♪ breaking news at 11:00 o'clock. guilty former marine just convicted of killing american sniper chris kyle and his friend chad littlefield. that verdict read about 30 minutes ago much the jury deliberating for only couple of hours. >> cbs news reporter adrianna diaz in stevensville, february text with breaking details. >> reporter: there was no question that eddie ray routh

shot and killed money sniper author chris kyle and his friend chad little field at a texas gun range two years ago. but after his trial for their murders the jury didn't buy the defense's lame that routh was not guilty by reason of insanity insanity. >> we the jury find the defendant eddie ray routh guilty of capital murder as charged. >> during the trial prosecutors had painted routh as a troubled ex marine who suffered from the effects of alcohol and marijuana abuse. not from serious mental illness. among the evidence trip dude prosecutors showed dash cam video of routh fleeing in kyle' truck after the shooting. leading police on high speed chase before surrendering. routh's attorneys also mentioned the video but said it was evidence of their clients insanity noting routh ran errands and stopped through drive through tacos before he was arrest. >> we're so thrilled that we have the verdict. that we have tonight. and thank you guys for being so

compassionate. >> reporter: the trial put this small town into the global spotlight. after kyle's best selling book was made no an academy award nominated blockbuster film. >> i got a woman an kid 200 yards out moving towards the convoy. report roar prosecutors said despite kyle's notoriety it wasn't fair to call this an american sniper trial since chad little field was also killed. that they argued is why routh should spend the rest of his life in prison without parole. the jury agreed. adrian in a diaz cbs news, stevensville, tech text. >> we'll follow reaction to this verdict throughout night. and have the very latest for you on "eyewitness news" in the morning starting at 4:30 right who are on cbs3. now at 11:00 astounding video of an incredible explosion that leveled one home and rocked new jersey neighborhood. and tonight our closest look yet at the damage done by this powerful blast. that explosion injured 15 people, two critically.

>> when you look at the video playing behind us, it is a miracle that no one was killed here. all this happened early this morning on oak avenue in stafford township, ocean county. it's still a very active scene there tonight. "eyewitness news" reporter david spunt standing by to show us what's happening right now. david? >> reporter: chris a very busy night on oak avenue. back out of the way. you can see these crews. they have been out here all night. they're going to be out here for several more hours. they are digging in the ground to replace a main gas line. the mayor of stafford township says that 34-year-old gas line is what caused the big explosion explosion. >> it was big. it shook the floors, the whole foundation of the house. >> it was terribly loud. i never heard anything so loud. >> reporter: effects of explosion on oak avenue could be spotted late in the night. crews spent hours digging up an old gas line that officials say caused this massive explosion just after 10:30 in the morning.

>> i thought tractor trailer hit this porch. that's how much the house shook. >> reporter: eric parker lives a few doors down from the house at 59 oak avenue and told "eyewitness news" he's just glad his family is safe. >> we're very lucky you know. could have traveled up more. >> reporter: 15 emergency workers from the fire department gas company and ems had to go to the hospital. they are all expected to recover recover. >> it happened so quickly. with the explosion we had debris all around us just coming from nowhere. >> reporter: neighbor called just before 9:00 o'clock in the morning to report a gas leak. crews were on the scene within minutes and evacuated residents. but not all residents. including heather tater who lives down the street from the scene. >> i feel there's a lack of communication, you know, not keeping us in the loop like we should be. >> reporter: these guys will be out here for a lot longer tonight. several more hours. i do want to point out i did reach out to the stafford township police department to ask about that alleged miscommunication and an officer

told me that was not the case at all. the priority was getting people out of the house who live next door and across the street from the explosion site. we are live in stafford township, new jersey, david spunt cbs3 oy witness news. >> okay, david, thank you very much. few more pictures now from that really drive home the complete devastation of today's blast. on your last is a picture of the home on oak avenue as it looked before. on your right all that is left after that gas explosion. well, this comes almost a year after a deadly gas explosion in ewing township, mercer county. back in march linda czar telly was killed in the blast at a condo complex on crocket lane. 55 homes were damaged or destroyed there. that explosion was blamed on gas main that had been damaged. new tonight and easy pass speed warning for drivers on the pennsylvania turnpike. slow it down or you could lose your e seem pass altogether. "eyewitness news" reporter diane in rocco is live in plymouth meeting to tell us more about this new crack down.

