. >> peggy fox -- ruthanne lodato. >> peggy fox joins us live from the lodato home.e any new information on the suspect? >> reporter: we have one new piece of information. the suspect was wearing a tan jacket. the system is an older white man who -- the suspect is an older white man who is balding with a full gray or white beard. that suspect came to the door of this house yesterday morning at 11:30, knocked and opened fire when ruthanne lodato answered. >> i feel terrible. how can someone come and just -- you open the door and he shoots somebody? this is crazy. >> reporter: the bizarre and apparent randomness of a deadly shooting that happened here thursday morning has rattled this city. >> very frightening, yeah. i came home and double locked all the doors. >> reporter: 59-year-old ruthanne lodato was a lifelong beloved resident of alexandria. neighbor john kelly knew her well. >> the loss of somebody who touched hundreds and hundreds of lives, she's been in this neighborhood her entire life. >> reporter: while friends and family focus on the loss, police don't kno

lodato, taught piano to hundreds of students in her alexandria community. she played the organ at her church and taught preschool and music at the school. a lot of students took lessons out of her home a few blocks away from that church and students today came to pray for the lodato family. >> she was our family rock. we will not be the same without her. ruthanne enjoyed giving her beautiful gift of music to countless children over the last 40 years. >> our hearts are broken. ruthanne was the gentlest, kindest, most peaceful person you would ever want to meet and to think that she had such violence, it's very hard. >> horrifying situation. the family is asking for privacy. this is their time of grief. lodato comes from a family of prominent judges, attorneys and doctors, one of five children. she and her husband have three grown daughters. >>> virginia state police charged three people with being connected to the death of the reserve police captain we've told you about for days now, kevin quick. anthony stokes jr., halisi uhuru and leslie castelow were take

floating around the city. >> reporter: in alexandria, peggy fox, wusa9. >> ruth ann lodato well known and well loved in her community. people came out to pray for her and her family today at a mass at the blessed sacrament school this afternoon. she played organ during sunday mass at the church and a music teacher at the school. >> ruth ann was the gentlest, kindest, most peaceful person you would ever want to meet and to think she had such violence, it's very hard. she was a wonderful, wonderful woman full of music, full of life. >> ruth ann lodato also taught piano lessons to several children in her neighborhood.  today her family issued a statement asking for privacy during this investigation. >>> virginia state police now charged three people in connection with the death of wadesboro police reserve captain kevin quick. anthony stokes junior, halisi uhuru and lesli castelow. kevin quick vanished last friday. his stolen suv was recovered monday in louisa county. tuesday night state police arrested two other people they say stole his suv. >>> tonight we have learned police spent se

ruthanne lodato was shot and killed when she answered the door. more than 24 hours later now, it is not clear who shot her. the lack of answers has everyone there on edge. we have team coverage the night. and julie carey talked with those who knew lodato and those neighbors who are taking immediate precautions. and we start with jackie bensen and the police. >> well, jim, the police chief earl cook says that finding the killer of lodato is the agent's top priority right now. earlier we spoke to a woman who hopes that the arrest will bring answers to her own devastating loss. >> reporter: could the shocking murders of ron kirby and ruthanne lodato and nancy dunning be the same murder? the police chief is well aware of how people want to nknow the answer to that question. >> we have no evidence linking this to any other crime, however, it would be remiss of us not to consider the possibility that it may be similar to other crimes. >> reporter: the question began to haunt anne haynes after she learned of the murder. he beloved husband, ron kirby, a w

they are searching for the man who killed long time resident ruthanne lodato. they are warning people to be be aware of their surroundings. and also, a caretaker from the home was also shot. >> they hope to have a composite sketch of the shooter, and they don't have a motive for the shooting. tonight, we are hearing from the family. >> the effect of the students, and community is reflected in the tremendous outpour iing of love in for our family. >> with this unfolding neighbors are on edge. understandably. >> and yes, the victim's family is asking for privacy while they grieve. we are joined by the bureau chief there in alexandria. >> well, you can see that the lodato home is still a crime scene nearly 24 hours after ruthanne lodato and her mother's care giver answer ed the door ad were shot at the door. you can see the small memorial there on the corner, with but the story of ruthanne lodato spread across this community, and so does a sense of fear. >> reporter: from the flowers and piano books left in front of her house to the conservations on the street, al

