this is "nightline." >> tonight, terror in new york city. >> we've got multiple casualties. this is a mass casualty situation here. >> killing at least 18 before slamming into a school bus carrying children. the suspect seen dodging vehicles, waving a mock gun. >> with the guns. he pointed the gun at me. i'm sorry. >> now the 29 in custody after being shot by police, claiming allegiance to isis. plus, pastor to the stars. >> you baptized justin bieber in

a bathtub? >> we couldn't find a place to do it. >> the leader of a new york city he church. and tackling difficult issues. how pastor carl is bringing the gospel back to center stage. >> "nightline" will be right back. thank you, ikea. oh, john can't come. my uncle geoff just confirmed.

the one that's always bringing a plus-one? yes, but we've got plus-one insurance. what's your dream? at ikea, we help you live it. make the dream yours. (cheering) we can now use a blood sample to detect lung cancer. if we can do that, imagine what we can do for asthma. and if we can stop seizures in epilepsy patients with a small pacemaker for the brain, imagine what we can do for multiple sclerosis, even migraines. if we can use patients' genes to predict heart disease in their families, imagine what we can do for the conditions that affect us all. imagine what we can do for you. thank you, ikea. oh, john can't come. my uncle geoff just confirmed. the one that's always bringing a plus-one? yes, but we've got plus-one insurance. what's your dream? at ikea, we help you live it. make the dream yours. (cheering)

good evening. we are leading with the breaking news. we're being told by law enforcement that the man accused of plowing a pickup truck into pedestrians in lower manhattan left a note claiming he committed the attack in the name of isis. this is the deadliest act of terror in new york city since 9/11. >> reporter: on halloween, terror in manhattan. >> multiple casualties. there is a mass casualty situation here. >> reporter: this video showing the man accused of going on a rampage on a crowded bike path in new york city. taking at least eight lives. five visitors from argentina and injuring 18 more, leaving nearly a mile of wreckage in his wake. reportedly done in the nail of isis. now being investigated as a deliberate act of terrorism. only blocks away from one world

trade center. >> we have been tested before as a city very near the site of today's tragedy. and new yorkers do not give in in the face of these kinds of actions. >> reporter: the ordeal began just before night fall as families were out trick or treating. >> i see a truck a few more blocks down. >> reporter: the suspect, sayfullo saipov, driving a pick-up truck rented from home deep over and taking what witnesses described as a deliberate turn down a bike path. >> i saw a couple of bodies in the bike path. >> reporter: mowing down bicyclists and pedestrians. some bystanders at first miss taking the bloodshed as a halloween performance. >> it was halloween. >> reporter: the suspect only stopped after crashing into a school bus. >> all i heard was the impact of a crash and then i saw the white pickup truck. >> reporter: the video shows him going out into the street,

dodging vehicles waving what authorities said were mock guns. >> he was in the street. a whole bunch of people were keg, he's got a gun. he was getting out of the car. he did look like he was dragging his foot a little bit. he was screaming in the seat and he looked frustrated and confused. >> reporter: sources say he was shouting, allah akhbar. >> it was one after another after another. >> reporter: among frightened witnesses, children. >> it really freaked me out. i was crying and really scared. >> i was like this. on the ground. >> reporter: the nypd quickly arriving on the scene, confronting him and then firing at him. striking him in the abdomen. he was then apprehended and is currently being treated at an area hospital. >> he wanted to initiate a suicide by cop. >> those guns were not lethal womens. i believe he he anticipated being shot and killed. >> reporter: ambulances rushed

in, triaging the wounded among the carnage. >> be advised. there are multiple people on the ground. from chambers all the way to houston. all the way from houston. >> reporter: police heavily armed and with canine teams quickly established a perimeter around the area. the crime scene extending for more than ten blocks. and you can see sole officers are still there. this road is closed off. it leads right to the scene of the attack. and investigators will be coming through here all night long. near nearby the high school. >> i saw the man with the gun. he pointed the gun at me. i'm sorry. i have to go get my child. >> reporter: to tony clayfield, the scene was reminiscent of another dark day. >> the first thing that came to my mind was september 11. i knew it was terrorism.

my first thought was my daughter. going to get her for safety. >> reporter: yvette attends community college in the area, dressed for halloween herself. she told us she saw many kids on the street in costume. >> when i saw the little kids coming out of school, my heart broke down. i felt like, what's going on? what if it would haved happen right here where the school is with all these kids. what would have happened next? >> reporter: tonight authorities have discovered a letter allegedly written by saipov saying he acted on behalf of isis. they believe he acted alone but there are many questions. >> what caused him to basically commit this horrible act today? and there will be some version of a tick tock as to why he got to where he ultimately ended today. killing a number of people in new york city. and they're going to want to figure that out. the reason why is, you're always looking for the pieces to stop the next guy. >> reporter: what we do know now is he is believed to be