diana? >> reporter: jessica just recently the turnpike has posted speed signs at each of their toll booths so drivers can see exactly how fast they are going and they say now they want drives to know the turnpike is taking notice, too. z pass has saved countless on the go drivers time at the tolls tolls. >> you need a receipt? >> no. okay. have a good one. >> reporter: but speeding through toll lanes has become all too common an current. >> how fast do you think you go through the toll booth. >> i think usually it says sometimes it will tell you like 20 miles an hour. >> reporter: toll collector eli weeks says it's something he deals with every day. >> as collectors it's part of the job you have to cross the lanes and it's just -- it's razz see how quick they come through. almost like we're not even there report roar the pennsylvania turnpike commission has now installed digital speed signs to show drivers exactly how fast they're going. >> the circumstance safety is para mount. there are people working. there's traffic merging.

this is not the place where you wanting to 25 miles an hour. >> reporter: the posted speed limb is 5 miles per hour but we watched for few minutes and clocked drivers pulling through at speeds up to 30 miles per hour and more. >> it's a hazard for us much it's a hazard for other drivers. >> reporter: for the security of toll collectors the number of safety measures are already in place. in addition to wearing these neon vests these bars have been installed in between lanes when they're crossing. they don't push out. but rather they push up. so the toll collectors are aware of their surroundings as all times. the turnpike has already installed crossing signs warning letters will be he should issued to speed violators recent pete offenders could have accounts suspended or terminated which has some taking notice. >> i usually slow down going through there. >> reporter: okay. >> because every now and again you see somebody walking through there. roar report slowing down is appreciated and required. but weeks says a smile never hurt either. >> just a thank you a hi arc greeting would just make our

day. it makes our job a lot easier. >> reporter: turnpike officials say there is some leeway for drivers who go a few miles over that 5-mile per hour posted speed limit. but they don't want to say just how much leeway there is. you'll find out if you get a warning in the mail after that it could be suspension. we're live in in plymouth meeting to night, diana rocco cbs3 oy witness news. >> let's slow down out there. chopper three over the today of monday's tanker fire in pennsauken. officials say that the ramp from route 90 to route 130 is going to have to romaine closed for few more days. that tanker with about 8,000 gallons of fuel on board overturned and then burst into flames. the driver of the tanker and a firefighter suffered just minor injuries. well now to a pretty wild scene in montgomery county today today. a jeep flew through the air and landed on top of other cars. it happened this morning in ardmore. police say that a driver mistakenly hit the gas instead

of the brake. the jeep then went up a guardrail, then up a snow bank, and landed on some cars at piazza act occur rah. the driver of the jeep had to be taken to the hospital. right now a delaware mom and her little girl are headed home after a harrowing experience. the three-year-old was the subject of an amber alert and was found safe today aft ledly being kidnapped by her father. that girl was found hundreds of mile away from new castle in spencer, massachusetts. natasha brown is in new castle with new information tonight on how police tracked them down. natasha? >> reporter: jessica mother and child should be returning to their delaware home here behind me at some point later tonight. meantime sources tell "eyewitness news" now that surveillance video as well as social media tip from someone in massachusetts helped to lead them to this little girl. >> today is my birthday -- after several hours of worrying about her three-year-old daughter's

whereabouts dawn got the best birthday gift she could have imagined. >> i prayed all day to god that i would get her back and he gave me the best birthday. (ever and i'm going to get my eleanor back. >> less than 24 hours after she went missing three-year-old eleanor trotta was found safe and unharmed with her father michael trotta. six hours it way from her new castle county, delaware, home in spencer, massachusetts. >> michael trotta has been taken into custody at rocks 3:30 on today's date. >> police say 43-year-old trotter at a abducted eleanor monday night after assaulting his ex-girlfriend dawn. the frenzy search for the child spark amber alerts and a the tie jurisdictional manhunt. surveillance video from a rest stop along the new jersey turnpike and a social media tip from someone in massachusetts helped to solve this case. no answer at the child's home in new castle county, delaware. the little girl's mother dawn with law enforcement now being

flown to massachusetts for the emotional reunion. >> it's a good day. a little girl gets to come ho* home to her mother and her mother gets soundly tonight. the commune can rest. >> i broke down. i got to talk to her on the phone. so she's -- she's shaken but she's ready to be back with me. >> reporter: well michael trotta is currently facing a number of charges including endangering the welfare of child. he is being held in massachusetts right now without bail. awaiting trachea addition back here to delaware. in new castle, delaware, natasha brown cbs3 "eyewitness news". >> natasha, thank you. new at 11:00 families come out in support of expanding charter schools in camden new jersey. superintendent spoke with parents and students before tonight's board meeting. they presented him we pro charter school pegs containing more than 1,000 signatures. he toll the families he's working to make the public schools better. new jersey governor chris christie will be in the area tomorrow.

