abc's alex perez is in missouri. >> reporter: s.w.a.t. teams today acting on a tip, roaring down this rural missouri road then swarming a property. looking for suspected cop killer ian mccarthy, but in the end, turning up nothing. neighbors here frightened. >> he's armed and dangerous. he done killed one person. that don't mean he won't kill anybody else. >> reporter: the manhunt around the clock, officers going door to door. and tonight, new security video from just moments before the murder sunday night. mccarthy seen pulling out of a gas station parking lot with his headlights off. that traffic violation, the reason why officer gary michael follows to pull him over. seconds later -- >> shots fired. officer down. officer down. i repeat, officer down. >> reporter: police say mccarthy exited his vehicle and shot officer michael. michael returning fire even after being shot. he later died. mccarthy sped off, then ditched his car, escaping on foot. >> suspect believed to be running on foot from that location. subject is still armed. >> repo

alex perez is there. >> you can't describe this fire. >> reporter: the mysterious middle of the nightxplosion rocking this milwaukee neighborhood, flames shooting 75 feet high. >> everyone coming in on 24th place. >> oh, my god. >> reporter: it was about 3:50 a.m., when kiowana heard the loud boom. still shaking, she took out her phone, recording the inferno. >> lord of our house was going to catch on fire. >> reporter: the home which was under renovation, completely leveled. >> we did see the basement block had bulged out, which would be indication that something happened internally forcing them out. >> reporter: tonight investigators are sifting through debris, hunting for answer. no official cause just yet. but luckily, no one was home at the time. alex perez, abc news, milwaukee. >> that scene is just unbelievable. >> ah. >> it's just almost unrecognizable as having ever been a house. >> it's incredible. we've had many occasion like that over the last couple years. we've seen that scene in new jersey that was caught on camera where several houses sort of exploded because of a gas

officer michael had only been on the force for about a year, david. >> alex perez in missouri for us. alex, thank you. >>> we turn now to president trump lashing out tonight after a report in "the new york times" suggesting vice president mike pence might be getting ready to run for president himself in 2020. the report points to among other things, the many trips pence has made in just the first 200 days in office. abc's chief white house correspondent, jonathan karl, with what the vice president is now saying tonight. >> reporter: president trump tonight is settling in to his 17-day stay at his new jersey golf club. >> everyone having a good time? >> reporter: but don't call it a vacation. trump tweeting, this is not a vacation. meetings and calls. and that he's "working hard" and is "going to new york next week for more meetings." that isn't all president trump's tweeting about. he's upset with "the new york times," apparently, about this report suggesting fellow republicans and possibly even his own vice president are positioning themselves to run for president in 2020, if trump h

david. >> alex perez leading us off tonight. alex, thank you. >>> now to the major development from the white house today. president trump endorsing a new immigration plan that would ultimately cut legal immigration into this country in half. the measure also favors highly skilled workers. there was immediate reaction even from some republicans today, and from the white house podium today, a fierce debate over what the statue of liberty really stands for. abc's mary bruce on the hill again tonight. >> reporter: eager to tackle a key campaign promise, president trump today made a surprise push to overhaul the nation's immigration system. >> this legislation demonstrates our compassion for struggling american families. >> reporter: standing with two republican senators, the president embraced their bill to slash legal immigration in half. the bill pushes skilled workers and english speakers to the front of the line, and limits admissions based on family connections. those senators today described the plan as modest and incremental,

here's abc's alex perez. >> reporter: ohio investigators hunting for answers. >> we need 911.ad up here. shot fired. >> reporter: after a brazen targeted attack against a judge as he was heading into work. >> it just hurts. you have a judge shot in front of his courthouse. >> reporter: around 7:00 a.m., nate richmond arrived at this jefferson county, courthouse, armed with a gun, lying in wait, sitting in a car nearby. just after 8:00 a.m., as judge joseph bruzzese was making his way to the courthouse, the suspect ambushed him. firing five shots at point blank range. >> he shoves the judge down. >> reporter: the judge, who carries a gun, firing back. and a probation officer nearby also returning fire on richmond, who was killed on the scene. the suspect is the estranged father of malik richmond, the former star football player who was convicted in 2013 of sexually assaulting a fellow student. nate richmond had a number of cases in throughout the years. >> whether or not there's a connection between those prior appearances in that courtroom and today's action, we don't know the

