and >> new tonight at 8 the suspect in this case richard thomas is a junior at 0 or high-school this afternoon kron4 charles clifford was in the east bay and spoke with students who are troubled by what happened. why thursday afternoon students at local high school words don that their classmate richard thomas might be worse off before the attack on 80 year old on the back above will be set fire. allied in an editorial in the school near newspaper says we are ashamed and disappointed with richard thomas for his actions. >> they hope people will not judge a school based on actions of one person. >> " we're all different people and we're all different person now this this was due in line >> near to 98 and a newly released a federal report reviewing several disturbing details about alleged sexual misconduct at schools and the west contra costa county district. as kron4 scott rates found out of the board members say changes have been made and they have been and they had evidence to prove it. >> the report reflected on incident that happened years ago we have taken steps to address a lot

richard thomas admitted to setting him on fire and facing charges in adult courts. his attorney made a motion to move it to juvenile court. sasha fleischman agrees with that move. >> there is a reason we have different judicial systems for juveniles and adults. >> reporter: now even with burns over his legs he doesn't feel a lot of pain. >> because of my injuries i am going to be less -- i can't walk as fast and i need to be more careful physically. >> reporter: neighbors are relieved that sasha fleischman is home. >> hopefully he gets well soon and go to school and get back his normal life. >> reporter: sasha fleischman plans to return to school next week. john sasaki, ktvu channel 2 news. >>> earlier this week the attorney for richard thomas filed a motion to move the case to juvenile. his attorney said he didn't think sasha fleischman would be hurt. >>> on this thanksgiving day there was substance for the body and soul. a sit down dinner for 300 people at the baptist church in oakland. many say it is a tradition to take part and they get as much as they give. >>

richard thomas asking his client's case be removed from adult court. abc7 news is live in oakland tonight with the story. laura? >> reporter: sasha's family did not attend a hearing here, but they did say they would like the detective back in the juvenile system. in the meantime, they said they're excited that sasha will be coming home from the hospital in time for thanksgiving. >> there is no question about who is responsible in this case. >> reporter: the attorney for richard thomas says his client has in business standing trial in adult court. >> the question when dealing with minors is the minor. and how mature they are. and how much they were influence by the other minors. >> reporter: a junior, thomas is charged as an adult with felony assault and mayhem with hate crime enhancement accused of lighting a skirt on fire, leaving the 18-year-old with second and third degree burns. sasha's father told abc7 news sasha expects to be home before thanksgiving. what he's looking forward to is getting back to school and being with friends thomas's attorney

the 16-year-old richard thomas has been arrested. the 18-year-old victim suffered second and third degree burns in that bus incident. remaining hospitalized in stable condition. classmates have worn skirts in solidarity z they have tied rainbow ribbons on poles they'll do the same tonight. the march kicks off in a half hour. marchers will walk just blocks down the street to ardly avenue. they have been asked to wear bright colors and to bring ribbons live in oakland abc7 news. >> carolyn, thank you very much. sasha's father talked about what happened he also talked about his feelings about richard thomas, the person police say set the clothes on fire. carl fleeshman says none of can know the mind of the kid who lit the skin on fire, but if he knew i won't be writing this now. >> investigators released a sketch of a man they say raped a student. here is the picture. authorities considering adding a hate crime charge in this rape. the assault happened insiefd a woman's bathroom last monday. the victim may have been targeted because of

. >> richard thomas admits he did it, home phobic, but his attorney says it was a prank. >> you should know better than to light someone's clothing on fire. i think you should be able to realize that's not just a funny prank. >> sasha is not ready to forgive the 16-year-old, but the case should be in juvenile court. >> i don't want to be too harsh, just because people do dumb things. >> whether or not it was a hate crime, sasha says it was a hateful thing to set someone on fire. he is glad the attack brought awareness about people who don't identify it as male or female. >> i'm going to keep wearing the skirt. that's something i'm not going to give up. it's a big part of who i am. >> he is thankful for the ability to express himself and so much more. >> i'm really glad that i could be home for thanksgiving. >> sasha won't be riding the bus by himself any time soon. he will return to his high school on monday. in oakland, i'm daw lynn, kpix5. >> despite his view, many people in the community want richard thomas to be tried as an adult. the judge may issue his ruling late next month. >>>

. >> reporter: 16-year-old richard thomas was arrested for the crime and appeared in court yesterday. his family said he is remorseful and family members want to meet with fleischmann to personally apologize. for now he says he wants to focus on helping sasha get better. they spent the morning, dressing up bus stops. they are tieing the ribbons along the 57 bus stops the bus route he was on when attacked. >> it is for sasha. >> reporter: oakland police believe it was the skirt that 18-year-old sasha fleischmann wore monday that made him a target aboard a bus. sasha identifies himself as a gender, neither male or female. the suspect used a lighter to set his skirts on fire. >> sasha is being really well taken care of and in stable condition. >> reporter: he remains at the st. francis burn center he has had one surgery and will need more. his father tells me he is thankful for all the support it is this kind of support that turned a tragedy into something positive. >> grateful for all the love and care and support people have shown us. >> reporter: the victim's family is asking others t

richard thomas is being tried as an adult. oakland police say thomas told investigator tores he lit 18- year-old, sasha on fire because he was wearing a skirt. they say thomas also stated he was home phobic. richard's family said he plans to send a letter of apology to sasha. >> it's not okay to set someone on fire. period. while human beings, nobody should have to suffer that kind of trauma. >> sasha is hospitalized with burns to his legs. richard thomas did not enter a plea. he's due in court next week. >>> put the phone down. san francisco wants murks wants muni riders to follow those rules. andrea. >> reporter: as part of a two pronged approach. one is a million dollar federal grant put more costs on muni buses and trains. the other part is simply, put away your digital boyfriends. the real tech bubble, not the economic one, but that connected at the fingertip relationship between you and your phone, san francisco mayor, ed lee, wants to call the concept eyes up, phone down, in response to rising smart phone thefts and the

