NBC Nightly News Full Episode - Sept. 11

TONIGHT, THE URGENT MANHUNT FOR CHARLIE KIRK'S KILLER. THE NEW SURVEILLANCE IMAGE THE FBI WANTS YOU TO SEE. DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN? POLICE BELIEVE HE'S A PERSON OF INTEREST IN THE SHOCKING POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, THE HIGH-POWERED RIFLE THEY FOUND, AND THE FOOTPRINT THEY'RE USING TO HUNT DOWN THE. KILLER THEY SAY FIRED FROM ABOUT 200 YARDS AWAY, THEN JUMPED OFF A ROOF AND FLED INTO A NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD. THIS VIDEO SHOWING A PERSON IN THAT SAME ELEVATED. THE MANHUNT,

AS PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS HE PLANS TO HONOR. KIRK WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM. THIS AS THE TRIAL FOR THE MAN WHO POLICE SAY TRIED KILLING PRESIDENT TRUMP BEGINS. RYAN RUTH REPRESENTING HIMSELF IN COURT, COMING FACE TO FACE WITH THE AGENT WHO FIRST SPOTTED HIM NEAR THE PRESIDENT. INSIDE EPSTEIN'S INBOX, THE MASSIVE TROVE OF EMAILS OBTAINED BY BLOOMBERG. NEWS SHEDDING NEW LIGHT ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH. ELAINE MAXWELL, INCLUDING.

THEIR PLANS TO UNDERGO FERTILITY TREATMENTS, THE MASSIVE GAS TRUCK EXPLOSION IN MEXICO CITY, KILLING AT LEAST 8 PEOPLE. THE BREAKTHROUGH IN OUR SERIES, THE COST OF DENIAL. TWO BROTHERS BATTLING THE SAME GENETIC DISORDER, ONE APPROVED FOR TREATMENT BY THEIR INSURANCE, THE OTHER DENIED. THE CLASSMATES INSPIRED BY OUR REPORT, WHAT THEY DID, AND THE EMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT YOU'RE ABOUT TO HEAR. AND ON THIS SEPTEMBER 11TH, WE MEET A NEW GENERATION OF HEROES FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS.

OF THEIR FATHERS WHO GAVE IT ALL 24 YEARS AGO, WHAT THEY HOPE THE NATION REMEMBERS. NIGHTLY NEWS STARTS RIGHT NOW. THIS IS NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH TOM LLAMAS. AND GOOD EVENING. AN URGENT MANHUNT IS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW. FOR THE PERSON WHO ASSASSINATED CHARLIE KIRK. THE FBI RELEASING THESE IMAGES OF A PERSON OF INTEREST. IN THE FATAL SHOOTING. TAKE A GOOD LOOK. YOU CAN SEE HIM THERE WITH DARK SUNGLASSES,

A HAT, AND A SHIRT. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY'RE REVIEWING IMAGES. SHOW A MAN ENTERING CAMPUS GOING THROUGH STAIRWELLS UP TO THE ROOF, FIRING, THEN FLEEING INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY BELIEVE A SINGLE SHOT WAS FIRED APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS AWAY. AUTHORITIES WERE ON A ROOF TODAY. YOU SEE THEM RIGHT THERE NEAR THE SPOT WHERE A PERSON WAS SEEN YESTERDAY. THE FBI SAYS IT RECOVERED A HIGH-POWERED BOLT ACTION RIFLE, THE WEAPON THEY BELIEVE KILLED KIRK. THE 31 YEAR OLD WAS A PROLIFIC CONSERVATIVE COMMENTATOR,

AND HIS KILLING IS SPARKING DIFFICULT QUESTIONS ABOUT. THE SAFETY OF POLITICAL FIGURES NOW IN AMERICA. WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH MORGAN CHESKY ON THE SCENE. TONIGHT THE MASSIVE MANHUNT. AUTHORITIES ARE RELEASING THESE IMAGES OF A PERSON OF INTEREST. IN THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK, OFFERING A $100,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION, REVEALING THEY'VE NOW FOUND THE WEAPON THAT WAS USED. IT IS A HIGH-POWERED BOLT ACTION RIFLE. THAT RIFLE WAS RECOVERED IN A WOODED AREA.

