reporting live, monique griego, eyewitness news. >> all right. so, again, here's what we know right now the suspect is 24- year-old james holmes. he had four guns and 6,000 rounds of ammunition that he purchased on the internet. so far, 12 people are dead and 11 others in critical condition this morning. doctors are saying 70 more are still recovering. officers have a confirmed list of the victims and have started reaching out to families. stay with eyewitness news for complete coverage of this mass shooting. for the latest on the students, the victims and investigation, go to wjz.com. >>> back here, devastated baltimore family mourn as hero as another marylander dies in afghanistan. the 28-year-old rodriguez was killed by a roadside bomb. rodriguez was a ten year veteran on his second deployment to afghanistan. she served two tours in iraq. he is the fog of 3. >>> an outbreak of helptitis c is linked to a medical technician who worked at several hospitals here in maryland. doctors believe that 30 peel in new hampshire have contracted the virus.

monique griego is explaning why it's personal to ray monique? >> reporter: the cause that a teen has committed suicide. the family was there as he sent his message. constant harassment on social media sites drove grace to take her own life. >> upset by what happened to grace, the howard county teen's sister reached out to the favorite football player. >> you can feel the family's pain and in that situation; i felt that and it felt like they needed a voice out there. >> reporter: he's now working to spread an antibullying message. several thousand kids and parents. >> some of the kids look at me as a role model and if there's one or two kids in a crowd, you know, i impacted their lives. it's the first step in a process because it's something new we deal with as a society. >> reporter: get people to open up and talk about bullying and bring to light how widespread the problem is. >> it's a bigger problem than they used to be. a lot of kids at my school get hurt. >> reporter: they have a celebrity to show it's okay. they hope the story encourages a

adam, back to you. >> monique griego live with us. wjz for complete coverage of this tragedy in aurora. for the very latest on the suspect and also, we're learning more information about the victims and the investigation. additional details at wjz.com. >>> so far, some rainstorms have been washing on our week. how long is the rain going to last? let's check in with meteorologist bernadette woods. she's got a look at live doppler radar. it's quieting down in the city a little bit tonight. >> it definitely is a way, wet start to the weekend. the first warning doppler radar shows a little drizzle out there. and then the drizzle is moving off to the east but fog is in the way, so a little more drizzle. as far as rainfall totals go, this takes it back to thursday when we get the heaviest amounts of rain but then four and a half inches crossed at 3.3 at b.w.i. marshall. you'd think that's mild for the evening here. 68 degrees. that's our high so far today. pretty incredible we've had this on top of us. we'll have the forecast coming up. >>

monique griego join s us. it's going to be a heck of a day to be in the parking lot. >> reporter: it is. it's beautiful out here. the sun hasn't started just yet so it's still nice. we're live at the farmers market. 3:30 to 6:30 won't be that hot. they have fruit, vegetables, fresh flowers and at the end fresh bred. not only are they going to do a cooking cooking demonstration but tell -- cooking demonstration but tell us what they have at their farmers marke [ male announcer ] now at your neighborhood subway: the new santa fe steak melts. get extra grande flavor with the santa fe steak & bacon melt. juicy steak, crispy bacon, and melted cheese with creamy santa fe caesar. or try adding egg for a santa fe steak, bacon & egg melt -- a favorito for breakfast but muy bueno any time of day. get to your local subway and claim your steak today -- with new santa fe steak melts. subway. eat fresh. >>> good morning. now 74, 87% humidity. warm, humid, stuffy. barometer at 29.87. ocean city 77, 77 district, mid 70s easto

monique griego, wjznews. >>> three people killed during the movie massacre in aurora, colorado are laid to rest. they highlighted their heroism and remembered the lives that were cut short. >> reporter: her home state's flag few in her honor. they gathered to celebrate the aspiring sportscaster's life. >> she will never stop amaze mimi as she lives on in our hearts and souls. there was a passion for hockey. and some laughter. especially when this video played showing her as an intern falling on the ice as she conducted her first interview. ghawi survived a deadly shooting in toronto last month. but was one of the 12 killed when james holmes opened fire inside the new batman movie in aurora, colorado. >> we will do what we can to remember them and just share their stories. >> reporter: her brother jordan ghawi. >> if he could have done this with this much hate. imagine what we could do with this much love. >> reporter: her family made it a point to remember the other victims. especially the ones who died protecting others. matt mcquinn was one of them. he was remembered in ohio. he died

monique griego is live with more on the victim. monique. >> 21-year-old khalif richardson was pulled from a pond last night. emergency crews were called to an apartment complex on old stagecoach road, just before 9:00. a rescue boat and divers then entered the waters to search for a missing swimmer. they then used infrared equipment. richardson was pulled from the pond around 10:30 last night, and he was later pronounce -- pronounced dead at a hospital. >> an autopsy will determine how richardson died. >> it's hard to get a more perfect, late july day in maryland. outside, the sky is blue. humidity is low. temperatures close to normal. wjz has weather and traffic together. meteorologist bernadette woods is here with the updated numbers from first warning weather. bern, there's one thing i would change about today. >> okay. >> nothing. >> there you go. [ laughter ] >> beautiful day out there. really was. nice break with everything going on, with the sunshine around. the humidity, so low. we're going to show you the numbers to go alon

i'm monique griego., a warning ,,,,,, hmm, it says here that cheerios helps lower cholesterol as part of a heart healthy diet. that's true. ...but you still have to go to the gym. ♪ the one and only, cheerios >>> economic up now on wjz eyewitness news at 6:00. blazing hot. more heat-related deaths as crews scramble to get power back on for tens of thousands of people. >>> after the storm, i'm mike hellgren, in baltimore county. head of the public service commission answers tough questions about bge's tough performance in the storm. and those without power talk about how hard it is, after six days with no air conditioning. >>> controversial case. a critical ruling in the george zimmerman case. will he go free on bail again? >>> check in for these stories and all the day's breaking news. >> wjz eyewitness news at 6:00 starts now. >>> hello, everyone. i'm vic carter. >> and i'm denise koch. here's what people are talking about tonight. >> unbearable heat and humidity. and for thousands of people still witho

here's monique griego with the latest. >> good morning. bge says the restoration progress is taking so long because of damage like this. while crews are working nonstop, residents say it's hard not to get frustrated. >> for the past week bge and utility crews from across the country have been removing trees and repairing line. thousands of bge customers are facing another brutally hot weekend without service. >> it's just heat. there's no way to cool off. >> i can't store no food. i had to give it away. >> lamont brooks will likely fork over more cash for a hotel room rather than sit and bake. >> it's rough. it's wipeing out my account. >> bge says the lengthy repair process is due to the hurricane like damage. it's restored power to 98% of its customers but 11,000 are still waiting. >> when i saw the light i was like thank god. >> shirley tin dal had never been so happy to see her porch line on. she turned on her ac for the first time in a week but says she still can't stay here. despite the ongoing headache residents say they appreciate

monique griego has more on what it needs to be part of their team. >> reporter: when a storm destroys a neighborhood, along with police and neighborhoods, the red cross is there. >> any event where people need assistance, we respond toyota. >> reporter: richard has been volunteering for almost 7 years with red cross and during that time, helped countless people affected by floods, fires and other disasters. >> in some sense, we're all adrenaline junkies and i think that's part of the allure, at least for me. >> reporter: you never know when disaster is going to strike and these unpredictable events can put a strain on volunteers so more is always needed with the emergency food, service, clothing and counseling. >> you have to be earnest to help. you'll be trained in whatever skills you need. >> reporter: while it's not easy, it's rewarding. >> the best way to put for me is that i feel better on the way home than i do on the way out. >> reporter: monique griego, wjz eyewitness news. >> for more information on how to be a volunteer, go to wjz.com and look for the story in the local news

monique griego has more on the impact. monique? >> reporter: well, vic, excitement over tomorrow's match-up is already building and fans from all over the world are expected to boost local businesses. it's not the football we're used to seeing at m&t bank stadium, but saturday, a faceoff between two european conference teams is expected to pack up the stands. the british invasion is bringing in two premier league teams, as seen here and liverpool. the fans come from all over the world for the gathering. >> baltimore is a growing fan base and always had huge supporters >> reporter: it's not the only business that will benefit. >> the game spins off to hotels and restaurants, beyond. >> reporter: the last match-up in 2010, around 30,000 30,000 tickets were sold and topped this year with 40,000. the growing sport popularity was evident at the park. the coaches put on a free soccer clinic, giving local kids the chance to practice. >> it was great to see them come out. >> i like it so much. it's my favorite game. >> reporter: in additio

