armored cars and live ammunition, throwing every everything they have. During our interview, Israeli forces unexpectedly pushed toward our position

to clear the area. The Israelis are coming in with their armored vehicles and in front of them an armored bulldozer to take out the hospital. And they're exchanging drivers for Palestinian youth. The city now shrouded in smoke from burning fires and plumes of tear gas fired by the Israelis. Israel's operation here is aimed in clearing one part of this city, a Palestinian refugee camp, from what Israeli officials here say is a persistent military threat. But as far as far as far as, As far as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is concerned, this massive two-day raid has been a success. We are completing the mission, Israel's prime minister said, but this is not a one-time

operation. We will continue to uproot terrorism. Matt Bradley joins us now from the West Bank. Matt, you mentioned in your piece that a Hamas official called the ramming attack in Tel Aviv an initial response. Are we expecting any further retaliation right now? I mean, that's the million-dollar question here. Is this going to be confined just to Janine, or is this going to break out in other places elsewhere in the West Bank?

Or could we start to see Hamas firing rockets from the Gaza Strip, as has happened in the past instigated by events here in the West Bank? That's something that a lot of folks here are worried about, Alison. And, Matt, you have extensive experience reporting in the Middle East from what you have seen being in Janine today and just being on the ground the last 24 hours. what has really stood out to you about all of this? And moving forward, what should people be watching for? I think that what's really stood out to me, Alison, is just the scale of the operation that the Israelis have launched inside Janine. You know, this is the worst violence or the biggest incursion we've seen in Janine by the Israelis, or really in the West Bank, for 20 years, ever since the second in defada, back about 20 years ago. So, you know, this is something that really

kind of is tipping the scales, and it really is all about Netanyahu, who has just retaken power, and now he is empowered by his own cabinet, who are all mostly right-wing Israeli leaders. So with that kind of political firepower behind him, it's unclear what Netanyahu could do next. Ellison? Do we have any indication, Matt, of when this could end? I mean, do we expect the Israelis to expand their operations in Janine? Well, that's what we heard. from Netanyahu. He said essentially that it was mission accomplished, but, you know, that he could

still launch further incursions into either Janine or other places in the West Bank. So again, that's really the big question here. We don't know. And because Netanyahu is so empowered right now by this right-wing government, he could do quite a lot of things. A lot of his ministers, a lot of people, you know, in Israel's political field, have been championing this. They've been applauding this operation. And that means that there could be more violence to come. Ellison? Matt Bradley in the West Bank. Thank you. And in Russia, the State Department saying tonight, the U.S. Ambassador to Russia visited with Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who has been in jail there since March. A Russian government spokesman claims

they are in talks with the United States about a possible prisoner swap. Let's bring in NBC News senior White House correspondent Kelly O'Donnell. Kelly, what more are we learning tonight about this visit from Ambassador Tracy and the possibility of a prisoner swap. Is the U.S. saying anything? Well, at this point, we know that the visit from the U.S. ambassador happened on Monday, and today, reporters in Russia ask the Kremlin spokesperson if there was a potential for a prisoner swap. And that spokesperson responded that there have been talks, but anything should remain ongoing in silence. The U.S. is telling us that they are pursuing all avenues, but sadly, there has been no progress to report on Evan Gerskovich's status.

Now, you know that he has been held in Russia since March. He's a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. He is held on espionage charges. The U.S. says that's completely false, and he has been wrongfully detained. But so far, there is no breakthrough that the U.S. is talking about. But it was interesting that the Kremlin spokesman raised the prospect of a potential prisoner swat. A lot to watch there. Kelly, a bit of other news coming out of the White House tonight.

service says they found a small amount of cocaine in a West Wing common area. What more can you tell us? Well, this is highly unusual, and there's now an investigation going on. This happened on Sunday night when a small plastic bag was found in an area that is in the West Wing where a lot of employees, visitors, guests would travel through that point. It's a common area, not an office. And this was tested on site with a preliminary test, and it was shown to be cocaine. Now it is in a lab, further tests. And the investigation will include things like looking at surveillance cameras and logs for who has come through the area to try to determine when was it left there and who might be responsible for it. This is highly unusual because it is a secure area. Now, this happened on