WHERE THE SHOOTER HAD FLED AND MORE. POTENTIAL CRITICAL EVIDENCE NEAR THE CRIME SCENE. INVESTIGATORS HAVE ALSO COLLECTED. FOOTWEAR IMPRESSION, A PALM PRINT, AND FOREARM IMPRINTS FOR ANALYSIS. PRESIDENT TRUMP LATE TODAY. I HEAR THEY'RE MAKING. AND WE'RE GETTING NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRIM TIMELINE. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE SHOOTER ARRIVED ON. UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY'S CAMPUS AT 11:52 A.M. WE SPOKE TO UTAH DPS COMMISSIONER BEAU MASON.

WE KNOW WHAT TIME THE GUNMAN ARRIVED ON CAMPUS. DO WE KNOW IF HE HAD THE RIFLE WITH HIM WHEN HE DID? WE BELIEVE HE DID. WE BELIEVE IT WAS WITH HIM THE ENTIRE TIME CONCEALED. AUTHORITIES SAY SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CAPTURES HIM CLIMBING. STAIRWELLS TO THE TOP OF A BUILDING, THEN MOVING ACROSS ITS ROOF TO THE SHOOTING LOCATION, WHICH WAS ROUGHLY 175 YARDS AWAY FROM THE STAGE. THE ROOF WITH EASY ACCESS. IT IS VERY ACCESSIBLE, DOORS TO ACCESS UNLOCKED. NOT EVEN DOORS. THERE'S OPEN PATHWAYS WITH RAILINGS THAT YOU STAND OVER.

THIS VIDEO APPEARING TO CATCH A GLIMPSE OF A FIGURE DRESSED IN BLACK. UP ON TOP OF THAT VERY ROOF. THEN KIRK ARRIVED FOR THE EVENT, THROWING HATS TO A CHEERING CROWD. BEFORE TAKING AUDIENCE QUESTIONS UNDER A TENT. AROUND 12:20 P.M. HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION ABOUT MASS SHOOTINGS. DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY MASS IN THE LAST 10 COUNTING OR NOT COUNTING GANG VIOLENCE.

OH. THE VIDEO TOO DISTURBING TO SHOW. 3000 PEOPLE IN THE CROWD, THEN SCREAMING AND RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES. SECURITY RUSHING KIRK OUT IN A BLACK SUV. WHILE THIS VIDEO. APPEARS TO SHOW SOMEONE UP ON THAT ROOF RUNNING. AWAY AMID THE CHAOS OF THAT FATAL SHOT. AUTHORITIES SAY THE GUNMAN THEN JUMPED OFF A BUILDING, MAKING HIS WAY OFF THIS CAMPUS INTO A NEARBY NEIGHBORHOOD. BRANDON RUSSIN WAS CLOSE TO THE STAGE. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY HEART JUST DROPPED TO MY STOMACH,

