on this sunday night, state of emergency. its strongest earthquake in 25 years rocks northern california, igniting fires, damaging buildings, and leaving some krit critically injured. new asults against isis fighters as authorities are closing in on james foley's killer. and tonight, another american held captive in syria is freed. out for revenge, it's the murder trial that divide aid community and left many wondering did a grieving father take justice into his own hands? and the boys of summer. the chicago little leaguers swinging for a world series title and lifting hopes back in the neighborhood.

good evening. it came in the wee hours of this morning, a damaging earthquake stronger than anything felt in the san francisco bay area in almost 25 years. the 6.0 quake was centered near napa in the heart of california's wine country. it was felt for hundreds of miles. buckling roads, knocking out power, igniting fires, damaging homes and businesses and sending scores of people to hospitals. california governor jerry brown declared state of emergency for the region and president obama received an early morning briefing on the quake. we begin our coverage in heaard hit napa. joe fryar is there. joe? >> reporter: good evening, lester. in all, 16 buildings are damaged so severely no one is allowed inside of them. some of worst destruction you can see is right here in historic downtown napa. today, there have been after

as shaking and very, very, very loud. and it seemed like it went on and on and on and on. like it wasn't real. because it was just so incredibly violent. >> the 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit at 3. 206789 this morning, ep i sent better six miles from the popular tourist town of napa. >> it jolted frefrn their beds. >> it left a massive path of destruction, rattling nerves and knocking this man's home from the foundation. >> i just climbed through the rubble, i started shouting for my wife and name and she was all right. and one of the bedroom tvs missed the dog by six inches. >> in all about, 120 people were

treated for injuries, mostly cuts and bruises. >> i got out of bed and took off running. i fell because i lost my balance. when i fell, something went bam and hit me right in the head right there. >> reporter: but at least three victims were critically injured. >> one major incidents of a fireplace falling on a young child is in critical condition has been flown out for a neurocenter. >> reporter: the earthquake cut out hower to tens of thousands and ruptured gas lines sparking several fires. at this burning home, one man was saved by his neighbor. >> i was pulling him out just as the flames were starting to hit the living room. and as we got down the stairs, the whole house went up. >> reporter: another fire destroyed four mobile homes hampered by a broken water main. firefighters were forced to truck in watter to fight the flames. >> i'm not ecstatic by any means, but quo have lost a lot more with, you know, the livable homes that are constructed. >> reporter: in the heart of wine country, fragile bottles and barrels stood little chance. this family vineyard estimates

losing hundreds of thousands of dollars. >> reporte >> you know, you think is bad. >> reporter: this is the worst earthquake to hit the bay area since the 1989 quake which killed 62 people. this time scientists at. uc berkeley says the warning system issued an alert ten seconds before the earthquake was felt. >> earthquake light shaking expected in three seconds. >> california is working on a system that would give even more warning before the next big one hits. >> tonight crews are still repairing downed power lines, ruptured gas lines, and water main breaks. no bridges were damaged. but a few roads were cracked by the quake. at this point right now, we are still trying to figure out exactly yesterday actually a lot of people were actually in this part of napa. they were attending a festival thousands were here m are grateful the quake did not hit during that time. lester? >> all right. joe fryar, thank you.

for a region on edge, there is one big question still in everyone's mind, has the quake danger passed for now? let's bring in dr. lucy jones, a seismologist for the u.s. gee logical survey. dr. jones, what happened on this fault line and what does it tell you about the risk of more strong quakes in the hours and days ahead? >> well, this magnitude 6.1 was on what we think is the west napa fault. it has been mapped before. so it's not a surprise. and just like any other earthquake, we are seeing an after shock sequence. and what that means is there's a very, very small chance that this could be a foreshock to a bigger earthquake. it becomes increasingly less likely as time passes and it's not a big risk at all. but there will be after shocks. and people should be expecting to feel earthquakes over the next days and even into weeks. >> as you've been speaking, we've been rolling some of the pictures. some of them historic older buildings suffering the damage wlachlt in -- in the images eve sun so far, what does it tell you about earthquake

preparations in a region that for decades known -- has known there will be a big one? >> it tells us that just knowing that an earthquake -- that a building is bad does not make it disappear. and these type of brick buildings that we're seeing most of the damage in, we haven't allowed to be built in california since 1935. and for the last 30 years, there's been a state program to try and develop retrofitting of the buildings. but in many cases, it's been voluntary. en that just doesn't work very well. and only recently does napa adopt a mandatory program. they did he d. because a lot of the retrofitted buildings performed much better in this earthquake. >> dr. lucy jones, good to have you on. thanks so much. as officials close in on the killer of james foley tonight another american held captive in syria has been freed. it all comes as the u.s. continues its strikes against isis militants and weighs how it will deal with the threat going forward. kristen welker is traveling with