Sunday night. The president and his family were at Camp David when this happened. And we'll be following more details on this. But boy, that's an unusual occurrence. Ellison. All right, Kelly O'Donnell's senior White House correspondent. Thank you. Next to the race for the White House, candidates hitting the campaign trail for the 4th of July holiday and trying to court voters and emerge from the crowded field. But the GOP frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, notably absent from any early state festivities. This as a leading operative for Governor Ronda Santos signals potential trouble ahead for his campaign. I want to bring in our panel, NBC News political analysts and Republican strategist Susan Del Perseo, and NBC News political contributor and president of voter Latino, Maria Theresa Kumar.

Susan, I want to start with you and some of the comments we recently heard from a top DeSanta's super PAC official, Steve Cortez. He had this to say on Twitter spaces this weekend. In national polling, we are way behind. I'll be the first to admit that, okay? I believe in being really blunt and really honest. It's an uphill battle. I don't think it's an unwinnable battle by any stretch, okay? But clearly, Donald Trump is the runaway frontrunner.

I would say a couple of things. One is in the first four states, which matter tremendously, polls are a lot tighter. We're clearly still down. We're down double digits. We have work to do. We have wood to chop. I think that outside of the state of Florida, though, and a lot of folks on this call probably are, you know, super engaged citizens and voters and even activists, right?

So they know very well who Rottesantis is. A lot of regular Americans, frankly, don't. An uphill battle for DeSantis, but not unwinnable. Susan, what do you make of that? Well, the DeSantis strategy since the beginning has always to be the number two in case Trump doesn't make it through the process for some reason. When Donald Trump entered the primary or season, if you will, his numbers were low. They were much lower than they stand today. The indictments actually helped him.

So I think what it comes down to is that Ron DeSantis is supposed to be the candidate if Trump doesn't work out. But Trump's working out. So what's the purpose for Ron DeSantis? Maria Theresa, let me bring you in here because we look at those polls and Steve Cortez acknowledging that there's a pretty big gap between Trump and DeSantis is not news to anyone who has looked at those polls. But one other thing he said that stood out to me is he said that he believes the Florida governor has a name recognition problem. We talk about Governor Ron DeSantis a lot, quite frankly, because President Donald Trump spends a lot of time, former president rather, talking about him on the campaign trail.

Is name recognition really the issue here, or is there something else going on? I think part of it is name recognition because I can tell you that most Americans aren't paying attention to the 2024 electoral campaigns right now. And Trump is absolutely taking most of the oxygen. So when you actually look at polling and demonstrates who do you recognize in the top, whether you're looking at the Democratic base or on the Republican base, everybody recognizes This is Trump. They recognize Biden. They recognize Bernie Sanders, Chris Christie. But after that, it really falls short. And it's a bit surprising. However, I do think that DeSantis has a broader problem. And it's one of the reasons why we see him on Twitter often. And that's because he really doesn't have a place to grow his base except among libertarians. And in that scenario, growing your base among libertarians, I think he's going to run up on different issues. And that is that libertarians deeply believe in freedom for all, freedom of democracy, freedom of choices. And what you've seen to Santis do as of late is go right of Trump and actually look at

taking away freedoms, whether we're talking about reproductive choice or where we're talking about free enterprise. And I think that is where he is going to have bigger problems, is that, again, he's going right of Trump and as a result may have very little wiggle room to grow a base that he will need. So we're seeing all of these candidates out at campaign events for the 4th of July. A pretty common thing when we see people campaigning. But, Susan, we mentioned very noticeably absent from those events is former President Donald Trump. Is that surprising to you? And do you think something like that sitting out, does that signify that he is going to continue with sort of an untraditional campaigning tactic moving forward?

