called herself the young lionness and reportedly told islamic state militants she wanted to martyr herself. if the fbi allegations are true these american flags flying on her north philadelphia home were hiding an enemy of the state. and only "action news" was there last week at federal agents raided the house to find out. "action news" reporter david henry is live at the federal building in center city where keonna thomas made her first court appearance today. david. >> reporter: yeah, rick, she was in court today. it was a very brief appearance lasting less than 10 minutes. the feds say she was trying to join isis in syria to die as martyr on the battlefield. thomas appeared in court wearing full muslim garb concealing her face. she gave one word yes and no answers as the judge asked several questions. only "action news" was there when fbi agents radded her home in north philadelphia last week. they moved in after she allegedly because the plane tickets to fly to spain.

they say she was on her way to turkey where she planned to cross the border into syria. the criminal complaint filed in federal court indicates fbi agents intercepted her online communications with isis fighters in syria. one of the fighters allegedly asked her if she wanted to join a martyr dom operation. she allegedly replied a girl can only wish. in another posting she allegedly wrote if we truly knew the realities we would all be rushing to join our brothers in the front lines. thomas lived with her mother in this house ironically decoratord with american flags. she was arrested there this morning. her mother had no comment. >> can you get off my door, please. >> reporter: thomas was also known as fatayat al khalif ya' and young lionness. she allegedly posted these isis propaganda videos on her twitter account. the court appointed a federal defender today since she can't afford a lawyer. she's being held without bail until her next court

appearance next wednesday. >> on wednesday we'll be back in court for a detention hearing an preliminary hearing. >> reporter: thomas is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. if she is convicted she faces up to 15 years in jail. live at federal court david henry, channel6 "action news." rick. >> all right, david thank you. and our coverage of the isis arrest continues online. you'll find more details from the criminal complaint against her, also see video reports including our exclusive video of the raid on her north philadelphia home. it's right there right now at 6abc.com. and stay tuned. abc news chief global affairs correspondent martha raddatz will have additional reporting on this isis case coming up tonight on world news with david muir. that's right after "action news" at 6:00. in other news tonight dozens of drug busts in philadelphia and beyond. police announced the results of an operation today that sent 60 suspects to the

slammer, many from the suburbs. "action news" reporter vernon odom has details. >> reporter: police display a hidden ler win stash compartment under the back seat of a car seized yesterday during a mammoth drug street through east division a haven for open air drug sales. in the targeted area, the 10 block section of kensington still known as the bad lands somerset to cambria kensington to eighth street, there were more than 60 arrests 40 of them buyers. nearly one third of them police say came in from the suburbs to score their dope mainly heroin on some of philadelphia's meanest streets. >> my message is that if you think it's a good idea to purchase narcotics in the city limits, you will be not only charged for that crime but your vehicle will be confiscated and your picture and information will be publicized through the news media. >> reporter: in all 24 vehicles were confiscated. notorious drug corners like eighth and somerset police say will be continuously targeted. law abiding neighbors live in

fear in this section of kensington. police say more operations are coming to various sections of down. >> we're looking at data. we see where these open air drug sales are plaguing the area. the communities are under siege by large numbers of drug addicts buying and using drugs only and again we have young children and parents walking through these drug markets just to get to school. >> reporter: police say they'll constantly release the mug shots and names of those arrested to try to dry up the market. >> if if your employer doesn't know that you're a heroin addict if you're arrested the next morning they'll know. >> reporter: you can see dozens of those fresh mug shots by going directly to our 6abc web site. at the narcotics strike force headquarters in germantown, i'm vernon odom, channel6 "action news." >> two people are in custody in connection with an overnight double shooting near temple university. the gunfire erupted during a house party on the 2200 block of park avenue just before 1:30 a.m. a 19-year-old man was critically wounded a 23-year-old man was also shot

and is hospitalized in stable condition. temple university says none of the victims or suspects is a student, although there were students at the party. gun control advocates used this good friday to pray for peace and stricter laws that they believe will lead to less violence on the streets of philadelphia. the group, heeding god's call held a nondenomination service and procession starting two hours ago from morris park. bucks county firefighters and their families have themselves become fire victims tonight. chopper 6hd was over this two alarm blaze in quakertown last evening at the stone gate village community. in a tragic coincidence the fire chief tells "action news" the first townhouse that caught fire was the home of a firefighter's relative and that the blaze then spread to a second building which was the home of a firefighter. fortunately no one was hurt. west chester police say they've made an arrest in last weekend's rape at a fraternity