AND I KNEW AFTER SEEING THE GRAPHIC. THE GRAPHIC NATURE OF THAT. OF THAT SHOT THAT. THAT IT WAS REAL THAT CHARLIE HAD BEEN SHOT. AFTER DIVING TO THE GROUND, HE TEXTED HIS WIFE. WHAT DO YOU SAY? THE MOST IMPORTANT WORDS I CAN SAY. I LOVE YOU. AND MORGAN JOINS US NOW LIVE. MORGAN, WE ARE SEEING THE ALERTS TONIGHT COME INTO THE NEWSROOM. THEY ARE NOW TELLING THE PUBLIC THERE THERE ARE RAPID DEVELOPMENTS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW? YES, TOM, THAT'S RIGHT, AND WE'RE STILL AWAITING THOSE EXTRA DETAILS, BUT COMMISSIONER MASON DID TELL ME THAT WHEN HE VIEWED THE SURVEILLANCE. FOOTAGE OF THE SUSPECT AS THEY MADE THEIR WAY ACROSS CAMPUS, HE SAID HE APPEARED TO BE COMFORTABLE, ALMOST FAMILIAR WITH THE LAYOUT OF THIS CAMPUS, ADDING THAT WHEN THAT FATAL SHOT WAS FIRED, THE GUNMAN DID APPEAR TO HAVE. FACE COVERING ON CONCEALING HIS IDENTITY. TOM MORGAN CHESKY WITH THAT NEW REPORTING RIGHT THERE. MORGAN, WE THANK YOU. NOW TO THE GROWING SECURITY CONCERNS AFTER CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION,

WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP TONIGHT REVEALING HE'LL ATTEND KIRK'S FUNERAL NEXT WEEKEND. GABE GUTIERREZ HAS THE LATE DETAILS. AT THE PENTAGON HONORING TODAY'S 9/11 ANNIVERSARY, PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCING HE'D POSTHUMOUSLY AWARD CHARLIE. KIRK THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM. CHARLIE WAS A GIANT OF HIS GENERATION. VICE PRESIDENT VANCE LANDING LATE TODAY IN UTAH TO SEE KIRK'S FAMILY. THE PRESIDENT SPEAKING WITH KIRK'S WIFE ERICA BY PHONE. WE HAD A LONG TALK. AND SHE'S DEVASTATED.

AND SUGGESTING HE KNOWS THE MOTIVE. I HAVE AN INDICATION, YEAH, BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT LATER. THE 31 YEAR OLD CONSERVATIVE STAR REMEMBERED TONIGHT. FOR RALLYING YOUNG VOTERS AND ENCOURAGING OPEN DEBATE, OFTEN TAKING QUESTIONS FROM DEMOCRATS ON CAMPUS. DO YOU THINK UH GUN OWNERSHIP IS A PRIVILEGE OR A RIGHT? I THINK IT IS A PRIVILEGE. THAT'S WHERE WE DISAGREE. DONALD TRUMP JUNIOR WAS A CLOSE FRIEND. HE COULD JUST RELATE TO PEOPLE, EVEN HIS BIGGEST DETRACTORS. I MEAN, ON A DAILY BASIS, CHARLIE KIRK. GAVE THEM A PLATFORM.

TO DEBATE THESE IDEAS. THE PRESIDENT NOW BLAMING WHAT HE CALLS THE RADICAL LEFT. FOR YEARS THOSE ON THE RADICAL LEFT. HAVE COMPARED WONDERFUL AMERICANS LIKE CHARLIE TO NAZIS AND THE WORLD'S WORST. MASS MURDERERS AND CRIMINALS, THIS KIND OF RHETORIC IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRORISM. THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY. BUT THREATS AGAINST HIGH PROFILE FIGURES FROM BOTH PARTIES ARE ON THE RISE. CAPITOL POLICE TELLING NBC NEWS ITS AGENTS ARE ON TRACK.

TO WORK THROUGH ROUGHLY 14,000 THREAT CASES THIS YEAR ALONE, WHICH WOULD BE A 48% INCREASE FROM 2024. IN JUST OVER A YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO ATTEMPTS ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LIFE. A DEMOCRATIC STATE LAWMAKER AND HER HUSBAND WERE MURDERED IN MINNESOTA. AND THE RESIDENTS OF PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO WAS FIREBOMBED. THE ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK RISKS AN UNCORKING OF POLITICAL. CHAOS AND VIOLENCE THAT WE CANNOT RISK IN AMERICA.