he's hosting a town hall in moorestown to discuss his proposed budge. the governor unveiled that $33.8 billion spending plan in trenton today. it includes no new tax increase increases. even though the state is facing a revenue shortfall. on monday, a judge ruled that the governor must restore one point sick billion dollars in funding to the state's pension program. today the governor said more pension reform is needed to avoid higher taxes and cuts to education. >> for anybody in this room who thinks our citizens deserve and can afford a 29% income tax increase on every hard working taxpayer in new jersey -- >> you can't have it both ways. when you just had a court say that you owe one point sick billion dollars you actually need more money. >> the governor did vow to work with the new jersey teachers union on a road map to pension reform. well the on again off again sail of revel casino in atlantic

city is back on again. the developer glenn straub has signed a new deal today agreeing to buy the revel for $82 million. last week bankruptcy court judge approves hell revel's decision to drop a $94.5 million sale to straub after he missed a deadline to close. the casino costs about $2.4 billion to bill. a routine medical visit that could leave long lasting painful result. >> something that millions of us do that's supposed to be healthy but can be dangerous. >> i am just going through excruciating pain, a non-stop pounding aching pain. >> like i was tollly stunned. >> i'm helder reporter stephanie stahl with more on the risk that most people don't know about next. also a big celebrity is apologizing tonight and it all has to do with penn state's thon. we'll tell you how that fundraiser land add high profile host in hot water. kathy? >> chris, we have snow showers

brushing by the shore but we have our eye on a bigger storm. this is a strong one. doesn't look like much now but this will bring snow to part of the region on thursday. we'll show you who has the best chance of seeing that accumulate coming up. and manatees stuck in a storm drain. we have an update on the rescue to save the mammals. "eyewitness news" returns in just 60 seconds.

new tonight president obama exercises his veto power on the keystone xl oil pipeline. the president rejected legislation that would have approved construction of a pipeline to transport oil from can ma today to the gulf of mexico. supporters say that pipeline would create jobs but opponents say there are too many environmental risks. that project has been under review by the state department for year. the justice department says there's insufficient evidence that a hate crime occurred in the trayvon martin case. therefore, civil rights charges

will not be filed. neighborhood watch volunteer george zimmerman shot and killed the florida teenager during a confrontation in 2012. zimmerman claimed self-defense under florida's controversial stand your ground law. a jury acquitted zimmerman of murder last year. the nation's secretary of veterans affairs says he is sorry for misrepresenting his military record. >> army, navy, air force -- >> navy. >> what union, special forces. >> personal forces watch years. >> i was in special forces. >> that is robert mcdonald talking to homeless veteran during a segment on the cbs evening news last month. mcdonald is an army veteran but he never served with special forces. president obama says he doesn't expect to slip up to affect his work cleaning up the scandal plagued va. a twitter tussle with some penn state students has earned esp inform keith oberman a suspension. >> he tweeted an article about

students raising more than $13 million to fight pediatric cans sr. during dance marathon to oberman whose been critical of penn state following the jerry sandusky scandal. oberman replied quote pitiful. oberman apologized. said he was referring to penn state students in general and not the fundraising effort. he was suspended for the rest of the week. flu shots and other vaccines can save lives. but if a shot isn't given the right way it could leave you with debilitating shoulder and arm pain. are you more likely to have problem depending on where you get the shot? stephanie stahl has this important health watch investigation. >> that's as far as i go. >> raul de jesus has nerve damage in his arm. he takes several powerful medications for the pain. >> all of this doesn't help. >> all of this does not help. >> i now something was wrong because i couldn't really move my arm. >> debbie russo needed surgery to fix scar tissue and nerve damage in her shoulder isn't it was a lot of pain. >> debbie and raul suffered serious shoulder injuries caused

they say by their flu shots. >> it can be really quite a significant problem. >> dr. robert duncan says it's not common but flu shots that are given too high in the arm can cause issues. >> it goes right not joint space instead of into the muscle belly here. >> it was actually given to me right here. up here. >> yes. >> the shoulder injuries really just started to become recognized recently. >> philadelphia attorney paul brazil is talking about the national vaccine jr. compensation program which pays people who are injured by certain vaccinations. >> there are people that have very serious debilitating life long conditions. >> he says the awards most between 20 and $150,000 come from vaccine makers, not taxpayers. >> how can you prove that the vaccine caused the inflammation and not something else? >> it's actually pretty simple. it's logical. these symptoms start right away. >> any injection can cause damage brazil says most of his cases involve the flu shot.