the president in martha's vineyard and has more on the develo developments. >> reporter: there's late word that british intelligence sources identified the killer of james foley. now they need to find him. another american was released from his captors in syria today in a statement secretary of state john kerry said, "we are all relieved and grateful." five days after the world learned isis militants executed american journalist james foley, today a different terrorist group based in syria released 45-year-old american peter curtis who was held for two years. described by his massachusetts family as an author, freelance journalist, curtis was captured while crossing the boreder from turkey into syria. in a statement, curtis' mom said of his release, please know we will be eternally grateful. according to security forces, british intelligence officials identified the man they believe killed james foley. nbc news has not yet confirmed

the name of the suspect. >> there was some very sophisticated voice identification technology and other measures that we have got which should be very clear about who this person is before very long. trop day, two more usair strikes in iraq aimed at slowing any isis advance. this as they captured an air base in sear yachlt chairman of house intelligence committee mike rogers said the group poses a global threat. >> the reason isis is so successful is because there was nothing deterring them for years. they recruited, financed trained. they are one ticket away from u.s. shores. >> reporter: as president obama weighs the possibility of expanding air strikes into syria where isis is hecked, republicans urged him to act quickly. >> it's time to assume the worst about these guys rather than underestimate them. they're not the jv team anymore. they're most prominent terrorist organizations in the world. one of the key decisions the president is going to have to

make is air power in syria. question not give them a base of operations. >> reporter: but with polls showing a majority of americans opposing engagement and foreign conflict, some democrats continue to express concern about mission creep. >> we're seeing a broadening of the mission in iraq. should go into sear yashgs the missi -- sear yash syria, the mission will have been broadened. >> flags were lowered to half-staff as the community came together to mourn their native son and remember. curtis told me tonight a doctor determined kurt sis in gocurtis home. the white house faced a hard decision of whether to expand u.s. military engagement in the middle east. the very reason he withdrew forces from. lefter? >> kristen, thanks.

>> a car bomb exploded in syria after northern cities of kirkuk and erbil. the bombings left 18 dead, appeared to be targeting kurdish forces. >> the first british ebola victim arrived in the uk for treatment. british authorities say he poses no real risk of spreading the virus. he is in an isolation unit in london. this comes as a democratic republic of congo. it's a different strain of the virus from the one raging in west african nations. >> after weeks of violence, ferguson, missouri, is trying to return to normal. but as it does, it's finding itself still at the center of a debate about the evolving nature of police forces across the country. as you likely recall, protests in that city were met with armored vehicles. and assault weapons. it's left many wondering are our law enforcement agencies becoming more like the military? nbc's ron allen has that story

for us tonight. >> reporter: the tribute to michael brown where he was shot and killed draws more visitors as peace takes a firmer hold here. few arrests and small crowds overnight again. it was confrontations like this last week heavily armed police battling protesters that left president obama to question whether local police across the country really need and are trained enough to use billions of dollars worth of military style equipment required for several federal programs. >> there is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement and we don't want those lines blurred. >> reporter: in ferguson, st. louis county tactical officers used a bare cat armored vehicle, able to withstand the vehicle from a 50 caliber machine gun and were seen pointing in the direction of protesters a precision rife well a range of 500 to 800 yards. do you think the police went too far? >> i think some of the show of force has now become the problem

instead of the solution. >> reporter: nal nationally, police significantly increased arsenal after the september 11th attacks as the front line in the war on terror. now 600 mine resistant vehicles are in use, humvees, machine guns, camouflage gear, helicopters and planes. and with gun violence like school shootings frequent, police say they need at decisional weaponry. >> policing has changed. there are 300 million guns in circulation and there's tens of millions after sault rifle that's easily penetrate the police vests and equipment. so they need it. but this very to use it in the appropriate context. >> reporter: did you know they have this fire power? >> no, not at all. >> reporter: in ferguson, local leaders say they're very concerned about how police use that arsenal going forward. >> we have to define what is proper for a riot. what is proper for people who want to demonstrate. we have to define what is going to be accepted when there is an incident. >> reporter: police continue to emphasize that even during the

