i'm kemberly richardson. coming up, you'll hear from the newest lottery winner. that was dr. stanley pearle's vision and we still proudly carry on his legacy. today, doctors like lisa hamilton perform eye exams that can help detect diabetes. because we care for you... and your eyes. this is genuine eye care, in your neighborhood.

eyewitness news reporter kemberly richardson was there for the reunion. she is live in newark with the details. kimberly. >> reporter: well, dave, ashley producingman arrived here -- bruggman arrived here without any luggage , her checked bag inside the airport at brussels. after the bombings she was able to catch a car to paris and then a flight here to newark, she touched down just a few hours ago but she truly believes she may not have made it out alive had she not done one small thing that at the time seemed really trivial. >> i am very, very glad to be home. i can think of no place i would rather be right now than back at home to be with my family right now. >> reporter: a tremendous rush of emotion as ashley bruggeman runs straight into her family's arms. the 25-year-old is exhausted, still wearing the same clothes she had on when she headed to this airport in brussels yesterday morning. >> still a shock. i still can't believe it was real. headed to brussels for business but returning home had planned

kemberly richardson is in astoria. >> everyone here knew george patouhas. his friend tells me helped fight off the attacker. hospital and will undergo a psychiatric evaluation. >> reporter: utter and total disbelief. herbert rodriguez stood a few feet from where his best friend was brutally stabbed to death. george patouhas tried to fight off his attacker but couldn't. the 55-year-old died here inside his liquor store. >> what do you tell them? what do you tell a wife who just lost a husband? there's nothing that can be said or done. nothing. but i tell you something. my heart is for her. i'm so hurt. >> reporter: george was one person who had the misfortunate of crossing paths with this man. police say james dillon history of mental health issues and eight prior arrests including most recently menacing.

kemberly richardson talking to a new jersey native who was at the airport during the attack. and jim dolan in the news room with the latest on the investigation. we're going to begin with aj and a traumatized city trying to be strong. >> in the quake of devastation, the people of brussels are latching on to hope, standing in solidarity, showing the world they'll not cower to terror. this has been an amazing outpouring with this growing memorial and hundreds joining on the steps here chanting at times "we are together" and "everything is going to be okay." >> reporter: resilient, hopeful, and united. hundreds emerge from their homes growing memorial in the city's center. letting their voices rise above the chaos and terror of yesterday, and now determined to show the world the city is strong in the face of adversity. >> i see everyone everyone has a smile on their faces. it means like it's not terror. >> reporter: from small heartfelt notes written in chalk to flowers, cards, and other mementos. an overflowing memorial is taking over the stairs and sidewalks and even the stree

the heroics after the 90-foot boat hit a barge, kemberly richardson with that part of the coverage. she's near the scene of the accident. >> paul amon was the captain. in those final terrifying moments as his vessel was quickly taking on water, he behind. as for the company which owns the sunken tug boat, it now has divers out here on the river trying to come up with a plan on how to raise that boat. the coast guard. >> reporter: today the first team of commercial divers headed to the exact spot where the tug boat, the specialist, now sits 40 feet down at the bottom of the hudson river. transmissions. under the main span of the tappan zee bridge. >> reporter: first responders who rushed to the scene minutes after the tug boat hit a fixed construction barge. >> okay. it was submerged or partially submerged? >> fully submerged. >> reporter: all three crew members onboard the 90-foot vessel died in the crash. paul ammon was captain of the tug boat which for some reason veered off course. sources tell eyewitness news a worker on the fixed barge yelled to the captain to abandon ship, but