lodato and another woman, the caretaker of her elderly mother, answered the door. the man opened fire. ruthanne lodato was fatally shot. >> when you find out it it was someone you knew, it's a scary time for the kids. >> reporter: a scary time for the adults too. police have found no connection between the gunmen and two women begging the question could this be a random crime? >> i'm sure a lot of people are thinking about not answering their doors given what happened. as i said, it it's a great neighborhood, great people here, beautiful neighborhood. people are pretty shocked. >> reporter: police are looking into possible connections between this murder and the the murder of ron kirby, less than a mile from here. kirby, a well known regional traffic planner, was shot to death in his home in 2013. there were no signs of forced entry, no suspect. as police continue with their investigation, parents struggle to explain to their children how something so terrible could happen to their music teacher. >> have to be realistic and say every now and then lst an odd ball th

this is ruthanne lodato. police are searching high and low for the man who knocked on her front door and shot her and another woman. megan mcgrath is live in alexandria right now with an update on that search. megan? >> reporter: well, aaron, we have quite a few police officers in the neighborhood. if you look beside me here, you see the three police cruisers that are parked in front of the home. i saw a short time ago a fifth cruiser drive through the neighborhood. so a big police presence. a man knocked on the door of this home on ridge road drive in alexandria. 59-year-old ruthanne lodato and another woman, the caretaker of lodato's elderly mother, came to the door. that's when the man opened fire. lodato was fatally shot. the other woman was hit in the arm. she's going to be okay. we're told she was able to run to a neighbor's house and get help. at this point police have not found any connection between the women shot and the gunman. that, of course, rais disturb ing questions of the possibility of this

stay with nbcwashington.com for more details on the search for lodato's killer.oming up at 5:00, jackie bensen will have more on the interview with ron kirby's emotional widow. >> and thou to the hijacking overseas and the demand to fly the plane to sochi. the plane took off in the ukraine, and instead of going to the host city, o they flew to istanbul, turkey, across the black sea. there is a worry that sochi could become a target, and pete williams is joining us now to tell us more. what do we know at this minute? >> well, the plane took off in the second largest city in ukraine in the largest part, and after the plane was in the air, a passenger stood up, and he said that he had a bomb, and he wanted the plane to be diverted to sochi. the plane was bound for istanbul, and this crusade, and this is where they saved the day. they said okay, and they turned off the in-flight graphics that show where you are, and he had no idea because the plane left at 6:30 at night, and it is dark outside and he does not e know where they are, and they land in istanbul, and as

police in alexandria say ruthanne lodato heard a knock on her door yesterday. when she answered, the person outside opened fire. they are look -- police are looking for a man with gray hair and a beard. investigators don't have any information on a motive. >>> the shooting comes as a shock to the community especially because who was targeted. ruthanne although the da la the -- lodato was a respected music teacher and wife and mother of three. churchgoers held a private service to remember a woman who affected so many. >> i'm really saddened by the death of such a -- a nice lady. and it's hard to understand why bad things happen to good people. >> police say the other woman shot is a caretaker for lodato's elderly mother. she was shot in the arm but is expected to survive. >>> virginia may have to put prisoner executions on hold. the state senate delaying a bill that would send death row inmates to the electric chair if lethal injection drugs are not available. the delay could be tabled, could table the measure for the year. right now the virginia department of

noon, 59-year-old ruthanne lodato and another woman were shot.eve the suspect knocked on the door and when it opened he fired and ran away. mother ofodato was a three and musician who was well-liked in this community. she lived in the home with her husband and elderly mother. a home caregiver helped take care of the mother. she is believed to be the other woman injured in all this. was taken to a hospital where she died. health workers suffered non-life-threatening injuries. the suspect is a balding older white man with a white eared. police are on the lookout for him. the community are an easy knowing that that man is still on the loose. neighbors say this is shocking what happened here. brianne carter, abc 7 news. >> a man wanted for murder in pennsylvania is in custody in prince william county this morning. tooke say earl mitchell off running after officers try to make a traffic stop in manassas. or than 100 lee silencers searched for him. students at an elementary school were kept inside. he was captured and they will release more details abo

