was a member of his organization. and they described cruz as a volatile teenager that say his strange behavior caused friends to end friendships with him. and a total of 17 people were killed and 13 are still in the hospital. and in the wake of the worst school shooting since sandy hook in 2012. a lot of people had a lot to say including students that are fed up with the adults. >> what we really need is action. we say we are going to do all of these things, thoughts and prayers. what we need is action. please this is the 18 and one this year. that is unacceptable. we are children, you guys are like the adults. you need to take some action and play a role. work together and come over your politics and get something done. >> emotions were raw at a prayer vigil with young people and parents shared indescribable

pain. said one student, our lives are changed forever. >> president trump came out to say that the entire nation is praying for the victims and then president said this -- >> i want to speak now to america's children. especially those who feel, lost, alone, confusioned or even scared -- i want to you know that are you never alone and you never will be. >> then said trump, no child, no teacher should ever be in danger in an american school. he went on to say and these are his words, i have heard your prayer and seen your tears, i will heal you. >> philadelphia police say they always look to these tragedies as learning opportunities. and they say that school safety and preparation are top priorities for the department. >> if we get a school on lock down it's an immediate large response from the police department and the s.w.a.t. members go to it and k-9 and

counter terrorism. it's an every day priority to us to keep the schools safe. >> in fact, there are 80 lockdowns at philadelphia schools just this year. police say they investigate tips and are constantly monitoring social media for threats. >> john rawlins is live at the delaware county money center media where school security is top of the mind. >> reporter: it is top of the mind jim, but probably top of the mind for a lot of these folks a lot of the time for educators and people in public safety. because they know it could happen any time any place this type of tragedy. the folks here is a they decided to speak up in part because of the rest of us are paying attention for now. >> this is a training video posted on youtube simulating an active shooter simulation to give students and staffers, survivoral skills, they conducted active shooter skills

for years. it hit home. >> does it make sense to you now? >> it does. >> they are taught that if it's in the far corner of the building run away don't stay put. >> but if the threat is nearby the advice changes hide and prepare. >> the third thing you is prepare to fight if the intruder comes into your classroom. block doors with chairs and throw chairs, have you to buy as much time as you can. >> besides staff training they have added cameras and worked closely with four police departments and scanlon is focusing on prevention for individuals that may act out in violence. >> the goal -- perhaps prevent tragedies, schools that have done that may have done prevention and doesn't know it. at delaware county's 911 prevention. sigh leapt alarms to 230 schools

and mental health a topic in this county. officials urging students to speak up if they think someone they know could become violent. >> we could go out and visit that person. and evaluate that person, and get that person help if they need it. >> well, karen mcblaine stressed if someone is worried about someone go to a teacher or counselor and if they are not comfortable with that idea they can make a direct phone call for the county crisis team and that number will be posted at our website at 6abc.com. >> thank you. for one of philadelphia's better known professional athletes what happened yesterday hit close to home. flyers defense man shane hails from parkland, florida and went to the stoneman douglas high school and "action news" reporter sara bloomquist talked to him this morning.

>> reporter: that is right. flyers defense man shane told us he was in shock that this deadly shooting happened at a high school he attended in a town he considered so safe. and shared his thoughts in voorhees this morning. >> flyers defense man shane practiced today with a heavy heart and thoughts on the deadly shooting at the high school he attended his freshman and sophomore years. >> they say it's close to home, but when it's actually home the tough to see. i have not really processed it yet. i can't believe it. >> he said he tuned into the coverage yesterday afternoon. a buddy texted me saying there was a shooting. my girlfriend and i turned on whatever news stake there was at the time and it sucks to see those were the hallways you walked before. >> and he was familiar with assistant football coach aaron feis who lost his life shielding students from the gunman. >> a nice guy and always nice to

me when i was there. it shows his character what he did in that time of panic and putting himself on the line for others. >> and still has family in parkland a place he remembers as safe. >> my grandparents live a mile away and i live ten minutes away and it's a tough time and just voted the safest city in florida last year. to see a tragic event like that it's obviously a shock. >> he didn't personally know the students that were killed but familiar with some of the victims and recognize the names as they become known. david muir will anchor the world news tonight from parkland, florida. we will have more eyewitness accounts and a look at the gunman's past that is next at 6:30 right after "action news." and on 6abc.com we hear more from witnesses on the deadly florida shooting and watch

interviews with former police commissioner charles ramsey and read an experts advice on how parents discuss the news with their children. >> and an update on the pedestrian accident in burlington county. police say that the victim has died. and maple shade police say that a man with a bicycle was walking in a crosswalk on route 3-near waverly avenue. the incident happened at 7:00. the preliminary investigation shows the vehicle had i green light at this time the driver does not face charges. >> new jersey governor, phil murphy announced plans today to bring relief to those that ride the rails and outlined a number of steps to ease congestion. he spoke out that 20 rail cars will soon be turned to service and they are finalizing an agreement to lease more cars but murphy says that relief won't be immediate and troubles take time to resolve.

