cottingham helping her with the stroller. >> he was explaining to the assailant you don't know her. leave her alone. at that point the gentleman then stabbed mr. cottingham in the throat right there in front of the door. >> reporter: epps called 911 as people sought shelter on the bus to get away from the horrific attack. he was given the department of transportation challenge medal yesterday for his actions. >> i feel as though mr. cottingham is the real person here that should be honored. >> reporter: wilmington's mayor agrees. >> it was heroic. most people don't get involved in situations at all, won't even pick the phone up and call police. for a plan to give his life i take my hat off to him and his family. >> reporter: police were blocks away and quickly took 25-year-old calvin hooker the third into custody. he's charged with first degree murder and other related crimes. wilmington police chief says the mounted patrol will help out for about a month or more as other units will help in other parts of the city. but for those who frequent rodney square -- >> there are some concer

police say that cottingham, called cannibal, was turning his life around. >> he was a good person, i'm sorry, sometimes he would get in trouble and i would be in trouble with him but for the most part he was turning his life around. >> people that saw him were saddened it hear he lost his life protecting the woman and her child. >> as far as i'm concerned he is a hero. >> it's admirable, lately there say lot of crime downtown and there are not people stepping up. >> wilmington's mayor issued a statement this afternoon offering condolences to cottingham's family and calling him a hero for bravely risking his life for helping a fellow citizen. according to police hooker did not know the woman he went after. he is held on charges without bill for first degree murder. >> sara thank you. >>> the westchester man accused of abusing a kitten and injecting it with heroin is sentenced today. james myers was sentenced to time served 60 days and home confinement and 200 hours of community service. his attorney says he was high on drugs and hallucinating when he harmed the cat. he has been sober fo

he was just doing the right thing. >> police say hooker stabbed cottingham repeatedly.this afternoon old friends from high school are putting up balloons. everyone seems to know him in rodney square. he was unemployed and between homes but would skateboard through the square every day chatting up old friends and making new ones. calvin hooker is locked up. police haven't identified the mom and baby in this case, but none of cannibal's high school friends are surprised he gave his life to save theirs. >> he was generally a good person. i'm sorry. same crap out here, i hate this city. >> in

last monday night 27-year-old thomas cottingham was stabbed to death while helping amedy muhammad escape who was chasing her with a knife. >> i really feel like it's my fault but i didn't know neither one of them. i didn't know why the man was chasing me. i don't know if he mistaken me he as somebody else or what. but that man was the only person that jump need to help me out of all the people that was out here. and if that man didn't help me, me and my daughter would have been slaughtered. >> many at last night's vigil want a memorial bench or plaque to be put up in the square to honor cottingham. >> new affordable housing is going up in philadelphia's chinatown and it will honor pope francis. the building in the 800 block of arch street will be named the francis house of peace. the house be will be for people who were once homeless or qualify for low income housing. yesterday there was a dedication ceremony. nonprofit organizations project home and the philadelphia chinatown development corporation worked together to build this. we'll be right back. >> three people were injured and nin

he's accused of stabbing thomas cottingham last night. police say hooker confronted a mother about a stolen cell phone, pulled out a knife and chased her on the bus. cottingham tried to stop it all, he was stabbed several times. friends put up balloons today in his memory. >> generally a good person. >> he saved an innocent child. >> officers had to use a stun gun before taking hooker into custody. police say the attack appeared to be random. >>> a police officer accused of murder now he could face the death penalty. former police officer was arraigned earlier today. delaware county prosecutors want the former cop to face lethal injection for the killing of valerie murra and the wounding of her 15-year-old daughter last ses. the case is due back in court coming up in november. >>> it's the largest hacking scheme ever prosecuted in the u.s. and today a guilty play in a camden courtroom. a russian man pleaded guilty to stealing 160 million credit card numbers. he admitted his role from 2005 to 2012. princeton-based heartland payment systems

what thomas cottingham did last night here in rodney square. when he saw this man, calvin hooker iii pull out a knife while chasing a young mom and her baby he ran out to help them. it cost him his life. >> he didn't know the woman, from what i understand. he didn't know her. he was just doing the right thing. >> police say hooker stabbed cottingham repeatedly. this afternoon old friends from high school are putting up balloons. everyone seems to know him in rodney square. he was unemployed and between homes but would skateboard through the square every day chatting up old friends and making new ones. calvin hooker is locked up. police haven't identified the mom and baby in this case, but none of cannibal's high school friends are surprised he gave his life to save theirs. >> he was generally a good person. i'm sorry. same crap out here, i hate this city. >> in wilmington, tim furlong, nbc 10 news. >> this afternoon, wilmington's mayor is offering his thoughts. he tells nbc 10, "i give my condolences to both the family and loved ones of thomas

