/s as a state we are dealing with the largest mass shooting in our state's history. >> breaking news, a deadly church shooting in a small texas town. a gunman walks in and opens fire, killing up to 26 people, woundsing several others in what isow the deadliest mass shootsing in a place of worship. >> asia trip, the president is abroad taking on trade issues and the nuclear threat coming out of north korea. but it's the texas shooting and new comments from the commander in chief that may dominate the news cycle. >> plus nbc news exclusive developments involving the russia investigation and the president's former national security advisor michael flynn. >> newly leaked documents shine a light on the commercial secretary's own business connections to vladimir putin's

family. >> and 385 million charitable dollars later, elton john gets celebrated in a big way. "early today" starts right now. good morning. i'm phillip mena. >> and i'm gigi stone woods. unending horror is how the cover of one major newspaper reads this morning after 26 innocent lives were lost and ten others wounded. happened in sutherland, texas, just southeast of san antonio following a deadly rampage when a lone gunman walked into a church during sunday service dressed intact cal gear and used an automatic assault rifle to shoot parishioners. the suspected attacker, 26-year-old devin patrick kelley, was later found dead himself. >> his victims range in age from 5 to 72 years old, with even the church's pastor's teen daughter among the dead. it's a tragedy that is devastating the small town of sutherland springs and the nation in what is a deadliest shooting at a place of worship

in the country's history. we are learning more about the suspected gunman including his military past. for more on this we go to nbc's justice correspondent pete williams. pete? >> reporter: philip, texas authorities with the help of the fbi and atf are trying to find out why this happened. no idea yet, they say, though, several officials tell us they see no obvious connection at this point to international terrorism. some answers may come from a search of the home of devin patrick kelley, the man law enforcement officials tell us was the gunman. he lived in a rural area of comal county in texas, about 35 miles from sutherland springs. people in that tiny town say he had relatives there, but authorities are only now beginning to look into his background. no criminal record, just traffic offenses. he served in the air force and was apparently dishonorably discharged. law enforcement officials say he fired an ar-type assault rifle in the attack so one big question, where did he get it? it's illegal for anybody dishonorably discharged from the

military to have a gun. philip? >> pete, thank you. and overnight we have new reaction from the president as he condemned the texas attack while saying the attack was not a, quote, guns situation. >> i think that mental health is your problem here. this was a very, based on preliminary reports, very deranged individual, a lot of problems over a long period of time. we have a lot of mental health problems in our country, as do other countries. but this isn't a guns situation. i mine, we could go into it, but it's a little bit soon to go into it. this is a mental health problem at the highest level. it's a very, very sad event. it's -- these are great people and a very, very sad event. >> this morning residents in the small town of sutherland springs are in mourning as friends and family reel from the devastation. with some like 5-year-old rye landward fighting for their lives after a senseless act toward their community.

still, many came together in the darkness of night to hold a vigil for those fallen and for those still fighting. as they try to reclaim their town from tragedy. for more we go to nbc's mariana atencio in sutherland springs. mariana? >> reporter: gigi, this is still a very active crime scene behind me in front of the first baptist church in the small rural community in southeast texas. we are about 40 minutes southeast of san antonio. this community of about 400 people, so to put that into perspective, if you're talking about 26 innocent lives that were lost in this church behind me, that is roughly 5% of the population here, of this very small rural community. as you can imagine, the residents here, neighbors, some of whom started trickling in very early this morning, talking to local law enforcement, they cannot fathom that this kind of a tragedy, now the deadliest

mass shooting at a house of worship in the country, would happen here. i want to play some sound for you from a vigil held here yesterday with some reaction about this tragedy. let's listen. >> i don't have much to say except for it's very devastating and it's hard to hear. >> i really don't think it's still settled in yet that it happened. no one knows why he was here. >> people just don't care no more about nobody. it's just hatred all over the place. >> [ inaudible ]. >> he's a coward. people in a church. >> i can't believe in the middle of nowhere this would happen. >> my husband said it's the worst thing he's seen. >> reporter: the pastor of the first baptist church did record the sunday services to post to youtube, philip and gigi. so, they are hoping that possibly the service from this past sunday was recorded to possibly know more about the shooting and about what happened. back to you guys.

