suspect, next on "action news". just over two weeks after quitting the race himself, chris christie made more headlines today, then he ever did during the campaign. and he caught a whole lot of people by surprise. chris christie has endorsed donald trump for president.

friday night and the big story on "action news" tonight is new jersey governor chris christie and donald trump, they weren't very kind to each other on the stump or on the debating stage but suddenly they are political sole mates. the stunning announcement came today in front of the big rally in fort worth, texas. nobody had reason to expect that christie would even be there but there he was, and proclaimed his endorsement for trump. trump responded this way. >> this was an endorsement that really meant a lot. chris is an outstanding man with an outstanding family. he has done a great job. >> this was the scene tonight in oklahoma city, as the trump/christie love fest moved to another super tuesday state. christie explained why he is supporting trump. >> america needs a strong leader who will restore american strength around the world and donald trump is that man. >> pundits are already speculating that should trump

win the white house christie could be attorney general or even vice-president. endorsement story diverted most of the attention from the war of words between trump and senator marco rubio that escalated last night at the debate. then rubio continue his mocking attacks against trump, telling perhaps a tall trump tail, from last night. >> let's read some. then he asked for a full inch mirror. he wanted a full length mirror. maybe to make sure his pants weren't wet, i don't know. >> ted cruz appeared at region university in virginia beach today and acknowledged that donald trump could steam role with big wins. that he says would be quote, a very dangerous outcome. on the democratic side, hillary clinton is apparently taking nothing for granted in south carolina where she is ahead in the polls. later in atlanta she said that she's eager to debate any republican on economics and

health care policy. bernie sanders campaigned in orangeberg south carolina. he is saying that he hasn't given up on the region. the polls will open up in just hours for the primary. we will be in texas tomorrow on his way to minute so the a. other news at the this hour the man who went on a deadly rampage in kansas yesterday, had been served with a protective order, 90 minutes before the shooting spree. police think that was the motive that set off 38 year-old cedric ford. he shot 14 people, killing three before being killed in a shoot-out with a lone policeman. the chief of police in heston, kansas was the first to arrive, without backup, he ran toward the gun fire, coming from inside the excel factory where ford worked. authorities credit the chief with saving untold lives, since two or 300 people were still inside. ford was already a convicted felon and prohibited from owning a firearm, even though he was seen in this facebook

video shooting an ak-47 style rifle. authorities have charged a woman with supplying ford with the weapons. a 12 year-old girl is soul survivor of the shooting in washington state, today that left five people dead. it happened this morning at a home, in the the rural town of bell fair, when a man called police and to tell them he had shot and killed his family. officers went to the home, and negotiated with the man who then shot and killed himself. later in this broadcast, brian taff has a special report on how local gun owners are training for worst case scenarios. if they come face-to-face with a mass shooter and have to save themselves. other news tonight, police believe that icy roads are to blame for this nasty crash in delaware county. two cars collided at 9:00 o'clock along route 452 and meeting house road in upper chichester. officials say at least one

person was seriously injured. "action news" has obtained surveillance video from philadelphia international airport of that botched take off that caused a runway emergency, and the federal investigators believe was as a result of pilot error. it happened in march of 2014. u.s. airways flight was already off the ground when the pilot aborted the take off. you can see passenger jet hit the ground and bounced back in the air before coming down again hard. then the nose gear collapsed and the plane skid to go a stop. the passengers had to evacuate via emergency shoots, two people were hurt. philadelphia police were counting on the idea that a criminal, always returns to the scene of the crime. in fact, that is what they said happened, and how they arrested an allege church burglar. "action news" reporter jeff chirico is live at our lady of calvary church on knights road and jeff, you have the full

story. >> reporter: the philadelphia police department for their hard work and patients in solving... while many come to pray in it police say william sides was praying on our lady of calvary as cameras captured him breaking into the church and attempting to pry opened the poor box. he had no eye tea he was walking in to a trap set by officer dennie claire and his partner who had been waiting for the thief police say struck the church two times before. >> he was extremely surprised. he actually, ahh, you know, attempted to run out the side door. >> reporter: officers quickly tackled him to the ground. the thefts from the poor box that began weeks earlier saddened parishioners. >> of all of the places to steel from a church because they give it to whatever they get they give to the poor people. >> i plan on being there every night until we got him. >> reporter: after one unsuccessful night the police returned for a second one. they were sitting in the dark in this front pew when their suspect walked right through those doors. >> we ducked down behind the organ, we heard keys rattling,