transit bus when 16-year-old richard thomas used a lighter allegedly to set sasha's skirt on fire. maybeck students tell us they hope sasha knows he's scarily on their minds. it's really important. i feel like maybeck is a school where you can be who you are. i feel like it's important for the school to come together in support of him. >> reporter: since the attack sasha has already received support online. donations have poured in with more than $21,000 raised. while counselors have been on hand at the school. many students say it would help them get them through this, he's making care packages cards and taking a group photo. the school's director wore a skirt to school and said the open environment has allowed sasha to thrive. >> at this point, the family is recovering the process and we can't wait to have sasha back with us here at maybeck. >> reporter: sasha remains in the hospital with second and third-degree burns and again, just minutes ago, here they are taking the photo. they made a get-well card for sasha in the hospital as he recovers. he's in good spirits and says he's

as for richard thomas he is currently being held without bail. coming up at 6:30 hear what his brother is saying about all of this. live in berkeley brian flores ktvu channel 2 news. >>> time is 6:06. only on 2 this morning we are getting new details about the continuing fallout in the case of a hospital patient who disappeared and later found dead at san francisco general hospital. ktvu tara moriarty is outside the hospital now and there are big changes coming. good morning, tara. >> reporter: good morning. we have learned a sergeant and two senior deputies will billion transferred out of -- will be transferred out of san francisco general hospital in less than two weeks. six people will be transferred in and a dispatcher has already been transferred out. these changes come in wake of the lynn spalding case. the one being treated in september who's body was found in a stairwell 17 days after she went missing. she disappeared september 21st but it wasn't until nine days later that a search was done. sheriff ross mirkarimi admitted only half of th

. >> reporter: richard thomas will be back in court next tuesday. that's when he will be represented by a private attorney. now, we typically don't identify suspects under the age of 18. but because a d.a. has released his name and also charged them as an adult, allen, we are identifying him, as well. >> all right, da lin in oakland, thank you. >>> legal experts say that if he is convicted, that hate crime enhancement would add as many as three years to richard thomas' prison term. >>> one of bart's unions wants a criminal investigation to last month's accident that killed two workers. kpix 5's mark kelly on charges that bart's safety rules have no teeth. >> reporter: for four hours, state legislators heard testimony from bart unions and management. the goal, understand why on october 19, bart's staff christopher shepherd and contractor lawrence daniels lost their lives hit by a bart train in walnut creek. the unions point the finger at bart's culture saying trains running on time not safety is the top priority. >> we wanted safety to be addressed o

oakland police say richard thomas told investigators he was homophobic and lit luke fleischman on fire laws he was wearing a skirt. luke goes by the name of sasha. he is hospitalized now with burns on his legs. the suspect's family says the incident had unintended consequences. >> we're very sorry for what happened. he didn't mean to. it was a joke. he didn't know this was going to be like this. he's a good kid, a very good kid. i don't know. he was with his friends joking around. >> richard thomas made his first court appearance yesterday and is scheduled to be back in court on tuesday. >>> a sunnyvale mother now has her two-week-old baby back after the father took the infant to mexico. santa clara county authorities tell us patricia romero flew to arizona yesterday morning to be with her son. police had issued an amber alert late tuesday. authorities in mexico found the father and baby wednesday an turned them over to u.s. border patrol agents in arizona. 22-year-old mesut guler appeared in an arizona courtroom yesterday and is awaiting extradition back to the bay area. officers sati

richard thomas -- made his first court appearance yesterday but did not enter a plea. say thomas set this 18 year old. sasha fleischman on fire who was asleep in the back of the bus. thomas told investigators that he was homophobic. fleischman was wearing a kilt like skirt during the attack. the suspect's family says thomas is apologetic and remorseful of what he did but they say he is not homophobic. the 16-year-old boy accused >> >> he is very sorry. he is a very good kid. >> align >> richard thomas has been charged with a hate crime, aggravated mayhem and felony assaul he is expected back in court next tuesday to enter a ion >> we see it all the time. people glued to their cell phones, unaware of what's going on around them. now, city leaders in san francisco are asking the public to stay off their cell phones to avoid becoming the next victim of a crime. mayor ed lee along with police chief greg suhr and the s-f-m-t-a have launched the "eyes up, phone down" campaign. a one million dollar federal grant is being invested into putting more police officers on muni buse

they will try 16-year-old richard thomas as an adult.a case that involves several felony charges. court documents we obtained include notes from the police officer saying he set the boy on fire because he's homophobic. the family of the teenaged suspect is coming to his defense. >> what kind of boy is he? >> he's a good kid. a very good kid. he was joking around. that's all. >> reporter: police arrested the teenaged suspect the day after the suspect after looking at the surveillance video from the a.c. transit bus. >>> in the philippines one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded made landfall this morning. this is new video of a family in a village trying to carry their small home to higher ground. this has triggered land slides, damaged homes and knocked out power lines. communication has been cut off so the full extent of damage is not yet known, at least -- at least four people are dead and 725 others have evacuated their home. >> people go to churches, other governmenting whens when they can -- government buildings when they ca

transit bus in oakland when 16-year-old richard thomas set fleischmann's skirt on fire. eischmann is agender, mieanin the teenager does not identify with male or female. it has been reported thomas told the police officer he was homo foe bib. his attorney said he didn't have a home ophobic bone in his body. here is sasha's father. >> we are of the opinion that a 16-year-old is still a juvenile and shouldn't be tried in an adult court. >> he is very remorseful. he is extremely remorseful. he is about as remorseful as a kid can be. >> reporter: fleischmann's father says sasha is champing at the bit to get home. in the spirit of thanksgiving, is feeling very grateful. sasha is expected to leave the burn center in san francisco and arrive home in the east bay today just in time for thanksgiving. sasha is vegan. so they are getting a pre-made vegan turkey dinner all lined up. no doubt better than hospital food. >> got that right. >> definitely. thank you very much. >>> 6:33 now. community members will join several organizations in honoring harvey milk and george masconi. it st

