Transcripts For WRC News4 At 5 20150410

Confrontation. More on that on news4 at 6 00. The man killed protecting the Census Bureau spent decades trying to keep americans safe. Prince georges county bureau chief Tracee Wilkins continues our Team Coverage with new information about the virginia mans life. Reporter we were talking to people who work inside the u. S. Census bureau today. They say it was very somber inside of that building. They knew this guard, saw him every morning and are very sad about what happened here. He leaves behind his adult son, four grandchildren, and his wife linda, who he was married to for more than 30 years. Now, 59yearold Lawrence Buckner was shot and killed outside the Census Bureau yesterday. Police say he saw the gunman and a woman having an argument outside the gate when he intervened and was shot and killed. Buckner was rushed to Prince Georges Hospital where he later died from his injuries. He worked for the Master Security Company for nearly four years. According to the company hes worked here at the Census Bureau for those four years and spent two decades in Security Industry after serhe u. S. Army. Today Census Bureau workers described the grief they felt after hearing that he was the guard who was shot. You know, hes got you know they stand out here in the rain, the snow the 85degree weather. You know theyre always there for us. And its put a big hurt on everybody here. I mean you recognize him when you come in and leave and see him around the building and its just awful. Reporter coming up on news4 at 6 00 the director of the u. S. Department or the u. S. Census department has released a statement about this. We will explain what he had to say and also hear from workers who are describing exactly what it was like inside of that building after the word of his loss spread. Reporting live im Tracee Wilkins. Back to you in the studio. Thank you, tracee. News4s Mark Segraves has worked all day putting together a precise time line of the mayhem that unfolded last night. Heres his chronology. Reporter the mangled wreckage and the numerous evidence tags the story of how this ordeal ended. It was definitely a shocking scene. Reporter police say 48yearold Ronald Anderson of the dwrikt wasistrict was the man who led the police on a chase across the city. All the while the suspect driver was exchanging gunshots with police. Reporter it began about 5 30. Police say anderson kidnapped a woman near the intersection of 3rd and t streets northeast. 30 minutes later anderson shot and killed a Security Guard outside of the u. S. Census bureau. Sometime later, anderson was spotted by d. C. Police on brews place southeast where anderson opened fire on officers. As Police Chased anderson he opened fire again, this time near the intersection of 3rd and m streets northeast. About 8 00 the chase ends near 11th and 8th streets northeast with a crash and a hail of gunfire. At that point, Police Cruisers were able to block the suspects path. They collided with the suspect here. The suspect again opens fire on police and as an exchange of gunfire between mpd and the suspect. Reporter at the Census Bureau Police Locked down the campus and searched for an active shooter as employees sheltered in their offices and cars not knowing the suspect had fled back into the district. After taking gun frooir anderson d. C. Police officers rammed their car into andersons to end the chase. But anderson continued shooting at police who this time returned fire wounding anderson. A Police Officer was also shot. We know that our officers put themselves in front of harms way. Reporter now the sergeant who was shot was grazed in the leg. Were told hes doing just fine. The condition of the suspect has not been released. As for the woman who was kidnapped, theres no word on how or when she escaped but she is found and unharmed and she is safe tonight. Coming up at 6 00 youll hear from witnesses twr the scene last night and well give you more on the charges anderson is facing. Pat, back to you. The roads are open again, but the northeast community are where the chase ended is still shaken up. Part of h street stayed closed until 9 00 this morning. More than 12 hours after the chase and the gunfire ended. The dramatic shootout with police happened in front of a sandwich shop. The h street corridor has seen a comeback over the past decade and the shooting has some business obereb owners in the neighborhood feeling a little rattled. Somebody shooting in the car. Something like that. Oh my goodness. Im very scared. Reporter no neighbor or bystanders in the h street corridor were hurt. As everything unfolded last night, we sent breaking news awe letters through our nbc washington app. We invite you to download it so you can stay on top of any breaking news or weather when youre on the go. Weve got some rain marching right through our area right now on storm team 4 radar. All part of the same system that produced Severe Weather across the midwest yesterday. There were 17 tornado reports for us much much less intense. Take a look. You can see it from Loudoun County right on down toward areas of madison and green county. This is out ahead of the cold front. Just some showers right now so, i do have lightning turned on. This is all advancing toward the east into areas like haymarket over the next couple minutes, chantilly, on towards burke with a tail end of it hitting areas like ruckersville and cash corner by 5 45. This line again not intense but theres still that possibility of development as warm air out ahead of the front starts to make its way up and into our area. Just look down to the south. 