the takedown, after a man with an assault-style rifle is spotted. officers swarming the area. what they've now revealed. pierre thomas live in washington. tonight, the breaking news involving israel's war with hamas, as president biden now asked for that three-day pause to help get the hostages out? tonight, what axios first reported late today, and tonight, abc news asking the president, did he make that request? matt rivers from israel tonight. here in the u.s., a protest over the war turning deadly. demonstrations between pro-israel and pro-palestinian groups. witnesses say a 69-year-old jewish man hit in the face with a bullhorn. election night in america. the key races across the country. and the issue of abortion driving voters in ohio and virginia. also tonight, the governor's race in kentucky. what these races could signal, one year out from the presidential election. mary bruce standing by. the deadly pileup on the interstate. zero visibility. drivers blinded. the key issue before the supreme court. guns and domestic abuse. is a federal gun ban for domestic abusers unconstitutional? terry moran at the supreme court, and what the justices already signaled today. the wildfires tonight. the state of emergency right now in north carolina. the neighborhoods threatened tonight. also, the fires in virginia, tennessee, and kentucky. the boss is back, and you'll see it. bruce springsteen's surprise appearance. how he founds. and it wasn't just bruce springs springsteen. the properformers waiting backstage, and what they performed. it is moving. and how you can help our heroes. america strong tonight. good evening and it's great to have you with us here on a tuesday night. is president biden now asking benjamin netanyahu for a three-day pause to get the hostages out? also, laeshg night in america. what we're watching right now. but we do begin tonight with the tense moments on capitol hill. a suspect armed with an assault-style rifle triggering an emergency. some senate offices on lockdown for a time. and then the takedown. the armed man first spotted in lower senate park across from union station. witnesses hiding behind parked cars. police approaching the suspect, ordering him to put the weapon down. moving in when he did not comply. several officers taking him into custody. they have now identified the suspect tonight as a 21-year-old convict from atlanta. abc's pierre thomas leading us off at the capitol tonight. >> reporter: a security scare sent police in washington scrambling today, putting senate offices on lockdown after a man with a loaded assault-style rifle was spotted on capitol grounds. >> he was holding the gun down as he walked. they ordered him to stop. he did not. >> reporter: law enforcement swarming the scene amid fears sparked by that recent mass shooting in maine and concerns that the raging war in the middle east could ignite violence here at home. >> he was walking at a fairly slow pace down the sidewalk toward the union station, the officers came up behind him, one officer who had a taser tasered him in the back. he fell forward onto his gun. >> reporter: the suspect identified as 21-year-old ahmir lavon merrell, a sex offender from atlanta, taken down in three minutes. >> there is some indication that he may be dealing with some mental health issues. >> reporter: merrell was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, as bomb technicians used a robot to safely retrieve his belongings left on a park bench. david, they say they don't know why this man showed up at the capital, but there are a number of critical questions. how did he get access to that assault rifle? david? >> david: pierre thomas tonight, thank you. we turn now to israel's war with hamas, and there is a breaking headline tonight. has president biden asked israeli prime minister netanyahu for this three-day pause, to help get the hostages out of gaza? tonight, abc news asking the president about that request for a pause. the president acknowledging he asked for it. it comes one month after the horrific hamas terror attack in israel, and amid this growing civilian death toll in gaza. abc's matt rivers in israel tonight. >> reporter: tonight, the israeli military saying its soldiers are fighting fierce battles in the heart of gaza city. and this all comes as axios was first to report president biden, during a phone call yesterday, asked prime minister benjamin netanyahu for a reported three-day pause in fighting to allow for the release of more hostages. our karen travers asking the president late today about that request for a pause. the president acknowledged he asked for it. >> did you ask for a three-day pause? >> i did ask him for a pause in the past. yesterday. >> reporter: moments after that call between the two leaders, david and his exclusive interview with prime minister netanyahu, who said no cease-fire until the hostages are released. netanyahu also making global headlines after telling david after the war, israel will have a security role in gaza for a, quote, indefinite period, once hamas is defeated. something he had not said before. >> david: president biden said it would be a mistake for israel to occupy gaza. who should govern gaza when this is over? >> those who don't want to continue the way of hamas and certainly not -- i think israel will, for an indefinitely period, will have the overall security responsibility, because we've seen what happens when we don't have it. when we don't have that security responsibility, what we have is the eruption of hamas terror on a scale that we couldn't imagine. >> reporter: our team on the ground today, moments after a devastating strike in southern gaza, in an area where israel said palestinian civilians would be safe. and tonight, from tel aviv to jerusalem, tearful gatherings, marking one month since 1,400 people were killed in the hamas terror attack in israel. still uncertain tonight, the fate of some 240 hostages, including americans, held by hamas. thomas' daughter emily. a happy 8-year-old, seen here dancing and playing. >> emily wanted to go and do a sleepover at her friend's. i said, yeah, no problem. everything was fine. >> reporter: that morning, hamas terrorists stormed the kibbutz, killing more than 100 people and kidnapping others. days after that attack, authorities telling thomas that