JUST TODAY, A STRING OF THREATS FOR SEVERAL. HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND THE DNC HEADQUARTERS TO BE LOCKED DOWN. TOM, ALL RIGHT, GABE GUTIERREZ FOR US. AND IN A FLORIDA COURTROOM TODAY, TESTIMONY BEGAN IN THE TRIAL OF THE MAN PROSECUTORS SAY. PLOTTED TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT TRUMP ON A GOLF COURSE. HERE'S JESSIE KIRCH. DEFENDING HIMSELF TODAY, RYAN RUTH CAME FACE TO FACE WITH THE FORMER SECRET. SERVICE AGENT WHO SPOTTED HIM IN A SNIPER HIDE, ALLEGEDLY WAITING TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT TRUMP.

ROBERT FERCAO REVEALING THAT WHILE THEN-CANDIDATE TRUMP. PLAYED GOLF IN SOUTH FLORIDA LAST SEPTEMBER, RUTH WAS CLOSER TO THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN. ONE HOLE AWAY. FURANO TESTIFYING HE SPOTTED RUTH AND A RIFLE BARREL POINTED DIRECTLY AT MY FACE, TESTIFYING, I FEARED FOR THE LIFE OF THE PRESIDENT. FERCAO SAYS THAT'S WHEN HE FIRED AT RUTH, WHO DID NOT SHOOT BACK. THEN RUTH QUESTIONED FURANO, WHO PROSECUTORS CREDIT WITH SAVING THE PRESIDENT'S LIFE. IS IT GOOD TO BE ALIVE? ASKED THE DEFENDANT.

FOR CONNELL RESPONDING, YES, IT FEELS GOOD TO BE ALIVE. PROSECUTORS SAY RUTH FLED THE SCENE, BUT NOT BEFORE WITNESS TOMMY MCGEE SPOTTED HIM DRIVING OFF. AS RUTH CROSS-EXAMINED MCGEE, THE QUESTIONING QUICKLY WENT OFF THE RAILS. AT ONE POINT, RUTH GAVE MCGEE A THUMBS UP, SAYING, YOU'RE THE MAN. GOOD JOB. THE DAY BEGAN IN SIMILARLY BIZARRE FASHION. IN HIS OPENING STATEMENT, RUTH SPOKE ABOUT HITLER, PUTIN, IRAN, AND ISRAEL INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON THE FACTS OF THE CASE.

HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ROUGHLY 40 MINUTES TO SPEAK, BUT THE JUDGE CUT HIM OFF AFTER ONLY ABOUT 5. TOM, JESSIE KIRCH ON DAY ONE OF THAT TRIAL. JESSE, WE THANK YOU. AND THERE ARE NEW DETAILS TONIGHT IN A SCHOOL. SHOOTING THAT LEFT 2 STUDENTS IN CRITICAL CONDITION. AND THE GUNMAN DEAD. AUTHORITIES REVEALING THE SHOOTER WAS RADICALIZED BY AN EXTREMIST NETWORK. DANA GRIFFIN REPORTS. TONIGHT COLORADO AUTHORITIES IDENTIFYING SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD. DESMOND HAWLEY AS A STUDENT. WHO OPENED FIRE AT EVERGREEN HIGH SCHOOL USING A REVOLVER.

INVESTIGATORS DID NOT SAY WHERE THE SHOOTER GOT THE GUN, BUT SAID HE WAS RADICALIZED BY AN EXTREMIST NETWORK. THEY TRIED TO FIND NEW TARGETS AND. HE CAME UP AGAINST A ROADBLOCK ON MANY OF THOSE DOORS. HE COULDN'T GET TO THOSE KIDS. THEY SAY HE CONTINUED TO RELOAD AS HE SHOT OUT WINDOWS AND AT LOCKERS. TONIGHT OFFICIALS SAY TWO STUDENTS REMAIN IN CRITICAL CONDITION. AUTHORITIES SAY THEY HAVE OBTAINED SEARCH WARRANTS FOR HIS HOME, PHONE, AND LOCKER AND ADD THAT HIS PARENTS ARE COOPERATING WITH.

