live from the channel 4 studios in boston wbz news starts right now. >> we begin at 11:00 with breaking news, rescue crews spend hours scouring a local river after reports that someone had thrown a baby from a bridge. we now know that was all a hoax. >> let's get right to louisa moller who is live in haverhill. she's been following this story. >> reporter: good evening, you guys. it was very stressful here for a little while, but as you said, police have now determined that report as a hoax, the fire chief also telling me they checked the surveillance cameras up and down the bridge in hay hill and found no evidence of anybody -- haverhill and found no evidence of anybody throwing a baby off the bridge. this all started after 8:00 when police got a report of a

to the bridge. they say that mother and daughter told police that they saw a man walking a carriage down the bridge, heard the sounds of a baby and then saw the baby being tossed into the river. now crews responded heavily. we're talking state police as well as local fire departments, police departments, boats, divers as well as the state police helicopter to shine some light down on here. they searched for a little while as well as questioned that mother and daughter and ultimately found that the witnesses here were not credible. the investigation led to the finding that there was no baby thrown in that water and all we know at this point is that the local municipality here will have to deal with whether or not there will be charges. yet. louisa moller, wbz news. back to you. >> thank you. we have developing news, a neighborhood on edge after a lockdown.

shirley with this christmas eve jim? >> reporter: liam, it's been a very long christmas eve night here in shirley for police, corrections officers and the people of this community. all this began when investigators tell us that somebody apparently fired a gunshot in the woods fairly close to one of the prison buildings here in this complex and tonight that shooter still has not been found. >> helicopters and lights. >> reporter: an anxious christmas eve in shirley, police and corrections officers searching neighborhoods and the woods after reports that somebody fired a shot outside of the prison complex. a man was seen running away touching off a search which included k-9 units and the state police helicopter. nobody has been found yet. >> i got home and there was helicopters in the air and if there was a breakout, they usually call and tell us. we never know what's going on down there. the guards are good. they'll come by and 2e8 us if something is going on. -- and tell us if something is going on.

all inmates at state mci shirley are all accounted for, but the prison complex was put in lockdown. one woman came here to visit her brother who is an inmate, but she was told visiting hours are canceled. >> yeah. i just wanted to see him before the holiday, but we can't now the. >> reporter: is it nerve wracking for you? shots fired outside the prison. >> definitely. i don't know what's going on. i'm a little shaken up, so -- >> reporter: back live in shirley, state police tell us they are not aware anybody was actually hit by gunfire, but security is still high here at this prison complex as the investigation continues. live in shirley jim smith, wbz news. liam. >> thank you, jim. a 77-year-old woman is recovering after she was hit by a car on her way home from church on main street in tewkesbury. police are investigating. the victim's injuries are not considered life threatening is the good news. let's take a live look

not really feeling like boston, temperatures here pretty much the same as miami beach. >> pamela gardiner joins us with the record breaking warmth this evening. is the warmth going to stick around? >> it will. christmas day will be about 9 degrees colder than today technically but still very soupy out there and it looks like the warm weather will stay at least through the weekend before we get a huge cold snap. i'll get to all that in a second. today's high temperatures definitely shattered some records, the high in boston 69 degrees, the previous record 61 in 1996. wooster had 65 degrees, previous record itself if 7 degrees set the same year. temperature -- 57 degrees set in the same year. temperatures down in the 40s, 50s and 60s depending where you are, 58 degrees in boston, but the fog is soupy, visibility

plymouth and 3/4-mile or less along the island. the fog advisory is until 9 a.m. here's your christmas planner. 60 degrees by afternoon tomorrow but big changes on the way, when we could see some snow come up in your forecast later on. the death toll is rising tonight from the severe storm that struck the south. we know at least 14 people were killed when tornadoes touched down. we're learning one of those tornadoes may have been on the ground for 150 miles. the risk of severe storms is lower tonight but a lot more rain is expected to hit that area. this is new at 11:00. we now know the identity of the gunman who opened fire inside a busy mall today in north carolina. shots rang out just after 2:00 this afternoon while last minute shoppers were getting gifts there, an off-duty officer shot and killed this man, 18-year-old daequan westbrook. investigators are trying to figure out why that man opened fire. there is an urgent search in bolton for this man wanted in an armed home invasion. the victim told police two men

camper on century road and robbed him. you recognize the person on the screen, call police. let's talk about all the gifts you thought would get delivered in time for christmas. some of them will not make it in time. fedex cannot deliver all the packages supposed to arrive tonight. the company tells us the severe storms in the south and surge in online shopping delayed the shipments. if you're awaiting for a package, we're told drivers plan to hit the roads early tomorrow morning to try and get you those presents in time. that brings us to the number of the night, 6 billion. that's how many presents santa tonight. chipotle in cleveland circle is still close. the restaurant could not reopen water leak. you might remember health inspectors gave the brighton restaurant the all clear to tree open after the norovirus out-- to reopen after the

sickened 140 people, mostly bc college students. new tonight parishioners packing into the old south church in boston to celebrate christmas eve mass. come and behold him . >> the historic old south church held three difference services today. their traditional midnight mass is underway now. pope francis at the vatican tonight urging catholics to return to their values. thousands flocked from around the world to attend christmas eve mass at st. peter's basilica. thousands more are expected to crowd into st. peter's square tomorrow to hear the pope's christmas day speech. you will want to keep an eye on the sky tonight. there for santa. you can look up and see a strange sight flying overhead. we'll explain what this is. >> plus thousands line the street for a local christmas eve parade, the special surprise in store for one of those paradegoers. >> and a story you'll want to let the kids stay up and see, we're tracking santa right now.

