burkett who has bernardino since late last night and joins us now live. new jersey. >> reporter: that's right, sha da, on the ground in southern time we've been able to get within sight of the crime scene. you can see it behind me. i can assure you that the ballistics alone took much of the night before. they could do anything they had to search the building for explosives. the extent of the carnage is matched only by the amount of firepower. pathologists and recovery teams spent hours in the horrific crime scene. in a painful and pain staking effort to identify the dead. a scene virtually identical to the one that unfolded in newtown, connecticut, the only american mass shooting with more few tal that's than this one. there's still no obvious motive for the attack, but authorities revealed new details about how it was carried out. >> we believe the suspects, when they entered, fired somewhere between 65 and 75 rounds from their rifles at the scene. we did locate the one pipe bomb.

burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you n. j.. and the police response to mass shootings changed after the massacre at columbine high school back in 1999. it had a huge impact on how police handled deadly situations. like the shooting in california. >> there was an inordinate delay on the part of the police entering that location. so the tactics changed and law enforcement sort of came together and said life safety is paramount. so you've got to go in as quickly as possible. even an individual police officer, rather than forming teams, you go in to save lives. >> this latest shooting is also reigniting the political debate over gun control. clark is here now with more. >> politicians speaking out now and while some are using the deadly shooting in california to make renewed calls for gun control, others are again offering thoughts and their prayers. the cover of this morning's daily eyewitness news shows tweets from four politics all offering prayers for the victims of yesterday's attack. the headline reads quote "god isn't fixing

burkett is going to have another report on eyewitness news at 5. of course he's posting updates on abc7ny. >>> we're going to turn of the other news of the day. we're learning new details about the man arrested in long island found with a loaded assault rifle and body armor in his car. mark vickers was arraigned a short time ago. police pulled over his car yesterday after receiving a tip. they also found a loaded pistol in the car as well as a knife and high capacity magazines filled with ammunition and even more ammunition in his home. caliber handgun, one springfield 45 caliber handgun, one 6 hour p229 caliber handgun. one glock 19, 9-millimeter handgun. >> well, in addition to all of those weapons, investigators also found nearly 8300 rounds of ammunition. vickers is being held on $300,000 bail. >>> all new at 4:00, police are searching for a sexual predator who targeted a child in the a 10-year-old girl told police she was groped by a man as she walked to school. this happened in clermont village this morning. she reported the incident to schoo

burkett is in brooklyn. >> reporter: preschool parents vaccinate your kids or keep them home. it was supposed to go into effect in two weeks. now it won't happen because the regulation has been struck down. the ruling means that parents in new york city will have the choice, vaccinate your child against the flu or don't. >> no one is being prevented from getting a flu shot. every parent can get one. they are not required to do so. >> reporter: michelle carol is one of several parents that sued the city insisting that officials could not mandate flu vaccines. the judge agreed. only the new york state legislature retains the statutory authority to mandate vaccinations, not already expressed within the public health law, end quote. in other words, the flu vaccine was not one of them. >> we vaccinate our kids for a couple of reasons, to protect them and those around them that can't get vaccinated for medical condition or some other reason. we do it for ourselves and others. >> reporter: if she had been vaccinated, amanda would have been 16 years old today. instead, she contracted

burkett posting this picture of one mourner holding a sign that reads "prayers and love to the 14 victims." new jersey. >> reporter: that's right, bill, everything you need to know about how devastated this community really is summed up in a one-word headline in today's local newspaper. horrific. and it is absolutely horrific. so the candlelight vigil is a solid first step towards healing on a day of some very troubling developments. bernice says her city will never be the same. tonight hundreds gathered in the local baseball stadium to mourn the victims and themselves. >> hurt, pain, disappointment, >> but a city still in shock must come to grips with the newlywed killers next-door who lived in a virtual bomb factory. syed farook and his wife stock paled guns, bombs, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. the scope sister carnage is only beginning to set in. tonight the first officer to arrive at the shooting described the scene of pure panic and desperation. >> it was you know speakable. the carnage that we were seeing, the number of people who were injured and unfortunately already dea

