NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Dec. 4

>>> BREAKING NEWS. TONIGHT. THE KEY EVIDENCE IN. THE LUIGI MANGIONE. MURDER CASE RELEASED. MOMENTS AGO, INCLUDING. THAT 911 CALL FROM THE. McDONALD'S WHERE HE. WAS FINALLY CAPTURED. THE NEVER-BEEN-SEEN. PHOTOS OF THE EVIDENCE. JUST RELEASED. AND WE'LL PLAY YOU THE. 911 CALLS OF THE. McDONALD'S WORKER. TELLING POLICE THE. INFAMOUS ALLEGED. KILLER WAS THERE. THE NEW DETAILS ON. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN.

POLICE CONFRONTED HIM. >>> THE ARREST IN ONE. OF THE BIGGEST. UNSOLVED CRIMES IN OUR. NATION'S CAPITAL. THE SUSPECT CAUGHT ON. VIDEO PLANTING THESE. PIPE BOMBS NEAR THE. REPUBLICAN AND. DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HEADQUARTERS. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE. SUSPECT, AND HOW THEY. FINALLY TRACKED HIM. DOWN. >>> IN THE HOT SEAT. THE ADMIRAL WHO MADE. THE CONTROVERSIAL CALL. TO LAUNCH A SECOND. STRIKE ON A CARIBBEAN. BOAT WITH SURVIVORS. FACING LAWMAKERS ON. CAPITOL HILL. AND SHOWING THEM THE. VIDEO OF THE STRIKE. WHAT THE FOOTAGE. REVEALS. >>> THE DANGEROUS. WINTER BLASTS SET TO.

FREEZE OUT TENS OF. MILLIONS. WHERE THE ARCTIC BLAST. IS HEADING NEXT. >>> THE SCHOOL BUS ON. FIRE. HOW A QUICK-THINKING. BUS DRIVER GOT ALL OF. THE KIDS OUT JUST IN. TIME. >>> THE SKY-HIGH. RESCUE. A WINDOW WASHER. DANGLING 15 STORIES UP. AFTER HIS EQUIPMENT. SNAPPED. HOW RESCUERS RAPPELLED. DOWN TO SAVE HIM. >>> THE COST OF. DENIAL. THE 12-YEAR-OLD DANCER. WITH SEVERE SCOLIOSIS. HER MOTHER'S FIGHT TO. GET HER THE SURGERY A. DOCTOR SAYS SHE NEEDS.

BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT. >>> THE DRAMATIC DASH. CAM VIDEO. A TESLA CRASHING. HEAD-FIRST INTO A. TRUCK, SENDING IT. SLAMMING THROUGH A. WALL. >>> AND THERE IS GOOD. NEWS TONIGHT. THE EMOTIONAL VIDEO. GOING VIRAL. THE ARMY VETERAN STILL. WORKING FULL-TIME IN. HIS 80s AND THE. MILLION DOLLAR. SURPRISE NOW COMING. HIS WAY THANKS TO THE. GENEROSITY OF EVERYDAY. PEOPLE. "NIGHTLY NEWS" STARTS. RIGHT NOW. >> Announcer: THIS IS.

"NBC NIGHTLY NEWS". WITH TOM LLAMAS. >> AND GOOD EVENING. WE'RE COMING ON THE. AIR WITH BREAKING. NEWS. EXACTLY ONE YEAR AFTER. UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO. BRIAN THOMPSON WAS. SHOT AND KILLED ON A. NEW YORK CITY STREET, WE'RE GETTING A NEW. LOOK AT EVIDENCE. RELEASED JUST MOMENTS. AGO RELATED TO HIS. ACCUSED KILLER, LUIGI. MANGIONE. FOR THE FIRST TIME. WE'RE HEARING THE 911. CALL THE MANAGER OF AN. ALTOONA McDONALD'S. PLACED TO AUTHORITIES. TELLING THE DISPATCHER. SOME CUSTOMERS THOUGHT. A MAN INSIDE THE. RESTAURANT LOOKED JUST. LIKE THE NEW YORK CITY.

