letter eyewitness news reporter marcus solis joins us with more. marcus. >> >> reporter: rob, it is a frightening pattern. the victims mainly women tied up at gunpoint by a suspect who has so far eluded police. he struck again last night at his beach bum tanning salon. letter it was last night. two people inside the store, two employees. they were restrained, forced to the back of the store while the suspect took the cash from the business. the women were not hurt and the suspect was wearing a hat and a scarf. hard to identify. this is one image of the letter it isn't very good. it's from an earlier robbery. it doesn't show much. police say the suspect removed hard drive from the security systems on his way out. this went on since late august at a pet co now where women shop, dress barn, now this tanning salon the latest in a string of robberies. police are asking anyone with information to contact them. there is a $5,000 reward for information. live in huntington station, marcus solis, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> marcus, thank you. >>> mayor de b

marcus solis, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> all right, marcus. thank you. >>> police in new jersey say students at clifton high school were never in any dean danger after -- danger after several school. they say the attempt was nothing more than an altoid continue, vegetable oil, salad dressing and a few cinnamon sticks. they came up with the plan after a bullying incident known to students. >>> get ready to pay more if you pay tolls. the port authority is raising tolls tomorrow. they take part at the george washington bridge, lincoln,ing holland,ing goethals and $15 if you are paying cash. >> more and more expensive to make this place home. don't make it easy, do they. >> can you get a discount or is there a coupon. >> promo code. all you got is the e-zpass. >> if you come frequently, not frequent fryer but -- >> frequent crosser pass. >> only e-zpass. >> weather is easy. it's beautiful. why do to another state. temperatures are in the low to mid-40s across the board. the entire tri-state benefiting from the sunshine and northwesterly wind overh

we're live in williamsburg, marcus solis channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> thank you marcus. new video this morning of the moments before a gunfight that ended with police shooting a suspect in brooklyn. security cameras recorded several men attacking a man after he walked out of a bodega in fort greene last night. two people chased man across the street where witnesses say several shots were fired. one mat was shot in the leg. a worker at a nearby business described the scene. >> i was, you know, in a store and i heard some gunshots, like four or five. after that i see one person >> police officers in the area heard the gunshots and responded. officials say an officer fired one round and shot a suspect in the shoulder. both injured men were taken to the hospital. one person has been arrested. >>> we are seeing video this morning of the suspects wanted in a string of robberies in central park and in other spots on the upper east side. police want to talk to the five men seen in this surveillance video about three armed robberies on monday. police officers say they pushed a 19

marcus solis is live at the scene with an update. marcus. >> reporter: michelle, those bystanders at the wrong place at the wrong time as that car went out of control. this is what it looked like around 12:30 this morning. crown fried chicken with a white infinity almost clear through the front window there. this happened at the intersection of hempstead avenue and -- hempstead avenue and springfield boulevard. now the two victims in their 20s taken to north shore lij with leg juries. those injuries not considered life-threatening. the driver just took off on foot. police trying to figure out who was behind the wheel, who was the person responsible. as for the restaurant, a vacate order in effect. the damage has been boarded up. the car towed away, but this investigation continuing. we're live in queens village, marcus solis channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> thank you marcus. 6:32 right now. police are looking for three robbers who have hit at least four cell phone stores in the bronx and manhattan. their gold chevrolet impala was the su

marcus solis joins us live from story. good morning marcus. >> good morning rob, yeah, you know, there have been problems in the past, things have gotten a little bit naughty. organizers say this year they're trying to play nice and they have changed things up a little bit. hundreds if not more will don their santa suits and start gathering here at mccarron park start hitting a few bars around organizers have publicized the route in advance, and they've also gotten permits from the parks department. the group will travel from williamsburg to the lower east side, and it all ends later this afternoon at madison square park. the nypd admits this is a drain on their resources. at its essence this a bar crawl, and there have been intoxication. >> it's a fun time. holidays. it's just i guess the balance of people who can handle it and the people who can't. >> and in advance of that, the mta has banned alcohol on its trains, on metro north, on the long island railroad, and they advise that they will have officers at grand central