reporting from the inner harbor, monique griego, wjz eyewitness news. >> the official numbers aren'tin yet. about 200,000 people were expected to return. >>> the oriels head down to take on the angels. chris tilman was called up yesterday to start. he had the best start of his career. he allowed two hits and nearly finished the complete game. the oriels meet the mariners 4-2. they're now seven games over 500 half way through the season. >> the oriels are hot and so is the weather. >>> take a look at the forecast real quick and then we want to jump to ron. sun gnu to partly cloudy -- sunny to partly cloudy, 98 is high. it's going to feel more like 103. after the break your first warning details of oh forecast temperatures of 104 on saturday. those details you don't want to hear coming up >> yeah. >>> how about them o's, bud? >> reporter: it's so hot it will melt your pop sickle. >> there you go. when wiz -- was the last time you thought to yourself i have to throw om oriels gear on -- some oriels gear on and represent? >> reporter: i'm glad you theyed. you seem more -- i'm glad you sa

reporting from the inner harbor monique griego. >> the fire works show will begin around 9:30 tonighttoday a serial drunk driver convicted in the hit and run death of a john hopkins university student is asking for a new hearing. last year thomas beakon pleaded guilty. now he is having for a new -- he is asking for a new hearing, claiming he was pressured into a plea deal he did not want. prosecutors have not commented on his request. >>> from holiday wood to may ber -- hollywood to may berry, americans are remembering andy griffith this morning. >> there was no mistaking the theme to the andy griffith show and no mistaking the charm of its star. andy griffith played andy tay -- taylor. the straight man to comic don knox and tv father to a young ron howard. >> me would call me youngen. youngen, over here. >> how ard says he learned a lot from griffith, a man who elevated elevate his show. >> he was more -- elevated his show. >> it was more of a sit come dad. >> griffith first hit it big in feature films. it was may berry that made him a household name. >> griffith earned a star on hol

i'm monique griego. coming up, we'll hear from the victims' families and why they're angry at police. >>> i'm alex demetrick. coming up, remembering sally ride, and what lives on after had her. that story as eyewitness news continues. stay it is 5:30. quoin degrees. storms in our region that we are tracking. good evening, everybody. thank you for staying with wjz eyewitness news. here are some of the stories people are talking about tonight. three people are shot and killed inside a northeast baltimore home. the house then burns to the ground. and one year later, police say they're at a dead end. wjz is live. monique griego has more on the efforts to keep the case alive. monique? >> mary, family members are working with police to keep attention on this case. but despite that, they still believe officers botched this investigation. >> reporter: it's a murder mystery that left a community shaken and two families devastated. >> we're really struggling to deal with the pain and the hurt that we have to deal

monique griego has more on what city and county leaders want to know. >> reporter: their main concern is how we can be better prepared for another storm. but they also want more to be done to prevent heat-related deaths. >> reporter: heavy rain and hurricane-like winds. destroyed neighborhoods and left millions without power across the mid-atlantic. >> oh, it was hot. itterrible. >> reporter: viola bowers lost service for several days. but in this neighborhood off lake avenue, the damage was even worse. and homeowners were in the dark for a week or even longer. >> people who drove around said it was like the epicenter. >> now, city and county leaders are asking bge and pep co, one main question. >> what else can they be doing to prepare us better, when these instances occur? >> reporter: baltimore county executive kevin kamenetz is one of seven leaders from baltimore's largest jurisdiction to sign off on a letter to the public service commission. in it, they ask the psc to press the companies on several issues, including how to prevent such widespread outages. and whether their staffi

monique griego explains what city and county leaders want to know. >> kai, their main concern is how we can be better prepared for another storm. but they also want more done to prevent heat-related deaths. >> reporter: heavy rain and hurricane-like winds. destroyed neighborhoods and left millions without power across the mid-atlantic. >> it was hot. it was terrible. >> reporter: viola bowers lost service for several days. but in this neighborhood off lake avenue, the damage was even worse. and homeowners were in the dark for a week or longer. >> people who drove around said this was like it was the epicenter. >> reporter: now, city and county leaders are asking bge and pepco, one main question. >> what else can they be doing to prepare us better, when these instances occur? >> reporter: baltimore county executive kevin cam nit is one of several leaders for maryland's largest jurisdictions to sign off on a letter to the public service commission. in it, they asked the psc to press the companies on several issues, including how to prevent such widespread outages. and whether their sta