the assailant was killed, and abc's alex perez is on the scene in steubenville, ohio tonight. >> reporter: tonight, ohio investigators hunting for answers. >> we need a 911!. we need a squad up here. we had shots fired. >> reporter: after a brazen targeted attack against a judge as he was heading into work. >> it just hurts. you have a judge shot in front of his cloourthouse. >> reporter: around 7:00 a.m. authorities say the suspect nate richmond, arrived at jefferson county court armed with a gun, lying in wait, sitting in a car nearby. just after 8:00 a.m. -- as judge joseph bruzzese was making his way to the courthouse -- authorities say the suspect ambushed him, firing five shots at point-blank range. >> it's up to the judge here, and then he shoots back, and he shoves the judge down. >> reporter: the judge, who carries a gun, firing back. and a probation officer nearby also returning fire on richmond, who was killed on the scene. the suspect is the estranged father of malik richmond, the former steubenville high school star football player who was convicted in 2013 of sexually assaul

alex perez has more. preliminary nielsen numbers are out on president trump's about the war in afghanistan. about 28-million people tuned in across the seven bigge channels. those ratings lagged, compared to speeches given by past presidents, and previous speeches by president trump. president obama's 2009 prime time address about afghanistan drew more than 40-million viewers. president trump's address to a joint session of congress in february drew 48-million viewers. right now.. a man accused of sex crimes is behind bars.. after being arrested for a third time. marquese bostic was first arrested on july 31st for allegedly attacking a woman near the kennedy center. a week later, he was arrested on the national mall. witnesses say he was inappropriately touching himself outside the women's restroom near the vietnam veterans memorial. this past monday, he was arrested for allegedly performing a lewd act on himself near that same memorial. bostic pleaded not guilty to all three crimes. court records show..

>> alex perez in ohio for us.hank you, alex. >>> and now a major development in the stabbing case we have been following for more than three years now. anissa weier, one of the two young wisconsin girls accused in the so-called slender man case, has now entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge. she and a companion were just 12 years old when they lured a classmate into the woods to stab her 19 times. authorities say, to please a factitious character named slender man. weier faces trial over her mental fitness. >>> there is much more ahead on "world news tonight" this monday. the deadly earthquake late today, and the images coming in right now. buildings damaged. residents and tourists rushing into the streets in panic. we'll have late reporting. >>> also the massive payout tonight facing johns johnson & johnson. facing $400 million in a lawsuit involving a common household ingredient and possible cancer risks. >>> and chaos in the cabin when a passenger tries to open the door on an american airlines flight in mida

here's alex perez with the images. >> reporter: tonight, heart-racing images of the terrifying close call. >> american's engine caught fire. >> reporter: for the first time, we see the american airlines flight moving down, a burst of smoke, and then fire. >> do you see any smoke or fire? >> yeah, off the right wing. >> we thought it was going to blow up, the plane. >> reporter: the pilot aborting takeoff, 161 passengers scrambling to find exits. passengers evacuating down emergency slides. some thrown to the ground by the engine's thrust. and our first look at the emergency response unfolding. firefighters dousing the plane. investigators looking at whether this fan disc pierced the fuel line. the ntsb investigation is under way. but they say, had this happened just a few seconds earlier, it would have been a complete disaster. >>> and we turn to the jobs report, 209,000 jobs created, unemployment falling to 2.9 percent. hourly pay up 2.5% from a year ago. >>> and the twin lottery jackpots this weekend, the mega millions, at least $323 million on the line, powerball, $286 million. he

already a ruin by the time abc's alex perez from the scene tonight. >> words cannot describe this fire. >> reporter: the mysterious, middle of the night explosio cking this milwaukee neighborhood. flames shooting 75 feet high. >> everybody come in on 24th place. the fire is on 24th street, 24th street. >> oh, my god. >> reporter:t wa about 3:50 nam. when ke hettr wout of bed. still shaking, she took out her phone, recording the inferno. >> lord jesus, it just fell!i catc on fire. i was worried about our house catching on fire, the back of the house catching on fire. >> reporter: the home, which was under renovation, completely leveled. >> we did see the basement block had been bulged out, which would be indicative of something happening internally forcing those blocks out. >> reporter: tonight, arson investigators are sifting through debris answers. and david, you can see what's left of this home. investigators here still on the scene.t, utno o luckily, no one was home at the time. david? >> just a stunning scene there. alex, thank you. >>> we turn next hereirst hurri season gaining st

the path of that possible tornado threat right now from ginger in a moment, but first, alex perez from the storm zone. >> reporter: tonight, the powerful storm system on the move, now threatening millions in the northeast. already a deadly flash flood emergency in the midwest, families trapped in their homes. tonight, the deadly flash flood emergency trapping families in their homes. parts of the kansas city metro area getting up to 10 inches of torrential rain. >> we need you to evacuate the area immediately. >> reporter: more than 160 water rescues, one man caught in high water losing his life. >> rushing water is a whole other animal, and it can move a great deal of weight with its force and can literally sweep those cars off the road very quickly. >> reporter: firefighters using this ladder trucks to save a woman clinging to a tree after flood waters pinned her vehicle. >> they got her safely out of the tree. >> reporter: and that family of seven, with their pets, trapped on their roof for hours -- >> look at the flow of the water here, that's what they're going to have to overcome

here's alex perez with the images. >> reporter: tonight, heart-racing images of the terrifying close call. >> american's engine caught fire. >> reporter: for the first time, we see the american airlines flight moving down the runway for takeoff, a burst of smoke, and then fire. >> do you see any smoke or fire? >> yeah, off the right wing. >> reporter: inside the plane, complete chaos and panic. >> we thought it was going to blow up, the plane. >> reporter: the pilot a takeoff. 161 passengers scrambling to find exits. passengers evacuating down emergency slides. some thrown to the ground by the engine's thrust. and our first look at the emergency response unfolding. firefighters dousing the plane. >> now we got it. right there. >> reporter: investigators looking at whether this fractured fan disc pierced the fuel line. resulting in that inferno. the ntsb investigation is still under way. but authorities say, had this happened just a few seconds later in the air, it would have been a complete catastrophe. david? >> alex, thank you. >>> and we turn to the jobs report, beating expectatio

here's abc's alex perez. >> reporter: the huge section of this private school in minneapolis reducedf rubble. >> we have windmills that were blown out, flames and fire. and building collapse as well. >> reporter: around 10:20, the school administrators and several students inside minnehaha academy, basketball and cross country practice just wrapping up when suddenly a massive explosion entirely guts the middle of the school building. >> there was a huge explosion, smoke went up, knocked most of us kind of back and knocked me off my feet and kind of fell back. >> reporter: the blast, officials say, triggered when a crew accidently pierced a gas line. >> they were smelling gas, we need everybody out, and it was literally seconds after that that there was a big explosion. >> reporter: first responders rushing in searching for survivors. >> crews are working on extinguishing the fire at this time and searching for unaccounted people who may be trapped under the collapse. >> reporter: outside, horrified parents waiting for any word on their kids inside. the school janitor surviving the or

abc's alex perez is there in missouri. >> reporter: investigators in missouri on the hunt for this man after he was pulled over for a minor traffic violation. >> shots fired! officer down! officer down! i repeat, officer down! >> heavily armed officers going door to door searching for any sign of the suspect. the clinton, missouri, police officer, gary michael, pulled mccarthy over because his headlights were off. that's when authorities say mccarthy exited his vehicle and fired multiple shots at officer michael. he was ae to return fire, but the suspect sped away. >> he didn't he a chance. i mean it was a cowardly moment for that individual. >> reporter: mccarthy's abandoned vehicle located three blocks from the shooting. >> suspect believed to be running on foot from that location. subject is still armed. >> reporter: this tight-knit community mourning. in a facebook post, officer michael's mother saying her son was a vet who served his country in the u.s. army and that being a police officer was his dream job. michael is the 28th officer to be killed by gunfire this year. he leaves