debbie from montgomery county got hers from a pharmacy. and was awarded 10 i was thousand dollars. >> in my personal experience it seems that a lot of the vaccine petitioners get the vaccine at a pharmacy or somewhere where they can go in quickly get a vaccine and leave. >> journal of the american pharmacist association published an article last year outlining the danger and giving pharmacists tips on proper procedure including the ideal spot for an injection. >> this is affected every single as spec of my life. >> mistake could happen anywhere anywhere. raul got his shot at a hospital clinic. his case is still pending. >> not to be able to do the things i was able to do. because of a simple flu shot. it's horrible. it's horrible. >> health care workers who give any type of flu shot are supposed to have training. but the rules on how much and what that includes vary from state to state. i'm stephanie stahl cbs3 eyewitness news. well the cold is here to

stay through the rest of the month. and we are looking at a few systems moving our way. one will bring some snow showers. it will bring some snow to places that don't usually get it. take look outside and we'll check our current conditions. right now we're looking at a clear sky in philadelphia. some places seeing clouds. otherwise, just a cold night here we go again. on storm scan3 you can see some snow showers brushing by our shore points. this from an area of low pressure moving off the coast of the mid atlantic. we're on the northern fringe and the same thing is going to happen by thursday. but this storm is going to come just a little bit closer. our "eyewitness weather" watchers showing us very cold conditions out there especially where we're seeing clear skies. to the north and west of the city and the pottstown area the temperature is only 15 degrees. this is in sanetoga michael reporting a cold crisp night there. but in contrast in south jersey we have some clouds because of that system being so close still

getting into some cold temperatures though, interior south jersey area of the pine barrens where it's usually cold margo is roaring in a temperature of 17 degrees inform delaware 22 degrees. lisa saying it's a cold night in wilmington. you can see it feels like 15 with winds out of the south just at 6 miles an hour. take a look at some other temperatures around the region. 21 in philadelphia. it's 12 in the poconos. 27 in wildwood with some cloud cover. and atlantic city with mostly cloudy skies it is 22. it's pretty much cold throughout a good part of the country. look at this. wichita, 30. oklahoma city 28. houston it's 40 degrees. dallas 33. cold enough for snow. our next storm system is going to bring snow to a good part of the country. right now it's sitting right here developing just to the west of houston and it's going to move east war. for us tomorrow we are under the influence of high pressure. that just means sunny skies and milder temperatures. this storm is going to move quickly through the deep south

bring some snow through southern areas like atlanta through charlotte, richmond. i think the mid atlantic will bear the brown but we'll see some snow showers early thursday morning from this storm we're watching the track carefully. a slight shift to the north would mean more snow. looks like heavy snow in places they don't usually get it like norfolk and even rocky mountain north carolina. for us, looks like we could be seeing about a coat to go an inch in places like south jersey and also delaware. so that light snow mainly south and east thursday morning. some slick spots. some slow travel but once against more likely to be south jersey and delaware. overnight the low temperature 17 degrees. as we look ahead on exclusive "eyewitness weather" seven day forecast cold thursday and friday. better weather as march begins over the weekend. that's a look at your seven day forecast. we'll be back with sports right after this.

>> 22 regular season games left for the flyers. a final push for the playoffs. tonight the hurricanes standing in the way. one of the worst teams in the league. so here we go. game tied in the second. hurricane on the attack the pass to jeff skinner who beats rob giving carolina one goal lead. later in the period he made the safe but jordan stall was there knock home the rebound. hurricanes on top three-one they added another goal to beat the flyers four-one. the good news, boston lost as well. so still four points behind the bruins for the final playoff spot. first full squatter practice for the optimistic phillies. they believe they can turn the team around as currently constituted. to do so several young players will have to grow up photograph. lesley van arsdall reports from clearwater. >> trying to prove myself every day. carry myself with the confidence that i know i can get the job done. >> reporter: darin ruf competes for one outfield corner dominic brown will man the other. 26-year-old with something to prove after inter p batting .235 with 10 homeruns last season.

>> i had some struggles. i ended the season on a decent note, you know, i had some struggles in may that put me on downward spiral there. so i picked my head up and couldn't to battle and that's part of the game. >> after trading jimmy rollins freddie galvis has pretty big shoes to fill. >> i feel ready to go. tried to work and do my best. >> if you're making a change a bit of a transition the younger people it takes time for them to debt their feet on the ground. sometimes young people make quick adjust manies and we might get more production out of some players than we anticipate. >> you never know. >> you never know, right. >> it is spring training. so everyone right now is subscribing to the power of positive thinking hahn nose, this team could surprise a lot of people. reporting in clearwater lesley van arsdall eyewitness sports. >> villanova darien hilliard and pinkston in the final home game at the pavilion facing prof den. he scored 19 of his team high 24

points. jason scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the sixth ranked wildcats won their 26th straight game at the pavilion beating the friars, 89- 89-61. we'll be right back. ♪

♪ update to story we brought you last night. the rescue of nan tease in florida. >> it turns out there were 19 manatees in a storm drain there. more than we first thought. all were rescued and town open waters. the manatees they believe were trying to reach warmer water when they got stuck in that drain pipe. manatees are listed as endangered species by the us fish and wildlife service. we're glad they are okay tonight. we'll be right back. ♪