hermine is headed our way and threatening to wash out our labor day weekend. wednesday night. jim's off. i'm rick williams. and the the big story on "action news" tonight is tropical trouble, as the latest forecast puts the storm on a forecast for the tri-state area. hermine is already bringing flooding rains to the sunshine state and it hasn't even made landfall there yet. that won't happen until tomorrow night at the earliest. and it may be a hurricane by then. 51 counties are now under a state of emergency. meteorologist adam joseph is monitoring hermine's progress at this hour. what's the latest? >> the latest just came in from the national hurricane center and hermine continues to strengthen over the last several hours. winds now sustained at 60 miles an hour. that is up from near 40-mile-an-hour sustained winds early on today. the center of the storm is right about there. you can see the flare-up of storms especially southeast displaced from the center of hermine but also we're dealing with southerly winds bringing in

tropical rains already through much of the state of florida. in fact, stormtracker 6 live double scan will show these thunderstorms through tampa, orlando, where several inches of rain has already fallen and the storm is still close to 300 miles away from the coastline of tampa. there are tropical storm warnings and watches for much of northern florida, but something that the national hurricane center just added is a hurricane warning now from apalachicola to cedar key where they're expecting that landfall to happen somewhere in between those two cities. and they upgraded it to a hurricane warning because now they're thinking is -- their think something that hermine will become a weak category 1 hurricane before landfall on thursday, so expecting to strengthen a little more. and then it heads up the eastern seaboard, first pretty quick i had and then it will drift around hour our region between saturday, sunday and labor day just off of our coastline with that latest track.

so sunday is the day we get wacked with most of the rain and wind. and then labor day, some showers in the morning, maybe some drying late in the day. rick, this is not set in stone. this is how it's looking right now. we'll talk much more about this and also our drop in temperature over the next 24 hours after we end this heat wave in accuweather. >> all right, adam. thank you. we'll check back in later. and as we get closer to the labor day weekend, check in with 6abc.com/weather. there you'll find the very latest weather updates including the accuweather seven-day forecast. also, be sure to interact with our team of meteorologists on facebook and twitter. all right. we're following breaking news tonight. chopper 6 is over a serious multivehicle crash on the lincoln drive. at least four people were hurt when they collided just beneath the walnut lane bridge and at least one person was trapped in the car for a time. the victims were taken to temple university hospital and einstein medical center.

no word yet on the extent of their injuries. a motorcyclist was killed in a hit-and-run, and we learned this evening that he was a retired new york city firefighter who survived 9/11 but sadly could not survive the mean streets of philadelphia. "action news" reporter dann cuellar is live from the accident investigations division in northeast philadelphia with the latest on the investigation. dann. >> reporter: rick, the clock is ticking on the person of interest that police want to talk to, but so far he's not yet come in to talk to investigators. meanwhile, a community is left in shock over the loss of a well-regarded friend and neighbor they say is a retired new york city firefighter who served during 9/11. >> nobody deserve it. nobody deserve to die like this. >> reporter: friends and neighbors shocked by the untimely death of 58-year-old raul perez of the 500 block of east wyoming. >> i mean, it hits hard. this is a guy who always look out for the kids here for the community and he always been here for everybody. this is video taken earlier this

week of perez riding his beloved 2008 kawasaki motorcycle what neighbors say was his pride and joy. police say he was on that motorcycle last night when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver behind the wheel of a silver gmc yukon in the 5800 block of whitaker. the impact knocked him out of his shoes throwing him 30 feet in the air. luis gonzalez witnessed part of the horrific accident. >> i can't take it out of my head. >> reporter: what? >> the image, that image. i seen the guy flying and the impact of the street. >> reporter: police say the driver fled. surveillance video obtained by "action news" shows the driver later dumping the vehicle a few blocks away in an alley where it was traced by an officer who followed a trail of leaking fluids. the victim's girlfriend said he left about 10:30 to go home after dinner. the next morning, her daughter told her what she saw on the news. >> at that point, i was shocked. i didn't want to believe it to

