it is thursday, december 5th, 2024. this is "cbs news mornings." . massive manhunt. the intense search for the gunman who executed the ceo of an insurance company in the heart of manhattan. the evidence police say he left

behind. school shooting. two kindergartners are fighting for their lives after a gunman opened fire in their school. the search for a motive. and on the offensive. donald trump's pick to lead the pentagon fights back against sexual misconduct allegations. his promise if confirmed. ♪ ♪ good morning. i'm michael george. we start with that brazen, targeted attack in the middle of manhattan. an all-out search is underway this morning for the gunman who appeared to be lying in wait for his victim. the disturbing shooting captured on camera and the gunman then riding off on an electric bike. the victim, brian thompson, the ceo of unitedhealthcare, part of the largest private health insurance company in the country. cbs's naomi ruchim joins us with more on the investigation. this appeared to be planned and

methodical. any word on what the motive could be? >> reporter: michael, good morning. the motive is still unclear at security services is combing through possible threats, e-mails or files from disgruntled or fired employees. meanwhile, the nypd has taken an all-hands-on-deck approach. the city remains shaken with the gunman on the loose. the nypd is examining a trail of evidence as officials hunt for the masked gunman who killed unitedhealthcare ceo in a shooting described as a brazen, targeted attack. >> the motive for this murder is currently unknown, but based on the evidence we have so far it does appear that the victim was specifically targeted. but at this point we do not know why. >> reporter: brian thompson was killed wednesday morning as he walked alone to the new york hilton midtown hotel where the health insurer was holding its annual investor conference. new york city's police commissioner said the shooter seemed to be lying in wait for

several minutes before opening fire. >> the suspect approached from behind, striking the victim at least once in the back and at least once in the right calf. many people passed the suspect but he appeared to wait for his intended target. >> reporter: the gunman can be seen trying to unjam his gun before shooting again, then calmly walking away. police say he eventually ran on foot down an alleyway, fleeing on a bicycle. >> we will not rest until we identify and apprehend the shooter in this case. >> reporter: investigators also believe the suspect left evidence behind at a starbucks just moments before the killing which could provide critical information about the shooter's identity. brian thompson's widow says the ceo had received death threats in the past. at this moment detectives say they have uncovered some rants against big pharma. they're not directly at

unitedhealthcare. in the meantime, police are speaking with family members, employees and police in minnesota where unitedhealthcare is based. michael. >> naomi ruchim in new york. thanks. two children were wounded and the suspected agagunman is d after a shooting at a small, private christian school in northern california. investigators are looking into reports the suspect met with the principal yesterday about enrolling a child at the school shortly before opening fire. two boys, ages 5 and 6, were taken to a hospital in critical condition. officials say the kgunman was found dead near the playground after apparently shooting himself. >> when we running i looked behind me and i kind of saw like someone, like peeking through, like -- and then i looked down kind of. and it -- like i saw like a figure of like a gun or something. so i told everyone to run faster. >> only 35 students attend the

school. well, winter storm alerts are in effect this morning from the great lakes region to the mid atlantic and throughout the northeast up to maine. the midwest saw more snow, bitter cold and strong winds yesterday. drivers had a tough time seeing in dangerous whiteout conditions which led to this accident in minnesota. as one burst of snow exits the northeast, another round of lake-effect snow will develop. some areas east of lake erie and lake ontario could pick up another foot of snow through saturday. and there will be another blast of arctic air. windchills will plunge to around 4 in minneapolis, 8 in chicago, and the teens from washington, d.c. to atlanta. donald trump's embattled pick to run the u.s. military says he's not going anywhere. pete hegseth is fighting back against allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking. in fact, he says if confirmed as defense secretary there won't be a, quote, drop of alcohol on his

