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bill ritter. michael wright was a star in college and picked by the knicks in the nba draft. the university of arizona tweeting out the sad news tonight and now we're learning disturbing information about the days leading up to his disappearance and his death. >> eyewitness news reporter aj ross in new jersey with new details. >> right here at the police department is where michael wright was first reported missing just three days ago. friends say basketball was his passion but it wasn't his life. a loving and devoted father whose kindness really touched everyone he came in contact with. his death, now being investigated as a homicide, has countless people heart broken. >> reporter: from the windy city to the big apple, michael wright's exceptional basketball talent took him all around the world. from his college days playing at the university of arizona to being draft today the new york knicks in 2001 and later playing overseas. it

>> basketball was his life but his greatest accomplishment he told me was his daughter. always smiling. everybody in here is devastated over the loss. >> reporter: sunday michael was reported missing to police by a family friend. two days later the 35-year-old's body was mysteriously discovered under several garbage bags in the back seat of his suv tucked away on a brooklyn street. investigators say he had a suspicious wound on his head and this case is now being investigated as a homicide. detectives are looking in to michael's recent involvement on an online dating site. >> just a little sad. it's shocking. and your heart goes out to his family. >> reporter: we talked with michael's long-term personal training and friends at a nearby gym. he spent time here rehabbing injuries and uplifting those around him. now a small memorial stands at the foot of his punching bag as a small symbol of the powerful

impression michael left on so many. >> i always remember him being a nice guy, a caring guy, a genuine guy, and somebody who was like a special human being. that's how he should be remembered. >> the medical examiner has yet to determine an official cause of death in this case. be sure to stick with abc7ny.com for updates. aj ross, channel 7 eyewitness news. a developing story. a man slashed in the back on the east side tonight. police say the victim got in to a fight inside a bar in turtle bay at 52nd and 2nd. the man was slashed. his injuries are not life-threatening. no arrests have been made. good news about a teenager with down syndrome who disappeared in brooklyn. he's home safe tonight. joshua cruz was spotted at a mcdonald's. he was evaluated at a hospital but he was not hurt. tonight a most bizarre

a man stealing things that move like buses. a greyhound bus taken from port authority. the man bust would -- bust ed with the bus in brooklyn. jim dolan with the bizarre story. >> darius mccullom was arrested again tonight. he's spent 18 years of his life in prison for repeatedly uncontrollably obsessively hijacking trains and buses. and yeah, police say he did it again. >> reporter: darius mccullom has been here before. he's been here 29 times before. 50-year-old mr. mccullom was arrested and charged once again with stealing a form of mass transit. most often it has been trains. mr. mccullom has an

the sound, the deafening rumble, the constant movement. even the smell. >> i've spent over a third of my adult life unfortunately being incarcerated basically for the same crimes over and over. >> reporter: he was interviewed in rikers island by a documentary filmmaker after his last arrest. darius mccullom is a unique and troubled new york story. 18 years of his life behind bars for his apparently uncontrollable compulltion -- compulsion to steal and operate buses. he's spent most of prison only to steal another bus or train when he got out. he's so well known in transit circles that just this afternoon sources say he was spotted at the kingsbridge depot in the bronx and kicked out. he apparently went to the port authority and jumped in this running greyhound bus and took off on his latest

because of a gps tracker at street and union avenue around 4:00. mr. mccullom always pleased guilty to the charge against him. he has to. >> because if he pleads not guilty by reason of insanity, he risks spending the rest of his life in confinement. still he's never hurt anybody in any of his thefts. jim dolan, channel 7 eyewitness news. new at 11:00, a laser attack targeting our wabc newscopter leads to an arrest. news chopper 7 was over elizabeth when a laser was pointed at the pilot and shannon sohn. they assisted police in tracking down the culprit. a sort time later police made an arrest. a similar laser attack

happened to wnbc's copter. 12 killed since halloween and tonight the nypd cracking down on dangerous drivers. cops committing more than 12,000 enforcement hours a day through november 22nd. this to target drivers who speed or fail to yield to pedestrians. the traffic blitz already underway. blasting de blasio. tonight hundreds of new york city cops gather outside the mayor's home at gracey mansion chanting and holding up signs in protest over a 1% raise. pba president pat lynch says nypd officers deserve more than a below inflation pay increase as crime continues to rise, citing the recent deaths of those killed in the line of duty. >> we've lost eight new york city police officers since the expiration of our contract. their lives matter. their lives are worth more than one. >> the dispute is over a

retroactive contract covering 2010 through 2012. natural gas. that's what they think caused the deadly explosion that destroyed a duplex in new jersey. they don't yet know for sure. what we do know, dozens of people out of their homes. one person killed. at least 15 hurt in the city of elizabeth. josh einiger on the scene with the new information. >> at last report from the red cross they were taking care of 44 people who have no place to call home tonight. that does not count. anyone who is still in the hospital when they emerge, that is the sight that awaits them along with the devastating reality that for many of them they simply have nothing left. >> reporter: as utility crews spent hours digging up much of magnolia avenue, searching for the cause of this deadly blast, some of the wounded were returning from the hospital, only to find they no longer had a place to live. >> i'm thinking i hope it ain't 9/11.