this bright light overhead tonight is not santa. it's an astroid. nasa released these grainy images of an astroid that is flying close to earth on christmas eve. nasa predicts it will fly by at a safe distance, no worries, nowhere near santa's sleigh and his reindeer. the warm weather helped bring out a lot of people for the annual berlin parade and there was a very special surprise along the way. the wonder of christmas came early, not the main event, of course, but the city's christmas eve parade captivated little and big kids. jerry mccall's children are grown. she still comes to watch. >> every year since it started, that's 29, i believe. it is just so much fun, so much excitement. >> the parade has grown to 120

miles through the city for five hours. patty fon took her family including four foster children. >> it's a very fun family time. i come to my sister's and we have a nice time, just celebrate and let them know this is what christmas is all about. >> reporter: they already have their christmas wishes. >> i asked for an ipad. >> i like to spend time with my family. >> it's actually not winter yet. i don't know why it's not snowing. >> reporter: there was one present that needed extra special care this christmas eve. mrs. claus herself delivered the surprise that perhaps created the most excitement. >> i did not even expect it at all, at all. so it's great. >> santa and mrs. claus -- delivering presents. >> but in the full garb. they must have been sweating. >> it is a little warmer than that. , i believe it's quite a few

it's a -- in fact, i believe it's quite a few degrees warmer than normal. it's a scorcher out there. boston 69 degrees, hartford 69 degrees with the old record being 59 degrees, wooster also breaking a record, 65 degrees, the old one 60 in 1964 and providence, add that to the list with another record down 69 degrees the old one 64 degrees set last year, 50s now, 60s or 40s depending where you are, 508 degrees boston, chatham 54 degrees. a comfortable night, but it feels soupy. we have high humidity and areas of dense fog. a dense fog advisory has been issued for the south coast until 9 a.m. friday. we expect fog to be more widespread in these particular locations, although we're getting many reports of dense fog even farther north here from bedford to orange, visibility 1/2 mile or less at time.

boston so far so good, but the visibility numbers can continue to change overnight tonight. we'll keep track of patchy fog tomorrow morning, but partly cloudy overnight, otherwise in between the fog 47 degrees and temperatures stay very, very mild. the good thing we have going for us is santa should have no problems heading this way. we're actually going to have that full moon high in the sky to help brighten things up there. the full moon officially occurs at 7 a.m. on christmas day. pretty cool. i saw a few pictures from viewers. if you took a picture, feel free to send it in. i'd love to see it. hour by hour forecast, temperatures in the 50s, close to 60 degrees, 57 degrees by 4:00 and partly cloudy skies, christmas day partly sunny and looking all dry. 2 p.m. is when we expect to hit that high temperature and we will be just below the record high of 65. i think that will still stand.

temperatures for tomorrow, 60s, upper 50s there, wooster going with 59 degrees. as we look ahead to the weekend, some changes move in for saturday. we go down to 47 degrees, back up to 60 degrees on sunday and could also be chasing a record high again on sunday. there's a chance for rain and then after sunday a major cold front and an arctic blast. hour forecast tonight into tomorrow 6 a.m. if you are traveling at all in new england, you'll be okay. some areas of patchy fog along 6 p.m. saturday morning high pressure the dominating force. we keep it dry and saturday we have a chance for a bit of a warm-up late saturday into early sunday. sunday again high temperatures in the lower 60s and all bets are off here. we all of a sudden cool off to highs in the 30s, winter back in full force or winter just starting in reality since we really haven't had one,

degrees and a wintery mix tuesday into wednesday and thursday a chance for scattered showers. big question, the timing, the track of this system and the temperatures. could we see more snow or rain? point. so we'll keep you updated. back to you. new at 11:00 most of us will have surgery at some point in our lives. >> and doctors are realizing that they can take steps before, during and after surgery to get you back on your feet faster. >> reporter: tom freshly does look great considering he just had knee replacement surgery one month ago. tom was fast tracked, an effort at many major medical centers to optimize care before and after surgery and get patients home as fast as possible. >> there's no better place to rehabilitate a patient than in their own home where they want to be with good food. >> reporter: a radical change from 25 years ago where

directly to rehab up to two weeks. >> we found that it didn't add benefit. they weren't doing better. >> reporter: fast tracking is not just for orthopedic surgeries. gi and cardiac surgeries are also trying to move patients along faster. in an effort to make patients more comfortable and get them up and home sooner, surgeons are performing shorter operations, using smaller incisions and trying to avoid surgical drains and bladder catheters whenever possible. just two days after hip replacement francis hubbard is going home today to get back to his favorite activities, biking up to 6,000 miles a year. >> i got out of bed the night of surgery and that's a big deal. >> it's been a game changer, it really has, to have patients who are really doing great after just two days in the hospital able to leave. they're remarkable. >> the faster that i could go