nj burkett, channel 7 eye witness news. >>> new at 11, the death tonight of a hard rock icon. motor head frontman has passed away. he spent four for ace of spades. he had an aggressive form of cancer just two days ago. he turned 70 on christmas eve >>> more severe weather moving through parts of texas tonight and torn apart by tornados. 11 people were killed by tornados that swept through the dallas area this weekend. the town of garland, one of the hardest hit areas. look at the devastation. more than 1400 homes were damaged or destroyed and 8 people were killed on an interstate by a massive tornado that crossed the highway. >>> treacherous weather there. today. we have a picture from orange county. that's a deck. that's about as extreme. nothing as devastating as what they had in the south. this must be another planet or something. we haven't seen this all winter. >> we're used to near 70-degree >> yeah, from record breaking to reality. the balls of ice were bouncing on the deck and indicator of sleet. freezing rain is much different. it's a frozen surface and the rain creat

burkett in the fort greene section of brooklyn with the story. >> reporter: a tale of two cities and two different reactions to the same threat, a threat that was so present poster rouse, patently absurd experts say it had to be a hoax but some parents are questioning the city's decision to keep the schools open. met did not spend the day worrying about the threat because they hadn't even heard about it. although they were relieved to hear it was dismissed as a hoax, many were surprised at the mayor's decision to keep schools open. >> they should have closed the schools. you never know if it's true or false. >> they said they knew. >> how do they know. >> if they know i guess they know but i don't think they should have let the schools stay open. they should have closed them in case of an emergency. >> reporter: the threat was dismissed long before new york city schools opened their doors this morning. nypd commissioner bill bratton. >> we do not see it as a credible terrorist threat and we are investigating it as a hoax. we believe that the e-mail originated overseas. the language i

burkett, channel 7, eyewitness news. >> so very sad. a wake will begin tomorrow for louie bonacosa, the new yorker who died in the terrorist attack. his funeral will be on long island. >>> we have new details tonight, that nasty feud between the former and current nypd commissioners and it might seem like unnecessary bickering and in so many ways it is but there is at the root of all this animosity a fundamental difference in police strategy. dave evans is here. >> reporter: i think it's understandable why kelly and bratton don't care other. bratton was commissioner bloomberg. we're told the two do depiez each other. today a new reason why, maybe kelly wants to run for mayor in 2017. >> commissioner bratton was still ripping ray kelly. he's claiming police and bratton are fudging figures that says crime has hit an all time low in new york city. >> we refruit everything that commissioner kelly alleged. >> police figures show shootings are down this year by about 3%. murders are up slightly from a historic low last year. yesterday bratton

new jersey burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. 14 of them. tonight police releasing their names and so now we begin to get a sense of what they were. a diverse group ranging in age from 26 to sick. almost all of them county workers. 14 dead, 14 families that will never ever be the same. 18 reporter a.j. ross with that part of our coverage. a.j. >> reporter: bill, 14 lives stolen in a senseless mass shooting so many are still trying to come to terms w. tonight we're learning more about the victims and the precious memories they shared with those closest to them before in the expected happen. >> he was a wonderful man. we met on-line. we've been together for 14 years. >> reporter: anticipating a lifetime together, the waive of new jersey native nicholas thalasinos is now holding on to a hug and kiss good-bye she never thought would be their last. >> i actually got an extra hug and a kiss before he left. so i'm just holding on to that >> reporter: a san bernardino county health inspector, he was one of 14 victims gunned down at the inland region

burkett tonight speaking to bonacasa's family. >> he didn't think in his own mind he was in any harm. >> reporter: for raquel bonacasa tears mixed with pride tonight. her older brother air national guard staff sergeant louis bonacasa promised the family his fourth tour would be his last, but it ended four months early after a taliban suicide attack in afghanistan that killed sergeant bone case a and five others -- bonacasa and five others. raquel spoke with her brother just two days before the bombing. >> he was excited about christmas. he received all of our packages and then he was happy that he was going to be coming home and then his wife would be back home. they were going to get a house, >> reporter: sergeant bonacasa was married. his daughter liliana turned 5 last thursday. born and raised in suffolk county, he enlisted in the air force three weeks after his high school graduation. he served previous tours in iraq, saudi arabia and qatar. his death comes as taliban fighters are mounting a resurgence in afghanistan placing greater strain on u.s. forces supporting the struggling

burkett is live in san bernardino california. n. j. >> ken, residents here are slowly coming to realize that their community may never be the same. hundreds gathered in the local baseball stadium last night for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims. but a commute still in shock the newlywed killers next door who lived in a virtual bomb factory. agents hoping data from cell phones and computer hard drives will help identify a motive. we may know more later today. >> thank you. 6:57. a mother is recovering in brooklyn after a deadly triple shooting apparently sparked by a love triangle. >> eyewitness news reporter kala rama is in east flatbush with more. >> reporter: shirleen, ken, the real worry this morning is about these kids who have clearly gone through a traumatic situation watching their father shoot their mother and also kill her new boyfriend on a very crowded street yesterday. police say a 39-year-old man shot the mother of his two children and her new boyfriend during a planned custodial exchange of their kids at a corne

burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> "i'm a warrior for the babies." that declaration in court from the man accused of the killing. >> kill the babies, that's what planned parenthood does. that's what they want to keel, the babies. >> robert dear formally charged with murder. he told a judge he is guilty and does not want a trial. three people were killed during the attack in colorado springs last month. >>> new at 81, you might not remember his name but will you likely remember his campaign slogan. the rent is too damn high. >> but it all boils down to one thing. rent. it's too damn high. >> mr. mcmillan became an internet sensation when he ran for new york governor in 20 10. he won less than 1% of the vote. he also ran for mayor. look of public support for his agenda. >> some people would say that the temperature is too damn hot for december. >> 10 degrees above the normal daytime high at 11:00. >> no worries. >> you okay with it? you don't need a coat, i'll tell you that. outside tonight, we're looking at 55 degrees. there is the manhattan skyline.

burkett is posting special reports on all of our social media platforms. coming up, more on world news tonight. >>> we do have new information on a breaking story we have been following out of brooklyn. three people shot on the street. it happened in east flat bush. we have learned the victims are two men and a woman, all three taken to area hospitals. they are in critical condition. we will bring you new details as they become available. >>> protests on this first anniversary of the stated enisland grand jury's decision not to indict an officer in the eric garner death. it's all happening at grace' mansion -- gracie mansion. >> reporter: 10, 15 minutes ago, the group of protesters, there were 40 people here, but 20 of them actually walked onto east avenue -- east end let me show you video we took a few minutes ago. the officers warned them to clear the intersection. the protesters refused. they knelt down on their knees. they were chanting "i can't breathe" and other slogans. it the officers then started arresting the protesters. i just spoke with a capta

burkett tweeting out the news could it be days before traffic in the area, normally packed, gets back to normal. n.j. is on the east side with the story. good time to close down an avenue in new york city but first avenue in the 60s for an entire week in december, that's pain. even if you are not one of those under an emergency evacuation order. >> we had two-and-a-half hours to evacuate. it's been crazy. >> reporter: dozens of tenants were sent packing late this afternoon. a new wave of evacuations three days after the collapse. >> we all got a call from our landlord around 3:00 saying that we all needed to vacate the building in the next three to four hours because it was no longer safe to live there. >> reporter: the collapse on monday night shourd the street with hundreds of bricks. after the facade peeled off a 30-story building at that time corner of east 63rd and first avenue. amazingly no one was injured or killed. but earlier today city building inspectors discovered a series facade directly above the collapse. 16 apartments and a five-story building across the street were or

burkett in san bernardino and the renewed debate. it we begin with new jersey. >> reporter: that's right, bill, outside the crime scen as this investigation key developments tonight.

burkett. he's in the fort greene section of brooklyn with the latest from there. >> reporter: that's right. outside ps287 here in fort greene brooklyn where many parents and children i spoke to today had not even heard about the threat, and as a result they didn't spend all day worrying about it. but yes, the new york city public school system did receive a threat now believed to be a prank at 5:00 this morning. city officials say the threat was so absurd, so patently implausible it was not worth the chaos that would result from closing down the nation's largest public school system on virtually no notice. imagine, 1.1 million children and teachers, administrators i've seen the e-mail, liz, and the person who made the threat claimed for example that every school in new york city was somehow rigged to explode and made an illiterate reference to allah. the schools opened and stayed open and everything was >> we do not see that as a credible terrorist threat, and we are investigating it as a hoax

burkett was the only new york television reporter allowed inside. the fbi determined the apartment was no longer a scene and turned it over to the landlord that allowed members how did all of this get so quickly determined to not be relevant as possible evidence. some security experts say this was not a good idea. meantime, the landlord spoke. >> well, they didn't tell me they were terrorists when they moved in. letter that wasn't on the application. >> looking back, you see this, does something trigger, you know what, that was weird. >> no, no, nothing weird. >> the modest apartment was filled with religious books, childs toys, exercise equipment, food and laundry. if you want to see more of what n.j. burkett saw inside the home on that bizarre media tour and the latest on the accused terrorists and investigation check out abc7ny and social media. we have more there for you. >>> a seemingly normal house but anything but. >> coming up on eyewitness news saturday morning, the final good-byes are given for an american victim of the attacks inspect par

