reporter: one by one, wilson's relatives entered the courtroom in oakland for their first look at john lee cowell, he is accused of stabbing the 18-year-old to death at the macarthur bart station on sunday night. wilson's family is dismissing reports that cowell has mental health issues. >> no, he is not mentally ill. it's about as usual here in america against our people. it's racism in america. >> basically, i think it's an excuse. i hate to say that, but, you know, um, why would you choose two young black girls? that's all i want to say. two particular people of color to do this to. >> reporter: there is no evidence to suggest a hate crime. the what was about to graduate from honors and planned to join the military. >> i will never see my daughter again. i just want justice. that's all. >> reporter: dad says the family has been receiving support from the community and love. he says he wants to say thank you. >> thank you. >>> coming up, just one mega millions ticket sold. now worth half a billion dollars and it was sold in the bay area. at 6:45 hear from the owners of the store where it was so

the suspect is identified as 27-year-old john lee cowell....a transient from the oakland-emeryville area. police say cowell stabbed 18-year-old nia wilson to death and injured her sister. right now investigators are trying to determine what led to the attack. police are asking anyone who may know cowell.. or where he is... to please call them. they are warning the public not to approach him.. as he could be armed and dangerous. ... (grant) this investigation has many people talking about the safety of bart. it's one of several attacks that have made headlines in the last two years.(vicki) kron 4's j.r. stone is following this story in the newsroom tonight. j.r. you've been sorting through past cases... what have you found? (j.r.)i've spent the afternoon digging and narrowed it down to four brutal attacks. three of the four have been solved but the most serious one is unsolved today. this is surviellance video of a murder suspect that happened back on january 9th of 2016. this man is believed to have shot and killed carlos romero of antioch but

be on the look for this man, john lee cowell.says he's a transient meaning he doesn't have a permanent address and adds another challenge. they stopped him just eight days prior. 18-year-old niya and letifah wilson boarded the bart station. unprovoked the suspect pulled out a knife and killed niya and woundeder

again, john lee cowell is in custody ... charges are pending. reporting live from oakland ... ali reid ... kron 4 news. (grant) and we're learning more about the victim tonight... 18-year-old nia wilson was born and raised in oakland. she attended oakland high school and later transfered to dewey academy high school dewey academy is a small campus with 275 students. prinicpal darrell ross says just about everyone interacted with nia wilson on regular daily basis...and so did he. <"she is one of our daughters, one of our babies. we are a family here. we have a family atmosphere so that one hurt tremendously.">(grant) tremendously.">(grant) the superintendent of the oakland unified school district released a statement which reads in part -- "like all of you, i am heartbroken by the senseless and vicious attack on two innocent young women at the macarthur bart station last night. nia wilson was one of our own. she attended both oakland high school and dewey academy and had her whole life ahead of her. and yet that life was cut short by violence. in an instant, the reprehensible a

cameras weren't allowed inside and john lee cowell wasn't visible behind a partition. he spoke once to confirm that he did not object to the case being delayed until august 22nd. authorities say on sunday night, cowell for no apparent reason stabbed 18-year-old nia wilson and her sister lateefah as they were getting off a bart train at macarthur station in oakland. nia died. the suspect survived. cowell then took off his clothes and left his backpack behind in a bart parking structure according to authorities. inside the backpack were items with his name and date of birth. on monday evening, bart riders spotted cowell on the train and police arrested him without incident at the pleasant hill station. the d.a. has charged cowell with murder and attempted murder in the attacks. he also faces enhancements for allegedly using a knife which was recovered by police at a nearby construction site. there is no evidence for a hate crime and motive is unknown. the killing was called vicious, brutal and ruthless by officials. >> i think this is very, very troubling. it's a brutal,

it all went down at the pleasant hill station.pkg27 year old transient john lee cowell is now off the streets.he needs to be punished for what he's done to nia and her sisterthe manhunt started sunday night, but it was an anonymous tip that led police to him. all i want is justice for my daughterspolice are still looking for a motive .... right now there's no indication that this stabbing was racially motivated, but police have not ruled it out. surveillance footage and witness statements indicate that cowell attacked 18 year old nia and her 26 year old sister lahtifah very quickly and without provocation. nia passed away at the scene. latifah was stabbed in the neck but is in stable condition recovering at a local hospital.i know from my sister who survived, that she said he came up behind them and started stabbing for no reason whatsoever.last night cowell discarded his clothes in a parking structure, which police say shows he was conscious of his guilt. and they believe they've recovered the murder weapon, which was found at a nearby construction site.we plan to interview him along

john lee -- john lee cowell has a booking photo out.s that he is being held at jail on charge of first- degree murder. he has a court appearance scheduled for tomorrow morning. police received an anonymous tip from a passenger last night and arrested him at the pleasant hill bart station yesterday without incident. we spoke to a number of passengers and many told us that needs to be more security on the trains as well as stations. >> may oided if they had more security at bart. they say they have more than ever, but it is rare. where are they?ty guard an i do not see one extra security guard. >> we spoke to two other passengers who said that while they occasionally get harassed by homeless people, they feel safe because there are a lot of people around during their commutes. >> the committee is meeting to discuss security for transit stations. it is happening at the headquarters in oakland and will go until noontime. there is a public comment period during this hearing. they will have three minutes to have -- there have been three homic

now john lee cowell.. is waiting to find out the charges he is facing. he was caught while sitting on a bart train. police say cowell seemed surprised when they boarded and asked to speak with him about the violent fatal stabbing of 18 year old nia wilson and the attack on her sister. z, bart police dept. he was very calm, sitting on the train, he voluntered to get off, no use of force, and did not find any weapons. deputy chief alvarez. once we was in custody, and jail, he asked for a lawyer. > (grant) as for (grant) as for charges... police say they are working with the alameda county d-a's office for one count of murder and assault with a deadly weapon. but they may ask for attempted murder for the other attack on nia wilson's sister lahtifa. (vicki) for the first time we are hearing from the family of the deadly bart stabbing suspect john cowell... (grant) his family is talking about the mental illness which they say was diagnosis. kron4's haziq maadyun has more.. in a story you'll see only here on kron4. a woman who described herself as john cowell's

re/max the suspect, 27-year-old john lee cowell, into the jail without further didn't, he turned over identification when asked. >> he asked what was going on, we asked him to step off the train, he might match somebody you're looking for, voluntarily got off, and volunteered his california id card, we confirmed his identification. and placed them into handcuffs.>> reporter: he has not made statements about the killing, instead asking for an attorney, working on charges with the district attorney's office, homicide and assault with a deadly weapon, charges they could be amended to attempted murder. he had previously been cited for not having proof of payment, the paperwork was on him at the time of the arrest. confirming that cabell is in administrated -- cowell is an administrative detention. and administrative segregation. >> a long, extensive history of this history -- access -- he has an extensive history, that's part of the reason that we haven't segregated, as will of the seriousness of the crime. >> reporter: he is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow morning, he will be forma

>> court records are indicating that john cowell the man wanted for deadly attack at the bart station is being held at the jail in dublin. they tracked down john lee cowell on a train headed for antioch. they arrested him at the pleasant hill bart station. officers confronted him. he gave them his name and i.d. and he was arrested without incident. he's a known fare evader and a transient. and that's likely how he was riding bart. >> this is about the justice for nia wilson and her sister latifah and their family. >> reporter: he's accused of coming up behind wilson and stabbing and killing her. he also stabbed her sister. bart's police chief called it s they are investigating where race was a factor. >>> people gathered at a vigil at the macarthur bart station. they say the senseless violence has left them outraged and silenced. >> we are all one village! >> family, friends, and strangers came together to remember nia wilson. they describe her as an angel. those at the rally held hands in a healing circle. >> i feel -- in them coming out to help me pursue justice for my daughter. that's all i want is justice for my daughters. >> some family membe

bart police chief says tips from bart passengers led to the arrest of john lee cowell. the 27-year-old is a transient, officers took him into custody tonight at the pleasant hill bart station after topping him on a train headed for -- father says she a train headed loved make up and fashion, and had hopes to join the military. she had almost finished high school, and the family was planning a graduation celebration later this year. >> a crowd of about 500 people gathered at the mcarthur bart station to demand justice. >> we have team coverage. amber heard from the victim's family, and has reaction from the community. we begin with debra, and what the chief says as he made the announcement about the arrest. >> reporter: arrested at 6:30, 21 hours after it happened. the chief had called this kill one of the most vicious he had ever seen in his career. as for a racial component, he says every possibility is being looked at. >> this is really about the justice for nia wilson, her sister latifah, and their family. >> reporter: bart police chief says he hopes the arrest of 27

lawyer. > (grant) (grant) today bart police revealed more about how they were able to track down john lee cowell. he was caught while sitting on a bart train. police say cowell seemed surprised when they boarded and asked to speak with him about the violent fatal stabbing of 18 year old nia wilson and the attack on her sister. (grant) as for charges... police say they are working with the alameda county d-a's office for one count of murder and assault with a deadly weapon. but they may ask for attempted murder for the other attack on nia wilson's sister lahtifa. ( pam ) three bart- homicides in five days ... an alarming revelation today.and while two suspects were arrested ...one man is still on the loose tonight.( grant ) bart police releasing these photos tonight of the man they say is wanted in connection to the assault and death of 47 year old don stevens..

john lee cowell faces charges of attempted murder in the stabbing of letifah wilson, who survived. the attack happened sunday night on the macarthur station in oakland. he also faces charges of enhancements of using a deadly weapon. he faces a possible life sentence if he is convicted. >>> it is a very, very troubling case, a brutal, horrific murder and attempted murder. and so, you know, for our whole community -- i am not saying bart specifically, but for our whole community, it is an awful situation and that is why we are treating it with the seriousness we have. >> they have not entered a plea . he is due back in court on august 22. nia wilson's family was in court for the hearing, facing her accused killer. they are still in shock over her death and struggling to process what happened. >> reporter: the past three days have been externally painful for nia wilson's father and the rest of the family. >> she was everything to me. she was so beautiful. i am not supposed to at her funeral. i am supposed to be planning her graduation. >> reporter: they had their first look at john le

bart police say john lee cowell stabbed the 18-year-old >>> you know, to speak justice with my daughter. >> they say he stabbed the 18-year-old to death on the bart platform sunday night also wounding her sister. the sister now recovering at home. relativ relatives say the 27-year-old is mentally ill living on the streets. he was released from prison in may after serving time for second-degree robbery. >>> only on nbc bay area we are hearing from the girl that sat next to him when he was arrested. he was taken home from work and said he boarded a train and says could have been her. >> nia wilson could have been any woman that looked like me or her. we shouldn't have to live like that in 2018. >> he saw on social media and immediately recognized him to call police and say how peaceful of it was when he was arrested. >> 4:33. also developing tourists only have a few hours left. noon is the deadline. that's when part of the state route 41 shuts down likely through sunday. of course the ferguson fire is the reason authorities are closing this. >> tonight people are still experiencing the br

john lee cowell is charged with first-degree murder as well as assault with a deadly weapon and violationparole. >>> a lawyer for former trump attorney michael cohen provided c cnn of audio of a recorded conversation between cohen and the president. the two men appeared to discuss potential payments to a playboy model over the claim of an affair. but there is a dispute of what type of payment would be involved. >>> i'm jackie ward in east san jose this morning where someone is waking up a very rich man. maybe he lives in san jose or in the bay area. but the winner of -- or i should say the owner of this store behind me feels like he got the jackpot, too. one person bought the winning ticket from this store in san jose worth $522 million. so the winner has a year to claim the winnings. we spoke to the owner of the store last night and as you can imagine, he is thrilled his store sold the winning ticket. >> one of my employees called me when i was home and i was taking a nap and when he called i woke up and then he said congratulations. and i said, about what? and he goes, our store sold th

the arraignment for john lee cowell that was scheduled to begin about right now has actually been pushed back to 2:00 this afternoon. no word on why that hearing has been delayed. cowell is facing charges of first degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and also a parole violation. investigators say it was sunday night when cowell came up behind nia wilson on the macarthur b.a.r.t. station platform and stabbed her to death and injured her sister. cowell was tracked down and arrested at the pleasant hill b.a.r.t. station after b.a.r.t. police announced an alert for his capture and he was spotted by a b.a.r.t. passenger. >> basically wanted to know what was going on. our officers asked him to step off the train, he might match someone we're looking for. voluntarily got off. voluntarily gave us his california i.d. card. >> cowell may have gone back to the crime scene on monday by passing through the same b.a.r.t. station platform where the stabbing occurred. audio recordings by b.a.r.t. police indicate cowell rode on two trains monday through the east bay. we have reporters at the oakl

details on charges facing john lee cowell. >>> good morning, on this wednesday july 25th. i'm dave clark. steve knows how hot it will be later today. big difference, 60s to 100's. thick morning fog, 90s to near 100. this might be the one time this month believe it or not where we actually get 100-degree highs. warmest day would be concord and livermore. they have not had a 100-degree temperature officially. only gilroy has. it's close for others. napa at 92. livermore to 99 and san jose to 88 degrees. no problem clear lake and also ukiah. the heat advisory is out. water temperatures cooling a bit. that helps but strong high pressure putting a cap on things. 50s and 60s on your temperatures. to the south 59.

john lee cowell was caught while sitting on a bart train on monday. another passenger recognized him and called police. police say cowell attacked wilson and her sister sunday night. police believe they have the murder weapon... which was found at a nearby construction site. they're now running d-n-a tests. authorities revealed the details of cowell's arrest yesterday. ( robin ) cowell does have a criminal history in contra costa county. he's been brought up on charges at least 6 times. those charges included assault and battery. ( robin )and for the first time we are hearing from the family of john cowell.... and the mental illness they say he was diagnosed with. kron4's haziq maadyun has more.. in a story you'll see only here on kron4. a woman who described herself as john cowell's aunt told me

. >> reporter: he hopes the arrest of john lee cowell is the first step in healing for the heartbroken family of nia wilson. stabbed to death as two of her sisters switched trains. the attack was unprovoked. >> very dangerous not only in the bart system but throughout the community. we're ecstatic to have him in custody. >> reporter: he was arrested at the pleasant hill station on an antioch bound train. the train was stopped and searched after a tip from a rider. his face have been publicized since noon. >> they asked him his name. >> reporter: he was unarmed and gave his name and i.d. and did not resist. he's a known fare evader. >> he doffed his clothes in a parking structure. we located the knife. and we had video and we had to track down to make sure that was the correct individual. >> reporter: officers were in the macarthur station. >> the guy came up behind nia and stabbed her in rapid succession two times and then stabbed her sister in that same way. >> more officers help prevent violent crime but in this case it was over in an instant. >> it basically happened at the snap of

bart police received an anonymous tip and tracked down john lee cowell on a train headed for antioch. police officers confronted him. and he was arrested at the pleasant hill bart without incident. he attacked nia wilson sunday night after coming up her. he stabbed both nia and her sister. nia wilson was killed and her sister was critically injured. as bart police were arrested the suspect, hundreds gathered for a rally and vigil in memory of nia wilson. >> reporter: hundreds of people gathered at the macarthur bart station to attend a vigil for 18-year-old nia wilson. she was killed in a knife attack by a man sunday night. her sister survived the attack but was injured. >> i'm glad he's been caught. we got this person off the streets. and it's unfortunate. there's more people out there like that. >> relief, relief. but more relief than anything. >> before the suspect was arrested, the victim's father and other family members said they were grateful for the support shown by the large crowd. >> i feel -- in them coming out to help me pursue justice for my daughterred. >> one of the vic

her father dismissed reported that john lee cowell is ill. >> i think it's an excuse. i hate to say that but why would they choose two young black girls? ? >> her father is heart broken and says right now he should be planning to go to her high school graduation, not her funeral. >> time is now 4:10 coming up, a hectic scene right outside the american embassy in china. what police know about a bomb that was set off near the building. >>> plus, up next a tractor driving recklessly in concord. how police ended a slow speed tractor chase. >>> traffic is moving along well on 880 and towards the downtown oakland area. >>> another day of huge temperature differences out by clayton. the wind is more northern. black diamond which is about 1600 feet is west at 21. west is better than north or east. >>> welcome back. police in piedmont searching for three people who robbed a man at gun point. he was fare calf gnaw court passing by three men sitting at a home. one of them came up mind the man with a gun and stole his wallet and bag. the three men then ran away. >>> police in conc

. >>> john lee cowell , the man accused of killing letifah wilson on a bart platform in oracle and -- in oakland appeared in court. he is 27 years old and is facing attempted murder charges. the attack happened at macarthur station in oakland. in addition to charges of murder, he is facing enhancement of use of a deadly weapon. he faces a possible life sentence if he is convicted. >> it is a very troubling case. it is a brutal, horrific murder and attempted murder, so for our community -- not bart specifically but for the whole community, it is an awful situation and that is why we are treating it with seriousness. >> he is not entered a plea. he is due in court on august 22. >>> nia wilson's family was in court, facing her killer. they were in shock and very emotional. her father dismissed reports that john lee cowell might be mentally ill. >> i think it is an excuse. i hate to say that, but why would you choose two young black girls? that is all i want to say, for them to do this to people of color. >> he is heartbroken and says he should be planning to go to her high school graduat

john lee cowell has been charged with murder in last sunday'st stabbing of 18 mia wilson and the attemptedr of her older sister.t police are sl investigating the motive behind the attack

. >>> accused of a deadly stabbing, said to make his first court appearance, john lee cowell, attempted murder, violation of parole, and more charges. nia wilson was stabbed in the neck and died on the platform. trend 28 is being criticized for see something, say something, one thing that happened when she tried to re- sport the suspicious activity. >> this guy was harassing me, he had a knife on his ways, and i called the bart, they put me on hold, i went to the app online, they said they called me back, i said you put me on hold, i am riding for 10 or 15 minutes, and you with the responding officer to call, i don't know where he went, the only reason he disappeared is because i got on the phone with the police. >> the police chief says because officers are not seen, does not mean they are not working. bart have released clear photos of another attack, this man allegedly punched a 47-year- old man at the mayfair mall, causing him to fall and hit his head on the platform. the victim later died at the hospital. >>> a crew of thieves on the hunt for lemon leggings, wo llars in withanof va

john lee cowe >>> good morning, 7:26. i'm michelle griego. the man accused of stabbing and killing a bart passenger is in custody. police arrested 27-year-old john lee cowellll bart station last night. >>> a deadly shooting in san francisco early this morning after gunfire erupted near 16th and mission. one person is dead and another is in the hospital. so far no arrests and no motive. >>> there's a statewide flex alert today, asking you to conserve between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. a look at traffic and weather after the break. smothered in cheese and guacamole. plus your choice of carne asada, chorizo, or chipotle chicken for just 3 bucks. so tonight, kick the party in your mouth up a notch with jack's new $3 sauced & loaded fries. our hot and salty fries, smothered in cheese and guacamole. plus your choice of carne asada, chorizo, or chipotle chicken for just 3 bucks. so tonight, kick the party in your mouth up a notch with jack's new $3 sauced & loaded fries. >>> good morning, 7:27. we are tracking slowdowns along southbound 101 due to a car blocking a lane just past lucas valley. travel time there 26 minutes down to 580. you can see the southbound side compl

. >> reporter: bart's police chief says he hopes the arrest of 27-year-old transient john lee cowell is the first step in healing for the heartbroken family of 18-year-old nia wilson, stabbed to death sunday night as she and two of her sisters switched trains at the mcarthur station. the attack was unprovoked. >> very dangerous, not only in the bart system, but throughout the communities here in the bay area. so we're ecstatic to have him in custody. >> reporter: he was at the pleasant hills station. the train was stopped, and searched after a tip from a rider. it was the second tip in an hour. cowell he face had been widely publicized since noon. >> an uneventful contact, they asked what his name was. >> reporter: cowell was unarmed, gave his name, and id, and did not resist. it's likely how he was riding bart. there were many moves parts to putting the -- moving parts to putting the case together. >> he had his clothes in a parking stretch kerr, a knife was -- stretcher, a knife was located, video, and we had to track him down to make sure this was the correct individual. >> report

looking for. 27-year-old john lee cowell. police say he is armed and dangerous. good evening, thanks for joining us. >> the attack happened just after 10:00 last night at the macarthur bart station. nia wilson and her sister were heading home from a family pool party and he followed them and stabbed them unprovoked. >> to me more like a prison yard assault where you have an individual with a sharp object and do their take so quickly before anybody could react the person takes off running. in my close to 30 years police experience probably one of the most vicious attacks i've seen. >> police have recovered a knife they believe is the murder weapon. >> meanwhile, the surviving bart stabbing victim is speaking out about the brutal unprovoked attack and loss of her sister. >> a vigil is set to begin in one hour. >> reporter: that vigil got an early start. you could probably see and hear a lot of people are here for it tonight at macarthur bart station. letifah wilson, the woman who survived this attack said she and her sister rarely took bart. they did last night and

platform faced a judge. 27-year-old john lee cowell has been charged with murder and attempted murder in the killing of 18-year-old nia wilson. police say cowell stabbed wilson and her sister in the neck at the macarthur b.a.r.t. station on sunday night. >> i am just so sad for my baby. that is all i know. >> alameda county district attorney nancy o'malley said she expects to put cowell in prison for the rest of his life. >> it is just a ruthhoible crim overwhelming tragedy for the family as well as for our whole community. >> cowell is due back in court next month for arraignment. >>> b.a.r.t. is trying to reassure its riders who are worried about safety. tonight, new numbers show there has been a dramatic spike in violent crime over the last decade. kpix 5's joe vasquez spoke to one b.a.r.t. ward member who says it is time to take action. >> this is really a devastating situation for our system. she is not going to be forgotten. >> reporter: the transit system needs to do more about safety. >> there is tremendous pain about what has happened. i think there is a genuine concern on th

. >> reporter: relatives of the victims packed the courtroom to get a glance of the killer john lee cowell. he was not visible behind a partition and spoke only once to confirm that he did not a check to case being -- object to the case being delayed until august 31. on sunday night he for no apparent reason stabbed nia wilson and her younger sister. nia wilson died. her sister survived . after the stabbing cowell took off his clothes and left his backpack behind in a b.a.r.t. parking structure and inside the backpack were items with his name and date of birth . on monday evening b.a.r.t. riders spotted him on a train and police arrested him without incident at a pleasant hill station. is charged with murder and attempted murder and also faces enhancements for allegedly using a knife which was recovered by police at a nearby construction site. nancy o'malley says at this point there is no evidence of a hate crime and the motive of the attack is still unknown. she called the attack quote vicious, brutal and ruthless. >> it's a very, very troubling case. it's a brutal, horrific murder and at

john lee cowell was picked up about a dozen miles from the stabbing incident. he stabbed to death nia wilson and wounded her sister. police say it appears to have been a random attack. >> federal investigators want to know if the operators of the tour boat that sank in a missouri lake violated coast guard rules by heading out as thunderstorms threatened. the duck boat was recovered from the lake yesterday. 17 people drowned when the boat sank. 14-year-old lauren smith was pulled from the water. she said the captain never told passengers to put on their life jackets. >> it started flooding in the boat. right before it sank everybody was in shock. the guy didn't tell us to put on life jackets. and the selfish side of me is like why did he get to live and now my brother's dead. >> nine members of one family died. the sightseeing boat company is offering to pay for all medical and funeral expenses. >>> pentagon official robert wilkie will be sworn in as the new secretary of veterans affairs. he was confirmed by a vote of 86-9. he won the backing of democrats after

. >> two officers from the bart police department searched the train and located john lee cowell and he was taken into custody at that time and detained for a short while there at the pleasant hill station and has since been transported to the lake merit bart police department. >> reporter: he got on the train along with three sisters last night, and he random attacked two of the three women, slashing nia wilson's next and killing her. latifah wilson was wounded. then the suspect took off his clothes and disappeared into the night. this afternoon police put out an alert for the suspect, a resident of concord, a transient with a violent past. he's been arrested for a multitude of crimes over much of the last decade, he was even arrested for shooting into a dwelling. in october 2016 he began serving a prison sentence for a robbery in contra costa county. he was released in may of 2018, just two months ago. and he has two restraining orders against him. what was the motive for the murder? it's still unclear. there was no argument, no words exchanged at all. police say race doesn't appea