rented a car, cost him more than $300. he's on the road now. >> thanks for watching. i'm renee chenault-fattah. >> i'm jim rosenfield. the news continues with "nbc nightly news." on this friday night, sentenced to death. breaking news from boston as the marathon bomber is told he will die for his crimes. jurors crying in the courtroom. survivors react to the sentence. the engineer speaks. what he's just told investigators about the amtrak disaster. and why the fbi is now involved. also tonight, surviving a crash. where experts say is the safest place to sit. tragic discovery in nepal. search crews find the wreckage of the chopper carrying marines on marines. "nightly news" begins right now. >> announcer: from nbc news world headquarters in new york this is "nbc

nightly news." reporting tonight, lester holt. good evening. what a crushing way to of responsibility to decide whether someone lives or dies. a boston jury who saw every gruesome picture, heard every heartbreaking story of loss and suffering, has spoken on the fate of marathon bomber dzhokhar tsarnaev. youunanimously voting to be put death for his crime. four people died in the attack and over 200 were injured. some of those who survived are speaking out about the verdict. nbc's pete williams has been covering this story from the start. he's outside the courthouse now. pete good evening. >> reporter: lester good evening. the jury deliberated just 15 hours after four weeks of testimony in this penalty phase of the trial, rejecting a plea from defense lawyers to send him to prison for life. shock har tsarnaev becomes the first person in the u.s. to be sentenced to an act of terrorism

terrorism. >> we send a message, a strong message, that we're not going to tolerate terrorism. and i think whether you agree with the death penalty or don't, i think the message is sent that they're not going to blow up our mar a than they're not going to blow up our city. >> reporter: the jury unanimously said he should face the death penalty. chris cal campbell was planted by his older brother tamerlan. there was no clear evidence about which of the brothers pulled the trigger. the jury rejected the defense claim that tsarnaev was the junior partner, less responsible for the bombings. tsarnaev never took the stand in his own defense and showed no emotion today as the verdict was read later slumping in his chair as he has throughout the trial. victims and family members listened in solemn silence as the verdict was read. among them the parents of martin richard, who

said nothing afterward. they publicly opposed the death penalty after he was found guilty last month. paul and j.p. each lost their right legs in the bombings said she's grateful for the verdict. >> there's no winner today. but i feel justice for my family. >> reporter: karen broussard agreed. >> once the verdict came in it was like okay now we can start from here. and go forward. and really feel like it's behind us. >> reporter: sidney corcoran who nearly bled to death said my mother and i think now he will go away and we will be able to move on. justice in his own words, an eye for an eye. michael ward put it this way. >> he's going to go to hell that's where he wanted to go. but he's going to get there quicker than he thought. >> reporter: tsarnaev will eventually be moved to a prison in indiana, set to die in the lethal injection chamber. but it has not been used for a dozen

years. execution lawyers will begin a long process of appeals hoping to get the sentence reduced to life. >> this is going to last a decade or more. we're going to be hearing about this case for many years to come. >> reporter: several jurors went after the verdict was announced. an emotional release after 61 days of often gut-wrenching testimony. defense lawyers had argued that sentencing tsarnaev to life in prison would be more appropriate, condemning him to years in solitary confinement under severe restrictions. but the jury rejected that unanimously. >> pete williams in boston tonight. thanks. another big story we're covering this evening. a lot of late breaking developments into the deadly amtrak disaster in philadelphia. this evening investigators revealed what the engineer who was at the controls is telling them about the crash, and the fbi is now involved. trying to determine if the train was struck by something before the crash. nbc's tom costello has

late details. tom? >> reporter: hi lester good evening. the focus remains on this engineer but also on that other train that came through this north philadelphia area just before train 188 did. that train was hit by a projectile. the question is whether it was train 188 also hit by something. for the first time since tuesday's derailment ntsb investigators have heard from a man at the center of the investigation, 32-year-old engineer branton bostion who said the last thing he recalls is ringing his ball when he left the north philly train station. >> he reported no fatigue throughout the day, or any illness throughout the day. >> reporter: just moments before tuesday's crash, another regional acceptta train was hit by a projectile shattering its windshield. ntsb investigators say they've seen something suspicious on train 188's windshield. >> we have seen damage to the left-hand lower portion of the amtrak

windshield that we have asked the fbi to come in and look at for us. >> reporter: the heavily used northeast corridor snakes through dense neighborhoods. for trains heading north from philadelphia station, the track curves right. a 65-mile-per-hour speed limit. then accelerates on a straightaway to 80 miles per hour for less than a minute and a half before braking to 50 for a sharp left curve. on tuesday, the train went into the curve at 106 miles per hour. engineer fritz elder worked the line for 25 years. >> the equipment we have is designed to accelerate quickly. it can quickly get away from you. >> reporter: to ensure engineers pay attention, alarms go off every few seconds requiring them to hit a button indicating their alert. >> the system is telling me this is a 40-mile-per-hour curve. >> reporter: the new positive train control technology could monitor and stop a speeding train. but it's not up and running on this stretch of track. >> we're committed to safety.

