marci gonzalez has the latest. >> witnesses say this woman pictured walking near the fiery wreckage of this helicopter crash in the grand canyon is among the four survivors. first responders facing rocky terrain and high winds finally rescuing the injured air lifting them to a hospital in las vegas. >> the terrain where the crash occurred, it is extremely rugged. it is only accessible by aircraft and our first responders had a 20-minute hike, 20-minute hike, to get to the scene. >> police say the euro bus helicopter ec-130 took off saturday in las vegas for a scenic tour from the grand canyon. near quarter master canyon in arizona witnesses watched as the helicopter came down. >> it happened so fast and when i saw them turning, when i saw him turning, i wasn't sure what he was doing. by the time i yelled to everybody to turn around and look, it was all out of control. >> three people were killed. the ntsb and faa will investigate. pappon airways says it flies about 6 00,000 passengers a yea on grand canyon and other tours. at least 16 incidents in the region since 1996 of. in 2001, six

here is marcy gonzalez. >> reporter: these parents facing felony charges accused of convincing their 13-year-old son he had terminal cancer to bilk the community out of cash. the boy spent the last eight months believing he was going to die from brain cancer and posting they were told it would be a miracle if he was still with them by christmas. the gofundme page raised nearly $1,000. they made t-shirts for the treatment. investigators say medical records prove he never had cancer. a type of alleged scam that's duped others. in 2015 this former beauty queen was arrested accused of falsely claiming she had leukemia and raising $14,000. >> i would never think somebody would exploit a disease to gain money. >> reporter: campaigns with misuse make up less than one tenth of 1% of all campaigns. experts say do your homework when donating on crowd funding websites. make sure they have consumer protections against fraud, reach out to the organizer directly and always use a credit card. those parents are charged with fraud and child abuse. their son and another child are now in foster care as

abc's marci gonzalez has more. >> reporter: alexandria duval wiping away tears in the courtroom afteroga instructor was acquitted of killing her twin sister and business partner anastasia. >> the court will enter a judgment of acquittal. the defendant is discharged. >> reporter: in 2016 the sisters were seen arguing as alexandria drove this suv in maui. >> i could see the driver was like her hair being pulled. >> reporter: prosecutors claimed she intentionally rammed the vehicle into a wall before driving it off this 200-foot cliff. here you see her being pulled to safety by rescuers and anastasia died in the passenger seat. the defense maintained it was an accident. >> i can't imagine losing your twin sister in that kind of a tragic catastrophic accident and then being charged with the murder of your sister which you didn't do and she's, i think, just very relieved at this point and it's going to get on with her life. >> reporter: marci gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >>> a judge has sentenced a second teenager in the so-called slender man case for attempted murder. 15-year-old morg

and here's abc's marci gonzalez near the scene of the crash tonight. >> reporter: investigators tonight trying to piece together if the helicopter had a critical piece of equipment designed to prevent explosions like this one. >> the crash resistant fuel system is a very important part of this investigation. >> reporter: this woman, seen right there, emerging from the wreckage, one of four survivors of this helicopter crash that killed stuart hill, his girlfriend and brother. the group, visiting from the united kingdom to celebrate stuart's birthday, touring the grand canyon around sunset saturday when investigators say a storm moved in. rescuers rushing to the scene facing rugged terrain and wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour, stranding them and the victims in the canyon for more than eight hours. >> what we were doing was mainly just stabilizing the patients. >> reporter: this, just one of 15 fatal sightseeing helicopter crashes since 2003. the survivors, including these newlyweds and the helicopter's pilot, finally airlifted out, listed in critical condition tonight. david, the ntsb t

here's abc's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: entangled in debris and buried in mud for more than a months someone's blanket. this is an antique quilt. >> reporter: this is the stuff that matters and those forever changed. jodi and johnny goldberg lost their home here in january's deadly mudslides in montecito, california, and everything in it or so they thought. some of their precious photos turning up miles away. >> they're a piece of our lives that i actually get to tangibly touch. >> reporter: found and returned by a group of volunteers who call themselves the mud angels. >> it's a high school diploma. >> you just found it. some out every day searching. and posting pictures of what they find, on facebook. the page started by erin doherty. so far restoring and reuniting more than 100 keepsakes with their owners. this teddy bear, washed and stitched back together. this quilt, passed down for generations. >> it's a good feeling. >> reporter: and back with the goldbergs', a full circle moment. >> someone else's beautiful family right here. >> reporter: more treasured memories unearthed an