78 in fredericksburg. Thats where the heat has been today. 63 in d. C. So again, there is that possibility. Ill continue to monitor storm team 4 radar for any thunderstorm development. Ill show you what follows behind this front. Now to a wrong way crash that killed a man who was driving home last night. He was hoping to miss the evening rush. It would be william bettenburgs last drive home. He was hit by a car that was going the wrong way on 395. Northern Virginia Bureau reporter david culvert spoke with his wife today. David . Reporter shes a sweet woman. I want to point out behind me the middle lanes of 395 the hov lanes. Perhaps you were one of those driving home late last night and noticed it was at a standstill. State police say it was because of that wrongway crash that killed two people. From vdots traffic cameras, brake lights illumeinate the screen. The hov lanes shut down. State police tell us it started with robert trip of springfield getting onto the hov lanes going the wrong way. He was headed north as traffic was headed south. Among those coming down the highway leaving work to head home to burke 75yearold bill bettenburg. Trims suv hit him head on. Then another car slammed into bettenburgs. He and trim died at the scene. His wife is devastated. Understandably she didnt want to go on camera but told me her husband worked 41 years for the department of interior, in retirement went to law school and for the past few years worked for homer flaw the district. One of his colleagues calls him a great mind who will be deeply missed. What remains a mystery is how that driver was able to get onto the hov lanes if the gates were down. State police tried to figure that out. They said if you saw a honda last night going the wrong way onto the hov lanes they want to hear from you. David culver. A Fairfax County deputy has been relieved of duties tonight. The officer has not been charged at this point. This is a developing story. Our northern Virginia Bureau is following it closely. A manhunt continues right now in Anne Arundel County where a Police Officer was found shot and remains in critical condition. The officer was on routine parole overnight and stopped at a 7eleven in annapolis. Someone alerted him about a suspicious person and there was a chase and a struggle. The officer wound up shot in the torso and the gunman escaped. Coming up late they are hour well have a report from annapolis on that search. We are still working several developing stories. Tonight the family of a man who was killed in a hitandrun on the b. W. Parkway is upset with the charges that have been filed against the suspect. Derrick ward will tell you why. Reporter its finally warm enough to raise the windows, let a little cool breeze inside your home, but is this safe for children to be playing around . Im Erika Gonzalez and ill show you a couple of ways to keep kids safe in your home. A young woman who defied the odds loses her courageous battle with cancer. Tonight the touching tributes storm team 4 working hard to update your forecast. A chance for heavy rain and strong winds in a few spots out there tonight. Veronica johnson will have the typing and look at your weekend in just a few minutes. They had doubt from the beginning. Thats what investigators are saying about Michael Slagers version of his deadly encounter with walter scott. The state agency investigating the shooting inconsistencies in the story. In addition to the wounds in scotts back the cell phone video just confirmed the suspicions. Tonight slagers mother is offering an apology. I just want them to know thames this happened. I know their family is grieving. Our family is grieving. And i would hate for this to happen to anybody. Walter scotts first union value scheduled for tomorrow. A kansas man is in jail tonight accused of planning aed is attack against a military base. Prosecutors say john booker planned to detonate a bomb at ft. Riley outside of manhattan, kansas. Undercover fbi agent provided booker with fake bomb material. Investigators say he was planning the attack in support of isis. Its alleged that he told another individual that detonating a suicide bomb was his numberone aspiration because he couldnt be captured all the evidence would be destroyed, and he would be guaranteed to hit his target. If convicted he could face life in prison. President obama is in panama for the summit of the americas. On his way to the summit events he made an unscheduled stop at the panama canal. He said late theyre the canal is a symbol of