we're going to have train control by the end of this year. >> reporter: meanwhile, an off-duty employee who was injured in the crash has filed the first lawsuit against amtrak. bruce phillips claims he was violently hurled inside the rail car and suffered possible brain trauma. >> it's negligence. but you have a case here where there's active technology that could actually have avoided this accident. >> reporter: tonight the ntsb says it's looking at video cameras from both trains for any signs of projectiles or suspects. >> tom, thank you. tonight confirmation of a news six military families have been fearing. the wreckage of a helicopter carrying u.s. marines has been found in nepal, where they were helping after the earthquake. officials say there is no indication of survivors. the crew was based at camp pendleton near san diego. and our national correspondent miguel almaguer is there. >> reporter: the intense three-day search took rescue teams deep into nepal's forest in the

rugged unforgiving terrain, the downed huey was spotted without any sign of any survivors. >> they were courageous. they were selfless individuals dedicated to the international humanitarian aid mission here in nepal. we are deeply saddened by the discovery of this wreckage. >> reporter: the six marines and two nepalese service members aboard were delivering aid to two villages rocked by the earthquake. family members fear the worst. >> i told him many times i was proud of him and i loved him. the biggest thing i will miss is his hugs. >> reporter: his son chris was a helicopter pilot. a 31-year-old high school football coach, who had just called home on mother's day. >> my son is my hero. and he's with me now and always will be. >> reporter: 22-year-old lance corporal jacob was a videographer

documenting the relief effort. his father spoke in arizona. >> you'll never find a better son. devoted and dedicated. and love for his mother and his family. like nothing you've ever seen. >> reporter: this captain was an aviation safety officer. >> we stand with nepal. >> reporter: his wife pregnant with their second child in san diego. crew chief ward mark johnson iv was in charge of maintaining the helicopter. he was set to retire from the marines. the president today said these service members demonstrate the best of american leadership, and sacrifice. >> they went to that remote land to help people who suffered devastating losses in a terrible earthquake. they represent a truth that guides our work around the world. >> reporter: the helicopter that took off tuesday, part of an air squadron team based here at camp pendleton here in san diego, apparently never sent out a distress call. officials say search

teams will continue their recovery effort at search light in just a few hours in nepal when the sun rises. >> miguel thank you. a dangerous night may be in store for the plains where a number of tornado watches are in effect. a massive storm is moving across the country tonight, stretching 1,200 miles long. it already produced at least one tornado an hour east of denver. the severe threat grows tomorrow with heavy rain large hail and strong winds forecasted for much of texas and the midsection. and several states are also at risk for severe weather sunday. texas in particular has been hit hard this week with heavy rains, creating a 40-foot sinkhole in a parking lot in north texas. tonight marks the end of a long week for jeb bush who stumbled on monday over a question about the iraq war and struggled since then to put daylight between him and his brother's legacy on iraq without appearing to turn his back on the former president. nbc senior white house correspondent chris jan sing has more on another potential blow

today to bush's white house ambitions. >> reporter: what had already been a pretty bad week for jeb bush, today seemed to get even worse. >> i'm not planning to endorse anybody. >> reporter: the strategist behind george w. bush's two winning presidential campaigns -- >> the architect, karl rove. >> reporter: -- was noncommittal about jeb. >> i want to win. i have a long friendship with the family. and a long friendship with jeb. but i'm like a lot of people sitting on the sidelines watching and waiting. >> reporter: an apparent snub but analysts say bush may not want the endorsement. >> it would take us right back to the whole, is this just the latest chapter in the bush family. >> reporter: while jeb bush is the man with the name and the money, the republican race remains wide open. no clear front-runner. bush will be one of 11 republicans speaking at the legendary lincoln dinner. in iowa not friendly

territory for jeb bush they're not happy he's decided to skip this summer's straw poll. bush spent much of the week trying to explain his answer on iraq. >> knowing what we know now, would you have authorized the invasion? >> i would have. >> reporter: over four days finally getting this. >> i would not have gone into iraq. >> reporter: the iowa caucuses are more than eight months away. chris jansing, abc news iowa. >> the moderator of "meet the press," chuck todd. eight months is a lot of time. >> it sure is. i think the biggest news of the week is what we learned that chris jansing just talked about, not only is jeb bush for the front-runner for the republican nomination but there is no front-runner for the nomination. it could be something that lingers for him. maybe he doesn't know how to get out of his brother's shadow. what we realize, it is a crowded field at the