. >> reporter: ruthanne lodato was home with her elderly mother and the woman who helps take care of her. police say a man knocked on the front door. they answered. he shot them, then ran away. police are looking for an older white man, balding with a full beard. >> we are concerned and the citizenship should be concerned. >> reporter: concerned because ruthanne's shooter is still out there, and they don't know why he killed her. >> we just don't have a motive at this time. >> reporter: what they do have is a striking similarity to another high profile murder less than a mile away. in november, a top regional transportation planner ron kirby was gun down in his home. it's a case police have yet to crack, but one they are now comparing. >> we will have to look to see to those similarities and whether or not we're dealing with a similar homicide. >> reporter: here again, this is an extremely low crime neighborho. but police have been able to talk to that caregiver, and it's really her firsthand account of what happened that is being able to jump-start their investigation into the searc

for 20 years, ruthanne lodato taught for music together alexandria teaching out of this church in the city's delray neighborhood. it is just shocking. >> neighbors say she was a mother of three and lived in this home with her husband and elderly mother. take carer who helped of the mother was the other person shot. police say she will survive. police say the suspect knocked on the door and when it was opened, he opened fire, hitler. oh and the caregiver and fled. and the caregiver and fled. the shooting left neighbors on edge and several nearby schools on lockdown. despite a massive manhunt, the suspect was not found nearby. >> this is a pretty nice neighborhood. i grew up on the corner here. >> the suspect is described as an older white man, balding with gray hair and a beard. >> it is kind of unsettling. >> many in this community are taking the death of ruthanne lodato hard. one mother says lodato taught her three kids to love music and said she has done the same for countless other kids around here for at least the last 20 years. they are still looking for the suspect in her murder

those who knew lodato knew a good friend and neighbor. >> she's a very nice lady and very were jettic. >> reporter: lodato had several friends in the neighborhood who were still too broken up to go on camera, but they tell us she was a music teacher who taught dozens of children from her home. friends say she's the last person they'd expect this to happen to. andrew brulet just moved into the neighborhood with his family and said this is the last place to expect a murder. >> can't let it define what it will be like living here, 1 random incident, hopefully not a defining moment. >> reporter: alexandria is not typically used to dealing with many murders in the city. five last year. you might remember one of them, ronald kirby shot and killed this past november. kirby was a prominent well known transportation official in the region eerily similar circumstances to this murder. kirby was shot and killed in his home not far from here and also it was seemingly random and it remains unsolved. police say they are looking at the possibility of any sort of connection, but right now they say the

ruthanne lodato taught a program of music together at several churches across the region. live down the street down from her for years says it is beyond frustrating that she is now gone. , shee was a teacher ing,hes children to s and it was a wonderful gift to be shared. >> we are hoping to learn more about exactly what happened here later today. he will have a press crown prince at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon -- and they will have a press conference at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon. onyou can watch it live wjla.com. >> new at noon, a new report shows hiring was surprisingly the seconduary for straight month. employers added 113,000 jobs last month, and some of the jobless hired caused the limits rate -- the unemployment rate to drop to 6.6%. investigating a pittsburgh company, which might be the possible portal from which hackers targeted target. hackersas said that the access their system from the computers of one of their vendors. many reasons i do not run, but the obvious reason why i think i should not run. >> part of the interview with cnn. has made his decision on whether o

police have no motive or nothing to suggest that ruthanne lodato news shooter. ronald kirby to back in november. theived just a mile and shooting happened around the same time of day. >> that is such a sad story. a man wanted for murder in pennsylvania is in custody in virginia after an hours long man that. took off running after a traffic stop. or the 100 officers searched toward him. the used a helicopter and k-9 units. them.inally did catch more details will be released later this morning. >> we will soon find out if the thatfound in virginia is of a local police officer. quick's body was found. three people were arrested. all three were found in an alexandria hotel. a man accused in a deadly shooting inside a movie theater is in court. he has been incident -- in jail since the incident. he became angry when a man would not stop texting before a movie. a judge will consider world or to allow him to post bail out of his trial. >> from oregon to york, millions of americans are dealing with even more winter weather. >> crews are working feverishly to restore pow