>> still a horrible visual. mariana, thank you. >> president trump is in japan today. the first of five countries that he will visit on a 12-day tour of asia. this morning the president met with japanese business leaders commenting on the touchy subject of trade, calling for more equitable deal. >> right now our trade with japan is not fair and it's not open. we want free and reciprocal trade, but right now our trade with japan is not free and it's not reciprocal. >> the president is also meeting with prime minister shinzo abe to discuss another urgent issue, north korea. nbc's kelly o'donnell joins us now live from tokyo where it is early evening there and, kelly, what else have we were heard from the president on this part of the trip? >> reporter: well, good evening, philip. there will be a state dinner at which president trump will be the guest of honor tonight. we also heard him talking about trade. you mentioned what a thorny issue that is. he said that he was willing to risk some cultural insults by

pressing hard on japanese companies, especially automakers to do more by building inside the united states and trying to ease the imbalance in trade between the u.s. and japan. but north korea is really a dominant issue here, and japan will be purchasing more u.s. military equipment as a greater deterrent to north korea and its provocations. the president also met on a very emotional subject of japanese families whose loved ones have been kidnapped and held captive in north korea. the president saying that human face can also put more leverage on kim jong-un, the leader of north korea, because there is an opportunity to release hostages as a good will gesture. the president was also mindful of his own sometimes hot rhetoric when it comes to north korea as he addressed a change in strategy and posture from the united states toward north korea. >> the era of strategic patience is over.

some people said that my rhetoric is very strong. but look what's happened with very weak rhetoric over the last 25 years. look where we are right now. >> reporter: much of what we have seen here in japan is an emphasis on the strong relationship in personal terms between the president and the prime minister, something that will be very important whether it's trade or north korea on the international stage. philip, gigi? tea kelly o'donnell live for us from tokyo. kelly, thank you. >> nbc news now reports federal investigators have gathered enough evidence to bring charges in an investigation of former national security advisor michael flynn and his son as part of their probe into russia's meddling in the 2016 election. now, this is according to multiple sources familiar with the investigation who say investigators are speaking to multiple witnesses in the coming days to gain more information

surrounding flynn. the news comes at an intensifying moment in the investigation, following the indictment of campaign chairman paul manafort and his business partner rick gates. for more let's go to nbc's edward lawrence in washington. good morning, edward. the story keeps unfolding. >> reporter: good morning, gigi. it certainly does. now, if michael flynn is charged, he would be the first former or current trump administration official to be charged with criminal wrongdoing, up to now it's just been folks linked to his campaign. now, what special prosecutor robert mueller wants to find out is if the flynns, michael flynn or his son, lied to investigators about overseas contacts, or laundering money in some way. now, under the microscope, some $35,000 that russian state television paid michael flynn for a gala in 2015 where he sat next to russian president vladimir putin. they are also going to look at an accusation from former cia director jim woolsey who says that in the weeks after the

inauguration, flynn and turkish officials went to the fbi and asked them to possibly forcibly remove a muslim cleric who was at odds with the turkish president. some republicans here in congress said they would like to see the funding for the special counsel eliminated, therefore ending the investigation. however, house speaker paul ryan says this needs to play itself out. >> i've said all along we need to let these career professionals do their jobs, see it through, so no, i don't think he should be stepping down. i don't think he should be fired. and the president has made clear he's not going to do that. so, no, we're not going to interfere with this investigation. the investigation will take its course. >> reporter: two sources say that if michael flynn does cooperate to help his son out, it would limit his legal consequence. gigi? >> all right, edward, thank you. >> let's get a look at our monday forecast from nbc meteorologist bill karins. good morning, bill. >> good morning. two stories out there. one is the rain and the thunderstorms that are heading through the ohio valley and then we have the frigid cold that is coming down. i mean it's been a warm fall in most areas, not montana, not

idaho, and now through the dakotas. look at fargo today, 29 degrees, tuesday 28 degrees. minneapolis 35 and 34. and there's been enough cold air over the weekend and significant snow in the northern rockies. we're going to get a little bit in colorado. san juan mountains, not too much in i-25 south wards of pueblo, maybe a coating there. there is that cold. it's still warm in texas for now, efforts for hiv and aids.

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international consortium of investigative journalists. the documents connect secretary ross to an oil company called sibur which is owned by russian oligarchs including this man, who is married to putin's daughter. >> i'm calling for a new investigation at the very least by the inspector general of the department of commerce that will tell us on the committee and tell the american people how we were misled, if this information, in fact, was concealed as appears to be. >> reporter: misled, the senator says, because during his confirmation ross, a billionaire investor, declared that he had divested most of his holdings. >> you did it to avoid any conflicts of interest, correct? >> that is correct, sir. >> reporter: but the leaked documents show that ross continues to own through a series of shell companies a stake in a shipping company called navigator, and one of navigator's biggest customers is that russian oil firm si burks

ur owned in large part by close associates of putin who were targeted by u.s. sanctions. daniel freed, a sanctions coordinator at the state department under president obama, says this all raises concerns. >> quite apart from whether it's a sanctions violation, like it doesn't pass a smell test. >> reporter: president bush's chief ethics advisor agrees. >> that is an unworkable conflict of interest. he can't do that. he needs to choose between the shipping company and his job as commerce secretary. >> that was nbc's richard engel reporting. in a statement issued through commerce department spokesman, secretary ross said no funds managed by his company ever owned a majority of navigator shares. he never met the three russian oligarchs mentioned and he has been generally supportive of sanctions on russian entities. >> just ahead, a billionaire investor in twitter, apple and other corporate giants unexpectedly arrested in saudi arabia. details coming up.

