NBC Nightly News Full Episode - April 16

♪♪. >>> TONIGHT, THE NEWS. ESCALATION IN. PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. DEPORTATION STANDOFF. WITH THE COURTS. THE ARREST AND. TAKEDOWNS HAPPENING. ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BUT HAS THE WHITE. HOUSE'S TACTICS GONE. TOO FAR? A JUDGE SAYING THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. CROSSED A MAJOR LEGAL. LINE WHEN IT SENT THE. FLIGHTS TO EL. SALVADOR, FINDING. PROBABLE CAUSE TO HOLD. TRUMP OFFICIALS IN.

CONTEMPT OF COURT. >>> PLUS NEW REPORTING. ON THE UNDOCUMENTED. FATHER DEPORTED FROM. MARYLAND TO EL. SALVADOR. THE DOCUMENTS THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. SAY SHOW HE WAS A GANG. MEMBER. >>> DISTURBING NEW. VIDEO OF THE SHOOTING. INSIDE A DALLAS HIGH. SCHOOL AS IT HAPPENS. A TEENAGE SUSPECT. BEHIND BARS. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING. ABOUT HOW THE GUN GOT. INSIDE. >>> THE TOP HEALTH. OFFICIAL SPEAKING OUT. ON AUTISM. ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.

CONTRADICTING A CDC. REPORT ABOUT THE CAUSE. IN THE RISE IN RATES, SUGGESTING. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS. MAY BE TO BLAME. >>> IS NOW THE BEST. TIME TO BUY A CAR? HOW TARIFFS COULD. DRIVE UP COSTS. NATIONWIDE. TOM COSTELLO IS ON THE. LOT ASKING ABOUT THE. BEST DEALS. THAT WILL SOON HOST. COMPETITION. >> Announcer: THIS IS. "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS". WITH LESTER HOLT.

>> GOOD EVENING, I'M. TOM LLAMAS IN FOR. LESTER. THERE ARE SEVERAL. BREAKING DEVELOPMENTS. TONIGHT ON THE. PRESIDENT'S MASS. DEPORTATION PLANS AND. THE WAY THEY'RE. BEING CARRIED OUT. FROM COURTROOMS TO THE. STREETS, INCLUDING. THIS ONE NEAR BOSTON, WE'RE SEEING. DRAMATIC TACTICS FROM. I.C.E. AGENTS MAKING. ARRESTS. PART OF THE. ADMINISTRATION'S. INTENSIFYING APPROACH. TO IMMIGRATION. IT COMES AS PRESIDENT. TRUMP'S STANDOFF WITH. THE COURTS TOOK A HIGH. STAKES TURN TODAY. THE ADMINISTRATION. COMING OUT SWINGING.

AFTER A FEDERAL JUDGE. SAID IT LIKELY ACTED. IN CONTEMPT BY SENDING. DEPORTATION FLIGHTS TO. EL SALVADOR DESPITE AN. ORDER TO KEEP THEM. GROUNDED. THE JUDGE THREATENING. TO BEGIN CRIMINAL. CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS. IF THE ADMINISTRATION. DOESN'T GIVE THE MEN. THE CHANCE TO. CHALLENGE THEIR. DEPORTATION. AMONG THEM AN. UNDOCUMENTED MAN. LIVING IN MARYLAND. AND TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTS. THE ADMINISTRATION. SAYS PROVE HE'S A GANG. MEMBER. GABE GUTIERREZ AT THE. WHITE HOUSE STARTING. US OFF TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT.

WITH IMMIGRATION. ARRESTS LIKE THESE. PLAYING OUT ACROSS THE. COUNTRY, A FEDERAL. JUDGE NOW SAYS THE. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IS CROSSING A LINE. DEPORTATIONS. AFTER THE. CONTROVERSIAL REMOVAL. FLIGHTS TO EL SALVADOR. LAST MONTH, THE JUDGE. SLAMMING THE. GOVERNMENT FOR FAILING. TO COMPLY WITH HIS. COURT ORDER TO. TEMPORARILY HALT THE. PLANES. WRITING PROBABLE CAUSE. EXISTS TO FIND THE. GOVERNMENT IN CRIMINAL. CONTEMPT. >> THE IDEA THAT ONE. BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT. WOULD IGNORE THE. ORDERS OF ANOTHER IS. SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T.

