>> after landing, lunch. "nightly news" is coming up next. we're back with you at 6:00 for the local news. see you then. >> on this saturday night, on alert. residents of tulsa, oklahoma, are on edge after a series of shootings leaves three people dead and two wounded. tonight, what they all had in common and why some fear this may be a hate crime. engine failure. investigating why that navy jet crashed into an apartment complex and the miraculous fact no one was killed. inside north korea, our richard engle gets a rare look at a crucial time. what's behind the planned launch of a long-range rocket. and american classic, the 50th anniversary of "to kill a mockingbird." a new screening tonight and a teachable moment on racial

injustice. captions paid for by nbc-universal television -- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com good evening. tonight, the city of tulsa, oklahoma, is on edge after a series of similar shootings left three people dead and two others wounded. all the victims believed to have been targeted randomly were shot early yesterday as they stood or walked outdoors on tulsa's north side. police say the shootings appear to be linked, though they're being careful to not characterize the nature of the attacks. all the victims, however, are black and survivors describe their attacker as a white man. and that has some in the community questioning whether this might have been a hate crime. tonight, the fbi has joined the investigation. nbc's john yang is following the story for us. >> reporter: in just a few hours, three people found dead and two others wounded, all within three miles of each other on tulsa's north side.

it began just after 1:00 a.m. friday when a woman was found shot to death in a yard in a residential neighborhood. three minutes later, two men found wounded just two blocks away. both expected to survive. at 1:50, a man found fatally wounded. at 8:30, the morning's last grisly discovery, a man shot in the chest outside a funeral home, pronounced dead at the scene. the victims, all of them black, appear to have been picked at random. >> the victims were in the street and not really in their yards. so i would think that, you know, people are walking up anticipate down the street being tarted. >> reporter: according to investigators, one of the survivors spoke with his attacker whom he described as a white male driving a white pickup truck. they caution it's too early to say whether race played any role in the shootings. >> i'm worried more about three of my citizens being murdered.

if it takes us in the direction of a hate crime, that's certainly where we'll go and we'll prosecute them for that as well. >> reporter: local authorities asked the fbi and u.s. marshal service for help in interviewing possible witnesses. residents of tulsa's predominantly black north side are on edge this easter weekend. >> right now, i think everybody need to, you know, just get closer and just protect themselves and do whatever measures necessary legally, legally, to protect themselves. >> this is tulsa, oklahoma. we should have the ability to stand out on your porch anytime day or night that you want to, to walk down your street anytime day or night that you want to. >> reporter: community leaders are urging calm while police are urging vigilance. >> at day, go about your business but boy, at night, be aware of what goes on. >> reporter: the city holds its gun as police hunt down what is sde scribed as a lone killer.

in virginia beach tonight, dozens of residents of an apartment complex, many of them elderly, are looking for a new place to live after a navy fighter jet crashed into their homes yesterday. as the navy investigates exactly what happened to the jets, local residents are still marveling at the fact that no one was killed. here's nbc's tom trang. >> reporter: the navy says a catastrophic mechanical failure left the plane crashing into an apartment complex. >> the ejection was just a couple seconds before the impact. >> reporter: the navy is not identifying the two pilots and won't say if error on their parts caused the crash. >> we will not rush to judgment, we will get everything down, we'll examine it carefully. >> reporter: a before and after view shows how the fiery wreck destroyed three buildings and damaged 50 units. the two pilots and only four people from the crash zone

suffered minor injury, while some lost everything, many say it's a miracle no one was killed. >> if you want to define a miracle, what happened here yesterday meets that definition for me. >> reporter: larry craig says strangers mull pumed his 87-year-old mother to safety as her apartment went up to flames. >> she told me she would have ran back in and got her purse. >> reporter: for sam, the f-18 hit just a stone's throw from his backyard fence. >> i heard three really, really loud blooms. by that time, some debris flew through the crash. >> friday's crash happened on his birthday. >> i got a really big candidatele. i'll tell you that much. it wasn't a birthday i won't forget. >> it wasn't a joyous occasion, but he and others survived to celebrate another day. president obama's weekly

radio address today was a reflection on two important religious holiday, passover and easter, both being celebrated this weekend. and coming at a time when religion and politics are in the mix on the campaign trail. nbc's mike viqueira at the white house. >> reporter: political leaders including president obama spoke of easter's spiritual meaning. >> if for me and for countless other christians, easter week is a time to reflect and rejoice. >> reporter: religion remains part of the political dialogue. . >> when i came to the united states senate, i really did find the lord. >> reporter: but there are signs the public are turning off. nearly 4 in 10 americans say there's been too much expression of faith and prayer in politics. 32% say there's too little. that's a virtual reversal from two years ago. other attitudes are changing as well. growing acceptance of mitt

romney's mormon faith, but lingering doubts among evangelicals. at a wisconsin town hall monday, he was asked about his church's historic views on interracial marriage. >> do you believe it's a sin for a white man to marry a black? >> no. next question. >> that gave me the occasion to work with people on a very personal basis that were dealing with unemployment, with marital difficulties, with health difficulties of their own or with their kids. >> new demographic patterns are also emerging. devout catholic rick santorum is a favorite among evangelical voters, a group that have historically treated catholics with suspicion. the president celebrated a passover saider with family and friends. american values still value religious faith in religioners.