emily was dead. but just days ago, another message. emily might still be alive, the government said, likely taken hostage by hamas. >> it blew my mind. it was extremely hard to all of a sudden switch your head ar around, thinking that she's absolutely dead to gaza. now i'm back in the nightmare. i don't know how terrified she is. just being taken away from where she was staying that day, being taken out of the kibbutz. taken to gaza. going down into the tunnels of gaza. i can imagine all her terror along the way. >> reporter: as a dad, i mean, that's -- never something you want to imagine. >> no, no. it was -- it was -- like i say, it was easier, thinking that she was dead. this is much harder. >> reporter: thomas describing emily as a gorgeous, sweet little angel. her 9th birthday coming up in just ten days. tonight, sending a message to his daughter. >> be strong. be strong. i know that you can be strong. she can survive it. you will survive it. and we'll get you home. and never let you out of our sights again. >> reporter: and david, about that three-day pause, israel says it won't even consider it unless hamas releases hostages. david? >> david: matt rivers in tel aviv for us. matt, thank you. back here in the u.s., meanwhile, a protest over the war has turned deadly. pro-israel and pro-palestinian groups both demonstrating. tonight, witnesses say a 69-year-old jewish man was hit in the face with a bullhorn, falling, hitting the pavement. he died at the hospital. abc's matt gutman in california tonight. >> reporter: tonight, authorities investigating the death of a jewish man after he was injured during an altercation at a protest. 69-year-old paul kessler, seen here holding the israeli flag, took part in a small pro-israel demonstration on sunday. at the same time, a larger demonstration for the palestinians. >> the palestinian side, they became very provocative. >> reporter: this witness asking not to be identified, claiming she saw a physical altercation. >> paul got hurt, he got hit with a megaphone and he fell down. >> reporter: what exactly happened is now under investigation. but what's clear is that kessler fell backward, slamming his head on the pavement. paramedics seen administering aid. kessler lateder died at the hospital. authorities say a suspect came forward at the scene and even called 911 for help. >> there was clearly an interaction between them, but what that interaction was is unclear. >> reporter: they say they've received conflicting witness accounts and have not yet charged or publicly identified the suspect. since the terrorist attacks in israel, tensions here at home have soared. anti-semetic incidents spiking 388%, according to the anti-defamation league. in indiana, a woman was arrested after police say she drove her car into a building she thought was a jewish school, but actually, it belongs to a group known for its extreme anti-israeli views. david, authorities have determined that it was that blow to the back of the head that killed paul kessler, but he did have injuries to the face. authorities trying to determine exactly how that happened. to that end, they are appealing to the public for any videos of the moment of that altercation. david? >> david: tension across this country on this issue. matt gutman tonight, thank you. it is election night in america, one year now until the presidential election, but there are key races tonight, and the issue of abortion driving voters from ohio to virginia. and what this could signal. mary bruce from ohio tonight. >> reporter: tonight, all eyes on voters from ohio to virginia to kentucky for signs of what's to come in the presidential race, now just one year away. in ohio, a state that's been leaning red, a big test for democrats. voters deciding whether to enshrine the right to an abortion in the state's constitution. preliminary exit polls show they overwhelmingly think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. how important is this issue to you? >> extremely important. it determines whether or not i'm going to continue living here. >> reporter: but for republicans like joyce and john bower, who voted against the amendment, abortion won't be their top issue next year. >> the economy is really bad. i mean, really, it really is. we need to go back republican or maybe an alternative, an independent. i will not vote for biden. >> reporter: in kentucky, a rare democratic governor, andy bashear, challenged by attorney general daniel cameron, who's been eager to tie him to the president. >> joe biden, andy beshear, there's not a dime's bit of difference between them. >> reporter: bashear, keeping his distance from the white house. >> i ran as a proud democrat, but you saw the moment i won, i took that hat off and served every single family. >> reporter: in virginia, the popular republican governor glen youngkin not on the ballot this year, but campaigning hard for republicans to recapture control of the state legislature. >> hold the house, flip the senate. >> reporter: there, too, abortion top of mind for voters. youngkin says if republicans control the governor's mansion and the state house, they will ban abortion after 15 weeks with exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother. >> i think this is a chance for virginia to prove to be a leader to bring people together around one of the most difficult topics in america. and i think we can lead here. >> reporter: david, ohio and virginia are key battleground states, critical to the upcoming presidential election. democrats tonight hoping that abortion will prove to be a powerful motivating issue that will continue to drive voters to the polls. david? >> david: i know you'll be tracking it right into the night for us. mary bruce, thank you. tonight, the deadly pileup in louisiana yet again. drivers blinded by smog and smoke, the collisions closing down parts of interstate 10 east of downtown new orleans. drivers blinded just before dawn today by that fog and smoke from marsh fires. police responding to a number of accidents, at least one person has been killed. it was just last month, seven people were killed in a series of superfog pileups on i-55 outside new orleans. now, to the supreme court tonight. at issue is a federal law that bans weapons for domestic abusers, unconstitutional? demonstrators outside