friends have posted a memorial to cottingham. >> as far as i'm concerned he is a hero. >> i think thatas pretty admirable of him to do that. lately there has been a lot crime in this area downtown but unfortunately there there's not people stepping up to help it go down some. >> hooker is behind bars charged with first degree murder. >> a south jersey gas company is investigating the fiery explosion that leveled a home and business in pennsville, salem county. kline construction struck a main yesterday morning while working to replace aging gas lines on north broadway. an explosion and fire destroyed a law office and an app apartment in the same building. fortunately, though, nobody was inside. >>> an "action news" viewer steven sent us these pictures of the explosion aftermath. remember, when breaking news happens, please e-mail your photos and videos to join the action at 6abc.com. or use the lash tag 6abc action on social media. >> a city in the keystone state provides a safe haven for from a family fleeing war torn syria. >> what is your preferred way to pay say about your spending

hooker allegedly stabbed cottingham in the back killing him.r is being held without bail on charges including first degree murder. >> new this morning, relatives who lost loved ones when the texas school bus plunged off a highway overpass are speaking out. erin o'hearn is live in the satellite center with that story. erin. >> reporter: matt, this is a horrific accident that took the lives of two students. and perhaps equally disturbing is the way in which the two families found out about their daughters' deaths. now, one family is filing a wrongful death lawsuit. 17-year-old mariah johnson a senior at a local houston high school and 14-year-old janisa chapman a freshman were bogon a school bus yesterday morning, this school bus, when it lost control and plunged off an overpass. two other students, 17-year-old brandon and lakisha williams were injured in the crash. the bus driver was also hurt. now, the johnson family believes the accident was preventible. as i said it's filing a lawsuit against the bus driver and another driver involved in the

cottingham was a fixture on his skateboard and music, he was here at 9:30 when calvin hooker confronted a 21-year-old woman and her instant daughter, hooker was armed with a large enough and went after the woman chasing her around the bus shelter, he xrumed in and tried to stop the attack and was stabbed and later died. >> police caught up with hooker a short distance away and took him into custody. police can't believe the man they knew as cannibal is gone. >> really a good person. >> i fell over and was crying. he was a troubled teen but he was turning his life around. >> those that saw him on their daily travels, called him a hero. >> he was out here a lot skateboarding and stuff like that. stayed to himself and listened to music, it's a shock that he was killed. >> an authority time ago wilmington's mayor issued a statement offering his condolences to cottingham's family, he too called him a hero risking his life to protect another citizen and hooker we are told did not know the young mother he went after with a knife. he is held without bail on a los angeles list of charges includi

woman and her infant daughter, the woman ran away and tried to climb on a dart bus, thomas cotti cottingham tried to intervene and help. we'll have more on this story at 5:00. >> a new jersey teenager is under arrest, accused of plotting an isis inspired attack on pope francis. fbi is not naming the suspect telling "action news" he is a 15-year-old boy, david henry is working this story. with more on the arrest. >> reporter: yes, investigators are not saying which of the pope's venues may have been targeting but the potential for casualties here is enormous. 30,000 expected to attend his speech here and upwards of a million at his two events on the parkway. >> do you have concerns on security issues. >> no i'm putting my faith in that nothing will happen. >> since 9/11 and the boston marathon bombing, people are naturally nervous at large public events, law enforcement confirms that a 15-year-old new jersey boy was hatching an attack during the pope's visit and it was more inspirational than operational. he shared his plans for an isis style attack on social media, they say he was trying to

. >> after tom "cannibal" cotting h cottingham was killed monday night, it was time for some help heree a standing agreement with bob, any time he asks for help, we'll help. they are a feel good unit, not about combatting crime, it's about implying fear. >> reporter: the county will have a mounted patrol here and help police in other spots. the other businesses are now deciding whether to keep their offices here, the city knows high profile crime doesn't exactly make wilmington seem a great option, but most people like what they see here, tom cottingham's death might make others in the city safer. >> he's definitely looking down here and appreciating it, especially the memorial that we had a couple of days ago and now this. he's probably smiling right now. >> reporter: as we come back live, i can tell you the police horses are already gone and that's part of the problem. you need the extra presence at all times of the day, especially at night. the police chief is sitting down with the county chief on monday and promises me there will be more collaboration in the very near future. live

hooker confronted a woman and her daughter as she pushed her in a stroller, 27-year-old thomas cottingham a fixture at roddy square was stabbed several times and he collapsed and died of his wounds. >> as far as i'm concerned he is a hero, it was admirable for him to do that. there say lot of crime downtown and people are not stepping up. >> hooker is behind bars charged with first degree murder. >>> a group of montgomery county youngsters are learning how to discipline themselves in sports and how to translate that in the clat room as well. steve donahue and his basketball team visited the elementary school in horsham, it's the go for three assembly, they learn healthy habits from reading to eating to help them succeed in anything they do. >>> police in hungary attacked by refugees, the growing tension has thousands continuing to flee from the middle east. >>> and danger in southern california, why the drivers at the center of a drag racing investigation claim they cannot be arrested. >>> right now refugees from the middle east are in a standoff with the hungarian police, some threw bott

