derrick ward has more details from the accident scene. what a tragic loss this easter monday. >> reporter: indeed it was. there's more now in the way of details. you are look east down randolph road. this is the scene of that crash that occurred before dawn this morning. montgomery county police brought in the park police helicopter, flew over the scene, one of the investigators on board, so they could get an ariel view of the crash scene. it happened as several officers were responding to a call for assistance from another officer. they were on the scene of a fight involving several people. the road takes a slight bend and there's a downgrade, it don't seem particularly hard to navigate, but that makes this even harder to determine what happened. we have more from captain paul stark starks. >> it happened about 2:21 this morning. the officers were responding to a fight call that involved a large number of people. one of the officers who was responding was traveling westbound on randolph road. as he approached denly road and randolph road

back to you. >> derrick ward reporting. >>> funeral services were held today for the d.c. school principal found dead in his home in sill sprirng last week. the family and friends of brian betts remembered him as a leader who touched thousands of young lives. he was buried this afternoon. the stonewall memory gardens in manassas. betts was the principal at shaw middle school in northwest washington. he didn't show up for work last friday, people were worried they found him eventually dead in his home. somebody had shot him. pat collins has the latest on the investigation now. pat? >> reporter: what do we know about this case? it appears that brian betts was killed sometime after 11:30 at night. and police say now that at least two suspects were involved in the murder. and there is another vehicle, a mystery car that was used in the crime. and it is still out there. in this investigation, police are putting on the full-court press. >> we are working very hard. investigators haven't stopped through the night or the weekend, putting forth every effort towards trying to get th

news4's derrick ward is at d.c. police headquarters with the latest now. >> reporter: we are awaiting an official press conference from city officials. i have more about that later. there is some confusion about how that is happening. this development is definitely seen as a step back for the investigation. now, word has come down early this afternoon that authorities do not believe they have a strong enough case against a 14-year-old alleged to have been the driver of the getaway vehicle following that drive-by shooting in southeast march 30th. the shooting killed four people and wounded five more. afterward a high-speed chase ensued from the scene on south capitol street. it went into prince george's county and back into the district. at that point when it got back into the district the driver is alleged to have run football hope elementary school with police in too pursuit. the police lost sight of that individual for a short time. sergeant at the scene. one of the two adults that police say were also involved in

news4's derrick ward joins us live and is in arlington. >> reporter: the nation's capital is full of symbolism, freedom, democracy, peace. similar bombs in homage of those that died in the pursuits, memorial corps memorial. similar bombs have been popping up that has nothing do with it. we have pictures and we want to show them to you. you may find them offensive. we obscured the obscenities. park police and authorities want to get the word out to see this stops. most idyllic and reverred sites. well-traveled bike and jogging trail along the g.w. parkway. even at the u.s. marine corps memorial. a place of remembrance where those that died in a war against fascism. it was here that the vandal painted swasty cals and symbols of intolerance. >> messages that are clearly hate speech. anti-black and anti-jew. and it is -- doesn't directly threaten violence but it is definitely very controversial-type statements. >> reporter: park police want to talk to this man identified as ronald edward bost jr. no stranger to authorities. >> we had contact with this person. we don't know for certain he

derrick ward is live at the rally. this is more than just music, derrick. >> indeed as most things are in washington, there is a political bent to this, as well. what better way to gather people around the cause tan through music. thousands are expected here on the national mall today for the culmination of events surrounding the 40th annual earth day observance. >> the goal of today's ral little is to product congress to pass a comprehensive climate bill. there's one moving through congress on hold caught up in partisan wrangling over immigration legislation. the bands will play on in hopes of getting through the impasse. sting, the roots, robert randolph, john legend and passion pit are slated to perform once this event begins. the sky is gray and storms are forecast. but don't worry about that says the event producer. >> well, we have a standing evacuation plan. we work close with the park police and park service and basically the smithsonian institution. so if we do see inclement weather, thunderstorms that might be

derrick ward joins us live now from capitol hill with details. derek, the first step toward statehood or totally separate issue? >> there's the controversy about that. some people see this as a step away from statehood, even a higher hurdle for folks to reach. but it is going to be a big week on capitol hill on the issue of d.c. voting rights. the d.c. voting rights bill has the back of president barack obama who has urged lawmakers on capitol hill to pass legislation that would give the city 600,000 residents full voting representation on the hill. if the latest version of this bill has picked up a rider that would doll with away with some of the city's regulations on semiautomatic weapons, on open carry and gun raejstration. the controversial language was tacked on by senator john ensign, delegate eleanor holmes norton had fought that rider for over a year but decided to take vachkt existing traction on this legislation and go forward without a so-called clean bill. the house could see the bill can come up on the floor as early as wednesday or

