ballard's body was transferred from the office in wilmington to the congo funeral home late this morning escorted by police. we have two reports tonight from "action news" reporters john rawlins and christie ileto, both in the area of the sealy house in middletown. john, let's start with you. >> reporter: well, jim, police are still looking for answers at this hour about what happened yesterday, what sparked that violent incident involving the suspect. he had a prior arrest in florida. that was about four years ago. that ended up being a misdemeanor case with just a year's probation. investigators going over the house where for hours overnight a suspect fired out at police while police answered with explosive charges that blew out walls and doors. miles away, at troop 2 in glasgow, ballard's vehicle draped in black. those who knew him struggled with his death. >> yesterday afternoon, at the

wawa located on pulaski highway in bear. >> reporter: police say the man moo murdered the corporal, burgon sealy jr., was the man inside the middletown house this morning firing at police. >> at 9:17 a.m., the armed suspect exited the residence and engaged police. >> reporter: police say the incident started yesterday at this wawa in bear. corporal ballard asked sealy, a passenger in a parked car, goat out. there was an altercation. sealy pulled a gun and started shooting. >> corporal ballard immediately went to the ground. the suspect fired multiple rounds. >> reporter: the police are still looking for many answers including a possible motive. the superintendent was asked about unverified reports that sealy may have been radicalized online in some way. >> none that we will disclose at this time. we'll continue to investigate and we'll make that information available if it becomes available. >> reporter: kim oding and her daughter faith drove up from maryland to place balloons and

fires at the barracks. >> to honor him. he's a hero. he's a hero. >> reporter: corporal ballard was 32 years old, an 8 1/2-year veteran of the force. he leaves behind, officials say, a wife and a daughter. live in middletown, john rawlins, "channel 6 action news." jim? >> thank you, john. also near the house tonight is "action news" reporter christie ileto. christie, what kind of ordeal has this been for neighbors in the brick mill farms development? it must have been terrible for them. >> reporter: jim, many of them are still shaken. they're simply trying to understand how could something like this have happened in such a quiet neighborhood? moments ago, police put up a perimeter to keep curious residents to graphdatetating -- gravitating towards sealy's home. >> multiple sounds of explosion every hour, maybe 1:00 to 4:00,

then gunshots in between. >> reporter: trapped in their home across the street, this couple hardly slept during last night's 20-hour standoff. >> i just can't believe it's this chose to our house. i just can't believe it's this close. >> reporter: cop cars and yellow tape are the new normal in this middletown neighborhood, the home of the accused cop killer was he did stroyed as he refused to surrender peacefully. authorities blew off his front door, pulled out windows and cut through walls to reach him. police had tracked sealy to his home after he called a family member confessing he'd shot a trooper who he learned was 32-year-old corporal stephen ballard. >> it's been very nerve-racking. we're getting a lot of people coming into the anybody hood just to look around. and we feel bad for the fallen trooper. >> reporter: how are you are guys trying to make sense of the horror that has literally happened steps from your home? >> it's really hard. they've lived here as long as we have, so it makes no sense to us. really scary that this could happen in our neighborhood and nobody knows.

really glad it wasn't any worse than it was. >> reporter: now, back out here live, a lot of residents just trying to make sense of this new normal in their neighborhood filled with cop cars and yellow tape. we also learned that some residents continue to be displaced tonight as their homes are part of this continued crime scene. reporting live here in middletown, christie ileto, "channel 6 action news." jim? >> thank you, christie. there is a growing memorial outside the wawa store in bear where corporal stephen ballard lost his life yesterday. people began leaving flowers, stuffed animals and balloons last night. and residents continued to pay their respects at the scene at 1605 pulaski highway today. our coverage continues on the 6abc news app. we will alert to you any new updates on the investigation. you can also watch more than a dozen videos from "action news" and from chopper 6. the 6abc news app is a free download for your mobile device. a tractor-trailer driver is

suffering an asthma attack, crashed into a warehouse in new castle delaware this afternoon. police responded to 600 ships landing way at 12:25. the 40-year-old driver refused treatment at the scene. you can see the truck entered the building. fortunately nobody was hurt. we are looking live up the ben franklin parkway in philadelphia where the nfl draft experience is now underway. they opened the gates at noon and so far so good. of course, the big story begins at 8:00 with the beginning of the actual nfl draft. live on the parkway is "action news" reporter gray hall. gray, what's the story there right now? >> reporter: well, jim, we can tell you this is excitement central. for the folks at home thinking and wondering should they come out and visit? the answer, absolutely yes. hundreds of people are already here.