SEEN IN OUR NATION'S. HISTORY. >> Reporter: THE JUDGE. WRITING THE. CONSTITUTION DOES NOT. TOLERATE WILLFUL. DISOBEDIENCE OF. JUDICIAL ORDERS, ADDING THAT. DISOBEDIENCE WOULD. MAKE A SOLEMN MOCKERY. OF. THE CONSTITUTION. ITSELF. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS. IT WILL APPEAL. A SEPARATE CASE FOR. ONE OF THE DEPORTEES, KILMAR ABREGO GARCIA, THE MAN THE JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT. INITIALLY. ACKNOWLEDGED WAS. MISTAKENLY SENT TO EL. SALVADOR. THE SUPREME COURT. RULED THAT THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION SHOULD. FACILITATE HIS RETURN. TO THE U.S. AFTER DAYS OF.

REQUESTS, THE. ADMINISTRATION. RELEASED A DOCUMENT. FROM 2018 DETAILING. HOW AN INFORMANT. ALLEGEDLY. IDENTIFIED HIM AS A. MEMBER OF THE GANG. MS-13. GIVING HIS RANK AND. >> WHEN HE WAS. ARRESTED, HE WAS. WEARING A SWEATSHIRT. WITH ROLLS OF MONEY. COVERING THE EARS, MOUTH AND EYES OF. PRESIDENTS ON VARIOUS. CURRENCY. DENOMINATIONS, A KNOWN. MS-13 GANG SYMBOL. >> Reporter: ABREGO.

GARCIA'S FAMILY DENIES. HE'S A. GANG MEMBER AND HE'S. NEVER BEEN CRIMINALLY. CONVICTED. DEMOCRATIC. SENATOR VAN HOLLEN. OF MARYLAND. WENT TO EL SALVADOR. TO PUSH FOR HIS. RELEASE AND WAS DENIED. A MEETING WITH HIM. >> THIS IS ABOUT DUE. PROCESS, NOT ALLOWING. PEOPLE TO JUST GET. WHISKED OFF THE. STREETS. WHICH THE TRUMP. ADMINISTRATION ADMITS. WAS IN ERROR. >> Reporter: LATE. TODAY, THE WHITE HOUSE. HIGHLIGHTING THE STORY. OF PATTY MORIN, WHOSE. DAUGHTER RACHEL WAS.

KILLED BY AN. UNDOCUMENTED. IMMIGRANT. >> THESE ARE THE KIND. OF CRIMINALS PRESIDENT. TRUMP WANTS TO REMOVE. FROM OUR COUNTRY. >> Reporter: THE. ADMINISTRATION SAYING. DEPORTATIONS WILL RAMP. UP. IN THIS AREA OF. BOSTON, A WOMAN SAYS. I.C.E. OFFICERS USED A HAMMER. TO BREAK WINDOWS TO. GET HER HUSBAND WITH. NO CRIMINAL RECORD. THIS SHOWS VENEZUELAN. MAN TACKLED IN A. NEW HAMPSHIRE. COURTHOUSE. KNOCKING OVER ANOTHER.

MAN IN THE PROCESS. IT'S NOW. SPILLING INTO. CONTENTIOUS TOWN. HALLS, INCLUDING BY. CHUCK GRASSLEY FROM. THE JUDICIARY. COMMITTEE. >> ARE YOU GOING TO. BRING THE GUY BACK. FROM EL SALVADOR? >> YEAH. YES! >> WHY NOT? >> BECAUSE THAT'S. NOT -- THAT'S NOT A. POWER OF CONGRESS. >> SUPREME COURT SAYS. BRING HIM BACK. >> THIS IS AMERICA. >> Reporter: IN. GEORGIA, POLICE. TASERED TWO PROTESTERS. AT AN EVENT BY. CONGRESSWOMAN. MARJORIE TAYLOR. GREENE. >> BYE, JUST LIKE THAT ILLEGAL.