>> it's a reminder of not only what binds us together as a nation, but also what binds us together as children of god. >> and it's interesting to note the evolution of the president's easter weekend address, first three years, very secular, largely about the economy. only two mentions of jesus or god in the first two years. today, the president spoke about god or jesus in a total of seven times in a speech that was all about faith. >> thanks. the big political issue remains the economy. and a jobs rrt that missed expectations raises new questions about just how strong our recovery really is. >> the fear tonight is the economy may be weaker than we thought and the unusually warm weather essentially hid that from us. with extra sunny days at the start of the year triggered employees to take on seasonal staff earlier in retail and construction. at the time, the pulling forward of the temporary effect made the economy appear permanently

stronger. conversely it may now be pay back time. job growth cut in half in march because much of the spring recruiting has already occurred. the effects of this year's weather may just be too extraordinary for the models to remove it. importantly, employment is still growing, but if the real pace of the recruiting is slower, the stock market for one may have a troubled opening, lester, on monday. >> thank you. the skmi and jobs will be on the agenda tomorrow as nbc's dafd gregory talks with democratic senator richard durbin of illinois and john kasich, the republican governor of ohio tomorrow on "meet the press." there's a possible decision next week on whether to charge george zimmerman in the shooting of trayvon martin. >> reporter: protesters marched again in florida today. 42 days since the shooting.

will 28-year-old george zimmerman face charges in the death of trayvon martin? or will the initial decision to let him go stand pop i believe that george zimmerman should be arrested and have to prove in court his side of the story. >> reporter: but this morning--n >> in the court of public opinion, it just appears he's ready for sentencing. >> reporter: zimmerman's attorney spoke on "the today show." >> we feel it's likely he's not going to be charged but if he is, we're confident he will be acquit pd . >> reporter: trayvon's lawyer says he expecting nothing less than an arrest. >> killed fray von martin in cold blood. he only had a bag of skittles. he had a .9 millimeter gun. >> reporter: central to the case is the controversial stand your ground law. it says in part, a person is justified in the use of deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.

at several hearings this week in florida -- >> i am standing before you because this law makes me scared for my son. >> reporter: stay lawmakers listened as both sides talked passionately about stand your ground, a law that received little national attention until dra von martin's death. >> it's a good tensioned law, but i think it may be too broad. that's why i wanted legal minds who have used this law on both sides of the aisle to come up with a solution for it. >> reporter: the special prosecutor in this case could present the evidence gathered so far to a grand jury, which meets next tuesday. but that said, she's under no obligation to present the evidence to a grand jury to determine whether charges are warranted or not. she could make that decision on her own. and lester, she's under no deadline. >> kerry sanders, thanks. turning overseas now to north korea, which is getting ready to launch a long-range rocket next week. nbc's richard engle is inside

the secretive country. >> good evening, lester. from pyongyang, this is a very unusual and rare visit. normally, north korea doesn't usually allow in international journalist ps 3 and that was obvious as we flew in from beijing, china. as we went through a very meticulous security check, officials went through all of our bags, all of our cases. we were told no cell phones, no blackberry, no smart phones, no gps devices, no kinds of communications devices are allowed into this country. we are here at the official invitation of the north korean government. we are told to witness the launch into orbit of a small observation satellite 37 north korea is expected to launch this observation satellite sometime between the 12th and the 15th of this month, it says to show its scientific pro wesz. the united states, however, is deeply skeptical of this launch and says it is really a test of the three-stage rocket that is going to be used to send this

small observation satellite into orb orbit. it is the same type of rocket that could, at least in theory, be also used as an intercontinental ballistic missile. lester? >> richard engle in north korea tonight. >> >> in syria, witnesses say fierce fighting has left 17 rebel troops, 15 syrian soldiers and as many as 74 civilians dead, as thousands of others have headed to the border with turkey to escape the violence. it comes in advance of a u.n.-backed cease-fire that's supposed to take effect next thursday. when we come back here, tonight, community colleges are supposed to be the affordable, accessible option. what happened to change that? and later, tonight's special skreeng of "to kill a mockingbird." what a 50-year-old film still means to so many today.