here's abc's marci gonzalez. >> i'm here at the academy awards.e's choice awards. >> reporter: the glaring lack of racial diversity among the 2015 and 2016 academy award nominees sparking awareness and some change carrying into this year's nominations. >> for achievement in directing. >> reporter: in that category mexican director guillermo del toro considered a favorite to win. and jordan peele is nominated for directing and writing "get out." >> this kind of recognition goes bigger than me. it goes bigger than us. i had that when i was a kid. whoopi goldberg won for best supporting actress. >> reporter: nominated for best supporting actress this year octavia spencer and mary j. blige up for original song. denzel washington and daniel kaluuya nominated for best actor. among the nominees for original screenplay, than jani and dee rees the first black woman to get an oscar nod for writing. >> cause for reflection as it's much for celebration. >> reporter: studying diversity asking the same while there has been some progress hollywood still has a lo

marci gonzalez, abc news, montecito, california. >> a big thanks to those mud angels. much for watching. i'm tom llamas in new york. i'll see you right back here tomorrow night. have a great evening. good night. >>> it's a great way to kick off the season. we're real excited this year. >> here are your 2018 giants. on abc7 news, baseball fans get up close with some longtime giants and some new faces on the team. >> california considers a ban that would sideline tens of thousands of young football players. >> and first canada comes calling, and today another politician is in town trying to lure tech companies. >>> now from abc7, live breaking news. >>> but first, let's get to that breaking news coming out of berkeley today where the u.s. coast guard, police and firefighters are working to get 43 passengers off a bode that ran aground. >> it ran aground half a mile offshore in the berkeley marina. this happened around 2:40 this afternoon. so far, no reports of injuries and authorities say there is it no indication the boat is sinking. >> we have a crew on the way and we

>> marci gonzalez with that close call. thank you. >>> and overseas now, to reports that a russian fighter jet has been shot down over northern syria. you can see the smoke rising from that fiery wreckage. rebels there celebrating that crash. the pilot also seen on video. you can see him there, escaping by parachute. russian officials saying tonight he was killed by militants on the ground. >>> back here at home, to the economy, and the market's worst week in two years. friday's dow nose diving, reflecting a variety of jitters, even as it remains close to historic highs. abc's rebecca jarvis with more. >> reporter: tonight, fear that the market freefall will continue. stocks plunging 666 points friday, the worst day for the dow since june 2016. but even with those declines, the major averages still up 28% over the last year. behind the numbers, a tale of two economies. >> i see the tradesman busy here in tucson and i know our business back in michigan, it's as easy as it's ever been in 25 years. >> reporter: some arizona vo

>> marci gonzalez tonight. marci, thank you. >>> next this evening, the deadly 14-hour standoff in detroit we were watching today. three women killed, three police officers wounded. and the gunman barricaded inside the home, police saying he vowed, "i will not be taken without a fight." here's abc's alex perez. >> reporter: officers swarming this detroit neighborhood after a frantic call of shots fired. >> still a active shooter there, still shooting outside. >> reporter: the standoff lasting for some 14 hours. >> just a ton of police activity unfolding right now. >> reporter: police say the gunman, barricaded inside a home with his girlfriend, had killed two other women outside when he opened fire on arriving officers, wounding three. >> our officers and the dps officers were pinned down for at least an hour while shots were being fired. >> reporter: the ordeal, police believe, began when the gunman, identified as 49-year-old lance smith, became involved in a domestic situation. the two women who were gunned d

marcy gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. the california supreme skocourt expanding the scope of a 2016 ballot measure about charging teens as adults. it applies to cases that were pending before it took effect. proposition 57 requires judges instead of prosecutors to decide whether criminal cases belong in juvenile or adult court. penalties can be more severe of course in adult court. >>> a bill requiring gun dealers to undergo inspections every two years is on its way to assembly. routine inspections will ensure that laws are being enforced, they say. >> they will not be in a position to abuse the sale of weapons in california. it's too big of a state. there's too much gun violence in america. we have these great laws. we should make thysure they're enforced. >> the national rifle association has protested similar legislation. >>> brentwood's liberty high school is in mourning again. caitlyn gonzalez died after a struggle with pneumoniaically kated with asthma. she was the fourth student to die this school year. a crisis ce

