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. this is 9news now. frustration, relief and a big old question out of left field. who would kidnap cal ripken's mom? tonight violet ripken is safe. they're out there hunting for her abductor. >> matt jablow is live with the story. he joins us with more on what

happened. matt. >> reporter: anita, it's one of the strangest stories we've heard in a very long time. the mother of orioles hall of famer cal ripken kidnapped right in front of her house and driven all over central maryland for one full day. on a typical day at the end of july, the biggest news in aberdeen, maryland comes out of maryland. but today the focus in aberdeen was not on a house that cal built but on a house where he was raised. according to police, cal's mother violet was kidnapped early tuesday morning where she was walking to the garage. >> at this time we don't know what, if any, relationship there was between the perpetrator of this crime and ripken's family. >> reporter: aberdeen police say the lone gunman tied up her wrists with duct tape, but her in the back seat of her car and

then drove her around maryland for 24 hours. >> we know of no ransom. >> reporter: they weren't aware that mrs. ripken was even missing until a witness called 911 tuesday night after seeing a woman tied up in the back of a 1998 lincoln in the parking lot of a royal farm store in baltimore county prompting a search for violet ripken that ended this morning when police say the suspect ditched the car with the 74-year-old woman still tied up inside it unharmed just down the road from her house. this neighbor said he spoke at length with mrs. ripken immediately after the ordeal happened. >> she wanted a cigarette. she smokes. >> reporter: did he demand money or threatened her? >> i don't think he threatened her. she said he was very nice actually. of course ted bundy was nice too. >> reporter: aberdeen police say they still don't know if the suspect who remains at large tonight had any idea who mrs. ripken was at any point

during the kidnapping. anita. >> a strange story indeed, matt jablow. new at 11:00, deadly gunfire inside a home. it's a townhouse on trevor drive in oakton. police said they were called to the house tonight and found one person shot to death. another with a serious gunshot wound. that second person has been taken to the hospital. police have not released any names, and they tell us they are not looking for a suspect. a 4-year-old boy playing with a gun this afternoon in woodridge has died after shooting himself in the head. gary nurenberg is here to tell us what happened. gary. >> reporter: well, here is how it happened. the boy climbed into an unlocked pickup truck parked in front of his home by a family member, found a handgun police describe as unsecured, pulled the trigger and was struck with such force his little body was thrown partially through the back window. that's the pickup truck being taken away for examination of evidence. it was parked in front of the

family rental home on empire street where the little boy's scooter remained wednesday evening. >> i seen a baby. we see him every day playing around with the bicycle and everything. >> reporter: the next door neighbor used to give the boy quarters arrived home wednesday just after the shooting as the boy's mother screamed. >> i see the baby in the back of the seat with -- down and they got blue around. they have a little hole in the head too. and i say, oh, my god, we have to call 911. they already called 911. >> reporter: witnesses say help came quickly, but the boy could not be saved. neighbors say he could often be seen riding that scooter up and down the street. and although there is sadness for the family, members of which arrived through the evening. >> my feeling is that the owner

should be charged. whether it's an illegal weapon or a legal weapon in his vehicle, he should have -- he should have had his vehicle locked. >> it's still under active investigation at this point. and once we determine whether or not there was negligence here, there is a potential for charges. >> reporter: police have not released the identity of the little boy nor have they made any arrests. derek. >> thank you, gary. well, the folks in myers furniture will be figuring out the damage done by a fire that broke out on the store on rockville pike. fire crews had to shut down the whole road for a little while starting at around 6:00 this evening. they safely evacuated everybody inside. the flames were on the second floor and on the roof. one firefighter suffered some serious injuries connected to heat exhaustion. no word yet on the cause of the fire. the montgomery county government says it sent more than $10 million dealing with last month's show. that straight line wind storm that knocked out power to so many of us.

now it plans to ask the federal government to cover some of those costs. for example, police officers logged more than 2100 hours of ot. the fire and rescue service responded 2,000 times during one, 48-hour period. and the department had 80,000 yards of debris. that would fill up lots of dumpsters you see at construction sites. i hope you enjoyed today, because things are going to get hotter and stickier tomorrow. are we talking a heat alert? >> we are. temperatures are going to feel pretty hot, but we've dealt with triple digits, especially late in july. not a big deal. but we're also concerned about a couple of strong storms that could impact us. so we do have a heat advisory going from noon until 8:00 tomorrow. basically starting at interstate 81 and points east. now, here is a look at your satellite radar picture where we have a really nice night tonight. temperatures are going to be in the 60s and 70s by early

tomorrow morning. but we're going to heat things up very quickly by tomorrow afternoon. so here is your thursday wakeup weather. plenty of sunshine. we bottom out around 65-74 degrees by 7:00. mostly sunny skies. by 9:00 we'll be in the 70s and 80s. so the heat and humidity are on. we'll talk about the best chance for some real strong storms a little bit later. back to you. well, we are learning more about the former university of colorado grad student accused in last week's movie theater massacre. authorities have found a letter which he sent to one of his former teachers. now, this comes as the first of his alleged victims was remembered by family and friends. theresa garcia reports from aurora, colorado. >> reporter: investigators say a package from accused movie theater gunman james holmes was found in the mail room. the package which was discovered monday was handled by a bomb squad robot and x-rayed.

it was sent to one of holmes former psychiatrist. in it he talked about shooting people and even included crude drawings of a gunman and his victims. the letter arrived days before last friday's shooting that had not yet been processed out of the mail room. the letter may help investigators learn more about holmes, but experts say not to expect closure. >> there is nothing that this individual could say to us that would cause us and the general public to sit back and say now i understand why you did this. >> reporter: defense attorneys got their firt look inside holmes apartment where authorities say he had planned to kill police officers using a complex network of boobie traps, explosives and chemicals. police have finally released holmes apartment building from being a crime scene and displaced residents will now be allowed back home. work crews spent the day repairing damage to the building caused during the police investigation. people continue to heal as well.

mourners shed tears across the theater. earlier the first memorial service was for gordon lowman who took his daughters to the show. his girls were not hurt. >> holmes is being held without bail. formal charges including first degree murder are expected to be filed by monday. a person of interest in the murder of a winchester newspaper reporter is behind bars tonight. july 19th, william county police arrested john kearns on a probation violation. the body of 48-year-old sara greenhau was found inside her home earlier this month. investigators searched kearns home on that same day and removed several pieces of evidence. a $7 billion upgrade could soon be on the way to the district union station turning into a high speed rail hub to the entire northeast. amtrak unveiled the proposal earlier today.

the additions would include more platforms, trains and retail. a developer also plans to build residential towers, even a hotel behind the station. the u.s. senate today voted in favor of the democratic bill extending the bush era tax cuts. who is not included, people making over $200,000 a year and couples making over $250,000 a year. the measure passed 51-41. it has little to no chance of passing the republican controlled house of representatives. now, if congress can't reach an agreement before the end of the year, all of us will pay more taxes in 2013. well, dc mayor vincent gray run for a second term? reporters asked gray that question today. gray refused to give an answer. the mayor instead laid out a detailed agenda for the final two and a half years of his term. gray has been dogged by questions about the 2010 campaign and election during which he got help from $650,000 in illegal contributions.

well, tonight rg3 mania is just running wild. >> it is indeed. he is the man. he is in town. and he's ready to get going on the season. dave owens was at redskins point today as robert griffith iii talked to the media. >> he certainly is the it guy. redskins officials knew he was in such a demand they set aside today for him and him only so we could ask him questions about anything and everything. and we did. is he ready for the spotlight? he says yes. does he welcome the comparisons to camp newton? he says i don't want to talk about that. i just want to win ballgames. he also talked about staying humble. the attention, he says, is great, but now it's time to win some football games for the dc area. >> this is now we're getting down to the season time, and i think everybody came back in great shape as you can see from the run a little bit and everybody is just ready to go out and compete. so i am too. >> all right. we talked to him for 25 minutes. he went over anything and

everything. come up in sports, guys. he talks about balancing celebrity and knowing he's a rookie and knowing his place in the locker room. we'll talk about that later. still ahead on 9 news, more drama for the jackson family. >> michael jackson's three kids taken from their grandmother. and you'll be surprised as to which family member now has custody. plus the owner of a fast food giant under fire but has nothing

the fire storm raging around a popular fast food restaurant kept on raging tonight more than a week after the president stood his ground in opposing gay marriage. >> we're talking about chick filet. our ken molestina is live now to explain why dan kathy's business may be bad. >> reporter: the opinion he publicly offered on opposing gay marriage has ignited a gay

marriage debate. today boston's mayor as well as chicago which i are saying they're going to keep the restaurant off their streets. >> i think we're shaking our fist at god when we say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage and i pray god's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would -- the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about. >> that was chick filet president and ceo dan kathy last week making comments opposing gay marriage. since then there has been quite a debate. the fallout playing out on social media. kathy's comments were his opinion but many see it as more than that. >> someone who owns such an establishment to come out and say that publicly. >> reporter: local customers are reacting to the controversy. some believe he is being unfairly targeted for voicing his opinion.

>> if there is something you believe in, then you should be able to say it without being bullied. i don't think -- i don't think he should have publicly say it even if he did feel that way. >> reporter: boycotts of the atlanta-based restaurants are already taking place. it has been widely known for having owners with traditional christian values. for example, they don't open the doors on sunday. his stance is in shock while others say he should have kept his business to himself. >> i don't think it's a smart moov. >> reporter: the company who produced the muppet characters have pulled the toys from the restaurant and have broken off ties with chick filet. and former arkansas governor are pledging their support for the restaurant. we want to know what you think. head on over to our facebook page and drop us a line. anita. ken, from the family that gave us the jackson five, it is now the jackson feud. two or more factions fighting over the estate of the late singer michael jackson. his daughter paris apparently had a blow up with janet jackson

earlier this week, and now his mother katherine has lost custody of michael jackson's three kids. a judge in la has given temporary custody to michael jackson's brother tido. all of this has happened since katherine johnson has been out of town. >> i can guarantee you she has been absolutely unaware of any of the controversy and drama that's been going on for the past week. >> katherine johnson is on her way back to la and fight to regain custody of paris, brother prince and their sister blanket. last friday derek expressioned the hope that the shooting in aurora, colorado might put some new life into the debate over gun control in this country. tonight derek says that was far too hopeful. now he's back to reality. d. >> yes, anita, i was naove, foolish, whatever you want to call it. of course the atrocity in aurora wasn't going to inspire any new

debate over gun control. there is no gun control debate in this country. there was once, but the guns right people won it years ago. now the polls show it. the majority of us do not want more con strik tif gun laws. and if the -- restrictive gun laws. and if the numbers didn't budge, why would they change now. not to say there's not a little bit of an argument out there somewhere, but these days it's over the tiniest possible changes. we went from the assault weapons ban expired to closing the gun loophole rejected to now in the aftermath of yet another horrible massacre just with a suggestion that they could do without magazines that hold 100 bullets. but they said forget that, no change needed. if a crazy man wants to hurt people, he would find another way to do it. maybe. but let's be real, who is missing the point? it's not about getting a perfect system. it's about whether the current system makes it too easy for even a crazy man to buy a whole

arsenal if he wants to. sure, this deranged shooter may have found another way to hurt people. but we didn't even make him try. anita. >> thanks, derek. if you want to respond to something derek has to say, like it, don't like it, just watch any let's be real commentary one more time. you can do all of that heading over to the let's be real web page, part of our home page wusa9.com. just roll over features. a gorgeous wednesday. mid week break. now it gets crazy hot. >> it does. and we have a heat advisory that's been issued for tomorrow, anita. so hopefully you guys can enjoy today's beautiful summer-like day as temperatures were really comfortable and the humidity really giving us a break. but, yes, that is going to change quickly by tomorrow. here is a look at the heat alert for your thursday. it starts at noon, goes until 8:00 for the entire dc metro area shaded in orange. a live look at our michael and son weather camera. temperatures now 79 degrees. partly cloudy conditions. the dew points have climbed up a little bit from the 50s into the

lower 60s. and so we will see the humidity back in full swing tomorrow. so the heat and humidity are returning, and we're looking at some record breaking heat possible by tomorrow afternoon. strong afternoon, evening thunderstorms are possible. they'll be few and far between, but then we'll be looking to be hot again for friday. so here is a look at the risk for severe weather according to the storm prediction center in oklahoma. so you can see the moderate risk up far north into pennsylvania and new york. but we fall under a slight risk for some severe storms generally in the district and points north and the main threats are going to be damaging winds. farther north they're talking about rain. here is a look at your future cast. so friday morning we'll see plenty of sunshine. actually on thursday morning we'll see plenty of morning. a stray storm possible thursday. friday we're looking at a better chance for some scattered showers and thunderstorms. also the weekend can be unsettled at times as well.

but temperature wise, we're not talking triple digits for many days. just tomorrow. so overnight what can you expect? partly cloud' and mild. so open the -- cloudy and mild. so open the windows. lows 65-70 degrees. tomorrow morning mostly sunny and mild. air quality is code yellow. temperatures starting out in the 60s and 70s. a really nice start. but you're going to notice in the afternoon things quickly heat up and also the muggies are going to be back. we're looking at a stray storm possible. highs around 100 degrees. here is your forecast in western maryland. oakland 79. cumberland 93. hagerstowners town mid 90s. culpeper 102. it's going to be cooking there. in downtown, 100. annapolis upper 90s. past river 97 degrees. our next three days our 9 level alert code yellow. friday still hot. 96 with a better chance for scattered showers and storms.

saturday in the lower 90s with scattered showers and storms possible. check out your next seven days. temperatures for the weekend in the lower 90s. potentially unsettled more so saturday than sunday. then we cool down into the mid 10 for tuesday

and now 9 sports with dave owens, the best sports in town. >> 15 days. that's how short the time is between now and when robert griffith iii takes the field for an actual football game. imagine that what night is going to be like. today was a little less dramatic. griffith signing his deal held court at redskins park. he was the only redskins player to speak to the media. he did so for about 25, 30 minutes. major topic of discussion, you're young, you're a stud quarterback, you're a national celebrity. but he hasn't done anything yet. so how is that going to play in the locker room where wins, not

commercials, wins are all that matters. >> it's great and easy to balance that now because the team doesn't look at me that way. they don't look at me as a celebrity. i'm the quarterback and the guy that's going to lead them and lead them to victory. but there is no celebrity. there is no autographs. i'm not rg3 to them. i'm just robert. >> first practices start tomorrow. fan appreciation august 4th at noon. 15 days until the first pre-season game at buffalo august 9th. >> redskins have first home game against cincinnati in week three. school president rodney erickson in a television interview says the ncaa says they wanted to give him a four year death penalty. if they had not agreed to the sanctions, the ncaa would have opened an investigation. instead, they used the fast track and free report. all right. nats fans might want to mark

down this date on the calendar. july 25th. the day the national league east went from a three team race to a two team race. but today it felt like the closing of a door on one team. and i ain't talking about the nats. steven strasburg, innings limit, we don't need no stinking innings limit. how about that. 11 strikeouts. adam laroche, la bomb. la la la la la bomb. does it again. [ laughing ] >> the nats sweep the mets 5-2. strasburg gets win number 11. this is big. mls all stars taking on chelsea. north american in soccer. david beckham tees it up. bang. those feet were made for kicking. mls all stars win 3-2. finally, olympic opening ceremonies are friday, but

women's soccer begins today. usa trailed early but moyd in 56 minutes. morgan adding another. u.s. beats france. derek, i knew you were a big fan so i stole the grass from redskins park and i'm giving it to you. >> you guys are going nuts already. >> did it actually touch the feet of rg3. >> it did not. >> because if it did not, there's no value. >> it did. there's a shoe in there. >> we have ñ'