the high court today pushing to uphold the ban to protect victims of abuse. and terry moran tonight on what the justices signaled already. >> reporter: tonight, the u.s. supreme court is taking up a striking question. do people who are under restraining orders for domestic violence still have a constitutional right to own guns? a federal ban has been in place for nearly 30 years. solicitor general elizabeth prelogar defending the law, arguing -- >> the constitutional principle is clear. you can disarm dangerous persons. >> reporter: this conservative court consistently sides with gun-rights advocates, but today the majority of justices appeared inclined to uphold the ban. conservative justice amy coney barrett agreeing. >> someone who poses a risk of domestic violence is dangerous. >> reporter: justice samuel alito spoke up for people who are under domestic violence orders but still want to own guns, asking about -- >> a person who thinks he or she is in danger and wants a firearm. >> reporter: but the facts are grim. an abused woman is five times more likely to die from a domestic abuse situation if a gun is involved. janet paulsen was shot six times by her husband and is terrified of what's at stake if the ban is struck down. what would be the consequence? >> you're never going to be safe. >> reporter: while the justices did seem willing to uphold this gun safety law today, there are more big second amendment cases in the pipeline, including challenges to laws that keep firearms out of the hands of convicted felons. david? >> david: terry moran live at the court tonight. terry, thank you. when we come back here, the raging wildfires tonight. the state of emergency right now in north carolina. the homes threatened. in fact, fires burning across several states tonight. also, bruce springsteen's surprise return to the stage for our own bob woodruff, standing up for heroes. you have to see this. want my money to work hard too. so, i use my freedom unlimited card. earning on my favorite soup. aaaaaah. got it. earning on that éclair. don't touch it, don't touch it yet. let me get the big one. nope. -this one? -nope. -this one? -yes. no. what? the big one. they're all the same size. wait! lemme get 'em all. i'm gonna get 'em all! earn big with chase freedom unlimited. how do you cashback? 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[deep breath] finally tonight here, every year, bob woodruff and his stand up for heroes event, honoring our wounded warriors. of course, some of whom come home with invisible wounds. tonight, the husband and wife who moved everyone. lincoln center, new york city, where a husband and wife are rehearsing. ♪ we hear them before we even get to the room. ♪ >> hey! ♪ >> david: michael trotter jr. is an iraq war veteran, who taught himself how to play piano in iraq, on a piano in one of saddam hussein's palaces. ♪ >> it's david, everybody! >> david: oh, my god. we were told of their talent. and we finally meet them. you were in one of saddam's private palaces? >> yes. yes. baghdad, iraq. >> david: and still, you somehow found a way to make the music? >> yep. there's a piano there. it belonged to him. and my captain suggested that i need to find my way back home, just come down here, find your way. and i couldn't play, so, i had to teach myself, and i remember teaching myself "lean on me." ♪ >> david: like so many others, michael came home with ptsd, unable to forget who he lost. >> i can't get sergeant perez, i can't get arron elot, robert seats. tebow, i can't get my guys out of my head right now. >> david: those are all guys you lost? >> yep. >> david: yeah. he met his future wife tanya after coming home. ♪ >> talking to him and being able to spend time with him and help him understand that you did serve and you may not be able to see your scars, but you do have scars. >> david: they're perform iing bob woodruff's stand up for heroes. our friend and colleague, bob, you'll remember, was badly injured while reporting by a roadside bomb in iraq. his remarkable journey back. >> buckle. >> belt -- >> buckle. >> buckle. belt buckle. you taught me! belt buckle. >> david: 17 years now, he and his wife lee standing up for heroes. and they were moved by michael and tanya's music. the lyrics, the words -- >> searing. yeah, painful. and it is important to remember that there are wounds that we can't see. >> i think it's important to have someone like that who's open and honest to their stories so more people care. >> david: while back in that room -- ♪ i've heard the sound of heaven ♪ ♪ knocking at my door ♪ >> david: they give us a preview of the magic the audience was about to hear. ♪ ♪ i look for you ♪ ♪ you look for me ♪ ♪ and i'll be there ♪ ♪ >> david: they are remarkable. let's all stand up for our heroes. go online to the bob woodruff abc7 news. >> san francisco police officers guns drawn, sprinting into action, taking down the man who led them on a slow speed chase throughout city streets. good afternoon. thanks for joining us. i'm larry biel and i'm kristen sze. >> let's show you how this all began. the chase started just after 2:00 in the area of richardson avenue and francisco street in the marina district. the white mercedes suv, with its tires blown out by a spike strip , limped across town to the mission district with more than a dozen patrol cars behind it. finally, almost 30 minutes in, the driver bolted from the car and tried to carjack another vehicle. the driver quickly backed away. >> officers then chased the man into an alley where he paced back and forth behind several cars with a backpack in his hands. after about three minutes, one of the officers rushed the man, followed by several others, taking him into custody on enterprise street at folsom. at this point, police are not saying what started the whole chase or what charges the man might eventually face. we have some developing news out of oakland right now where a police sergeant was on his way to work, shot and killed an armed person who approached his vehicle. this happened just one block from oakland city hall at about 4:00 in the morning. it's the second deadly police shooting in the east bay in as many days. abc7 news reporter anser hassan with exactly what led to that confrontation. >> an an investigation is underway following a fatal police shooting