worst of the violence, few protesters were injured. and they insist that through it all, no officer has fired a single potentially lethal bullet even when they've been shot at from the crowd. lefter? >> ron, thank you. the third named storm of the season is gaining strength in the atlantic tonight. tropical storm cristobal has already lashing parts of the bahamas and could strengthen into a hurricane in a matter of days. for more on the storm, we're joined about it weather channel's kim cunningham. kim? >> reporter: lester, it is still a tropical storm. the latest advisory out from the fashi national hurricane center, winds at 45 miles per hour. moving north at eight miles per hour. you can see here it's about 350 miles to the east-southeast of florida. so it is far away from florida. we're not going to feel the direct effects from this tropical storm. but we will see the rip currents and also seas will be building with time with this. so i know it's a last week of summer for a lot of folks.

we get towards labor day weekend. i know you're concerned about what is going to do to the beaches. look at this forecast. the track takes it north. it's going to be pulled north by a trough on the upper level to the north. it's going to slow down. it's going to become a little bit stronger, too. it's going to intensify and stay well off shore. the forecast by wednesday, keeps it off shore by about 150 miles if it tracks on this side of the cone. this sidest cone we're going to feel less effects on the east coast. but by wednesday this could be a cat-1 hurricane. we're going to be looking for seas to be build ago long the carolina coast. rip currents are a big threat too, up and down the east coast. it does look like that is going to be the biggest threat from cristobal at this time. back to you. >> kim cunningham, thank you. when ""nightly news"" continues, the murder trial that has a community wondering dshgs a heart broken father take justice into his own hands? and later, the athlete was taking the swimming world by storm. and now it is not michael phelps. jake and i have been best friends for years.

one of our favorite things to do is going to the dog park together. sometimes my copd makes it hard to breathe. so my doctor prescribed symbicort. it helps significantly improve my lung function starting within five minutes. symbicort doesn't replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. with symbicort, today i'm breathing better. come on, boy! [ female announcer ] symbicort is for copd, including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. it should not be taken more than twice a day. symbicort contains formoterol. medicines like formoterol increase the risk of death from asthma problems. symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure before taking it. [ man ] now symbicort significantly improves my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. and that makes a difference in my breathing. today, i'm hanging out with my best friend. talk to your doctor about symbicort. i got my first prescription free. call or go online to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you can't afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help.

we turn now to a small town murder that has many asking was it a revenge killing? tomorrow arguments will resume in the trial of a father who was accused of shooting the drunk driver who killed his two sons. the case is splitting. the tiny texas community that is home to both families at the center of it all. hallie jackson reports. >> reporter: in a small farming community of alvin, texas, it seems like everyone knows someone affected by this trial. david brja is faithing murder charges in the death of a 20-year-old drunk driver who crashed into his two young sons while they were helping push the family pickup truck after it ran out of gas. >> we were fighting for my

brother's freedom right now. and my brother didn't do it. >> prosecutors are trying to prove that as his children lay dying in the street, the grieving father took the law into his own hands, fatally shooting him in the head. a small brown cross here in alvin honors jose banda and not far away is another memorial for the baraja brothers. both families forever linked by this small stretch of road. and by a knife thnight that dev the them both. >> i'm sure it's hard for both families. we live in a small community. everybody knows everybody. >> it's not right. a drunk driver killing a man's kids. i have four sons of my own. >> the banda's argue while their son made a mistake drinking and driving, did he not deserve to die. >> why do you come to the courtroom every day? >> for justice for my son. >> he has pleaded not guilty arguing he never shot him and legal experts say while

prosecutors can point to a motive, they're missing key evidence like a weapon. and there is the sympathy factor. >> the gallery at the courtroom is filled with liz supporters and hard to imagine that the jurors are not going to have a similar level of sympathy for this father. >> his wife says they're turning to their faith for strength. >> there's no taking that pain away. but there is no bringing them back either. i just wish that everyone all the way around us would find peace and comfort. >> everyone meaning even the banda family? >> even the banda family. >> two families from the same community each hoping justice will prevail. hallie jackson, nbc news, alvin, texas. still ahead, the option that is one for the history books. oh! the name your price tool! you tell them how much you want to pay, and they help you find a policy that fits your budget. i told you to wear something comfortable! this is a polyester blend! whoa! uh...little help?

test test test test. test test. test test. text test test: test test test. test test test. test. test. test. test. test. test.

