this is 9 news now. ♪i'm going back to massachusetts ♪ >> one of the popular voices behind the saturday night fever soundtrack has been silenced. hello, everybody. i'm bruce johnson. thanks for joining us. robin gibb, a founding member of the beegees who helped propel the group to international stardom has died. he was only 62. a family representative says gibb passed away sunday following his long battle with cancer and intestinal surgery. gibb is one of three brothers whose harmonies helped power such hits as staying alive and night fever. theresa garcia looks back on his career. ♪ you may look the other way >> reporter: it was the sound of the disco era. ♪ oh oh oh oh staying alive >> reporter: robin give together with his brothers barry and morris were the beegees, one of the most successful pop groups of all

time. raised in grande and australia, the gibb -- in england and australia, the gibb brothers started cranking out hits in the 1960s, but it was in the '70s when their popularity was starting to slump they found their groove in disco. ♪well you can tell by the way i use my walk i'm a woman's man no time to talk ♪ >> reporter: the beegees did the soundtrack for saturday night fever and became a worldwide sensation. the album was no. 1 for six months selling 40 million copies. it was one of the best selling records of the 1970s. >> we didn't really foresee it, certainly how big it was going to be. >> reporter: as the disco era passed the backlash began. the beegees became a punchline and struggled to remake their image. >> you can't be wonderful to everybody one minute and terrible to everybody the neck and we were very it i -- next and we were pretty well

devastated by it. >> reporter: robin and his brothers worked on solo careers and writing songs for stars behind the scenes including barbra streisand, dionne warwick and dolly parton. the '90s brought a series of new hits and in 1997 the respect they craved, a spot in the rock and roll hall of fame. ♪staying alive >> reporter: success brought seven grammy awards and album sales of over 200 million. robin's twin morris died of a twisted intestine in 2003. robin was in and out of the hospital in recent years. he came down with pneumonia in april forcing him to miss the london premier of his classical titanic.

a few days later he slipped into a coma. the setback came as robin and his brother barry had started rehearsing again talking about a beegees reunion saying we still have a lot of music in us. theresa garcia, cbs news. >> robin gibb dead at 62. tonight an apparent murder suicide in a neighborhood residents describe as quiet and peaceful. matt jablow has that story from civil springs. >> reporter: it was just after 10 -- from silver spring. >> reporter: it was just after 10:30 this morning when montgomery police were called to a townhouse on colgate way in the briggs chaney neighborhood of silver spring. once inside police found the bodies of a married couple, a 49-year-old man and his 39-year- old wife. according to captain paul starks at this point it appears to be a murder suicide. >> there was trauma to both bodies and a note left behind by one of them. >> reporter: can you give us a general sense what was in the

note? >> normally we don't release details that are in the note and investigators are asking those details and others are kept private for now. >> reporter: what kind of neighborhood is this? >> it's a safe neighborhood. i love the community. >> reporter: well into the evening residents of the seemingly well kept neighborhood were still trying to come to grips with what happened. what do you think about what happened this morning? >> i'm shocked i mean surprised i mean husband and wife commit suicide? i didn't think so. i would not think it would happen here. >> reporter: police have not released the names of the two people found dead pending notification of next of kin. matt jablow, 9 news now. >> police will not say whether they had ever before been called to that apartment. the naacp has scheduled a press conference for monday in baltimore to discuss its vote to endorse same sex marriage. surae chinn gets reaction from clergy and churchgoers. polls show african americans are divided on this issue.

>> the most vocal are african american clergy and it's causing a division among black churches. some say it's pitting religious philosophy against equal rights. karen artis, a member of mt. ennon baptist church in maryland has talked to her 11- year-old daughter sidney about gay marriage. >> as far as explaining to her, she's aware of it. we have friends. we're fine with it and i think by the naacp supporting it maybe that will make other people be more open to it or at least to think about it. >> same sex is okay with me. >> but that philosophy is not adopted by bishop harry jackson and his beltsville chump. he says it violates -- church. he says it violates scripture. >> it does not mean hatred towards individuals that may happen to be gay, put if you are saying the standard is based on lens of scripture it