THE INVESTIGATION AND THOSE TEACHERS AND THOSE STUDENTS DID THEIR JOB. AND TOOK INTO ACCOUNT WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED, AND IT KEPT THEM SAFE. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE MOTIVE FOR THE SHOOTING REMAINS. UNCLEAR BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT CLEAN UP. EVERGREEN HIGH WILL REMAIN CLOSED THIS WEEK. ALL RIGHT, DANA JOINS US NOW LIVE. DANA, IT'S NO SECRET A LOT OF AMERICA IS ON EDGE RIGHT NOW, AND THERE WERE THREATS AT OTHER SCHOOLS TODAY. THAT'S RIGHT, TOM. EARLIER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, SOME STUDENTS THERE EVACUATING AS LAW ENFORCEMENT.

RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF A SHOOTING, AND AS GABE MENTIONED EARLIER, SEVERAL HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES WERE FORCED TO. GO ON LOCKDOWN TODAY AFTER THREATS TOWARD THOSE CAMPUSES. AUTHORITIES SAY NONE OF THE THREATS WERE DEEMED CREDIBLE. TOM, RIGHT. FOR US DANA, THANK YOU. WE TURN NOW TO AN UPDATE IN THE EPSTEIN FILES AS. THE BATTLE TO MAKE MORE EPSTEIN DOCUMENTS PUBLIC RAGES ON. BLOOMBERG NEWS HAS OBTAINED THOUSANDS OF JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S PERSONAL EMAILS, WHICH SHED NEW LIGHT ON JUST HOW CLOSE HE WAS TO GULAINE MAXWELL,

INCLUDING DISCUSSIONS FOR THE TWO TO UNDERGO FERTILITY TREATMENT. HERE'S HALLEY JACKSON. NEW INSIGHT TONIGHT INTO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JEFFREY EPSTEIN. AND GUILLAINE MAXWELL FROM A TROVE OF PURPORTED EMAILS. MORE THAN 18,000 PUBLISHED BY BLOOMBERG NEWS, WHICH SUGGESTS MAXWELL AND EPSTEIN WERE CLOSER IN MANY RESPECTS THAN EITHER. PUBLICLY ADMITTED IN HER JULY INTERVIEW WITH THE DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL, MAXWELL, EPSTEIN'S CONVICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR, RECOUNTS ASKING EPSTEIN ABOUT THE INITIAL INVESTIGATION INTO HIM.

HE. DIDN'T SAY. THE BLOOMBERG REPORT SUGGESTS SHE COUNSELED EPSTEIN AFTER THAT. AT ONE POINT, HE ASKED HER ADVICE ON WHAT CHARGE TO NEGOTIATE IN HIS 2008 PLEA AGREEMENT. I SUPPOSE LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS CONDUCT, SHE RESPONDED. NBC NEWS HAS NOT INDEPENDENTLY OBTAINED OR VERIFIED THE EMAILS. BLOOMBERG SAYS THEY WERE AUTHENTICATED USING CRYPTOGRAPHIC AND. METADATA ANALYSIS AND CORROBORATION WITH EXTERNAL SOURCES.

THE OUTLET SAYS ONE EMAIL INCLUDED A DETAILED SPREADSHEET. OF 2000 GIFTS AND PAYMENTS LIKE LINGERIE AND CHOCOLATES, SOME FOR TEENAGE GIRLS WHO LATER LODGED SEXUAL ABUSE COMPLAINTS, EXCEPT FOR THREE MINOR INSTANCES, BLOOMBERG SAYS THE EMAILS DO NOT OTHERWISE MENTION PRESIDENT TRUMP, WHO HAS SAID HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH EPSTEIN ENDED IN THE EARLY 2000S. THE WHITE HOUSE CALLING IT IN PART STUPID FAKE NEWS. MAXWELL'S ATTORNEY HAS NOT RESPONDED TO NBC'S REQUEST FOR COMMENT, AND FOR THE FIRST TIME,