derrick ward has details. >> they began showing up at the front gate of the polish embassy early in the morning. for some the connection with poland was and ses central. as word of the tragedy began to spread, so did the grief. >> we lost a great president and i november what will happen to parliament. they will do the right thing. >> the loss of a president, first lady, and officials all at once seemed almost unfathomable for many in this country. >> president kaczynski represented the generation of freedom, the freedom connected permanently was the legacy of solidarity movement. >> by midday, the embassy had opened a book of condolences for those who came to put down words of sorrow. >> this is what it would be like losing obama, pelosi, the head of the fed and cabinet secretaries all in one day. >> the president was on his way to commemorate the massacre of 20,000 polish officers on the orders of joseph stalin 70 years ago. the decades have yet toe deaden the pain of that loss now forever associated with another. the pain is compounded. >> we lost most of our intelligentia way back d

derrick ward is in our newsroom with more on this. >> you know, it is a sad inevitably of police work when an officer dies in the line of duty. hector ayala was laid to rest. celebrating the life and service of an officer cut down in his prime. routine familiar. ceremony, drills, practice. military precision. is the reason they come together like this to say good-bye to a comrade fallen in duty they never get used to. >> gets you in the heart. >> reporter: they dime say good-bye to hector ayala. the 7-year veteran died early easter morning. his cruiser went off randolph road as he responded to a call for assistance from another officer. >> type of officer that did everything for you. he did his job very well and very professional. worked hard. he had a lot of support and provided a lot of support for his shift throughout the district. >> reporter: 30 on police agencies from all over turned out at st. peter's catholic church. >> extended family. public safety, had that type of bond. it is nationwide. worldwide. we have people down here from canada. >> career that lasted less than a dec

. >> derrick ward, "news4 today." >> in comingweeks, there will be inserts in local newspapers telling drivers where the road projects are going on. drivers could start noticing an easier commute by the end of the year. >>> metro filled its top safety now appointing james doherty as the chief safety officer. he had a similar job for san francisco's transit agency. he'll start april 19th. as you'll recall, metro has had a spring of safety lapses including a deadly crash back in june that left nine people dead. >>> federal prosecutors have added new charges to their case against a former d.c. official accused in a bribery scandal. last september, ted loza was accused of taking money and gift in exchange for trying to influence taxicab legislation. he was then chief of staff for council member jim graham who still last october oversaw the taxi commission. grained jury indict him on four charges yesterday including conspiracy and extortion. loza has pleaded not guilty in this case. >>> petco customers may be tricked by a scammer. the utility company says some.customers have received fake l

derrick ward was there. >> reporter: there was a lot of music and, as you'd expect.a lot of emphasis on issues surrounding the environment. >> it is the most widely participated in secular event, nonreligious event worldwide. we see it growing and growing and growing. >> reporter: being green was a big part of trally because participants say it's time to get serious about the environment. >> if you just think of one thing you can do, whether eliminating water bottles, washing your clothes in cold water. >> if we have the opportunity today to get 500,000 people doing simple acts of green it will have a positive impact. >> reporter: there's also an emphasis on getting young people sold on the idea of being stewards of their environment. some are worried about what the world will be like when they're not so young anymore. >> if we all keep polluting and degrading the environment the way we're doing, then yes, i'm very worried. >> we can all do better. we don't have to litter. we can drive clean cars. there's things we can all do in our lives to make a difference. >> rep

at dulles international airport, derrick ward, news4. >> the forecast is grim for travelers in germany, britain and the netherlands. >>> students will return to one d.c. middle school today for the first time since their principal was murdered. his suv was missing at the time. police found it on saturday about 14 miles away in southeast washington. best was the principle of shaw middle school in northwest. he was handpicked by d.c. schools chancellor and was described by students as someone who changed their lives. there was no sign of forced entry into his home so police do not believe this was a random killing. >>> a deadly shooting just blocks from the frostburg state university campus early sunday morning. police say 20-year-old brandon carroll was gunned down by a fellow student. carroll grew up in waldorf with his friends, family and fellow coaches held a memorial. darcy spencer has details. >> i want everyone to pray for the family at this time. it's kind of hard. i just don't have that much to say right now. i'm sorry. >> reporter: a tear filled vigil in waldorf where 20-year-o

derrick ward, "news4 today." >>> alexandria police are now asking for your help to find the suspect. he said to be driving a 1999 silver acura with virginia tags, xks-1522. >>> classes will resume at eastern high school in the district after a fire. about 100 firefighters battled that blaze in the 1700 block of east capital street northeast sunday afternoon. the fire destroyed a rubberized roofing material that crews were laying down. investigators say the fire started on the roof of one of those buildings that was undergoing renovation. it appears to be accidental. investigators are trying to find out what sparked the fire. a few workers were inside and got out safely. firefighters were called to this restaurant fire in prince george's county. the fire broke out at the mid-atlantic seafood just after 1:30 sun afternoon. fire and smoke were seen coming from the roof when firefighters arrived. the restaurant was evacuated. no injuries reported. the cause of that fire remains under investigation. >>> we're following breaking news from new york city. more than 250 firefighters battle a