originally from uzbekistan. emigrating to the u.s. through the visa program. now word that saipov was an uber driver. uber saying, we are horrified by this senseless act of violence. investigators believe he recently lived across the river from manhattan at this house in paterson, new jersey. that he previously lived in ohio and his license was issued in florida. local police swept an apartment they think belongs to the suspect, searching for answers. the attack mirror what's leaders have isis have publicly called for. >> are you incapable of stabbing someone with a knife? throwing someone off a building or running they will over with a car? >> it is very difficult to stage large scale terrorist attacks with a cell of five or six people. when there are that many people involved, they can be identified in advance. someone can make a mistake. a lone actor, particularly one who hand done anything before. one that the police are not

following. a lone actor can make this kind of big publicity event. >> reporter: today's incident, the latest in a string of vehicle attacks. this august, harris used a van to kill zpleen injured more than 100 more in barcelona. that driver escaped but was later in a shoot-out with police. from march to june there were three separate attacks in london, claiming a total of 15 lives. last december in berlin, a driver killed 12 people in a christmas market. and in nice, a man used a 20-ton truck to kill 84 revelers celebrati celebrating bastille day. >> it is very hard to stop someone from using a truck and attacking a crowd at any intersection in a major city. >> reporter: in may, the tsa released a report recommending reporting to authorities any suspicions arising from the rental of large today that is at

this vehicles near large gatherings, and creating barriers that create a serp entin path of entry. >> we visited over 148 truck rental locations in this area. the obvious ones, youhaul, ryder, et cetera. the industry has had a high level of awareness on this matter from the nypd. >> reporter: president trump briefed on the events today tweeting, it looks like another attack by a very sick and deranged person. law enforcement is following this closely. not in the usa. new york governor andrew cuomo and new york mayor bill de blasio standing together to reassure the city. >> we will be vigilant. more police everywhere. you will see them in the airports and the tunnels. it is not because there is any evidence of any ongoing threat or any additional threat.

it is just out of vigilance and out of caution. >> but tonight, new york with its history deeply marred by terrorism remains a city on edge. >> reporter: halloween appears to be carrying on as usual in times square. we are seeing a lot of costumes, a lot of tourists and a lot of police. >> reporter: not far from the crime scene, new yorkers in costume coming out in full force carry out the halloween parade tradition. >> it can happen anywhere. so could it make us a little afraid. but i mean, we have to live, right? you can't let something tragic that someone did stop your life. >> reporter: the indomitable spirit of the city, brave and unbroken. for "nightline" in new york. >> our thanks to geo benitez first things in the morning. now we switch gears and go

one-on-one with the pastor to the stars moo ministers to everyone from the new york knicks to justin bieber. check this out, bro. what's that, broheim? i switched to geico and got more. more savings on car insurance? yeah bro-fessor, and more. like renters insurance. more ways to save. nice, bro-tato chip. that's not all, bro-tein shake. geico has motorcycle and rv insurance, too. oh, that's a lot more. oh yeah, i'm all about more, teddy brosevelt. geico. expect great savings and a whole lot more. my sinuses. i mean, could you be any more dramatic? i've had it. i'm taking mucinex sinus-max. it's got a triple action formula. carl? carl! mucinex sinus-max. triple-action fights pain, congestion, & pressure. let's end this.

advil liqui-gels minis. our first concentrated pill that rushes powerful relief. a small new size that's fast, cause it's liquid. woohoo! you'll ask, what pain? new advil liqui-gels minis. with flavors you'll love.re like new savory grilled mediterranean shrimp, topped with a blend of green onions, tomatoes, and herbs. and your favorites,

like garlic shrimp scampi. now's the only time to try as much as you want, however you want 'em. so hurry in today. (dog panting) another 2am stroll, huh? i'm worried. i have this medical bill. dave, you have anthem, and they have people to talk to who are empowered to help answer any question you... (dog grunting, panting) is... is he okay? real people? living and breathing. hopefully not breathing like that. for all the things that keep you up at night, anthem blue cross has a solution.

for all the things that keep you up at night, what if home security was different? what if it looked different? what if the measure of working,

was that you never had to think about it. ♪ what if it was so easy to use, you actually used it. [alarm] you have 3 minutes to exit. what if it gave you time, and what you really need from home security. a sense of security. ♪ he may be the only minister on earth who quotes biggy small on his instagram page. pastor carl lentz isn't a star but he lives like one, appearing on popular tv shows. is he seeking fail or something deeper? ? >> stars like justin bieber. not your average celebrity.

not a rock star. and heaven knows, your granddaddy's preacher he's not. carl lentz, pastor of hillsong of new york city. his congregation loves him. >> we thank you for what you're going to do in jesus' name. amen. >> but music and production would make a rock band blush, the church draws thousands to multiple services every sunday. >> i've heard it describ as the hipstered church. you have to have ripped jeans to come here. >> it is come as you are. that god will never leave you like that. >> but don't let the big city swagger mislead you. hillsong is old school, part of the church base in the sydney, australia with campuses across the world. >> there is a hip modern day spirit to it.

but this is a church that has taken homosexuality, on positions that seem like a new modern hip environment. >> i think we're the most overrated hip church ever. like we don't believe the bib has ever needed a remix. we don't believe it needed an update. we don't believe we can change what god has always said. people ask us, are you going to evolve in your views? jesus has always said who he says he is. the gospel is who he says he is. we can't change the bible. it is what is god's opinion. our job is to obey that and stay true to that. >> tonight we went behind the scenes for a sunday service. >> when you look out and see most people, what do you think? >> you know me. i'm a crier.

it is just an overwhelming honor that people would come to our church at all. >> these are people who trust with you their lives. >> yeah. that's a heavy thing. >> that trust is what attracts everybody to carl. including celebrities like justin bieber. >> you baptized justin bieber in a bath tub? >> yeah. as he friend of ours. he loves the lord with all his heart. there was a night where he wanted to renew his faith and get bam tiesed again. we couldn't find anyone in new york. last second i called tyson who had just played the miami heat. and i said bro, can we use your pool? he is like, the pool is closed but you can use my bathtub. it's pretty big. bring him over. and we did. it was one of the most powerful things i've been a part of. >> but the power has drawn skept civil. as lentz' influence has soared, it has caused some people to

question him. >> is his affiliation with the church to blame? >> this summer after canceling his world tour, beeieber said i want my career to be sustainable but also my mind, heart and soul to be sustainable. >> i'll a pastor. he told me what he was going to do. he spoke about on it his own behalf of i like it when people make decisions that are for their soul first. career, money, stature second. >> we first talked to pastor lentz in 2014. >> i've been with pastors who don't know anyone outside the door. people say hey, carl, and you stop. >> i don't look at it as a giant metropolis as much as our local parrish. >> you are who you are. everybody on our -- i love people. >> tell me what's up.

>> i really want to have the same heart for people that jesus did. which is to not see what everybody else saw but try to dig a little bit deeper. i feel like that's how i was reached. i feel like there were people who looked over all the stuff i had going on and saw stuff i didn't see. >> the world has changed a lot in three years. since 2014, there's been a 5% decrease of americans other identify themselves as christians. the nation is more divided. and some would like him to take a stand. issues like race i, class, drug abuse, he dives into in his new and first book, own the moment. >> you talk about the moment, the one sunday where you talked about black lives matter. >> yeah. it was a big sunday for us. we wanted to make a statement that we felt like wasn't tied to a movement. i got up and i said in this

church in the foreseeable future, we will stand with our brothers and sisters in this church that are not white that are frustrated, scared. if i refer to this, i'll going to say black lives matter. i shouldn't have to qualify it or explain to you how yes, white lives matter, and yes, right now that's not the issue. i was shocked about the pushback. but i was really encouraged by how many people went, coo. >> at the end of the day, it is a man who loves his wife and dotes on his three children. >> we celebrate many different religions. this is awesome. >> thank you. >> a little bit of both. normal, cool, we get to slow down. >> but this is not your normal family. >> they're more resilient and sharper than we know. and it gives you peace as a parent. we constantly check them on it. everything at school. okay.

try not to flaunt. i know justin bieber, they're really wise beyond their years with they will. i would abuse it more if i were them. >> do not for sake wisdom and she w she will protect you. they agree they're like most members of their congregation. living life and faith out loud without apology. >> we'll be right back. >> abc news night line brought to you by dav.

this this this is my body of proof. proof of less joint pain and clearer skin. this is my body of proof that i can take on psoriatic arthritis with humira. humira works by targeting and helping to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to both joint and skin symptoms. it's proven to help relieve pain, stop further joint damage, and clear skin in many adults. humira is the #1 prescribed biologic for psoriatic arthritis. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. want more proof? ask your rheumatologist about humira.

what's your body of proof? they can fly... ...travel at the speed of light... ...and command the currents. they don't need another way to get around. or do they? [ engine revving ]

accused of obstructing justice to theat the fbinuclear war, and of violating the constitution by taking money from foreign governments and threatening to shut down news organizations th if that isn't a case for impeaching and removing a dangerous president, then what has our government become? i'm tom steyer, and like you, i'm a citizen who knows it's up to us to do something. it's why i'm funding this effort to raise our voices together and demand that elected officials take a stand on impeachment. a republican congress once impeached a president for far less. yet today people in congress and his own administration know that this president is a clear and present danger who's mentally unstable and armed with nuclear weapons. and they do nothing. join us and tell your member of congress that they have a moral responsibility to stop doing what's political and start doing what's right. our country depends on it.

♪ when you have doctors working as a team for your health, you get the care you need to help you thrive.

♪ visit kp.org to learn more. kaiser permanente. thrive. ♪ we thank you for watching abc news tonight. as always, we're online 24/7 on abc news.com and on our facebook page. thank you for watching. good night.

the energy conscious people among us say small actions can add up to something... humongous. a little thing here. a little thing there.

starts to feel like a badge maybe millions can wear. who are all these caretakers, advocates too? turns out, it's californians it's me and it's you. don't stop now, it's easy to add to the routine. join energy upgrade california and do your thing.