ALIEN, BYE. >> GABE JOINS US LIVE. LET'S GO BACK TO THE. MAN DEPORTED TO EL. SALVADOR. I KNOW YOU HAVE NEW. REPORTING ON HIS PAST. >> Reporter: IN 2021 A. PROTECTION ORDER WAS. ISSUED AGAINST HIM IN. A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. CASE. IT WAS CLOSED WHEN HIS. WIFE DID NOT SHOW UP. FOR COURT. AS FOR. THE GANG ALLEGATIONS, HIS ATTORNEYS HAVE. REPEATEDLY QUESTIONED. THE CREDIBILITY OF THE. CONFIDENTIAL. INFORMANT. TOM. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT. LET'S STAY WITH THIS. BREAKING NEWS. ALL THE LEGAL. DEVELOPMENTS. HOW WOULD A JUDGE PUT. THE TRUMP.

ADMINISTRATION IN. CONTEMPT OF COURT, LAURA JARRETT? WHAT ARE THE REALISTIC. SCENARIOS? >> THIS IS AN. INFLECTION POINT, THE. JUDGE SAYING HE'S. GIVING THE JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT ONE LAST. CHANCE TO COMPLY WITH. HIS ORIGINAL ORDER, FIND THOSE PEOPLE HE. SAYS WERE WRONGLY PUT. ON PLANES LAST MONTH. IF IT DOES NOT COMPLY, HE WILL ESCALATE. FIGURE OUT WHO IS TO. BLAME. FINAL STEP IS. REFERRING FOR CRIMINAL.

PROSECUTION BY THE DO. JO. IF DOJ WON'T. PROSECUTE, HE COULD. APPOINT AN OUTSIDER. BUT WOULD ANSWER TO. THE JUSTICE. DEPARTMENT. >> SO MANY STEPS. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> THE SHOOTING THAT. HAPPENED YESTERDAY AT. A HIGH SCHOOL IN. DALLAS. NEW SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. SHOWING THE TERRIFYING. MOMENTS SHOTS RANG. OUT. SENDING STUDENTS. SCRAMBLING. HOURS LATER, THE. TEENAGE SUSPECT. TURNING HIMSELF IN TO. POLICE. JESSE KIRSCH. >> Reporter: TRACY.

HAYNES JR. SURRENDERED. TO POLICE. HOURS AFTER HE. ALLEGEDLY WENT ON A. SHOOTING RAMPAGE AT A. DALLAS HIGH SCHOOL. >> DON'T TALK TO. NOBODY. >> Reporter: SHOCKING. NEW SURVEILLANCE VIDEO. SHOWING. THE MOMENT. INVESTIGATORS SAY. HAYNES OPENED FIRE. ACCORDING TO THE. ARREST AFFIDAVIT, AN. UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT. LET THE SUSPECT IN THE. SCHOOL THROUGH AN. UNSECURED DOOR. AROUND 1:00 P.M. TUESDAY. THE AFFIDAVIT SAID. HAYNES STRUCK MULTIPLE. STUDENTS, ADDING HE APPROACHED. ONE STUDENT AND. APPEARED TO TAKE A. POINT BLANK SHOT.

THE TEENAGER. BOOKED ON AGGRAVATED. ASSAULT, MASS SHOOTING. UNDER TEXAS LAW, HE'S. CONSIDERED AN ADULT. >> ONE THING HE SAID. IN MY. OFFICE I DON'T WANT TO. GET KILLED. >> Reporter: ANTON. LUCKY WHO LEADS AN. ANTIVIOLENCE COMMUNITY. ORGANIZATION, SAYS HE. MET WITH. THE ALLEGED SHOOTER. AND HELPED FACILITATE. THE SURRENDER. DID YOU GET A SENSE OF. REMORSE OR. RESPONSIBILITY? >> I DID GET THAT. IT WAS OBVIOUS HE HAD. A SENSE OF.

