The gunman at the Washington Navy yard. Tonight investigators studying these words. They were etched on a gun used by aaron alexis. Abcs senior justice correspondent Pierre Thomas has the first take on what these riddles could mean. Reporter this is a remington 870 pump Action Shotgun like the one used in the Washington Navy yard massacre. A devastating close range weapon that sources tell us that left an horrific scene of carnage in its wake. Abcs has learned that aaron alexis carved the words better off this way and my elf weapon on the stock of the shotgun. Investigators are examining the meaning of the phrases including whether better off this way meant alexis knew he would die in his murderous rampage. As for elf, authorities are not sure what it means though some investigators wonder if it refers to the tech phrase extremely low frequency. Part of the curiosity about that phrase stems from the fact that alexis was a computer technician and was recently ranting to police about hearing voices and microwave machines bombarding his body. That bizarre tale was told to police in rhode island who alerted the Newport Naval station police. But the Navy Confirmed today the information was never passed up the chain of command. And alexis kept his job as a civilian contractor with the navy, holding a secret clearance. There were a lot of red flags as you noted. Why they didnt get picked up, those are all legitimate questions that were going to be dealing with. Reporter we heard today from a killers crest fallen mother. She did not want her face shown. Our son, aaron alexis, has murdered 12 people. Aaron is in a place where he can no longer do harm to anyone and for that i am glad. To the families of the victims i am so, so very sorry that this has happened. My heart is broken. Reporter after hearing those voices alexis recently went to the v. A. Hospital complaining of insomnia. Officials gave him sleeping medication. When asked if he had thoughts of hurting himself or anyone else, he said no. Diane, that was that. Pierre, i know there is a huge investigation still under way. Thank you. Next we turn to the mayhem in one of the most popular vacation spots in the world, acapulco. Americans save up every year to travel there but tonight a storm and floods have tens of thousands of tourists trying to flee. So much for the dream vacation. Abcs david wright on the scramble to safety. Reporter in mexico, paradise submerged. Acapulco, that glamorous name actually comes from an aztec word meaning,washed away. Today it sure seems that way to some 40,000 tourists trying to get out. There is no roads, no planes, physically no way to get out of acapulco. Reporter for three days, Tropical Storm manual pounded mexicos diamond coast. Leaving in its wake a chaotic scene. Grocery store shelves emptied. At the local costco, looters wade through the parking lot, but theres no easy way out. Major roads blocked by mudslides. The International Airport under water waist deep from the ticket counter to the curb side checkin. A carry on bag you need to carry on your head. Most of the tourists are being diverted to a nearby military base to be airlifted out. But, its slow going. Its a little tired but, you know, trying to get home as best as possible. Reporter the grand hotels are now rationing food and the stranded vacationers who came expecting five star accommodations are making do with a dry patch of floor in the lobby. David wright, abc news, los angeles. Now the latest on the floods in colorado where the flood waters are receding but rescuers have begun to put on hazmat suits. Why . Abc meteorologist ginger zee is right there with them. Reporter suiting up and going in. State police in evans, colorado getting ready to brave the contaminated waters in full hazmat gear. Sounds like the sewage system has been compromised. We dont want to take any chances. Reporter the Health Hazard growing, the water infested with chemicals, sewage and bacteria as the flooding recedes. This is the first day we can see the road and sidewalk. Reporter this is crystal and mark brothe, waiting for fema to assess the safety of their neighborhood. We know that there is raw sewage. There is animal waste, chemicals from peoples garages. Reporter they did get in briefly sunday to save their pets and it wasnt pretty. The smell was so strong in our house, the fumes set off our smoke detectors and our Carbon Dioxide detector. Reporter today, the Colorado Health department is urging people to stay out of the filthy water, even telling some communities to boil their tap water. Never have we had something thats covered such a large area involving hundreds of thousands of square miles and hundreds of thousands of people. Reporter ginger zee, abc news, evans, colorado. And next we go north of the border to canada and a collision between a double decker bus and a passenger train in ottawa. At least six people including the bus driver were killed. Witnesses say the bus went through a closed crossing gate and passengers say they screamed at the driver to stop before the train hit. And next a note about iran tonight. Is there a possibility of a new relationship with the United States . Today irans new leader freed almost a dozen political prisoners, three men, eight women, among them a prominent human rights lawyer who is back home with her husband and children tonight. President rouhani