marcy gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. the california supreme skocourt expanding the scope of a 2016 ballot measure about charging teens as adults. it applies to cases that were pending before it took effect. proposition 57 requires judges instead of prosecutors to decide whether criminal cases belong in juvenile or adult court. penalties can be more severe of course in adult court. >>> a bill requiring gun dealers to undergo inspections every two years is on its way to assembly. routine inspections will ensure that laws are being enforced, they say. >> they will not be in a position to abuse the sale of weapons in california. it's too big of a state. there's too much gun violence in america. we have these great laws. we should make thysure they're enforced. >> the national rifle association has protested similar legislation. >>> brentwood's liberty high school is in mourning again. caitlyn gonzalez died after a struggle with pneumoniaically kated with asthma. she was the fourth student to die this school year. a crisis ce

abc's marci gonzalez is in las vegas with what she learned about the helicopter company's safety recordges of that helicopter in a ball of flames after crashing in the grand canyon. the desperate operation to rescue the survivors. officials saying seven people were on board, three killed. you can see rescue crews battling treacherous rocky conditions. these harrowing images from a tourist on a different helicopter exploring the canyon. a witness describing the scene. >> i saw helicopters making a couple weird turns like it was going to land but i never seen that type of landing before. it tilted, went down between mountains, tail broke off and it crashed. i heard the one big boom and then probably about five explosions after that. it burst into flames. >> it happened just at sunset saturday near quartermaster canyon. the helicopter a euro copter made by airbus. the tour company, path lon airways, advertising a day of adventure touring the majestic sites of the grand canyon. it fliez 600,000 passengers a year. images showing how difficult the area can be to navigate. >> because of the ru

now a former legislative staff member is accusing her of groping him which she denies and abc's marci gonzalezjoins us from our l.a. bureau with more on these claims. marci, good morning. >> reporter: paula and dan, good morning. he said he decided to come forward because he felt her advocacy contradicted her alleged actions, garcia announcing she is taking an unpaid leave of absence encouraging a thorough investigation. this morning, this california legislator known for her fierce advocacy on women's issues. >> it's time. the time is up. it's time that we have a difference. >> reporter: outspoken support for the me too movement. >> we should not have to be on your shoulders to make this change. >> reporter: now herself facing sexual misconduct allegations. >> i remember thinking, okay, you know, what she's describing as inappropriate is exactly what happened to me, and that really bothered me. >> reporter: daniel fierro seen here with his wife says after a softball game in sacramento in 2014, state assemblywoman cristina garcia was seemingly inebriated when she made unwanted advances. >> she

marcy gonzalez, abc news, los angeles. >>> time now is 8:07. the lunar knew year isn't until next friday but celebrations have begun in san francisco. the governor celebrated in chinatown last week. he spoke about working with presidentx xi on climate change. he also says california's stance on immigration is different than washington's. >> temporarily in washington there are a few people that don't like immigrants. i will not mention who those people are [ laughter ] but they don't represent california. >> after the speeches, officials held a toast to the year of the dog. >>> happening today, the annual flower fair in san francisco, which also celebrates the lunar new year. the festival is held in chinatown and features a colorful display including a lion dance. families can pick up plants, flowers, fruits and candies for their celebrations. ed to's festivities begin at 10 a.m. the fair runs through sunday. be aware, there are several street closures in chinatown because of the fair. >>> the new transbay transit center in san francisco may not

this year the academy awards is recognizing more older women in the top actorring categories, marcy gonzalez complains. >> reporter: the star said america doesn't reward people my age up for another best actress nomination at 68 years old. but meryl streep's quote is convicted at the oscars in another category. >> the nominees niece for performance by an actress in a sporting role. >> reporter: average age for best supporting actress, 5 years old. >> women of a certain age have not had the opportunities that men of a certain age have been afforded. it's starting to change. >> the youngest in the category is octavia spencer who is 45 years old. while there's been wins for more senior actresses, jessica tanneddy at 80, i'm on cloud nine. this starts as a shift created by better rolls for more actresses. recognized by stars across mediums and genre. >> 20 years ago we looked wash up. that's not the case, so many are approving here potent and powerful and viable. abc news los angeles. >> this reminder you can watch the oscars on 6abc. jimmy kimmel will host, the red carpet coverage is at 5:30. t