. >> richard thomas set fire to sasha fliesh a fleishman. she had on a kilt-like skirt. and doesn't identify as a male. he is remorseful. he is homophobic. >> he is a very good kid. i don't know. >> reporter: despite the family's protest. he is charged with a hate crime, aggravated mayhem resulting in great bodily injury. the family has been given extra time to hire an attorney. alameda county court. >>> the amber alert out of sunnyvale with the 2 week old baby ended. the child was reunited with the mother. do we know when she will be home? >> reporter: the mother could show up anytime. we have been standing outside of her apartment for hours hours. the two are back together. mother of 2 week old is reunited with her baby. he was under the care of child protective services in arizona after the father got into an argument with her tuesday and drove off with the boy triggering an amber alert. he is held in the arizona jail 5 following his arrest by mexican authorities by a port of entry crossing. the adduction was after a dispute. he wanted to move out of state, possibly t

>>anny: the suspect richard thomas was in court yesterday but did not enter a plea. his next court appearance is next month on december 20th. >>james: hundreds of staff and current and former students from fremont to john f. kennedy high school, came together to honor john webb last night. weather is a long time athletic director who died saturday in a multi car crash on interstate 680. he was hit while helping people involved in a crash and was directing traffic. many people who attended the vital said what the died doing what he always did. helping someone out. that he would find your strong points in your weak points and he would help you get better. >>: this is very hard. it hasn't hit me. >>: he would talk to us about anything we wanted to talk about. it you just wanted to talk to him even if you want the students, he would talk to about anything. >>james: stood in say coach webb was someone who brandon anyone today by just a smile. he was loved by everyone who came in contact with him. >>anny: for many in the bay area, thanksgiving is a holiday of cheer and bei

antoje >> quiero apoyar a mi amigo sasha, es muy bueno >> policía de oakland tiene bajo custodia a richard thomasbús. en la escuela solidarizaron con él >> sasha es un amigo, parte de nuestra comunidad. >> la madre del arrestado dice que a su hijo le duele lo que pasó y quiere pedir disculpas. enfrenta varios cargos criminales. >> en seguida >> hay una guerra de mamás en facebook, las mujeres se atacan con comentarios crueles >> conocer las peores fechorias en la red podría salvar a su familia >> devastador tifón afecta islas filipinas. >> ♪. >> ♪. >> ♪. >> muchas veces las comunidades de origen hispano hemos experimentado pesar cuando nuestros paises sufre desastre natural >> ahora otra sufre por poderoso tifón >> se trata de la comunidad filipina. filipinas recibió impacto brutal de tifón extraordinario, la cifra de muertos es de más de 100 personas. veamos que nos decían esta tarde >> cerca de 750 mil personas debieron dejar sus hogares y las comunicaciones se interrumpieron a raíz de poderoso tifón, vientos alcanzaron más de 200 kilómetros por hora. el cónsul de filipinas en san francisco nos

. >> the suspect richard thomas made his first appearance in court today.man reports on what thomas is accused of doing and the charges he is facing. >> court documents indicate the suspect admitted to investigators that he is homophobic and that is why he said the guy on fire appeared >> that the victim was wearing a kilt like skirt at the time of the taps. >> his family says he is very sorry for what happened. allied the suspects and apologizes for the attack and he is writing a letter of apology to the big man and his family appeared allied the also the by did not that he is, homophobic or a haight will person. it >> quoted is a good kid >> despite the family's protests to the thomas has been charged with a crime. why he has also been charged with aggravated mayhem and the felony assault and resulting in a great bodily injury appeared >> thomas will like to be a raid on tuesday appeared >> the family has been given the extra time to hire an attorney. >> we are awaiting word on the expected reunion of the sunnyvale mother and her son who was allegedly kid

richard thomas has been charged as an adult on last week's attack.spected of lighting another teen on fire on an a-c transit bus is scheduled to appear in court this morning. richard thomas of oakland has been charged as an adult in last monday's attack on 18-year-old luke "sasha" fleischman. oakland police say fleischman was asleep on an a-c transit bus and wearing a kilt-like skirt when thomas set the garment on fire. district attorney nancy o'malley says her office is charging both offenses as hate crimes, but she did not indicate why. thomas didn't enter a plea during his arraignment thursday. thomas is set to be in court at nine a-m this morning in oakland. the death toll following last friday's devastating typhoon in the eastern philippines stands at more than 17-hundred people. but officials believe more than 10-thousand could be dead. but philipine president acquino just say the death toll could be around 2,500. a few hundred people in the hardest hit city of tacloban have made it out of the area. as thousands tried to force their way onboard

sasha flieshman has been there since suffering expected third degree burns. 16-year-old richard thomas is accused of setting the skirt on fire. he was in court today, his attorney argued he should be tried as a juvenile. prosecutors charged him as an adult. thomas's attorney says his maturity level and peer influences should pb factored in. >> he's remorseful, about remorseful as a kid can be he thought there would be a puff of smoke and everybody would laugh. he was horrified to see flames shooting up the way they did. >> sasha's family tells us they believe richard thomas should be tried as a juvenile. after a hearing in december, the judge will decide. >>> a san jose nonprofit has been burglarized for times in just two weeks. administrators at teen challenge say the thief or thieves made off with 20,000s ndz cash and items. that money being used to buy presents for kids whose families are in recovery. administrators told police they have a person of interest in mind. >> new questions being raised about pedestrian safety in san jose following a deadly 48 hours there. >> three people