happen to him. >> reporter: friends say he was a retired new york city firefighter who served on the 9/11 attack on the world trade center. >> yes, was one of the first responders on the 9/11. this guy had certification. the guy who hit him and run, if he's listening, please turn yourself in. do the right thing, be a man about it. >> reporter: police pretty much are saying the same thing. they know it was not the owner of the vehicle who was the driver. they just want him to come out of hiding and speak to them about what happened. they really want to hear his site of the story. live in brewerytown, i'm dann cuellar, "channel 6 action news." rick? >> thank you. homicide detectives are investigating a deadly shooting in philadelphia's mantua section tonight on the steps of a community center. police say the 29-year-old victim's young son was with him and may have witnessed his father's murder. surveillance video showed the victim involved in an argument with the suspect before the gunman fired three shots. one of the bullets hit the door of the community center here on

the 600 block of north 39th 39th street. police are not sure what motivated the killing. marine units recovered a body from the delaware river tonight believed to be that of a missing swimmer. he was last seen around 5:00 around hawk island in delanco, burlington county. that's where the river meets the rancocas creek. the body was recovered on the jersey side of the river at around 7:00. "action news" has learned the fbi is on the case of an 8-year-old camden girl who was slain by a stray bullet. neither the feds nor $76,000 reward have yet to crack the stop snitching culture as helping to keep the killer on the loose. "action news" reporter bob brooks is live at the seen of the crime tonight where a new appeal for justice is being made. bob. >> reporter: rick, good evening. what needs to happen is simple. somebody needs to come forward and tell on whoever pulled this trigger. that is it. that is the only way someone is going to be caught for this. now, behind me, you see the memorial for gabby has grown

tremendously. there has been so much support for this family. but the people in this community who know what happened simply have not stepped up to the plate yet. they haven't given up yet, not even close. foot patrols, the command post in place 24/7. chief of police scott thompson says the all-hands-on-deck approach doesn't stop until the suspect who shot 8-year-old gabrielle carter is found. >> we have leads that we're working on just this afternoon, i was over meeting with the fbi. we brought them -- their help and assistance on this. >> reporter: as the memorial for gabby has grown outside her home, so has the department's need for information. >> people out here know what happened. and we have a moral obligation to protect children, not just our own but everyone in the community. >> reporter: the reality is chief thompson says someone in camden needs to step up now, that you need to stop hovering a child murderer. >> this is somebody's cousin, somebody's nephew, somebody's

kid that's involved in this. and the streets know. and we know because the streets are telling us. >> reporter: we also spoke with this couple who own the school gabby went to. they contributed much of the $76,000 reward for the suspect's capture and paid for her funeral. >> we need to catch the killer of this little girl. we need to keep the story alive until the killer's caught. we need people to step up and be responsible and do the right thing. >> just 8 years old. it's just -- to snuff out the life of somebody that young under a scenario like this is terrible. >> reporter: gabby's funeral is this saturday. camden county police are now working with the fbi to catch the killer. but chief thompson says a better partner for this investigation would be a witness or that someone who knows who did this. >> everybody's a danger in this community. as long as these individuals are still out here running around. >> reporter: back out live here. a security camera has been

placed on that light pole here in this neighborhood. again, ghaby's funeral set for this weekend. we hope by that time, that command center here in this neighborhood is gone, but the only way that will happen is if someone comes forward with information and an arrest is made. reporting live in camden, "channel 6 action news," rick? >> thank you. investigators released surveillance video of a man hunt wad for a string of burglaries. he's responsible for break-ins at two churches and at least five restaurants. he often uses a rock or brick to break a window. then he steals cash and church donation boxes. police are hoping someone recognizes the suspect who has a bandaged arm and leg and contacts them. meanwhile, it's sacrilege of a different kind at a church in philadelphia's port richmond section. someone stole a statue of a child sitting in front of jesus from outside of the mother of devine grace church at monmouth and thompson's streets.