FEAR WHETHER THE. PEOPLE HE HAD THE. ALTERCATION WITH OR. SOME LAW. ENFORCEMENT. >> Reporter: SHE WAS. IN ENGLISH WHEN CHAOS. BROKE OUT. >> I WAS SCARED. >> Reporter: SHE SAID. A WOUNDED STUDENT. WALKED INTO THE. CLASSROOM AND. COLLAPSED. >> I'M ON THE PHONE. WITH HER, SCREAMING, I'M ABOUT TO CRY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO. TELL HER. >> Reporter: DALLAS. FIRE AND RESCUE SAID. AT LEAST TWO INJURED. STUDENTS REMAIN. HOSPITALIZED FOR. OBSERVATION. TOM. >> JESSE, THANK YOU. FOR THAT. >>> ONE DAY AFTER THE. CDC RELEASED NEW DATA.

ON AUTISM, HEALTH. SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. IS. CHALLENGING IT, MAKING. QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS. ANNE THOMPSON REPORTS. >> Reporter: TODAY THE. NATION'S TOP HEALTH. OFFICIAL, ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., DOUBLING. DOWN ON HIS CLAIM. THERE'S AN AUTISM. EPIDEMIC. >> YEAR BY YEAR THERE. IS A STEADY, RELENTLESS INCREASE. >> Reporter: THE. HEALTH AND HUMAN. SERVICES SECRETARY. POINTED TO CDC DATA, SHOWING PREVALENCE. INCREASING.

FROM 1 TO. 150 8-YEAR-OLDS TO 1. IN 31 IN 2022 AND. OFFERED HIS OWN THEORY. FOR THE RISE WITHOUT. PROOF. >> THIS IS A. PREVENTIBLE DISEASE. WE KNOW IT'S. ENVIRONMENTAL. EXPOSURE. IT HAS TO BE. GENES DO NOT CAUSE. EPIDEMICS. >> Reporter: DR. ZACH. WARREN, ONE OF THE. AUTHORS OF THE CDC. REPORT SAYS THERE'S NO. ONE ANSWER BUT THE. BEST SCIENCE SO FAR. POINTS TO GENETICS. >> WE HAVE DATA A. CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF.

SOME TYPES OF AUTISM. CAN BE CLEARLY. EXPLAINED BY GENETIC. DIFFERENCES. WE HAVE OTHER EVIDENCE. SUGGESTING ACTUALLY. IT'S THE COMPLEX. INTERPLAY OF. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS. AND ALL THOSE THINGS. THAT INFLUENCE BRAIN. DEVELOPMENT THAT WE. NEED TO UNDERSTAND AS. WELL. >> Reporter: IS IT A. PREVENTIBLE DISEASE? >> I THINK IT'S. CHALLENGING TO ANSWER. THAT QUESTION BECAUSE. AUTISM ISN'T A SINGLE. THING. IT'S A WORD WE USE AS. A BEST ATTEMPT TO.

CAPTURE A WIDE VARIETY. OF WONDERFULLY UNIQUE. CHILDREN WITH. STRENGTHS, DEVELOPMENTAL. VULNERABILITIES. >> Reporter: KENNEDY. PAINTED A BLEAK. PICTURE FOR THOSE WITH. AUTISM. >> THESE ARE KIDS WHO. WILL NEVER PAY TAXES, NEVER HOLD A JOB, NEVER PLAY BASEBALL, NEVER WRITE A POEM. NEVER GO OUT ON A. DATE. >> Reporter: SAM. BRANSON HAS A Ph.D. IN. PHYSICS AND IS AN. AUTISM RESEARCHER.