eyewitness news reporter marcus solis is live in queens with the latest. marcus. >> reporter: and ken, the restaurant has been boarded up, but the police investigation continues as police looking for this driver of the vehicle after this crash that took place. now i'll show you some video of the car that went through the storefront of crown fried chicken at the corner of hempstead avenue and morning. two people who were inside or in front of the restaurant were hit by that car as it smashed through. they were taken to north shore lij hospital with nonlife- threatening injuries. in the meantime, the driver of that vehicle took off and police are in search of the person who was behind the wheel. as for the restaurant, it has been boarded up. a vacate order in effect until repairs can be made. we're live in queens village, marcus solis channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> thank you marcus. new york city's launching a new food warning law taking aim at some of the saltiest items at chain restaurants. dray clark is live in time square with what we can all expect. good

police say their mother was forced to leave them alone eyewitness news reporter marcus solis is there tonight. >> reporter: liz, those kids let themselves out of the hotel room where the family has been living the last few months. it is unclear how long they were wandering in the parking lot in the rain but all told they were left unattended for over six hours. outside the motel room sits a stroller, evidence there were young children inside. but it was the presence of two toddlers outside in the parking lot that led arrest of their mother. it happened yesterday at the continental motel. another resident saw the children ages two and three unattended and dressed only in diapers. the good samaritan what doesn't want to be identified took action. >> i let an hour go by. i bathed them, clothed them, fed them. >> reporter: and she called state police who tracked down the mother. she was taken into custody. the 28-year-old told investigators she left for >> she just said when she was leaving for work in the morning she left the two children inside the motel room, a little uncertain as to w

here's marcus solis. >> anyone that comes to the police department to try to commit a crime is gutsy. >> reporter: that's exactly what police say. a 55-year-old woman is under arrest accused of stealing bagfulls of toys. police say judith howard made multiple trips to her car before a dispatcher notice what was happening. >> never in our wildest dreams actually catch a crime occurring inside a police department. >> reporter: howard had gone to the station with a friend, a bail bondsman who had paperwork to fill out. over a 20-minute period, the suspect can be seen rummaging through the bin and removing items until she is confronted. she told police that she thought the toys were for anyone to take. police say they didn't believe her and add, if she were truly in need, all she needed to do was ask. >> if she had buzzed the fronted desk and asked, can i take some toys for my grandkids, whatever, that's what they're there for. the point is we can't have people stealing from our bin. >> reporter: police say the items had a value of over $300, enough for a larceny charge. meantime the depa

marcus solis has more. >> reporter: and, bill, governor malloy says he is seizing the moment, that if and when connecticut gets access to that federal gun list, that federal no fly list, that gun sale ban will go into effect. >> i am here to announce that i intend to sign a first in the nation executive order. >> reporter: calling the recent terrorist attacks in california and paris a wake-up call, connecticut governor dannel malloy is seeking to do what congress has not, prevent those on terror watch lists from being able to purchase firearm. malloy today announced he will sign an executive order prohibiting gun sales to individuals named on no fly lists. >> i have been in touch with the white house directly on this matter and we are working gain access to their lists for this purpose. >> reporter: the announcement comes days before the third anniversary of the massacre at sandy hook elementary school. the killing of 20 students and six adults led to connecticut laws. two parents whose sons were killed in newtown and who have been fighting for reform praised his decision. >> i think

eyewitness news reporter marcus solis is in yonkers with the very latest. marcus. >> shirleen, liz as you said this was a chase that started in the bronx, ended in yonkers. now you have multiple agencies in the death of an unarmed suspect. it all started around 11:45 this morning in riverdale. a patrol car from the 50th precinct tried to pull over a gray nissan at 242nd street and broadway. the car took off, headed north on the henry hudson parkway. that becomes the sawmill river parkway at the county line. near exit 4 in yonkers that nissan crashed. police arrested one person but a second suspect climbed through the window and ran into tibbets brook park. police say there was a confrontation and an nypd the suspect. as we said it started with that chase. it ended with the suspect's car actually traveling in the wrong direction at one point. >> at some point nypd lost contact and for whatever reason, whether they saw other police vehicles ahead, they made a u-turn and came southbound in the northbound lane colliding with several other civilian vehicles. >> r