and today was graduation day for 19 men and women that completed a basic course for police officers and the ceremony was held this afternoon at stockton university in galloway township. and the graduates spend 20 weeks for the training commission. and today philadelphia mayor, jim kenney launched the city's new workforce development strategy and the rollout took place at the community college of philadelphia this morning. that during a meeting of academic and civic leaders and it's meant to bridge the gap from what is the employers need and the workforce can do. >> coming up on "action news" tonight. authorities finger a suspect from delaware that allegedly snapped a thumb off a statue worth millions of dollars at the franklin institute. and jeff skversky at spring

training. >> the phillies hit a turning point and they are ready to start winning. >> temperatures are into the 60s today and double scan live radar showing rain is heading our way with a cold front and yes i'm tracking accumulating snow for parts of our region on saturday. we'll have the details in the exclusive accuweather seven-day forecast. >> those stories and more when "action news" continues tonight.

police arrested a 24-year-old delaware for snapping off the finger of a million dollar statue. >> soldiers from the terra cota

army on loan from china from 29 bc from china's first emperor. life size clay soldiers amounts to slaves 2,000 years ago. these and other soldiers have been displayed all over the world. only to be vandalized here in philadelphia. local folks coming out of the exhibit had this reaction to the crime. >> it's a national treasure. on loan. from china. i would say you put him in jail. no questions. >> the suspect is seen breaking off the left thumb of the calvary man, identified by the fbi as 25-year-old matthew of bear delaware. the fbi says they have loads of video showing him giving the flip to the security setup after

seeking over to the exhibit during an ugly sweater party at the since toot. >> when the fbi went of there he turned over the stolen property. >> this takes away history from everywhere. it's terrible. an awful thing for someone to do that. >> i think it's good that they caught him and lousy that he ruined that experience for people. >> she says throw the book at him. >> unbelievably stupid he should be appropriately punished. >> he remains free on bail. he and his court appointed lawyer were scheduled to appear in court tomorrow afternoon. vernon odom, channel 6 "action news." it was a who's who of african-american leadership at uniton leg in center city and gathered for the philadelphia

tribune only annual black history awards lunch. president and ceo honored african-americans making their mark on local history. including bruce collie and family practitioner donald parks. for postal workers were honored for their special handles of the trucks they drive when delivering the mail. the four letter carriers were presented with plaques for driving a million miles on the job without having an accident.

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phillies spring training in clearwater florida. >> day one was about hope and optimism and day two getting down to business and seeing what

the phillies have with this young talented roster. jeff skversky is live with more. >> reporter: hey ducis like many phillies fans, the general manager says he would close his eyes and dream about the time this team could be a contender and now the pipe dream is over and now a reality the phillies are ready to win. >> i think it's awesome. phillies general manager matt clintack loves the bold statement that the phillies can shock people. reluctant to put the timetable on the turn. he says now. >> most of them came up through the system together and have one every level in the minor leagues. >> why would we tell them it's going be different at this level. that is ridiculous. >> he feels it's time to swing for the fences after the way

they finished last year and seeing hitters in clearwater crush the ball. he loves the young energy the phillies are actively trying to add a veteran starting pitcher and not ruling out signing a big name by signing a free agent or making a big trade. >> need is a strong word. but looking to upgrade and a healthy balance to have there. a significant upgrade and matt feels like it will make our roster stronger by all means go after it and attack it. >> we want to play in object for a decade not for a year. we are not going to play there once and then take a step back. we'll build it the right way. >> look, the phillies have a ton of money to spend whether they spend it this offseason or perhaps next offseason, one big name still out there. former cy young award winner jake arrieta drone two no

hitters costly but has quite the credentials. jeff skversky, channel 6 "action news." >> thank you. to basketball the sixers hit the all start back and will not be become in action until next thursday. the flyers are gearing up for their game against columbus. they are in seventh place. >> and like what they accomplish. >> we like our games even when we are not playing our best. the effort is good and guys are dialed in and dedicated to do whatever they can to help the team. we have success but at the same time it's tight and we have to keep going here. >> temple will visit number 19 wichita state tonight. the owls won five games in a row and one was over the shocker two weeks ago and the owls suspect the challenge this evening. >> they are a deep team a talented team.