we observed the gentlemen walk in and we waited until we observed him prying opened the poor box and that is when we swooped in. >> reporter: the officers, both catholic, credit divine intervention. >> it was very gratifying. in fact after the first night before we left both myself and officer yanco we lit a candle and put money in the poor box and said a prayer we would get this gentlemen. >> reporter: sadly sides could after voided this and got help had he knocked on the rectory door first. >> the priest said, if he would have just came to us, we would have gave you the money. >> reporter: sides has a history of drug arrest and police believe he may have been stealing from the church in order to support that habit. the right now police are investigating how he got a key to the church, and whether he is responsible for anymore thefts from churches. we are live from the northeast, jeff chirico for channel six "action news". >> thanks, jeff. fire investigators don't expect any quick answers about what caused this restaurant

inferno overnight. the blaze decimated chinese/chap knees restaurant called house of jin on the 200 block of chelten avenue in germantown. federal agents joined the search for evidence as we have i machinery began tearing down the building. the fire flared backup at 6:00 t was extinguished quickly. philadelphia police are trying to find a pack of young people who beat up a robbed a freshman at roman catholic high school. "action news" reporter chad pradelli has been investigating the incident and he is live across the street from city hall, chad, what do you know? >> reporter: yeah, jim that freshman was attacked right here on wednesday, and another student was attacked today, not the far from here and police say there may be a third victim this week. police say that these attacks, by a group of teens are becoming an increasing problem. jimmy fallon's eye is swollen, bloody. he has a concussion after a group of teens jumped him here

in front of the municipal services building at jfk and broad on wednesday afternoon. >> they were just sitting there and first kid swung at me. i tried to defend myself and then as idea fended myself others started jumping on me. >> it makes you scary because ten minutes prior i'm telling my sonny love him and i'm getting a phone call saying your son just got beat up and he is laying here crying. >> reporter: roman catholic freshman estimates more than a dozen students from another school pummeled him. he was walking to the train station after school when he was attack. >> they rolled me over and started to kick me. when they got up the kid took my phone and ran with it. >> reporter: phone was tracked to west philadelphia but at the this point police november suspects. tuesday the philadelphia school district, police, septa and others met to find ways to curb the problem of students, converging on center city after school and committing crimes. >> it is heart wrenching.

this is like the fourth attack for roman kids this year. you want them to be safe and stuff and i don't know. my husband said i don't know what the answer is. >> it just seems like in my opinion the catholic school kid, private kids are getting picked on because people think they have money. >> reporter: while officials work on comprehensive man to deal with the problem, police say there is one thing parents can do, make sure your child goes home, right after school. i'm live from center city, chad pradelli for channel six "action news". >> jim. >> thanks, chad. trump taj mahal has emerged from bankruptcy from atlantic city. move extinguishes final 10 percent stake of the donald trump. the casino is owned by billion air investor karl icon who has been keeping the casino afloat since filing for chapter 11 in december of 2014. we are less than 48 hours,

away from the oscars, and hollywood is already for its close-up. right now we're looking live at the dolby theater and red carpet where stars will walk down sunday night. crews were busy putting the final touches on the staging today. behind the scenes, celebrity chef wolfgang puck was preparing 50 dishes for 1600 guests. two time host chris rock was bus which some of the last rehearsals before it is lights, cameras and action on sunday night. you can watch the 80th annual oscars only here on channel will six. live coverage begins sunday at 7:00 p.m. we want to tell you this as you watch the show we are enhancing your oscars experience on six abc.com and six abc "action news" facebook page, we will have live streaming video from the red carpet, and the best moment from the show and yes, please be sure to join our facebook chat with alycia vitarelli, she will be talking with you

throughout the entire broadcast on sunday night. coming up on "action news" tonight, silencing the tanks a tenuous cease-fire takes effect tonight the in the most dangerous world zone in the world. we have tail of two seasons this weekend, feels like winter tonight with wind chills in the the 20's but by sunday get ready for a taste of spring. i will have have details in the accu weather seven day forecast. "action news" anchor brian taff joins us tonight the with a special report. >> jim, recent headlines, gun crimes, mass shootings give all of us pause but there is one group of people and a number of growing people who are turning their anger and fear into action. coming up we will go inside local class training people what to do if they are faced with an active shooter situation. ducis rodgers with the the sixers trying to bounce back from a six game losing streak. that and much more when "action news" continues tonight. patients across the country have spoken.

they recently rated their care experience at over 3,500 hospitals nationwide in a survey conducted for the centers for medicare and medicaid services. fewer than 6% received 5 stars.

among them was cancer treatment centers of america in philadelphia. learn more at cancercenter.com slash eastern. cancer treatment centers of america. care that never quits. appointments available now. this is just into "action

news", yoko ono the wife ovulate beetle john lenon has been rush to a manhattan hospital after suffering a possible stroke. ono was 83 years old. she's best known for being married from lenon from 1969 until he was murdered in the december of 1980. ono stayed in the public eye as an artist and human rights activist. we do not know her condition but again, yoko ono is in a new york city hospital tonight with stroke symptoms. serious civil war has been going on for five years. tonight, a cease-fire, brokered by the u.s. and russia went into effect across that country. but the cease-fire does not include, isis, al qaeda, cessation of hostilities applies to government forces and over 100 rebel groups. there is serious skepticism about chances for success. as we detailed just a few moments ago two separate mass shootings have played out in two different american cities in the past 24 hours.

