. >> stephen hewitt brown at just 25 years old had his whole life ahead of him. and taking his friend says much too early. >> that was a great brother, i love him and may his soul rest in peace. >> he came to this apartment building with friends to attend a party. but police say he and others became stuck on the third floor in the middle of three elevators. hewitt brown was trying to leave the elevator when it suddenly began moving but not before pushing sanchez and a child away from the elevator before it dropped pinning hewitt brown. >> as the elevator was falling i got out. i had time. the man helped me get out. he held the door like this to give me time to exit and that's when it fell. >> reporter: romeni says he too is now learning about his friend's heroic actions. >> i think that shows his character. >> reporter: zion halcomb just like other residents are left stunned. but others say they've made numerous complaints about the elevators. >> it jumps. it jumps like it goes up and then goes down. >> the elevators were a problem and that they needed to be fixe

hewitt brown was apparently trying to leave the elevator when it suddenly began moving pinning him. >> he was a great brother, i love him and may his soul rest in peace. >> reporter: hewitt was able to push a woman and her son out of the way. >> as the elevator was falling, i got out. i had time. the man held the door to give me time to exit and that's when it fell. the elevator, and he got stuck. >> reporter: he too is now learning of his friend's heroic actions. >> i feel that alone shows his character who he is. >> reporter: eyewitness news is learning from city records that there are three active buildings department violations on the elevators. >> it jumps, it jumps a couple of floors like it goes down then it goes up. >> reporter: desha imperiale says she was stuck in the same elevator not long ago. she and the current tenant association president says numerous complaints have been made to the management company. >> the elevators were a problem and that they needed to be fixed. >> everybody right now is, jumping. making phone calls. you know, let's find out what's going on. >> r

sanchez's son-in-law emanuel coronado says he tried to save hewitt brown. she was packed in an elevator car with nine other people including sanchez and her 10- year-old nephew when it stalled between the second and third floors. sanchez says the doors opened and hewitt brown pushed her up and out of the elevator on to the third floor. suddenly, the car gave way, hit pinning him at the hit, crushed. eight people were still on board. he is haunted by the man's last words. >> i can't breathe any more. take me out of here. >> reporter: the incident happened inside this brick apartment building. witnesses say they called 911 right away. but they say it still took nearly 30 minutes for any despite the fact that the 7th precinct stationhouse and a firehouse are directly across the street. three fdny and nypd say the 911 call was received at 11:54, with crews arriving within five minutes at 11:59. coronado and sanchez said the response took much longer than. >> i think if they coming more on time we can take him out on life this guy but they come late. >> reporter

steven hewitt brown was on his way to a party when the elevator he was in got stuck. he was apparently trying to leave the elevator when it suddenly began moving but not before he pushed a woman and a child out of the way. >> as the elevator was falling, i got out. i had time. the man helped me get out. he held the door like this, to and that's when it fell. the elevator. and he remained stuck. >> according to the building department, the building has three open violations for failures to correct defects on this elevator dating back to 2012. >>> a driver crashed into a fuel pump at a gas station on long island sparking a raging fire. police say there was a fight outside a bp gas station overnight during the alteration, someone got into an suv and rammed into a gas pump. police are investigating how many people were involved. they are also looking into a bullet casings found across the incident. >>> a new york police department facing questions after former police commissioner kelly got erased. city foreigns admit some of kelly's e-mails were deleted them. the e-mails

police were called to the building on broom street after steven hewitt brown of the bronx. the victim was taken to the hospital where he died. >>> nice weather, great performances i know significant security issues for what many say, was a seemless new year's celebration in time's square. so what happened to all the party gear left behind? cbs 2 janelle berrell has more on the clean up. >>> sanitation crews have been working throughout the night and all of the morning to get this clean up done if not for these barricades, hard to believe 1 million people were packed in here last night to ring in the new year. >> the last of the confetti blowing away just as the final party goers made their way home. >> partied, i danced, and that's the new york city never sleeps. >> 47th street and time's square getting another pass as crews used leaf blowers to get the last of the garbage from underneath the main stage in time's square. today, the stage empty after hosting the biggest new year's celebration in the world. >>> it was a great experience, everyone should do it at least once. >