i'm monique griego. coming up, what they are asking state lawmakers to do. >>> i'm mike schuh, at loch raven. and with your help, they're ready to go to the u.s. national triathlon. their story next. >>> a severe thunderstorm warning in effect. don't miss the updated first warning weather forecast with bob. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, >>> partly sunny. 86 degrees in central maryland right now. the complete first warning weather forecast is coming up. animal advocates in maryland may get another chance to fight a ruling that labels pit bulls inherently dangerous. monique griego has more on what the breed supporters are hoping for in next month's special session. >> reporter: ever since the maryland court of appeals declared pit bulls and pit mixes inherently dangerous back in may, animal advocates have been fighting to stop the ruling. >> i was appalled, to be honest. >> reporter: they foster pit bulls for a local shelter. she says while the law is currently on hold its effects are already being felt. >> alrea

monique griego learns the man may not face criminal charges for at least a week. monique? >> reporter: adam, that's because he's still undergoing a mental health evaluation. now, tonight, we are hearing more from those who knew him. and one friend describes him as a gentle jeafnlt >> reporter: early friday morning, s.w.a.t. teams raid an apartment at this complex. and what they found surprised everyone. >> it's shocking and scary. >> this close to home, it kind of shatters you. >> reporter: police confiscated an arsenal of guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition they say belonged to this man. 28-year-old neil edwin prescott. >> i think we were surprised by the amount and types of weapons inside that residence. >> reporter: police say prescott had called his supervisor at pitney bowes and threatened to go on a shooting rampage. wjz learned he was in the process of being on fire. >> the fact that he said, "i'm a joker, and i'm going to load my gun asks blow everyone up." >> the batman reference, setting off alarms for police, following the recent massacre in colorado. >>

monique griego continues our coverage. >> reporter: moviegoers might see more patrols one thing they will not see is a lot of costumes. as aurora trys to come to grips police officers are upping their presence at theaters. >> i did it. it made sense to me, you never know there's a lot of weird people in the world. >> reporter: both baltimore city and county police say people heading to the movies should expect to see more officers on patrol. >> just simply a precaution and extra resources to make sure people have a safe and enjoyable time. >> reporter: while police don't know of any threats moviegoers were still happy to see the extra security. >> whether it happens for the first time or it happens at a copy cat action you're always going to have to be vigilant. >> reporter: consumers can also do their part. >> they feel in their gut if they observe something that is unusual. they should notify somebody because the little information they know could save their lives. >> reporter: amc released this statement saying we will not allow any guests into our theaters in costumes that make o

. >>> complete forewarning weather coverage continues now with monique griego. >> bge told us the restorationrocess is taking so long because of damage like this throughout the area. and while crews are working nonstop, residents tell us it is really hard not to get frustrated. >> reporter: for the past week, bge and utility crews from across the country have been removing trees and repairing electrical lines. but despite an around the clock effort, dozens of customers are facing another weekend without service. >> it's just heat. no way to cool off. >> i can't store any food in there, i had to give the food away because there's no power. >> reporter: broax will likely pay more cash for the hotel room rather than sit and bake in his home. >> it's wiping out my account. >> reporter: and while the utility has restored power to 97% of its customers nearly 11,000 are still waiting for repairs. >> we'll restoring people throughout the weekend. >> reporter: today we showed up to several neighborhoods just as crewed got the power going. >> when i saw the light i was like okay, thank god. i'm so glad

monique griego has the latest on what happened. monique?> reporter: and police say it started with a foot chase. but then the suspect reached into his pocket for a weapon. >> reporter: just before 6:00 this morning, police units swarmed this neighborhood in the 5100 block of arbutus avenue. after a 22-year-old man is shot and killed by a baltimore city police officer. investigators say the incident actually started a few blocks away, at this 7 eleven on belvedere avenue in reisterstown road. after someone called police and reported a man with a gun. >> saw someone matching the description. and it was a foot chase. >> reporter: one neighbor told us she ran into the house, after seeing the suspect flee from police. >> i saw this guy run from the alley, up to this street. then i saw the police car coming. >> reporter: when police finally caught up with the suspect, they say he reached into his pocket for what was later determined to be a semi automatic weapon. >>> at this point, the officer fired his weapon at least one time, shoot the suspect

here's mere with monique griego. >> reporter: smoke filled the air over the eastern shore after a massive brush fire ignited. flames threat everyoned homes -- threatened homes. >> we've been setting a lot of records. the rest of the state was doing okay. they were still dry. wendy says the eastern shore are the areas hardest hit by drought conditions. the lack of rainfall only made worse by extremely high temperatures. the ground and the plants are dry. >> reporter: nearly a month after the fire started, it's contained. with the threat of brush fires, that's not the only problem. and right now mcpherson says agriculture is what's being affected the most. >> even around june 25th, we probably had as much potential as we ever had for a big crop. >> i would imagine the water is gonna evaporate because it's been so hot. >> reporter: and state leaders are asking everyone to conserve water when possible. denise? >> thank you. and our drought watch coverage continues. tim williams tracking the storms right now. >> definitely, denise, our drought watch continues. right new as men neek mentioned,

. >> reporter: monique griego, wjz eyewitness news. >> if you'd like to find out more about cradles organization or to donate, go to wjz.com and click on news. >> i love it. just one man touching so many lives. really great. >> went down 20 degrees. in the 70s. humidity set but winds will shift and bring cooler air. take a look at radar. big storms south and east of the baltimore region approaching eastern shore and around annapolis and portions of a.a. county. north and west of us with lighter showers and maybe thunder later on tonight. we'll ,,,,,,,,,,,, [ male announcer ] now at your neighborhood subway: the new santa fe steak melts. get extra grande flavor with the santa fe steak & bacon melt or add egg for a santa fe steak, bacon & egg melt, perfect for breakfast or any time of day. subway. eat fresh. hundreds more in your wallet year after year. feed me! saving you money -- now, that's progressive. call or click today. >>> storms in the mainly south and east. over the last few hours, it's dissipating except for the line south of the baltimore region. if you go up south and east of it, scat

first monique griego has more on the fires. >> reporter: right now the eastern shore seems to be under the biggest threat from these dry conditions. >> filthy air over the ocean shore after a massive brush fire ignited on kent island. flames threatened homes and destroyed nearly 50 acres. >> we've been setting lots of records month after month when the rest of the state was doing okay they were still dry. >> wendy from the u.s. geological survey says the eastern shore are the areas hardest hit by drought conditions. the lack of rainfall only made worse by extremely high temperatures. >> the ground and plants are dry so that's an increased risk of fire. >> that's why nearly a month after the fire started it's contained but still burning. >> you can't extinguish all the fire. because of the drought conditions we have across the state it's difficult and these fires get deep seated. >> the threat of brush fires aren't the only problem. >> right now agoriculture is being most effected by these dry conditions. >> it's plants, soil moisture. >> farm ers are also feeling the pinch. >> even as

here's monique griego to explain what the governor is seeking. >> the damage caused by the recent storm rivalled that of a hurricane. >> there's branches everywhere. >> tree s crushed cars and took out countless electrical lines. this neighborhood was only part of the customers left powerless for days. >> we're used to it. it happen happens a lot. every time we get a major tomorrow this area goes out. >> the problem led the governor to issue an executive order, giving state energy leaders 6 # 0 days to -- 60 days to come up with an improved energy plan. >> what are the best ways we are make our grid more resilient. >> they will look into the cost and how to pay for improving infrastructure and bearing some lines. this week in an exclusive interview bge's president and ceo told wjz the utility already has 65% of its system underground. >> we still have 9,500 miles of over head lines. if we replace 200 miles a year that's a 50 year project. i'm willing to do that. >> residents say they're hoping for any progress. >> give me an idea that you're would -- that you're working on the problem.

here is monique griego who spoke with a dermatologist. >> the new regulations into into effect this monthget labels with misleading information. patricia is an avid sunscreen user. >> you look at anything from spf-10 to spf-75. you don't know what you're looking for. >> the fda is hoping to help consumer. >> it's supposed to make it an easier experience. >> the regulations do away with what many consider to be confusing and misleading labels. >> one of the most misleading term has been water proof. >> in addition to getting rid of water proof the fda is requiring sun ryans with low -- sun skriens screen -- sunscreens with lower than 15 have not read those labels. >> you're blocking almost all of the uva at that range so the difference between 50, 85 and 100 was minimum. melanoma kills one person every hour. for sun lovers that makes people thankful for the new regulations. >> i'm glad there's a clarity now. >> people need to look out for products that are labeled broad spectrum. that means it protects you from the two most dangerous types of sun rays. >> the doctor recommends parents use

monique griego has the latest on these. >> reporter: police want to know why they used deadly force in two shootings. and police officers fired pepper spray balls at hundreds of demonstrators in anaheim. the crowd threw rocks and molotov cocktails at police. lit trash cans on fire and smashed store windows. 24 people were arrested. two young men were fatally shot by police in separate incidents over the weekend. >>> and the family of one of those men said he was unarmed and shot in the back. his mother is now suing the city for $50 million. adam? >> monique, thanks. internal investigations are under way in both of those shootings. >>> after a two-year study, state school leaders are one step closer to banning zero tolerance policies in all maryland schools. wjz is live. gigi barnett has the latest to keep them in class. >> reporter: state school leaders started their zero tolerance policy back in 1999, shortly after the columbine shooting. but today, they say it's time to wipe that code out. >> last year, 15-year-old mick stubing committed suicide. it happened shortly after he was susp

monique griego joins us. >> i've been watching this over your shoulder. i'm smiling too. >> what are you doing? >> reporter: well, obviously i'm riding an elephant. >> not so obviously until now. >> reporter: i'm sorry. i didn't know what you guys could see. if you knew the courage it took me to get on wrinkles here, but wrinkles is only part of the circus that has rolled into white marsh mall. she seems to be very nice. i would told don't pet her so i will not. coming up, more from the circus and what they'll be doing here this week. we'll be right back. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, >>> good morning. here's that sunrise i'm talking about. it was beautiful. we've got some high clouds off the east. right now it is to the point where you walk outside and instead of it willing -- being pretty, you can feel the heat. 80 degrees, feels more like 83. 69% hued -- humidity. the barm ster is at -- barometer is at 29.84. oakland and cumberland 68 and 80, 81 easton, packs river and ocean city 82, 80 columbia and rock hall, 76 westminster. here's this frontal boundary whic

i'm monique griego. coming up, what they're asking state lawmakers to do. >>> and bob will let us know what's on tap for the rest of the weekend. our first warning weather forecast. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, >>> it is cloudy, 82 degrees in central maryland right now. the complete first warning weather forecast is coming up. >>> a 74-year-old baltimore county woman fights off her female attacker and lives lives to about it. -- to tell about it. andrea fujii spoke with her and has more on the investigation. >> reporter: lynn cerota knows she's lucky to come away with only bruises and stitches after fighting off an intruder in her home monday morning. >> it was stupid. but adrenaline quick kicks in. you don't think about it. >> reporter: she was walking her dog, d2 when the suspect walked past her. >> i said good morning. and she said good morning. and -- then all of a sudden, i got this sixth sense. i'd better get back up to that house. >> reporter: sirota had left her door unlocked. inside, she found the suspect,

. >>> first warning weather coverage continues with monique griego. with new information on deaths. >> four more deaths have been reported in baltimore. bring being the total to eight. and five of which have been in baltimore city. and that danger is why doctors are telling people to stay out of the sun or find a cool place to cool off. >> reporter: another day under a vicious sun, as triple digit temperatures bear down on baltimore. >> the humidity has made it unbearable. doesn't matter if you're in the shade or in the sun. >> i'm sweating water now. i feel like a walking river right now. >> reporter: people sweating it out in the city. try to refuel. create their own shade, or simply ditch a few layers in an effort to stay cool. >> it's horrible. because it's so hot and sweaty. and it's just the noad -- not a good feeling. >> keeping cool with umbrella, water. >> reporter: but when it's this hot, the weather isn't just uncomfortable, it can also be dangerous. >> we definitely see a lot more people coming in who are dehydrated. they're not anticipati

monique griego explains how the family is working to dig up new leads. >> reporter: well, vic, family members are working with police to keep attention on this case. however, they still feel officers botched this investigation. >> reporter: it's a murder mystery that left a community shaken. and two families devastated. >> we are really struggling to deal with the pain and the hurt that we have to deal with. >> reporter: one year ago, bertina ricks' son, michael jones, was found murdered inside this now abandoned home. along with his friend, tani didn't ca gibbs and her father. >> they discovered the bodies only after the house was set on fire. >> whoever it is, they have no heart. they are just cold-blooded killers. >> reporter: today, family members gathered with misto reignite the case. >> at this point, we've pretty much exhausted every lead that we've had. >> reporter: besides the mysteries surrounding the murder, there have also been questions raised about how police responded to this. because 90 minutes before it was set on fire, officers responded to a shots fire said call. >>