. >> as they left the courtroom, the family of richard thomas says thomas is not a hateful person despite what charges against him might indicate. >> reporter: what kind of boy is he? >> he's a good kid very good kid. >> he was joking around. >> reporter: a junior in high school, he is charged with felony assault and mayhem. police say he lit the passenger on fire, while fleeshman was asleep on the bus monday afternoon. fleeshman wearing a skirt the victims' parents say the 18-year-old doesn't identify as male or feel yale. the district attorney released a statement quote, richard thomas violence and senseless conduct resulted in severe trauk injuries to a young, innocent victim. in the criminal complaint the officer said, quote, during the suspect interview the suspect stated he did it because he was homophobic. fleeshman under goes fleement a burn center thomas will be back in court to enter a plea next week. >> sources tell abc7 news authorities are investigating the rape of a student at de-anza college in cupertino as a possible hate crime as wemwell. >> the victim may have been targe

the 16-year-old richard thomas face hated crime charms and will be tried as an adult after investigators say he set the pavillion fire by lighting his skirt. we thomas told police he did it because he is homophobic. his father says his son is akin da and faces multiple skin grafting for buns he suffered. he could face a long recovery. >> a 16-year-old -- a moment silence this morning to honor the t.s.a. officer killed a week ago by gunman at lax. the transportation security administration says that check point operations will stop at hundreds of airports across the united states at 9:20 when the boy was shot, the first t.s.a. officer killed in the line of duty. two other t.s.a. officers and 9 bystander were wounded. the gunman was shot by his and still is hospitalized. investigators say he targeted t.s.a. officers. >> kaiser measures no longer need to worry of their jobs when the hayward pediatric unit shuts down. kaiser has reached an agreement with the california nurses association that will give nurses preferential transfer into new positions. the unit is set to close on november 17.

del mes, luck sacha lakeman estaba en el hospital recibiendo injertos de piel, el abogado de richard thomasl. >>> la policía de east palo alto investiga un tiroteo que dejó a un adolescente herido, el hecho fue alrededor de las 6 de la tarde, cuando se le disapró a la víctima de un carro en movimiento. >>> en san josé la policía investiga un robo domiciliario en una casa ubicada en la calle ann mccourt, los delincuentes ingresaron a la casa, tomaron las pertenencias y se deiron a la fuga en uno de los vehículos de las víctimas . >>> tambiÉn el puerto de san josé fue lugar de las manifestaciones. >>> y las cosas parece que estuvieron bastante movidas. >>> asÍ es, buenas tardes, la policía expresó que manifestantes recbieron multgas o citaciones. >> > mientras que el puerto dice que resolver problemas juntos es esencial (gritos) >>> momentos de gran tensión se vivieron en la madrugada cuando un auto pasó por encima del pie de un policía en las protestas a la entrada del puerto de oakland, exigiendo que los camiones cumplan con normas de la emisión de contaminantes. >>> es un 2011, y cuesta 72

richard thomas is facing hate crime charges and he's accused of setting 18-year-old sasha on fire last week. thomas told them he did it because he's home frontal lobe homo foe and he denies that. >> thomas is back in court november 26 and sasha is still suffering from the burn. >>> and ruban explains how the airport safely plans is still a working progress. >> for pilots the hazards on the job. you cannot really see the bird until it almost hits. >> one time we hit a bird and it took out the radar. >> this morning it happened here in san jose international and an american flight jet is forced to make a landing after hitting a bird. >> i hear a pop and the you can feel that the engine was running down and it was stopping. >> this year reported of 46 bird strikes in san jose. an birds have been removed. >> it can happen any time and anywhere and you know what happened in new york. >> it was january 2009 when us airways flight 1549 famously landed and just a month later of the incident o instructor: ing plane instructor: ing several -- >> it is a huge concern for us and it is a number 1 p

>>reporter: attorney for 16-year-old richard thomas says he welcomes words from the family of sasha fleishman they would prefer thomas tried as juvenile. last month the alameda continue district attorney charged thomas as an adult with felony assault and mayhem. for setting 18-year-old fleishman skirt on fire on ac transit bus. each charge also carries a hate crime enhance many. fleishman suffered second third agree burns to lower body and expected to be released from the hospital tomorrow. sasha father karl fleishman told us quote sasha recovery is going very well. she expects to be home before thanksgiving. what sasha most looking forward to is getting about a being to school and being with friends. thomas attorney says his client actions were a prank and that he never intended to harm fleishman what did he think was going to happen. >> he thought a puff of smoke is and everybody would laugh and it would be over. he was horrified to see flames shooting up the way they addition the da disagrees. citing police interview where thomas said he lit the skirt on fair because thomas is quote homoph

