tonight, piecing together the trail of violence that led to one of the worst shootings in

washington's history. we are learning about the four young lives taken as well as five others injured. >> i'm unhappy with you right now. you let the community down. >> also tonight, frustration over a perceived lack of cooperation between police, city government and prosecutors. and how allhe bullets may be traced back to one. good evening, i'm jim vance. >> i'm doreen gentzler. it appears last night's mass shooting in south eastern washington may have been a double retaliation and came hours after many of the victims attended the funeral of another friend. craig melvin has spoken with family members of several of those gunned down. we begin with jane watrel and the first reaction to the mayor of what happened. >> reporter: doreen, a the lot more information is coming out tonight due to court hearings and a news conference held by the mayor and chief of police. this deadly cycle of events is a

case of revenge and counterrevenge, all over the piece of missing jewelry. the two men charged with tuesday night's mass shooting stood silently in d.c. superior court. 26-year-old nathaniel simms is facing three counts of first degree murder while 20-year-old orlander carter faces three murder charges. mourners were gathered outside the 4000 block of capital southeast, a minivan opened up and its occupants openedfire, killing four wounding five. >> i'm convinced that orlander killed my son. >> reporter: diane howe maintained he should have been locked up last week. it was carter's brother who was initially charged with jordan howe's fightal shooting over a stolen brace left.

police thought orlando should have been locked up, as well. >> we don't always agree with the u.s. attorney's office. sometimes we have a difference of opinion. my goal is to stop more people from being injured, and we submitted an arrest warrant. the u.s. attorney's office has to make a decision. >> reporter: chief lanier and mayor fenty returned at the site of the shooting. >> this is one of the most vinlt things to happen in washington, d.c. >> a 14-year-old boy is facing murder charges as driver othe minivan. plifs found shell casings of three weapons at the scene, ak-47, 0.9 millimeter and a hand gun from a horrific shooting. >> it would have never happened if that prosecutor would have signed a warrant for his arrest. >> reporter: the three suspects under arrest are expected to face an additional murder

charge. one the of the victims passed away early this morning. live in southeast, jason watrel, back to you. >> thank you. with the help of family members, we are getting a better picture of the lives lost last night. one of them was a 16-year-old girl rochelle jones. the other three, all teenagers. earlier they all attended the funeral of another friend. another victim of violence. so many lives cut short. emotions are running very high in the highlands neighborhood now. craig melvin has that part of our story. >> reporter: i'm going to step out of the way. i want you to look the at the steps behind me on the corner of south capital and brandywine. candles line tonight a make-shift vigil. family members and friends stopped by to remember the lives

lost here. along with the grief, there's been palpable frustration and anger. 18-year-old devon boyd's mother heard the shots. >> i was right there on the scene when my mother was slain. >> she was planning to go to culinary school. >> reporter: jeffries returned to the scene wednesday to remember her daughter. she was still barely consolable but wednesday night on top of the grief, confusion and frustration. >> reporter: my child barely weighed 100 pounds. you see her neck wide open, bullets all in her body. >> reporter: her body was on of several that fl on these steps tuesday night at the corner of south capital and brandywine.

>> reporter: we met the man who owns the building. his grandson was killed near where we sat. at a community vij yi8 wednesday night we saw his other grandson, a 14-year-old who got shot tuesday night. he told us he was just sitting on the porch remembering his friend whose funeral he just attended. that friend, 20-year-old jordan howe, killed a week earlier. howe's father returned wednesday with a message. >> stop killing one another. >> reporter: norman williams blames his son's death on senseless violence but blames local politicians not doing enough, including this councilman who showed up. >> i'm not shaking your hand. i'm not shaking your hand. i'm not shaking your hand. >> reporter: in fact, many who came for the vigil that soon turned into a news conference said the same thing. there is a gap between those wh

represent them. as you can see behind me over my right shoulder, the vigil, a popular hangout spot. there have been dozens there throughout the night. people here in the area say that's one of the problems. that is a frequent hangout spot. lots of young people hang out there because theris nothing else to do. live in southeast tonight, craig melvin, news4. >> thank you, craig. details of the investigation continue to come in quickly on this case. you can stay up-to-date on nbcwashington.com. search mass shooting. president obama's plan to lift a long-standing ban on offshore drilling is getting bipartisan support in virginia. the president wants to approve oil and gas exploration along the atlantic coast starting with a spot 50 miles offshore from the commonwealth. republican governor bob mcdonnell says it will be a huge boost for virginia's economy. senator mark warner praises the decision as a way to gain energy

independence which the president cites as one of his main goals. >> we are going to need to harness traditional sources of fuel even as we ramp up production of new sources of renewable home grown energy. >> it's a side show and could ruin beaches and tourism economy. >> seven years before any drilling actually happens. former first lady barbara bush was released from the hospital today. she is the wife of former president george h.w. bush. she was admitted to the hospital in houston saturday and underwent several days of tests. hospital officials say it appears mrs. bush suffered a mile relapse of a thyroid condition which she was treated back in 1989. her medication has been adjusted. still ahead tonight on news4, the ems workers who mistook a living man for dead returned to the job. historic flooding in the

northeast part of the nation. it chased families from their houses and closed parts of i-95 the first time ever. >> one new army recruit learns throwing his first grenade isn't as easy as it looks. >> man climbed through a mcdonald's drive-through window. >> what's ahead in weather? >> our april will start out feeling like june around here. a warm stretch. dan, we are just getting started. >> sounds good. caps' coach hoping their losing streak is ending. fill out and mail back the census today.

because your census answers are more than just answers. they're the first step toward a happier, healthier community. we can't move forward until you mail it back. 2010 census.

police expect to file charges in a fiery six-car crash in loudoun county. it happened last night near

dranesville road and route 7 in sterling. it was caused by somebody stopped short and hit by a driver distracted. a woman's jeep overturned and burst onto flames. the group of good samaritans kicked in the wind shield to save her just before the vehicle exploded. she is in the hospital now in serious condition. >> two paramedics involved in a case of mistaked death returned to duty. last friday they were called to a home in glenn arden to check on a resident. they aprounsed him dead but more than an hour later a forensic team found him still alive. the medical director is allowing them to return to duty, but their actions are under review. there wil soon be another airline flying in and out of national airport. the discount carrier jetblue

will begin eight daily flights beginning in november. jetblue already flies out of dulles and bwi. the first flights out of national will be the cities on the east coast. still to come tonight on news4, the rain stopped in the northeast but that won't make it easier for dozens of communities. >> washington, ready for a spring heat wave. >> a public protest asking for the for decades, the insurance lobby has called the shots... putting profits before people. but with gerry connolly's help... that's changing. with a law prohibiting insurance company denials... if you get sick or have a pre-existing condition. providing quality, affordable health care options...

to individuals and small business owners. and closing the medicare prescription gap. congressman connolly, thank you. the democratic national committee is responsible... for the content of this advertising. and it's something that you think about. we try to be conscious of that and plan out our meals so that we can feed everyone on a budget. at giant, we know saving money is important. every time you shop with your card, you can enjoy thousands of real deal sings and weekly specials. like perdue boneless chicken breasts, buy one, get one free; and strawberries, one-pound carton, 3 for $5. this week only. it makes me feel good because we're saving money, and that works for me. only with your giant card.

a chechen military leader is claiming responsibility for two suicide bombings earlier this week in moscow subway systems. 39 people killed, dozens injured monday morning when two women set off bombs during rush hour. the leader of the islamic militants posted a website s

saying the attacks were an active revenge of killing civilians from russian civility forces. russian president promised to hunt down those responsible. pope benedict made no direct mention today of the clergy sex abuse scandal. three men who filed a lawsuit in kentucky are trying to force the pope to answer questions under oath. the lawsuit alleges the vatican was negligent in failing to alert police or the public about priests who molested children in kentucky. the associated press reports vatican lawyers intend to assert the pope has immunity as head of state. first lady michelle obama is back to gardening at the white house and hoping to begin to produce food for the needy soon. local students helped the first lady by planning some vegetables, including bok choy, white cauliflower and artichokes. mrs. obama says that is a good

way to promote healthy eating. >> the garden or outdoors was the place to be this afternoon. can we hope for more of the same? >> more of the same and warmer temperatures coming our way tomorrow. awfully nice conditions around here, but up in new england, those folks trying to dry out after days and days of rain. their third nor'easter, no surprise there because they had three nor'easters for the month. the latest triggering flooding. rhode island, south eastern massachusetts, historical portions along the river. flooding they haven't seen in that period of time. >> the rain stopped here in rhode island but problems remain along the pawtuxet river which crested today an amazing 11 feet above flood stage. that is a record, something people here never have seen.

they are dealing with a host of problems as a result. hundreds of evacuations about ten shelters are open for those folks. people have been trying to bump out their basements as west they can and deal with the situation they have never seen before. roadways have been a major problem. parts of i-95 were shut down today for the first time in history due to flood waters. dozens of ancillary roadways led to traffic gridlock throughout the state of rhode island. as far as the forecast, the flood water are starting to recede. it's going to take a couple of days before rivers are under major flood stage. the forecast looks good. dry skies, warming up into the 60s through the easter weekend. for news4, julie martin reporting from cranston, rhode island. >> it does look like the next chance of rain for new england will be about the same me we could have rain around here. gorgeous shot under a full moon. all the monuments lined up,

lincoln, monument and capitol all lined up. we dropped this morning to 49 degrees. average high is 61. we'll see temperatures coming up tomorrow the next couple of days, closer to where they are typically around june. 57 degrees right now with dew point temperature 39 degrees. relative humidity at 50% and winds are calm under clear skies across the area. here is a look of highs across the rest of the nation. close to 90 degrees st. louis today. 80 in memphis and 82 in atlanta, georgia. there is that system what's left of it well out to sea right now with clouds continuing to career across areas of massachusetts down to connecticut, as well. high pressure moving in allowing folks to dry out. here is how we wrap up the month of march with a deficit, only

