From nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening, a saturday trip to the mall, the rite of weekends for millions of americans turned into a terrifying ordeal today for shoppers in a mall in suburban maryland when gunshots rang out. Police describe him as a lone shooter, producing a rifle inside a store. Witnesses say shoppers ran for safety, some making their way out. Others hiding in the mall for hours. When it was over, three people lay dead, including, police believe, the attacker. It happened in columbia, maryland, less than an hours drive from both washington, d. C. And baltimore. Nbcs Kristen Welker is there tonight with the latest, good evening. Reporter lester, good evening to you, this community has been deeply shaken by this apparent murdersuicide, and tonight police are scanning Surveillance Video and interviewing all those who witnessed the terror that unfolded here. We have an active shooter at the columbia mall, last seen in the food court. Kids are hiding in the bathroom. Reporter 911 calls captured the terror as gunshots rang out this morning at a suburban mall in columbia, maryland, about 25 miles north of washington, witnesses say it was terrifying. We were just crying, scared out of our mind because our thought was we were going to get shot. All of a sudden, people started to run by, we heard two gunshots. Police say it all started just after 11 00 a. M. Thats when a man with a shotgun walked into a crowded mall and opened fire in a secondfloor store. And then i heard boom, boom, boom, people started screaming and running. It was just complete madness. Reporter according to police, some fled the mall, others sheltered in place. There was a young couple with two brandnew babies, so we have like a rest room at the end in the store room. So everybody, as many people as we could fit in there. I ran into the store across from perfumemania. We all hid ourselves in the back room and locked the door. And we were in there for probably about an hour, hour and a half. Reporter police say it took them two minutes to respond to the multiple calls that came in. Once on scene, authorities found three bodies at a skate shop called zumiez. Among the dead, two males, and a female. Both store employees in their 20s, and a second male, believed to be the shooter. The identity of the shooter, we dont know who that is yet. When our officers approached, he was obviously deceased. But he was also still had a large amount of ammunition on and about him. Reporter Law Enforcement Officials Say early indications were that the gunman may have known at least one of the victims. It may be that it is a domestic situation. But somebody has reported from a federal Law Enforcement source that is what it is. But im telling you we cant confirm that. We cant deny it. We simply do not know. Reporter local state and federal authorities worked throughout the afternoon evacuating the mall, searching vehicles in the parking lot and interviewing witnesses, trying to determine what could have caused yet another senseless shooting. Life is short and treasure every day you have, treasure your family. Reporter now, police have also identified the victims tonight as brianna benlolo, 21 years old of college park, maryland. Tyler johnson, 25 years old, of ellicott city, maryland, they have not yet identified the shooter. Five people were also injured this morning, including one person who was shot in the foot. They have all been treated and released. This mall will remain closed while Police Continue their investigation. Lester . Kristen welker in maryland, thank you. Another day of deadly clashes in egypt, Authorities Say at least 29 people were killed as Security Forces battled antigovernment protesters. Thats after 21 people were killed in clashes and bomb attacks yesterday. All this comes as egypt marks the third anniversary of the uprising that ousted president hosni mubarak. We get the latest now from nbcs ayman mohyeldin. Reporter Egyptian Police firing at the crowds. Rounding up demonstrators. Protesters throwing stones and fire bombs at the police. Angry scenes similar to the ones egypt witnessed exactly three years ago today. Back then, there was a different fight. One to topple Hosni Mubaraks regime. Today, it is the Muslim Brotherhood and their supporters, that are at war with egypts militaryinstalled government, which ousted president morsi last july, put him on trial and then banned the organization itself. Morsis removal has dead to a deadly insurgency in egypt, today, striking a Police Station in suez. On friday, it was a car bomb at cairo security building. The military is flying high, enjoying a wave of popular support. On the very streets where the military once gunned down protesters, today thousands turned up singing their praises. Men and women, even children, wearing military uniforms. All came out in a show of support for the army. And its powerful leader general abdel