human ine j knew ti and of panamas central role in bridging two continents. Also the white house confirmed the president s muchanticipated encounter with cuban president raul castro that takes place tomorrow. We also learned the two leaders talked on the phone before the president left washington on wednesday. You can probably expect twitter to be lighting up this weekend over former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Two sources close to clinton say she will announce her president ial run on sunday on social media. Nbc washington will tweet out the announcement when it happens and over the next week clinton is set to visit with voters in key states including iowa and new hampshire. She is considered the best bet to win the democratic nomination. You know, i think shes going to be head and shoulders above anybody. So i dont expect her to have a serious contest. The democrats who could challenge clinton for the nomination include Vice President joe biden, former Maryland Governor Martin Omalley and former virginia senator jim webb. Senators ted cruz and rand paul are running for the gop nomination. With an uncomfortably cold winter behind us it is time to open the windows, let the fresh airflow through. But open windows can be an overlooked home hazard when you have children. Consumer reporter Erika Gonzalez is here with an important warning and an easy fix. Thousands of children fall from windows every year serious, sometimes deadly accidents that happen in the blink of an eye. Its here. The sounds, sights ss and smells of spring. But a childs curiosity of the outdoors can be a household danger. So i ran all the way up to the third floor, ran into the bedroom, saw that he wasnt there, and that the screen the bottom right corner of the screen was up. Reporter becca cupping ham described the moment she realized her 3yearold son had fallen out of his bedroom window. And theres a good quarter of his brain is dead an will forever be unusable but his recovery has been amazing. So in that case were very lucky. Reporter across the country, thousands of children fall through screens of open windows every year. Screens that are designed to keep bugs out not children in. Here in the d. C. Area Childrens National Medical Center treated more than 60 children between 2012 and 2014 for serious injuries related to window falls. These are the sounds that can save a childs life. By adding simple things like window guards. Reporter shes with the nonprofit safe kid worldwide. Its gatelike guard that goes across the window. Reporter and there are different kinds. This one has a metal frame with netting. Follow the manufacturers instructions when theyre installing them to make sure you have the right window guard for your size windows. Reporter an emergency release allows you to remove the guard quickly. The garlds are sold online and at Retail Stores for about 30 to 80. Uards are sold online and at Retail Stores for about 30 to 80. A less expensive product, window stops. What they do is allow the window to not go up. Often time mrs. Than 4 inches. Reporter they run about 10 to 15. One change you can make right now free rearrange your furniture. Making sure that you dont have beds or cribs, stools or tables things that children can easily access or climb to get to the windows. Reporter because when you least expect it children will go to Great Lengths for a simple peek outside. Some windows can hope from the top so thats another safe way to keep children grounded. Weve got more details about window guards and stops on our website, nbcwashington. Com. Just search windows. Apple fans gathered in Stores Across the globe earlier today for a chance to try out the companys highly anticipated new watch. The device is now available for online preorders but while you may find it in the store you cant actually buy it for another couple of weeks. Prices for the new watch range from 349 for the sports version, 549 for the standard and 17,000 for a highend version. Getting packages delivered by drone is closer to reality. The faa is giving the okay for amazon to do some outdoor test flights but they wont be able to fly higher than 400 feet or go faster than 100 miles an hour. Amazon plans to use the droeps for Sameday Service for its prime customers. More than 165,000 vehicles are under recall for a possible fuel pump failure that could cause engines to stall or not start at all. Included in this are the 2014 model nissan rogue suv and wide range of bmw cars from the 2014 and 2015 model years. Both Companies Say there have been no reported accidents or injuries related to the recall. A man is arrested in a deadly hitandrun. But the victims family isnt happy with the charges. News4s derrick ward is talking to them right now. Hell explain why theyre so upset. Ah ah the sting of a stun gun. This is a traffic stop in virginia that is now under investigation. Where was the heat today . It was right there. Just past Southern Maryland. Thats why we didnt get the strong thunderstorms across the area. Im still monitoring storm team 4 radar. Wow something sounds sweet in here need a little honey in the bowl. Yeah badabopbopbopa no . Must be the honey south of standardsville headed toward charlotte in the next couple minutes. Charlottesville will be getting that rain by 5 33. Then eventually arias like fredericksburg and its there that the thunderstorms could really start blowing up because that is where the heat has been today, just south of stafford. Look at that. Around fredericksburg 82 degrees currently in richmond. 