SAM AND HIS 7-YEAR-OLD. SON HAVE AUTISM. >> WE HAVE I THINK. VIBRANT FUTURES. TO HEAR SOMEONE WHO IS. A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, YOU KNOW, CALLING US. AN EPIDEMIC AND, YEAH, ESSENTIALLY LABELLING. US AS NEGATIVE. OUTCOMES IS QUITE. HARMFUL. >> SECRETARY KENNEDY. SAYS THE GOVERNMENT. WILL STUDY WHAT HE. SAYS ARE POTENTIAL. FACTORS SUCH AS MOLD, PESTICIDES AND FOOD. ADDITIVES. HE PROMISES TO FOLLOW. THE SCIENCE AND SAYS.

HE EXPECTS TO HAVE. SOME ANSWERS BY. SEPTEMBER. TOM. >> SO MANY FAMILIES. FOLLOWING THIS BACK. AND FORTH. ANNE, WE. THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> TURN NOW TO THE. ARSON ATTACK INSIDE. THE PENNSYLVANIA. GOVERNOR'S HOME. NEW COURT DOCUMENTS. REVEALING CHILLING. DETAILS. SHAQ BREWSTER. WHAT ARE WE LEARNING. ABOUT A POSSIBLE. MOTIVE? >> Reporter: A NEWLY. RELEASED SEARCH. WARRANT, POLICE SAY. THE SUSPECT WAS. POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. WHEN HE ALLEGEDLY. FIREBOMBED THE HOME OF.

GOVERNOR SHAPIRO. ACCORDING TO THE. DOCUMENTS, THE BOMBER. CALLED 911 MINUTES. AFTER THE ATTACK, TELLING DISPATCHERS. SHAPIRO NEEDS TO KNOW. HE WILL NOT TAKE PART. IN HIS PLANS FOR THE. WHAT HE WANTS TO DO TO. THE. PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. HE'S ACCUSED OF. ATTACKING THE. RESIDENCE WITH. MOLOTOV COCKTAILS AS. HIS FAMILY AND GUESTS. WERE SLEEPING. THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS. OFFICE SAYING IF. STRUE, IT P. DEMONSTRATES THE.

SEVERE CONSEQUENCES OF. MENTAL ILLNESS AND WE. ARE LEARNING THE STATE. POLICE ARE USING AN. OUTSIDE EXPERT. >>> THE FAMILY OF A. BAPTIST. PASTOR TELLING NBC. NEWS IT'S A MIRACLE. HE'S ALIVE AFTER. TEAMMATES WERE KILLED. IN A DRAMATIC SHOOTOUT. IN. SOUTH AFRICA. >> THIS IS YOUR. COMMUNITY PASTOR, JOSH. SULLIVAN. >> Reporter: TENNESSEE. PASTOR. SULLIVAN IS SAFE AFTER. A DEADLY SHOOTOUT. BETWEEN HIS ABDUCTORS. AND POLICE. HE WAS KIDNAPPED IN. FRONT OF HIS WIFE AND. SIX CHILDREN, THE. YOUNGEST 2 YEARS OLD.

HIS RELIEVED. FATHER-IN-LAW TELLING. NBC NEWS HE GOT A. PHONE CALL FROM A. FAMILY MEMBER. FOLLOWING FIVE. FRIGHTENING DAYS. >> I ANSWERED IT. IMMEDIATELY, AND. BASICALLY JUST. DROPPED TO MY KNEES, HIS WORDS WERE WE GOT. HIM. AND THANK GOD. >> Reporter: POLICE. TODAY STILL SEARCHING. THE HOUSE WHERE PASTOR. SULLIVAN WAS RESCUED. OUTSIDE, THREE ABDUCTORS WERE. KILLED AS THEY TRIED.