REVELATIONS MAXWELL AND EPSTEIN WERE GOING. THROUGH A FERTILITY TREATMENT TOGETHER, ACCORDING TO BLOOMBERG, YEARS AFTER SHE SAID THEY BROKE UP IN 2005. BLOOMBERG SAYS MAXWELL EMAILED EPSTEIN DETAILED. INSTRUCTIONS ON A SPERM DONATION, ADDING, YOU CAN DO THE SAMPLE AT HOME. AND TONIGHT, FALLOUT INTERNATIONALLY WITH THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER. FIRING THE UK AMBASSADOR TO THE US BECAUSE THEY SAY THESE NEWLY RELEASED EMAILS. SHOW THAT THE EXTENT OF HIS RELATIONSHIP. WITH EPSTEIN WAS GREATER THAN PREVIOUSLY KNOWN. TOM, ALL RIGHT, HALLEY JACKSON FOR US IN 60 SECONDS.

WHY THIS CLASSROOM BURST INTO CHEERS. A BOY WE INTRODUCED YOU TO RIGHT HERE ON. NIGHTLY NEWS JUST GOT THE CALL OF HIS LIFETIME. HE WAS APPROVED FOR A LIFE CHANGING TREATMENT. THE BIG UPDATE WHEN WE COME BACK. NOW TO OUR SERIES THE COST OF DENIAL. TONIGHT WE HAVE A MAJOR UPDATE TO A STORY ABOUT TWO BROTHERS, BOTH WITH A DEBILITATING GENETIC DISORDER, ONE APPROVED FOR A TREATMENT THAT COULD HELP, THE OTHER DENIED. MAGGIE VESPA NOW WITH WHAT HAPPENED SHORTLY AFTER OUR STORY AIRED.

TWO BROTHERS BATTLING THE SAME DEVASTATING DISEASE. JUST WANT THE SAME MEDICINE. IT'S WHY 9 YEAR OLD NOAH SMALL ON THE RIGHT. PLEADED 10-YEAR-OLD HUNTER'S CASE TO THE FAMILY'S INSURANCE COMPANY, MAILING THIS LETTER LAST WEEK. YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE LETTER HERE. WOULD YOU MIND READING IT TO ME? YEAH, DEAR BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD FEDERAL, I'M WRITING TO ASK YOU TO ACCEPT MY BROTHER HUNTER FOR GENE THERAPY. I RECEIVED GENE THERAPY IN MARCH.

NOW I'M ABLE TO SWIM AND LEARN HOW TO RIDE MY. BIKE AT RECESS I CAN BE MORE ACTIVE AND SCORE TOUCHDOWNS. GROWING. UP OUTSIDE CHICAGO WITH THEIR OLDEST BROTHER. CARTER AND PARENTS WILLIAM AND ALLISON, NOAH AND HUNTER BOTH SUFFER FROM DUCHENNE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY, OR DMD, A RARE GENETIC DISORDER THAT PROGRESSIVELY ATTACKS A PERSON'S MUSCLES, LEAVING MOST CHILDREN WHEELCHAIR BOUND BY AGE 12. WITH AN AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY UNDER 30. YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THE EFFECTS ON HUNTER'S LEGS,

HIS LARGER CALVES LAYERED WITH SCAR TISSUE. HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL TIRED A LOT. IT MAKES YOU FEEL TIRED A LOT. THERE'S NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO. LAST MONTH, NIGHTLY NEWS SPOKE WITH THE FAMILY ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS TO GET A LEVIDAS, A ONE-TIME DOSE GENE THERAPY THAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO SLOW DMD'S PROGRESS. THE COST $3.2 MILLION. NOAA WAS APPROVED FOR COVERAGE RECEIVING THE TREATMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR. DOCTORS INITIALLY HESITATED. WITH HUNTER TO MAKE SURE HIS HEART,