. >> his name was thomas cottingham. they say he died protecting two strangers from a man with a knife. >> you spoke to his girlfriend tonight. >> reporter: that's right. she tells me they had plans to get married but tonight she joined more than 100 people the mourn the man many are calling a hero. the courage of one man brought more than 100 people together. he traded his life to save two others. >> he did what most people wouldn't have the courage to do. >> reporter: she had dated him for nine months and were in the middle of plans to marry. she got the call she dreaded. >> i almost had a panic attack. i didn't want to believe it until i spoke to the detectives. i feel completely lost. >> reporter: family by blood or bond say they are not surprised he stopped the man. >> he went out as a true hero. >> reporter: police arrested 25-year-old calvin hooker for the attack last night. witnesses pointed police in the right direction as they say hooker tried to get away on a bus. the murder suspect lived on the 500 block of n

. >> more than 100 people held a vigil last night praising thomas cottingham, a musician and artist knownas cannibal. he stop add man with a knife from attacking a woman. >> did what most people wouldn't have the courage to do. he's not here on earth, he's still here with us. >> he went out as a true hero. >> police arrested calvin ho hooker. >> today we expect to learn more from new castle county officials about an arrest in the murder of a recent temple university law school graduate. he was shot and killed last month. he graduated from temple law school this year. police found his body in his car in the parking lot of health care. they say they found a substantial amount of marijuana in the car. >> happening today we'll learn of an investigation into philadelphia's licenses and inspections agency. the city is looking into practices ever since the deadly center city building collapse in 2013. six people died in a botched demolition at 22nd and market. the city controller will release his laters findings and announce an action plan over concerns over public safety. >> 75 police officers

. >>> thomas cottingham will be remembered at the congo funeral home in wilmington.donations towards funeral expenses are being made. police say the 27-year-old was stabbed to death in rodney square last month while helping a woman and her daughter escape from a man who was chasing them with a knife in a random attack. the accused attacker is charged with first degree murder. >> new this morning, a thief stole a north jersey child it's wheelchair. while others who have a heart came to his rescue. five-year-old andrew pachecoo's mom left the wheelchair outside their home. the wheelchair company and donations from strangers led to a quick replacement for the $2,500 chair. mom is especially grateful. >> positives that came out of it completely outweighs all the bad and that's really i guess you could say the bigger picture of it all. >> police are still looking for the person who swiped the wheelchair while andrew has his independence back. >> it's 4:57 and straight ahead at 5:00, the pope's visit, the one of a kind sweet treats to commemorate the historic event. >> a j

the man who kwaured cottingham had drug and mental health issues. this was the final straw to ask for help from the county police. the help arrived today in the form of clydesdales. >> it's a visible presence. >> reporter: mounted police officers will be here in rodney square and other parts of wilmington to make people feel safer, some say it does, but some don't believe it will last. >> this is where they should be at 24/7, all day long. >> reporter: when the city calls, he happily answers and responds. violent crime is a black eye on the city. companies like the dupont spinoff in this city might leave. the mayor tells me rodney square definitely needs to be fixed. >> yeah, i'm frustrated and concerned i don't want to look like the billy goat gruff, but i have to do something because i can't lose my business base. >> reporter: speaking of that business base, the dumont spinoff in the dupont building, the city would really feel if it they moved and they are already thinking about it. by the way, the horses we showed you left about 3:00, people here

more than 100 people held a vigil in rodney square, they praised thomas cottingham and artist known as cannibal. he stopped is the man from attacking. he and his girlfriend were planning to get waried. >> did what most -- he's not here on earth he is here with us. >> police arrested calvin hooker for the attack. investigators say witnesses helped police catch the suspect before he tried to get away on a bus. >>> three women rejected plea deals. three women would have received a prison term of 7-14 years with the attack in you will knee in april. they now face longer sentences if convicted. barnes suffered head injuries and remains in a coma. three teens have pleaded guilty. >> 6:38 and 64 degrees. lawyers for both sides to be in court to argue to dismiss the case against bob menendez. his lawyers filed more than a dozen motions. on monday they asked the judge to push back the october 13 trial date. prosecutors indicated they won't oppose that. menendez is accused of accepting gifts and bribes. >>> good morning. today is going to be especially nice again. a beautiful combination of a lo

the man that gave his life protecting a woman and her baby in wilmington was laid to rest, thomas cottingham was today. he helped a woman and her daughter, from a man escaping from a man with a knife in a random attack. >>> still ahead on a thursday afternoon we'll tell you how to avoid sticker shock that comes with your medical bills even if you have insurance. >>> and a michigan mother says two strangers belittled her at a donut shop until is he was reduced to tears and ten her act of kindness is inspiring thousands. >> the story behind this straight ahead. >>> and of course meteorologist, adam joseph, returns with the full forecast from accuweather. >>> well a student pilot had to learn a lot of operating under pressure this week, check this out. that is the student's small plane. zooming through a busy interests section during rush hour in irvine, california, obviously we slowed this video down, the instructor talked the student through an emergency landing after the plane had engine trouble. the plane touched down safely without hitting a single car. >> big talkers now a story out of mi