. >> eyewitness news reporter marcus solis is there with details. marcus? >> reporter: that's right. police say the suspects allegedly upset that jermaine simmons tried to cut in front of them in line launched into the assault. the suspects were charged with misdemeanors but as they learn more and the seriousness of the injuries the charges were upgraded to felonies. >> they through ketchup bottle at me and mustard bottle at me. >> reporter: it was a fish a fractured eye associate and nose. the we pummeled inside a smash burger where he went on his launch break. they threw his with coins at his head. he is legally blind and has cerebral palsy and despite his injuries is back at work. very dedicated. he has been doing this for several years. worked with them every year and out there in the elements raising money for the poor. >> i'm not supposed to be able to work but i am doing this so i can gain a lot of experience and, you know, get some earnings. >> reporter: for his own safety, sim months switched locations away from the wine store where he was statione

marcus solis is live with that interview. marcus. >> rob, it hardly seems like fair fight. a suspect brandishing a shotgun against a store owner owned with only a slipper. that store owner says he has no idea what made him fight back but he did. >> i'm not scared. i don't know what happened. >> reporter: not scared despite staring down the barrel of a shotgun. this is dramatic surveillance video from monday night when a masked gunman tried to rob the gas station convenience store. owner a bag and the 58-year-old begins filling it with cash from the register. there is a scuffle when the gunman demands the larger bills under the tray. >> he said put $100 bill. i said i don't have $100 bill. >> reporter: sing flings a slipper at the suspect hitting him near the face then he rushes the gunman outside of the door. an outside camera shows him chasing the camera. the suspect fired the weapon. >> i fell down. >> he did shoot it? >> he did. >> outside in the parking lot. >> reporter: the blast left a hole in the ground. sing suffered a scraped nose but not seriously hurt. he has own

. >> marcus solis is in harrison with the details. marcus? >> reporter: joe, sade, the woman was warned by the bank that there might be a scam involved as she withdraw large sums of money. nevertheless she did it because all she wanted to do was help her grandson. >> she is out over 300,000. >> reporter: these are the phones, computers and other items police say were used to bill being a woman out of a quarter million dollars. police arrested five people including a mother and son for running what is called the grandma scam. a caller pretends to be a grandchild in need of money fast. >> they are very convincing and they instill fear in our senior citizens and the dell dearly and that fear caused them to do things they wouldn't normally do. spoke to the victim who was in florida. >> i believed everything that this man, supposedly sergeant told me. >> reporter: she was told her grandson was busted with drugs and he wasn't allowed to speak to her on the phone. the money would get him jail. >> i did it because i didn't want my grandson behind bar

reporter marcus solis tells us, the bureau president has now that area. >> it smells. it's dirty. they never clean the area. >> reporter: which is why this bronx resident has called 311 multiple times to complain about this parking lot in monthaven. g&s parking sits underneath the major expressway at 1 throiskt street -- at 135th street. a they avoid walking near. >> it's like being in the bronx tigers and bears and things. you don't know what going to jump out at you. >> reporter: the bronx fair president is more blunt calling the property an eyesore. showing signs of an economic turn around. >> what we don't want is for people to think this is still the bronx of the '70s and '80s. >> reporter: there are two major complaints. droppings from pigeons' nests overhead, acknowledges there are some cosmetic improvements the business can make but says adding spikes to deter birds is out of their hands. >> as far as the concerns i've heard from the customers or the people around, we've done our best to make those adjustments but we also need help from the city. >> we're prepared to work

eyewitness news reporter marcus solis in yonkers with the story that's new at noon. >> reporter: dave, shirleen he's been a fixture at giant's games for over a decade. joe ruback invoice collecting license plates. but if convicted he could making them. >> there is no question joe is a huge giants fan. he's known as the license plate guy. but the rocklin county district attorney has put a didn't photo and has a different -- different photo and has a different name for the 40-year- old, loan shark. he was accused of grand larceny saying the defendant used threats and intimidation and charged usurious interest rates. display. the organization works with troubles children. previously ruback was the football coach at spring valley high school, football clearly a passion. the license plate guy has a collection of over 50 giants themed plates. his social media profile boasts he hasn't missed a giant's home or away in 14 years. leek and watts putting out a story saying the safety and well being of those in our care is our top priority. mr. ruback has been placed on administrative leave until