has exchanged letters with president obama and is scheduled to speak at the United Nations next week. And back here at home, the dow soared to a new record high closing up more than 147 points. Fueled by the news that the fed is going to continue its stimulus to the economy. But at the same time there is a looming hurdle for the economy. In less than two weeks the federal government will run out of funds, meaning another battle over the budget, and then the debt ceiling. Today president obama sent his republican opponents a warning shot. You have never seen in the history of the United States the debt ceiling or the threat of not raising the debt ceiling being used to extort a president or a governing party and trying to force issues that have nothing to do with the budget and have nothing to do with the debt. Stay tuned for another possible showdown. And now to atlanta and the drama of a kidnapping and a rescue. A 14yearold girl was grabbed out of her home at gunpoint, family and friends praying for her safe return. Abcs Steve Osunsami on how the police got her back today. Reporter its what everyone rooting for 14yearold ayvani perez wanted to hear. This is a good day. She is safe. She is safe. Reporter it was a whole 30 hours after she was snatched from her familys home in the middle of the night still wearing her pajama bottoms. Im so glad its over. Reporter the tears from last nights vigil at her high school still fresh. Were praying and expecting a safe return. Reporter today police say they found her captive at a location east of atlanta that theyre not disclosing. They arrested 29yearold dragel jackson on kidnapping charges and 40yearold Juan Alberto Contreras Rodriguez on immigration charges. Reporter the original line from police was that the two men who broke into the home had no relationship with anyone in the house. Today authorities wouldnt tell us if that was still true. Reporter here is a possible connection. According to court records, both the girls mother and one of the men arrested today were both arrested on drug charges in 2012. Charges against the mother were dropped. There are several other subjects, suspects that we are still investigating. Because of that i really will not be able to get into a lot of particulars on this. Reporter so many questions here tonight but one thing for sure. Their prayers were answered in this house where friends and family brought balloons welcoming ayvani home. Steve osunsami, abc news, atlanta. Tonight the countdown is on to the 400 million powerball drawing, word that a change is approaching. More people could be winning big soon. Abcs gio benitez tells us how. Reporter second place wont win you the crown or the white house. But for many lottery winners second place will soon win you a whole lot of cash. If you were to get second place, would you be happy with that . Yes, sure. A million bucks maybe . Id be happy with 500 bucks. Reporter america has lottery fever. The jackpot soaring. In 2002 the biggest prize 331 million. Now were seeing numbers like 587 million, 590 million, even 656 million. Tonights powerball jackpot, 400 million. Not too shabby. Next month the Mega Millions rules will change. The consolation prizes will balloon. Right now if you hit five out of the six numbers, win 250,000. In october that number will soar to anywhere between 1 million and 5 million. More good news. Your odds of winning a prize of any kind will improve from 1 in 40 to 1 in 15. Suddenly coming in second doesnt look so bad. Gio benitez, abc news, new york. Ahead in just two minutes, the made in america exclusive, some all american inventors get their chance at a fortune, the anxiety, the tears, and abcs david muir on the big night. And how to change a life. Caught on camera. Strangers, the kindness and the joy. This man is about to be the millionth customer. Would you mind if i go ahead of you . Instead we had someone go ahead of him and win fifty thousand dollars. Congratulations you are our one millionth customer. 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Advair may increase your risk of osteoporosis and some eye problems. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high Blood Pressure before taking advair. Ask your doctor if including advair could help improve your lung function. [ male announcer ] Advair Diskus fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder. Get your first prescription free and save on refills at advaircopd. Com. [ male announcer ] bobs heart attack didnt come with a warning. Today his doctor has him on a bayer aspirin regimen to help reduce the risk of another one. If youve had a heart attack, be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. Tonight our made in america team. And the competition jumping to the next level. American inventors from across the country bringing their ingenious ideas to walmart which is ready to hand somebody a possible fortune. Abcs david muir there for the chance of a lifetime. You and i have heard from so many viewers on this diane. These are the inventors tonight who were invited to make their pitch in person, narrowed down from more than 1,000 who sent in their videos from all over the country, all vying for a spot on walmarts shelf and one of them will get it. Reporter will it be gabrielle whose smart lock on your front door knows when you are coming home synced up with your cell phone. Or cynette thom and her gps for your dog. Put it on their collar and it tracks their every move. Also in play Kimberly Mccain who is thinking about your children and the new school year and the pencil erasers probably already worn down, showing me her eraselet, it never wears out. You wearing it on your wrist. Showing me how to erase made in china. All of them among the 20 who got the call to make their pitch in person. The judges are getting ready. I dont see jlo. Reporter richard directser of walmart. Com, carry, director of purchasing for toys and andrea, a senior buyer. Among the first up, a dad from cincinnati with his team driving monitor. Two minutes to install his device in your teenagers car. The scariest day of a parents life is the first night that our kids get the license and we hand them the keys. Reporter afterwards, the seatbelt came off, no alert sent to his wife. He survived. The judges loved it. All of the contestants kept in a room, checking each other out. Even the dog eyeing the competition. That mom with the eraselet. Kimberly mccain. Im excited more than anything. Before i go in there im probably going to lose it. Reporter she was the next up. I am with eraselet, the bracelet that erases. Reporter she showed how it doesnt make a mess and doesnt wear out, but she was stressed out. It wont sorry. Reporter the judges still loved it and loved her too. Waiting behind her, chris. Have you seen the judges yet . I havent. You can peek in right there. Reporter the stage director didnt like that. He brought his American Made mini bungee cord. It attaches to your dogs leash. No more yanking the dog or their neck when they race for a squirrel. He hands out the bungee to the judges and starts his pitch. 11 billion. It sorry. All right. Should i start over . Reporter all of this made in america, making him sweat. Its very hot in here. Reporter they were racing in to help him. Is he going to be okay . Yes. Reporter he was and they still loved his idea. You had the poor guy sweating. I know reporter and then there was angel. Im so stressed out right now. Thats why im here. I want to wish you luck. Reporter the mom from new orleans who battled cancer and won, now trying to win over the judges. She tried scarves and hats when she lost her hair. Nothing worked until her invention. Just a simple slipon cover that goes over your head, stays in place, has elastic and is cute and stylish. Here i was in the prime of my life and everything was taken away from me. Reporter the room silenced, the judges wiping away tears. Her message delivered. How inspirational, the struggle that she had to go through. How do you feel . Good. Reporter waiting the wings tonight the other leading contenders. Im nervous. Are you nervous . Reporter soon so were we. She and her dog got her big moment. The judges alarmed, she freezes. Tomorrow night. We were all rooting for her. Well show you what happened tomorrow night. I was telling you, diane, the gps on the dog collar was one of the things i heard about the most on twitter after last nights world news. Can you see how difficult its going to be for the judges and everyone at home. It is hard for everyone at home now tomorrow night we reveal how they can vote. The judges are there to guide you through it but american shoppers decide in the end. David muir back tomorrow night. Coming up next here, talk about chance, the wheel of fortune contestant who guessed this clue guessed it but still lost the 1 million prize. Why . Our instant index coming up. Why . Our next coming up. The middle of this special moment and i need to run off to the bathroom. Im fed up with always having to put my bladders needs ahead of my daughter. So today, im finally talking to my doctor about Overactive Bladder symptoms. [ female announcer ] know that gotta go feeling . Ask your doctor about prescription toviaz. One toviaz pill a day significantly reduces sudden urges and accidents, for 24 hours. If you have certain stomach problems or glaucoma, or can not empty your bladder, you should not take toviaz. Get emergency medical help right away if your face, lips, throat or tongue swells. Toviaz can cause blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness and decreased sweating. Do not drive, operate machinery or do unsafe tasks until you know how toviaz affects you. The most common side effects are dry mouth and constipation. Talk to your doctor about toviaz. At humana, our medicare agents sit down with you and ask. 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Corner curio cabinet. The judges insist paul mispronounced the answer. Paul tells abc news he didnt know how to pronounce the item and amazingly says he has no hard feelings. Talk about super size me. A wisconsin man decided to create a mceverything. All 43 sandwiches on the mcdonalds menu in all one giant four foot tall sandwich held together by bamboo skoours. He ordered just as they were switching from breakfast to lunch so he could order from both menus. The bill 141. 33. By our rough math, the sandwich, 18,000 calories. He said he has left overs that will last for days. We are putting out a call to star gazers everywhere tonight. Pay close attention to the night sky over your back yard. There will be a harvest moon, the last full moon before the fall equinox. Tonight is the night. Please send us your pictures. We would love to see it as you do. When we come back here, a hard working waitress gets a surprise and an unexpectedly great day. Ly great day. 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[ female announcer ] if you cant afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. Man [ laughs ] those look like baby steps now. But they were some pretty good moves. And the best move of all . Having the right partner at my side. Its so much better that way. [ male announcer ] have the right partner at your side. Consider an aarp Medicare Supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. Go long. Her busy saturday begins with back pain, when. Hey pam, you should take advil. Why . You can take four advil for all day relief. So i should give up my two aleve for more pills with advil . Youre joking right . For my back pain, i want my aleve. Youre joking right . Need advice on how to juggle those big family meals . This kenmore elite dual temperature double oven, exclusively from sears, can help. So you never have to worry. About dropping a dish. Impressive and so is j. D. Power ranking kenmore elite highest in customer satisfaction. Come celebrate kenmores 100th anniversary and save up to 30 off all kenmore appliances. This is celebrating big. This is sears. [ crashing ] [ male announcer ] when your favorite food starts a fight, fight back fast with tums. Heartburn relief that neutralizes acid on contact and goes to work in seconds. Tum, tum tum tum tums they used to get really tired. [barking noises] until i started gellin. Its this awesome gel, only in dr. Scholls massaging gel insoles. Its like walking on a wave. I love my dr. Scholls massaging gel insoles. When theyre in my shoes, my feet and legs feel less tired. Theyve got two layers for support and cushioning its dual wave technology. Im walking on it all day of course i feel energized im a believer. Im a believer dr. Scholls massaging gel insoles. Im a believer. Ooooo. And finally tonight, sometimes a little generosity makes a very big difference in a day. This is the story of two men with a video camera who decided to show all of us what its like when some hard workers get a happy surprise. Here is abcs paula faris. Reporter what you are seeing is a waitress who has no idea whats waiting for her on that table. She makes just 2 an hour. But, she got a 200 tip. Oh, my god reporter the same thing happens to this waiter. And this one. In fact, it happened to several waiters all across utah. All thanks to these two buddies. Twentysomethings Stuart Edgington and andrew hales make a living on youtube giving awkward hugs, opening doors, and complimenting complete strangers. We want to let moms know that theyre awesome so we got some flowers and were going to give them to her. Reporter the goal . Mostly just to get you to crack a smile. Are you philanthropists . Are you pranksters . I would say were pranksters. Social experimenters. Reporter they do a lot of funny stuff even to pretend to break up with people theyve never actually met. Are you seeing someone else. Reporter but its this random act of generosity for these waiters that has made them an internet sensation. Its kind of like parents watching their kids open their presents on christmas. What were going for is the feel good reactions that really just make you smile. I love you guys you dont even know how bad i needed the money. Youre like god sent. That just got us, we were like, aw man, this was awesome. Reporter what started out as a gift for some unsuspecting waiters is now putting a smile on the faces of millions. Paula faris, abc news, new york. And we thank you for watching. Were always there at abcnews. Com with the very latest. Nightline will be here later. Ill see you right back here again tomorrow night. Until then, have a great night. A great night. Were live with breaking news inside of the gates of a neighborhood where a man being evicted has just surrendered. Another school mix up. A disabled student dropped off far from home by a bus she never should have been on. Is this the message you got trying to upgrade your iphone . What apple owners are doing to avoid down load delay autos how google is putting weight behind finding new ways for us to live longer. And here you can see a s. W. A. T. Team moving in. A suspected gunman gives himself up just moments ago in a house where gunfire broke out. That is him on the front porch. The dramatic ending to an armed standoff today. Good evening. This started just before 2 00 when a lock smith worked to open the door for Sheriff Deputies. That is when he was shot in the leg by someone inside of the house. It happened in the gated community on ash born circle near laura an bethonny is there. We can show you what happened. We had seen this s. W. A. T. Vehicle making its way towards the front door of the house. And then, like i said, at 5 46 they hd this man come out and surrender. They had a vehicle that pushed the door open, then, we saw this man come out, lay down, then surrounded by looked like seven or eight s. W. A. T. Team members. Before that this afternoon, the suspect apparently was being served a notice but what is called a civil restoration team, a division of the sheriffs department. It was a lock smith and two Sheriff Deputies think went to the front door tried to serve a notice, and when they could not get an answer, they began drilling the skplok doorks that is when someone