And is he able to do that because he has such a strong core base? He is able to do that, and he will sit out the situations that he's not comfortable in. Donald Trump doesn't want to march in a parade, but frankly, I think it's deeper than that. When you look at Donald Trump and some of the things he said when he was president privately, thinking of our fallen soldiers as losers and suckers, it's clear that he does not love this country, so why would he be at, I don't think today means anything to him, because I don't think he truly cares for the country, just what he thinks he can get out of the country and what people will do for him.

When we're looking at the Democrats, Maria Teresa, there was a Republican pollster recent, who told the New York Times that President Joe Biden is branding himself in a way that this pollster felt GOP candidates will have a harder time villainizing. They said they couldn't villainize President Biden as much because, quote, it is hard to paint an 80-year-old white man as a flaming woke warrior. Break that town for us. In 2020, Biden labeled himself as the moderate guy, right? The unifier. Will that message work this time around? Well, I think that he no longer has to say it. He actually has legislation to prove it. Most of the legislation that we've seen passed in Congress and that he's signed has been bipartisan, whether we're talking about the infrastructure rescue plan, whether we're talking about the, you know,

the Chips Act, and the list goes on. And right now what we're seeing is he and the vice president feathering about the country and doing ribbon cuttings in places that matter, talking about broadband expansion, talking about lowering your prescription insulin to $35, cutting ribbons to implement bridges and roads and all this other things that Americans, just by looking, know that we desperately need. And so he's modernizing our infrastructure system while at the same time saying, look, I've done this in a bipartisan way. And the person in your district who is saying that they didn't vote for this, not only did they not vote for it, but I still saw that every single American deserved right to ensure that they had employment and that they had bridges and they had access

to clean water. And we're here because we're demonstrating how different we are and reminding people what happens when there is bipartisanship in Congress and how he can continue taking that country forward. Susan, if you were advising one of the many Republican candidates hoping to beat Trump, how would you suggest they handle him in conversations around him right now? Do you think you're seeing candidates in that space treat him with kids' gloves, so to speak? Or do you think there is a bit of a turn? We've seen Chris Christie kind of take things a little more head on. What's the right route here for Republicans? Well, for Christy, that prosecution style works, and that's what Christie should keep doing. What other candidates need to do is, frankly,

just say their peace. Don't worry about, you don't have to take on Donald Trump, but you should say where you're different from Donald Trump. You have to be genuine. You have to show these are your beliefs and show that you're taking, you want to have a future for this country, a vision, and you want to move forward. The other thing they're going to have to do is change the political landscape and go into some of these states like New Hampshire, where non-affiliated voters are able to vote in primaries and start attracting those voters because those would naturally not be Trump voters. Maria, Tracea, on the Republican side, is there any one candidate that you say, okay,

look, I know what the polls are right now, but if there's one person you are watching that you think maybe could pass former President Donald Trump, who is it? I think that it's really hard right now because the way the primaries work is, is the folks that are the most extreme with the most oxygen are the ones that actually rally up that base. And so I think the challenge is many of the Republican candidates right now sound like they are bridge bakers. They actually want more people to come into the fold. They want to talk to independence and moderate. But there's no one right now, I can honestly say, that actually will excite that moderate base because so much of this party right now is very much the Trump party of that extreme.

And no one wants to go with the exception of DeSantis more right of Trump. So it's really hard. I think that's one of the reasons that of crowded field only benefits the former president. All right, Susan Del Perseo and Maria Teresa Kumar, thank you both. Still ahead tonight, that high-speed chase on a Texas highway, authorities racing to catch a truck after the drive. A driver refused to pull over for a traffic stop, who they found inside once they caught up. Plus, a driver pulled from a burning car after getting in an accident. We will show you how an officer got that woman out with just seconds to spare.

And danger lurking in the water on this 4th of July. Five shark attacks reported within a few miles of each other. We'll tell you where next. Back now with a dangerous wrong-way high-speed chase in Texas, a truck tractor taking officers on a wild pursuit that ended with a human smuggler arrested and a dozen undocumented immigrants detained. Guadvanegas has the details. Northbound lane.