burkett channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you n. j. >>> a new jersey man is accused of having sexual contact with more than a dozen teens. >> police arrested michael pritchard. they say he fondled 14 teens while volunteering at calvary temple. anthony johnson there with the details. we just got word from cal temple. they're telling us the man making -- the person that is the suspect in this case was not a member of the calvary temple but certainly the allegations against him at this point in time are considered to be very v unsettling. this all taking place the week before last. michael pritchard is accused of making contact in a sexual nature with a large group of teenage girls, 14 of them who had volunteered to help feed senior citizens during a special holiday season event. authorities haven't said if pritchard tried to abuse the girls individually or when some or all of them were all together. the incident took place mainly in the kitchen at the calvary temple on december 6th questions remain whether the 35 suspect was able to s

burkett, channel 7, eyewitness news. >> staff sergeant lewis the other new yorker who died in that same attack's funeral will be saturday at new begin's christian center in long island. >>> new york city police commissioner bill bratton demanding that ray kelly reveal the source that told him the nypd is misreporting crime statistics. kelly claims the document has reclassified some violent crimes to make the city appear safer. bratton insists there's been no change since kelly held the job. >> refute everything that commissioner kelly alleged that we are. we have not changed anything since his time as commissioner. at 6:00, dave evans with a new reason behind while kelly and bratton are fruding. >>> a man mugged and stabbed to death on a bronx street. police were called to the williamsberg section this morning. he's not been identified but be in his 20s. the murder was caught on surveillance camera and police are searching for as many as six suspects. >>> a group of at least six teenagers robbed two newsstands on the upper west side and assaulted the clerks. the teens robbed a newsstand

burkett is outside the court in central islip with all the details. n. j. >> and liz, the verdict came as a complete shock to the motorist, his family and his many supporters here in the community, but the attorney for only one reasonable verdict in this case, and that was not guilty. that is exactly the verdict that was handed down here this morning. supporters of kyle howell, his friends and relatives walked out of the courtroom after it was announced furious and incredulous. they simply couldn't believe what they just heard but the officer claimed all along that he resorted to the use of force because howell lunged for the glove compartment of his car moments after a traffic stop in april of 2014. now in explaining her decision, judge patricia harrington insisted that the video, the surveillance video in this case does not tell the full story, how it was trying to get rid of marijuana in his car because he was on probation and did so knowing that it would have appeared threatening or provocative to the officer who claimed he had a reasonable fear that

burkett is in california and will begin his live reports coming up at 6:00 a.m. and our coverage continues at abc7ny where we have detailed -- we have detailed accounts from witnesses and photos from the scene. >>> developing in new jersey, a group of elementary school students suspended this morning after police discover a attack a high school during a field trip. eyewitness news reporter kala rama is live at the school in clifton, kala? >> reporter: good morning, one of the big questions here why the elementary school students would want the blow up the high school. police say this was a reason they're just not ready to release if information yet. there was accident to this. however -- intent to this. police actually found a device, there's no explosives found inside instead filled with vinegar and cinnamon and five elementary school students ages 10 and 11 from clifton elementary school number 11 will be suspended and release -- have been suspended and released from they are parents, parent -- their parents. the field trip askanced because of all of this -- wa

burkett channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> thank you, nj. new commissioner william bratton suspending two nypd officers after a prisoner escaped under their watch. it caused a massive search that shut down part of the subway system. shoplifting suspect barry toon silently slipped out of his handcuffs in tribeca last night and told officers he felt ill. they pulled over he ran away, disappearing into a subway tunnel. police found him six hours brooklyn. excisioner bratton says the two -- commissioner bratton said jobs. >> they have had their guns and badges removed and they are totally off the streets. they will go back for a retraining before they get back. their commands, and needless to say this will impact their future careers in the department dramatically. >> the commissioner not happy. this was the sixth time since june that a suspect has somehow escaped nypd custody. arrest this afternoon in rocklin county accused of breaking into cars in several communities: that's not the most disturbing part. the teenage boys were arrested overnigh

burkett, channel 7 eyewitness >> thank you. >>> governor cuomo setting the date for a special election to replace sheldon silver, once speaker of the assembly, now a federal felon after his conviction on corruption charges. setting a date is easy. ridding bean is not. is it time to limit the outside income of legislators? >> the conviction of sheldon silver is the latest in crooked politicians. some call it a water shed moment that must lead to reform >> we have had many, other lawmakers get prosecuted and convicted but this is different. this is shelley silver. this is the center of the system. >> reporter: ran against governor cuomo and hammered at the sir should of ethics reform. she and many other want a limit on corporate donations to individuals and ban on all outside income. >> the cleaner solution would be full tim legislature you get one check. no outside income period. >> reporter: today governor cuomo agreed with trying to ban outside income. that's what got silver in so much trouble. silver vowed to fight on. >> disappointed right now and ultimately i believe after we file