lips. cbs's nikole killion reports from capitol hill. >> reporter: president-elect donald trump's pentagon pick is not backing down after multiple sources told cbs news trump could be seeking to replace the embattled designee with florida governor ron desantis. >> have you had any conversations with the president-elect about replacing you with governor desantis? >> i spoke with the president-elect this morning. he said, keep going, keep fighting. >> reporter: so you're in this all the way? >> why would i back down? i've always been a fire truck. i'm here for the war fighters. this is a personal and passionate for me. >> reporter: hoping to combat a flood of negative headlines pete hegseth went on a full-court press starting with the "wall street journal" op-ed defending his conduct at two veteran nonprofits where he was accused of mismanagement and in an interview he addressed accusations of excessive

drinking. >> first of all i never had a problem. no one approached me and said, you should look at getting help for a drink. >> reporter: his mother took to the airwaves and appealed to lawmakers, walking back a scathing 2018 e-mail reported by "the new york times" where she called her son an abuser of women. >> i wrote that in haste. i wrote that with deep emotions. pete is a new person. he is redeemed, forgiven, changed. >> reporter: are you a changed man? >> i love my mom and i appreciate her, and by the grace of god all of us change and i'm grateful for that. >> reporter: still, some senators seemed unconvinced. >> the allegations are very, very serious. they cannot be trivialized. >> reporter: hegseth's meetin with joni ernst, a serkxual assault, was considered critical. >> reporter: how was your conversation with senator ernst? >> we had a frank conversation. >> it was a thorough

conversation. >> reporter: when asked whether she is under consideration, she told me mr. hegseth is the nominee. as for governor desantis, sources tell cbs news he is interested in the job and considered confirmable. nikole killion, cbs news, capitol hill. the supreme court heard arguments in one of the most significant cases this term, whether states like tennessee can ban gender affirming care for minors. it is an issue that could have sweeping consequences on the lives of transgender people. here is cbs's natalie brand. >> reporter: parents of transgender youth on both sides of the issue made their voices heard outside the u.s. supreme court as the justices weighed arguments inside. >> normally in these cases one group receives something that the other group does not. >> the case challenges the constitutionality of a tennessee law that bans what is known as gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers or hormone

therapy for transgender minors. >> it is a sweeping, categorical ban where the legislature didn't even take into account the significant health benefits that can come from providing gender-affirming care including reduced suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. >> reporter: more than 20 states have similar measurs on the books. >> our child has been receiving gender-affirming health care until this year. >> reporter: mom rebecca bell of south carolina says she and fellow mom mary foster have been fighting their state's ban. >> gender-affirming care is lifesaving care. so our kids are at risk when they don't have the care they need to be healthy and happy. >> reporter: tennessee slis toll general argued the state is trying to protect children. >> given the high desistance rate among minor and given the tragic regret of detransitioners, there's an interest in making sure minors have enough time to appreciate their sex before undergoing life-altering changes. >> reporter: mom erin friday supports the ban.

she decided aguess gender-affirming care for her daughter. >> i refuse to do that, teaching my daughter that you can't change sex and showering her with a lot of love and compassion, and then she returned back to believing that she was a girl after a year and a half. >> reporter: while justices decide the landmark case, families on the two sides say ultimately they just want their children to be happy. natalie brand, cbs news, the supreme court. coming up, the accused stowaway returns. the charges she could now face. and record fentanyl bust. mexico's latest crackdown amid terror threats from president-elect donald trump. id. i lowered my a1c, cv risk, and lost some weight. in studies, the majority of people reached an a1c under 7 and maintained it. i'm under 7. ozempic® lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events such as stroke, heart attack, or death in adults also with known heart disease.

i'm lowering my risk. and adults lost up to 14 pounds. i lost some weight. ozempic® isn't for type 1 diabetes or children. don't share needles or pens, or reuse needles. don't take if you or your family had mtc, men 2, or if allergic to it. stop taking and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or any of these allergic reactions. tell your provider if you plan to have surgery or a procedure, are breastfeeding, pregnant, or plan to be. serious side effects may include inflammation of pancreas, gallbladder problems, or changes in vision. call your prescriber if you have any of these symptoms. taking with a sulfonylurea or insulin may increase low blood sugar risk. common side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, constipation. some side effects lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. living with type 2 diabetes? ask about the power of 3 with ozempic®. this is not a procedure, it's just a hardworking cream. revitalift triple power, with pro-retinol, hyaluronic acid,