marci gonzalez explores whether the academy has moved on from the oscars so white controversy. >> i'me at the academy awards. otherwise known as the white people's choice awards. >> reporter: the glaring lack of racial diversity among the 2015 and 2016 academy award nominees sparking awareness and some change carrying into this year's nominations. >> achievement in directing. >> reporter: in that category mexican director guillermo del toro is confederate considered a favorite to win. jordan peele for writing and directing "get out." >> this goes bigger than us and i had that when i was a kid. whoopi goldberg won for best supporting actress. >> reporter: nominated for best supporting actress this year octavia spencer and mary j blige who is also up for original song. denzel washington and daniel kaluuya for best actor. for best adaptive screenplay dee rees now the first black woman ever to get an oscar nod for writing. >> cause for selection in as much as it's cause for celebration like why did it take 90 years to get here. >> reporter: researchers asking the same saying while there h

here is marcy gonzalez. >> reporter: witnesses say this woman seen here walking near the fiery wreckageis among the four survivors. all hospitalized, in critical condition, after a gruelling, eight-hour long rescue effort. first responders brought in by helicopter, then hiking along treacherous terrain, struggling to bring survivors to safety. pictured here, finally, air lifting one of the injured from the scene in the early morning darkness. >> our first responders were on the scene within the first 30 minutes and we attribute that quick response to what helped save lives. >> reporter: police say the eurocopter operated by papillon airways. when flying in what police say were extreme weather conditions with wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour. douglas watched as the helicopter came down. >>> tails broke in half. it hit the bottom. biggest explosion you ever heard and flames like you never seen as well. >> reporter: the pilot making it out alive but three people were killed. >> after the first explosion, which was very loud, there was at least five more explosions that went on. >> papion

abc's marcie gonzalez reports, concerns are mounting. >> reporter: tonight, the faa investigating after this video went viral showing a drone flying dangerously close to this jet. the plane heading in for a landing in vegas. >> this video would suggest that this drone operator intentionally was trying to intercept airplanes. >> reporter: close calls like this -- >> we almost hit like a drone. >> reporter: -- are getting more regular. with the faa getting more than a hundred calls a month of drones getting too close to planes and helicopters. and it's illegal, the faa warning drone pilots, they can't be flown 500 miles of an airport. according to a recent faa study, because of their parts drones that collide with planes could cause even more damage than birds of the same size. >> they have mental pieces, they have lithium-ion hard batteries that can chew up an engine and potentially bring an airplane down. >> reporter: investigators are still looking for the person who flew that drone near that plane in vegas. the faa says anyone caught breaking those laws could face fines and jail time.

here's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: gratitude at this intense showdown with an accused armed robber. the mother and daughter confronted by this man carrying a shotgun. tina ring says her reaction was instinctual. >> the next thing i know, i have my gun, and i shoot him. and i shoot him again. >> reporter: the alleged robber shot in the leg, yet relentless. wrestling the gun away, pistol whipping her. her daughter grabbing the gun and shooting him at point-blank range. >>iv they run out and call 911. >> she saved my life. >> you saved my life. >> reporter: their actions helping officers track down a suspect police say they've been searching for for weeks. >> i feel outstanding that he can no longer go out and hurt or harm anyone. >> reporter: we're told the suspect is still being treated. charges have still not been filed. >> thank you. >>> and a major update tonight on the flu-killing drug that works in just one day. where patients may soon be getting it. >>> fed up with phone scammers? coming up, the new app that fights back for you. >>> and the out of control car, crashing right in

here's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: tonight, this woman, seen here walking near the fiery wreckage of this helicopter in the grand canyon, is among four survivors. first responders, brought in by helicopter, then hiking to the scene along treacherous terrain. struggling to bring the survivors to safety. pictured here, finally airlifting one of the injured from the scene in the early morning darkness. >> our first responders were on the scene within the first 30 minutes. we attribute that quick response to what helped save lives. >> reporter: police say the eurocopter ec-130, operated by papillon airways, took off saturday with the pilot and six passengers from the united kingdom onboard. out for a scenic tour of the grand canyon when around sunset, flying in what police say were extreme weather conditions, with wind gusts up to 50 miles an hour. lionel douglass watched as the helicopter came down. >> tail broke in half, biggest explosion you've ever heard. >> reporter: the pilot making it out alive but three people were killed. >> after the first explosion, there were at least five mo

here's marci gonzalez with the details. >> reporter: tonight, these parents facing felony charges, accusedf convincing their 13-year-old son that he had terminal cancer, all to bilk their community out of cash. police saying the boy spent the last eight months believing he was going to die from brain cancer. his mother, ginny long, posting on facebook in december that they were told, it would be a miracle if he was still with them by christmas. a gofundme page raised nearly $1,000, and the parents sold these t-shirts at his middle school, all for his supposed treatment. only investigators say medical records prove he never had cancer, a type of alleged scam that's duped others. in 2015, this former beauty queen was arrested, accused of falsely claiming she had leukemia and raising nearly $14,000. >> i would never think that somebody would exploit a disease to gain money. >> reporter: gofundme says campaigns with misuse make up less than one-tenth of 1% of all campaigns. the site has a guaranteed refund policy, so everyone who donated to help the boy in florida will get their money back. ex

here's marci gonzalez. >> i'm just glad we're both here, and overcame something that could have ended terribly. >> reporter: gratitude after this intense showdown with an accused armed robber. the mother and daughter behind the counter of this oklahoma liquor store, confronted by this man carrying a shotgun. tina ring says her reaction was instinctual. >> the next thing i know, i have my gun, and i shoot him. and i get up and shoot him again. he just kept coming back at me. >> reporter: the alleged robber shot in the leg, yet relentless. wrestling the gun away, pistol whipping her. her daughter stepping in, and shooting him at point-blank range. >> i knew she was here to protect me, and she was going to be there to protect me as well. >> reporter: they run out and call 911. >> she saved my life. >> you saved my life. >> reporter: their actions helping officers track down a suspect police say they've been searching for, for weeks. wanted for at least ten other robberies. >> i feel outstanding that he can no longer go out and hurt or harm anyone. >> reporter: we're told the suspect is s

here's abc's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: tonight this coupl couples' warning after they say their honeymoonruise turned into a medical emergency. >> it was an absolute complete nightmare. >> reporter: danielle and brant aymond were out on an excursion in honduras when he sliced open his foot on coral. >> it was cut to the bone. my immediate reaction was that we were a long way from home. >> reporter: the couple, rushing back to the norwegian pearl cruise ship, brant says a cruise ship doctor stitched up his foot and told him he would be okay. but once back on land he says he developed a major infection, doctors finding pieces of coral still in his foot. >> i'm very happy he didn't lose his foot. >> reporter: norwegian cruiselines not commenting on this case, but saying their on-board medical facilities are built, staffed, and equipped to meet or exceed the guidelines. before booking any cruise, experts say ask for the ship doctor's certifications, the size of the medical staff, and research where the nearest hospitals are to your ports of call. >> you want to make sure it's a hospital that

abc 7 reporter marcy gonzalez. >> reporter: buried for more than a month. >> this is an antique quiltreporter: this is the stuff that matters and those forever changed. they lost their home in montecito california in the mudslides and everything in it, so they thought. >> the place was devastated. >> reporter: some of their precious photos turning up. found and returned by a group of volunteer that is call themselves >> it is a high school diploma. >> reporter: restoring more than a hundred keepsaes with their owners. this quilt passed, down for generations. >> it's a good feeling and. >> reporter: and back with the goldbergs, a full circle moment. >> somebody else's family right here. >> reporter: more treasures entrusted to the mud angels. >>> happening today, the step sr. -- sister of it's been translated into over 60 languages, her stepsister survived the holocaust and shell speak on amphlett boulevard. with a reception to follow. >>> yesterday was the first day on his 56 birthday. he was metallica's original basis, county supervisors declared february 10th as cliff burton day. he

. >> marci gonzalez is in las vegas. she has more on the company's safety record here. good morning to you. >> good morning. it's unclear where the flight originated. we know the tour company operates many of the its flights from here in vegas. the focus is getting the four people injured to safety. >> reporter: this morning a tour helicopter in a ball of flames after crashing in the grand canyon. now a desperate rescue operation underway for survivors. seven people on board. three killed. these images from a tourist on a different helicopter tour exploring the canyon. a witness describing the scene. >> i saw a helicopter making a couple weird turns like it was getting ready to land. i never seen that type of landing before. tilted. went down between mountains. tail broke off. it crashed. i heard one big boom and then probably about five explosions after that. it burst into flames. >> it happened sunset saturday. it was near quarter master canyon. the helicopter made by air bus. the tour company advertising a day of adventure saying it flies 600,000 passengers a year. t