and natural activities, the better. that still is the goal. >> reporter: now what can you do at home before you have surgery to improve your outcome? exercise regularly. lose weight if you're overweight and avoid taking too many narcotic pay pills. still ahead the patriots jet set for their weekend showdown. >> and quarterback tom brady believes he got an early christmas gift. steve burton has all the

he's around the corner. >> around the corner? >> there it is. families in one massachusetts neighborhood, they don't have to worry anymore about those presents under the tree because bench. the video filmed like an episode of cops showing the green landed. >> i like how he just goes poof, drop. use? patriots win. >> i was going to say super bowl. >> 1 step at a time. patriots have tomorrow off

families and saturday they head to new york to take on the jets who, by the way, are riding a four game winning streak. patriots were on the practice field in foxborough for a christmas eve tune-up. they had a walk-through tuesday. we have some good news as rob gronkowski has been officially removed from the injury list. this division rivalry with the jets has become all too familiar with the six year pro. >> they're very solid last time we played them, very competitive, very tough. prepared. again. they're a very solid unit and we got to be prepared. feel like they know us a little bit better than other teams and we know them a little bit better. so that's what makes it always a close game when we play them. the newly signed running back stephen jackson was out with his new team learning the playbook. the 32-year-old who signed with

11,000 career rushing yard and three pro bowl seasons. the patriots are hoping jackson fills the void left in the backfield and tom brady believes jackson has what it takes. >> i've always watched from a for and seen how tremendous of a player he is -- afar and seen how tremendous of a player he is and how professional he is. it's great to have players like that. hopefully he can add a lot to our team. obviously we'll see how things pan out. he's coming here and worked hard. it's fun to see. i have admission for it because to rush that many yards in this league is a really hard thing to do. he's had a really remarkable career. >> for more on the jackson signing and the match-up sunday be sure to check out patriots all access tomorrow night at 7:00 right here on wbz. he came around, had a great strip sack. i saw the ball roll. your eyes get back and you're just looking for it.

it's going to bounce. i just hopped on it. you saw, i laid there for a second. i didn't know what was about to happen. i waited for the referee to throw his hands up. >> yeah. hands up? >> i was juiced. i was too excited. >> that was defensive lineman akeem hicks talking about his big game against the titans. jets and patriots kick off at 1:00 and then the 5th quarter postgame show. to baseball, multiple reports daniel murphy signed with the washington nationals for a three year contract worth $37.5 million. murphy hit home runs in a record six straight playoff games leading the mets to the national league pennant and world series berth against the royals. i want to show you one other thing. this is tom brady next to santa whispering saying shhhh. i wonder who santa is.

ism looks twice the size of grady. >> santa is santa. >> that's a very good point. >> a lot of people tonight might say that is gronk. the guy's huge and if you zoom in, he might look like gronk. >> he might look like gronk. santa is santa, guys. he might look like gronk. trip next. >> up next find out why he wasn't always welcome here in new england. >> closed captioning is brought

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santa is in the region. >> and our jon keller has been tracking his progress all day and all night. he joins us now with an update. >> this is definitely the most inspirational assignment i've had all year monitoring santa and his reindeer as they deliver joy to kids all over the world and santa carries a lot of history with him, including a local twist to his legend that you may not have heard about. santa is on his way. these days every step of his journey is tracked by the north american aerospace defense command or norad and gets a jet escort during parts of the trip, but the story of santa hasn't always been so hi-tech. santa has his roots in the 4th century story of the gift giving st. nicholas, in the

you can see the origins of what he would become. an 1822 poem by a college professor was an early account of what we associate with santa's visit and in 1862 an illustrator named thomas nass drew pictures of the santa we recognize today with his beard, girth and note taking on who has been naughty and nice. it may have been hard to believe watching santa make his way toward a welcome in new england he wasn't so popular. the puritans were put off by pagan celebrations of santa they saw as sinful and the massachusetts legislature once levied a stiff fine for celebrating christmas, but times changed. queen victoria of england popularized the christmas tree and americans created the custom of sending christmas cards and the rest is history. santa has come a long way down through the centuries and to

reindeer keep it up all night long without a rest? >> that's part of the magic, isn't it? >> five scillings you could have been fined for celebrating christmas. that was a lot of money. >> it was. >> if you let the kids stay up to watch, that i'm really glad you did because it's very educational and fun, but it's 11:30. kids, you got to go to bed or santa will not come. >> go to bed. >> appreciate that. up next we'll update the

well, a christmas present from the weather department, it's warm out. >> hey, there you go, record highs today and near record highs for tomorrow. we go with 60 degrees on christmas day. thankfully no weather troubles except for some areas of patchy fog early tomorrow morning. saturday 47 degrees. sunday back up to 60 and