house. 19-year-old maurice yo' san juan martinez is being held. he's a student at west chester university. police say he sexually assaulted a female student at 4:00 a.m. sunday at the kappa delta rho fraternity house on south walnut street. that's the same fraternity whose penn state chapter was suspended over a web site full of naked and semi nude women and was shared without their consent. san juan martinez is not listed on the fraternity's public web site and it's not fear chooer if he's a fraternity member. today was sentencing day for erica ginnetti. the high school teach here pled guilty to having sexual relations with a 17-year-old student. a judge ordered her to serve 30 days behind bars followed by two months of house arrest and then five years of parole and probation. she must also register as a sex offender. ginnetti was a math teach at lower moreland high school before her arrest two years ago. here is the latest on a

story we exclusively is reported on "action news" at 11:00 last night. allegations of hazing involving the women's softball team at saint joseph's university. school officials have confirmed there is an independent investigation under way. "action news" reporter chad pradelli has more. >> reporter: the saint joe's women's softball team played a game at george mason university today with a cloud of controversy surrounding it. sources tell "action news" that the freshmen players were given written instructions in a note from upperclassmen essentially telling them this is deliverance week, that the time has come for them to show respect. it's time for them to realize their place. if they don't follow these instructions there will be dire consequences. sources say the students being initiated had to consume alcohol, perform sexual acts involving inappropriate touching and lap dances and do other acts that are too graphic to outline here. students and other athletes are on spring break but we caught up with a few this afternoon. >> our coaches are very, very strict about it.

they don't want to see anything like that so i haven't experienced it. >> although i don't know any of the details i have to say that hazing is always unacceptable. >> reporter: the hazing allegedly took place not on campus but at the home of an upper class man. the university released a limited statement due to privacy concerns today. it read in part while its investigation of the matter is ongoing, realm medial actions have already been taken to ensure the welfare and educational environment for all involved. >> i'm not tolerant with it. i don't think it's an acceptable means of initiation. i personally haven't experienced it so it seems like it would be a terrible experience and i wouldn't want anybody else to have to go through it. >> reporter: and a spokesperson for the university says if those allegations prove to be true those responsible will be held accountable. in wynnefield, chad pradelli, channel6 "action news." >> and still to come on "action news" at 6:00 tonight a day after getting permission to buy the revel florida developer glen straub makes another multi-million dollar

deal for a second casino. and murder-sue suicide or shoddy police work. the family of john sheridan speaks out about their disbelief. cecily. >> the storm system that has triggered tornado watches for parts of tennessee and kentucky moves through here tonight. i'll detail what that means for us and the rest of your holiday weekend in the accuweather forecast. >> all right cecily. ducis rodgers with the phillies getting trod play ball in south philadelphia when "action news" comes right back.

>> the florida developer who is buying the revel casino out of bankruptcy has his sights set on a granter vision for atlantic city. today glen straub added to his

casino collection buying the old showboat site next door to the revel he says it's part of a half billion dollar plan called the phoenix project to remake the north end of town. showboat closed for good last year and was bought by richard stockton university under a plan to turn night a college campus. trump taj mahal blocked that move demanding the site be moved as a casino. left in the lurch stockton had little choice but to resell the property. the school paid 18 million and sold it to straub for 26 million. they've agreed to turn it into a campus if the legal squabble with trump entertainment can somehow be resolved. police say they've solved the months long murder mystery of a high profile new jersey couple. but the victim's sons are saying not so fast. accusing investigators of jumping to conclusions. new jersey correspondent nora muchanic hears from the upset family members tonight and she's reporting from our new jersey news room.

>> they assumed it was a murder suicide the second they walked on the soon. >> reporter: that's mark cher done cher done. the play cally connect canned couple was found dead inside their skillman home last september. family members are speaking out rejecting the somerset county prosecutor's report released last week that concludes the mild americaned hospital executive murdered his wife and killed himself. >> the prosecutors have indicted and convicted my brother of murder when there hasn't even been a. >> reporter: the prosecutors report says john sheridan used a kitchen knife to stab his wife of 47 years then an unknown weapon to cut himself. it says he poured gasoline on the floor and set the fire that eventually killed him. based on autopsy results scores of interviews and today evidence the report says there's only one conclusion, murder-suicide. but the sheridan family rejects that raising questions about the dna, a lack of motive, the failure to recover

the weapon that caused john's injuries. mark sheridan says there are gaping holes in the report and he believes his parents' killer is still at large. >> the community should be scared. the prosecutor had no idea what happened at that crime scene and he was out telling the public they were safe. >> reporter: sheridan says he wants justice for his parents and will release documents that show the investigation was bungled. >> i want justice for my parents. i want a decoration that my mother died of a homicide and my father's manner of death is unresolved. i would really like the prosecutor's office to actually go out done some investigation to determine how he really died. >> reporter: the sheridan family plans to sue to challenge the report and clear their father's name. the prosecutor's officers won't comment on what the family is saying. in our new jersey news room, i'm nora muchanic, channel6 "action news". >> two major religious holidays fall on the same weekend. the jewish holiday of passover begins in about an hour at sundown tonight.

today is also good friday. it's the most somber day of the year for christians who are marking the crucifixion of jesus. in trenton they passionately reenacted the 14 so-called stations of the cross. the procession began outside of sacred heart church on south broad street.

>> when phillies fans show up at the ballpark for opening day monday they'll see something new and we're not talking about the roster. walk through metal detectors will be used to screen spectators as they center citizens bank park. the fanatic was on hand to demonstrate the process. you never know what he's hiding up his sleeve. oh, he got in, okay. the addition was not just about enhanced security in philadelphia but a league wide requirement from -- maybe he won't get in. a league wide requirement from major league baseball. ducis here now. phillies about to start their final preseason series tonight. >> some kinks to still work out. if you didn't get a chance to

seat phillies in clearwater they're back home for a pair of exhibition games against the pirates. then the real fun begins monday with the scene season her. our own jeff skversky is live at the park with more on the phils. >> ducis expectations as low as they have been around here in a long time. and the way they finished spring training doesn't help either. the worst hitting team of all of baseball are your phillies, only one win by the way in the last nine games. the good news is these games don't count. two more exhibition games against the pirates here at the ballpark. here's cole hamels within the last hour making his final bullpen session before that opening day start against shane victorino and the boston red sox. despite all of their issues down in clearwater cole hamels very positive and complimentary toward his fellow teammates in the phillies clubhouse. >> it's a good cohesiveness that you can sense and i really feel like the clubhouse has really been a lot more enjoyable this spring. you know, there's some key

guys in there that have really stepped up and really i think put us into a better position to really enjoy the moments and know that when we're going to compete for the next six months, things are -- things are going to be more enjoyable. >> now many did not think cole hamels would even be here. back in this ballpark with all of those trade rumors this off season but hamels says he's blocking all of that out by being selfish, that is right hamels says he's just focusing on himself and worrying about what he can control and that is pitching every five days. that starts monday against the red sox. we're live at the ball parks jeff skversky channel6 "action news." ducis. >> jeff thank you so much. arbitrator has ruled in angels outfielder josh hamilton is not subject to punishment due to his recent reported relapse of drug and alcohol abuse. major league baseball says it disagrees with the decision the angels perhaps looking to get out from under that hefty contract say "it defies logic

that josh's reported behavior is not a violation of this drug program. the flyers have five more games just one left on the road o tomorrow they'll be in carolina. there are. reasons why this team is not going to the post season. the road record of 10 and 20 and 10 might be near the top of that list. >> we mismanaged some games, just late in the games where it was a tie or we were up by a goal ended up going to overadvertisement our overtime record and shootout record not very good on the road for sure we lacked goal production for a lot of it. >> he's back. but is his a game in tow? tiger woods says he will take part in the masters next week. woods has been on a nine week absence from competitive golf to work on his game. he's only entered two events this year and he played poorly in both. if you can believe it tiger has not won this events since 2005. we'll see if he can make it to

the weekend. >> ducis thank you very much. we'll take a quick break. meteorologist cecily tynan with the holiday weekend accuweather forecast when we come right back. stay with us. i may be a pizza maker but i know a few things about dessert. like chocolate and more chocolate. introducing our new double chocolate chip brownie. it's a rich and decadent brownie served warm, for only $6. better ingredients. better pizza. papajohns.com