70 in roanoke. The cooler air is what kept us from getting those thunderstorms today. We were in the 50s most of the morning, of course in the low to mid60s during the afternoon. 7 00, a snapshot of what you can expect your future weather. Again, its this zone down to the south that we still need to keep an eye on. Charles county st. Marys county Calvert County even areas like stafford down toward the south through arias of the Northern Neck. I think that possibility sticks around until 8 00 maybe 9 00 but once that cold front moves through well start clearing rapidly and the wind will start picking up. So breezy conditions to follow. Keep that in mind if youre going to be going out this evening and its even look like we could see breezy conditions for much of saturday. So isolated strong to severe but again, Southern Maryland arias through the Northern Neck until about 7 00 late as 9 00. 55 your temperature. If you are going to be going out between 7 00 p. M. And 9 00 p. M. The skies will clear a bit, it gets breezy and will continue to see the clouds move out, partly cloudy there for your 9 00 p. M. To 11 00 p. M. 52 degrees the temperature and by morning we start out in the 40s. Knock like our start for sunday morning. Tomorrow especially early, breezy conditions loads of sunshine for the weekend. We need it after a couple gray days. That puts us in a seasonable pocket when you consider our average is 66. Sunshine more sunshine. One day you had to pick out to get in the garden it would be sunday because i dont like when things blow in my eyes. Cherry blossom forecast inside the beltway, 40 degrees, the temperature, also looking at other locations. Early part of next week, 70 to the chance of showers back on tuesday. Meanwhile, again, we continue to monitor storm team 4 radar for that cold front moving through our area. Still could produce thunderstorms as it makes its way into Southern Maryland. Mor coming up. Guys . Were still working several developing stories. Right now a Police Confrontation getting lots of attention on social media. After a teenager is zapped with a tazer in the back of a car. The incident is reported on a cell phone. We have the video. And why witnesses think the Police Officer crossed a line. Reporter family members reaction developments in a hitandrun case that claimed one life and forever changed others on this stretch of the parkway near here. Im pleased about finding out that they found the person that did it. Details coming up on news4. Cloudy but a Beautiful Day at the tidal basin. Toni at 5 30 new charges against the man who led police on that deadly rampage through d. C. And maryland last night. Romd anderson is facing charges of kidnapping and assaulting and resisting officers. He has not yet been charged in the shooting death of the Security Guard at the Census Bureau. Weve also learned that anderson was supposed to appear in court today for an assault against his girlfriend that occurred in february. This is the same woman hes accused of kidnapping last night. And we have our first picture of the slain Security Guard, Lawrence Buckner. He leaves behind a wife children and grandchildren. At the Census Bureau today, the main gate remained closed. Most employees worked on a twohour delay. Those who came in expressed a sense of sadness over the death of a man who was tasked with keeping them safe. Youre protecting the people here at the bureau and you enup getting shot, and i feel so bad for his family. Its just very tragic. The Census Bureau is issuing condolences to the guards family and commending the multiple Police Agencies that were involved last night for a quick response. The family of a man hit and killed in a hitandrun on the b. W. Parkway are not satisfied with the charges in the case. News4s derrick ward just spoke to the victims mother. She explains why. Reporter rick warrick and joule pearce were going to get married. It was a dark rainy night where their dreams came to an end. It was on a stretch of the parkway near route 197. 