and my rewards points won't expire. so you can make owning a business even more rewarding. ink from chase. so you can. ♪ ♪ start a team. join a team. walk to end alzheimer's. visit alz.org/walk today.

there is late word that british actor director richard attenborough has died. after a career spanning 60 years, and of the 90s he appeared in the dinosaur

thriller "jurassic park." he distinguished himself as a director, too, earning an oscar for "gandy" n a tweet tonight, the british prime minister david cameron called him one of the greats of sin machlt lord richard attenborough was 90. action comics number one is the holy grail of comic books. the 1938 book which introduced the world to super man is currently up for auction on ebay bidding is as more than $2.3 million. and if you're looking to buy it, you better act fast. bidding closes this evening. now shou this for a catch? a 14-year-old landed a blue lobster off the coast of maine. just how rare is that? well, oceanographers estimate that only one in two million lobsters is blue. don't worry, it's not on anyone's menu. it is being donated to the maine state aquarium. and move over michael fell ams and make room for katie

ladecky. she smashed yet another record tonight at the pan pacific championships. she finished 27 seconds faster than her closest opponent during the 1500 meter freestyle event. get this the teen has now broken five world records in just the last nine weeks. when we come back, the little league team that no matter the score has already won our hearts. frustrated with your overactive bladder medicine not working? ...can't handle the side effects? botox® treats symptoms of

leaking, going too often, and the strong sudden need to go. ask your urologist if botox® can help calm your bladder. ...and reduce your daily leakage episodes. the effects of botox® may spread hours to weeks after injection, causing serious symptoms. alert your doctor right away as difficulty swallowing, speaking, breathing, eye problems, loss of bladder control... ...or muscle weakness can be a sign of a life-threatening condition. don't take botox® if you can't empty your bladder or can't or won't self- catheterize if needed or have a urinary tract infection, or uti. side effects may include allergic reactions, injection site pain, fatigue, uti, painful urination,... ...and difficulty emptying your bladder. tell your doctor about your medical history, muscle or nerve conditions, and all medicines - especially botulinum toxins, antiplatelets, and blood thinners,... ...as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. ask if botox® can help calm your bladder. visit botoxoab.com to find a botox® urology specialist. it's been that way since the day you met. but your erectile dysfunction -

it could be a question of blood flow. cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or if you have any allergic reactions such as rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a 30-tablet free trial.

it's been a cinderella run for the little league team out of chicago. but unfortunately it has come to an end. jackie robinson west lost to south korea 8-4 in today's world championship game. but no matter what the score, the bores of summer inspired millions on and off the field. nbc's kristen dal gren reports. >> reporter: for the team from chicago, it certainly felt like a crushing defeat. >> flipped to short. it's over. chicago had a great run that comes up short.

it >> reporter: but for those that follow them, numbers on a scoreboard don't define a win. >> they're already on top. chicago is going crazy for them. >> after all, few expected jackie robinson west to even get here. a team from chicago's south side wherer fairytale endings don't happen. and a team is 13 african-american boys from a city that hasn't gone to williamsport in 31 years took the field. >> you don't see this every year. you know, we don't know if we're going to see this again. >> reporter: major league baseball players donated travel to their families, who watched from the sidelines, eyes brimming with pride. and this afternoon, young fans gathered where the team practiced, taking pictures and autographs. it was not always story book. there were at times tears. but they taught us hard knocks can be hit right out of the park. and the 11 and 12-year-olds never lost their sense of humor.

>> i don't like losing. it's -- it's like a girl dumping you and going to your best friend. >> reporter: there were other great stories this summer like mo'ne davis who smoked the boys with a 70 mile an hour fastball. >> the dragons! >> back in chicago, they're still planning a celebration. because for them, this is about much more than baseball. >> nobody's more deserving. >> in a community that needed a hero and now has 13. christen dal gren, nbc news, new york. >> and late today, the mayor said what we're thinking, these kids will forever be champions of chicago. that's nbc "nightly news" for this sunlt. i'm lester holt. i'll see you shortly an "dateline." for all of us here at nbc news, good night.

>> our daughter chose to go up and fly in an airplane. >> my dad pulled up, said mckenzie is missing. >> i am not ready to plan a funeral. >> a teenage girl out to earn her pilot's license sets off on a solo flight. >> she was well trained. she's capable. >> but something went wrong. >> i started thinking she should be there by now. >> hours stretched on without any word. her parents frantic. >> i have that hearing feeling, the kind you don't entertain as a parent. >> mckenzie had vanished, leaving behind