>> meteorologist cecily tynan is here now with a closer look at that week. very busy weekend for a lot of folks. >> yeah, holiday weekend passover, easter. it's a messy start but it will improve as we head through the weekend. >> the rain will pass over is that what you're saying. >> it will tonight. making a joke. >> i meant to. >> storm tracker six live double scan showing that we do have some scattered showers around and we did have a batch of some heavier downpours move just off the coast of cape may about 10 minutes ago. and let's go live on the temple university sky six camera and you can see the low clouds really just cutting

off the tops of the center city skyline. it's been that way all day long. association the accuweather highlights will show that you it is damp tonight but we will dry things out and bring the sunshine back over the weekend. so happy passover. passover officially begins in about an hour at 7:27. it will be cloudy and warm with scattered showers temperature 62 degrees but we clear things out as we head through the weekend and easter sunday really looking nice. mostly sunny. it will be chilly early for the sunrise services. you definitely want a winter coat, 39 degrees but then temperatures up to 45 degrees by 9:00 o'clock and by 11:00 o'clock up to 50 degrees. temperatures today certainly on the mild side with winds out of the southwest 63 degrees the high in philadelphia. currently 61 allentown 64. wilmington 61 with winds though, off the ocean and the bay a lot cooler on the beaches only in the 40's and millville also a little bit cooler 59 degrees. satellite6 along with action radar showing the whole system

bringing us the clouds, the scattered showers is still out to the west and this has caused violent weather. tornado watches in effect for kentucky and tennessee. twenty three did -- they did have reports of 10 tornadoes yesterday mainly in arkansas. to the south not a lot of activity and that's where our severe weather would come from so i think any threat of severe weather will be limited but the severe storm prediction center for really the first time this season has put us in a low threat of severe weather with wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour but south of philadelphia a moderate threat that any thunderstorm could have some damaging winds. so, future tracker showing us if you're heading out you want to take the umbrella with occasional showers, perhaps a thunderstorm around 9:30. by about 4:00 o'clock in the morning, this is when the actual cold front moves through with another round of showers but then it's out of here by day break with some lingering clouds but the wind gusts will really be a factor tomorrow. it will be cool with increasing sun as we head through the day but windy

55 degrees the high. it will feel quite a bit cooler than that when you factor in wind gusts 40 to 45 miles per hour. so, the exclusive accuweather 7-day forecast windy tomorrow, cool 55 degrees. breezy but nice on sunday, on easter sunday, 62 degrees. and monday still looking really nice for the phillies home opener, 67 degrees but that's the last really nice day for the entire week next week. by tuesday showers roll in, 55 degrees. wednesday, thursday and friday clouds will rule our skies with a threat of more showers so the next three days clearing out and then our weather looking pretty gloomy. >> cecily thank you. finally tonight firefighters in chester county are helping people get ready for easter weekend. the annual flower sale kicked off today at the goshen fire company on boot road at green hill in west chester. blooms were ablaze with color like various options from tulips to daffodils and little

lease and flowering pants -- flowering plants like azaleas and "action news" continues at 10:00 on phl17 with brian taff shirleen allicott adam joseph and ducis rodgers. we'll examine the controversy surrounding this local viral video. the man being pulled over in this traffic stop tells investigative reporter wendy saltzman his video shines a light on police abuse of power. but police disagree and caution anyone who watches the video to learn how to deal with officers. that's coming up tonight at 11:00. now for cecily tynan ducis rodgers jim gardner i'm rick williams. we'll see you rider here... right here at 11:00 o'clock. >> ♪♪

breaking news tonight. tornado watches across several states. ten reported already. warnings of a dangerous friday night ahead for millions. and the deadly flooding. already more than 160 rescues at this hour, and counting. also, the massive fire burning at a well-known american plant tonight. the warnings sent out for miles. the jet crash in the alps. the second black box finally found. revealing what that co-pilot did over and over again. the rescue off america's coastline. the survivor, 66 days alone, floating on a capsized boat. and "the price is right," all right. the game show model whose mistake gave this woman a new car. and the moment, so many of us gasped this week. the american bravery. who is our person of the week?