and vitamin c. visibly reduces wrinkles, firms, and brightens skin in one week. ladies, it's time to ask for more. revitalift triple power by l'oréal paris. -we're done. -what about these? looks right. nooo... nooo... quick, the quicker picker upper! bounty absorbs spills like a sponge. and is 2x more absorbent so you can use less. bounty, the quicker picker upper. sore throat got your tongue? mucinex instasoothe sore throat medicated drops, uniquely formulated for rapid relief that lasts and lasts. that's my babyyy! try our new sugar-free cough drops. instasoooooothe! mexico's military seized more than a ton of fentanyl in two raids this week in what officials are calling the biggest bust of the synthetic opioid in the country's history. authorities say it is equal to about 20 million doses of the drug. it comes as president-elect donald trump has vowed to impose

a 25% tariff on all products from mexico until it cracks down on the flow of drugs and migrants across the border. an alleged stowaway faces a federal charge and the results of an investigation into memphis police. those are some of the headlines on the morning news stand. "usa today" says a u.s. justice department investigation found the memphis police department uses excessive force and discriminates against black people. the investigation was launched following last year's death of tyrie nichols. he was beaten by five officers as they tried to arrest him during a traffic stop. the officers were fired, charged in state court with murder and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges. the pittsburgh post gazette reports the search for a missing grandmother, believe to have fallen into a western pennsylvania sinkhole, is now a recovery effort. police say they no longer think they will find 64-year-old elizabeth pollard alive. she was last seen monday night when she went out looking for

her cat. authorities think the sinkhole over an abandoned coal mine opened up as pollard walked across the ground. her 5-year-old granddaughter was found safe inside her parked car near the hole. cnn says a russian woman who allegedly stowed away on a delta airlines plane from new york to paris is expected to face at least one federal charge now that she is back in the u.s. svetlana dali was accompanied by security officials on the return flight to new york yesterday. she is expected to be charged with stowing away without consent. she is accused of sneaking past security check points at jfk and boarding a delta flight without a ticket. coming up ahead, some laid-back fun. an otter and her pup enjoy some bonding time. with miebo, eyes can feel ♪ miebo ♪ ♪ ohh yeah ♪ miebo is the only prescription dry eye drop that forms a protective layer for the number one cause of dry eye: too much tear evaporation.

for relief that's ♪ miebo ♪ ♪ ohh yeah ♪ remove contact lenses before using miebo. wait at least 30 minutes before putting them back in. eye redness and blurred vision may occur. ♪ miebo ♪ ♪ ohh yeah ♪ ask your eye doctor about prescription miebo.

nothing dims my... ..light like a migraine. with nurtec odt, i found relief. nurtec odt can provide relief in two hours which can last up to two days when used... ...for the acute treatment of migraine with... ...or without aura in adults. to those with migraine... ...i see you. don't take if allergic to nurtec odt. allergic reactions can occur even days after use, like trouble breathing and rash. get help if you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face, mouth, tongue, or throat. common side effect is nausea. it's time we all shine. talk to a doctor to see if nurtec is right for you. here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country. ♪ ♪

all right. here's something to smile about as you start your morning. cameras caught a mama otter and her little one frolicking in the water in morro bay, california. otters can be seen in the bay year around, but experts say it is peak time for what is called pupping or birthing season. well, jetblue is making some cut backs and amazon, accused of slowing down deliveries in certain neighborhoods. here's shanelle kaul with today's money watch. >> reporter: u.s. stocks rallied wednesday as wall street took bitcoin to a new $100,000 high. the dow gained 308 points, the nasdaq was up 254 and the s&p 500 gained 36 points. dc is suing amazon. the suit accuses the company of secretly stopping its fastest delivery service to nearly 50,000 residents of two

predominantly black neighborhoods while still charging for a membership that promised the benefit. the attorney general calls this delivery exclusion. amazon says it made the change based on concerns about driver safety. travelers will soon have fewer domestic options with jetblue. the airline announced it will be cutting more unprofitable routes from fort lauderdale, florida, to jacksonville, florida, from new york's jfk airport to austin texas, houston texas and miami. jetblue will also be adding more european options including paris to london. 20 years after filing bankruptcy, chai-chai's mexican restaurant is making a comeback. a new deal reached with minnesota's hormel foods will allow chi-chi's to reopen next year. the restaurant chain changed hands several times and eventually went under after an outbreak of hepatitis a at a location in pittsburgh killed four people and sickened nearly