A dangerous pursuit caught on camera. He's driving on the shoulder on the southbound end going northbound. We're going over 80 miles an hour. Newly released video showing the moment Texas State Troopers chase a truck tractor barreling against uncoming traffic and reaching speeds of 85 miles per hour. The driver taking officers for a wild ride after authorities say he refused to stop for a traffic violation. Just got to the left plane. A potentially deadly chase escalating as the vehicle race passed truck after truck mere feet away from a head-on collision.

We're going to be, my marker, 34. You can see the moment, the driver eventually veered off the highway, ignoring the sirens and patrol car on his tail. But finally, authority is able to take advantage of a wide turn. He's in control. All right. We're turning into some ranch road. Officers eventually catching up to him. A group of passengers running away as troopers rushed to the disabled vehicle.

Among them, 12 undocumented immigrants who were apprehended. So where are you headed to where now? The driver was arrested and identified as Eduardo Aradas of Florida. Texas Department of Public Safety, saying he now faces state criminal charges for smuggling and evading. Texas state authorities say the officers involved from the Department of Public Safety were part of the Lone Star operation, which was put in effect two years ago and has since stopped an estimated 8,700 attempt at human smuggling events. Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security says they've seen.

a 70% drop in illegal crossings at the southern border since Title 42 was lifted back in May. Ellison? Guadvanegas, thank you. Today, beachgoers and officials are on high alert after a series of suspected shark attacks along the south shore of Long Island. On Monday, a teenage girl reportedly bit in the water than just a few hours later, another teenager suffered an apparent shark bite while surfing. Now, three new victims today are adding to the concerns. Here's NBC Stephanie Goss, with the latest.

Some nervous moments on Long Island today. Lifeguards whistling people out of the water. A few minutes ago, we had two sharks spotted off of field number four, which is just to our east. In just two days, there have been five suspected shark attacks off of New York beaches. Three people bitten today with non-life-threatening lacerations. On Monday, a 15-year-old girl was bitten on the leg. We heard a whistle blow around about six o'clock screaming. everyone to get out. Four miles away, a shark attacked a teenage surfer, leaving bite marks

on his left foot. Early this morning, drones spotted dozens of sharks, delaying the start of the beach day. When the all clear was given, people were back in the water. What's your message to people? If they see green flags here on the beach? It is safe to swim in green flags. The lifeguards, the New York State Park Police, the New York State Park staff, we're watching over these beaches more than we ever have. The green woods put it. their faith in the warning system. I grew up working at Jones Beach, which is a little bit west from here, and I seriously think we have the best lifeguards in the world.

Unprovoked shark attacks are incredibly rare. Last year, there were only 41 in the U.S. Florida had the most with 16. Three more last week, and this chilling scene yesterday in Pensacola, a large shark lurking in the water, as swimmers scrambled to get back on the beach. Shark experts say swim with a friend and stay close to shore. but don't let the shark sighting spoil the fun. The sharks really don't want anything to do with us.

Back to you. When we come back, trouble for Twitter. Meta is launching a new app that some tech experts say could rival Twitter. How soon you'll be able to try it out. Stay with us. Back now with Top Stories News Feed. We begin with an investment.

investigation into a deadly firework accident in Michigan. Authorities say a firework exploded in a neighborhood near Grand Rapids, killing one person and injuring nine others, some critically. Several nearby homes and cars were also damaged. Investigators have not said what caused the firework to explode, but they are calling the death an accident. And a dramatic rescue just outside of Savannah, Georgia, body camera video capturing the moments an officer raced to a car crash along the side of the highway. the vehicle already engulfed in smoke and flames when he approaches the car. The officer breaking a window to reach the driver trapped inside, flames erupting from the bottom of the car as he grabs her arm and pulls her out. Authorities have not yet released any details on the woman's condition or the cause of the crash. Authorities in Michigan detecting the first cases of a dangerous mosquito-borne virus. Health officials testing mosquitoes in the state found eastern equine encephalitis, commonly known as AAA. It's a rare virus that can cause severe illness and has a 33% fatality