top. scott walker is the man in iowa rand paul is the guy who polls best against hillary clinton. jeb bush is the man with money. but with little es. marco rubio is the buzz candidate. that's the good news. this is going to be fun to watch. it is a little bit nervous for some republicans who don't like the idea that it's this wide open because when it's wide open it leads to some -- a lot of internal fighting. >> chuck, thanks very much. we'll see you this sunday for "meet the press." among chuck's guests senator rand paul of kentucky. still ahead tonight, when disaster strikes, do you know the safest place to sit on a train to increase your chances of survival. we get the answer from the man who literally wrote the book on rail safety. also the moment that stunned so marianne fans a music star goes right over the edge. out of 42 vehicles based on 6 different criteria, why did a panel of 11 automotive experts

name the volkswagen golf motor trend's 2015 car of the year? we'll give you four good reasons. the volkswagen golf. starting at $19,295, there's an award-winning golf for everyone. my constipation and belly pain feel like a raging storm. i've tried laxatives but my symptoms keep returning. my constipation feels like a heavy weight that keeps coming back. vo: linzess can help. once-daily linzess treats adults with ibs with constipation or chronic constipation. linzess is thought to help calm pain-sensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. linzess helps you proactively manage your symptoms. do not give linzess to children under 6, and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. it may harm them. don't take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. get immediate help if you develop unusual

or severe stomach pain especially with bloody or black stools. the most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe. if it's severe stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. other side effects include, gas, stomach-area pain and swelling. bottom line, ask your doctor about linzess today. incredible! i've been claritin clear for ten days. when your allergy symptoms start, doctors recommend taking one claritin every day of your allergy season for continuous relief. with powerful 24-hour, non-drowsy claritin live claritin clear. every day.

in the wake of that terrible train crash in philadelphia there is a question many of us have been asking ourselves what are the odds that you would survive if something like this happened to a train that you were on. according to the experts, it may all depend where you're sitting. nbc's stephanie gosk explains. >> reporter: the aerial over train 188 tells the deadly story. that's the first car ripped apart. the second car didn't fare much better. at least two of the passengers killed were in those two cars. where people choose to sit on a train can

determine whether or not they walk away from a crash. >> i've always told my wife to sit in the middle of the train. >> reporter: larry mann is the author of the federal railway safety act. >> i've been involved in railroad accidents since 1970. and i've analyzed numerous accidents. the middle of the train is by far the safest. >> reporter: there is no definitive study, but there are recent examples that suggest the first and last cars can be the deadliest. whether the accident in on-track collision or a derailment. in 2008 a california commuter train barreled into a freight car. 25 killed 22 of them in the first car. in 2013 a new york city commuter train derailed killing four people. all of them were sitting in the first three cars. if you're fortunate to find a seat in a middle car, preferably on the aisle away from the windows, it doesn't necessarily eliminate all the risks. in a derailment especially on a short train, every single car can topple over.

in the uk a broken rail crash killed four people. all of them were in the cafe car, the seventh of nine cars on the train. trains still remain one of the safest ways to travel. in the u.s. in 2013 only six train passengers lost their lives. compare that to the 28,000 deaths on the road. the seat behind the wheel still far more deadly than any seat on a train. stephanie gosk nbc news new york. up next tonight, late word about an iconic store beloved by so many kids. i'm louis, and i quit smoking with chantix. i told myself for so long that i needed to quit smoking. i would quit then i'd go right back to it. chantix absolutely helped me quit smoking. along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. chantix helped reduce my urge to smoke. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. some people had seizures while taking chantix.

if you have any of these stop chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix or history of seizures. don't take chantix if you've had a serious allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these stop chantix and see your doctor right away as some can be life-threatening. tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems or develop new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. decrease alcohol use while taking chantix. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. i'm not worried about smoking my next cigarette. to me that feels great. ask your doctor if chantix is right for you. constipated? .yea dulcolax tablets can cause cramps but not phillips. it has magnesium and works more naturally than stimulant laxatives. for gentle cramp free relief of occasional constipation that works! mmm mmm live the regular life. you pay your auto insurance premium every month on the dot. you're like the poster child for paying on time. and then one day you tap the bumper of a station wagon.

no big deal... until your insurance company jacks up your rates. you freak out. what good is having insurance if you get punished for using it? hey insurance companies, news flash. nobody's perfect. for drivers with accident forgiveness, liberty mutual won't raise your rates due to your first accident. see car insurance in a whole new light. liberty mutual insurance. listen up... i'm reworking the menu. veggies you're cool... mayo, corn dogs... you are so out of here! ahh... the complete balanced nutrition of great tasting ensure. with nine grams of protein... and 26 vitamins and minerals. and now with... ...twice as much vitamin d ...which up to 90% of people don't get enough of. ohhhhhhh. the sunshine vitamin! ensure now has 2x more vitamin d to support strong bones. ensure. take life in. i love making sunday dinners. but when my back hurt, cooking all day... forget about it. tylenol was ok, but it was 6 pills a day. but aleve is just 2 pills all day.