>> reporter: baker cut his feet on broken glass after the explosion knocked him out of bed this morning. we found him at a makeshift red cross center. >> he's yelling come on, come on. looking at the house and seeing the second floor on the first floor. unexplainable. >> reporter: the blast came out of the blue before 8:00 this morning, a time on when many may have already left for work on a normal day but this was a holiday day. it pancaked in on hurt. more than a dozen others injured. to find a cause they'll have to pick apart the wreckage piece by piece. >> this has to be delayered. as we de layer it it's like we find different aspects of the investigation which will lead us to a conclusion.

to the block for the first time since the explosion. she's lived four doors down for 52 years. >> it's really sad. so many people were hurt in this and all the people now out of homes. it's getting ready to be wintertime stay. >> that's the epicenter of this explosion but many other buildings were damaged as well. this one in the foreground which doesn't look nearly as bad, that also has been condemned as you can see from the orange stickers at the front door. investigators say they're reasonably sure they know what happened. a gas explosion. but tonight they vow they will find out why. we're live in elizabeth tonight, josh einiger, channel 7 eyewitness news. also in new jersey, he landed his personal helicopter on a kids soccer field. tonight the man who did it, the owner of

apologizing to two youth soccer teams after it forced the kids to cancel their games. josh harris had it landed to pick him up after an overtime game. his apology of little comfort to the teams. >> looking forward to playing then this happens. if he wants to watch them play, he's more than welcome but [ inaudible ] >> he says it includes an invitation for the kids to go to one devils hockey game. a massive storm system pommels the midwest with severe weather after covering colorado with up to a foot of snow. the fast moving storm dumped about 5 inches in the denver area leaving a number of roads and highways buried. tonight the danger zone stretches from the midwest down to the south. areas like chicago are bracing for strong winds up to 50 miles per hour that could impact air travel and those strong winds are headed our way. meteorologist lee goldberg in the weather center. >> it's a storm right there. big snow going

in to the plains. 10 reports of tornados moving in in the midwest. we'll discuss its impact. meanwhile, it's cloudy and 54 degrees. accuweather is coming up. >> plus on veterans day, a story you have to see. one war vet finds world war ii medals and goes to great lengths to get them back to the american hero who earned them.

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and with a 2 year agreement, we'll give you all the premium movie channels for a year. plus, 400 dollars back. so go online or call now. get out of the past. get fios. november 11th, that means a salute in new york city today to the men and women who have served in the military. 20,000 people at the nation's largest

grand marshal, former da who served in the navy in world war ii. veterans also honored around the country today including in the capitol. president obama laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknowns at arlington. the president announcing a bigger budget for the department of veterans affairs. >> what has always made america great, what has always made us exceptional is the patriots who generation after generation dedicate themselves to building a nation that is stronger, freer, a little more perfect. >> president also urging communities and businesses to consider hiring veterans, saying they're ready to serve. new tonight, military medals lost during superstorm sandy now reunited with a veteran's family. the veterans belonged to anthony sorto. he served as a doctor in world war ii.

nick, a veteran himself, found the medals at a flea market and with the help of a veterans organization he tracked her down and returned them this week. >> i think it's really nice that they're returning them to me. they belong to us. very appreciative. he's very nice. >> it's excites me to know i've done something worthwhile. >> silver star, the country's third highest declaration of valor. also in honor of veterans day today, a special exhibit display commemorating the contributions of dominican american vets. the fighting democracy dominican veterans from world war ii exhibit opening at the institute in washington heights offering an in-depth look at the experience of dominican veterans, tracing their stories from the war and beyond. we salute them all. we

lot of cloud cover and gusty winds. outside we go tonight. a little bit of drizzles over connecticut. most areas are just cloudy. we have the empire state building in red, white, and blue for veterans day. temperatures 54 degrees. 77 for humidity, north wind at 3. pressure is on the fall. and the high today, 58 degrees. a couple degrees above average. .4 of an inch today. sunset tomorrow at another batch of rain coming in tomorrow. it's fairly light. then it's bright er on friday but that wind is really cranking up on friday. 40-mile-per-hour gusts could be with us later friday in to the day on saturday. blustery day on saturday. because we've had winds on shore for a while, tide is a little above normal. western end of long island sound. coastal flood advisory for high tide cycle tomorrow. numbers didn't get above the low

primetime is probably 11:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening then we'll be cloudy after that. so we're fine for bills and jets tomorrow evening at kick-off. southwest winds, 7 to 15. you see a couple specks on radar. there's a little bit of drizzle and then looking closely now with this light on shore wind, there's going to be patchy fog developing in the interior. it's going to be a damp feel tomorrow morning. but the main weather maker bringing steady rain to our west. the good news is the severe part, the more dynamic part of the storm, that's spinning to our northwest. it's this line of showers that swings through. nothing like the bad weather they received out west. we just get a couple lines of light rain. on radar in the morning hours when bill evans is on late in the show tomorrow morning, a couple showers maybe sneaking in