. >>> the family of 16-year-old richard thomas was on hand at the courthouse in oakland.mas is being charged as an adult, police say he was motivated by homophobia, he's not yet entered a plead. >>> two small earthquakes minutes apart hit on opposite sides of the bay this afternoon. it recorded --they felt one or even both of those earthquakes. >>> crews are cleaning up after 2 big water leaks at the courthouse. water travels down to the seconf the police administration building where the burglar with theft units. the police spokeswoman says the damage is not serious but it will take a week and a half to clean up. >>> a youth curfew to try to come back crimes. if it passes -- and, between 8:30 in the morning and 1:30 p.m. on school days. city council members the daytime curfew will help address the school's system of truancy and drop out rates. >> i am tired to get harassed by these young teens. >> freedom is when you are 18 and older. >> meanwhile they need to be at home doing homework. >> a proposal curfew was voted in 20 2011 and 2009. >>> a disabled man was killed whe

richard thomas' family lets an oakland courtroom today saying nothing. but his attorney says that the high school student regrets setting sasma on fire. >> he's extremely remorseful. he's as remorseful as a kid can be under the circumstances. >> reporter: the skirt sasha was wearing was turned on fire. this morning sasha's father gave us good news. >> we're expecting sasha to be home on wednesday. >> tomorrow. >> tomorrow, yeah. >> reporter: how does that feel to know that? >> it feels great. we're not quite ready. we've been rearranging stuff to make it more comfortable for sasha. >> reporter: home in time for a small thanksgiving celebration. >> we have a friend who's coming over. and is bringing a precooked meal. >> reporter: back at the white house, richard thomas' acknowledged responsibility for sasha's injury. >> the security video from the bus make that is very clear. there's no question about who is responsible in this case. the question is, under what circumstances and with what motivation he is responsible. >> reporter: skwraoud law make a mode

. >> prosecutors are charging 16-year-old richard thomas in oa. >>> the students dubbed skirt for sasha's day. boys and girls wore skirts today. and one student said they felt it was important for the school to come together in support of sasha. >>> a contra costa family is asking police for help after a group of middle school students robbed at gunpoint. this happened yesterday morning in antioch when two brs and sisters waited at at bus stop. the oldest victims said he knows robber and said they attend the deer valley high school. the school is dealing with the situation and antioch police is working with the case but shared no details. >>> shirakawa, is in custody tonight, he was sentenced to one year in jail and 3 years probation, prosecutors said he took more than $300, 000 for personal use and to gamble. >> he stole from the public a lied to the public and held responsible for those actions. >> shirakawa's attorney declined to comment, it is not clear where he will he serving his time, he can be taken to another county since he's well known in his county. >>> now of the typhoon made

sasha fleischman was asleep on november 4th when richard thomas allegedly lit the skirt sasha fleischman was wearing on fire. >> he is quite eager to get out of the hospital so they are doing what they can to get red, walking around as much as possible. .. >> reporter: sasha fleischman's family wants to move the case to juvenile court off camera his aunt told ktvu channel 2 morning news that their hearts go out to sasha fleischman and sasha fleischman's' family. >>> they have officially categorized the storm as a nor'easter. it has already reached pittsburgh and ohio and pittsburgh is expected to get 8 inches. dusts could be filing and now the form could not have come at a worse time of course one of the busiest times of the year. major airports in new york, philadelphia, and boston are warning travelers to prepare for long delays and these delay also have a ripple affect and that could affect all areas in the bay area. there will be 44 million americans traveling. locally they expect up to 134 passengers. some left early and beat the oncoming storm. one woman waited three hours in alban

fleischmann's plight started on november 4th when 16-year-old richard thomas sat his skirt on fire as the two sat on an a.c. transit bus. fleischmann is agender. it has been reported that thomas told police he was homophobic. his attorney says that's not true. he is now facing a slew of charges including a hate crime and is being charged as an adult. something his attorney is trying to change. he filed a motion to have thomas prosecuted as a juvenile and fleischmann and his family are okay with that. here is sasha's father. >> we are of the opinion that a 16-year-old is still a juvenile. he really shouldn't be tried innen aadult court. >> he is very remorseful, extremely remorseful, about as remorseful as a kid can be. >> he said his client made a horrible mistake calling the incident a childish prank gone back. >> the teenager should be back at home tonight and should return to berkeley as early as next week. >>> thousands of people now mourning a long-time high school football coach sadly killed over the weekend in a car crash. nearly 2000 people showed up to a vigil for 76-year-old

richard thomas was charged as an adult in the attack with a hate crime enhancement. ecutor sas that thomas told police that he set fleishman on fire on that transit bus because he was, quote, homophobic. thomas's mother says he was joking and is extremely remorseful. >> he's a good kid. very good kid. i don't know. >> reporter: oakland mayor jean quan released a statement saying in part that oakland stands with sasha fleishman, that our city has long been a place that celebrates diversity and takes great pride in our communities pub you be lick safety. and we'll not tolerate acts of hay dread or bigotry for the simple fact of who they are. fleishman and thomas are residents of oakland. >> thank you very much. hayward police asking for help to find a 77-year-old man suffering from dementia and diabetes. edward moore does take medication for both and never walked away unattended. he was seen yesterday near his home wearing a green shirt, camouflage shorts and sandals. it's possible the 5'7", 200 pound man may have gone to east oakland where he used to live. >> disgraced

we're all human beings and nobody should ever have to suffer that kind of trauma. >> reporter: richard thomas will be back in court on tuesday represented by a private attorney. in oakland, i'm da lin, kpix 5. >> the legal experts say if thomas is convicted of both counts the hate crime enhancement will add another three years to his prison term. >>> another lawsuit against the commission that's taking away city college of san francisco's accreditation. this morning the save ccsf coalition filed a lawsuit fighting the recent decision to drop accreditation for the school. they say the commission violated federal regulations in its review of the city college. the two other similar suits have been filed. the college will lose accreditation next july. >>> an historic day up on mount diablo. the nonprofit buying land for preservation made its largest piece ever the missing link in the heart of mount diablo state park. ann notarangelo reports. >> reporter: until now what lies behind this gate has been a subject of two questions. first, what's back there? >> this is curry canyon ranch. it's the miss

while fleishman undergoes treatment at the san francisco burn center, richard thomas is scheduled to be back in court here next tuesday. in oakland, abc 7 news. >>> still ahead tonight on abc 7 news, workers' safety on the b.a.r.t. tracks. workers ask why it took years to contribute to a rule that may have contributed to several deaths. >>> the incident raising new concerns about battery powered cars. >>> our early november weather continues to get milder and milder. can this pattern last through the weekend? i'll have the accu-weather forecast coming up. >>> and a bit later, the government's plan for preventing thousands of heart attacks. you may have to give up french z to thosuffered in silence... hoped... and lived in a state of fear... welcome to a new state... of health. welcome to covered california. the place to find quality, affordable coverage. financial help for those in need. and nobody can be denied because of a pre-existing condition. enroll now at coveredca.com or call 800-675-2607. >>> sacramento came to san francisco today for a hearing on b.a.r.t.'s safety practices

. --- el joven agreg que, richard thomas, el adolescente que lo agredi, no debera ser juzgado como adulto ---atencion!... que la patrulla de caminos ya est vigilando a los conductores ebrios o que manejan imprudenteme nte. take vo ---las patrullas estarn prestando atencion, tambien a quienes no utilicen sus cinturones de seguridad, conduzcan a exceso de velocidad, que esten hablando por telefono sin un aparato de "manos libres" o enviando mensajes de texto. ---en algunas ciudades, si una persona es arrestada por conducir en estado de ebriedad, deber permanecer en prisin hasta el lunes, cuando regresen los jueces a trabajar. ---las multas pueden ascender a ms de 10 mil dlares. blanca ---esta tarde, un sospechoso se encuentra tras las rejas, acusado de asesinar a un joven de 18 aÑos en san jose. take vo ---segn las autoridades, anoche detuvieron a un sujeto por la muerte de "pedro cortez" quien fue baleado el sabado pasado. ---segn testigos, un pistolero abri fuego contra el joven desde un auto en marcha en la avenida "peter pan", cerca del parque "capitol". ---la identidad del sospechoso n

opened doors, open minds, a price flag is outside of the building. 16-year-old richard thomas was charged with a hate crime enhancement. in court prosecutors said that he told police that he did it because he's homophobic. family says he's not hateful and is remorseful that perhaps it was a joke. on line this morning a website set up to help raise money for fleishman's bills says it has reached a goal of $20,000 and gone over that. fleishman is undergoing a number of skin grafts. i have to tell you there are encouraging words of support left there on the website for fleishman as well. live in berkeley, "today in the bay." >> thank you very much for the report. >> we want to check in with scott mcgrew. keeping our eye on twitter. it is taking a dip down about to 44 4404. >> right, in the first full day of trading we're seeing the first negative mum bers. after a huge run-up, what, thursday, all day thursday up better than 70%. two of the stocks, the volume at tesla. there was a trade fire. and ubiquity is up 17% started by an apple engineer who still lives in a two-room apartment. this whi

making good progress recovering from second- and third-degree burns to his legs. 16-year-old richard thomas is being tried as an adult in the case. but yesterday, his attorney asked a judge to send the case to juvenile court. the victim's father actually agrees. >> as a 16-year-old, i -- i feel that he should be tried as a juvenile. >> a hearing on whether to send the case to juvenile court is set for next month. >>> happening right now, truck drivers are staging a work stoppage at the port of oakland. the issue is state air pollution regulations set to take effect january 1. the port of oakland truckers association says 800 truckers could lose their jobs. the truckers want help upgrading their trucks to meet the new requirements. they had another work stoppage last august over the same issue. >>> today will mark 35 years since harvey milk and mayor george moscone were assassinated at city hall. a march like this one last year will start this afternoon at city hall. thousands will walk through the streets to the plaza at market and castro streets named in honor of mr. milk. >>> and it's not

the 16-year-old boy who admitted to sitting him on fire is richard thomas. he remains in jail. >> you should really know better than to light someone's clothing on fire. i think you should be able to realize that that's not just a funny prank. >> thomas is currently facing felony charges in adult court, but his attorney made a motion to have the case moved to juvenile court. the family is very forgiving agrees with that move. >> i don't want to be too harsh just because people do dumb things, you know, especially when they're teenagers. >> joel is with an east bay group that educates schoolkids about gender variation. >> to me, the lesson is we have a long way in society to make room for people to be themselves. sasha plans to return to school next week. channel 2 news, john sasaka. >>> pg&e showed off a few vehicles today. they say it will revolutionize the way they respond to electric outages. 75 kilowatts of power, enough for a subdivision at a time. >> we'll be able to provide them into a transformer and provide more reliable electric service and shorter

. >> richard thomas' family left saying nothing but the oakland high school student regrets setting him opportunity fire. on november 4 on a bus the skirt she was wearing was set on fire and she suffered serious leg burns. this morning gave me good news. >> we are expecting her to be home on wednesday. >> tomorrow. >> tomorrow right. >> what does that feel like. >> it feels great. >> home in time for a small thanksgiving celebration. >> we have a friend coming over bringing a precooked meal. >> back at the court house the 16-year-old's responsibility for of the injuries. >> the security footage from the bus makes that very clear. there is no question about who is responsible in this case. >> to have the case tried instead of adult court where it kernel is. >> he thought there would be a puff of smoke and everybody would laugh. he was horrified. >> supplements moving the case to juvenile court. >> they are not the only members of the gay community who feel that way. >> told me her parents support moving the trial it's beautiful and their hearts go out to her and the family. in oakland i'

the suspect richard thomas is being charged as an adult for the crime. >>> a man is trapped in north korea tonight. authorities there yanked him off an airplane. but no one will say why. >> reporter: family and friends of merrily newman have received no words of his whereabouts and the north cree tan government hasn't provide add reason for his detention. he lives here at the channing apartments behind me and his wife and community is anxious for his return tonight. it's been more than three weeks since anyone has heard from 85-year-old cree tan war veteran merrily newman. he was detained in north korea at the end of a sight seeing trip. >> i feel it's a bad movie or something. i still can't believe that it's real. i just feel he's the easiest man to talk to and the nicest and i can't believe this could happen. >> reporter: long time neighbors and friends marilyn and james coughlin know merle to be friendly. >> what's the threat, exactly? >> reporter: several are looking for answers. >> this is unfortunately a kind of barbaric behavior on the part of the north koreans. >> reporter: n

richard thomas is facing felony charges for allegedly setting fire to another teenager on an ac transit bus. both charges carry hate crime enhancements. >> he didn't know it was going to be like that. he's a good kid, a very good kid. he was joking around, that's all. >> today outside the oakland courtroom, thomas's family defended him, but his mother who identified herself as ms. jackson and spoke off camera said she's very sorry for my son's actions, i did not raise my son that way. as for the hate crime allegations, jackson said no way, we have transgender first cousins in the family. >> 18-year-old sa sshgssha fleishman was wearing a skirt that was set on fire. she was a senior at the high school where the school director, just came out, a as gender queer to my parents, she says a couple years ago. >> outgoing and charming, fun to talk to, wonderful member of our community. >> sasha is still isn't burn unit in st. francis hospital in serious condition, and thomas has no bail and is set to return to court on monday. >>> and an lgbt counselor said they don't identify themselves as mal

richard thomas, seen in this video used a literato set him on fire, causing second and third degree burns to his legs. >> sasha is being taken care of. >>reporter: he's had one surgery and will need more. sasha's father tells me he's thanks full for all the support. dafor sasha's medical 00 within bills. >> i'm overwhelmed with just the love and compassion that people have shown. >>reporter: this morning classmates at his high school wore skirts to show solidarity and support. >> the whole school came together. >>reporter: turning a tragedy into something positive. >> grateful for all the love and care and support people have shown us. >>reporter: in our exclusive interview i asked the father for his reaction on the attacks and also asked him to respond to the fact that the district attorney is charging the suspect as an adult with hate crime enhancements. we'll get that response coming up. >> we understand the family has a funding website. are they still asking for donations for medical expenses? >>reporter: not at this time. they've already met their goal. right now they're a father and

. >> reporter: police are charging the suspect in the case, 16-year-old richard thomas, with assault with a deadly weapon, and hate crime enhancement because they believe sasha's skirt triggered the attack. sasha's mom says he identifies as neither male or female. the word at high school, sasha is supported no matter what. >> we can't wait to get you back in our community here. >> reporter: it's not just the show of support. more than 400 people have donated about $21,000 to help pay for sasha's medical bills. live in berkeley, anne makovec, kpix 5. >>> airports across the country held a moment of silence to remember the tsa worker murdered on the job last week. this was the observance at san jose moneta international airport. 9:20 in the morning is the time one week ago when tsa officer geraldo hernandez was shot to death at lax. the suspect was targeting tsa agents. >>> a former santa clara county supervisor finds out if he'll go to jail for five felonies and seven misdemeanors to feed his gambling habit. defense attorneys will argue for community service instead of jail time. >>>

---"richard thomas" un estudiante de 16 aÑos fue detenido y acusado de atacar al joven quien se definemo "asexuado". ---segun la policia el ataque fue ejecutado por motivos homofbicos. vo-blanca ---la policia de san jose anunci esta tarde el arresto de "simon morales" y su esposa en conexion con la muerte de "francisco lugo" ocurrida el pasado mes de junio. ---de acuerdo al reporte, lugo ...fue golpeado por los sospechosos hasta quedar inconsciente en un parque de la ciudad y murio dias despues por las lesiones. cesar ---miles de personas se quedaron sin electricidad esta madrugada en la ciudad de hayward. take map ---esto, luego que una camioneta tipo van, se estrellara contra un poste de luz sobre la avenida "hathaway". take vo ---segun la empresa "pg&e" unos 5 mil 700 de sus clientes, perdieron el suministro electrico a causa del accidente. ---el servicio fue restaurado esta maÑana vo-blanca ---esta noche continua la busqueda de un conductor que huy a pie tras causar un accidente en carambola en el que se vieron involucrados 4 autos sobre la autopista 2-80 rumbo al sur en "hillsboro

prosecutors are charging 16-year-old richard thomas as an adult with a hate crime enhancement alleging they're motivated by the sexual identity. he was wearing a skirt who he was set on fire. sasha identifies as no gender. >> we have no problem with them wearing a skirt. at first i was nervous about it because i was a afraid of something like this happening and for a year and a half, it's been fine and for something like this to happen is -- is so horrible, not just for what it was, but they said to me that i would -- they wanted no take him to school and pick him up instead of him riding the bus and that's really sad to me. >> now today the bus stop is being decorated in support of sasha whose mother says she's resilient. we'll have much more from his parents tonight on ktvu news at 10:00. in the news room, i'm noel walker. >> thank you. as noel showed us, students at sasha's high school showed support in a unique way. girls and boys wore skirts in honor of their classmates. he remains hospitalized with second and 3rd degree burns at san francisco general. students say they plan to su