and obviously the environment is something we are going be challenged by. apparently their fans are fantastic. >> that is a look at sports. >> thank you. cecily tynan with the accuweather forecast when we continue in just a moment. c

♪ ♪ there are two types of people in the world. those who fear the future... and those who embrace it. the future is for the unafraid. ♪ ♪

c. it is thursday night we can get the official free view. we have wintry weather in time for the weekend and it feels like spring. the action cam is looking at the center city skyline. filtered sunshine temperatures 61 if philadelphia and now the clouds are building and ray postd this great photo from his

drone showing the building clouds ahead a cold front that brings us rain and then some much needed cooler air. and now it's mild and philadelphia 58 degrees and allentown 60 and reading 62 reading reach aid high of 69 today and the atlantic city airport in pomona 59 degrees. and ahead in the morning of a cold front and this time tomorrow night temperatures drop down into the 40s and overnight into saturday morning. temperatures dropping well down into the 20s as the cold air moves in. satellite and radar shows the clouds are in place right now and this area of precipitation moving into central pennsylvania. this is ahead of the cold front bringing us a soaking tonight. a wave of low pressure develop as long it and that wave is just beginning to gather moisture moving out of mexico and that is the system that brings us snow

and rain on saturday night. so tonight no snow just rain. future tracker 6 showing at 8:00 a healthy batch of rain if areas philadelphia to the west and tapers off to showers at 11:00 and looking at generally a half inch of rain ain good soaking tomorrow morning. showers in the morning and temperatures in the upper 50s and then we dry out for the evening commute and that is when temperatures begin to drop into the 40s, that colder air moving in from the northwest. it's here on saturday. and future tracker 6 showing that moisture builds by saturday night. starting as snow across most of our viewing area, and this system likely will pull in the warmer air off the ocean and we'll see a change over, by late saturday night. close to philadelphia. exactly where this rain snow line sets up really determines how much snow you see. versus how much rain. and it's all out of here by sunday morning. this is a quick hit of snow.

heaviest 7:00 saturday to 1:00 sunday morning. rough travel sunday night northwest of i-95. if you live in the northwest suburbs, be careful saturday night ain sharp cutoff though as totals. as you move to the southeast. right now it's uncertain but i think it's going to be the i-95 corridor. this will cut down in amounts. along 9510 miles either way 1 too 3 slushy inches. and south jersey and delaware not much a coating and switch of to rain. however, the northwest suburbs where it's all snow, north of westchester and landsdale and doylestown north and west we could get a decent amount of snow 3 to 6 inches saturday night and that is where the travel is tricky not a light snow but heavy wet snow.

the high hit that early in the day. and showers and temperatures falling and saturday the day is fine and building clouds and dry during the day and snow and rain moving in saturday evening into the wee hours of sunday morning, the high on saturday 40 and whatever falls going to be melting quickly on sunday. we get full sunshine and the high up to 48 degrees and presidents day 53 degrees building clouds with rain moving in in the afternoon and evening with a warm front. look at this behind the warm front record warmth on tuesday. 68 and the record is 70 set back in 1939. wednesday's record 72 we'll be in within a couple of degrees of that despite rain building in behind the cold front and thursday we cool down to 50 degrees and still getting new information on saturday i'll have it on "action news" at 11:00. abc world news with david muir is next on channel 6. and "action news" continues at

10:00 with brian taff, ducis rogers and adam joseph. and please join us for a special report here on channel 6. the "action news" troubleshooters are getting answers as to why residents are having problems with mail delivery. here is chad pradelli with a preview. >> reporter: late mail and even no mail at all. >> it go to the point we were receiving mail maybe once a week if that. >> an "action news" investigation finding postal problems ranging in zip codes in our area. hear how the postal service is responding. tonight on "action news" at 11:00. >> for cecily tynan and ducis rogers and the entire "action news" team, i'm jim gardner we hope you'll join us for "action news" at 11:00.

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tonight, breaking developments in the deadly school rampage here in florida. we have new and searing images from inside the school. 17 people killed. the eruption of gunfire, firing into one classroom after another. the suspect armed with an ar-15, triggering the fire alarm. and then targeting victims as they tried to escape. >> everyone on the floor. on the floor. >> terrified students hiding, rescued by s.w.a.t. teams. the suspect stopping at a walmart, at subway, at mcdonald's after the rampage. tonight, the officer who found him describing the moment. the suspect, nikolas cruz, in court today. what authorities now reveal. what he allegedly told them. as we also learn more about his past. adopted, he lost the father who adopted him. then his mother dying from the