. >> reporte one week after his death, another fatal incident in nhattan. 25-year-old steven hewitt brown crushed by a malfunctioning elevator. >> why are you concerned about the state of the elevator? >> we had incident after incident concerning elevators in this city and i'm worried about fety. repor wr: so, cit councilman james vacca told 4 investigates tomorrow he's introducing a bill. requiring new certification for everyone who services the ty's 71,000 elevators. yohu're saying that people doing licensed? >> t nathey're not licensed. th e is no license >> ing procedure in the city and no licensing procedure in the state. >> we have lots of inspectors and very high standards. >> reporter: mayor de blasio told 4 he is open to changes. >> as much as i v y much believe in the way that we approach it, i'm open to ways we can improve. >> reporter: back at boston road plaza the anxiety remains. >> nobody wants to take it. something breaks down. >> people are still nervous about it. >> they don't want to get on it. >> i just took a chance hoping it dozen happen, again. >> reporter: even the

something happen, like something is not in normal -- >> this man now identified by police as stephen hewitt brown pushed his mother-in-law to safety. brown got trapped in the process. the 25-year-old's body stuck between the third and second gasping for air. >> crying. >> what did he say? >> help me, help me. i tried to save him too and i can't because so much weight in the elevator. >> brown's family declined to speak to news4 saying they were privately grieving. according to a social media profile, he was an aspiring recording artist. in the past five years the city has received 30 311 complaints about the elevators in the building, 28 complaint about them being defective or not working and two complaints that there was a dangerous condition. tenants are well aware of the elevator problems, like this 18th floor. >> i was on it and it dropped scared. >> you complain. it don't work. >> meanwhile as brown's family greaves his tragic death, another family is thankful he acted so heroically. live. >> yes. >> what do you have to say to his family? >> i'm sorry because something happened like that. >>

. >> reporter: emmanuel coronado said this man, identified police as steven hewitt brown pushed his mother-in-law to safety. brown got trapped in the process. the 25-year-old's body stuck between the third and second floors, suspended as he was gasping for air. >> crying out loud, "help me, help me." i tried to save his life, too, and i can't because so much weight in the elevator. >> reporter: brown's family declined to speak to news 4 saying they were privately grieving. according to his social media profiles, he was an aspire ing recording artist. 4 investigates dug up information on the building's history. in the past five years, the city has received 30, 311 complaints about the elevators. 28 complaints about them being complaints there was a dangerous condition. tenants are well aware of the elevator problems. like ten-year-old januarye yesha scott. >> i was on it and it dropped down to the 17th floor and i got scared. >> you complain, it don't work. >> reporter: meanwhile, as brown's family grieves his tragic death, another family is thankful he acted see heroically. he saved your mothers-

. >> reporter: 100 angry tenants confronted the management after 25-year-old steven hewitt-brown was crushed and killed in an elevator on new year's day. >> it was inspected and approved. >> how come somebody died? >> i can't speak to that. >> a representative for wade crest management says a review of the elevator is underway. >> we're going to take the tragedy and make things better. >> reporter: listen to this exchange when tenants at the broom street complex asked if they were safe. >> it is a yes or no question. >> i said yes. >> i'm not answering your >> nearly every resident had a story about being stuck in one of the elevators. gloria's 90 year mother was stuck last month. >> i pray every time when i come in and i'm really afraid now. >> reporter: evelyn gonzalez says she is taking the stairs 26 floors. >> i want to walk up now. >> reporter: shortly after brown's death, news 4 investigates found in the last five years there had been 30 311 complaints about the elevators including two that they were dangerous. >> it is a possible death trap. i did say that in an e-mail. >> rep

this comes a week after 25-year-old steven hewitt brown was crushed and killed by an elevator inside this building. according to to the building's management, the elevator was inspected and approved by the dob and two separate companies just weeks before residents here are still skeptical. >> i mean, they should have done something a long time ago if the elevators were not fixed, they long time ago. >> they are part of our daily lives. we need to make sure they're up to the standard that our lives depend on. >> reporter: and the building's management told residents here at a meeting last night that the accident is under review and extensive review, but could not assure them that the elevator is safe. lori bordonaro, news 4, new york. >> thank you. >>> a two-year-old boy is in the hospital at this noon after falling down an elevated platform shaft. this all happened last night during a family wedding rehearsal at the villa manner. he was playing with his cousin when he tumbled into that shaft. it's part of an electrical riser. the ndny rescued him. he is expected to be okay. >>> right