and those are the very kind of headlines that have a lot of people asking, what they would do under the same circumstances. well, "action news"'s brian taffys here tonight with a story of one group that has come up with its own answer. >> they are doing it very clearly not the for everyone. i recently went to the gun range in chester county to meet a group of people who tell me they will not be a statistic, mass shooting, but there is one statistic of which they are already a part. it happened after the deadly shooting at sandy hook and again after a the movie theater massacre in aurora, colorado and again in the hours after the terror attack in san bernardino. every time a mass shooting unfoldness america, gun sales surge. december set a single will month sales record not seen in two decade. and these are the people buying. >> i have to protect myself kind of thing, just to go over basic information so i'm not afraid in the future. i love the idea of being

empowered. >> reporter: for the the last several weeks this group of men and women almost evenly split has been spending evenings and weekend mornings how to fire the gun, that many of them freely admit they never thought they would own. the point. >> you are not trying to depend on someone or someone else to be your protecter you are responsible for your protection. >> reporter: at night the they get classroom instruction here in french creek outfitters in phoenixville talking about the same scenario what to do in the event of the active shooter. >> one of the things you have to develop is a defensive mind set. >> reporter: that means learning to live aware, and alert to your surroundings at all time. and it also means being aware that is a choice to buy and to carry a gun also carries with it responsibility. >> unless you are willing will to take up that responsibility, then don't pick up that gun. >> reporter: chester county d.a. tom hogan supports these kind of classes, he says responsible, trained gun owners, can play a pivotal role in thee mergecy before police arrive.

>> run, hide, fight is something that we have been teaching chester county for last three or four years. >> reporter: even when armed run and hide are the best options but fight, when neither of those is possible. if that part that this group is learning. >> check one. >> one thing you may notice this is where shooters where they are training typically stand, way in the the back of the gun range. but these folks, they are as close to the target as they can get and that is by design. >> all shooting that they will be engaged in real life will be close range. it is almost always going to be from me to you. >> reporter: students spent hours in the range firing point blank at a empty targets that in a massive shooting scenario might be firing back. they shoot around barricades, even with purses in their arms to simulate reality. >> they help you practice the things over and over and over again so in high stress situations, you can be more prepared. >> reporter: for them, it is about preparation, but also, making a point.

>> being one that can perhaps look like i'm a innocent victim and surprise, i'm not. i'm not a victim at all. >> reporter: we should be clear that gun laws do vary from town to town, city to city, and if you are so in kline it may not be so easy for you to carry a gun as it was for many of the people you just saw. specific permits are required. but instructors of that class who do emphasize seriousness of the the decision to take that class, said they are seeing growing interests. so we have put more information about the the laws and classes like that one on our web site, jim, six abc.com. >> brian, thank you. >> you got it. hundreds of people turned out to barn bee's heritage ballroom in delaware county tonight for a very good cause. this is the homes for heroes fundraiser, that benefits mission first fund for veterans. that is an organization that provides rental assistance to veterans in need. so far the group has helped more than 100 veterans.

lets get that weekend accu weather forecast from cecily tynan. >> jim, beautiful weekend. storm tracker six live double scan showing we have no rain or snow falling from the sky, in fact, we have clear skies, and it is a great shot. this/your sky six cameras looking over reading from the pagoda and with the clear skies and diminishing wind it is quite chilly out there. currently 34 degrees in philadelphia wilmington 31. allentown 28. atlantic city airport 29 degrees. temperatures will be falling will into the lower 20's in the suburbs, about 24 degrees, in center city. satellite six with action radar is showing we have clear conditions, so no cloud to really insulate the earth and acts like a blanket. so tomorrow morning you step outside, it is chilly at 7:00 o'clock, 28 degrees and then temperatures will be just slightly below average. 1:00 o'clock 43. by 4:00 o'clock 45. loads of sunshine. average high for this time of the year is 47. we will be 1 degree shy of. that pretty close, 46 degrees.