38yearold rick warrick and 28yearold jule pearce were struck as warrick changed a tire on the side of the road. He died pearce was badly hurt the driver left the scene. We just found out later that he knew he hit someone. We was told he had put the car in the shop the very next day. Reporter warricks mother speaking of that driver 73yearold earl teeter, a registered u. S. Marshal facing charges of leaving the scene of a fatal accident and reckless driving. Police located him two weeks after the crash by tracing parts of his van left on the scene after the fatal impact. Im pleased about finding out that they found the person that did it. But im not pleased what with the prosecutors decision. Reporter shes troubled with the charges. Were talking about my son. Reporter two of warricks children were in the car. They saw it happen. His son was also struck but not seriously injured. She says his oldest daughter was in the car and saw it all. Its not easy for them. They have to go to counseling. Reporter it was warricks daughter that called 911 after the accident. What happened there this adds another layer of tragedy to the story. More on that coming up on news4 at 6 00. Someone hit a jogger last night, kept going. Police are still trying to track them down. A woman was hit while she was jogging across ox road zion driven the evening. Were told the vehicle was a small gray sedan. Police say the jogger had the right of way at the time and the jogger is expected to be okay. A virginia man is undergoing a Mental Health evaluation after police say he cut a 3yearold boy on the neck. Police say the boys aunt called 911 hast night when she says the male relative hurt the little boy. This was in woodbridge. Were told the childs injuries are significant but that hes expected to recover. The suspect identified as daniel sosa is in the hospital. The next phase of the Boston Marathon bombing trial wont start until after this years marathon. The judge allowed the penalty phase to be moved to april 21st. The marathon takes place april 20th. Lawyers for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev want more time to resolve issues with a potential witness. During the penalty phase the jury will decide whether to sentence tsarnaev to life in prison or to death. Three people died when two bombs went off near the finish line of the 2013 marathon. A second secret Service Agent is on leave tonight after an incident in the district. Agent Arthur Baldwin of camp springs, maryland appeared in court today. Hes accused of kicking in the door of his exgirlfriends apartment early this morning. It was in the 3000 block of d street southeast. He was arrested for attempted particularry ryry ryry ryry burglary while armed and destruction of property. This comes as a secret Service Manager is on leave over Sexual Assault allegations. It was struggling and it nearly lost its state accreditation, but today a Prince William County School finally got recognition from virginias governor. Governor Terry Mcauliffe visited westgate elementary in manassas. It takes pride in its diverse student body. The vast majority hispanic. More than half the students are nonenglish speakers. The governor met with school staff who in the past two years have developed an expansive english language learners program. This is really something astounding they have done and for many of them english is a second language and the work theyve done to prepare these students is an accomplishment. And i just wanted to come by and commend them for, you know, passing all the tests and meeting all the requirements. 96 of westgates students get free or reduced lunch. The school went from struggling to being recognized by the county as a school of excellence. We have learned that the Loudoun County High School Student who died this week had bacterial meningitis. New tonight, her father is telling news4 about the support his family has received from the community. A Police Officers stun gun leaves a virginia teenager writhing in pain. The video and why police have launched an interim investigation. And im storm team 4 meteorologist Veronica Johnson monitoring the latest data thats coming in on radar. Take a look. This cold front sweeping into the area. A new form of innovation is taking shape, bringing media and Technology Together for more people. Together is more wifi access in more places. Its a home you control with the touch of a finger. Its reimaging tv to give more people more choices. Its bringing technology and people together in ways you never thought possible. Comcast and time warner cable. Together is better for more people. Ah get out of the vehicle now ah get up youre going to get it again all right ah an internal Police Review is under way after a cell phone captured this exchange between a Virginia Beach Police Officer and a teenager. This happened in january. A young woman who se she was driving home when police surrounded her car, her friend in the back seat initially told Police Health not get out because he is 17 and he wanted to wait for his mother. After they pepper sprayed him, the officer deployed this taserstyle stun gun. Tasing him completely unnecessary. He was not a threat. His hands are up. Hes clearly immobilized by the pepper spray and the effects of the pepper spray. They could have dragged him out. Itis probably because he was scared. I wouldnt get out of the car with a tazer in my face after these cops are coming up all aggressively. Get out of the vehicle now get out police say they detained the teenagers because they smelled marijuana. Investigators are also looking into allegations that an officer tried to delete this video from the drivers cell