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>> this country's community college is seen as vital for preparing america for the jobs of the future and a low-cost option for people who can't afford the price of four-year programs. but many community colleges are facing their own dire financial difficulties and one in the los angeles area reached a boiling point this week. nbc's kristen dahlgren with more. >> reporter: when some students were pepper sprayed in san to

moni monica this week, it lighted the underlying problems of cuts in community colleges. this started with the community college's plan to charge students much higher fees to get into newly created sections of in-demand courses. the students rebelled. >> it's essentially privatized education. >> the school said it was a way to offer extra classes in a time of shrinking budgets and cutbacks. santa monica is hardly alone. from miami where community college prices are up to massachusetts where they're the highest ever, and peoria, illinois, prices are going up for the 12th straight year. the community college system is designed to be available to everyone and president obama recently touted its importance. >> we've got keep relying on american know-how and ingenuity that comes from places like this

one, nashville community college. that's our future. >> reporter: but in california, which has nearly a quarter of all community college students nationwide, the head of the system said this about the impact of the state's budget crisis on colleges -- >> we are seeing what i would call a death by a thousand cuts. >> back in santa monica after this week's protest, the college decided to back down, putting the controversial tuition plan on hold, but the college's president knows the larger issue is still looming. >> we know the economy of california is relying op a highly trained and high-skilled worker. >> reporter: a community college crisis with a huge cost. kristen dahlgren, nbc news, los angeles. up next, the art critics may not have always liked his work, but people couldn't get enough. remembering thomas kincade.

. the artist thomas kin cade died yesterday in his home in california. even if you don't know his name, chances are you'll recognize his work. you may even have one of his paintings hanging on your wall. an estimated 1 in every 20 american homes has some kind of kin cade art wo kinkade art work in it. >> reporter: at the thomas ki a kinkade gallery, abrams fought back tears. >> it's really going to be a loss. >> reporter: he and his wife own more than a dozen of his

paintings. the american painter died friday at the age of 54 at his northern california home. his family said from natural causes. the self-described painter of light would often hide the names of his wife and four daughters in his art work and became best known for his inspirational paintings from cottages and sweeping landscapes to city scenes and disney paintings brought to life. >> it's serenity, the peace most people don't have today. >> estimating $100 million in annual sales. >> reporter: many of his collectors and workers in his gallery say they felt a special connection to the artist and even had a chance to meet him. even though his work was brushed off by art critics, kinkade indicated throughout his career he likened his style to that of norman rockwell and painted to make people happy.

>> as much as i traveled, i have found that certain of the foundational values -- faith in god, home, family -- these are the things everybody is hungry for. >>. >> reporter: the art work and the artist accessible and affordable. >> reporter: her fiance surprised her with her first kinkade. >> it was memorable that we were able to pick it up today what is a sad day but at the same time, we were able to make his memory live. >> reporter: michelle franzen, nbc news, new york. when we come back, a beloved film gets a presidential introduction in a special airing coming to your living room tonight.

there are some books and some movies that stay with us because they find a way to touch us, provoke us or give us pause. a film version was released of an american classic that took us in an unforgettable journey into the heart of interracial justice. tonight, it returns with a slightly different look but a message that still resonates. it was a study in black and

white. >> what are you going to do with yourself? >> the film adaptation of "to kill a mockingbird" embodied the qualities of the book. >> a day reminder. >> gregory peck's portrayal of a lawyer who defends an innocent black man reflected the simmering reality of a nation's struggle and shame over race at the dawn of the civil rights era. >> it was quite an impactful movie and one that bravely talked about issues of race in american society that was trying to sweep things mostly under the carpet. >> in this country, our courts are the great levellers. >> the film's anniversary is being celebrated with a restored print that will include an introduction from president

obama's describing its enduring power. earlier in the week, he was host at a special screening at the white house. >> he said it was one of his favorite films and, you know, he thought that i had done a very good job. i was very appreciative. >> it would be sort of like shooting a mocking bird, wouldn't it? >> mary battam played scout, the daughter of atticus finch who bared witness to the story. >> it has so much relevance to what we're dealing with today. . >> the author, harper lee was given the medal of honor in 2007. she said she was proud to know that gregory peck's portrayal of atticus finch lives on in a

world that needs him now more than ever. and that airs tonight on the usa network. that's n"nbc nightly news" for this saturday. i'll see you tomorrow morning on "today" and then right back here tomorrow evening. have a good night, everyone. good evening i'm kris sanchez in for diane dwyer tonight. we begin in concord where a father an a daughter are dead and a teenager is behind