. >>> could the same person who killed ruth ann lodato rehe at her home yesterday have killed ron kirby months ago? i'm peggy fox, the story coming up. >>> beatle mania 50 years later has a big mark approaching. that story coming up. >>> and good evening i'm jan jeffcoat. >> and i'm derek mcginty. got potential for us to see not one but perhaps two more rounds of snow. >> let's get to first alert chief meteorologist topper shutt with more on the forecast. >> no worries tonight if you have plans on this friday night, temperatures cold at 39 downtown, 30, though, in gaithersburg already, 34 up in frederick, 34 in leesburg and 36 in manassas. no wind chills, though. first system that's going to head through overnight into the early morning hours producing snow through most of arkansas and a little bit in louisiana, essentially it's going to pass just to our south, kind of give us a glancing blow, if you will. we have another system behind that that will give us another chance for snow. this one passes off so the south tomorrow. again we have a chance for tomorrow afternoon and also evening

. >> more than 1,000 people gathered for the funeral mass of 59-year-old, ruthanne lodato. murdered when she opened the door to a stranger. tears filled the church. friends, family, and all walks of life who were touched by lodato came to say their good- byes. the church could hardly accommodate the huge crowd. >> this is what they gave us. the pink is for the friendship high school and the blue, you know, people are wearing blue for the music connection. >> as mourners gather at ruthanne's church several blocks from here, police are still trying to find the killer who knocked on that door a week and a half ago and shot ruthanne. >> the yellow tape has been torn down. but it remains a mystery as to who and why anyone would want to hurt such a beloved and talented fixture in alexandria. she taught many people in the community piano. not only how to play, but to love music. >> i have only known him for a short period of time. but she was a music teacher and he loved her. >> the loss is tremendous. not just to the family, but the whole community, i would think. you know. defin

police are telling us kirby lived a mile away from 59-year- old ruthanne lodato.e say she was gunned down seconds after answering her front door. 11:30 thursday morning. a caretaker was also shot but she is expected to survive. detectives locked down the area surrounding the 2400 block of ridge road drive as they searched for the gunman. described as a balding white man with a gray beard and neighbors are on alert. >> she's a very nice, very nice lady. she's very nice. and very energetic. >> can't let it define what we're going to be like living here. i mean the neighborhood is still nice and one random incident is hopefully not a defining moment. >> reporter: again neighbors are shaken certainly and taking a second look before they're opening their front doors. now they tell us. we're told that police should return to the neighborhood a little later this morning and continue their search. looking for clues and more evidence. again the suspect being described as a balding white man with a full gray beard. neighbors are telling us that he may have been wearing a su

hundreds of people attended a funeral for ruthanne lodato, a music teacher killed in her alexandria, last week. >> ♪ >> speakers remembered her love for the community and how she lived in the same never put her in entire life. she is succeeded by her husband and three children. the composite sketch shows a balding bearded man. families and friends of another woman gathered, pamela butler, disappeared without a trace in 2009.est in five years later, her loved ones return to ask for the public's help. >> we do not have any real progress. not givingolice are golf. they are constantly working and giving us updates. -- the metro police are not giving up. >> police questioned several people including her boyfriend. the family hopes people know something that will bring pamela home. police are hoping that somebody has seen this man. 4 homeuspect and robberies. the latest it was last night and the stanford square area. a woman said the man demanded her wallet and he ran off when she screamed. you are encouraged to contact the shares office if you recognize that this man. president obama is n

according to alexandria police who released this sketch of the man they say knocked on ruthanne lodato's door and who could now be the key witness and while that caretaker remains hospitalized she has spoken to detectives giving a description of the man. police say he may not seem like a usual system, but when it comes to killers -- suspect, but when it comes to killers, nothing is usual. >> you don't ever want to stereotype what a killer looks like or who it could be. >> reporter: it's something they can't afford to get wrong. while police look for answers chief earl cook admits there's a balance as they talk to friends and family who can't seem to make sense of the idea someone would want to hurt this beloved music teacher. >> you don't want to trample on the grief. at the same time we have some sense of urgency to get the information we need. >> lifelong resident, these things don't happen here. >> reporter: and yet it has twice in three months. in november ronald kirby, a prominent transportation official, was shot and killed in his home about a mile away. also seemingly random, also