abc's alex perez has the story. >> reporter: the deadly flash flood emergency, trapping families in theirsas city metro area getting up to 10 inches of torrential rain. >> evacuate the area. >> reporter: more than 160 water rescues. one man caught in high water losing his life. >> rushing water is a whole another animal. it can move a great deal of weight with its force and can literally sweep those cars off the roads very quickly. >> reporter: firefighters uses a ladder truck to receive a woman out of a tree. they got her safely out of the trees and seven members of this familiar when i their pets trapped on the roof for hours. >> look at the flow of the water here. and that's what they're going to have to overcome to be able to rescue this family. >> we woke up around 4:30. it was already too late to take anything out. we got on the roof and kept calling the police. >> reporter: finally, rescued with the help of good samaritans. and you can see the power of these raging floodwaters, picking up this massive propane tank, slamming it into this building, usually this time of year they see

alex perez has more. >> reporter: it was a swipe right on tinder he wishes he never made. >> i felt distressed after that initial encounter, joseph lazarus is suing his ex-girlfriend for $200,000 because he can't clear his name. the houston resident claims the woman went online and created fake social media profiles then upped the ante. >> she targeted the organization i worked for and said i was a predator and a rapist and murderer. >> reporter: his ex-tried to extort him for $10,000. if he didn't pony up, she'd say he raped her. >> he got fired from his job. you google him. the first thing that comes up is the posting. these accusations, and what do you do? >> reporter: his attorney points to the website, the dirty.com. the writer accuses him of making creepy advances, sending unsolicited sex toys to women. >> i just want to be left alone. i just want to be able to live my life. >> reporter: the woman named in the lawsuit and whose identity has not been reported has not responded. his attorney says they have not talked to police but have filed a complaint with the fbi. alex stone, abc news,

he and a second man were caught near san francisco after more than a week on the run and abc's alex perez is in chicago where it all began. good morning, alex. >> reporter: hey, good morning, george. authorities have been working nonstop trying to piece this mystery together. it took that nationwide manhunt to finally catch up with the suspects. this morning, northwestern university professor wyndham lathem set to appear in court. accused along with oxford university employee andrew warren of brutally murdering 26-year-old trenton cornell-duranleau. >> both subjects considered armed and extremely dangerous. >> reporter: lathem and warren surrendering to police and the u.s. marshals in california on friday after a week-long nationwide manhunt starting over 2,000 miles away in chicago, where the cosmetologist's body was found stabbed to death in lathem's luxury apartment building. >> subjects last seen driving a 2007 gray hyundai passenger vehicle four-door. >> reporter: so far police have not released a motive and adding to the mystery, they believe the same day as the murder an hour away

abc's alex perez has the latest. >> reporter: overnight authorities working to secure the scene of that explosion that gutted part of this school building. >> we have windows that were blown out, flames and fire and building collapse. >> reporter: 10:20 wednesday morning administrators and students were inside at minnehaha academy in minneapolis, basketball and cross-country practice had just wrapped up when the massive blast went off reducing the middle of portion of the building to rubble. >> there was a huge explosion, smoke went up, knocked most of us kind of back. >> reporter: the explosion authorities say ignited when a crew accidentally pierced a gas line. >> another staff said, hey, you know, we're smelling gas. we need everybody out and it was literally seconds after that that there was a big explosion. >> reporter: first responders rushing in searching for survivors. outside frantic parents desperate for any information on their kids. nine adultss rushed to the hospital. >> very lucky. would have been dramatically worse if school was in session. >> reporter: this man walked ou

abc's alex perez is on the scene in clinton, missouri. # >> reporter: good morning, george.ties say this all happened very quickly. the officer pulled the suspect over and within seconds the suspect was shooting at him. this morning, an all-out manhunt for a suspect they're calling a cold-blooded killer. ian mccarthy accused of shooting and killing rookie officer gary michael. >> shots fired. officer down. officer down. i repeat, officer down. >> reporter: sunday night, around 10:45, officer michael pulled mccarthy over because his headlights were out. mccarthy, police say, immediately getting out of his vehicle and shooting at the office who was able to return fire even after he was shot, but the suspect sped away. >> suspect believed to be running on foot from that location, subject is still armed. >> reporter: the 39-year-old has an extensive criminal background including an outstanding 2013 arrest warrant for assault and at least a dozen other criminal charges in new hampshire. >> it was cowardly for him to just jump out and ambush officer michael like that. >> reporter: