from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams. good evening. the images from this weekend of violence in the streets, stores being looted and riot police with dogs barking and charging at protesters seem like they are out of another era. but this outburst of violence is going on in present day st. louis, missouri. it all started with the fatal shooting by police of an unarmed black teenager. the fbi has now opened an investigation. but the shooting of 18-year-old michael brown has opened a wound in the community. the violence, which erupted and the anger following a

candlelight vigil, has taken place in ferguson in suburban st. louis. and we begin tonight with nbc's john yang. >> reporter: good evening, brian. this is what a lot of businesses in this neighborhood look like. this tire store about $100,000 in losses. it's the same all up and down this main drag here in missouri. and as sundown approaches, officials are fearful of another night of looting and violence. >> don't shoot! >> reporter: in ferguson, missouri, today more angry confrontations between protesters and police in riot gear. the same anger and outrage that exploded into a chaotic night of looting and violence. it began in the neighborhood where 18-year-old michael brown, unarmed according to police, was shot to death by an officer. authorities said the lawlessness spread into neighboring communities. >> it is a miracle, however, that nobody actually got shot last night. >> reporter: john zizzer saw his

tire store looted on live tv. security camera video captured the action inside. what's that like? >> it's pretty grim. you can't do anything. all you can do is take a deep breath and remember to breathe. >> reporter: today, the fbi officially joined the investigation into brown's shooting. local authorities said the incident began midday saturday when the officer encountered brown and another young man on the street. he said brown shoved the officer into his cruiser, assaulted him and struggled for his gun. piaje crenshaw said she saw it happen from her apartment balcony and that it looked to her as if the policeman reached for brown through his car's open window. >> looked like he was trying to force him into the police car or form him to stop walking. >> reporter: authorities say the struggle spilled on to the street where brown was shot multiple times. >> he was running this way, he turned his body towards this way, hands in the air, being

compliant. he got shot in his face and chest and goes down and dies. >> reporter: police chief thomas jackson said the officer who hasn't been named is a six-year veteran. he's on paid leave. >> this is a tragedy for him too. nobody comes to work wanting to do this and go away from something like this feeling good about it. >> reporter: late today michael brown's parents spoke to reporters and pleaded for calm. >> going to do this right. i don't want no violence. we don't want no violence. >> michael wouldn't have wanted that. >> he wouldn't have wanted none of this. none of it. >> reporter: in announcing the fbi investigation today, attorney general eric holder said aggressively pursuing investigations like this one are crucial to preserving the trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. that on the day that michael brown was to have started college. brian. >> john yang starting us off suburban st. louis, missouri, tonight. now we move overseas to the crisis in iraq. more than a decade after u.s. forces invaded that country, toppled saddam hussein.

over two years since the last u.s. combat forces left, there the u.s. is engaged once again militarily and politically in iraq carrying out air strikes, trying to help shape a government there capable of holding the country together, and one friendlier to the u.s. nbc's keir simmons is on the ground in northern iraq tonight, keir, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. u.s. air strikes have slowed the advances of isis here. these attacks have been brutal and relentless. and u.s. aid drops have eased the humanitarian crisis, but it's now a political crisis adding to fears that this country may be unraveling. this is why the u.s. is involved in iraq again. thousands of desperate refugees swarming helicopters scrambling for aid after being stranded for days without food and water in the brutally hot mountains of northern iraq. religious minorities, including

christians driven from their homes by isis militants, some protesting today outside the u.s. consulate in irbil. >> if we go back, they will kill us. and our men, they will slaughter them just because we are christians. >> reporter: many of the refugees walked to safety from their mountain refuge, exhausted. her son is sick. she has two more boys, both are missing. while here in irbil the displaced are destitute. there's nails on the floor. steep drops. this is not a place for children. >> nothing short of a humanitarian disaster. these people were displaced from their villages from one day to the next and came with only the clothes on their backs. >> reporter: u.s. air strikes have helped rescue the refugees, taking out isis militants, artillery and armored vehicles, some of it u.s.-made captured by

isis from the iraqi government. and the strikes have helped kurds win some key battles and slow isis' ruthless. in baghdad a political battle. prime minister nouri al maliki on television today refusing to give up power after a replacement was named to head a proposed unity government that could effectively stand up to isis. maliki's supporters protested and military forces loyal to him took up positions across the capital. there were fears of a coup. fears cross currents that threaten to tear this country apart with the innocence, young and old, caught in the middle. u.s. government sources say that u.s. arms and ammunition are being supplied to kurdish forces. and the pentagon says those air strikes are having an effect, but are not likely to stop isis in the long run. brian. >> keir simmons in the north of iraq for us tonight. keir, thanks. the white house is taking pains to stress that even though