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there's major political turmoil in the middle east as saudi arabia's heir to the royal throne leads a sweeping crackdown on alleged corruption, arresting other officials. >> many calling a power grab by the new counsel prince bart of

his efforts to reshape his country's domestic and foreign policy. cnbc's hadley is in riyadh. what are the implications here? >> reporter: well, this is all part of a broader narrative, guys, in terms of what the crown prince, son of the king is doing to move this economy forward. the message he is sending here is no one is above the law, especially when it comes to corruption. whether they be billionaire investors, government ministers or even members of the royal family. now, of course the bigger question here today in saudi arabia is what happens next. we understand that all of those implicated on corruption charges including billionaire investor alwaleed bin talal as well as prince ma tab, the man just in charge of the national guard, are all of them allowed to seek legal counsel. none of their assets have been frozen. and what we understand is they haven't actually had a ban placed on their travel. part of this, of course, is the fact that alwaleed bin talal

investor in such things aggies twitter and citibank, has been outspoken from saudi arabia and many under the surface here especially royal circles are uncomfortable with how outspoken he ho he has been. wondering if this is a power approach or the part of the son of the king to move this economy sfard and show corruption will not be tolerated. guys? >> certainly a new era there in saudi arabia. hadley, thank you. >> just ahead, we'll have an update for you on today's weather, plus more details on the deadliest mass shooting in texas history. you're watching "early today." and at our factory in boston, 1,200 workers are starting their day building on over a hundred years of heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. today we're bringing you america's number one shave at lower prices every day. putting money back in the pockets of millions of americans. as one of those workers, i'm proud to bring you gillette quality for less, because nobody can beat the men and women of gillette. gillette - the best a man can get.

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♪ welcome back. tracking the cold front and the rain this morning in nashville, the rain for you. pittsburgh, it is raining. it will continue for a couple hours for you. flooding problems are going to become a minimal areas of southern ohio. flood watches will be dry. they go till 6:00 to 7:00 a.m. this morning. we'll watch for rain in new york city, philadelphia around noon, boston later in the afternoon. that's why we have the rainy forecast. it only lasts 2 to 3 hours in most areas of the northeast. there is the cold air. signs of winter in the northern plains. >> finally coming. thanks, bill. >> just ahead, a new info on the mass shooting in texas. we are learning more about the suspected gunman's background and the person who rushed in to stop him. you're watching "early today." fred would do anything for his daughter. get in, fred! even if it means being the back half of a unicorn.

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horror and heartbreak. this morning, we're hearing about the moments gunfire erupted in a church in a small texas town leaving more than two dozen dead. decision 2017. time is ticking down to election day. the final push from the candidates hoping to become philadelphia's next district attorney. and fly, eagles fly. the birds soar to another victory as they remain on top of the nfl. >> woohoo! at 8-1, somebody's predicting super bowl. just saying. good morning, this is "nbc10 news today," first look at 4. i'm tracy davidson. >> i'm via sikahema. we'll get to meteorologist bill henley and a warm start to the

workweek. >> must have the warm start the eagles got going over the weekend. still with us. heat, temperatures into the 60s. warming to near 70 this afternoon. clouds are already increasing over the city. it won't be long, we'll see showers moving in. primarily this afternoon. cloudy skies over wilmington, philadelphia, and trenton. you see the showers already in central pennsylvania, and more wet weather, the potential of thunderstorms coming our way later today. we're in the 60s, very warm. 61 degrees in new jersey. 61 in the suburbs. that 63 is actually warmer than our normal high temperature this time of year. it warms into the 60s, upper 60s and 70s. temperatures will be capped off by the showers coming in. cloudy skies, a chance of afternoon showers, possibly a thunderstorm to the shore. 68 in delaware. up to 72. look for wet weather to move in later this morning in the neighborhoods. i'll track it hour by hour and show you what to expect in ten minutes. first jessica boyington and

first alert traffic. >> thanks. starting on the blue route. the germantown pike onramp. here is the southbound side. no problems there. here, northbound, moving toward the mid county tolls. again, no problems. an easy drive. the schuylkill expressway doesn't have any construction that we've been dealing with for several days. 12 minutes eastbound. open once you get to the vine street expressway. from the blue route to the vine, speeds into the 60s. ending on mass transit, amtrak, septa, new jersey transit, and patco currently with no problems. vai and tracy? hearts are heavy around the country and even overseas after a man gunned down more than two dozen people in a texas church. >> i cried so much. i don't even have any tears left. >> the guy only brought us closer by doing this. we're more unified now. it brings us even more together. >> the victims range in age from 5 to