burkett is in jackson heights. n.j. >> reporter: well, the family says that she was on the floor locked in the bathroom for at least 10 minutes and maybe longer. thing to have a rest room door that locks from the inside, what you would expect. they say it is something else to have a door that can't be unlocked from the outside. that, they say, is an outrage. >> died in that bathroom. she wanted to live like everybody else. god bless her soul. >> reporter: ricardo knox is heart broken, three months after the death of his girlfriend, shirley mccarthy. miss mccarthy was in this burger king in jackson heights with her family when she apparently began to feel sick. she went into the rest room to compose herself, locked the door behind her and suffered a seizure. sprawled out on the tile floor and unable to open the door, relatives say she pleaded for help. did nothing and when the manager got involved, they say he couldn't find the key. the family's attorney says miss mccarthy was locked in the bathroom for several minu

burkett in minneola now with more on today's verdict. >> reporter: and that's right, dave. the verdict here came as an absolute shock to the alleged victim, his family and many supporters in the community. the attorney for the officer said that that verdict was the case. that is exactly the verdict morning, not guilty. supporters of kyle howell his friends and family walked out of the courthouse with their hands raised in protest, furious over the verdict. they simply couldn't believe what they had just heard in that courtroom, but the officer vincent logiudice claimed all use of force because howell lunged for the glove compartment of his car moments of 2014. now the judge agreed with the officer and his supporters who claim that there was a reasonable fear that howell was reaching for a gun and that howell had resisted arrest. to be clear, no weapon was ever recovered. >> he's looking forward to continuing his career and doing what he does best, protecting people in nassau county. he was and is a great police officer. >> when you blame the victim in a situation where it i

burkett saw and for the latest the investigation, be sure to check out abc7ny on the web and social media. >>> muslim americans are feeling backlash. while many are appearing on social media, many fear things could escalate far beyond word. hoping to temper those fears? mayor deblasio at a muslim center tonight. >> reporter: muslim americans here in queens say they see those anti-muslim attacks on social media and say it feels like they're being wrongly targeted, wrongly blamed and that's why this visit from the mayor is an important step from them. it's the most high profile outreach to this community since the paris attacks and shooting in san bernardino. mayor bill deblasio reaching out to the muslim american community in queens addressing about 100 worshipers packed into the muslim center, some watching from an overflow room next-door. deblasio assured those >> we also have an important mission to deepen the relationship between the muslim community and the city government. we believe that is important for all. we believe that wasn't done enough in the past. >> reporter: the mayor mak

burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> we turn now to the with this unseasonably warm weather flowers are still in bloom at the bronx botanical garden, and it's mid-december, and it is going to get even warmer before it becomes seasonal, much to the delight of skaters and shoppers. meteorologist lee goldberg is outside our studios without a coat >> maybe it's pushing it a little bit over the next couple of hours as the breeze picks up. otherwise, it's only 0 christmas lights and holiday shopping bags that would tell you it's december. it's 60 degrees at 6:00. a beautiful look at midtown. a great night to walk around. no need to use the subway. stay above ground. it's too nice. the high was 61. 17 degrees above our normal high of 44. pretty amazing considering it was 38 last year on this date, a trace of snow in the morning hours. most of our suburbs still nice and mild. he pattern. the cold can't come east. 64 saturday, four degrees shy of a record high. we're forecasting a broken record high on sunday at 66 despite the fact we have cloud cover around sunday mixed with subpoena. every

burkett just landed in california. he is headed to the scene and brings us live reports beginning tomorrow morning. our coverage also continues at abc7ny where we have detailed accounts from witnesses and photos. >>> as we continue for this wednesday night we have the other news in our area. breaking news, this time out of new jersey. young boys arrested for a bomb plot at their school. we'll have the details. >>> and new york city emerging from the fog at 11:00, but it's still mild. 55. big it's the holidays. and of course, everyone wants to get online at once. to watch things. buy things. but slow internet makes it hard. that's why it's time to get fios. it has the fastest internet and wifi available. with speeds from 50 to 500 megs. and right now, you'll get 50 meg fios internet, tv and phone for 79.99 a month online for your first year. and with a 2 year agreement, we'll give you all the premium movie channels for a year. plus, 400 dollars back. so go online or call now. >>> breaking news and a disturbing story in