president obama is on vacation, it's a working vacation in martha's vineyard. in between trips to the beach and golf course, the machinery of the presidency of course is there with him. they released a photo of the president today with his national security advisor, susan rice. then late today the news media were summoned as the president came to the microphones to talk about the situation in iraq. our senior white house correspondent chris jansing traveling with the president. there were rumors of this coup in iraq that prime minister maliki was out. president's remarks seem to be wishful thinking about the government there the u.s. wants, not necessarily the government iraq has. >> reporter: there's no doubt about that, brian. and it was a late decision today for the president to make a statement. and we should also say it comes at an absolutely critical time for both iraq and the administration's military and humanitarian efforts there. but here's what's significant to your point. the president offered congratulations to the newly named prime minister but ignored the outgoing prime minister

nouri al maliki. the implicit message was to tell maliki it's time to get out. in the last 24 hours maliki's moves including the call up of military forces has set up a dangerous struggle in iraq with major implications for u.s. strategy. here's why. the white house has made it clear the only way forward is a prime minister who can form an inclusive government. today the president and vice president called a body to pledge support. but the situation on the ground tonight is so volatile it's a long way from the stability the white house says it needs to end this new and open-ended involvement. and then lay the groundwork for iraq to take the lead in controlling isis. brian. >> chris jansing tonight covering the vacationing president martha's vineyard, massachusetts. chris, thanks. he is one of the biggest names in big league nascar stock car racing in this country. and tonight all eyes are on tony stewart for an incident that took place on saturday night. at another place stewart likes

to compete, at the local level at one of the small oval tracks that dot the american landscape. the places with devoted local fans who this weekend in upstate new york saw something terrible unfold in the heat of battle during a race. as a result a young driver is dead, and tony stewart could be in a lot of trouble. our report tonight from nbc's kristen dahlgren. >> reporter: he was a big name on a small dirt track. three-time nascar champ tony stewart racing in a sprint car, far from the spotlight until tragedy saturday night. >> tony stewart just hit that guy! >> reporter: video shows the fatal crash and what happens moments before. stewart's car, 14, and another car seem to tangle. number 13 spins out and kevin ward jr., the 20-year-old driver dressed in black, gets out, points at stewart and walks toward the speeding cars. at least five cars drive by before stewart hits ward. racer paul kinney drove right past ward standing on the track. >> i personally saw him, and,

you know, i kind of had an idea what he was going to do. and, you know, confront somebody. >> reporter: it's not uncommon for drivers to get out of their cars. >> i've been in incidences where i've gotten out of my car and approached another driver. it's all emotion. it is, you know, you're mad, you're upset. you want to let that guy know that you think he did something wrong. >> reporter: stewart has a reputation for getting angry. he once threw a helmet at another driver. this afternoon the ontario county sheriff said there is no indication of criminal intent, but stressed the investigation is far from over. >> there's no timetable to ending this as long as we believe there's information that might be out there that's factual and relevant. >> reporter: they are examining more footage of the race. an autopsy shows ward died of blunt trauma. while ward's hometown remembers a kid who was racing go karts at age 4. >> had a lot of respect. see somebody like that accomplish the things he

would accomplish, it was racing when it was on. >> reporter: stewart remains in seclusion. >> this has hurt him deeply. this is not something he's taken lightly. he's grieving. >> reporter: as many debate what happened that night could change the culture of open confrontation on the track. >> the car's not on fire or an immediate reason to get out of the car, they should stay in their cars. >> reporter: now, stewart did release a statement over the weekend. he said there are no words for this sadness. stewart's team told us today he is still grieving and only he will decide if he'll be able to return to nascar as scheduled this weekend in michigan, brian. >> kristen dahlgren at the track in upstate new york for us tonight. kristen, thanks. we have just received tragic devastating word that robin williams has been confirmed old. his wife confirmed it in a statement saying the actor and comedian has been battling severe depression of late.

she's asking for privacy for their family. of course it was after he was a jewel yard student here at new york he burst on the scene, improv, standup, then the dramatic movie roles, "good morning vietnam," oscar for "good will hunting," on and on and on. and throughout he battled not only substance abuse but depression. the death of robin williams being confirmed tonight, again at the age of 63. now we're going to take another break. and when we come back also in the entertainment industry a big name on the production side that just didn't exist a few years ago. and later, across this country this summer they're calling it the big chill. the very good and charitable reason why folks across the country are doing this. she's still the one for you. and cialis for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment is right. cialis is also the only daily ed tablet approved to treat symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines,

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