. >> earlier this month, 16-year- old, richard thomas, sent the skirts on fire aboard a bus, causing second and third degree burns to his legs. the suspect did it because he is home phobic. but sasha's family says the attack won't stop him from wearing skirts. in fact, he wore a black one today. >> people realize that you can wear unusual clothing and it doesn't mean that you have a right to attack them. >> what will change is sasha won't be riding the bus alone. >> i'm sure sasha will ride the bus again. probably with friends. >> both parents say it's been a tiring ordeal juggling between work and hospital visits. they are just glad sasha can go back to his normal life. >> he has been smiling a lot. >> sasha could return to his high school as early as next monday. in oakland, i'm don lynn, kpix5. >> despite the allegations in this recent case, attorney general says hate crimes in california are actually declining. last year, the number of reported hate crimes dropped nearly 13% from 2011. >> seen on the delta today, looked like a scene out of breaking bad. a sheriff towing away the

. >> reporter: as sasha prepares to come home, the 16-year-old suspect richard thomas appeared in court where he has attorney filed a motion to have him prosecuted as a child. not as an adult. >> he ought to be treated like what he is, which is a 16-year-old child who made a horrible mistake, for which he'll have to pay severely. there's nothing in this case that suggests adult type conduct. >> reporter: while sasha's dad doesn't want to comment on the legal aspect of the case, they agree that adult court is not the place for this case. >> we have talked to sasha about this too. >> reporter: the suspect's attorney calls the family great for how they've handled this case. >>> stowe is the giants fan who was beaten at dodgers stadium almost three years ago. he's taking 17 medications, including an anti-seizure drug. many of stow's complications are brain related. >>> many of us are lucky to spend thanks giving at home surrounded by family and friends. >> thousands of people are grateful for that. we have tonight's bay area proud. >> reporter: she was lucky to have grown up in a large exte

take vo ---el abogado de richard thomas, dijo hoy a los medios que su defendido no deberia ser juzgado porque su acto fue simplemente una broma. ---segun la fiscalia, thomas prendio fuego a la falda que vestia "luke fleischman mientras ste dormia en un camion del "ac transit" y el delito fue motivado por el odio racial, ya que la victima se identifica como "asexuado". blanca ---un pjaro fue la causa de un gran susto para pasajeros de san jose. cesar ---la tripulacion del avin se vio forzada a aterrizar de emergencia en un vuelo que parti del aeropuerto de esa ciudad esta maÑana.. roll open under esto, despus que un pjaro se incrustara en una de sus turbinas. take 2 box ---jaime peluffo nos acompaÑa con los pormenores.. jaime. take jaime live cu - peluffo autoridades del aeropuerto mineta dicen que estos impactos de pjaros son ms frecuentes de lo que la gente se imagina.. :01 - :06 :16 - :21 :27 - :32 1:07 - 1:11 trt: 1:51 o.c. pero sí peligroso. estas imgenes muestran a mecnicos inspeccionando el avin md- 83 que tuvo aterrizar de emergencia esta maÑana despus de partir hacia dallas, te

richard thomas has been charged. he hasn't yet entered a plea. >>> it took four hours to read the names of all of the children in foster care in california. it was done during a vigil. activists are hoping to bring attention to the 33,000 children who are in foster care. the non-profit mission focus solution is one of the many that tries to match-up kids with adoptive parents. it should be easier now than ever as more and more same-sex couples and single parents want to help. >> you can learn more about fostering a child on www.ktvu.com. >>> winds will be picking up tonight. i am watching the area wheres powerful gusts could be a problem. >> we told you about the high school fight that is being investigated as a hate crime. after the break how this sent the is putting the battle against bullying back in the spotlight. >> elmo goes to prison. >> the magic he brought inside the gates of san quentin. i love watching tv outside. and why can you move the tv out here? the wireless receiver. i got that when i switched to u-

while fleishman undergoes treatment at the san francisco burn center, richard thomas is scheduled to be back in court here next tuesday. in oakland, abc 7 news. >>> still ahead tonight on abc 7 news, workers' safety on the b.a.r.t. tracks. workers ask why it took years to contribute to a rule that may have contributed to several deaths. >>> the incident raising new concerns about battery powered cars. >>> our early november weather continues to get milder and milder. can this pattern last through the weekend? i'll have the accu-weather forecast coming up. >>> and a bit later, the government's plan for preventing thousands of heart attacks. you may have to give up french fries. stay with us. stay with us. abc 7 nudes continues. we love this kitchen! stay with us. abc 7 nudes continues. what's next? great! do you have measurements? yeah, i paced it off. it's about twenty by twelve of these. so, we can measure, plan and install it for you. yea, let's do that! ikea. professional kitchen services at a low price. we lowhat's next?hen! great! do you have measurements? yeah, i paced it off.

. >> reporter: 16-year-old richard thomas admits he did it. police say thomas is homophobic but his attorney says it was a prank. >> you should really know better than to light someone's clothing on fire. i mean, i think you should be able to realize that that is not just a funny prank. >> reporter: sasha is not ready to forgive the 16-year-old. >> i don't want to be too harsh just because people do dumb things. >> reporter: whether or not it was a hate crime, sasha says it was a hateful thing to set someone on fire. he is glad the attack brought awareness about people who don't identify as male or female. >> i'm going to keep wearing a skirt. that's something i'm not going to give up. it is a big part of who i am. >> reporter: he's thankful for the ability to express himself and so much more. >> i am really glad that i could be home for thanksgiving. >> reporter: sasha won't be riding the busby himself any time soon. -- bus by himself any time soon. we will return to his high school on monday. in oakland, i am da lin, kpix 5. >>> despite sash