live on the upper east side, new jersey burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> so this is december. get ready for even warmer temperatures tomorrow. we're enjoying an unseasonably warm stretch. a.j. ross has more. but first meteorologist lee goldberg is outside our studios on the upper west side. lee. >> the overcoat is overkill. it's like an october night. we're actually up two degrees to 55. look at the daytime highs. 60 in many spots. above average. 55 in new york city, even our coolest suburbs are in the 20s earlier in the week are around 40 degrees. it is amazing to think last year on this date it was an inch of snow after a nor'easter. pattern. the jet stream has lifted to the north. the cold air can't come east. it is a classic el nio pattern. for tomorrow mild out the door around 50. low 40s in the coolest spots with the help of sunshine we're back to sunshine. it only gets warmer into the weekend. coming up we talk record highs, raising temperatures over the weekend and the latest on the timing for the rainfall next week. take from the an ivy league student, andrew goes to

burkett is on a flight right now to san bernardino. we will keep you updated throughout the evening. >>> david muir has much more in a special one-hour edition we are awaiting right now a meet the moore's! we're the moore family, and as you can see, we need an internet that can do more. we do more games, and more streaming. so we need more speed. that's why we switched to time warner cable. now we can connect more devices, at the same time. hi grandma and grandpa! ha, look at that! [laughs] time warner cable even has an internet plan for us. get 50 meg internet for $39.99 per month call 1-855-want twc. >>> back to breaking news. pictures from kabc. that is a black suv we're told it is bullet riddled. we are also told there may be somebody near there. police have been rushing to this scene. they are, as you can see, taking a very cautious approach and not getting close there. but they -- the swat teams and the san bernardino police department have rushed to this scene. this is what we are looking at. senate's almost eerilily quiet lookl

burkett is in park slope with the lead story. >> reporter: this is where it happened. the year was 1980. a woman and her five children killed in a fire that was ruled arson. but, no, it was not arson. and the men arrested and convicted innocent all along. [ applause ] after 333 years of sad -- 33 years of sadness and

burkett is in mineola with our lead story. >> reporter: that's right, liz, the family claims he was racially profiled but, yes the officer was acquitted today of criminal assault charges and the judge practically scolded the alleged victim. no, this is not the verdict they had hoped for. >> no justice, no peace! >> reporter: the young man's family, friends, and supporters left the courtroom with their hands in the air throats.

burkett sat down with rockefeller and joins us with more. >> reporter: flashbacks, nightmares and crippling suffocating guilt. that is the world of william rockefeller. two years after the crash he is haunted by the horror of what happened and the faces of the dead and injured. >> the day keeps playing over and over. >> reporter: in william rockefeller's mind it's december 1st, 2013. his commuter train is off the rails. riders are screaming and >> it feels like i want to climb out of my skin. it's horrifying to me. it's horrifying to me. i just wish it never happened. i'm sorry for it happening. i just see the faces. i can't stop seeing the faces. i am just haunted by those faces. >> >> reporter: he told federal investigators that he fell in a transmoments before the train hurd lettered in a sharp curve at 82 miles per hour. four people died. 60 were injured. it was later determined that rockefeller suffered from an undiagnosed case of severe sleep apnea. prosecutors declined to press charges. he has not spoken publicly until now. two years is a long time, isn't it? >> it feels like yesterd

burkett he can't forget the victim's faces. >> i'm just haunted by those faces. >> it's been two years though. it? >> it feels like yesterday. it really feels like yesterday. it feels like it just happened. >> four passengers were killed rockefeller has yet to face a disciplinary hearing. you can see n. j.'s full interview coming up on eyewitness news at 5. >>> new york city police are looking for the person who targeted a plane with a laser as it approached kennedy airport overnight. the crew of the sky link express flight from canada reported a green laser shining into the cockpit of the plane around 1 this morning, pointing lasers at planes is illegal because the light can blind the pilots. the plane landed safely. the incident. >>> new developments in the investigation into the california mass tore. the fbi director today said the two san bernardino shooters were radicalized at least two enrique marquez admitted he bought guns for farook. friends of marquez believe he may have known something about the plot in advance. >> he said something around the lines of there's a lot of musli