has to be pretty straightforward and cut and cry for them. that's why there's such -- dry for them. that's why there's such a great divide. in support of same sex marriage this weekend the naacp present said civil marriage is a civil right and matter of civil law. >> i would accept anyone coming here that was gay, whatever could come to the church. now if you wanted to actually join and take full membership, chen then you say i believe like you guys believe. >> reporter: at a time when people may be seeking guidance on the institution of marriage from their church leader, some say they're going by their family values. >> it is not a difference who you're with. it's how you treat one another. >> same sex marriage in maryland has been signed into law and takes effect next year, but opponents are working on a petition to force a referendum on same sex marriage on the november ballot. i'm surae chinn for 9 news now.

. >> that naacp press conference is set for 10:30 tomorrow morning in baltimore. the mother of slain florida teenager trayvon martin was in baltimore today. sybrina fulton spoke at the empowerment temple church about how her family is coping with her son's shooting death and ensuing national publicity. in an emotional speech she told members of the congregation that trayvon's death put her in a position that she never asked for. >> but a lot of times you interview for a position because you want that position. you thought about the position. you prayed about the position, but i was forced into this position. i'm speaking -- >> fulton hugged and thanked members of the congregation. her son's shooting death in february sparked a national outcry. neighborhood watch captain george zimmerman claimed he shot the team in self-defense. president barack obama and nato leaders are insisting

today the coalition fighting in afghanistan will remain whole, this despite france's plans to yank combat troops early. at the nato summit in chicago other leaders also making clear they'll move away from front lines but not too quickly. >> there will be no rush for the exits. we will stay committed 2 our operation in afghanistan and -- to our operation in afghanistan and see it through to a successful end. our goal, our strategy, our timetable remain unchanged. >> newly elected french president francois hollande said he'll withdraw all french combat troops from afghanistan by year's end. that's two years before the time agreed to by the u.s. led nato coalition. president obama reaffirmed the importance of nato alliance at that summit saying nato has helped ensure the security and prosperity of other nations. >> for over 60 years our alliance has been the bedrock

of our common security, our freedom and our prosperity. though the times may have changed, the fundamental reason for our alliance has not. our nations are stronger and more prosperous when we stand together. in good times and in bad our alliance has endured. in fact, it has thrived because we share an unbreakable commitment to the freedom and security of our citizens. >> meantime thousands of demonstrators gathered in chicago's grand park for a march to the site of the nato summit. they're protesting the war in afghanistan, climate change, erosion of human rights and dozens of other issues. some are calling for an end to nato. state police in riot helmets lined stretches of that march. prince george's county police officer finds himself on the other side of the law. officer daniel gonzalez was charged with dui after crashing his marked police cruiser at

the intersection of route 1 and tanglewood drive in playedensburg, maryland. it happened after 5:00 saturday -- bladensburg, maryland. it happened after 5:00 saturday morning. he was off duty at the time. he's been released on his own recognizance. the state's attorney office is reviewing the case. the wedding anniversary and ceremony in virginia beach takes a tragic turn when a guest pulls a gun. the bride and groom were renewing their vows when a 35- year-old man opened fire striking two people. guests scrambled for cover when the bullets started to fly. >> i heard a couple shots and they told us to hit the floor and that's what i done. that was it. i just stayed down and then we saw that somebody was like -- they done called the police and everything and i stayed down. >> the two victims were the adult children of the bridal couple. the adult son was shot in the chest. he's hospitalized in critical

condition. the couple's adult daughter was shot in leg, treated and released at a local hospital. terrifying moment for a 13- year-old boy who fell down a 30- foot well while playing in his neighborhood in china. firefighters threw a rope into that well hoping the teen would tie it around his waist so they could pull him out, but he was just too scared. despite the narrow opening one firefighter was hoisted upside down into the well and then he was able to help that boy get out. back in chesapeake, virginia, this weekend a fallen marine's dream has come true. lance corporal cody childers wanted to fix up an old red and white f150 truck but never got the chance. the 19-year-old was killed in afghanistan in 2010. that's when local businesses and volunteers got together, donated their time and supplies to make childers beloved truck road worthy again. in all they spent more than 500 man hours, some $20,000 to overhaul that truck. >> it really reinforces the

faith in me of how our community feels about our military, the ones fighting for our freedom and that have given the ultimate sacrifice. >> since childers death his mother started a memorial fund in her son's honor. so far nonprofit has mailed more than 1,400 care packages to the craps serving overseas. she plans to -- to the troops serving overseas. she plans to use cody's truck at fundraisers. coming up a bizarre story involving an ambulance crash. >> a woman waiting to be admitted to a hospital suddenly speeds off this that ambulance. we'll have that -- in that ambulance. we'll have that story. >> she came through the landscaping and broke a big path. from the damage going into the intersection it looked like she had jumped the beginning of it. there was no other traffic on the street. there was no one else around.

>> after a fantastic weekend we see some changes. some clouds have moved in, also started seeing some sprinkles here on the weather terrace. as you're waking up on monday, here's your wake-up weather. showers are expected it. could be a wet commute, so grab your umbrella. stick around. 9news continues after the break.

a libyan officer convicted in the bombing of pan am flight 103 over lockerbie has died. abdel aw-megrahi died. some victims of the u.s. families say they're relieved to hear of his death, but a spokesman for some of the british families say they still believe he was innocent. the search is on for three suspects wanted in an armed robbery near the university of maryland in college park around 1:30 this morning at the intersection of adelphi road and university boulevards. the victim was flagged down by a man who showed a handgun and got into the victim's car forcing him to drive to stanford street where two men

were waiting. the victim was robbed. anyone with information should contact prince george's county police. a woman in amherst, new york faces serious charges after stealing an ambulance and then crashing that vehicle into a parking lot wall. police say the 37-year-old woman was drunk waiting to be admitted to the hospital early this morning when she suddenly jumped in an ambulance and took off. she ran through an intersection and a traffic circle before crashing. paul vanderbush was on his way for coffee when he witnessed the end of that crash. >> she came through the landscaping and broke a big path and from the damage going into the intersection it looked like she had jumped the beginning of it. there was no other traffic on the street. there was no one else around and all of a sudden this parade of police cars and ambulances and that. they tied up the intersection for quite some time till they cleaned the mess up. >> the woman was charged with reckless endangerment, grand larceny, criminal possession of

a stole vehicle and this is just the beginning. she remains hospitalized tonight in stable condition. coming up on 9 news now this sunday a massive earthquake shakes italy, damages centuries old buildings. >> and a very rare sight in the sky. we'll explain. ♪

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it's being called the worth earthquake to hit italy since the 14th century. at least four people are dead and the damage is already estimated in the millions of dollars. several centuries old buildings have been damaged. >> reporter: smoke and fire rose from the ruins in northern italy after a powerful earthquake shook ancient towns in the region. the cell phone video captures the aftermath of the deadly 6.0 quake, the strongest to hit italy in three years. this woman says everything is upside down in my house. we haven't gone back in yet. the quake hit north of bologna and tore apart houses, historic churches and medieval castle. this woman got worried when her son didn't come home after his night shift at a factory damaged in the quake.

she says i kept telling myself he would show up, but he is dead. jolting aftershocks sent people running from their homes. the historic center of this town has been closed off, but even streets like this one that remain open are deserted. residents in this and other neighboring towns have been told by authorities not to sleep in their homes tonight. among the dead was a 106-year- old woman killed in her countryside home when the roof caved in. the quake left a huge hole in the site of this renaissance styled town hall. authority are worried the entire building may collapse. rescue worker went house to house checking reports people were buried under rubble. in rome pope benedict prayed for the victims in his sunday address. the italian government said it would declare a state of emergency to free up funds for reconstruction. cbs news, italy.