. >>> tomorrow is the funeral for ruthanne lodato, the alexandria piano teacher shot and killed by a man who knocked on her front door last week, that killer still on the loose, an older man with a full beard. >>> a van loaded with kids flips during rush hour on the beltway this evening. nine children, two adults ended up hurt. it happened near the river road exit on the inner loop and the resulting backup extended for miles into virginia. those kids were taken to children's hospital. a 25-year-old woman was rushed from the scene with life threatening injuries. >>> new information about how former nsa contractor snowden got the information he leaked. a memo states snowden was able to capture a word and use it himself to obtain information he could not normally access that. co-worker did resign last month. two other people may have also inadvertently given snowden access to classified information. according to that memo, he has taken responsibility for the leak but denies stealing passwords. >>> miami dolphin jonathan martin says he feels vindicated. he left the team in october claimi

police say ruthanne lodato was shot when she answered a knock at her door.connected. >>> today a former juror will be back in court facing contempt for not disclosing her religious beliefs in the case surrounding a -- a police officer's death. kavon neil was on trial for motor vehicle manslaughter in the death of police officer adrian morris. in the middle of deliberations, the juror e-mailed the judge saying she was a jehovah's witness, and it was against her religion to judge others. the judge ruled it a mistrial. >>> about 4:31. time for weather & traffic on the 1s. i wish we could ve

. >>> and the fbi is scaling back the profile of the february 6th killing of ruthanne lodato. after a composite sketch was put out through the media, they were added to help sift through the tips,ut now as they are dwindling the reports, so are the fbi's involvment. >>> this morning, the service of kevin quick was held this morning. hundreds of people attended. he was found dead in a rural area after being missing for six days. six people have been arrested and in connection with the disappearance and the death, but nobody has yet been charged in the murder. >> investigators are still trying to figure out what caused a fast-moving fire that took the life of a frostburg university state student over the weekend. the student from bowie was killed friday morning when the fire ripped through the off campus home. and prince george's county bureau chief tracee wilkins spoke with the cousin's roommate who survived the blaze. >> i heard the crying, and it was terrible. nobody wants to hear that. >> reporter: he is trying to figure out what is next after the tragic loss of his cousin.

. >>> family and friends will pay their final respects to ruthanne lodato tomorrow morning.eloved music teacher was shot and killed last thursday as she opened the front door to her home. another woman in the home was injured, but has given police a description of the suspect. the burial service is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at the blessed sacrament catholic church on braddock road. >>> next and new at 11:00, americans failed to medal in speed skating. could their high-tech uniforms be holding them back. >>> i'm jim handly in sochi. what is it like for capitals to play against each other? i'll talk to ovi and john carlson, coming up. >>> plus, a maryland man is tossed in jail after police find a car stuck in the snow. details behind this may sound like a long shot, but one day you will be the greatest athlete in your sport. but before you begin to run, you will learn to walk. again. you'll curse the fact that something you mastered as a 1-year-old is now so difficult. but you will take that first step. and you will never stop moving forward. at citi, we believe in

visitation will be held this evening for 59 yearldz ruthanne lodato. it will be followed by a funeral mass tomorrow. no one has been arrested in this murder. >>> the state of maryland is holding a tax free weekend on energy saving products. tomorrow through monday shoppers will not have to pay the 6% sales tax on qualifying energy star products. these include items like air conditioners, washers, dryers, furnaces, and heat pumps. >>> well, some people had the day off and decided, you know what? what a good day to make a snow day in dupont circle, including making the monuments and other snow sculptures and snowmen. there's a person -- a navy comp uniform. pretty neat. that was in dupont circle. it will probably be there for a little while depending on how much rain falls. >>> sometimes even the cities that take pride in knowing how to handle snow get surprised. >> new york city's new mayor bill de blasio is getting criticized for not closing schools yesterday. his administration admits they made the call wednesday night but then the snow fell sooner an