marcus solis, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you, marcus. >>> a federal appeals court ruling that a former new york city police officer is not guilty of committing a crime because he fanta sized online about kidnapping and cannibalizing women. a jury convicted him of kidnapping and conspiracy in 2013 but another court overturned the decision. today the appeals court upheld the ruling saying it would hate to give the government the power to fun niche us for our thoughts and not actions. >>> a baggage handler at j.f.k. is accused of stealing watches more than $130,000. police say he took six watches from a checked bag at terminal 7 two weeks ago. yesterday police say he admitted to the theft. five of the watches were found at the suspect's home in queens. >>> in brooklyn the search murdered a father and his son. investigators believe that man, jarvis roberts shot and killed the pair friday night inside a hallway at the langston hughes houses in brownsville. anyone with any information is urged to contact police. >>> an arrest in a brutal unprovoked attack on a commuter and his servi

marcus solis is live from new milford. marcus. >> reporter: well, sade, diana, the governor's office says it is working with the white house to get access to those lists and once it does, that executive order will be signed. the governor calling the recent terrorist shootings in california and paris a wake-up call. >> this is a moment to seize here in america and today i'm here to say that connecticut, we are seizing this moment. >> reporter: connecticut may have been the fifth state in the union but today it was first, the only state so far to ban firearm sales to individuals on the federal terror watch list. people from boarding an airplane to and from the united states but there's nothing pre 10th them -- preventing them from buying a gun or an assault rifle until now in connecticut. >> we believe we have the power under executive order because what we are denying is a permit and it's a permit process and there's an appeal in the permit process if you're denied. >> reporter: following the massacre at sandy hook, governor

marcus solis is live in throgs neck. >> reporter: those allegations as scandalous as it gets. as a form of protest some parishioners have taken to putting only a dollar in a the collection basket. a check for a dollar that. is there is no question this is a parish in revolt. >> i'm telling you, it rocked my faith. >> reporter: rocked by a scandal that has made its way to the courts. frustrated parishioners in throgs neck have filed a lawsuit against their pastor, father peter miqueli. >> the feeling of people walking away from this parish, we were a very vibrant parish. >> reporter: the lawsuit claims that peter miqueli stole up to a million dollars, allegedly using that money to fund a drug-fueled lifestyle >> you are supposed to be a servant. he refers to himself as the king. you are a ser viewpoint for your parishioners. >> people work hard for their money around here. they give money for the church because they believe in the good things that they do. >> reporter: parishioners have taken their long list of grievances on-line and have started a petition to have father peter

marcus solis talked to the victim. he's in greenburg for us this afternoon. marcus. >> reporter: despite his disability, jermaine simmons has been a dedicated salvation army worker for the last five holiday seasons. he was here at his usual spot when he decided to get a bite to eat. that is when the trouble began. >> thank you, have a great day. >> jermaine simmons is back ringing his bell, bruised and beaten but not defeated. allegedly punched, kicked, and hit the salvation army worker with his kettle. >> they threw the kettle at me. they threw the ketchup bottle at me. and my whole face was bleeding. >> the incident happened at a smash burger in greenburg. simmons who is 41, legally blind and has cerebral palsy was on his lunch break. the assault took place after police say the two accused simmons of cutting in front of them in line. >> there was a scuffle. he got in my face. i got in his face. there was a couple words exchanged. all of a sudden i get punched by a right hook and i fell to the ground and my bucket fell along with me. >> 30-year-old juan rodri

we're live in kingston, marcus solis channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> thank you marcus. and don't forget stay with eyewitness news and abc news for the latest developments in the mass shootings in san bernardino. n. j. burkett is going to have another report on eyewitness news at 5. of course he's posting updates on abc7ny. >>> we're going to turn of the other news of the day. we're learning new details about the man arrested in long island found with a loaded assault rifle and body armor in his car. mark vickers was arraigned a short time ago. police pulled over his car yesterday after receiving a tip. they also found a loaded pistol in the car as well as a knife and high capacity magazines filled with ammunition and even more ammunition in his home. caliber handgun, one springfield 45 caliber handgun, one 6 hour p229 caliber handgun. one glock 19, 9-millimeter handgun. >> well, in addition to all of those weapons, investigators also found nearly 8300 rounds of ammunition. vickers is being held on $300,000 bail. >>> all new at 4:00, police are searching for a sexual pre

marcus solis joins us from the newsroom with more. >> reporter: bernie sanders is hoping to cut into hillary clinton's lead into the polls. one way is through debates but the sanders camp is fighting off accusations that it tried to do it through foul play. the stage is literally set for tonight's debate while the backstage bikering continues. earlier this morning the democratic committee restored date a after a software glitch allowed them to access confidential files on clinton's base. 25 times looking at voter names, addresses and voting habits, iowa, new hampshire and south carolina. >> it was viewed and accessed by multiple staff then downloaded into personal folders. >> reporter: the dnc chose to suspend the campaign access to all the data including information contained by bernie sanders team. >> by their action, the leadership of the dnc is under mining our campaign. >> reporter: he accused the dnc of working to help the clinton campaign. clinton and sanders square to have night in new hampshire. martin o'malley will participate in the debate. the format is kept under wraps b

eyewitness news reporter marcus solis joins us in the studio with more on this developing story. marcus? >> bernie sanders hopes to cut the polls. one way to make up ground is camp is fighting off accusations that it tried to do it through foul play. >>> reporter: the stage is literally set for the debate while the backstage bickering continues. earlier this morning the democratic national committee restored access to the sanders campaign after a software glitch allowed staffers working for bernie sanders to access confidential files on hillary clinton's base. for 40 minutes the staffers combed through the files 25 times. information on crucial states like iowa, new hampshire and >> it was viewed and accessed by multiple staff and then downloaded into personal folders. >> reporter: the dnc chose to suspend the campaign's access to all the databases including the ones compiled by bernie sanders team. >> by their action the leader shipped of the democratic national convention is teaming to under mine the campaign. >> reporter: last night they filed suit against the committee. the is

live marcus solis, channel 7 eyewitness news. >> thank you. >>> let's check on traffic from above where you can see how far the backup goes. shannon sohn is in newscopter 7. it's bad out there. >> it is. the sad part is that this is an improvement. this is the southbound side of the sawmill river parkway. delays to the cross county parkway. this is where they have reopened one lane of traffic. so, that is your glimmer of hope. it's a small. cross county delays past 87th. delay on 87 southbound goes past the yonkers raceway and down to van cortlandt park. letter take you to the northbound side all lanes remain shut down. you can see right here into the center of your picture, right where it joins up with the henry hudson parkway. all that traffic is being forced to mosholu parkway. that is jammed up. you can see where it comes in there, this is where 87 meets up with the major deegan expressway and the deegan delays take you back to the 230s. that is the stream of headlines heading toward you. it's broadway and the local streets are picking up the alternate volume. the northbound lanes a

that is the latest for now in yonkers, marcus solis channel 7 eyewitness news. >>> quite a scene out there. thank you for that update. the prosecution rested its case about an hour ago in the trial of the baltimore police officer charged in the death of freddie over evidence in the case. officer william porter's defense says prosecutors withheld a document which shows gray had a back injury a month before his arrest. gray is the 25-year-old who died of a spinal cord injury a week after baltimore police arrested him. porter is the first of six officers facing trial over gray's death. >>> the wife of chicago bear quarterback jay cutler is speaking out about the search for her missing brother. kristin cavallari posted a childhood photo of herself with her brother michael on instagram. the caption said "i appreciate all the concern, thoughts and prayers, remain hopeful. michael cavallari has been missing now for about two weeks. he vanished four days after he was arrested for making criminal threats. cavallari was already on probation for a dui. >>> a one-time voice of charlie brown got

marcus solis in throgs neck with our lead story. >> he is still the pastor. the lawsuit was filed yesterday but it comes after months and months of frustration by parishioners who say their pastor is stealing from them and that the archdiocese has turned a blind eye. >> every worst thought that we thought came to light. it was sad. >> these are only a handful of disgruntled parishioners but there are many more. yesterday a lawsuit was filed against father peter mcquellly and the archdiocese of new york. the allegations a wrongdoing are shocking, chief among them over a million dollars skimmed from church coffers over the years. >> it would be envelopes without the money in there and, you know, with amounts written on there. it's just things -- people who did work and seeing money lying around on the floor in his room. there was a lot of things that just didn't add up. pastor since 2012 and to say parishioners don't like him is an understatement. there's an online petition calling for his ouster and a website with a long list overgreens. >> he's supposed to be