so many questions and few answers after the death of 25-year-old steven hewitt browne. he was crushed by an elevator inside 131 broome street on new year's eve. residents were told the department of buildings had inspected and approved the elevator along with two independent companies, but they could provide little information as to why it malfunctioned. local lawmakers today will be pushing for the elevator safety act, which would improve regulations. many residents here so terrified to take the elevators, they're now taking the stairs. >> i walked down for this meeting. i'm going to go walk up now. >> we're going to take this tragedy and try to make things >> reporter: 4 investigates learned there had been 30 311 complaints about the elevators here in the last five years. lawmakers will be joining well variety workers as well as residents here in just a little while at about 11:30 this morning to push for stricter regulations. back to you. >> all right. thanks so much, lori. >>> authorities in california and texas have arrested two men with alleged ties to isis. one i

. >>> a new york lawmaker deadly elevator accident in the east village. 25-year-old steven hewitt brown was crushed to death by a elevator that suddenly dropped on new year's eve. a state senator wants lawmakers to enact a new elevator safety bill. it calls for a strict statewide standard for elevator safety and inspections as well as mandatory training and requiring elevator mechanics to be licensed. >> it shouldn't feel like a elevator. >> somebody has to be accountable for what happened. >> the department of buildings says all elevators at the east after the death. the elevator that malfunctioned is still down because of the investigation. >>> next at 6:00, breaking records. tonight with people hoping to buy the winning powerball ticket but what are your chances of actually taking home the giant jackpot? plus -- >> winter is well under way. but it is hard to find snow. coming up, we'll take you to hawthorne, new jersey, where one family has decided to make their own. >> no snow, but a winter weather advisory for this evening. lonnie will be back with more on details with that. and co

wavecrest management says an extensive review is under way after 25-year-old steven hewitt brown was crushed to death in an elevator here on new year's eve. about 100 angry residents turned up at last night's meeting where they were told the d.o.b. inspected and approved the elevators. with the elevators constructor union calling for the elevator safety act. many residents said they still building. one woman says her 90-year-old mother was stuck just last month. >> i pray every time i come in and bless that everything will work out because i'm really, really afraid now. >> reporter: the elevator safety act has passed the assembly four senate. everyone will be gathering here at 11:30 this morning to make another push. back to you. >> thank you. >>> a 2-year-old boy is in the hospital after falling down an elevated platform shaft inside a bronx wedding venue. it happened during a family wedding rehearsal around 7:00 p.m. last night in throgs neck. the boy was playing with his cousin when he tumbled into a shaft of an electrical riser. >> i saw him run towards the elevator, and he dropp

to another >>> we just learned the identity of a man killed in is manhattan. 25-year-old steven hewitt brown of the bronx died after trying to get out of a stuck elevator. it happened on broom street the victim's friends were holding the door open for him to get out when elevator suddenly started to move again. we check the commute with debbie duhaime. >> thanks a lot ken. the subways running on a sunday schedule. the a. c. and e. back on or close to schedule. now remember, over to route 1 watch for an accident northbound by deans lane and south brunswick. it's an ongoing investigation. looks like six injuries reported there. and 17 north still closed in rutherford and accident with a downed pole. going outside we'll take look at times square and clean-up just about cleared here other at times square -- over at times square. alternate sideshows opinioned. back over to you ken. >>> -- side suspended. back over to you ken. >>> thanks a lot debbie. meteorologist bill evans here. >> the temperature here is going to be 39 degrees to start off at 8:00 and that's pretty much where we thought this t

when they see something is not normal, so they push her out. identified by police as steven hewitt brown. what did he say? >> help me, help me. i tried to save his life too and i can't because so much weight in the elevator. >> reporter: brown's family declined to speak to news 4, saying they were privately grieving. he was an aspiring recording artist. 4 investigates dug up information on the building's history. in the past five years the city has received 30 311 complaints about the elevators in the building, 2 complaints that there was a dangerous condition. tenants are well aware of the elevator problems like this ten-year-old who lives on the 18th floor. >> i was on it and it like dropped down to the 17th floor and i got scared. >> you complain. it don't work. brown's family grieves his tragic death, another family member is thankful he acted so heroically. he saved your mother-in-law's life. >> yes. >> reporter: what do you have to say to his family. >> i'm sorry something happened like that. >> reporter: according to the building department's website there are three open elevator

steven hewitt brown was crushed to death after he pushed a woman to safety when an elevator malfunctioned. wave crest management says the elevators were inspected regularly. however, buildings department records show a number of complaints and violations. >>> right now, police are trying to track down a hit-and-run driver that left a man fighting for his life in queens. the accident happened yesterday morning near the corner of 93rd avenue and 168th street in jamaica. a man was crossing the street when he was hit by a toyota rav 4. police are now patrolling the area with radar guns. >>> a tragic ending in the search for a missing the 5-year-old boy went missing on thursday night during a new year's eve party. >> reporter: for more than 40 hours straight, police and volunteers here in allentown searched the woods and river in the freezing cold. that search ended today as this community now begins to grieve after the young boy's body was found in a shallow canal. an emotional prayer cuts through the cold night in allentown, just minutes after the terrible news spread. candle lit vigils popp

that ill stray door got stuck between floors around midnight and steven hewitt brown pushed a woman outdoors to safety and that was before he got pinned between the car and shaft. records from the building's department show a string of complaints and violation notices over the years. >> it's like always stuck like every time i come in the building it's either off or stuck. >> i'm scared to even use you know, the elevator. >> now the building management company issued a statement late today offering condolences to the man's family. >>> and east bay restaurant is reopening tonight. 14 months after being closed by a kitchen fire. staff at the popular pear street bistro inpy knoll made last-minute preparations this afternoon. managers say the fire was caused by a piece of gear that malfunctioned in the kitchen and it took a year to navigate the challenges of insurance, permits and construction. owner francisco flores told us he e-mailed invitations to reopening on wednesday and the restaurant was fully booked in two and a half hours. flores is clearly enthusiastic about tonight. >> i'll be

teach hewitt brown was trying to escape a stalled elevator when it fell. he didn't even live in the billing. he was attending a new year's party. when the elevator started to fall he pushed a woman out of harm's way and said to her happy new year before he died. residents said management had been cited several times for the malfunctioning elevators. jonathan: i can't imagine. kimberly: incredible. jonathan: the fact he had composure to shove her out of the way to save her. kimberly: heroic last agent. -- hero last act. jonathan: starting on the right too. bowser talks about the goals of 2016 helping constituents start out on a healthy note. kimberly: later, bill cosby takes to social media in the face of the sexual abuse charges. jonathan: but first -- >> what are you doing for yourself in 2016? for you? >> i just i -- jonathan: kidd o'shea taking to the street to get answers on the burning questions. what are you going to do in the new year. >> take a moment to look at this. first sunset of 2016. a breathtaking one. we'll be right back. jonathan: nice way

funeral services were held for stewart hewitt brown. he was killed when the elevator he was riding in suddenly started moving. >>> the elevator safety act is very separate. it ensures that every individual who is responsible for working on elevator safety meets certain standards and requirements with state oversight. >> reporter: if passed, the state would have oversight of elevator safety from now on. assembly many times only to be blocked by the state senate. >>> a teenage exchange student who was slashed in the throat by a man says she wanted to school. her wounds required two dozen stitches. leang says she hopes to stay in the united states to pursue her education. >> it takes grit, determination and resilience that has made this city and state true. my office will do everything possible to help her recover and to help her return to her studies. >> reporter: leang and her mother attended the news conference but did not speak. her attorneys have set up a go the attacker is still on the lose. >>> the elevator where nine miners were st

steven hewitt brown was crushed as he tried to escape. residents of the building says elevators have been a problem for years. >>> new this morning, four suspected islamic gunmen were killed when they tried to attack an indian air force base on the border with pakistan. authorities are calling it the most serious attack of its kind in recent years. the gun battle lasted for hours. the attack comes just days after india and pakistan launched a peace initiative. >>> a funeral will be held today for a new york service member killed in afghanistan. staff sergeant lewis bonacasa was one of six americans killed in a suicide bombing on december 21st. the 31-year-old leaves behind a wife and a 5-year-old daughter. services get underway at 11:00 this morning at new beginnings christian center. >>> investigators have deemed a suspicious. a 56-year-old man was found dead after flames broke out yesterday afternoon in the brown stone on jefferson avenue. the fdny says it's unusual the fire started on the stairs between the second and third floors. acc

scene after midnight at broom street investigators identified the victim as 25-year-old steven hewitt brown of the bronx, the nypd is still investigating. >>> germany rang in with terror, police warned them after -- the attack reportedly involved suicide bombers. the festivities went out with and forced new years eve celebrations for scaled off. instead of fireworks there was a 5 minute performance. >>> and fireworks were canceled after the arrest of a terror suspect, he was taken into custody wednesday. federal prosecutors say the excon was planning to attack a rochester bar and arrested after buying knives and a machete. >> officials say 14 people have been hurt in a massive new year's eve fire at a building hours before a major fireworks show. one person reportedly suffered a heart attack during the evacuation. the fire at the 63 story hotel and apartment building happened year the tallest skyscraper. >> the heat was so intense it was unbelievable. people started to panic crushing each other trying to over railings. >> as first we thought it was a small fire they could contain it, then i

steven hewitt brown was crushed after pushing a woman to safety when an elevator malfunctioned. management says the elevators were inspected regularly. the buildings dep tment is also records show 30 complaints about th hoe elevator since 2010. >>> no one is bringing home the $355 million jackpot. the winning numbers were 5, 6, 15, 29, 42. powerball number, 10. the next drawing is wednesday night. the jackpot now estimated to be $400 million. >>> and if you haven't taken down your christmas tree, today is the day. beginning tomorrow, the new york city crews will be collecting christmas treod on the curb. make sure you take off all the orange decorations. high of 45 today. tonight, partly cloudy, low of 29. tomorrow, windy and sweet 16, high of 32. tuesday getting better. a little above normal as we stare down the rest of the week. i'm gus rosendale. pat battle and i will see you at 10:00 with more local news. stay tuned for more of "weekend >>> do you think robert had thrown in the towel prematurely? what am i sitting on? >> a swivel >> swivel chair. >> not very modern. they wer

he was killed when the elevator -- hewitt brown. union workers and advocates called for the legislature to pass an elevator safety bill. >> the elevator safety act is very simple. it ensures that every individual who is responsible for working on elevator safety meets certain standards and >> if passed, the state would have oversight of elevators for the first time. supporters say the bill has passed the state assembly times only to be blocked by the senate. >>> new at four, bringing the mta into the 21st century. governor cuomo announcing a proposal that he says would improve the ride for subway commuters. it includes everything from using an iphone instead of a metro card to improve wi-fi service. dave evans tweeted about the story as the governor released the plant and joins us from the upper west side with the details. dan. >> as you know, the governor is promising any extra money for the mta, and a lot of projects we have heard about before. what is new today is the governor wants a much much faster timetable on many projects a

investigators identified him as 25-year-old steven hewitt brown of the bronx, the bill building as a history of violations one dating back to november. >>> this baby rang in the new year by little out its first cry, the baby was born as the clock struck midnight, he was born at cooney island hospital in brooklyn waying 7 pounds and 1 ounce, mother and baby are doing well. here is erika with your forecast. >>> conditions ford a little cooler than we have been seeing a dry stretch in the works through the next 7 to 8 days but of course i am tracking potential for snowfall for the second week of january, notice the clouds breaking northwest from the southeast, snow for parts of new york state and pennsylvania. looks like conditions will be a little bit chillier, 39 degrees at noon, and by 3 p.m. feeling a little bit cooler than 45 degrees of course you can find more information online and i will see you at noon, back to you alex. >>> our next newscast is at noon we are always on at cbsnewyork.com hope you have a year. right when you feel a cold sore, abreva can heal it in as few as two

hewitt show. there have been rumors manziel wants to be cut from cleveland so he can play for dallas. manziel is still under contract, with the browns. there you go. all right. mission accomplished. coming up on fox. the husband of a woman who was nearly killed by a rock thrown through their windshield wins his battle to improve safety. what you'll soon see, on overpasses across the state. keep warm all winter from the inside out. stefanie paganini is here to teach us how to make homemade [music playing] talking comfort food in the middle of winter in cleveland. it's warm, it's hearty, it's the perfect meal for a winter day. stefanie paganini is here to teach us the basics of making soup from scratch. she's going to make chicken and dumpling soup today but you can transform this recipe into lots of other soups, too. sure. of coarse. one of the things they always benefits of chicken noodle soup. this is sort of a version of chicken noodle soup without the noodles. we will make dumplings instead. originally thought to be a poor person meal from the south they realized this was a very high dining kind of dish that came from france. the