TO ESCAPE WITH HIM IN. A VEHICLE. >> THREE CAME OUT. DEAD, JOSH WAS ALIVE. HE WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THAT WAS FILLED WITH. BULLETS, SO 100% GOD. >> HOPING YOU SEE THE. SIGN OF OUR CHURCH. >> Reporter: THIS GANG. IN A TOWNSHIP IN. EASTERN CAPE HAD BEEN. DEMANDING RANSOM AFTER. PULLING HIM FROM THE. PULPIT OF THE BAPTIST. CHURCH HE FOUNDED IN. AND SHOWED IN THE. YOUTUBE VIDEO. >> I SPOKE TO HIM LAST. NIGHT, EXTREMELY.

BRIEF. HIS WORDS WERE HE. LOVED ME. MY WORDS TO HIM WERE I. LOVED HIM. >> TONIGHT JOSH. SULLIVAN'S FAMILY SAY. HE'S UNHARMED AND. REUNITED WITH HIS WIFE. AND CHILDREN, THE. PRAYERS OF HIS. COMMUNITY ANSWERED. TOM. >> KEIR. THANK YOU. >>> BACK AT HOME, THE. CAR SUPPLY IS.

>>> TECH OCKS. >>> TECH STOCKS. PLUNGED AFTER CHIP. GIANT NVIDIA SAYS. TARIFFS COULD IMPACT. DEMAND. CAR DEALERSHIPS REPORT. SHRINKING INVENTORIES. WITH AMERICANS RACING. TO BUY BEFORE THE NEW. TARIFFS KICK IN. TOM COSTELLO. >> Reporter: AT CAR. DEALERSHIPS THE RUSH. TO BEAT THE TARIFFS IS. ON. EVEN CUSTOMERS WHO. DON'T NEED A CAR ARE. BUYING NOW BEFORE THE. PRICES RISE AS MUCH AS. 25%. IN MARYLAND, CHRISTINE WAS CAR. SHOPPING TO REPLACE. THE 12-YEAR-OLD FAMILY.

VAN. >> TRYING TO BUY A CAR. BEFORE THE TARIFFS. KICK IN, BUT I WANT A. CAR I LOVE BECAUSE. IT'S A BIG PURCHASE. AND HAS TO LAST TEN. YEARS. >> Reporter: KELLEY. BLUE BOOK REPORTS. DEALERS HAVE A 91-DAY. SUPPLY OF CARS START. OF MARCH, BUT IT'S. DOWN NOW. SHOPPING FOR CHEAPER. OPTIONS, USED CAR. SALES UP 12% COMPARED. TO A YEAR AGO.

ROB SMITH IS THE. PRESIDENT OF. FITZGERALD AUTO MALL. IN MARYLAND, UP A. STUNNING 24% IN APRIL. >>. REGARDLESS OF WHO. MAKES THE CAR, DEALER OR NOT OR THE. BRAND, YOUR. RECOMMENDATION NOW IS. DO WHAT? >> BUY A CAR NOW, SO. YOU CAN GET THE CAR. YOU WANT WITH THE. RIGHT EQUIPMENT AND. MODEL. >> Reporter: DEPENDING. ON THE MODEL, THE. TOYOTA RAV4 STARTS. ROUGHLY $31,000 TODAY.

SAME WITH THE HONDA. CRV. THE FORD F-150 IS THE. SAME AS THE CHEVY. SILVERADO. BUT COULD GO UP WITH. HOW MANY. FOREIGN PARTS. ARE INCLUDED. HOW MUCH? >> A LOT ARE TRYING TO. GUARANTEE THE PRICES. THROUGH END OF APRIL, MAY. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF. UNCERTAINTY. NOBODY KNOWS WHEN THE. SUPPLY WILL RUN OUT. >> Reporter: NOT EVEN. YOU? >> I CAN'T PREDICT. THAT. >> Reporter: EXPERTS. SAY IF YOU. ARE LIKELY TO NEED A. CAR IN THE NEXT SIX.