marci gonzalez has more. >> reporter: uma thurman performing on broadway but staying quiet about her allegations against harvey weinstein. after months of hints. >> when i'm ready, i'll say what i have to say. >> reporter: new york times columnist maureen dodd writing weinstein wearing a bathrobe tried to lure her into a steam room. shortly after in london thurman claims he pushed me down and shove himself on me and tried to expose himself. thurman said she told him if you do what you did to me to other people you'll lose your career, reputation and family. weinstein's attorney saying he is stunned and saddened by what he says are false accusations. >> there may be no one actor or actress more intertwined with harvey weinstein than uma thurman. this particular set of allegations is all the more disturbing because they're practically synonymous with each other's years. >> reporter: weinstein produced "pulp fiction" and 2003, 2004 "kill bill" films. that's where thurman famously drove that blue convertible. the actress now saying tarantino forced her to drive the car. against her wishe

. >> marci gonzalez has details. >> reporter: one said people don't reward people my age, up for anothert actor's nomination at 68 years old. but meryl streep's quote is contradicted in another category. >> here we are. the nominees for performance by ang tress actress in a supporting role. >> reporter: the average age, 55 years old. >> women of a certain age have not had the opportunities that men of a certain age have always been afforded. that is finally starting to change. and it's been a really long time coming. >> reporter: the young els est e category is octavia spencer who is 45 years old. the oldest, jessica tandy at >> i am on >> look at us now. >> reporter: recognized by stars across mediums and genres. >> 20 years ago, we were pretty washed up by this stage in our lives. so that's not the case now. we've proven, and these actresses and so many more are proving that we are potential and powerful and viable. >> reporter: marcy gonzales, abc news, los angeles. >> now back to that best actress category. three of the five are over 406789 one 40, one of the favorites, francis mcder

court on friday as we learn more on how their kids are adjusting to their new lives and abc's marci gonzalez joins us from our los angeles bureau. marci, good morning to you. >> reporter: paula, dan, good morning. we're learning the younger children are in foster care able to skype with their brothers and sisters who are still in a hospital. we're told the siblings do still ask about their parents but know very little about the case against them. this morning, david and louise turpin facing new charges of abuse against their children on top of the dozens of counts already filed. >> your honor, good afternoon. >> reporter: the 13 siblings rescued six weeks ago from this home in perris, california, after prosecutors say nearly all were tortured, starved and held captive for years. the seven adult siblings still being cared for in a private section of a hospital and according to their attorneys making profound progress. >> they are articulate. they are thoughtful, and it's just a lot to process right now for them. >> reporter: doing well physically we're told after reportedly being found emacia

marci gonzalez has the story. >> overnight uma thurman performing on broadway by staying quiet abouted allegations against harvey weinstein. after months of hints. >> when i'm ready i'll say what i have to say. >> reporter: "new york times" columnist maureen dowd writing thurman told her during a meeting in paris, weinstein wearing only a robe tried to lure her in a steam room. she claims he pushed me down, tried to expose himself. thurman saying she told him the next day, if you do what you did to me to other people, you will lose your career, your reputation and your family. weinstein's attorney telling abc news he is stunned and saddened by what he claims are false accusations. >> there may be no one actor or actress who obviously is more enter twined in the career of harvey weinstein than uma thurman. so this particular set of allegations is all the more disturbing because they're practically synonymous with each other's careers. >> reporter: weinstein produced 1994's hit "flup pulp fiction," and the 2003-2004 "kill bill" films. where thurman drove that blue convertible. all thre

marci gonzalez is here with us. arci. >> he feels so terrible that in the week since he has barely been able to eat or sleep. but he tells us he does not believe the mistake was his fault. for the first time since the widespread panic sparked by that false missile warning that went out across hawaii, the former emergency management employee who sent out the alert publicly explaining his perspective on how it happened. >> well, at the time i was 100% sure that it was the right decision. >> reporter: asking that we hide his identity he says he had just started his shift when the emergency call came into his office, a preliminary federal investigation said the recorded message began and ended with the words exercise, exercise, exercise. but the former employee says he never heard that. >> in the middle of the message it said this is not a drill then at the end i didn't hear exercise either because it was such an unannounced drill, unplanned and kind of a surprise h thing where, you know, the supervisors weren't there. >