[ cheers ] this event includes fun and the best of all, it's absolutely free. >> we got tickets to be inside the draft. so that's what we've been counting down for. yeah! >> reporter: it's football mania. at lo along the bnk benjamin franklin parkway. parkway 200,000 people are expected to show up for the nfl draft. it is day one. gates opened at noon. and fans did not leave disappointed especially that family that scored the tickets to be inside the draft. >> it was super important to me. i had to tell all my friends. it was like, if no one knew, they had to know. >> reporter: even if you don't makes it inside the theater area to watch the draft, the stage will be open so visitors can feel like they are part of the experience. all the activities are sure to keep you busy. it's a free football festival for the entire family. >> football is all about the adults. now you can bring the whole family out and enjoy it and have a good time. >> reporter: there are are interactive exhibits, games, virtual reality experiences, player autograph sessions and a

whole lot more. >> having a lot of fun. >> i would love to meet wentz. wentz, if you can hear me, i'm here. for you, my guy. you going to take us to the championship. >> reporter: and we hope wentz heard him. a lot of the family, food and fun to be had out here. the fun continues through saturday night. but it's not all about fun. this is also a big economic boost to the city, expect to -- expected to bring in $80 million. gray hall, "channel 6 action news." jim? >> rowdy, indeed. let's switch live to sarah bloomquist. city of philadelphia, sarah, hoping that fans come from far and wide. how is it going so far? >> reporter: jim, so far so great. here we are and so far fans here are loving the experience of the nfl experience. >> there you go. you guys did a good job out here. >> reporter: high marks for the nfl experience as the first i havers arrive this afternoon.

it took months to plan, weeks to build, and now we're here. and so are football fans from all over. >> we planned it back in november, i believe, stayed here last night and tonight leaving tomorrow. >> do the experience. this is so much fun. every year, something different, something brand new. and you get a meet a lot of different people, lot of different fans. so it's a way to get away. >> reporter: what was it like getting here? some city folks simply walked. >> i live a little less than a mile away so we just walked down. no problem. >> reporter: others followed the advice and took public transportation. >> yeah, we watched the news and the nfl actually told us to get off at the station. >> reporter: it worked well. >> it works perfect. >> reporter: getting in required a security check but that didn't prove to be any problem. >> this is a really good experience. i'm happy to be down here and be part of the philadelphia history. >> reporter: this is philadelphia. eagles fans are everywhere. but fans of all nfl teams are

here now ready to represent. >> die-hard fans and we live here. it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the draft experience. and so i took the kids out of school, and we're here. >> reporter: so far, great start and still so much more ahead. as i said, fans from everywhere representing all the teams, but eagles fans are dominating here tonight. and they want to do something. you ready? one, two, three, go! >> glls glls e-a-g-l-e-s, eagles. >> reporter: i'm sarah bloomquist. "channel 6 action news." jim, back to you. >> we had to hear that at least once. council members presented the national football league with a resolution this morning. it also commemorates the first-ever nfl draft. and that took place february 8, 1931936 at the ritz-carlton hotl

in philadelphia. jon runyan was on hand for the presentation today. if you are headed to the draft, be sure to first check out 6abc.com/nfl draft. you can get a look at the nfl draft experience activities and see a list of restricted items and road closures to make your experience easier. coming up on "action news" tonight, we will go back to the parkway. ducis rodgers is monitoring the eagles' options ahead of the draft tonight. ducis? >> reporter: good evening, jim. we caught up with former eagles quarterback donovan mcnabb today, and he's got some advice for whichever player's taken 14th by the eagles. we'll hear from mcnabb later in sports. jim? >> thank you, ducis. new chefs now have the skills to serve their communities in more ways than one. cecily? it suddenly feels like summer. warm and humid and i'm tracking some storms on the way. i'll have all the details in the accuweather seven-day forecast.

those stories and of mosh when "action news" continues tonight.