SHOOTER ON THE RUN. WE'LL PLAY THAT FOR. YOU IN JUST A MOMENT. WE'RE ALSO GETTING A. LOOK AT WHAT MANGIONE. HAD WITH HIM WHEN HE. WAS TAKEN INTO. CUSTODY. YOU SEE IT HERE. IT APPEARS TO BE A. REGULAR CURRENCY, FOREIGN CURRENCY, A. WALLET, AS WELL AS A. SHARPIE, PLUS A MASK, A FLASHLIGHT, AND MORE. ITEMS. ALL OF THIS EVIDENCE. RELEASED AS PART OF A. CLOSELY WATCHED. PRETRIAL HEARING. STEPHANIE GOSK HAS. BEEN TRACKING EVERY. ELEMENT OF THIS CASE. AND STARTS US OFF. TONIGHT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, NEW IMAGES OF WHAT.

POLICE FOUND ON LUIGI. MANGIONE RELEASED TO. THE PUBLIC FOR THE. FIRST TIME, INCLUDING. PHOTOS OF THOUSANDS OF. DOLLARS OF CASH HE WAS. CARRYING, INCLUDING. FOREIGN CURRENCY, APPARENTLY FROM ASIA. HIS LAPTOP, WHICH HE. WAS USING WHEN POLICE. APPROACHED HIM IN THE. McDONALD'S, ALONG WITH. A SMALL FLASHLIGHT AND. A SHARPIE AND A MASK. AND FOR THE FIRST. TIME, WE'RE HEARING. THE 911 CALL THAT. ALERTED POLICE HE. MIGHT BE THERE. . >> BLAIR, 911, WHAT IS. THE ADDRESS OF YOUR. EMERGENCY? >> IT'S NOT REALLY AN. EMERGENCY. I JUST -- I'M A.

MANAGER AT McDONALD'S. OUT HERE ON THE. BOULEVARD. >> OKAY. >> AND I HAVE A. CUSTOMER HERE THAT. SOME OTHER CUSTOMERS. WERE SUSPICIOUS OF. THAT HE LOOKED LIKE. THE CEO SHOOTER IN NEW. YORK. >> OKAY. >> SO THEY'RE REALLY. UPSET AND THEY'RE. COMING TO ME. AND I WAS WELL, I. CAN'T APPROACH HIM. >> OF COURSE NOT. HONEY, WHAT'S YOUR. NAME? >> Reporter: ONE OF. THE RESPONDING. OFFICERS TESTIFIED HE. ARRIVED AT THE. McDONALD'S DOUBTING IT. WAS THE SUSPECT IN THE. UNITEDHEALTHCARE CEO'S.

MURDER, BUT TOLD THE. COURT WHEN HE LOWERED. HIS MASK, HE KNEW. IMMEDIATELY IT WAS. HIM. MEANWHILE IN COURT. TODAY, PROSECUTORS. REVEALED WHAT THE. POLICE DISCOVERED ON. MANGIONE THE DAY HE. WAS ARRESTED, INCLUDING A USB DRIVE. ON A CHAIN AROUND HIS. NECK, AN APPARENT. TO-DO LIST THAT. INCLUDED BUYING A. SURVIVAL KIT, TRASH. BAGS, AND MORE USB. DRIVES. AND IN HIS BACK. POCKET, A GREYHOUND. BUS TICKET FROM. PHILADELPHIA TO. PITTSBURGH, ARRIVING. OF THE NIGHT OF THE. MURDER. MANGIONE HAS PLEADED. NOT GUILTY TO BOTH.

FEDERAL AND STATE. MURDER CHARGES. HIS ARREST AND THE. SEARCH THAT FOLLOWED. THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF. THIS WEEK'S PRETRIAL. HEARING. THE DEFENSE LOOKING TO. GET EVIDENCE, INCLUDING THE ALLEGED. MURDER WEAPONS THROWN. OUT BEFORE THE. UPCOMING TRIAL. >> STEPHANIE, LET'S. PICK IT UP RIGHT. THERE. IS THERE ANY CHANCE. THE JUDGE THROWS OUT. ANY OF THIS EVIDENCE. YOU JUST SHOWED OUR. VIEWERS, INCLUDING THE. MURDER WEAPON? >> Reporter: LISTEN, JOHN, IT WOULD BE. REALLY SURPRISING, BUT. THE DEFENSE TEAM IS. ARGUING THAT. MANGIONE'S. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS. WERE VIOLATED, AND. THIS HEARING IS NOT.

OVER. WE HAVE TESTIMONY. TOMORROW. IT WILL LIKELY GO INTO. NEXT WEEK BEFORE WE. GET THE JUDGE'S. DECISION. TOM? >> STEPHANIE GOSK ON. THAT BREAKING NEWS. TONIGHT. STEPHANIE, WE THANK. YOU. >>> NOW TO THAT MAJOR. ARREST FIVE YEARS. AFTER A SUSPECT WAS. SEEN PLANTING BOMBS. OUTSIDE THE. HEADQUARTERS OF THE. REPUBLICAN AND. DEMOCRATIC PARTIES. HERE IS KELLY. O'DONNELL. >> Reporter: A. FIVE-YEAR MYSTERY NO. MORE. FEDERAL OFFICIALS SAY. THIS LONG SOUGHT. MASKED FIGURE, WHO. PLACED EXPLOSIVE. DEVICES OUTSIDE THE. REPUBLICAN AND.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY. HEADQUARTERS IS. 30-YEAR-OLD BRIAN COLE. JR. HIS FAMILY HOME ON A. QUIET CUL-DE-SAC IN. DALE CITY, VIRGINIA, SURROUNDED BY. INVESTIGATORS IN. SEARCH OF EVIDENCE. COLE IS FACING TWO. FEDERAL EXPLOSIVES. CHARGES. THE BIG BREAK. DESCRIBED AS. OLD-SCHOOL POLICE. WORK. >> THIS WASN'T A NEW. TIP. IT WASN'T SOME NEW. EVIDENCE. IT WAS THE HARD WORK. OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S. ADMINISTRATION. >> Reporter: ACCORDING. TO THE CRIMINAL.

COMPLAINT, COLE. PURCHASED MULTIPLE. ITEMS CONSISTENT WITH. COMPONENTS THAT WERE. USED TO MANUFACTURE. THE PIPE BOMBS. GATHERED OVER A PERIOD. OF YEARS, INCLUDING. WHITE KITCHEN-STYLE. TIMERS, GALVANIZED. PIPE, END CAPS, AND 9. VOLT BATTERY. CONNECTORS. ACCORDING TO THE. AFFIDAVIT, INVESTIGATORS TRACED. COLE'S PURCHASES AMONG. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF. ITEMS SOLD OVER THAT. TIME PERIOD. >> THIS CASE INVOLVED. MILLIONS OF PIECES OF.

DATA. IT WAS LIKE FINDING A. NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK. >> Reporter: INVESTIGATORS SAY CELL. RECORDS SHOW COLE'S. PHONE PINGED SEVEN. TIMES NEAR. KEY LOCATIONS ALONG. THE PATH OF THE. BOMBER, SEEN ON VIDEO. FROM 7:39 P.M. TO 8:24. P.M. AS HE PLACED. BOMBS IN JANUARY 2021. THE FBI DIRECTOR SAID. AGENTS GAVE THE CASE A. FRESH LOOK. >> BROUGHT IN A NEW. TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS. AND EXPERTS,

REEXAMINED EVERY PIECE. OF EVIDENCE, SIFTED. THROUGH ALL THE DATA. >> Reporter: AND. TONIGHT, BIG QUESTION. IS MOTIVE. WE DON'T HAVE DETAILS. ON THAT. HOWEVER, A SOURCE. CLOSE TO THE. INVESTIGATION TELLS US. THE SUSPECT IS TALKING. AND COOPERATING WITH. INVESTIGATORS. TOM? >> ALL RIGHT, KELLY, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO IN WASHINGTON. TONIGHT, THE ADMIRAL. WHO MADE THE CALL FOR. A SECOND STRIKE ON AN. ALLEGED DRUG BOAT. BRIEFING LAWMAKERS AND. SHOWING THEM THE. ACTUAL VIDEO.

COURTNEY KUBE CAN NEW. NEWS ON WHAT HE SAID. AND THE VIDEOS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. THE MAN WHO CALLED FOR. THE SECOND STRIKE IN. THE HOT SEAT, BRIEFING. CONGRESS ABOUT THE. DECISION TO TARGET. SURVIVORS FROM THE. INITIAL ATTACK, A. DECISION CRITICIZED BY. DEMOCRATS AND SOME. REPUBLICANS. BRADLEY VIEWED THE. SURVIVORS AS. LEGITIMATE MILITARY. TARGETS. THEY WERE IN THE. VESSEL AND IN. ELECTRONIC. COMMUNICATION WITH. ANOTHER SUSPECTED DRUG. BOAT, POTENTIALLY. TRYING TO CONTINUE. THEIR DRUG RUN, TWO. PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE. OF THE MATTER TOLD NBC.

NEWS. AND BRADLEY WAS WITH A. J.A.G., A LEGAL. MILITARY ADVISER. >> DID THE MILITARY. J.A.G. SAY ALL. FOLLOW-ON STRIKES WERE. LAWFUL? >> YES. >> Reporter: THE U.S. MILITARY HAS STRUCK. MORE THAN 20 ALLEGED. DRUG BOATS AS PART OF. TRUMP'S WAR ON CARTELS. WHICH HE NOW. CLASSIFIES AS FOREIGN. TERRORIST. ORGANIZATIONS. LAWMAKERS SAY BRADLEY. TOLD THEM HEGSETH DID. NOT ISSUE AN ORDER TO. KILL ALL SURVIVORS.

VIDEO SHOWED THE. BOAT. LOADED WITH DRUGS AND. THE U.S. OFTEN USES. MULTIPLE STRIKES TO. KILL TERRORISTS. >> JUST LIKE YOU WOULD. BLOW UP A BOAT OFF THE. SOMALI COAST OR THE. YEMENI COAST AND COME. BACK AND STRIKE IT. AGAIN IF IT STILL HAD. TERRORISTS OR IT STILL. HAD EXPLOSIVES OR. MISSILES, ADMIRAL. BRADLEY, THE SECRETARY. DID EXACTLY WHAT WE. EXPECT HIM TO DO. >> Reporter: BUT. DEMOCRATS ARE VERY. ALARMED. >> THE VIDEO WAS VERY. DISTURBING. >> WHAT I'VE SEEN IN. THAT ROOM WAS ONE OF. THE MOST TROUBLING. THINGS I'VE SEEN IN MY.

TIME IN SERVICE. YOU HAVE TWO. INDIVIDUALS IN CLEAR. DISTRESS WITHOUT ANY. MEANS OF LOCOMOTION, WITH A DESTROYED. VESSEL, WHO ARE KILLED. BY THE UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: WHILE. LATE TONIGHT HEGSETH. STRUCK ANOTHER BOAT. HEADED TO THE U.S. KILLING FOUR PEOPLE. ADMIRAL BRADLEY IS. COMMITTED ALL LEVELS. OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. FOR OPERATIONS, BUT. DEMOCRATS STILL. CALLING FOR THE FULL. PUBLIC RELEASE OF THAT. ENTIRE VIDEO. TOM? >> COURTNEY KUBE ON.

CAPITOL HILL, TRYING. TO GET ANSWERS THERE. COURTNEY, THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE BRUTAL. COLD SNAP SWEEPING. ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TONIGHT. THAT SUB-ZERO BLAST. SHOWING NO SIGNS OF. STOPPING. BILL KARINS IS HERE. WE'RE GOING SEE MORE. RECORD LOWS IN THE. MIDATLANTIC AS WELL? >> A BRUTAL START TO. OUR WINTER SEASON. TOMORROW ALL THE BLUE. DOTS ON THE MAP. WE'RE GOING TO. HIGHLIGHT CHICAGO, 3. DEGREES TOMORROW. ALL OF NEW ENGLAND. SINGLE DIGITS. A FEW SPOTS ARE GOING. TO BE IN THE NEGATIVE. NUMBERS. WE'RE ALSO WATCHING. SNOW THAT'S GOING TO. BREAK OUT AND MOVE. RIGHT THROUGH THE. MIDATLANTIC, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR. FRIENDS IN VIRGINIA.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. DURING THE OVERNIGHT. HOURS. YOU'RE GOING WAKE UP. TO A COUPLE OF INCHES. ON THE GROUND. ANYWHERE FROM RALEIGH. ALL THE WAY TO. WASHINGTON, D.C. SCHOOL DELAYS, TREACHEROUS ROADS. TOMORROW MORNING. >> ALL RIGHT, BILL, THANKS FOR THAT. >>> NOW TO THAT. FRIGHTENING SCENE ON A. TENNESSEE HIGHWAY. A SCHOOL BUS GOING UP. IN FLAMES. GEORGE SOLIS NOW ON. HOW THAT QUICK. THINKING BUS DRIVER. GOT ALL THE KIDS OUT. JUST IN TIME. >> Reporter: THE. TERRIFYING MOMENTS. CAUGHT ON CAMERA. A SCHOOL BUS TOTALLY. UP IN FLAMES. THICK BLACK SMOKE. SHOOTING UP.

THE CHILDREN ON BOARD. ESCAPING JUST MOMENTS. EARLIER. >> 29 EAST, A FULL BUS. ON FIRE. ALL THE CHILDREN ARE. OFF. >> Reporter: NBC NEWS. OBTAINING VIDEO OF THE. DRAMATIC INFERNO, AS. WELL AS THESE IMAGES. SHOWING FIRST. RESPONDERS. EXTINGUISHING THE. BLAZE. MIGUEL HENRY, A FORMER. BUS DRIVER HIMSELF, RECORDING THE VIDEO ON. HIS WAY TO WORK AND. WENT TO LEND A HAND. >> AS SOON AS HE SAW. THE SMOKE, I BELIEVE. HE EVACUATED THE BUS. AS QUICKLY AS. POSSIBLE, KEPT THE. KIDS SAFE AS WELL AS. HIMSELF SAFE. >> Reporter: THE FIRE.

OCCURRING EARLY. WEDNESDAY EVENING ON A. TWO-LANE HIGHWAY IN. DIXON COUNTY OUTSIDE. OF NASHVILLE. AUTHORITIES SAY THE. BUS WAS TRAVELING WHEN. IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT. FIRE. OFFICIALS SAY THE. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND. HELPED TO EVACUATE THE. CHILDREN. MEGAN AND GRIGGS, A 7. AND 8-YEAR-OLD WERE ON. BOARD THE FULLY LO AND. BEHOLDED BUS. >> THE FIRE CATCHED ON. THE BUS REALLY. QUICKLY, AND THEN WE. GOT OUT. YEAH, HE GOT ALL OF US. SAFE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT. MOM GRATEFUL. >> I'M JUST TRYING TO. TAKE IT AS A FREAK. ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW. THANKFUL IT DIDN'T. TURN INTO ANYTHING.

YAEZ. >> Reporter: OFFICIALS. SAY THE CAUSE OF THE. FIRE IS UNDER. INVESTIGATION. AMAZINGLY, NO INJURIES. WERE REPORTED. A COMMUNITY WORKING. TOGETHER TO PREVENT. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A. TRAGEDY. >> NOT ALL HEROES WEAR. CAPES. SOME OF THEM DRIVE. BUSES. >> Reporter: GEORGE. SOLIS, NBC NEWS. >>> NOW TO ANOTHER. RESCUE, THIS 100S OF. FEET IN THE AIR AFTER. A WINDOW WASHER AND. HIS EQUIPMENT FAILED, LEAVING WORKERS. DANGLING OUTSIDE A. SKYSCRAPER IN. VIRGINIA. BRIAN NOBLES ON THE. DRAMATIC RACE TO SAVE. HIM. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A. DARING RESCUE FROM A. HIGH-RISE BUILDING IN.

A NORTHERN VIRGINIA. SUBURB OUTSIDE. WASHINGTON, D.C. >> DO EVERYTHING. RIGHT. SLOW DOWN, BE SAFE. >> Reporter: TWO. WINDOW WASHERS WERE. CLEANING A BUILDING. THIS MORNING WHEN ONE. OF THE TETHERS HOLDING. THEIR BASKET IN PLACE. SNAPPED, LEAVING THEM. DANGLING 150 FEET IN. THE AIR. RESCUE WORKERS RUSHED. TO THE SCENE. FAIRFAX COUNTY. FIREFIGHTERS. RAPPELLING DOWN THE. BUILDING TO SECURE THE. WORKERS. TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA. JUST HOW HIGH IN THE. AIR THESE WORKERS. WERE, THEY WERE 3/4 OF. THE WAY UP THIS.