the it will feel better then today. toy day's high only 41. we will get wind gusts of 40 miles an hour. not nearly as windy tomorrow. if you like it warmer then that, that will arrive on sunday. we have a warm front lifting up to the north and what this this front does is it really cuts off arctic air. there is a lot of cold air but it is pushed over canada. that is where it will be staying for a while. instead we have wind southwest. that will bring us, very warm air. so 62 degrees, feeling like spring on sunday, plenty of sunshine that front moves through on monday, could bring us a sprinkle will, a few clouds but temperatures on monday and tuesday, in the lower 60's. so the exclusive accu weather seven day forecast, tomorrow, sunny, a little bit on the chilly side with a high of 46 degrees. we will keep sunshine on sunday and we will add several degrees. 62 degrees, try to get outside and enjoy that spring like warmth. on monday just as warm 62 but more clouds, but again possibility of the sprinkle.

tuesday, march is coming in like a lamb, partly sun which a high of 60. and wednesday is our next storm system and this one like the past several will be cutting out to our west and that means it is not snow but rain, perhaps thunder with a high of 55. behind that system temperatures will step down, 46 degrees on thursday and friday a possibility of rain, or wet snow, with a high of 39 but no precipitation over the weekend, loads of sunshine and temperatures warming through the weekend. looking good. >> sound good. >> yep good bucks county elementary school took a bedtime story to a whole new level tonight. it doesens of students from wrightstown elementary school rolled out their sleeping bags at the school and held a nighttime read in. the youngsters wore their pj's while mom and dad set up tents and after that everybody settled into enjoy a few good books. it is turkey trouble in burlington county. this bird was really ruffling the feathers of a mount laurel woman today.

no matter, but betty ann giacomb did, it kept coming back to the shine any you car in the driveway all puffed up ready for a fight. her efforts gobbled up hours of time morning and this afternoon and even neighbors and police had to get involved but wild life experts the say the at aggressive behavior isn't unusual when mating seasons comes around. the ad less event turkey likely saw its reflection as another male bird and wanted to prove that it was higher, in the pecking order.

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sixers at the wells fargo center tonight. >> yes. >> well, you know. >> what do you think. >> no. >> no is the correct answer. sixers entered the night on the six game losing streak. i don't mean to bury you you with numbers but they have been buried by their defense n that stretch they have given up 120 points per game. hosting wizard jerry coangelo getting a close look at these issues. second quarter, gentlemanly legal okafor 21 points, and sixers lead by nine. back comes wizards in the third. john wall cuts them down to four. but in the fourth, sixers now trailing, and sixers down 97-92. sixers out worked on the boards. the wizards have 17 offensive rebound. sixers fall 103-94. their 50th loss of the season. the flyers, can't seem to get good news without also

getting bad news. claude giroux is closer to a return but we have learned that jake voracek kill miss tomorrow's game with the the lower body injury. the let's focus on the positive. girl right skated for first time after suffering is what believed to be a concussion. he has miss $3 straight games. even though he skated, flyers are not ready to say if he will play tomorrow. >> i don't know just yet. we have to look at the some things. what is going on. how we feel after the practice. >> and nfl scouting combine is underway in indianapolis, it runs through monday, eagles head coach doug pederson check out running backs and offensive lineman showcase today. derek henry of alabama turned some heads. the o line though is more of a concern for eagles, these days, and they know it. >> taking a look at our current situation there are some holes, there are some holes, but we're going to evaluate, continue to evaluate, guys not only on our roster but here this week. free agency is coming up.

you know, there is opportunity there to help, improve that talent level. >> and still ahead, high school basketball takes over the liacouras center plus a local guy hopes to resurrect his career with the phillies. grover cleveland here. yes, the handsome gent on the thousand-dollar bill. with 'cash4life', the great game from the pennsylvania lottery, you could win a thousand dollars a day for life! you could invest it, or save it for a rainy day. or you could buy a new car!

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holes, they also have plenty of players willing to step up and fill them including a local product, andrew bailey is a receiver -- a reliever who hopes to be a closer. former rookie on have the year has dealt with injuries in the past few seasons. he attended paul the sixth high school in haddonfield and you better believe he grew up a huge phillies fan. his family is thrilled. >> i was growing up in haddon heights, you know, watching the early 90's phillies, and, you know, the fact that mickey is our first base coach is pretty cool. you know, definitely my family and friend are looking forward to it and hopefully it all

works out. >> college basket the ball penn helps continuing cornell, darren nelson header his ninth double/double of the the season, 16 points, ten boards, penn wins 79-67. chester and plymouth white marsh, playing for the district 14a championship that is xavier malone the senior guard. gw wins 68-57. first title since 1998. congratulations to them. jimmy kimmel live next followed by night line. "action news" continues at 5:30 a.m. for cecily tynan, ducis rodgers and the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. have a good night and a great weekend.

>> dicky: from hollywood - it's "jimmy kimmel live"! tonight, kerry washington, nikolaj coster-waldau, "this week in unnecessary censorship" and music from jason derulo with cleto and the cletones. and now, nobody move, here's jimmy kimmel! [ cheers and applause ] ♪