a group of protesters left new castle today to demonstrate against conditions at the james t. vaughn correctional center in smir nof. organizers man to march outside legislative hall in dover to call for better security for both the employees and the inmates. vaughn is the same prison where corrections officer lieutenant steven floyd was killed during an uprising back in february. philadelphia mayor jim kenney spoke to the newest graduating class of the

philabundance community kitchen today. this training program gives the chefs of the future the skills they need to find jobs. and they're learning -- while they're learning, the students create meals for agencies who serve people with food insecurity. more than 80% of graduates from the community kitchen find jobs in the food service industry. independence national park transformed into an outdoor classroom today. organizers for the philadelphia science festival set up more than 20 activity centers on everything from astronomy to zoology. students could stop by to see experiments or just learn some fun facts. the philadelphia science festival runs through saturday. and today was take your daughters and sons to work day. and here at channel 6, we had the pleasure of hosting some bright and interested youngsters. they had a chance to meet the many people who helped put together our newscasts and work in the offices here at channel 6.

this day was created to expose youngsters throughout the nation to different careers and to show them the value of their education. hi

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the nfl draft isn't the only game in town. the 123 penn relays kicked off today at the university of pennsylvania. the competition runs until 11:0h the penn relays through saturday. back to the draft and ducis rodgers down on the ben franklin parkway. ducis, eagles' pick 14th. there hasn't been much talk about trading up or trading down. >> no, it looks like they may -- you never know what happens in front of you so things very fluid there the at nfl draft. the draft starts at 8:00 tonight. we expect the eagles to make their selection late in the 9:0t 10:00. not even do we have prospects here, there are current and

former players hanging out here at the nfl draft. that group includes donovan mcnabb. mcnabb still getting love from eagles fans and he's quick to give that love right back. it's hard to believe that it was 18 years ago when mcnabb heard his name called. he was the second overall pick in the 1999 nfl draft. mcnabb heard a course of boos that day. but he's not worried about tonight's eagles' pick getting that same reaction. what advice would you give to whoever's called up on that stage? >> he probably won't get booed, but just to -- just to visualize himself in the green. visualize himself here with the fans and stepping out on that football field at the linc and just doing what he did in college. that's the most important thing. it's going to be a tough task for him but just have that confidence going in to, hey, you know what? i'm here to help this team win. >> this is not just a draft. it's an event that resembles something for hollywood stars. jeff skversky joins us now from the red carpet.

jeff. >> hey, ducis. it feels like the oscars out here. the 21 nfl prospects are making their way out of the philadelphia museum of art as we speak and down the red carpet. who will the eagles take of the 21 is anyone's guess. they need help at corner, running back, you name it. they have a lot of holes. one of these prospects may fill it tonight. let's take a look at western michigan receiver cory davis. he looks fantastic in that pink jacket. he would look even better in eagles green, wouldn't he? he had the most dvrs i ncaa history. we caught up with rodney mcleod. he wants eagles to go defense at number 14. if you could take a wild guess, what would it be? >> man, a lot of guys been talking all week. i'm thinking either cornerback or running back at the 14t 14th slot tonight. that's what i'm thinking. >> reporter: the best available quarterback in your mind would be who?

>> best available, i really like the kid out of ohio state, jeron connolly. i really like him. you know, -e'll see what happens. >> reporter: and mcleod wants connolly who didn't show up at the draft because he's facing allegations of sexual assault. the eagles had been investigating the incident. and i'm hearing that the eagles are comfortable with potentially drafting him if he is available. ducis, let's go back to you at eakins oval. >> all right, jeff. thank you so much. moving on this afternoon, the phillies wrapped up their series with the marlins before heading out on a seven-game road trip. happy to say they leave on good note. sixth inning. into the corner. michael saunders trying to score all the way from first base. this is going to be a slow plate play at the plate. a great slide by saunders to get in there.

the phillies win 3-2. their longest win streak in a year. the philly also head out to los angeles to face the dodgers. once again, the nfl draft is tonight. eagles will select 14. got an eagles chant here, jim. back over to you. >> thank you, ducis. eight athletes will make temple university history this weekend. it is the first time the university is sending a team to the climbing collegit national championship. we caught up with the team just before they flew out to san diego this afternoon. they'll compete tomorrow in hopes of making the finals on saturday. the sport of climbing was recently approved as an event in the 2020 tokyo olympics. congressman macarthur promised to protect our health care.

but when right-wing politicians tried to pass a disastrous health care repeal bill that raises costs and cuts coverage, macarthur wouldn't oppose them. macarthur wouldn't protect us from a bill

that raises premiums and causes 24 million to lose their insurance. wouldn't oppose a massive "age tax" on people over 50. and isn't fighting to protect coverage for pre-existing conditions. tell tom macarthur - stop trying to repeal our health care.