BUILDING FROM WHERE. I'M STANDING RIGHT. NOW, DANGLING IN THE. AIR IN THE FREEZING. COLD. A BACKUP HARNESS. PREVENTED A SERIOUS. FALL FOR BOTH PEOPLE. PICTURES FROM INSIDE. THE BUILDING SHOW THE. FIRE CREWS HOOKING THE. WORKERS UP TO A SECURE. LINE TO PULL THEM OUT. OF HARM'S WAY. DAN GUYEWSKI IS THE. BATTALION CHIEF WHO. OVERSAW THE RESCUE. >> OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. UNITS ACTUALLY STARTED. TYPING INTO THE iPADS. AND SHOWING THE.

WORKERS ASKING THINGS. LIKE HEY, ARE YOU. OKAY? LETTING THEM KNOW WE. HAVE RESCUERS THAT ARE. ON THE ROOF THAT ARE. GOING TO BE DOWN TO. MEET WITH THEM. SHORTLY, JUST KIND OF. CALMING THOSE NERVES. >> Reporter: THE. RESCUE CREWS SAY THE. MEN WERE AMAZINGLY. CALM DURING THE WHOLE. ORDEAL. THEY ESCAPED WITHOUT. ANY INJURIES. IT STILL ISN'T CLEAR. WHAT CAUSED THE. INCIDENT. RYAN NOBLES, NBC NEWS, TYSON'S CORNER, VIRGINIA. >>> GREAT RESCUE. THERE. >>> WHEN WE RETURN IN. 60 SECONDS, OUR COST. OF DENIAL.

THE 12-YEAR-OLD WHO. LOVES TO DANCE DENIED. A LIFE-CHANGING. SURGERY THAT COULD. COST AS MUCH AS. >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH OUR. SERIES "THE COST OF DENIAL,". WHICH INVESTIGATES THE. CHALLENGES SO MANY AMERICANS. FACE WITH THEIR INSURANCE. PROVIDERS. AND TONIGHT THE STORY OF A YOUNG. DANCER AND THE MOTHER FIGHTING. TO GET HER THE SURGERY THEIR. DOCTOR SAYS SHE NEEDS. HERE IS KATE SNOW. >> Reporter: 12-YEAR-OLD VIVI IS.

A DANCER PRACTICING 15 TO 20. HOURS A WEEK. BUT THE SCOLIOSIS SHE WAS. DIAGNOSED WITH LAST YEAR COULD. FORCE HER TO STOP. >> I WAS LIKE SCARED AND I WAS. LIKE CON VIEWSED. >> Reporter: VIIVI STARTED. SLEEPING IN THIS BRACE, BUT THE. CURVE IN THEIR SPAIN GREW WORSE. >> IT'S LIKE THAT. >> YEAH. >> Reporter: HER MOM, NAMED. MARIE FOUND A SPECIALIST NEAR. DENVER WHO SAID SHE WAS A. PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR VBT, BUT. NOW SHE IS BATTLING THEIR. INSURANCE PROVIDER AETNA FOR. COVERAGE OF THE SURGERY THAT.

COULD COST UP TO $100,000. >> THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT THE. WHOLE PICTURE. I THINK THEY'RE MISSING THE. STORY. THEY'RE MISSING THE PERSON AND. THEY'RE MISSING THE FULL SCOPE. >> Reporter: WHAT'S THE EMOTION. THAT YOU'RE FEELING? >> UPSET, OBVIOUSLY. I JUST WANT -- SORRY. FEELING? YOU JUST WANT TO PROTECT YOUR. KIDS. >> Reporter: TO HER, THAT MEANS. VBT, A LESS INVASIVE SURGERY. THAN SPINAL FUSION. VBT ALLOWS FOR MORE MOBILITY.

>> IT WAS JUST GOING TO ALLOW. HER TO GET BACK AS QUICKLY AS. POSSIBLE TO DOING WHAT SHE WANTS. TO DO AND SHE LOVES TO DO. >> Reporter: TO DANCE? >> TO DANCE. >> MOST PATIENTS ARE PRETTY. HAPPY WITH IT. >> Reporter: DR. MUHAMMAD AL. SHAREEF IS A PEDIATRIC SPINE. SURGEON WHO IS NOT TREATING. VIVI. HE EXPLAINS VBT IS FOR PATIENTS. WITH A SIGNIFICANT CURVE. PUTTING ALMOST A ROPE TO GUIDE. THE SPINE? >> WE'RE PUTTING IN A ROPE TO. TIGHTEN DOWN ON THE OUTSIDE OF. THE CURVE OF SCOLIOSIS SO THAT.

IT AUTO CORRECTS. >> Reporter: THE FDA APPROVED. VBT IN 2019, CONCLUDING THE. PROBABLE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE. PROBABLE RISKS. >> I NO LONGER CONSIDER IT AN. EXPERIMENTAL SURGERY. >> Reporter: BUT AETNA DOES. IN DENYING COVERAGE FOR VIVI'S. SURGERY MULTIPLE TIMES, CALLING. THE VBT SURGERY EXPERIMENTAL, INVESTIGATIONAL OR UNPROVEN. AETNA ALSO TELLING US A TEAM OF. CLINICAL EXPERTS CONCLUDED THAT. VBT IS OUTSIDE THE STANDARD OF. CARE FOR A 12-YEAR-OLD CHILD. PRESENTING WITH SCOLIOSIS.

FOR VIVI, TIME IS RUNNING OUT. VBT NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT A. PARTICULAR PHASE OF A CHILD'S. DEVELOPMENT. ANNEMARIE STAYS UP PAST MIDNIGHT. WRITING EMAILS, LETTERS TO LOCAL. AND STATE REGULATORY BODIES AND. OFFICIALS. >> OBSESSIVELY LOGGING ON TO. AETNA'S PORTAL TO SEE IF. SOMETHING MAGICALLY CHANGED. OVERNIGHT. EVERY DAY. IT HASN'T. >> Reporter: THE COMPANY BEHIND. VBT SAYS THE TETHER CAN BREAK,

AND ABOUT 20% OF PATIENTS WHO. GET VBT DO END UP NEEDING SPINAL. FUSION. BUT ANNEMARIE AND VIVI WANT TO. TAKE THAT CHANCE. >> I WANT TO CONTINUE DANCING. AND I THINK THE SURGERY WILL. HELP ME IN DANCING A LOT MORE. EASIER. >> Reporter: THIS WEEK ANNEMARIE. SUED AETNA IN ONE LAST BID TO. GET HER DAUGHTER'S SURGERY. COVERED. >> IT FEELS LIKE THE INSURANCE. COMPANIES WANT YOU TO GIVE UP. THEY WANT YOU TO GIVE UP. >> Reporter: SHE REFUSES TO DO. THAT. >> AND KATE SNOW JOINS US NOW IN.

STUDIO. KATE, FOR OTHER KIDS OUT THERE. LIKE VIVI WHO HAVE SEVERE. SCOLIOSIS, WILL THIS TYPE OF. SURGERY EVER GET APPROVED? >> Reporter: IT'S INTERESTING, TOM. WE DID COME ACROSS A FAMILY IN. CALIFORNIA WHO PURSUED AN. EXTERNAL REVIEW THROUGH AN. OUTSIDE DOCTOR WHEN THEIR CLAIM. WAS DENIED AND IT WAS. OVERTURNED. SO SOME PATIENTS ARE HAVING. SUCCESS. ANNEMARIE TRIED THE SAME THING, EXTERNAL REVIEW. IN HER CASE, THOUGH, THE DENIAL. WAS UPHELD. >> BUT THEY STILL HAVE SOME. HOPE? >> Reporter: THEY HAVE SOME. HOPE, BUT TIME IS RUNNING OUT. >> ALL RIGHT, KATE, WE THANK YOU. FOR THAT.

>>> WHEN WE RETURN, THE HAIL. >>> WELCOME BACK. POLICE OFFICERS IN OMAHA. RECOVERING TONIGHT AFTER A. DEADLY SHOOTOUT CAUGHT ON. CAMERA. [ GUNSHOTS ]. YOU CAN HEAR IT RIGHT THERE. THAT WAS THE SCENE AT AN OMAHA. GAS STATION WHEN POLICE OFFICERS. EXCHANGED GUNFIRE WITH THE. SUSPECT. POLICE SAY THE MAN SHOT SOMEONE. AT A GROCERY STORE HOURS. EARLIER. OMAHA POLICE TELLING NBC NEWS. TWO OF THE OFFICERS ARE STILL. BEING TREATED FOR THEIR WOUNDS,