i'm just curious his knowledge of education. >> reporter: in east harlem, kemberly richardson, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> just ahead on eyewitness news, lee returns with much more on the high winds tonight and rest of all across america families are coming back to time warner cable for a whole new experience. that's because we've been working hard to give you better service, and it shows. we came back for internet speeds so fast even the kids are impressed. oh she's impressed. we're catching up on movies and shows on demand just as fast as we can watch them. for $89.99 a month you'll get 100 meg ultra-fast internet, popular hd channels and unlimited calling. we can use all our devices at the same time. so we can all watch whatever we want. and that's kinda cool. call now. for $89.99 a month you'll get internet, tv and phone. there's no contract, no risk and our money-back guarantee. come back today and we'll give you free installation with our exclusive one-hour arrival window. feels good to be back. come back today. you'll get free installation, tv equipment and epix included. and

kemberly richardson, abc 7 news. >>> and the breaking news desk we are going to live from news copter 7. the story is a brush fire burning since about 3:20 this afternoon and here it is for 5:01, so for an hour and 40 minutes. this is in hanover, new jersey. firefighters from east rose land, liberty, all lending a helping hand to try and keep control of the situation. there is no power outages to tell you about. there you can see the power lines. as the picture widens out, there are homes also that firefighters are keeping a close eye on to keep the flames away and an industrial park with a pharmaceutical company and traffic impacted. troy and between algonquin and bill and sade, we'll keep an eye on it, and there is an update, we'll bring it to you. >> all right. thank you. >>> and now, let's talk about the weather. it was beautiful out there. and the temperatures are more like early may. and we still have two days of record people in central park were soaking up the sun. >> reporter: oh, it's been beautiful, sade. no coat necessary at least for now, but it's chillier because the sea

. >> eyewitness news reporter kemberly richardson is live at the police department with the exclusive interview. >> varian hooks still has bruises on his neck. his friend jason tells me officers here unfairly tased him. but authorities maintain they were justified, this all on the heels of sweeping change here in new jersey, when an officer can pull out and use a stun gun. >> i seen them jumping on my son, choking him. about this group of englewood police officers trying to arrest her son. cell phone video captured the intense moments sunday night. >> i'm hearing my son losing his voice, you've got like six officers on him. there was no need for none of that. >> reporter: police maintain their actions were justified including what happens moments later. that's jason eves, police say when he resisted they tased the 26-year-old. jason tells me not once but twice. he's now walking with a cane and didn't want to go on camera. he says police choked him so hard at one point he passed out. the use of tasers or stun guns, a recent change here in new jersey. previously if an officer thought a

i'm kemberly richardson. coming up, you'll hear from the newest lottery winner. that was dr. stanley pearle's vision and we still proudly carry on his legacy. today, doctors like lisa hamilton perform eye exams that can help detect diabetes. because we care for you... and your eyes. this is genuine eye care, in your neighborhood. h >>> a warning tonight for parents about a possible predator who's tried to lure two young girls. the 10-year-old girls on long island say a stranger tried to convince them to get in to his car. >> the girls managed to escape. this happened late monday afternoon in wantagh. >> n.j. burkett is in mineola with the story. >> county police headquarters as you know here in mineola where detectives are using the word troubling to describe this case, and not just because the driver drove up alongside the girls, but because at one point he got out of the car. the girls took off and they're fine, but patrols in the neighborhood are being stepped up. the idea that there's so many people out there. >> reporter: wantagh residents are watching their kids a littl

eyewitness news reporter kemberly richardson is at the newport center mall in jersey city with what caused this rabbit ruckus. >> more on the charges you just mentioned, the rabbit is 22 they're both being charged with aggravated assault and disorderly conduct. inside this mall, hair pulling, fists flying. at one point this easter bunny had backup, his coworkers. one woman who works in a store inside this mall, she tells me at one point the kids who saw all this were so scared and crying, she corralled some of them inside her shop. another woman said she just stopped and stared and prayed no one had a weapon. >> i've never seen a bunny fighting a man. >> reporter: that's right, this bunny, the white costume character caught on cell phone video acting in a very uneaster-like manner, fighting in the middle of newport center mall. shannon was there, heard screams and couldn't believe what she saw next. >> i look over and literally i just see a man in the bunny suit, the top half of it was off, the mask was off but everything else was on fighting -- i'm assuming it was i don't really know who

