identifying two of the members of the fdny as christopher raguso and christopher zanetis. >>> next tonight, as we head into the weekend, the possible fourth nor'easter in three weeks waiting on the other side. heavy snow falling across the plains. trucks sliding off interstate 90 in rapids city, south dakota and watch the snow on top of this truck clipping an overpass in massachusetts, knocking loose the protective netting. let's get to weather anchor, sam champion who is joining us tonight, and we're following a lot of weather tonight. >> we have. just like we have forecasted the last three, we'll do the fourth. let's start how we always do, and let's get to the boards. this is a storm that tonight is dropping snow in the sierras and california, and also into the rockies. now we start the maps on monday morning, 7:00 a.m. the low is in oklahoma at that point, and no matter where the storm goes or what it is on the east coast, from dallas to atlanta, i want people to understand all weekend long, this will be severe weather, and there could be tornadoes even on sunday. be careful with that.

tense. >> reporter: stanford law professor robert weisberg is still in shock over the death of christopher zanetis. he called him a brilliant young lawyer and amazing human being. >> it's hard to believe how much he did in his life. >> reporter: zanetis was serving a tour with the 106th rescue wing of the air national guard. he and six other soldiers were killed when their helicopter hit a power line and crashed in iraq thursday. in addition to being a rescue helicopter pilot and attorney, zanetis was a new york fire marshal. he joined the fire department after the 9/11 attacks. he was also an intelligence consultant for nato. >> he'd say, i will have to miss class tomorrow. i've been summoned to peru to do an earthquake helicopter rescue, or professor weisberg, i will have to be a day late on the paper. i can't exactly tell you why. let's just say it's part of my job with nato intelligence. they just summoned me to europe. >> joe reed met zanetis through the stanford law organization. >> somebody a couple years ago joked that he should replace the most interesting man. >> joking aside -- >> he wa

tense. >> reporter: stanford law professor robert weisberg is still in shock over the death of christopher zanetisyoung lawyer and amazing human being. >> it's hard to believe how much he did in his life. >> reporter: zanetis was serving a tour with the 106th rescue wing of the air national guard. he and six other soldiers were killed when their helicopter hit a power line and crashed in iraq thursday. in addition to being a rescue helicopter pilot and attorney, zanetis was a new york fire marshal. he joined the fire department after the 9/11 attacks. he was also an intelligence consultant for nato. >> he'd say, i will have to miss class tomorrow. i've been summoned to peru to do an earthquake helicopter rescue, or professor weisberg, i will have to be a day late on the paper. i can't exactly tell you why. let's just say it's part of my job with nato intelligence. they just summoned me to europe. >> joe reed met zanetis through the stanford law organization. >> somebody a couple years ago joked that he should replace the most interesting man. >> joking aside -- >> he was the most genuine and warm

among the dead two new york city firefighters fire marshal christopher zanetis and lieutenant christopher his former commander said this tour was to be his last. >> the guy just loved to save and help people. >> reporter: the accident the latest in a string of mishaps including four deadly accidents involving blackhawks. in november, the air force secretary warning budget shortfalls may be to blame for the uptick in accidents. >> you just don't know exactly when things will break, but we are stretching the force to the limit. and we need to start turning the corner on readiness. >> reporter: tonight there are more than 7,000 u.s. troops in syria and iraq still targeting isis, many of them depending on these rescue choppers. and it's often the pave hawks that take on the most dangerous missions. lester? >> hans nichols at the pentagon, thanks. now to the deepening mysteries over who may be targeting critics of russian president vladimir putin in the uk. britain's top diplomat is now accusing putin of likely ordering a nerve agent attack on a russian ex-spy and his daughter. british police

stanford law school graduate tripp zanetis had a impressive legacy. >> he was killed in a crash that killed seven americans in iraq yesterday. >> reporter: 37-year-old christopheris graduated from stanford law school last year with pro bono distinction, a recognition given to students who spent the most time doing legal work for free for those those who need it. zanetis was one of seven service members killed yesterday when their chopper hit a power line and crashed in anbar province. he was certaining a tour with the new york air national guard. officials say there were no signs of hostile fire though the investigation is in its early stages. by all accounts zanetis was a hero. joined the new york city fire department after the 9/11 attacks. in 2012 he was deployed in afghanistan with the air national guard. he was part of a team dubbed the fearless four who flew into combat to help injured american troops. they are credited with saving nearly 100 lives. between 2014 and 2017, zanetis took unpaid leave from the fire department to pursue a law degree at stanford. there he was a member of the stanford law veterans organization and wrote passionately

was killed in a helicopter crash in iraq on thursday. 37-year-old air national guard member christopher zanetis left an impression on his classmates and professors. abc7 news reporter katie marzullo has the story. >> he was such a vibrant presence. i have difficulty speaking of him in the past tense. >> reporter: stanford law professor robert weisberg is still in shock to every the death of christopher tripp zanetis, he called him a brilliant young lawyer and amazing human being. >> it's hard to believe how much he did in his life. >> reporter: he was serving a tour with the new york air national guard. he and six other soldiers were killed when their helicopter hit a power line and crashed in iraq thursday. in addition to being a rescue helicopter pilot and attorney zanetis was a new york fire marshal. he joined the fire department after the 9/11 attacks. he was also an intelligence consultant for nato. >> he would say i will have to miss class tomorrow. i have been summoned to peru to do an earthquake helicopter rescue. or professor weisberg, i will have to be a day late on the paper. i can't

was killed in a helicopter crash in iraq on thursday. 37-year-old air national guard member christopher zanetis left an impression on classmates and professors. katie marzullo has the story. >> he was such a vibrant presence. i have difficulty speaking of him in the past tense. >> reporter: this stanford law professor is still in shock over the debt of christopher tripp zanetis. he called him a brilliant lawyer and a wonderful human being snoots' hard to believe how much he did in his life. >> reporter: he was searching with with the new york air national guard. he and six others were killed when their helicopter hit a power line and crashed in iraq. in addition, he was a fire marshal. he joined the fire department after the 9/11 attacks. he was also an intelligence consultant for nato. >> he will say i have to miss class i have been summoned to peru to to an earthquake helicopter rescue. or, sir, i will have to be a day late on a paper. i can't tell you why. let's say it's part of my job with nato intelligence, they summoned me to europe. >> he knew zanetis through the law organization. >> som

zanetis had a impressive legacy. >> he was killed in a crash that killed seven americans in iraq yesterday. >> reporter: 37-year-old christopher tripp zanetis graduated from stanford law school last year with pro bono distinction, a recognition given to students who spent the most time doing legal work for free for those those who need it. zanetis was one of seven service members killed yesterday when their chopper hit a power line and crashed in anbar province. he was certaining a tour with the new york air national guard. officials say there were no signs of hostile fire though the investigation is in its early stages. by all accounts zanetis was a hero. joined the new york city fire department after the 9/11 attacks. in 2012 he was deployed in afghanistan with the air national guard. he was part of a team dubbed the fearless four who flew into combat to help injured american troops. they are credited with saving nearly 100 lives. between 2014 and 2017, zanetis took unpaid leave from the fire department to pursue a law degree at stanford. there he was a member of the stanford law veterans organization and wrote passionately

the mayor bill de blasio described christopher raguso and christopher zanetis as among the bravest. the crash does not appear to be the result of the enemy fire. it is believed it hit a power line before going down near the syrian border. a formal investigation is underway. >>> and usa today reports a russian cargo plane offered a new take on pennies from heaven. that is because the plane's hatch accidentally opened during take yov -- takeoff in eastern sign earus allowing two hundred gold bars to fall from the sky. the interior minister said the flight was carrying nine tons of gold and other precious metals and authorities didn't have to look too far. most landed on the runway and i'm glad because a gold bar dropping from the sky looks like it would hurt. right. >> make you rich. >> but at what price. >>> it is about 22 after the hour. now here is a look at the weather for your weekend. >>> skiers can sometimes face steep plunges, but nothing like what happened in at this resort where people had to jump for their lives as a ski lift goes haywire tossing skiers like rag dolls. >>>

. >> reporter: this stanford law professor is still in shock over the death of christopher tripp zanetis. he called him a brilliant young lawyer and an amazing human being. >> it's hard to believe how much he did in his life. >> reporter: za was serving a tour with the 106th rescue wing of the new york air national guard. he and six other soldiers were killed when they helicopter hit a power line and crashed in iraq thursday. in addition to being a rescue helicopter pilot and attorney, za was a new york fire marshal. he joined the fire department after the 9/11 attacks. he was also an intelligence consultant for nato. >> he would say i will have to miss class tom. i have been summoned to peru to do an earthquake helicopter rescue. or professor weisberg, i will have to be a day late on the paper. i can't exactly tell you why. let's just say it's part of my job with nato intelligence. they just summoned me to europe. >> reporter: joe read met zanetis through the stanford law organization. >> somebody a couple of years ago joked that dos, qis should replace the most interest somewhering man