sisi, the man who removed morsi from power. All of us support sisi. We support sisi to be president of our country. Reporter but critics warn the military is once again reaching for power, silencing any dissent, even from the youth who helped to topple Hosni Mubaraks regime back in 2011. Now, lester, the concern in the eyes of the human rights organizations is that as the violence continues to get worse, the military and government are stepping up their pressure, trying to silence any dissent, even from legitimate opposition which will reverse the gains of the 2011 revolution, lester. Ayman mohyeldin, thank you. And thousands are in the ukraine capital of kiev. Protesters have been killed the unrest all started in this week in clashes with police. November when ukraines president made moves to align the country more with russia and not europe as previously promised. We get the latest on that situation from nbcs ian williams, in kiev. Reporter it looks like a medieval battle scene, the rows of barricades, the smoke, the weapons and especially the savage drum beats. It rises through, to haul molotov cocktails at the lines of police who respond with water to douse the flames, and also an effective weapon in subzero temperatures. In kiev this passes as relative restraint on both sides. So far, the uneasy truce has been held. The rioters are itching for a fight. Attitudes are hardening. Were staying here until the end. Reporter you will stay here . Yes. Reporter with many bearing the scars of a week of violent clashes. Youre going to stay . You are determined to stay . Announcer until the end. Reporter this week, the twomonth long protests turned deadly. Three protesters shot dead. And a movement that started with demands for closer ties with europe now wants to topple the government. It also has spread beyond the capital with protesters seizing several Regional Government buildings. President yanukovych met with religious leaders today, he has offered some concessions. But not enough for opposition leaders who have appealed for western mediation. But at the barricades, more radical groups appear to be in control. This leader told me there is no point in negotiating. This is the on way. Although the rocks for their armory have been supplied by the solidly middle class women, as were the cakes for the barricades. Sustenance for what many fear will be a tense and violent weekend. Ian williams, nbc news, kiev. And still ahead, there is a threat against russia in sochi, where the Winter Olympics are just 13 days away. This threat comes in a written statement from a group that claims responsibility for last months transit bombings in volgograd that killed 34 people. Meanwhile, the state Department Warns people heading for sochi. Nbcs kier simmons has more. Reporter president putin is determined these games will be a success. And today his press secretary said any reports that there are concerns about the gains is just the west trying to discredit russia. But the concerns include terrorism and today a group that claims to have been behind the deaths of at least 34 people in a double suicide bombing in a city 400 miles from here last month issued new threats. The new threats on the internet suggested that there would another attack. It did not mention sochi, but the same group has promised in the past to deliver what they said would be a present for president putin here at sochi during the games. The aim of the group must well have been to try to disrupt the games but the simple threat to the buildup to the olympics may have already done that, increasing the fear. That said, olympic organizers say the games are safe. And lester, when you speak to organizers on the ground here there is a sense of enthusiasm, perhaps even excitement. Lester . Thank you, kier simmons. And back in the country today dangerous bonechilling cold gripped much of the nation for yet another day. And there appears to be no end in sight for many. Nbc meteorologist dylan dreyer joins us now from Rockefeller Center plaza here in new york, dylan . Reporter good evening, lester, the cold has been relentless for so many this winter. We havent really thawed out for from that first arctic blast we had at the beginning of the year. And now more than half the country is bracing for possibly even a colder one. Today, heavy snow and dangerously frigid air blasted the country. In atlanta, the severe cold caused a major water main break. Workers scrambled as water exploded 20 feet in the air and turned to ice on contact. You have extremely cold temperatures that we have had in the past couple of weeks. It puts a strain on our system. Reporter in houston, bus passengers on i45 helped each other down an exit ramp after being stranded for nearly two hours due to icy road conditions. In cleveland, snow fell hard and fast early this morning. Snow plows cant get it up fast enough. It just keeps coming down. Reporter on water ways, coast guard crews took to breaking the ice on the hudson river, freeing up traffic for roughly 300 vessels. As bitter cold lingers in the northeast. The snow and cold clearly has not stopped ice skaters here in central park but it could be a different story next week when temperatures here and across most of the country will be about 15 to 30 degrees below average. The snowfall totals this season continue to break records. Chicago has received 45 inches, above its average of 17. Indianapolis, 33. 8 inches, above its usual 14, and philadelphia has seen almost 34 inches compared to its 7. 9 average. The snow and prolonged cold is also pinching the propane supplies as millions of americans use more of the fuel to heat their homes. At the end of the week it will be bitterly cold. Well probably use more than we normally would. Reporter prices have shot up to levels we have not seen since at least 1990, with the demand at an alltime high, far outpacing supply in at least 20 states. Im concerned because we dont know when or if were getting it. And all the Propane Companies are kind of in the same boat. Reporter now, we have these quick clipper systems moving through the midwest and the northeast. Its snowing right now across parts of new england. They dump a little bit of snow, and then reinforce the cold air, most areas pick up a quick 1 to 3 inches but around the great lakes because of the lakeeffect enhancement its up to 6 inches. Look at the jet stream as we go into monday of next week. It dips all the way down to well see temperatures 20 to almost 40 degrees below average, the deep south. A high of 15 below in minneapolis, nine in st. Louis, 33 in minimum memphis. And 6 below for a high in chicago. 6 above in cincinnati. 23 in knoxville. Raleigh, north carolina, a high of 23 degrees. By wednesday, the cold recedes a little bit but well still be in the teens and 20s, not factoring in the wind chill, which could be well below zero. Now, lester, i know winter is supposed to be cold but even by winter standards this is extreme cold that were dealing with. Lester . Thanks, see you in the morning on today. And the nations biggest arts and crafts retailer, michaels, may have suffered a Data Security attack affecting customers payment information. A Company Spokesman tells nbc news michaels is trying to determine the nature and scope of the issue. Following the massive data breaches against target and neiman marcus. And the former aide to governor Chris Christie at the center of the Washington Bridge scandal was seen publicly today for the First Time Since being fired two weeks ago. Former deputy chief of staff Bridgett Kelly and her family arrived at her home in ramsey, new jersey. No word on where they had been. A Court Officer was seen arriving shortly after. Documents released show kelly sent the infamous email that read, time for some traffic problems in ft. Lee. The matter is now the subject of federal and state investigations. And when nightly news continues, do you find nutrition labels on food confusing . Then you may be happy about the big changes being planned. Well tell you about them. And later, a woman who is making a big difference in the lives of pretty adorable creatures who could really use a great home. For the first time in decades, nutrition labels on our food are about to get a major makeover. The goal, to help you make healthier choices by putting better and easier to understand information on labels. Our report tonight from nbcs gabe gutierrez. Reporter theyre a supermarket staple. But now nutrition labels may get their first makeover in 20 years. Everything i buy, i look at the label, especially now that im pregnant. It wont really make a difference for me, i like what i like and im going to get what i want. The government has taken the wraps off a new generation of food labels. Reporter in 1993, the food and Drug Administration first introduced the labels, revealing exactly how much sugar and fat we were consuming. But while our diets have changed, the labels have not. The fda says there is now a shift to focus on calories to help consumers construct healthy diets. The hope with the new label is that the calories perceiving will be prominently displayed right at the top so you know from the start what a serving is. Reporter Health Advocates are lobbying for other ways to help, clearer measurements not just in grams but in teaspoons and serving sizes that make sense. The fda will not say exactly what the revised labels will look like or when you will see them in your kitchen. But likely they will release recommendations in the next few months. When we look at the history we know more and more people are starting to look at labels. So theyre looking there for a reason. So we want to make sure they look at the labels and make healthier choices. Reporter the usda estimates that 42 of working adults read the labels always or most of the time. Older adults use them 57 of the time. So i think there are definitely a lot of important bits of information that people will get from the new labeling. Reporter changing shoppers habits wont be so easy, but these new labels will aim to make Nutrition Information easier to digest. Gabe gutierrez. Nbc news, atlanta. And coming up, a personal announcement by frances president. We now know who will not be accompanying the french president hollande when he makes a state visit to the white house next month. Hollande announced today he and frances first lady are separating. Here is nbcs duncan golestani. Reporter it is one of the president ial decisions that france has been waiting for. Francois hollande has announced the end of his relationship with the first lady trierweiler two weeks after a tabloid reported he was having an affair with an actress. He called a French News Agency to say im making it known that i put an end to my shared life with valerie trierweiler. Two weeks ago, the magazine published photos of hollande apparently visiting his girlfriend on a motorcycle and staying the night. Shortly there after, the first lady checked into a hospital for exhaustion, while hollande refused to confirm that trierweiler was still first lady. Promising to clear up confusion before the state visit next month. She doesnt want to leave behind the role of first lady, in which she really has invested. Reporter the couple had been together for several years but never married. In relaxed france, that was okay. So too, it seems is even an affair. The big public debate is whether or not the public had a right to know. This woman says he can do what he wants. It is his life. But another says it is a stain on the image of the president. She calls it a disaster. Mostly, people are just glad that their president , who is unpopular because of his dithering, has finally made up his mind. Duncan golestani, nbc news, london. And still ahead, floridas dog rescue angel. Finally tonight, a onewoman rescue squad and the fourlegged friends she saved by opening her heart and her wallet. Our making a difference report tonight from nbcs jill rapaport. Reporter ricky shaw is on a mission, to rescue and save every little dog she can. Oh, i know. Reporter whether it is picking up the strays off the streets of south florida, or from cityrun shelters, this 64yearold rescues an average of 500 dogs a year. It is the only thing that matters to me. You really have a feel for how dangerous the situation is. The stress that these dogs are under. Here we go. Reporter from medical to maintenance, shaw pays all costs incurred, in excess of 500,000 a year. If it was not for her efforts, these dogs would be dead. Its not important to me to go shopping, play cards, or have lunch with the girls. This is what is important to me. Reporter shaw works directly with and supports pet haven rescue, on no cage, no kill facility in loxahatchee grove, florida, which looks more like a spa than a shelter. Its quite luxurious. Id like to live here myself. Reporter from the custom beds and play rooms to the wellgroomed pastures, shaw hopes this oneofakind facility will become an example for other shelters around the country. And no one has to ask ricky for anything. She is just from the heart and gives everything that she possibly can to help an animal. Reporter and you choose the ones that are the least adoptable. I choose the older ones, the ones that have injuries, because theyre just those are dogs that will be put down. Reporter knowing this is a costly dream, shaw will soon auction her jewelry off at christies. Valued at 10 million. And every dollar she gets she says will go right back to the animals she loves. Fortunately im able to do this. And that is how you make a difference. Jill rappaport, nbc news, loxahatchee groves, florida. That is nbc nightly news for this saturday, im lester holt reporting from new york, ill see you right back here tomorrow evening. See you right back here tomorrow evening. Good night. Captions by vitac www. Vitac. Com bay area firefighters on alert this weekend. That includes a special request from cal fire. Kimberly tere joins us live from san jose this evening. What is cal fire asking people to do . Reporter theyre asking homeowners to create what they call the Defensible Space around their home. Usually this request doesnt go out until the spring. But its been very dry. It hasnt rained at all. The vegetation out here is dry. Theyre concerned it might cause, or if there is a wildfire, it will just go up. And in just the last three weeks, since the beginning of january, i can tell you that cal fire has responded to 300 wildfires so far. That have charred over 700 acres. That compares with about 50 fires that burned about 100 acres total in a normal year. Fuel conditions for fires, that we would normally see in august, this is unheard of this time of year. Particularly in northern california. Reporter many of the fires over the last month is