and now, i'm back! aleve. the sight of that famous scene from the movie "big" is to be no more. they're closing its flagship location in midtown manhattan. the most famous toy in the nation said its

rent has gotten too high. it's looking for a new location but nothing official quite yet. if mayweather pacquiao was supposed to be the fight of the century, then this is the most unlikely fight of the century. mitt romney is boxing former heavyweight champ evander holyfield tonight in salt lake city. it's for real and it's for charity. romney is 56 years older and lighter. scary moments caught on camera when u2's the edge went off the edge during a concert in vancouver last night when he took a bad step right off the stage. it comes six months after bono was badly injured in a bike accident. he's back on stage, but still recovering. the edge posted a photo of his bruises on instagram with the caption, didn't see the edge. i'm okay. when we come back farewell to the king. a look back at the life and music ♪ ♪ ♪ at chase, we celebrate small businesses

every day through programs like mission main street grants. last years' grant recipients are achieving amazing things. carving a name for myself and creating local jobs. creating more programs for these little bookworms. bringing a taste of louisiana to the world. at chase, we're proud to support our grant recipients and small businesses like yours. so you can take the next big step. allergies can distract you. so when your symptoms start, doctors recommend taking non-drowsy claritin every day of your allergy season. with claritin, you get powerful, non-drowsy relief 24 hours a day, day after day. which is important because with fewer symptoms to distract you you can focus on the extraordinary things you do every single day. live claritin clear. every day. >>who... is this?! >>hi, i am heinz new mustard. hi na na na na >>she's just jealous because you have

better taste. whatever. >>hey. keep your chin up. for years, heinz ketchup has been with the wrong mustard. well, not anymore. introducing heinz new better tasting yellow mustard. mmm! i'm caridee. i've had moderate to severe plaque psoriasis most of my life. but that hasn't stopped me from modeling. my doctor told me about stelara® it helps keep my skin clearer. with only 4 doses a year after 2 starter doses... ...stelara® helps me be in season. stelara® may lower your ability to fight infections and increase your risk of infections. some serious infections require hospitalization. before starting stelara® your doctor should test for tuberculosis. stelara® may increase your risk of cancer. always tell your doctor if you have any sign of infection have had cancer, or if you develop any new skin growths. do not take stelara® if you are allergic to stelara® or any of its ingredients.

alert your doctor of new or worsening problems including headaches, seizures, confusion and vision problems. these may be signs of a rare potentially fatal brain condition. serious allergic reactions can occur. tell your doctor if you or anyone in your house needs or has recently received a vaccine. in a medical study most stelara® patients saw at least 75% clearer skin and the majority were rated as cleared or minimal at 12 weeks. stelara® helps keep my skin clearer. ask your doctor about stelara®. fans and fellow

musicians celebrate b.b. king who died yesterday after an extended illness. messages of condolences at the b.b. king blues club here in new york starring a flower is there on the king's star hollywood walk of fame. the historic b.b. king museum a simple black bow on a guitar. these pictures courtesy of our jackson, mississippi, affiliate wlbt. b.b. king was an ambassador of the blues, went from humble beginnings to worldwide fame in a career that spanned decades. b.b. king's voice and those signature guitars helped propel the blues into the mainstream. the undisputed king of blews was born riley b. king on a mississippi delta plantation. his break came in memphis, where he got radio play club

dates, and that nickname. >> i never asked you what b.b. stands for. >> it stands for blues boy. i was a disk jockey back in memphis at the beginning of my career. >> his first hit came in 1951. 3:00 blues. but this 1969 classic became his signature song. ♪ the thrill has gone away ♪ >> he called his guitar lucille. and boy, could he make lucille sing. even some of his famous peers looked up to him. >> how much of an influence has he had on your life and your career? >> every guitar player that i know shos shoes will never be filled. >> rock stars who loved the blues, loved b.b. king. ♪ rock me baby ♪ >> eric clapton

remembered his friend today. >> he was a beacon for all of us who loved this kind of music. and i thank him from the bottom of my heart. >> 15 grammys, a member of the rock 'n roll hall of fame the presidential medal of freedom. he even sang with a president. >> people call me king of the blues. i've heard it many many times. do you think i think that? no i don't. i think there are a lot of people doing exactly what i do and a lot of them can do it better. not just me. >> b.b. king was a timeless national treasure. ♪ got to be a better world ♪ >> b.b. king was 89. and boy, will he be missed. that's going to do

it for us on this friday night. i'm lester holt. for all of us at nbc news thank you for watching, and good night.

>> my. >> chris the kardashian critics, the crazy