to the area with isolated drizzle but it's really late morning in to the midday where it's widespread light rains. it leaves the scene. during the and will clear out in the evening hours. mainly light rain. the thing about this storm is behind it, whipping winds behind it on friday. mix of sun and clouds. maybe a stray isolated shower late day north and west. 58. those winds will be cranking at least over 30 in the afternoon. cloudy and cool. light. spotty drizzle, 7 a.m. tomorrow we'll have light rain. better chance late morning in to the early evening. becoming breezy. 60. partly cloudy, breezy, and 49. you have the light rain. we'll get the sunshine back on friday but look at these futurecast winds later in the afternoon. sustained at 20 and some gust to 30 or 35. could even be stronger on saturday with gusts over 40. actually lowered that temperature on saturday to 50. there's no question it's going to feel like it's in the low and middle 40s. sunday is a much better day after a cold start.

in to the 60s early next week. once again it's just fleeting chill and we get back in to the mild weather. bill evans will have an update tomorrow morning. coming up next, deceptive contraceptives. more than 100 women on birth control say they got pregnant. >> a skydiver dangling from a plane 10,000 fee for the girl scout meeting... for the soccer team... for the girl scout meeting... how many meetings are you having?! at stop&shop, prices are down. savings are up.

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in tonight's health alert, the physical benefits of mindful meditation. new research suggests meditation sends signals to the brain that can ease your temper or your perception of pain. studied patients with light pain using meditation scored lower pain intensity ratings over patients who used a placebo cream. new tonight, deceptive contraceptives. more than 100 women filed a lawsuit in philadelphia against a pharmaceutical company claiming they became pregnant after taking mispackaged birth control pills. the case seeks millions in damages. one skydiver's leap of faith turning in to a flight of fear when the leg of his jumpsuit gets caught on the plane. take a look at the video. shows a daredevil struggling to break free as the

a crowd of worried spectators. skydiver freed himself with a hook knife he always keeps handy when jumping. he deploys the chute and his reserve chute floated safely to the ground. really lucky. >> they grow up so fast, don't they? bebe, the giant panda cub at the national zoo is now walking. cub nearly 3 months old took his first wobbly steps this week. zoo releasing video of the moment. look at this guy. mom keeping a watchful eye and like moms do, scooped him up in to a big bear hug at the end. good boy. >> so cute. >> good boy. then they went to disneyland. rob powers up next with sports. >> i love the mublgz -- the music in the background. one win plus one win equals back-to-back wins. another win would be a winning streak. the knicks are after that in charlotte. it goes down to the final shot but whose final shot? plus almost

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it took me eleven years to finally track down the ecephidon megolis. gorgeous, isn't he? it was pricey, but a total bargain compared to this little beauty. (vo) a new york man spent $3.2 million on a dead bat. i have such enormous respect for these creatures. which is why i stuff them and hang them on the walls. (vo) you'd make a way better rich person.

we want a win streak. the knicks want a win streak. >> eight games in to the season, knicks 4-4, trying for a three-game winning streak at charlotte. last season, the whole year was three games. there's the positive. the negative, that streak ended in charlotte. knicks get arron afflalo in the lineup tonight. he scores early on the inbounds, 12 points. big 1st quarter lead. tighter in the 2nd quarter. pj harris for the tie. carmelo anthony heats up 3rd quarter. beats the shot clock. game high, 29 . jeremy lin, remember him? big shot with a minute and a half to play. beats his own shot clock. tied at 93. closing seconds. anthony off the side of the backboard.

ball goes out of bounds. the hornets get it. watch cody zel ler lay it in. knicks down two. they put .6 of a second on the clock. the knicks draw one up for porzingis for the win. the knick think they have it. he lets it go a bit too late. no good. no win. knicks lose 95-93. what a game. cavs in town friday. the nets in houston still trying to win their first game of the year came in at 0-7. the rockets' james harden, 23 points. he's going to get his. so will dwight howard. he scored 20 . joe johnson, not a great shooting night. the nets have a win. 106-98 over the rockets. they're at sacramento friday. we are less than 24 hours away from the game rex ryan says he doesn't have circled on the calendar.

17 jets on the injury list. antonio cromartie is doubtful. nick mangold should be good to go so there are other issues other than rex. >> i think there's a chance of rain and a game at 8:20. we're excited about it. >> another game on the schedule where we need it badly and to place us in the division where we want to be. as for the giants, back to work today, getting ready for sunday's home game against the patriots, the unbeat en patriots. good test. the giants couldn't have a better one. big blue has had success against the pats. be good to continue that stretch at the meadowlands. >> i'm looking forward to it. i love competition. i love going against the best. right now they're undefeated and considered the best team in the league. i can't wait. >> we've always had very, very close games against them even though we won. yankee news.

they trade catcher john ryan murphy to the twins. yanks get aaron hicks, an outfielder, former first round draft pick. chris young, a free agent. those gardner

we invite you to join the conversation, facebook, twitter, instagram. ask us about tonight's newscast, bizarre amazing stories. glad you could watch tonight. i'm bill ritter. >> and i'm sade baderinwa. have a nice