to be, mr. patel? >> trump says this is a great day for america. he says patel is the most qualified nominee to lead the fbi in the agency's history. a major question that still remains is who will oversee the fbi in the time between wray resigns and a new director takes over? perry russom, abc news, washington. >> and that's going to do it for now. thank you for joining us. world news tonight with david muir starts now. and i'll see you back here at four. tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. the new turn tonight. what the nypd has now discovered involving the suspect in the murder of that ceo. tonight, what we've learned involving evidence. what the nypd now says about the murder weapon and another a notebook full of writings. also, the suspect's friends from high school. when the suspect's mother reached out to police. and what we've learned about the

family tonight. also, why authorities are now concerned about people on social media appearing to celebrate the suspect. aaron katersky with new reporting. also breaking, fbi director christopher wray's abrupt resignation announcement amid pressure from president-elect trump. the powerful storm on the east coast. from philadelphia to new york city, up through new england. in the west, the fire in malibu burning out of control. dick van dyke among those evacuated. tonight, two brothers, top real estate brokers, now arrested on federal sex trafficking charges. what authorities allege they promised, and then what they're accused of doing over many years. lawmakers sounding the alarm tonight about the mystery drone sightings across the northeast. drones coming in off the ocean, weeks now. how is it authorities have no idea who is behind it? and authorities now reacting tonight after a lawmaker claimed it's iran. james longman with the haunting images from syria tonight. the fall of president basharal

assad. and now, the difficult images posted outside the morgue. james with the families looking to see if they recognize the bolds now recovered across damascus. back in the u.s. tonight, the husband and father of three accused of faking his own death, it led to a massive, costly search. tonight now home from europe, where police say he went to meet another woman. now facing charges here at home tonight. our made in america christmas is back tonight. the two young firefighters, two brothers. and their american invention. and the rest of their ideas now taking off, from new jersey to montana to california. fighting fires and creating and remembering a popular entertainer on johnny carson, merv griffin. viewers loved him and his psychic powers. good evening. we begin tonight with the breaking news. the new turn in the murder of that ceo in new york city.

growing increasingly concerned about people on social media appearing to celebrate the suspect. correspondent aaron leading us off tonight. >> reporter: luigi mangione may be fighting extradition in pennsylvania, but investigators are building a murder case against him in new york, and tonight, they say, they have their first forensic match. from fingerprints on a water bottle and snack bar wrapper near the crime scene to the ghost gun police say was used to

murder unitedhealthcare ceo brian thompson. >> we were able to match that gun to the three shell casings that we found in midtown at the scene of the homicide. >> reporter: detectives also now have what they consider to be a confession, a spiral notebook that sources say contains plans for how to kill thompson. what do you do, one passage allegedly read, you whack the ceo at the parasettic bean counter convention. it's targeted, precise, and doesn't risk innocents. mangione's lawyer tells abc news his client will plead not guilty and he has seen none of this evidence. >> we're challenging the extradition at this point, so, we can see some evidence and get a little more detailed information about the charges against luigi. >> reporter: tonight, sources tell abc news wrang jeon's family has started talking with investigators. his mother filed a missing persons report with police about two weeks before the murder. now, the nypd is alarmed the alleged killer is seen by some as a martyr, inspiring these wanted posters outside the new

york stock exchange with the names of other corporate executives. a new law enforcement bulletin obtained by abc news includes this image of a banner invoking the worlds found on the shooter's bullets. the bulletin warns many social media users have outright advocated for the continued killings of ceos, with some aiming to spread fear by hosting hit lists. what do you make of people celebrating the murder of brian thompson, or someone who sees in the suspect someone to take inspiration from? >> celebrating this conduct is abhorrent to me. it's deeply disturbing. and what i would say to members of the public, people who, as you described, are celebrating this, and maybe contemplating other action, that we will be vigilant, and we will hold people accountable. we are at the ready. >> reporter: we just got through speaking with the d.a., david. they are really concerned about how this suspect is now being