i'm monique griego. coming up, what the governor is doing to make sure maryland is better prepared for another storm. >>> check in for these stories and all the day's breaking news. coming up all new at 6:00 now. back to you. >> thank you, vic. >>> still ahead on eyewitness news. high-tech testing at the olympics. new technology to catch performance-enhancing drugs. >>> how many athletes have already been caught this year. , >>> nine track and field suspended for doping. eight of the athletes received two-year suspensions and drew a four-year ban. one drew a four-year ban. officials say the majority were caught in biological passport tests. while three others were busted after test results came back from the world championships in south korea. >>> olympic officials have refused a request to hold a moment of silence during tomorrow's opening ceremony for the israeli athletes, killed at the 1972 munich games. but the victims' families are not giving up. bigad shaban reports for wjz from london. >>> the wid

monique griego has more on what he is asking them to look for. >> reporter: the damage caused by the recent duratio storm rivaled that of a hurricane. >> it knocks things down. >> reporter: trees crushed cars ask took out countless electrical lines. norman mills was only part of the millions of bge customers, left powerless for days. >> we're used to it. every time we get a major storm. this area goes out a lot. >> reporter: the problem of widespread outages led the governor to issue an executive order. giving state leaders 60 days to come up with an improved energy plan. >> one of the best ways we can make our grid more resilient. we can strengthen our grid. >> reporter: state energy adviser, abigail hopper is looking at the costs and how to pay for, improving infrastructure and bearing some lines. >> where we keep having problems. which lines repeatedly are going down. >> reporter: this week, in an exclusive interview, bge's president and ceo, ken defontes told wjz, the utility already has 65% of its system underground. >> but we still have 9500 miles of overhead lines. if we repla

monique griego is live with the latest on this manhunt. >> reporter: police say they have received numerous calls to their tipline and all are being investigated. now, this picture taken from surveillance video is the first big clue police released in the abduction of 74-year-old vi ripken. it's the man police believe took her. she was kidnapped at gunpoint from her home tuesday morning. investigators say she was bound inside her car and driven around baltimore and harford counties for almost 24 hours before being dropped off near her home. now, the fbi, maryland state police, and the harford county sheriff's office, are assisting aberdeen police, who are leading this investigation. vick? >> monique, thank you. if you recognize the man in the pictures, you're asked to call police. they're offering a $2,000 reward for conviction in this case. >>> members of the general assembly will cut their vacation short and head back to annapolis for more on what the governor calls the people's work. governor o'malley has ordered a special session, topaz an ex-- to pass an expanded gambling bill. >> time

i'm monique griego, coming up, what they say needs to happen before another storm hits. >> check in for more on these stories and all the day's breaking news. >> eyewitness news at 5:00 starts now. >>> sudden departure. anne arundel county's embattled police chief call its quits. in why his decision is tied to the case against john leopold. >> hi. i'm kai jackson. >> and i'm mary bubala. here's what people are talking about. >> a major shakeup in the anne arundel county police department. chief james tear will step down, amid a scare rocking county government. mikelg

i'm monique griego. coming up, a warning from doctors. >>> the decision is in.merman get out of jail? details on the judge's bail ruling. >> check in for more on these stories and all the day's breaking news. >> eyewitness news at 5:00 starts now. >>> hi, everybody. i'm mary bubala. >> i'm kai jackson. here's what people are talking about. >> no electricity and extreme heat. it is a pa

monique griego has more on why this cause is especially personal to the player. >> good morning. ray rice first became involved with the cause after learning that a howard county teen committed suicide. tonight her family was there as he spread his message. >> constant harassment is what drove 15-year-old grace mckoe millionth to take her own life. >> just saying i hope you die and go kill yourself to my sister. you can't get away from that. >> upset by what happened to grace the howard county teen's sister has reached out to her favorite football player. >> you can feel that family's pain. i felt that pain and it felt like it's time to get a voice out there. >> ray rice of the ravens is now working with grace's family to spread an anti-bullying message. tonight he spoke to several thousand kids and parents at mary weather post pavilion. >> some of these kids look at me as a role model. if there's one or two kids in the crowd i've impacted their lives. >> it's the first step in a long process because we're dealing with something new. >> because events like this get people to open