600 more. that's your cbs money watch report for this thursday morning. i'm shanelle kaul, cbs news, new york. coming up ahead, she's had quite a year. a tortured poet grabs a year-end coveted title. ♪ ♪ i want to kill her ♪ next, it's on your skin. i got cosentyx. feels good to move. feel less joint pain, swelling and tenderness, back pain, and clearer skin, and help stop further joint damage with cosentyx. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections, and lowered ability to fight them may occur, like tuberculosis or other serious bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. some were fatal. tell your doctor if you have an infection or symptoms like fevers, sweats, chills, muscle aches or cough, had a vaccine or plan to, or if inflammatory bowel disease symptoms develop or worsen. serious allergic reactions and severe eczema-like skin reactions may occur. ♪♪ ask your rheumatologist about cosentyx.

(vo) for over 50 years purina cat chow has been helping cats feel at home. ♪♪ with trusted nutrition, no wonder it's the number one dry cat food in america. come home to cat chow. your parents have given you some amazing gifts, celebrate the ones you inherited with ancestrydna. explore the detailed family roots, cultures and traits that shaped who you are today for only $39.

[ding] [upbeat music] ♪ yeah, baby, i like it like that ♪ ♪ i like it like that, i like it like that ♪ ♪ si a ti te quiero mi amor, i like it like that ♪ ♪ eeeeeh, baby, i said i like it like that ♪ ♪ stomp your feet if you think i'm neat ♪ ♪ clap your hands if you want some more ♪ ♪ i said i like it like that ♪ here's a look at today's forecast in some cities around the country.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ three, two, one! ♪ joy to the world ♪ well, it is beginning to look a lot like christmas in new york city. a huge crowd was on hand last night to watch the annual rockefeller center christmas tree lighting. the 74-foot-high norway spruce comes from the tiny massachusetts town of west stockbridge. it will be on display until the middle of january. well, spotify wraps two 24 has been unveiled and this year's most streamed song should help you wake up. ♪ you can see ♪ ♪ ♪ that's sabrina carpenter's megahit claiming the top spot as most streamed song of the year. for the second year in a row

taylor swift has been crowned spotify's most listened to artist with 6.5 billion streams globally. taylor swift's era's book became top selling with more than 800,000 copies sold during the holiday weekend, the biggest holiday launch of 2024. the only bigger nonfiction loss was 2020 when barack obama's "a promised land" went on sale. coming up on "cbs mornings," emmy-winning actor jeff daniels joins us live in the times square studio to discuss the second season of his only-audio memoire, "alive and well enough continues." george. this is "cbs news mornings." new cerave intensive moisturizing lotion. hank used to suffer from what felt like a cold & flu medicine hangover in the morning.

ha ha. haha! then he switched to mucinex nightshift. mucinex is uniquely formulated to leave your system faster, so you wake up ready to go. uhh, hank! try mucinex nightshift and feel the difference. head & shoulders bare. clinically proven dandruff protection with just nine essential ingredients. no sulfates, no silicones, no dyes. ♪♪ dandruff protection, minimal ingredients. job done. for more than a decade farxiga has been trusted again and again, and again. ♪ far-xi-ga ♪ ♪ far-xi-ga ♪ ♪ far-xi-ga ♪ ♪ far-xi-ga ♪

♪ cue the trumpets on this thursday as we welcome you to "cbs mornings." i'm gayle king. >> i'm tony dokoupil. >> i'm vlad duthiers. >> nate is off, but we're still here. let's go to today's "eye opener." it's your world in 90 seconds. a m