perceived by some, and they are prepared, especially after that outburst outside of court, they are prepared to take any threats stemming from the death of brian thompson seriously. david? >> david: aaron katersky leading us off tonight here. aaron, thank you. the other breaking headline late today, fbi director christopher wray announcing he will resign at the end of the biden administration, amid pressure from president-elect trump. wray was actually appointed by trump, and what he said today. here's mary bruce. >> reporter: tonight, under pressure from president-elect donald trump, fbi director christopher wray announcing he will resign in january. more than two years before his term was set to end. >> i've decided the right thing for the bureau is for me to serve until the end of the current administration in january and then step down. this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray. >> reporter: trump himself appointed wray in 2017, saying he would be a fierce guardian of

the law and a model of integrity. but trump soured on his pick after the fbi launched investigations into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. and alleged mishandling of classified information. agents discovering documents at his florida home in a storage room, in the ballroom, even a bathroom. just days ago, saying this -- >> well, i can't say i'm thrilled with him. he invaded my home. >> reporter: trump had already announced plans to replace wray with his loyal defender, kash patel. so, for wray, the writing was on the wall. today, saying his decision wasn't easy, but it was right. >> my focus is, and always has been, on us and on doing what's right for the fbi. our adherence to our core va values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law, those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change.

>> reporter: trump bluntly declaring the resignation of christopher wray is a great day for america. patel, who has been meeting with senators on the hill, once wrote, "the fbi has become so thoroughly compromised it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic measures are taken." mr. patel, christopher wray just announced he's resigning. what is your reaction? >> we look forward to a very smooth transition. >> reporter: are you going to be seeking retribution against donald trump's political opponents, sir? democrats are concerned about the independence of the fbi. >> there was a reason we put in place the idea that an fbi director would serve for ten years. so that you weren't subject to the whims of a particular president. am i worried about that independence? you bet. >> reporter: david, kash patel making the rounds on the hill today. but another trump nominee was here, as well. pete hegseth, his embattled pick for defense secretary, meeting with senators, including republican susan collins. she told me they had a

constructive meeting on a range of topics, including the allegations against him of excessive drinking, sexual misconduct, and financial mismanagement, but david, she's waiting to see his fbi background check. >> david: mary bruce, thank you. next tonight here, a major storm slamming the northeast as we're on the air this evening. high witness standwinds, heavy . look at the radar tonight. 60 million americans on alert from the carolinas up to new york city to new england. in the west at this hour, red flag warnings remaybe in effect near malibu. the franklin fire still out of control. the evacuations, dick van dyke, among those evacuated. let's get to ginger zee on all of this tonight. hi, ginger. >> reporter: hi, david. the flood and wind alerts are still up. we are in it right now with that front passing as we speak, so, can you see on the radar where the heaviest rain, that yellow and orange, that's where you could see another 2 to 4 inches, the same area gets it. some spots have already had two. and then the winds could still gust 50 to 60 miles per hour. now, this is going to be

replaced late tonight, early tomorrow, with really cold air. so, that is going to click, turn on the lake effect snow machine in western new york, a foot or two, west michigan, as well. up to three feet close to that tug hill plateau. and finally, it's the wind chill. sub-zero from chicago to the north, and even tampa in a cold weather advisory. their feels like, just above freezing, david. >> david: ginger, thank you. tonight here, the high profile arrest of three brothers, including two who were top real estate brokers from new york city to miami, arrested on federal sex trafficking charges. what authorities allege they did over many years. here's victor oquendo. >> reporter: tonight, prominent luxury realtors oren alexander arrested. >> the brothers worked together and with others to repeatedly and violently drug, sexually assault, and rape dozens of female victims. >> reporter: according to the indictment, the brothers arranged the sexual assaults in

advance, at times using dating apps or social media, to promise luxury experiences, international travel and accommodations, to lure and entice women to locations. accusers telling police the alexanders allegedly held them down and ignored screams and explicit requests to stop. they were arrested early this morning. our miami affiliate wplg capturing two of the brothers being booked. they began their careers focusing on real estate in new york and miami. david, the brothers live on miami beach. their first appearance set for thursday. david? >> david: victor oquendo live in florida. victor, thank you. there are serious questions tonight among a growing number of drone sightings in the northeast. many coming in off the ocean. federal authorities with no answers as to who is behind this. and tonight, authorities rea reacting after at least one lawmaker claimed it's iran. here's erielle reshef. >> reporter: tonight, officials in new jersey sounding the alarm. mow calling for immediate action