perfect weather for the nfl event down on the parkway. >> it's warm. it's humid. you made me promise the other day we'd be in the 80s today. >> and you fulfilled that promise. >> 81 degrees. couldn't get any warmer -- it's going to get even warmer the next two days. we are rain-free out there, but we have a lot the moisture in the air. let's go live on sky6 taking a look over the ben franklin parkway and the nfl draft experience. the parkway is packed. and you can see kind of that haze lying over the city, because we do have dew points in the 60s. so it is a bit on the humid side. and the accuweather highlights will show you that we are definitely going to be heating things up. and we have been this week. tuesday, it was 57 degrees with that rain. yesterday, 65. today, it shot up to 81 degrees. that's 13 degrees above normal. and the next two days, even warmer. second day of the nfl draft tomorrow, 84 degrees, mostly sunny. that's 16 dries above average. saturday's record high is 90.

we're going to be close calling for a high of 87 degrees with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm. you will feel the humidity in the air. dew points will be in the mid-60s on saturday. right now definitely feeling like summer. 77 in philadelphia. allentown, 80. wilmington, 71. notice, though, with that wind off the ocean, the ocean temperature, 54 degrees. that makes a big difference right along the beaches. cape may currently only 61. satellite and radar showing good amount of sunshine earlier. the clouds are rolling in. if you look out to the west, you can see this broken line of some showers and thunderstorms. that's from a weak cold front that will be pushing through overnight. so tonight, mostly cloudy. a spotty shower or thunderstorm possible late tonight. temperatures really not dropping low at all. 63 in philadelphia. that's only five degrees lower than our normal high for this time of the year. allentown, 58. cape may, 57. and trenton, 60. so future tracker showing, as we head into the morning hours, get a little bit of ripple of energy along that low pressure, so we will be waking up with clouds,

some showers, perhaps even a rumble of thunder across south jersey and delaware. but this is a fast-moving system. by lunchtime, it's sunny all except for right along the coast. some lingering clouds. and this is when temperatures will be up into the 80s. so if you're heading to franklin field for the second day of the penn relays, take the water. take the sunscreen. you'll need it. by 8:00, 67. by 2:00, 81. by 5:00, 83 degrees. and even at 8:00 in the evening, still pretty mild, 76. saturday, more humid with the possibility of an isolated thunderstorm. 87 degrees, the high. that front pulls through. and sunday, temperatures quite a bill cooler. so the -- bit cooler. so the exclusive forecast, 84 degrees tomorrow. bump it up to 87 on saturday with an isolated thunderstorm. back into the 70s sunday. 72 degrees. bump up to 84 degrees on monday. some thunderstorms as a stronger cold front pulls through. behind that system. tuesday, a beautiful ving day. 73 degrees with sunshine.

72 degrees on wednesday. looks like we could have a pretty good soaking rain on thursday with a high of 68 degrees. so two more warm days. if that's too warm for you, we do cool off pretty dramatically next week. >> thank you, cecily. abc's "world news tonight with david muir" on channel 6. "action news" continues on phl17 with brian taff, sharrie williams, adam joseph, and ducis rodgers. and please join us for "action news"actionnews" at 11:00 here n channel 6. for cecily tynan, ducis rodgers, and the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner. we hope you'll join us for "action news" at 11:00.

to protect our families and our civil rights. he's represented black lives matter, occupy wall street, and parents protesting the closing of schools. larry krasner will reform the criminal justice system, ending a war on drugs and the era of mass incarceration that targets poor and minority communities. because justice makes us safer. not just talking the talk, walking the walk. larry krasner, democrat for district attorney.

tonight, breaking news. our reporter with president trump, asking the president how will he pay for what the white house claims will be the biggest tax cut in american history. how the president answered. also tonight, we now learn the pentagon is investigating fired national security adviser michael flynn. they want to know whether he asked permission to accept money from russia, from foreign governments. the deadly standoff. the gunman accused of killing a state trooper. today, the images coming in, as authorities blew up this home wide open, the shootout that follows. major news on united tonight, after that passenger was dragged off the flight. after the ceo told us changes were coming. tonight, news of a major settlement. and what the airline might now pay you,f