an empty hole sits there now but this is how it looked before it was swiped last night or perhaps overnight. now to the vote 2016, and donald trump in the international spotlight today. the man who made building a wall a central theme of his campaign went south of the border today to meet with mexico's president. it led to a handshake but many are wondering if the republican nominee is somehow changing his tune. "action news" reporter christie ileto is live in our satellite center as donald trump has just finished a major immigration speech. christie? >> reporter: rick, donald trump once again had a strong stance about immigration reform, but it was just hours earlier that his tone was much softer when he was speaking with the president of mexico, and it's that wavering among other things that have many mexican americans here in philadelphia chiming in. >> we will build a great wall along the southern border. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: hours after meeting with the president of mexico, donald trump talk immigration

reform in 15ics. >> approximately half of new illegal immigrants came on temporary visas and then never, ever left. why should they? nobody's telling them to leave. >> reporter: but earlier in the day, south of the border, he had a softer tone while speaking in mexico, a country he's repeatedly berated on the campaign trail. >> i happen to have a tremendous feeling for mexican-americans, not only in terms of friendships but in terms of the tremendous numbers that i employ in the united states. >> reporter: and when asked about who foots the bill for the wall -- >> who pays for wall, we didn't discuss. >> reporter: president peña nieto tweeted this, "i made it clear mexico would not pay for the wall." >> the first time he spoke to us or spoke about us, you know, it gave a bad image, and he's still poor traying himself with a bad image. >> reporter: it's all people are talking about at ninth and washington. >> when he comes out, it's not a good conversation. >> reporter: even this woman who

speaks very little english understands the cornerstone of trump's campaign. what do you think of donald trump? >> liar. >> i feel like he's just trying to get votes and trying to turn things around, but it's not going to work, i think. we've already seen his -- the bad side of him and i don't think there's a way back. >> reporter: now, hillary clinton also received an invitation to go down to mexico and speak with the president. she has yet to accept her last meeting, ghuz 2014. reporting live here in the south center, christie ileto, "channel 6 action news." rick? >> thank you. and speaking of hillary clinton, she was back on the campaign trail today speaking to the american legion national conference in cincinnati. she bearbed donald trump for dropping in on mexico saying building relationships takes more than a photo op. the democratic nominee said that she, not her opponent, would best uphold american values, care for the military, and protect national security interests. clinton continues to aggressively court republicans and independents and she received a polite, if not

completely enthusiastic, reception from this american legion audience. trump is expected to speak here tomorrow. meanwhile, democratic vice presidential candidate tim kaine came to the lehigh valley today stumping in bethlehem. his first stop was serving up meals and taking questions at an hispanic center. he then held a rally at the hanover township community center defending hillary clinton's health and blasting donald trump for not releasing his taxes. this was his third event in pennsylvania this week. indicating just how important the keystone state is to the national race. another big event is coming to philadelphia. the 2017 nfl draft. sources confirmed to "action news" that the annual event will be hel in the city of brotherly love next year. the official word comes tomorrow when the nfl and mayor jim kenney hold a news conference. unfortunately, though, the eagles won't have a first-round pick next year. they traded it away to get quarterback carson wentz.

>> the soul is the champions! there was confetti flying in the philadelphia city hall courtyard today at a celebration for the area's newest champs, the soul. hundreds of fans were there to see the 2016 arena football world champions and their shiny new trophy. mayor jim kenney saluted the team. the team said they hope their success rubs off on philadelphia's other sports teams. still to come on "action news" tonight, a jersey shore beach-goer is run over on the sand. also how the eagles are helping local autism research with a staggering donation. and we'll meet the newest addition at the philadelphia zoo. adam? >> as we wipe out the heat and humidity, 91 today, but 70s lurking to the north. we'll talk about the cooler air moving in and the latest on hermine in accuweather. >> all right, adam. sports, ducis rodgers with the phillies stunned by jayson werth again when "action news" comes right back.