WHICH HAD BEEN IMPACTED BY DMD, WAS STRONG ENOUGH. THEY SOON SIGNED OFF. BUT WHEN WE FIRST MET THE FAMILY, YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY IS DENYING ONE SON THE SAME TREATMENT YOUR. OTHER SON HAS RECEIVED AND SEEMS TO BE THRIVING AFTER RECEIVING. YES, IT'S BAFFLING. THEIR INSURER, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD'S FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PROGRAM, DENIED COVERAGE FOR HUNTER TWICE. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD DECLINED TO DISCUSS THE SPECIFIC CASE CITING PATIENT. AND PRIVACY, SAYING ITS DECISIONS ARE GUIDED BY NATIONWIDE BEST PRACTICES FOR CARE,

HELPING TO IDENTIFY WHAT HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL FOR MEMBERS IN THE PAST. TWO WEEKS AFTER OUR INITIAL STORY, WE FOLLOWED THE BROTHERS BACK TO SCHOOL, WHERE BECAUSE THEIR LEGS TIRE EASILY, THEY USE ELEVATORS AND SCOOTERS. THEIR FELLOW CLASSMATES LAUNCHED A LETTER WRITING. CAMPAIGN TO GET HUNTER THE TREATMENT. THEY HAD VERY STRONG OPINIONS. I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS. THIS DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT. I THINK WE SHOULD. REVISIT THIS AND TODAY THE PRINCIPAL HAD NEWS FOR THEM.

THE FAMILY SAYING AFTER FILING YET ANOTHER APPEAL, BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD TOLD THEM THIS WEEK HUNTER'S TREATMENT HAD BEEN APPROVED. THE NEWS STILL SETTING IN FOR HUNTER. YOU'RE GETTING THE MEDICINE. YEAH, ARE YOU EXCITED? YEAH. HIS PARENTS NOW SCRAMBLING TO SCHEDULE HIS.

GENE THERAPY APPOINTMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, GRATEFUL FOR THE GROUNDSWELL. I EVEN HAD SOMEBODY STOP AT OUR DOOR THE OTHER DAY AND SAID, I SAW THE PIECE ON NBC. I HAVE IDEAS FOR YOU. AND I THINK IT REALLY SHOWS THE GOOD IN THE WORLD, AND I WILL SAY THAT. EVERY LITTLE BIT DOES YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME, SO. THAT'S WHY WE FOUGHT SO HARD. TWO BROTHERS WITH A VILLAGE BEHIND THEM NOW GETTING THE SAME FIGHTING CHANCE.

MAGGIE VESPA, NBC NEWS, WINNETKA, ILLINOIS. AND WE ARE SO HAPPY HUNTER AND I ARE GETTING COVERAGE. WE'RE BACK IN A MOMENT WITH THE HIGHWAY DISASTER. SEVERAL PEOPLE KILLED, NEARLY 100 HURT AFTER AN OIL TANKER EXPLODED. WHAT HAPPENED? THAT'S NEXT. WE ARE BACK NOW WITH A CRITICAL MOMENT FOR DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AMERICA. FORMER BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONARO HAS. BEEN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO MORE. THAN 27 YEARS IN PRISON BY BRAZIL'S SUPREME COURT FOR PLOTTING A COUP.

TO STAY IN POWER AFTER LOSING THE 2022 ELECTION. BOLSONARO IS AN ALLY OF PRESIDENT TRUMP. TRUMP CALLING THE CONVICTION VERY SURPRISING. ALSO TONIGHT, MEXICO CITY'S GOVERNMENT. SAYS AT LEAST 8 PEOPLE ARE DEAD AND MORE THAN 90 WERE. HURT AFTER THIS GAS TANKER TRUCK EXPLODED UNDER A HIGHWAY OVERPASS. OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE INVESTIGATING, BUT THAT IT APPEARS IT HAPPENED AFTER THE TRUCK FLIPPED OVER. ALL RIGHT, WHEN WE COME BACK, 9/11 REMEMBERED HOW THREE MEMBERS. OF THE FDNY ARE CARRYING ON THEIR FATHER'S LEGACIES.

STAY WITH US. THIS GUY. IT HAS BEEN A TENSE 24 HOURS FOR THE NATION, A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION, A SCHOOL SHOOTING, SCARES ON CAMPUS, ALL AS WE MARK 24 YEARS. SINCE THE 9/11 ATTACKS. SO WE WANTED TO LEAVE YOU WITH A STORY OF HOPE, A NEW GENERATION OF HEROES INSPIRED BY THE BRAVE AMERICANS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH. HERE'S SAM BROCK. FOR A SECOND TODAY,

TIME STOOD STILL. AS A NATION HONORED THE THOUSANDS KILLED ON SEPTEMBER 11TH. AND THE BRAVERY OF THOSE WHO RESPONDED FROM LOWER MANHATTAN TO PENNSYLVANIA. TO OUR NATION'S CAPITAL, WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP ATTENDED A CEREMONY AT THE PENTAGON, AND FOR THREE MEMBERS OF THE FDNY, ALL SONS OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS, EVERY DAY IS PAINFUL. WE AS A DEPARTMENT HAVE THAT SLOGAN OF NEVER FORGET, RIGHT? AND IT'S NOT JUST NEVER FORGET THE GUYS, IT'S NEVER FORGET THE.

THAT THEY TOOK NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY DID THAT DAY. BATTALION CHIEF CHRIS GANCY, LIEUTENANT CHRIS MUSCALI, AND FIREFIGHTER SCOTT LARSON ALL UPENDED AFTER THEIR FATHERS TRIED. TO RESCUE VICTIMS IN THE RUBBLE OR IN THE TOWERS. I DO. REMEMBER BEING AT MY GRANDPARENTS' HOUSE AND JUST. LIKE. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO COME HOME THAT NIGHT AND IT WAS ABOUT 567 O'CLOCK, AND YOU KNOW EVERYONE WAS STARTING TO SEE LIKE THE WRITING ON THE WALL AND UH. IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ME. MY 13 YEAR OLD KEEPS ASKING ME.

SHE GOES, I, I CAN'T BELIEVE HE DID THAT. AND, AND IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE NOW WE'RE ALL ON A JOB AND LIKE, NO, I ABSOLUTELY CAN BELIEVE THAT HE DID THAT. LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE DO. LIKE WE DON'T LEAVE OUR OUR GUYS WE STAY. AND HE STAYED. FOR MUSCALI, THE LOSS PROVED A CALL TO ACTION. I GO TO WORK EACH DAY AND. I HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE I KNOW HE WOULD HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE, RIGHT? AND IT'S IT JUST TO SERVE AND TO BE A PART OF THIS DEPARTMENT. WE ASKED THE TRIO ABOUT LESSONS FOR YOUNGER GENERATIONS. WHAT I WOULD SAY TO THEM IS.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DAYS AFTER 9/11 AND LOOK. AT HOW THE UNITED STATES AND THE COUNTRIES SURROUNDED EACH OTHER. IT WOULD BE A PRETTY GOOD LESSON FOR RIGHT NOW, WOULDN'T IT? ABSOLUTELY. WE'RE ALL PEOPLE AT THE END OF THE DAY, A SHARED HUMANITY, THEY SAY WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER, ESPECIALLY NOW, SAM BROCK, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK. THE NEXT GENERATION OF NEW YORK'S BRAVEST. OUR THANKS TO SAM BROCK FOR THAT STORY, AND WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING NIGHTLY NEWS ON THIS THURSDAY. I'M TOM LLAMAS. TONIGHT AND ALWAYS, WE'RE HERE FOR YOU.

GOOD NIGHT.