by federal authorities against those mysterious drones in the skies for weeks now, with no answers about who is behind them. >> they're just pacing back and forth, going very slow. >> reporter: a coast guard ship also trailed. >> one of their 47-foot motor life boats was followed by between 12 and 30 of these drones. >> reporter: dozens of sightings reported since last month, including near sensitive military installations and president-elect trump's bedminster golf club, where he resides. tonight, the pentagon striking down unverified claims made by one lawmaker that iran is behind those drones. >> our initial assessment here is that these are not drones or activities coming from a foreign entity or adversary. >> reporter: but one white house official telling abc news they are not ruling out foreign involvement. david, here in new jersey tonight, some lawmakers want to shut down the air space to all drones until the public has some

answers. david? >> david: erielle reshef with us. erielle, thank you. overseas tonight, and to syria, and the desperate search for missing loved ones after the fall of president bashar al assad. tonight, our james longman at a hospital morgue where there are images posted outside the morgue. families from all over coming to see if they recognize the bo bodies. we warn you, this is difficult. here's james. >> reporter: there's a desperate search across syria tonight for the missing. fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, who simply vanished under assad's brutal regime. on the wall outside this damascus hospital, photos of corpses. families gather to try and identify loved ones. we're not going to get too close, because it is graphic, but basically, i'm looking at the skeletal remains of multiple human beings. in the morgue, finding the truth brings no comfort. standing in a room full of dead

bodies, as five men in here, can you see hands, legs poking out of the bags. the smell is overwhelming. and people are coming in here, trying to see if they recognize anyone. and this gentleman has found his son. i'm so sorry. this man's son is mohammed. he's 20 years old. and he missed out on the revolution by two months. he was killed two months ago. and he's come to claim him. a family's grief overwhelming. he has hope his surviving son will see a better syria. i asked him if he has hope in the future of syria, he said of course. and he's just hugged his son. and david, tonight, the rebels

are vowing to track down those responsible for these crimes and hold them to account. david? >> david: james longman, our chief international correspondent. james, thank you. when we come back here, we remember a beloved entertainer, popular on johnny carson, merv griffin. viewers loved him and his psychic abilities. and our made in america christmas is back. tonight, two brothers and their american invention. you'll see it right here in a moment. don't go away. it's a bit of a dinosaur. albuterol only treats your symptoms, not inflammation— a cause of asthma attacks. treating symptoms and inflammation with rescue is supported by asthma experts. finally, there's a modern way to treat symptoms and asthma attacks. airsupra is the first and only dual-action asthma rescue inhaler fda-approved to treat symptoms and help prevent asthma attacks. airsupra should not be used as a maintenance treatment for asthma. get medical help right away if your breathing doesn't improve

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husband and father of three accused of faking his own kayaking death and then moving to europe to meet a woman has been arrested now after returning to green lake county, wisconsin. prosecutors say ryan borgwardt staged his own drowning accident, then fled to georgia for months to begin a new life with another woman. the father is back now, he's pleaded not guilty to obstruction. authorities demanding he pay for the cost of their search. when we come back here tonight, we remember a popular entertainer from johnny carson and merv griffin. viewers loved him. and our made in america christmas is back tonight. what's your one thing? u thinkin? i'm thinking... (speaking to self) about our honeymoon. what about africa? safari? hot air balloon ride? swim with elephants? wait, can we afford a safari? great question. like everything, it takes a little planning. or, put the money towards a down-payment... ...on a ranch ...in montana ...with horses let's take a look at those scenarios. j.p. morgan wealth management has advisors in chase branches and tools, like wealth plan to keep you on track. when you're planning for it all... the answer is j.p. morgan wealth management. nice to meet ya.

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finally tonight here, our great made in america christmas is back. tonight, two firefighters, two brothers fighting fires, and fighting to create american jobs. tonight, our great made in america christmas is back. our special series, 13 years and running now. celebrating small town triumphs made in america. tonight, the story of two young firefighters from new jersey, brothers, who we found not in the fire house, but in the factory. it turns out they spend just as much time here. and we went to find them. in passaic, new jersey, on this unassuming street. no big sign, but a lot of heart inside. plant entrance. here we go. there to find those two

brothers, a family tradition of firefighters, and a new tradition just beyond that american flag. good to see you. jordan, good to meet you. tyler, good to see you. a little made in america christmas. >> 100%. >> david: they are both working firefighters. >> it's 48 hours a week. a 24-hour shift. >> david: how much time are you here? >> a lot. every other day. >> david: and it all started with an idea in the fire academy. >> this is a heat strap. >> david: their invention, a strap that firefighters attach to their gloves to keep from losing them in a fire. giordano tissed how often they would drop their gloves when firefighters are trying to mask up. no longer. >> agayou can take off your glo do whatever you have to do, puck it back on. >> david: and now firefighters across the country sending them images wearing those heat straps. this is dad right here. >> yeah. >> david: their late father urged them to pursue the idea. their grandfather, a firefighter, too.

>> we are third generation firemen. >> david: and now those brothers have expanded. made in america jackets and coats, shirts. all meant to last. you're not going into the fire with them, but they're meant to survive, meant to last a long time. >> right. >> all we can do is just make the best product we can. >> i get a lot of chustomers saying, thank you for bringing us back. >> david: tough products from a couple of tough brothers. they call this their deck jacket. >> this is all sourced here. >> david: the wool from connecticut. hand dyed and sewn in new jersey. let's try this out. i'm ready for my upstate winter. >> 100%. >> david: this is their chief coat. >> a lot of firemen around the country wearing this garment in particular. our heaviest duty coat. >> david: the woolen lumber jacket. >> this is a 36-ounce raw american sourced, spun, dyed wool.

>> david: their aim, to make jackets and coats the way they used to be. this says it all. >> yeah. we take a lot of pride in making things here. >> like i said, i get phone calls all the time. >> david: and what are those calls? from the cattle ranchers from montana. >> hi, david. welcome to montana. >> david: beautiful big sky country, and some beautiful made in america. >> some good heat straps clothing, built like a tank. >> david: brandon brooks. >> wax canvas, cuts the wind, fights the rain. wool lining, keeps you wam. >> david: the brothers telling me they travel all across this country to thank their customers and to see how far their clothes are traveling. while back in the corner of that small new jersey factory, those firefighters ready to answer the call with their coats. their company, heat straps, made in the usa. we're rooting for you. >> thank you. >> david: merry chris has. we love made in america. their dad and granddad will be proud. we'll stay on it through christmas. good night.

the news starts right now with some pictures with no pointing to it. >> there wasn't any option to fix it. >> seven on your side investigates an insurance company dropping bay area residents their high flying reason. >> please, please find it in your heart to reverse this ban. >> i'm asking you to not let a handful of noisy 3-1-1 repeat callers set city policy. >> a long line of speakers pleading for the rights of people forced to live in rvs in

san francisco and in the east bay. >> a decision expected tonight on a plan to merge schools in oakland. good afternoon. i'm ama daetz. we're not quite to the evening. we'll get there shortly. >> i'm julian glover. we'll get to those stories in just a few minutes. >> but first, we do want to begin with more rain in the forecast tonight. sandhya patel is here with the first look. sandhya. >> yeah, and ama and julian. let's take a look at live doppler seven. because some of you may be thinking, where is the rain? we have clouds rolling in right now, but the southern part of our viewing area is seeing plenty of sun. still, the rain is off the northern california coast and we are looking at a level one heading in our direction. gets here late tonight and it is going to hang around going into tomorrow. so here's the hourly timeline 10:00 tonight. it's in the north bay. everyone's pretty much in on this widespread rain at 2:00. the best time for it to rain is while many of us are sleeping, unfortunately. 4:00 if your commute is an early one. tomorrow morning. the south bay parts of the east bay are still going to have to deal with some downpours as we head