burkett is in california. beginning on eyewitness news first at 4 and at abc7ny. >>> we are also following some breaking news in our area. a man on long island was arrested after police found a large number of gun magazines and a body armor vest in his car. the man also had a fake federal air marshal id. investigators just wrapped up a news conference. eyewitness news reporter stacey sager is live in minneola with the details on this breaking story. stacy. >> we're talking about a joint investigation out here with nassau county police. they were working along side the joint terrorism task force and the tsa on this. what authorities had was a tip and then surveillance and then a traffic stop which produced some very disturbing results. this is the man who is now facing charge, 49-year-old mark vickers. he lived here in a gated he had numerous weapons, illegal weapons, no permit inside his home. also 8300 rounds of ammunition inside his home. this doesn't even include what they found on vickers yesterday morning

burkett channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> today a suspect in a long headed to court. daniel greenspan is set to be arraigned in suffolk county. he's charged with the shooting death of a man in west babylon in january of 2009. greenspan was arrested yesterday in manhattan. another man is already serving a ten-year sentence. greenspan's girlfriend is awaiting trial. >>> police in westchester county say a school banned teacher who was facing child pornography charges has died in an apparent hiking accident. year-old jeffrey whalen was pronounced dead at the bottom of a cliff in the hudson valley on saturday. whalen was on administrative school. hospital. it happened last night at bayonne at the intersection of avenue c and west 5th street. the car that struck him remained on the scene. the accident under investigation. >>> a priest accused of skimming church collection plates to fund a drug-fueled sex life has stepped down. father peter mckelly was a no show for yesterday's mass at in the bronx. his parishioners sued him claiming he stole nearly $1 million from st. franc

burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> n.j., thank you. >>> the lapd so far says 80% of the schools have been cleared. authorities hope to have the systemwide sweep completed by 7:00 p.m. our time. administrators are defending their calls to close the schools. >> reporter: well, sade, the latest reports are that this was a hoax and that comes from u.s. representative adam shift from los angeles and a ranking member in the house intelligence committee. school officials say when this e-mail first arrived they didn't want to take any chances because they say that e-mail was very specific and mentioned backpacks and other objects including assault weapons. now, school superintendent said the threat was against multiple schools and that's why he made the decision to close every school and the attacks two weeks ago in san bernardino influenced his decision. it is empty second largest school district and massive undertaking to notify parents and shut down the campuses. it went through servers in frankfort, germany but he believes it originated closer to home. officials defended the decision. >>

burkett with the story. n.j. >> reporter: outside the mass saw county courthouse here in mineola where a police officer was acquitted in a traffic stop beating that was captured on video. the alleged victim that in case says the officer who beat him should face federal charges, charles that would be no different from those being faced in suffolk county. >> but i didn't do anything to deserve to have my bones in my face broken in multiple places, to have two surgeries and damage to my eyes. >> reporter: kyle howell is talking about this. the broken bones in his face and his vision that may never be the same.

live tonight, hook mountain, in nyack, new york, mj burkett, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you. >>> and speaking of dramatic rescues, boy scouts from new jersey were out for a hike and it turned into one frightening experience. a troop leader attacked by a bear, it happened yesterday in a cave by buck mountain, in rock away township. not exactly experts in bear rescue for the scouts, they called 911. tim fleischer is live on the scene for us. tim? >> reporter: and bill, that scout master's wife just a short time ago released a statement and i will read it to you in a moment. but this was not an official boy scout hike here at split rock reservoir yesterday. in fact, it was a father son and two young boys, that had been out for a fun day, and a nice day, hike in the wood, and that's where they encountered this black bear. >> having just been rescued and attack, 50-year-old christopher petrinino was rushed to a waiting med-evac with a helicopter, after a harrowing escape from the bear. >> and he entered was gotten by the foot by the bear. >> and they were hikes southeast of winneb

we're live in nyack, new york, mj burkett, channel 7 kwr50eu7bz. >>> a man is in stable condition after being shot inside a supermarket in the noon in the monthaven section at the seatown supermarket. not clear what the motive was but we are told 11 shots were fired in this incident. so far, there are no suspects and no arrests. >>> there is information about a scout leader's close call with a black bear. he was attacked by the bear inside a cave, in the northern end of buck mountain in rock away township. one of three scouts on a field trip managed to call 911, and eyewitness news reporter nina pinata is in rock away township nina? units from rock away township were the first to get the frightening call from the middle schoolers. own dads. imagine what it was like for him to hear his father getting mauled inside this bear den. he was trapped and injured and in there for about an hour and 20 minutes before the boys and help arrived. >> we have a gentleman in the cave with the bear. >> police say 50-year-old christopher petronino managed to squeeze himself out of the two foot opening. he