stay with us.

a woman lying on the sand at the jersey shore was run over by a trash truck fay. it happened at the third avenue beach in ship bottom, ocean county. the public works vehicle was making morning trash pickups when police say the front wheel struck 38-year-old megan of toronto, canada. she was reading by herself on the beach at the time. tonight she's in stable condition being treated for an arm and leg injury. loved ones who lost their struggles with addiction were remembered at a candlelight vigil tonight in south jersey. hundreds gathered at the atkinson park insule on overdose awareness day. they remembered more than a hundred family and friends who died from drugs projecting their pictures and reading their names. the vigil was aimed at giving those left behind a sense of

community. "healthcheck" at 11:00 tonight, eagles owner jeffrey lurie has announced a $1 million donation to support autism research locally. the eagles charitable foundation will be giving money to the autism support programs at children's hospital of philadelphia, and its center for autism research. on top of that, another $300,000 raised at last night's taking night for autism fundraiser the linc will also be donated. the adventure aquarium in camden hosted a special night for families who have children with autism. rodney pete and his actress wife holly robinson were there for my brother charlie event. it's named after the book holly wrote about her son who has autism. about 500 people were invited. all right. adam is back now with a closer look at the holiday weekend and -- >> it's going downhill pretty quickly here over the last 24 hours, a major shift in many of

the models and the track. we'll have the very latest coming up here. as we look at stormtracker 6 live double scan, we're dealing with a front coming in from the north and west that is developing some showers and downpours around parts of the area. most of them up towards the lehigh valley and the poconos and south and west of lancaster. but these will be drifting through at times during the overnight hour. numbers right now are in the 70s area-wide. that ocean is still very warm at 78 degrees bringing in that southerly wind. some of that humidity but the front to the north and west as it slowly moves through tomorrow will finally relieve us of these 90s and also that extreme humidity. there is the front, to the north and west, between pittsburgh, binghamton, and it's going to be very slow to move through, so we can't expect quick clearing here on thursday or really a dry day. future tracker 6 at 7:30 in the morning. locked in with that cloud cover with some scattered showers around. doesn't look too heavy for that morning rush hour. lunchtime, still dealing with these pockets of downpours and thunderstorms. if you're at the shore tomorrow,

really not a beach day. it's kind of an indoor day with on and off rain at times. even at 5:30 in the evening, we'll be sparking these downpours and thunderstorms not looking at severe weather but brief heavy rain at times both either in the morning or in the afternoon. here's the latest on tropical storm hermine, 315 miles west-southwest of tamp a, florida. that's where the center is. continues to strengthen. winds now 60 miles an hour sustained moving to the north-northeast at 10 miles an hour. and the problem that occurred over the last 24 hours with these models are picking up on is the direction that hermine could take. we're looking at the upper level pattern because this is really the highway, so to speak, of our weather system. this is about 18,000 feet in the atmosphere. here is the energy with hermine as it makes landfall just to the west of jacksonville and apalachicola. at the same time, early in the weekend, he have this trough.

this is energy like a cold front which was originally going to kick hermine off the coast, but now the indications are that energy moves away too quickly and that allows hermine to continue a northeasterly trek up the eastern seaboard so that means watching and we have to see if this trend continues for that troth to move out prior to hermine moving up the coast. so the spaghetti notes, all these different models in agreement that they're all hugging the coastline. so really not the best of weekends for anyone in the mid-atlantic or east coast as we round out the unofficial end to the summer season. the exclusive accuweather seven-day forecast, scattered showers and downpours at times tomorrow at 84 degrees. beautiful on friday, low humidity, sunshine at 82. clouds build quickly here on saturday, 77. and we'll watch for the tropical rains. could be some coastal flooding and beach erosion as well as maybe some inland flooding on

sunday. and gradual clearing monday. this storm is going to drift. so it may not clear that quickly here on labor day. and it turns hot and humid beyond that. tuesday, wednesday, back into the lower 90s and meteorologist david murphy had have the latest track tomorrow morning on "action news." >> all right, adam. thank you again. the philadelphia zoo showed off its newest and cutest resident today. but they don't know if it's a boyar a girl. it's a gorilla born on friday to mom honey and dad matuba. because mom has been holding it so closely, zoo officials can't determine the baby's gender yet. once they do find out, they'll ask the public to help choose a name.

all right. ducis is here, and in sports, jayson werth certainly worth his money when he's playing the phillies. >> yeah. he absolutely owns this team. he kills this team. i tell you the nationals have the phillies' number. they've got their favorite number, their phone number, their social security number, you name it. once again, the phills look

helpless against them. stop me if you've heard this before. the phillies fall behind early. stop me if you've seen that before. jayson werth with a solo homer in the first inning. my goodness. second homer of this series. still 1-0, nats in the fifth. freddy galvis, number 15 on the year for him. game tied at 1-1. but can you believe this? the phillies only have two hits all night. seventh inning, adam morgan is still in there. singles in rendon. the phillies are independent. they lose this one 2-1. that's nine straight losses to washington. >> nine hits in three-game series isn't going to cut it. we're just not hitting the ball. we need more offense obviously. tomorrow night, the eagles will finally wrap up the preseason. they'll do so against the new york jets. most of the starters will sit. the ones that will play should see limited action. that leaves the second, third, and fourth-stringers with plenty of playing time. coach doug pederson has a message for those guys. >> this is a great challenge for all the players in this football game, to get one last

substantial amount of reps, and to really put themselves on pace. it's something that i've made known to the team that it's not just our team that's watching. it's the rest of the national football league that's also watching. and i want them just to go out there and play care-fully, play fast, and have fun doing it. >> still ahead here in sports, hear what aspects of army's defense temple is concerned with for the season opener. plus -- the flyers will katie: on crime, pat toomey's attacks on me are shameful. he's making it up. of course, anyone who commits a violent crime needs to be prosecuted -- and put behind bars. narrator: katie mcginty will keep us safe -- more police on the streets, better training and equipment, and take on the gun lobby for gun safety laws. katie: i'm the daughter of a police officer, and the mother of three. i'll stand with law enforcement to fight crime, and protect our families. i'm katie mcginty, and i approve this message.

college football, temple will open its season friday night at home against army. the owls lost quite a few players from the 10-14 from a year ago but they're still expected to do well. yesterday we heard coach matt ruehl's concerns about army's offense. he's concerned about their defense too. >> defensively, they present a lot of problems. their 3-4 defense is something we don't see. we don't practice against all preseason, then we have to try to get ready for it in the first game. they do love to blitz. they come from all over. so it will be imperative to us to not have negative plays and try to stay on the field and try to keep that dangerous offense off the field. >> couple fans listen up, we've got the owls covered with new programming. temple football playbook, a new show will air every saturday morning here on 6abc at 9:45. head coach matt ruehl will join us each week. this saturday he'll be live in studio to recap that army game and a preview the matchup ahead.

the sixers made a couple of moves today. they waived for kyle landry and signed barber out of nc state. the flyers are getting a new look, a lot more gold there. today the team unveiled new uniforms to commemorate its 50th anniversary. the captain served as the runway model. pretty good. >> thanks, ducis. 2000ly tonight, if you haven't heard about one of the world's largest food fights before, well, try to catch up. sorry. today the tomatoes were flying in eastern spain at the annual fiesta. they've been doing it every year since 1945. and today 20,000 people took part. and they used 320,000 pounds of tomatoes. once it was all done, they had to hose don't the town streets. that's going to do it for us. we'll see you tomato. sorry. >> aw! >> "jimmy kimmel live" next on channel 6 followed by "nightline."

"action news" continues tomorrow at 4:30. now for ducis, adam, cecily, jim, i'm rick williams. have a nice evening.