rate in humans. Triple E was also detected in Florida this week. There have been no reports of human transmission so far this year, but authorities say you should take steps at home to try and prevent mosquito bites. And an app that is being called the Twitter Killer will launch on Thursday. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, unveiling a new app called Threads. They describe it as a text-based conversation app. Screenshots in the app store show a similar interface to Twitter's platform. This comes days after Twitter began limiting the number of tweets users can view in a day, prompting some users to look for an alternative. Now to a grim anniversary on this Independence Day. It's been one year since

the most American of holidays was shattered by a tragedy that has become all too familiar in America, a mass shooting, a gunman opening fire at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago. Seven people died and dozens more were injured. An entire community broken. mourners came together to create memorials, small but meaningful tributes to the lives lost. One year later, the mayor of Highland Park, Nancy Rottering, led her city in a moment of silence before addressing a community that is still grieving. We will never forget what happened here, but we, Highland Park, will not be defined by it. We come together today, united in remembrance and heartbreak, but also refusing to let hatred and fear win.

Then the Highland Park community began a walk of remembrance, marching down the same route the parade traveled last year. Artamianna sat down with a mother who was hit by the gunfire. Her son struck by a bullet in his spine. The boy is now paralyzed, but determined to walk someday again. The small moments of triumph in his journey to recovery and the ways he inspires his mother, that still brings her to tears. A lot of shrapnel that remains in my leg today.

You still have shrapnel in your leg. A lot. Do you feel that every day? I do. Mom, Keeley Roberts has scars. She's not afraid to show. But it's the ones you can't see that hurt the most. I think about the family that went to the parade that day,

and that family's gone. Last July 4th, the Roberts family set out for their hometown parade in Highland Park, just outside of Chicago. But as families lined the street that morning, a gunman using an AR-15-style rifle, started firing, killing seven and injuring dozens, including Keeley, and also her son Cooper, just eight years old. It was very clear in my mind at that time that Cooper was very likely not going to survive. A bullet hit Cooper in the back. severing his spine. I remember my husband saying to me that he thought there was a firecracker. I thought someone had thrown a firework. And almost simultaneously, I remember turning to him and I knew that I was hit. I knew I was shot.

A bullet striking her in the leg. But as she struggled to walk, she saw one of her twin boys, eight-year-year-old. Cooper much more injured. His brother Luke looking on in terror. I have this picture in my head of Luke standing on the sidewalk. And he is just transfixed. He is just in complete shock. And I know what he is seen with Cooper. I know what he is. thinks his mother says with the help of incredible doctors Cooper somehow pulled through paralyzed but alive everything changes from as a family with little kids from something as simple as where juice boxes have to go in the in the refrigerator right so that Cooper can can get to them right how do you get them up

the stairs right how we don't have an accessible home that way right now so how do you handle things like that But Keeley says, though her son's body changed, he did not. This evil that did this, Cooper is kind and loving and empathetic and caring. What about football? Who's your football team? Packers. And that is exactly who we met on a sunny day near Lake Michigan. What did you guys think?

I loved it. It was like probably like, I'm not going to say any spoilers. Cooper talking to me about the Super Mario Brothers movie. Think of all the other gains. And right next to him. Oh! His twin brother, Luke, the two, rolling side by side. Luke has started to ride his scooter all the time.

When I say all the time, I mean all the time. And I think there is this maybe kind of subconscious solidarity thing, right? You know, as goes one goes the other. It's something that Keeley says has inspired her. I watch out the window of our van every day when we take the boys to school. And I watch that one minute he has over Cooper in age. And I watch how desperately he loves his brother. And I watch how he pushes him out the van every day.

And watches him. I watch him push that wheelchair down the ramp and Luke will always be a bit of a guard dog for Cooper. And then there are the milestones. He was such a little fish before the shooting. He was such a little fish. He loved to be in the pool and be in the water. Cooper's family watching him do this. That little boy who had been through so much.

swimming again on his own. I thought Cooper was facing his fears. That's that moment when you see it. That's what it looks like to be eight and to fight for your life. That's what it looks like. And Cooper's family is fighting back as well. They've joined a legal effort to hold accountable

those they say are responsible for the bloodshed, including the gun manufacturer. Their attorney believes the company and others are liable. Can you promise him justice? Well, what we have promised them is accountability. And what we have promised them is that we will do everything in our power to ensure that there is some form of justice. It's just a part of the Roberts family fight, seeking justice, but also a miracle, hoping science finds a way for Cooper to walk again. Cooper will ask me how he will be able to walk in.

Cooper's very forward thinking in terms of what will it take to walk again, what can I do to walk again? Mommy tell me what I need to do to walk again. Those are the kind of questions he asks. Those are hard ones. And what do you tell them? I tell them the truth. Always, that's kind of the deal we have.

There is no known cure or surgery for the type of spinal injury Cooper suffered. But Keeley believes there will be one day. She is living proof of how life can surprise you. I believe in Cooper Roberts. I push my chips all in on that little boy. I believe in him. But I also believe in this country. I'm incredibly hopeful.

And we'll be right back. We are back. While some enjoy the traditional American dishes of burgers and hot dogs for July 4th, many may be going for something a little different. A new study shows that Mexican food is quickly becoming the most preferred among younger generations. NBC's Valerie Castro has the story. Can I get two beer you tacos? Tacos aren't just for Tuesdays anymore.

There's nothing like a good old taco. In fact, Mexican food overall is quickly becoming the most preferred food in the country as more people reached for a bowl of chips and guac over spaghetti and meatballs. Italian food is great, but Mexican food is still. is like top notch. What is it about Mexican food? I think it's a consistency. It was like the meat how they prepare it with like the spices. That's what I really like about it. A 22 study by Data Central says cravings are changing by generation. Bloomer's and Gen X overwhelmingly prefer Italian food with Chinese food in second place. But for millennials and Gen Z, the savory,

spicy cuisine from south of the border is number one. We ask consumers, what's your favorite cuisine? We started to notice this change. Mike Costio was one of the people behind the study. What do you attribute those changes to? It's just the changing demographics of the country as a whole, you know, both who's, you know, in the country and also, you know, who we're friends with, who our neighbors are. It's a trend that's been building for decades with salsa outselling ketchup and tortilla chips outselling potato chips in the United States, where currently the Hispanic population makes up the largest racial or ethnic minority in the country with more than 62 million people and the variety of Mexican and Latin flavors inspiring new restaurants like Calisa in

New York City. What I would say about Mexican food, I don't think you can point to that many other types of cuisine that are genuinely fun. Owner Josh Liebowitz is admittedly not Mexican. I'm from Brooklyn. I know bagels. I know pizza. But wanted to make the space feel as authentic as possible developing an intricate menu right from the source. I wanted someone who didn't just work in a Mexican kitchen or studied the culture. I wanted someone who literally grew up in it. Culinary director Daniel Mendoza hails from Mexico City. What I'm more sensuous, no is the food,

but our culture and our music. Our music, our culture, and the food, and the food, I think, of the world. Besides the food, it's what's behind the bar that's also creating a buzz. Serving up another growing favorite tequila, the mainstay on every Mexican menu, poured out as that classic concoction, the margarita.

One study says tequila will soon surpass vodka as the number one selling spirit in the country, while margaritas are the most popular cocktail. Whether it's a delicious drink or a tasty dish, authenticity is the main ingredient found in a restaurant or in the back of a taco truck. And everything is really popular because it's delicious. As consumers look to expand the kind of Mexican food they're trying out. So now there's a lot more interest in, you know, I'd like to. like to go to a Oaxican restaurant. I'd like to go to a Yucatan restaurant where chefs working within those, you know, particular regions. You can see, and usually people say every night

to us, like, oh, that's amazing. That's delicious. That makes us really happy. Tacos are delicious. All right. Coming up next, dramatic scenes playing out in China, a building collapsing into a river and a couple stranded on their car as floodwaters rage. What rescue teams used to get them to safety. That's next. Now to Top Story's Global Watch, and we began with an update on that catastrophic flooding in China we showed you last night. Dramatic video showing a home in southwest China crumbling into a rushing river as torrential rain triggers flooding throughout the country. The raging waters prompting hundreds of rescues. This couple pulled from the roof of their