phone. Arlington county will now use digital scanner voting machines. The countys electoral board approved the move last night. The new system uses paper ballots, which are scanned into the ballot box. The new machines will speed up voting at the polls and will provide backups of paper ballots. Theyre also compliant with virginia law. The system will begin with the june 2015 democratic primary. Film crews started setting up shop earlier today along part of reno road in northwest. This is all for oliver stones new project about nsa leaker Edward Snowden starring joseph gordonlevitt. Crews have been spotted around town near the white house and adams morgan this month. The snowden files is scheduled for a christmasday release. Tuesday marks the 150th anniversary of the day that Abraham Lincoln was shot. And there is much going on to mark many histhis historic day. Ford theater is put ong a tribute. You can do a walkthrough of the theater and the Peterson House overnight. The house museum is running tours. John wilkes booth escaped from maryland and virginia and the waldorf home where wilkes fixed his broken leg. They will also have a play about the doctor who tended to booth after the shooting. Im monitoring some heavy rain with storm team 4 radar. Its heed east toward i95 around fredericksburg. What this weather system will mean for us. Whats behind it. Reporter a Beautiful Day at the tidal basin. It will be an even more beautiful weekend. Coming up next well show you just how those blossoms are looking. Developing right now, a Northern Virginia teen dead after battling bacterial meningitis. There is no royal blood in this country. Nothing is reserved for anyone. Its all just out there waiting for someone to reach out and take it. And the ones who do. These are the kings and queens of america. We have the risk of some wet weather for two possibly thee more hours. Theres a look at union station, not much wind there. But i am seeing the wind pick up just down south i95 as a line of some pretty good rains makes its way eastward. Let me show you what im monitoring right now. Weve got some showers right around d. C. , areas of fairfax, its eastbound Gaithersburg Fairfax toward bethesda and eventually 495 to right inside the beltway. Take a look at this line here. Locustdale to charlottesville, its continued to build and these storms are starting to intensify. Its about 50 minutes away from i95 from fredericksburg right on down to areas of the Northern Neck. Theres another pocket here around richmond where this cluster of storms really electrified. Severe thunderstorm warning on it as it heads east toward areas like williamsburg. So thats where the real heavy rain is today and thats because thats where most of the heat has been today. Weve been in the 60s. 61 gaithersburg 65 ft. Belvoir, but in the 70s, even the 80s further south, 72 manassas 70 degrees currently in huntingtown. Your weather story, another two, maybe three hours until 8 00 p. M. 9 00 p. M. Possible. Breezy and chilly will be our night, then we have a cold morning coming our way and its right around the corner. When you thought those low temperatures were over with. Heres a look at your evening forecast hour by hour if youll be going out. Rain wrapping up temperature about 61 degrees. With chilly conditions as i think well see the clouds clear rapidly out of here nap will set us up if r up for a nice day. Just a chance of an isolated strong storm. The probability now of any rain or thunderstorms around the area since the coverage is just scattered is about 50 chance. We drop it on down to 30 chance by 7 00 p. M. Not everyone seeing the wet weather this evening. Sunshine back tomorrow breezy too, especially early in the day, 60 to 69 degrees the temperature. Sunday morning again, the Cherry Blossom tenmiler will be taking place, temperature 43 degrees. Folks as they make their way in will be dealing with temperatures much lower. Sandy springs, Silver Spring about 35 degrees. Heading over the areas like reston 35 degrees the temperature. Again, gorgeous conditions coming our way for the weekend. As we take a quick look again at our fourday forecast here tuesday, 70 degrees, another chance for showers on tuesday, most of next week then looking dry. Guys . Right now people across the country are reaching out to help an Illinois Community devastated by tornadoes. A woman died in her home in the town of fairdale. Dozens of others are safe after being rescued from the rubble. And at least 70 homes are destroyed or sustained severe damage. Rescuers are still searching through the debris hoping they dont find any more victims. We hope our search will be fruitless in the sense we wont find anybody but well go through all the spaces. Weve gone through the build ags number of times. So were hopeful that everybodys out and theyve relocated somewhere else. Its believed the tornado killed at least two zoo animals in belvedere, illinois. Theres now a go fund me page to help rebuild that zoo. She was a senior at Broad Run High School the captain of the Softball Team. Tonight we know why madison small died so suddenly this weekend. And her father is talking to news4s chris gordon about the support that his family is getting from the community. Reporter the Varsity Softball Team at Broad Run High School in ashburn, virginia shared lunch together today. It was a time to bond after the death of their teammate and leader madison small. They are wearing pink and hair bows with the number 24. The girls Softball Team is playing out the rest of the season in honor of madison small. Madisons number was 24. And so the kid thought about, you know one way of using social media and getting out the word remembering madison was we play for 24. Reporter today the mystery surrounding madisons sudden death was lifted by the Loudoun County health department. We did want to put out because there was a case of bacterial meningitis and theres concern in the community to be able to let the Community Know what we know about that and that we are following up on those we think that may potentially be at risk. Reporter friends of madison small have posted messages on social media. This one says the world was a much better place with her in it. Another shows her empty school desk and says we miss you so much pretty girl. Madisons dad tells me hes grateful for all the community support. I went out with a good friend of madisons yesterday who was having a tough time and we just drove around for half an hour and we laughed an we cried. We asked why. We shared a lot of good memories. And this is what we need to do. Reporter what madisons dad says hes learned about his daughter that he never knew before. Thats coming up atoclock. Chris gordon, news4. And this is one of our most shared stories on facebook today. Many of you are sharing your condolences for College Basketball player lauren hill. She inspired millions with her nevergiveup attitude but sadly her battle with cancer ended today. Hill defied the odds a year after being given only weeks to live. She took to the court with her teammates at mount st. Joseph university in cincinnati. She raised more than a Million Dollars for cancer research. Maryland voters are going to have a little extra time to consider who they want to nominate in the 2016 president ial race. According to the baltimore sun, lawmakers in the state pushing the primary election pack three weeks to april 26th. That puts the primary on the same day as delaware pennsylvania connecticut, and rhode island. Governor larry hogan hasnt said whether hes going to sign that measure. Some great news tonight for the Loudoun County High School Robotics team that won a trip to the world competition only to have their robotics stolen. Roboloco as they call themselves found out today not only is their trip to the world competition being paid for, but that theyve also gotten the equipment they need to rebuild their robotics. The students attend loudouns academy of science and the Monroe Technology center in ashburn. They earned a spot in the world competition last weekend in knoxville, tennessee, but then their vehicle where their robotics were stolen was vandalized. Robotics were taken from the Hotel Parking lot pap coalition of businesses and individuals in Loudoun County came to the rescue. Im confident well be able to show everyone who supported us that we will prove you guys right and we do do well. We just had a lot of fun just overcoming this and, yeah. A great experience in and of itself. The students tell us they are sure theyre going to get those new robotics ready and running this weekend. The world competition is just ten days away. Takes place in st. Louis. It is going to be a perfect weekend for the Cherry Blossom festival. Kristin wright got to hack out along the tidal basin today. Thats got to be like the happiest place in the world right now. It is. Youre right about that. And you have to see the Cherry Blossoms because let me tell you, they are simply beautiful. Tomorrow is the Cherry Blossom festival parade. The tenmile run is on sunday. And, yes, it will be crowded but, boy, its going to be beautiful. Martha and walter bowen are finally seeing the Cherry Blossoms. Amazing. Beautiful. No wonder there are so many people here to see it. Its such a beautiful spectacle. Reporter theyre visiting washington from tennessee. We dont have Cherry Blossoms like this near where we live. Reporter lynn and Douglas Adams live in pittsburgh. Until thousand theyve only seen the tidal basins famous cherry trees in pictures. You have to see it in person. It doesnt compare. El it really doesnt. Reporter stun beautiful, gorgeous words we heard again and again to describe the Cherry Blossoms today. The timing perfect. With peak bloom expected during the festival this weekend. Frances woodbury from dallas is capturing the moment. I think its wonderful. Im going to go back and tell them its just like snow in the trees that wont come off. Reporter now, if you cant make it to the tidal basin this weekend, youll definitely want to check out the Cherry Blossom festival cameras. Just go to nbcwashington. Com and search Cherry Blossom cameras. Today we met several people who told us that they had to be here this weekend. Coming up tonight at 6 00 well tell you why they told us they had to come to washington to see the Cherry Blossoms. Back to you. It is a wonderland out there. Thanks kristin. Thanks to the Cherry Blossoms youll have some extra sidewalk space in georgetown this weekend. Crews will temporarily put barriers up on m street tonight to widen the sidewalks out into the street to accommodate all the extra Cherry Blossom visitors to our fair city. Theres also going to be more parking restrictions as a result. The sidewalk barriers will be in place until sunday evening. We are still working a developing story in annapolis. A Police Officer is critically injured and a gunman is still on the loose. Weve got new information on that confrontation. A report from Anne Arundel County is coming up next. Then at 6 00 Hillary Clinton will officially announce her run for president this weekend. Meet the press Moderator Chuck Todd joins us thrive talk about what she needs to cannons firing at a special ceremony honoring the victims and the survivors of that mass shooting at ft. Hood in 2009. Also today the military awarding the purple heart to dozens of survivors and relatives of the soldiers killed in that attack. A Police Sergeant credited with stopping the gunman also received a defense of freedom medal. Today is about victory. Today is about fully documenting and acknowledging your sacrifice for this great nation. 13 people lost their lives in the ft. Hood shootings. Another 32 were wounded. And Army Major Nidal Hasan was convicted in that attack in 2013 and he received the death sen sentence sentence. Theres still a search under way in Anne Arundel County where an officer remains in critical condition. Police continue to look for the man who shot him. Reporter barry simms talked with people who flich annapolis neighborhood where a manhunt has been under way. Reporter Anne Arundel County Police Brought in dogs as they searched this wooded area trying to find a man who shot and critically wounded a veteran officer. We believe the suspect fired his gun at our officers. Reporter the officer was taken to shock trauma in baltimore. According to the Police Union President , he was shot in the neck and has undergone surgery. This all started around 2 20 friday morning when the officer was on routine patrol making a check of this 7eleven Convenience Store on east College Parkway in annapolis. Police say someone told him about a suspicious person outside the building. When the officer arrived, he went up to that person some type of struggle ensue wrd they both ran. The suspect ran from the officer. At that point, a gunshot was fired by the suspect striking our officer. Reporter within minutes the search for the gunman started. This neighbor asked that we not identify him. Six to eight uniformed officers in fatigues carrying assault weapons with two dogs. Reporter tactical officers swarmed the neighborhood. 43 pliska debts searched the 7eleven property and stood shoulder to shoulder checking the streets for evidence. This is an isolated but heavily traveled area. This is a quiet neighbors. Weve had some problems at the 7eleven and at the bank at the corner. To see the search dogs and everything right in your backyard, its a little unnerving. Reporter knowing a gunman is still on the loose. Id love them to catch the guy but more importantly i hope the officer pulls through and survives. Thats always the numberone thing. Reporter police say the suspect ran away. He is considered armed and dangerous and late this evening they say they do not believe he is still in this area. Report lg reporting from annapolis, barry simms. Back to you. Now at 6 00 were filling in the blanks from last nights deadly shoot tagt Census Bureau and the mayhem that led all the way to h street in d. C. Tonight were learning more about the suspect. Anderson was supposed to go to court today on other charges. We also know the name of the woman who was kidnapped but we are protecting her privacy. Were still trying to find out why she was being held at gunpoint and how she escaped before the final shootout with police. And why there was so much damage inside the census building after the shooting was over. And our first look at the guard who was killed while doing his job. We begin with Mark Segraves. Reporter we just got the charge documents from the u. S. Attorneys for the charges in the district. Its painting a different picture of what happened and the time line. We know it began in washington with a kidnapping. And then it moved into maryland where the suspect shot and killed a guard and then came back here into the district where it ended with a shootout with police right here. In my car, the first gunshots i look up and guy shooting at the Police Officers and they shot back. Definitely a shocking scene. Reporter police have identified the suspect as 48yearold Ronald Anderson of southeast d. C. Charged with armed kidnapping and assaulting a Police Officer. Police say he shot and killed a Security Guard outside of the