MONTHS, THE TIME TO. BUY A PRETARIFF CAR. COULD BE NOW. TOM. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW. WITH NEWS EVERY DOG. OWNER NEEDS TO HEAR. THERE'S A PILL BEING. STUDIED IN A CLINICAL. TRIAL THAT HOPES TO. EXPAND THE LIFE OF. YOUR BELOVED PET. IMAGINE KEEPING YOUR. DOG ALIVE AND HEALTHY. FOR A LITTLE LONGER. SAM BROCK. >> Reporter: FOR JOHN. YOUNG AND HIS.

10-YEAR-OLD DOG. REGGIE, THERE'S NO. ILLUSION THE. SPANIEL-COLLIE MIX. WILL LIVE. FOREVER, BUT A LONGER. LIFE WITH A PILL A DAY. MEANS EVERYTHING. >> HE'S BEEN WITH ME. EVERY DAY, HE'S MY. BEST FRIEND. >> Reporter: ONE OF A. DOZEN DOG OWNERS IN A. CLINICAL TRIAL IN. FACILITIES LIKE THIS. ONE IN. PENNSYLVANIA. SPEARHEADED BY A BAY. AREA BIOTECH COMPANY. >> WE'LL BE FOLLOWING. THESE DOGS OVER FIVE. YEARS. >> Reporter: THE. FOUNDER CARRIES A.

CLEAR MISSION. >> I THINK WE'RE. WORKING ON ONE OF THE. MOST FUNDAMENTAL AND. TOUCHING PROBLEMS THAT. MOST PEOPLE HAVE FELT. IN THEIR LIFE, RIGHT? EVERYONE HAS FELT THE. PAIN OF LOSING AN. ANIMAL. >> Reporter: BUT THE. EXPECTATION IS YOU. DON'T THINK YOU'LL ADD. MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. TO AN ANIMAL'S LIFE. >> NO, THIS IS NOT. IMMORTAL DOGS, SORRY. TO DISAPPOINT. EVERYONE. WE'RE GOING FOR ONE. HEALTHIER YEAR, HOPEFULLY MORE, MAYBE. LESS. >> Reporter: AFTER A. YEAR, THE FDA GAVE IT. A STAMP OF REASONABLE. EXPECTATION OF. EFFECTIVENESS. THE FIRST FOR.

LONGEVITY DRUG. THEY'RING LOOING TO. IMPROVE. METABOLIC FITNESS HAS. IMPACTED BIGGER DOGS. MORE SEVERELY. WILL IT HELP LARGER. DOGS MORE? >> IT'S HARD TO KNOW. THERE'S MORE TO. ACHIEVE WITH LARGER. DOGS. THEY HAVE AN. ARTIFICIALLY SHORT. LIFE SPAN. BUT CAN BENEFIT A. SMALLER BREED, TOO. >> Reporter: THE TRIAL. IS FOR A DOG 10 YEARS. OLD. AND A CERTAIN SIZE. MINIMUM WEIGHT IS 14. POUNDS BECAUSE DOSING. IS HARDER FOR REALLY.

SMALL DOGS. THESE TWO ARE OUT FOR. NOW. BUT THAT COULD CHANGE. OVER TIME. IN THE MEANTIME, OWNERS DON'T KNOW IF. THEIR DOG IS ON THE. REAL DRUG OR A PLACEBO. BEEF PILL BUT HE'S. OKAY BEING PART OF. HISTORY EITHER WAY. >> IF YOU TELL ME HE. WAS GETTING A PLACEBO, I WOULD BE SHOCKED. >> Reporter: BECAUSE. IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE. SEEING. CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR? >> I REALLY AM. >> Reporter: HOPE ON. THE HORIZON FOR MAN'S. BEST FRIEND. AND THEY'RE TRYING TO.

GET THE DRUG TO MARKET. IN THE NEXT YEAR, LESS. THAN $100 A MONTH, VARIED BECAUSE OF THE. SIZE OF THE DOG, THE POINT HERE, TO EXPECT WHEN ALL. EYES TURN TO L.A.