burkett that he cannot shake the images from that day. >> i look at those faces of the victims and everything, and it's just -- you know, everybody tried to keep me away from the media and news and everything, but, you know, and i've seen, you know, some of the faces of victims and it's horrifying to me. >> four people were killed in the crash. more than 70 others were hurt. you can see n. j.'s full interview with rockefeller coming up on eyewitness news at 5:00. >> teenagers caught on camera harassing the residents of a housing complex in harlem. the pattern so disturbing residents are taking matters into their own hands. >> plus quick fixes for a sore throat. dr. besser's advice as we head into cold season. >> let's fee he agrees with my mom, a little salt water. it's nice enough out here for an outdoor audience and they're not very shy. if you're heading out and about tonight, the nice weather means the construction season has continued. a little cool but nice for a run, and the overcoat is more than enough. the mild seven-day forecast with a little rain we have to first at 4. >> thank you

burkett spoke with bonacasa's family. >> he didn't even think in his own mind he was in any harm. >> for raquel bonacasa tears mixed with pride, her older brother staff sergeant louis bonacasa promised the family that his fourth tour would be his last, but it ended four months early after a taliban suicide attack in afghanistan that killed sergeant bonacasa and five others. raquel spoke with her brother >> he was excited about he received all our packages and he was happy he was coming his wife would be back home. they were going to get a house, try for another baby. >> sergeant bonacasa was married, his daughter liliana turned five just last thursday. born and raised in suffolk county, he enlisted in the air force three weeks after his high school graduation. he served previous tours in iraq, saudi arabia and qatar. his death comes as taliban fighters are mounting a resurgence in afghanistan placing greater demands on u.s. forces supporting the struggling afghan military. sergeant bonacasa's sisters knew every tour carried risks but they weren't prepared for this. >> he would always

>>darya: a search on for gunman who sought a 7-eleven car or after burkett newsdesk with more intimationd hospital we do not know yet on his condition place multiple phone calls at the antioch police department the robber happen should be after midnight to 711 on rowntree way rednecks to the wal-mart police officers took only a few minutes to rest of the scene is an hour talking evidence dusted for fingerprints the manager said the route was intense and--since last >>will tran: along with a dusting for fingerprints because it happened there multiple cameras inside they're also looking a surveillance video we do not have a description of the suspect >>mark: the young woman was killed in this accident yesterday she's been identified as maria vasquez she was driving and all the money honda accord just before noon near hasbro she veered off throw in her car took over she was drawn from the vehicle and she was taken to john their medical center where she died >>darya: 4 have a warning issued started a heart-stopping these targeted packages left on doorsteps the lead is one of which have this

burkett is live from california with a report at 6 a.m. >>> breaking overseas we have just learned that the death toll has risen to 16 in a fire bomb attack in an egyptian nightclub. it happened this morning in cairo. two men threw molotov cocktails into the club after being denied entry. in addition to the 16 people killed, three others were hurt. the fire has been put out and investigators remain on the >>> time is 5:35. following attacking in paris and the killings in california, mayor de blasio today will reach out to reassure the city's 800,000 muslims. he'll deliver a speech at the jamaica muslim center. the mayor says it's important filled retaliation. police urged muslim to report any biased crime. >>> an apparent love triangle leads to a murder suicide in a brooklyn neighborhood. police say it ended when the suspect shot himself in front of his children. the chaotic scene took over flatbush. a woman and her boyfriend seen here on surveillance video were ambushed inside their car. detectives say the shooter was the woman's ex-boyfriend. both men died. the woman is recovering in

burkett had on his instagram december to remember. i was like i love that line. i've got to use that one. beautiful sunrise this morning, looking into lower manhattan, looks fantastic. we're at 56 degrees in central park with a southwest wind. what in the word, we've got fantastic weather and all the way through christmas week this pattern looks to persist, and what's happening is the storm track is basically taking any weather makers way north of us, and it's also allowing these chilly shots through the great lakes, but meanwhile we're getting the flow of warmth coming up from the south, so basically we're protected from the jet streams storm track, and also the winds are being directed out of the south and the west, and with that kind of pattern we get beautiful weather out of here, at least comfortable easy to take weather. i don't know if the plow guys are agreeing with me now. it's pretty nice out there. just a few clouds to start off this day. and we look into the boroughs and we can see it's pretty nice. just a thin veil of clouds. those are also starting