an alexandria woman killed near lodato's home. then a man was murder in a similar way.ed entry. they answered their door. now police are on the outlook for a balding man with a beard. rob, good morning. in each one of these cases it's difficult to find a mow tough for these killing. >> i remember that case in 2003. that occurred in alec a oh -- i, virginia. she was the wife of the sheriff at the time. there were no clues the police department could tie anyone to her death. this past november a high-level official of the transportation official, a man by the name of ron kirby answered his door and lo and behold someone shot him. investigators are trying to determine if the cases may be related. but at this point it's too early to jump to that conclusion. but the investigators are definitely going to consider that. martha: i remember the case of the gentleman we talked about in the middle there. the doorbell rang and his wife watched the whole thing. a horrifying murder. you say you with lean in this latest case toward going the traditional route talking to her relatives

long-time neighborhood piano teacher ruthanne lodato and a caregiver opened the door.oth were shot. the 59-year-old teacher died. the other woman's wounds not life threatening. >> it touches us all whether you knew her or not. it ripples out. >> i happen to think it's not a random act. >> reporter: that's right. it wasn't long before residents were thinking about other cases. back in november, a local transportation official also gunned down in his home. no forcible entry. and the other case, way back ten years ago. the real estate agent, the wife of the sheriff, also gunned down. and look at this, all three killings involved in the community, all within two miles of each other. police are looking for connections saying there are obvious links that are similar. so could this be a serial killer? >> if this is one person, they can go dormant before they reactivate. is it conceivable that the same guy did all three of these? the answer is yes. >> reporter: for a tight-knit community, worry this morning. and even the major says they have a right to be concerned. >> reporte

the wizard still one9 ruthanne lodato-8 ruthanne lodato. >> they will not be ranked number one. best well team with great layers. the game is tonight in college park. that is look at sports. is time to talk the forecast. are some strong winds you some this morning. heavy, steady traffic north lane -- northbound. to seevirginia starting delays and stretches, including coming in from manassas area there is other live shots that shows the headlights coming into the beltway. please be prepared for those brake lights on 66 eastbound. to our maps, we have traffic lights on flash along luton county parkway. that is going to be coming through ashburn, virginia. somee going to run into delays. it is not bad on the virginia or maryland side. hasbay bridge west browned some debris reported in the light -- right lane. there is report of a breakdown cohen. we have another hour captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> live from the abc 7 broadcast center, this is "good morning washington," on your side. some sad news out of vietnam, virginia. the mayor passes away.

police say ruthanne lodato was shot when she answered a knock at her door. police do not believe the shootings are connected. >>> today a former juror will be back in court facing contempt for not disclosing her religious beliefs in the case surrounding a -- a police officer's death. kavon neil was on trial for motor vehicle manslaughter in the death of police officer adrian morris. in the middle of deliberations, the juror e-mailed the judge saying she was a jehovah's witness, and it was against her religion to judge others. the judge ruled it a mistrial. >>> about 4:31. time for weather & traffic on the 1s. i wish we could reverse time and repeat our weekend for the rest of the week, right? >> keep wishing, right? >> yeah. it is still february, after all. back to february and winter-like reality. here are your weather headlines for this monday. turning chillier. in fact, temperatures are going to be quite a bit colder than yesterday. we hit the mid 60s. highs this afternoon should make it into the low to mid 40s around the metro area. fatherer north and we

officers say this shooting has no connection to the recent murder of music teacher ruthanne lodato. >>> the pictures of three murder victims are being circulated in capitol heights today. look at the flyer here that prince george's county police are passing out. weldon mason, stacey wyeth, and ortiz ola were shot to death saturday night. the three worked together at a retail store in laurel. police are offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. >>> 6:04. today a former juror will be back in court facing contempt for not disclosing her religious beliefs in the case surrounding a police officer's death. kavon neil was on trial for motor vehicle manslaughter in the 2012 death of prince george's county police officer adrian morris. in the middle of deliberations, the juror e-mailed the judge saying she was a jehovah's witness and that it was against her religion to judge others. the judge ruled a mistrial. >>> right now we're working to find out what caused a fire to rip through an attic at a home in glendale. this is video from the scene