eyewitness news reporter kemberly richardson live tonight from sunset park with more for us. >> right now that young mother is here inside the 72 precinct now officially charged in connection with the death of her daughter. as for melody phang's father, he will not be charged. when paramedics first arrived he was trying to save his little girl. he was performing cpr on the toddler. >> it hurts. it hurts because i've seen the little girl outside and i talked to her and i talked to the mother. >> reporter: 2-year-old melody phang. in this home on 47th street where police remain inside investigating a horrible incident that has now taken an even more sinister turn. the medical examiner announced the toddler drowned in a bathtub on the second floor, ruled the death a homicide. police say melody's 24-year-old mother and 30-year-old father were both home when their daughter was found unresponsive sunday evening. >> good people. i don't understand how that happens. because they're the only ones that can say whatever happens. >> reporter: police say there is no history of abuse at the home. t

eyewitness news reporter kemberly richardson is in downtown brooklyn with more. attorney said this group of five were, quote, anonymous school boys leading anonymous lives. that same lawyer blasted prosecutors in court for not identifying or charging the accuser's father, also for not going after this 18-year-old woman for falsely reporting this incident. >> what are you feeling today? >> relief. relief. >> now that the 14-year-old by her side and four other teenaged boys were hiding their identities have been officially cleared in all charges, in an unsettling case in which an 18-year-old girl claimed the group raped her inside a park she said at gunpoint. today the case was dismissed. over time the accuser's story fell apart. there were inconsistencies. she admitted there was no weapon, no forcible sexual assault. the district attorney revealed this young woman who spoke to me days after the incident -- >> i don't know what to do. i was in a panic mode. having sex with her father, seen here, in the red and black jacket. >> it's not rocket science. from the very

for now we are live in newark, kemberly richardson, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> happy she is home and safe and with her family. >>> this afternoon we learned that the brussels airport will remain closed until at least saturday. meanwhile, the u.s. state department has officially issued a travel warning for europe. the agency says it does not intend to discourage american tourists but does want them to know the risks. travelers are being told to be vigilant in public places including on mass transit, tourists are also being asked to avoid crowded spaces and always be aware of their surroundings. >>> security in and around new york city remains high in the wake of the deadly attacks. >> we are constantly seeking to change our security procedures to keep contemporary with the threat so that we will have a team going to paris very shortly led by commissioner miller and while there i'm assuming they will also have the opportunity to interact with belgians on the events they just experienced. >> commissioner bratton discussing the nypd's k-9 program. he says the k-9 recruits which of defens

kemberly richardson, eyewitness news. >> thank you. quite a story, and the uber warm weather continues with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. this is more like the 18th of april, a perfect day for a run or anything else. these folks are in central park the greater threat of brush fires. firefighters have been battling a brush fire in hanover, and the warm up, lee goldberg is basking in it. >>>if you are making a 5 to 10- minute run outside, no coat is necessary. but if you are out for a while, you'll need the coat. temperatures droching. meanwhile, 49 degrees, and last year, there was still 16" of snow on the ground in central park. but this year, 67, that's like late april, early may and tomorrow, tell feel like more memorial day highs. look at the sunset. we are down 53 and we had a sea breeze kick in. the numbers are 40s and 50s and tomorrow, a wind shift making it milder. here is the problem this time of year with the sea breezes coming in, gusty breezes, and the ground is dry with a warm you can get the brush fire danger risk. that

kemberly richardson tweeting video of the goods. she's at the police precinct tonight. >> luxury cars, illegal weapons, and jewelry dripping with diamonds. those are just some of the things police say they found inside the suspect's home this morning. 22 men and women who were allegedly apart of a drug selling operation which brought in stacks and stacks of cash. >> when we do actually execute search warrants, we're dealing with people who have guns under their pillows. >> reporter: authorities maintain these are the people all rounded up during raids this morning. >> you don't know why? >> no drugs. nothing. nothing. not even a dime. >> reporter: police say the suspects, 22 men and women, are part of a very structured large scale organization, which sold air one and pcp, although one defendant insists police have it wrong. >> is it true what happened? you didn't do anything? >> nothing. we don't have [ bleep ]. >> reporter: authorities maintain the suspects did business here around 116th and madison, as well as on the lower east si

for now we're live in jersey city, kemberly richardson, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> following breaking news in brooklyn. another hit-and-run. this time the victim, a 70-year-old man on a scooter. he was hit by a car in bensonhurst. the driver took off. a live picture from the scene in bensonhurst. the victim in critical condition at lutheran medical center. all we know really about this car is that it was a white sedan. >>> we're going to turn now to the weather and the high winds and wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour tonight. pelham in westchester county. knocked downpour lines. thankfully no one was hurt. all this wind will be followed by much colder temperatures and possibly snow. meteorologist lee goldberg at the weather wall tracking it all. >> march is infamous for its big winds and big temperature swings. we started out before dawn with a feels -like reading in the mid 60s. now 29. it's a gorgeous sunset but feels tough out there. wind is gusting over 25 miles per hour. so our numbers here, which are right around freezing, will evening hours. 9, monticello. and 29 in belmar.

. >> kemberly richardson has the story. >> the last thing they would think of is to get a call that their son or their brother or boyfriend was killed in an accident. >> reporter: today this family, the conklins are holding out hope as they gathered by the hudson river. confirmation that timothy conklin was dead. they found the 29-year-old's body inside the tug boat he worked on. the specialist remained submerge in deed 40 feet of water. he was from west bury long island. he was guiding a barge down the hudson and for some reason saturday morning around 5:20 hit a second fixed construction barge. timothy had a bad feeling about this trip. >> he felt that the tides and the currents were very, very strong. currents have hampered this delicate operation next to the bridge. the 90-foot tug boat is sitting in the main channel. divers can get to it during a brief period before low tide. >> divers mentioned it's six inches of visibility. the current on top and underneath the surface of the water is significant. >> reporter: divers did recover paul amon's body. he loved the water. the third and f

live on the east side, kim kim channel 7 eyewitness news -- kemberly richardson, channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> the leading presidential candidates are weighing in on this morning's terror attacks. >> political reporter dave evans with reaction from the candidates. >> primary voting is underway today's attack in brussels certainly has taken center stage in the campaign today. hillary clinton saying the u.s. needs to take tougher action on surveillance and tracking of suspects. and donald trump saying he has warned that more of these kinds of attacks are coming. >> reporter: the republican front runner seized upon today's attack in brussels as more evidence supporting his harsh immigration policy that would ban from the u.s. syrian and all muslim immigrant. >> we have no idea where they're coming from, who they are, where they were. we have people want cooing in with -- people coming in with no documentation into our country. they could be isis, you don't know. >> reporter: after donald trump called into good morning america, hillary clinton did the same, denouncing trump's plan as ant

eyewitness news reporter kemberly richardson is at the newport center mall in jersey city with what caused this rabbit ruckus. >> more on the charges you just mentioned, the rabbit is 22

kemberly richardson, abc 7 news. >>> and the breaking news desk

kemberly richardson is at the courthouse in jersey city with our lead city tonight. >>> the suspects appeared via closed circuit tv from jail in in an ironic twist, we this couple also has a child, a little boy the exact same age as sheyla. her mom broke her silence today. a soft spoken woman whose words cut like a razor. >> i want him to pay for what he did. i want justice to be done for what happened. >> reporter: a mother's heartbreak, caused by fabian rodriguez who sat next to his wife, joanna rosas-alvarez. the suspects listened through a translator as the prosecutors describe what role the pair played in the horrific hit-and-run that killed 7-year-old sheyla pichardo as she walked to school with her mom. rodriguez's attorney portrayed him as a family man who cooperated with police. that story line got quickly shot down. >> the claim that her client