>> so much history. when i was over there one time, somebody was saying over here we think in terms of centuries. in your countries the states we think in term of decades. >> we do have some rain on the weather terrace, a little mist coming through. we do see showers coming from the east this way. also i want to share some really cool solar eclipse video from earlier today. a lot of folks saw this around the world, unfortunately not on the east coast. you can see the solar eclipse. this is a rare celestial treat when the moon blocks out most of the sun and creates this dazzling kind of ring of fire solar eclipse. the last time we had this type of annual solar eclipse widely visible for much of the u.s. was in 1994. we couldn't on the east coast. we got a call from a viewer who wanted to see it but not happening here but one of my friends on the west coast saw this not too long ago this evening.

that was a fun scene to see, a lot of really cool pictures. in our neck of the woods we have clouds and showers that will be developing. still feels mild, 70 under partly cloudy conditions, winds east northeast at 15 miles per hour. it was breezy today. doppler showing not a lot going on in the beltway, but look out to the east. you can see we've for the some sawyers coming from the coast and they'll slow -- showers coming from the coast and they'll slowly flicker in. oh, there's a moth over there. we also see lightning out there. right now where we're seeing light rain and showers? we're seeing it basically parts of the bay, eastern shore, heavier mountains north of salisbury year looking at had you see the yellows -- when you see the yellows and oranges. we'll see showers moving in and developing overnight into the d.c. metro region. tropical storm alberto still churning off the coast of georgia and off just northern

florida. we're seeing sustained winds of 40 gusting to 50 moving slowly south at 5 miles per hour. hurricane season is june 1st. that's a very early start to have a named tropical storm. the good news, it's supposed to go off northeast out to sea. right now 70s manassas, 68 leesburg, 65 martinsburg, culpeper 66. it does feel pretty nice out there. we have a wet monday commute for quite a few folks, locate the umbrella as you are heading out, a wet monday evening commute also possible. showers and storms continue through tuesday and also into wednesday. we need the rain. 9 futurecast shows us showers overnight coming in. tomorrow morning a lot of us could see light rain developing impacting a wet commute. in the afternoon also some scattered showers, a couple rumbles of thunder possible, a slight chance. otherwise it looks like a wet day. also tuesday looking at the chance for more showers as well as a cold front comes through and stalls out. so tuesday is looking to be

quite wet as well. here's a look at your forecast overnight, cloudy and cool, showers developing, lows in the 60s monday morning, mostly cloudy, cool, showers likely, temperatures monday afternoon topping out right around 72 to 77 degrees, winds northeast at 5 to 10 miles per hour. here's a look at your next seven days. tuesday is unsettled, 79 degrees, wednesday 83 with more showers and storms possible, otherwise partly sunny. thursday is a little cooler, upper 70s. then we warm up heading into memorial weekend. friday mid-80s, saturday in the upper 80s and on sunday we still hold onto the lower 80s. don't forget your umbrellas tomorrow. >> got it. just ahead on 9 news now nats and orioles wrap up a weekend series. we'll preview in sports plus next.

thank god we didn't let the orioles get out of here with a sweep. >> i know there's lots of o's fan in the area, but it made for a, an exciting series, but it was nice to see the nationals finally pull one especially with strasburg on the mound. the orioles hold a slight lead over the nationals all time in the battle of the beltways. this weekend they were furthering their distance from the second place tampa bay rays, but the nats weren't giving this one up lying down pulling out all the stops

today, record crowd on hand to see steven strasburg crush his first career home run. strasburg not sure what was going on there. davey johnson and the team having some fun with their righty. >> he said we found a left fielder. yeah, that's great. it was fun dugout when we started scoring some runs. >> his big day may have come with a price. after the game strasburg revealed he was having some soreness in his bicep. johnson had no idea his ace was hurting, but just how serious is it? we'll address that in sports plus. the redskins get back to work tomorrow morning for their first of several organized team activities. rg3 gets his chance to play with the big boys. grant paulson will join us in studio looking ahead to spring practice, plus one day for fun and several redskins. that's me right there, celebrity softball game today.

antwaan randle el, some former hardwood stars hitting the softball field taking on us media folks, didn't seem like that fair of a match-up. let's just say this was one competitive heated charity softball game i have ever played in. it was a beautiful day for a lot of fun. it benefits the big train baseball league in bethesda, but man, those guys sure are competitive. >> the thing is how did you do? how many time at bat? >> i got up twice. you'll have to look and see and i made some reallyism barbying plays. >> got to see -- really embarrassing plays. >> got to see those. >> showers, cooler tomorrow. don't forget your umbrellas. >> thanks for watching. see you. >> bye.