car by a crane and a drone carrying a rope. 10,000 people already displaced with Chinese authorities warning the situation will only get worse as the country's flood season continues. In Afghanistan, the Taliban taking yet another step to restrict the freedoms of women and girls. The government now banning hair salons and beauty salons for women. This comes after other measures were put in place to bar women from most education and forms of employment. A government spokesperson confirmed the policy, but declined to provide further details. and stunning images from around the world of the year's first super moon. Sky lovers gathered in southern Spain to witness the phenomenon, which occurs when the moon's orbit is closest to the earth.

At the same time, it is full. The super moon, also visible from Greece as it rose over the ancient temple of Poseidon. You could even see it as far south as Buenos Aires, Argentina. The war in Ukraine raging on with no end in sight, but one Pennsylvania town finding new ways, to help with an ammunition plant making artillery shells for the Ukrainian military. Employees describe the effort as, quote, manufacturing freedom. NBC's Jesse Kersh takes us inside that plant in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In the middle of its bloody offensive tonight, Ukraine's success relies in part on a very

different front line. This one, more than 5,000 miles away in Scranton, Pennsylvania. We are producing thousands of rounds more among. than we were this time last year. Inside this U.S. Army ammunition plant, contractor General Dynamics, produces 155 millimeter artillery shells. Eventually becoming some of the very firepower crucial to Ukraine's fight against Russia.

In late May, NBC News was granted access to the plant. One of the locations helping make 24,000 rounds each month. I can feel that heat from back here. The Army says this is a 2,000-degree furnace, essentially turning steel into place. American steel sculpted, inspected and sent off to be armed with explosives. Part of what the Pentagon says is an urgent ramp-up. The Army won't tell us exactly how many are going to Ukraine.

The Army says that's because of security concerns. But even if every one of these shells went to Ukraine, that may still not be enough. Some in the Scranton community grateful for the city's role in the Ukrainian war effort. The pride is just huge. Yeah, I think Ukraine should get as much ammunition. as they can. But figuring out how to send so much firepower to Ukraine also raises concerns about America running out of ammunition.

Seth Jones studies military operations. If the United States went to war today, would this country be ready for the fight? The United States went to war today. It would have enough weapons in some cases for a short war. It would not have sufficient weapons, munitions for a protracted war. And that is the problem. The Pentagon told NBC News it was meeting the needs of Ukrainian forces while ensuring our inventories are replenished. But amid tensions

with Russia and China, the Army says right now, it's experiencing its fastest conventional ammunition ramp up since the Korean War. A race to help those on the battlefield today and possibly tomorrow. Jesse Kirsch, NBC News, Scranton, Pennsylvania. And finally tonight on this Independence Day, celebrating this country's newest citizens. Over 5,000 people taking part in Independence Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country. But for one group of men and women already serving the United States in uniform, taking that oath a sacred moment. This group of sailors and Marines came to this country as immigrants. I'm from Dominican Republic. I'm from Republic of Rwanda. I'm from Haiti. All volunteered to protect

and serve the U.S. in uniform. Now on the deck of the USS Midway Museumship in San Diego, they're taking an oath to defend this country as citizens. Serving in the U.S. Navy and getting your citizenship means a lot. I feel really happy, very excited, because I've always wanted to be part of this country. That I will support and defend. The Constitution. and laws of the United States of America.

The Constitution and laws of the United States of America. These new citizens stopping to reflect on the power of this moment. I'm into that I can't describe. Joy, I think, bride. I'm a bit thrilled and happy. A new chapter for those who have already given so much to this country. Congratulations. Who now can proudly say I'm an American.

I'm so happy to be here. I'm so happy to be American. And a big congratulations to everyone on their new citizenship. Thank you so much for watching Top Story on this 4th of July for Tom Yamis. I'm Ellison Barber in New York. Stay right there. More News Now is on the way.