0.4 here and six inches in new york and a surplus in boston. a monthly rainfall for cranston, rhode island, again record rainfall for the month of march, over 13 inches there. here our monthly rainfall, spots like frederick, maryland, closer to six inches which wasn't too bad either. big warm-up over the nation's midsection. that warmth will expand off to the east. we've got for the next 48 hours, nothing but high pressure here to talk about. dry conditions for us. last here our first 80 degree day we didn't have that until we got well into the month of april. this time coming a month early. low pressure, there's the next storm system coming through iowa down through arkansas. could be producing severe weather there late friday. that will be the system that could give us a flew clouds early sunday morning. highs tomorrow will be in the mid and upper 70s across the

area though. i think a lot of locations, southern maryland and down through central virginia will hit 80 degrees. tomorrow morning, season will start. 39 to 48. a big range in temperatures. a gorgeous day coming up tomorrow. we'll get close to 80. same thing friday and saturday. loads of sunshine and close to 80 degrees, if not around that. 77 expected on sunday. easter sunday is looking dry and opening day with a few passing clouds looking dry, as well. perfect weather for spring break. jim and doreen, perfect weather for the holiday back to you. >> sounds wonderful. coming up tonight, we'll tell you about a guy who has been listening too closely to a mcdonald's commercial. >> a live fish falls out of the sk

celebrate. >> why not? >> there's never been a happier group. >> the streak ended. >> the longest nba losing streak ever, 24 games, that unwanted record held by the 1981/1982 cleveland cavaliers. wizards no longer a threat to break that record as they snap their 16-game losing streak winning the first time this month. let's go down to new orleans. andray blatche and the wiz looking good early on. here in the first quarter, blatche and mike miller, text book pick-and-roll. dre' throws it down. he has 23 points for the

wizards. third quarter, wizards up by ten. sweet pass to mike miller. miller was awesome. goes for a game high 27. wizards stretch their lead to 12. hornets made it interesting. down by four with less than a minute to go. james singleton turns it over. here comes james posey. we have a two-point ballgame. i thought for sure wizards would give it back. chri paul should have shot it. he passes it off to david west. not a three-point shooter. he's off the mark. wizards hang on to win it 96-91. that 16-game losing streak is over. 1-17 during march never looked so good. three weeks to go until the nfl draft. redskins don't know what they will do with that fourth overall pick. what we do know is they are scheduled to have private

workouts with four of the five quarterbacks in the draft. some call berry the best player in the draft. russell okwu will be visiting next week. skins release their preseason schedule. two home games guns buffalo and baltimore. then that all-important third game will be in the new meadowlands stadium against the jet. preseason wraps up in arizona against the cardinals. college hoops. commissioner of the big ten says it's probable the ncaa tournament will be expanded to 96 teams by next season. mason gives jim leronega a contract extension. on the ice, caps trying to break that three-game losing streak

and get back on track with just six games to go in the regular season. bruce boudreau's bunch going through a little funk right now hoping to snap out oit before the playoffs roll around. as of late capitals struggled in the first period. falling behind early. although the caps are finding ways to rally, short lived. against ottowa, brewed boudreau said his team has to return to the hockey that made washington one of the best teams in the league. >> we all remembers what happened recently. in the last three games it hasn't been good. it's something we have to improve upon. there's lots of theories of why that is. bottom line is, we are not getting it done in the first period and we are having to fight from behind. you play a different style of game totally when you're fighting from behind than when you're playing with the lead.

we would like to get back to playing with the lead. >> i don't think they have a whole lot to worry about at this point. they are going to be okay. >> thanks, dan. >> up next, a new army recruit in china.

was a chinese army recruit. his first training session with grenade was almost his last. video shows the nervous recruit throwing the grenade which bounced off the wall and bounced back into the bunker. the recruit said his mind went

blank. his trainer was able to grab him by the belt and pull him to safety before the grenade exploded. nobody was hurt. >> he won't turn 50 years old for another three years but some say is time for ronald mcdonald to retire. members that sent joe camel packing are targeting the iconic clown. the group says he has too much influence over kids' eating habits. surveys found 96% of u.s. school children know who he is. mcdonald says ronald's role is to promote and active lifestyle. man driving in melbourne, florida, yesterday, a talapia fell out of the sky and hit his windshield. he took the fish which was still alive, took it to a sushi bar.

restaurant thought it best to keep the fish in an aquarium and off the dinner table.

a guy in new jersey wanted his filet of fish this morning. watch this security video. shows a guy crawling out of his car window into the mcdonald's drive-through to get his fish. he had been waiting too lg for his liking. it happened 4:30 in the morning. video shows him yelling at a employee before he took the sandwich and went back to his car. cops are still looking for him.