BUT ALL ARE EXPECTED TO BE OKAY. THE SUSPECT DIED IN THAT. SHOOTOUT. >>> AND TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. ALARMING NEW DASH CAM VIDEO OF A. TESLA, WOW, VEERING RIGHT INTO. THE WRONG LANE ON THE HIGHWAY, COLLIDING WITH A DUMP TRUCK. YOU SEE THE TRUCK'S POINT OF. VIEW BEHIND THE WHEEL THERE. THE IMPACT SENDING THE TRUCK. SMASHING THROUGH A BACKYARD WALL. IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. BOTH DRIVERS, THOUGH, ARE. RECOVERING FROM THEIR INJURIES. TONIGHT. >>> OKAY. WHEN WE COME BACK HERE, THERE IS. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT ABOUT THE. CHANCE RUN-IN FOR AN ARMY. VETERAN STILL WORKING HARD AT.

88, AND THE MEETING THAT I. OWN OPINIONS. >>> FINALLY, THERE IS. GOOD NEWS TONIGHT FOR. AN ARMY VETERAN WHO. GAVE HIS FAMILY AND. HIS COUNTRY HIS ALL, BUT IT WAS STILL NOT. ENOUGH TO RETIRE. IN HIS 80s, STILL. WORKING FULL-TIME, UNTIL NOW. HOW THE INTERNET JUST. CHANGED HIS LIFE. >> JUST SEEING IF I. CAN HAVE HELP SCANNING. THIS, THANK YOU. WHAT WAS YOUR NAME?

>> ED. >> Reporter: 88-YEAR-OLD ED BAMBAS. CLOCKS INTO HIS. GROCERY STORE JOB FIVE. DAYS WEEK. >> I'M 88. >> AND STILL WORKING? >> YES, I HAVE TO. >> Reporter: THE ARMY. VETERAN WORKED FOR. GENERAL MOTORS, BUT. SAYS HIS PENSION WAS. WIPED OUT WHEN THE. COMPANY WENT BANKRUPT. BACK IN 2012. >> THE THING THAT GOT. ME THE MOST IS MY WIFE. WAS REAL SICK, AND. WHEN THEY TOOK THE. PENSION, THEY ALSO. TOOK THE HEALTH CARE. COVERAGE. I SOLD THE HOUSE, AND. WE MADE IT THROUGH. MY WIFE DIED SEVEN.

YEARS AGO. SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN. TRYING TO REESTABLISH. MYSELF. >> Reporter: HIS STORY. CATCHING THE ATTENTION. OF AUSTRALIAN. INFLUENCER SAM. WE'DENHOFFER. >> I'D LIKE TO SHOW. YOU A STORY AND TRY. AND GET PEOPLE TO HELP. YOU RETIRE. >> OH, THANK YOU! >> Reporter: THIS. MOMENT GOING VIRAL. MORE THAN 8 MILLION. PEOPLE HAVE VIEWED THE. VIDEO ON TIKTOK ALONE, USERS COMMENTING, SAYING THINGS LIKE. "HE'S OUR GRANDPA. NOW", "WE MUST DO.

BETTER FOR OUR. VETERANS," AND "LET'S. RETIRE THIS SWEET. MAN.". IN THE VIDEO HE GIVES. HIM A $400 TIP. BUT WHAT ED DOESN'T. KNOW IS THE INTERNET. HAS STEPPED UP IN A. BIG WAY, RAISING MORE. THAN $1.5 MILLION FOR. THIS VETERAN. ED'S SON MIKE WORKING. ON A PLAN TO SURPRISE. HIM WITH THE. LIFE-CHANGING MONEY. DOES YOUR DAD HAVE ANY. IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY. WAS RAISED? >> NO. HE IS TOTALLY IN THE. DARK ON HOW MUCH THERE. IS. YOU HEAR A LOT OF BAD.

OUT THERE IN THE. WORLD, BUT THERE IS A. LOT OF GOOD TOO. >> Reporter: THE. KINDNESS OF THOUSANDS. OF STRANGERS COMING. TOGETHER, RALLYING TO. HELP ONE MAN RETIRE. AND WE CAN'T WAIT FOR. THAT SURPRISE. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS". FOR THIS THURSDAY. I'M TOM LLAMAS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR. WATCHING. TONIGHT AND ALWAYS, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU. GOOD NIGHT. RETIRE. >>> WE CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT.