Shooter, including his escape from a Mental Health facility and threats to kill his superiors at an air force base. Why were so many warning signs missed . And the investigation launched that took the life of baseball star, roy halladay. Three basketball players arrested for shoplifting in china. Could they spend years in prison . And the women lost at sea for five months tell us about their ordeal. Theyre here for a there are questions here for a live interview, today, wednesday, november 8, 2017. From nbc news, this is today with matt lauer and savannah guthrie. Live from studio 1a in rockefeller plaza. And good morning, welcome to today on this wednesday morning, we thank you for joining us, you know who is happy to be here on dry land . I guess interest these two ladies over here, jennifer and tasha back on dry land after five months adrift at sea. A lot of questions, we will ask them in a few. We will do that in a while. Let us start with a busy news morning, voters giving democrats their first major victories of the trump era. Kristen welker has the latest and the reaction from the president kristen, good morning to you. Reporter hi, matt. Good morning to you, it was a very big night for democrats, for races for governor to state legislature. They secured a number of victories, all eyes were on virginia, perhaps the biggest political prize. This is voters first strong rebuke of President Trump, who is distancing himself from the losses and it all comes exactly one year after mr. Trump was first elected. Democrat Ralph Northam beating former rnc chair ed gillespie in a contentious race for governor. Northam fuelling a big night for democrats, the army veteran and doctor making a clear reference to donald trump without mentioning him by name. Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness that we will not condone, hatred and bigotry and to end the politics that have torn this country apart. Reporter traveling in south korea, the president who endorsed gillespie, but did not campaign for him, offering this criticism of the campaign i dont have night tweeting ed gillespie worked hard, but did not embrace me or what i stand for. In new jersey, another big win for democrats. Former gold man sax executive phil murphy defeating state lt. Gov. Starting here, starting now and starting with us, new jersey is coming back. Reporter she is unable distance herself from chris christ christie, the unpopular governor an early supporter of trump, known for his combativestyle style. Its serving folks like you that is such a unique joy, it really, youre fabulous. Reporter from the governors races to the state legislature, virginia democrats picking up ten seats in the house of delegates, including one the boyfriend of roanoke News ReporterAllison Parker shot and killed on live tv in 2015, he ran on a gun control platform, an issue he says was important to them both. Another delegate seat going to the nations first openly transgender elected official, danica rome, knocking off one of virginias most prominent social conservatives, robert marshall. Few ever needed someone as to stand up for them that didnt have a voice of their own, because there is no one else who is with them, this ones for you. Reporter the victories come as the president is reaching out to democrats over the gop tax plan, calling 12 Senate Democrats from overseas late tuesday and in an effort to sway their votes say he would not benefit from the plan personally, telling them, my accountant called me and said you are going to get killed in this bill. Now, according to multiple senators in the room, after that call with the president ended, the meeting erupted into a sparring match between democrats and white house officials over the dysfunction in the senate. All of it underscoring how difficult it may be for both parties to work towing on any legislation, matt, savannah. Kristen welker, an interesting morning after the election. Thank you very much. The president is in china arriving there overnight to a red carpet welcome. There is a lot riding on this trip. Nbc news Peter Alexander is traveling with the president this morning. Good morning. Reporter savannah, matt, good morning to you. The president coming. Here as the chinese tout his visit as a state visit plus t. Most crucial stop he will make in this five nation tour, where he is expected to pressure the chinese to crack down on their north korean neighbors. Together, here in beijing during the forbidden city, President Trump, the worlds most famous capitalist alongside president xi and their wives, the trumps pausing for a photo with their host before snapping one of their own, later enjoying an outcure opera and thanking the performers before dinner. Were having a great time. Reporter for the state visit, a red carpet welcome. Rows of children greeting President Trump and the first lady for his first visit to china as commanderinchief. Earlier in seoul the signature speech of his asia tour, President Trump addressing south korean lawmakers, delivering a blunt warning to kim jongun, who he attacked as a deranged tyrant. When i say to the north, do not underestimate us. And do not try us. The weapons you are acquiring are fought making you safer. They are putting your regime in grave danger. Reporter mr. Trump also calling out china and russia by name, urging them to join forces with the u. S. To isolate the brutal north korean regime. Those nations that choose to ignore this threat or worse still to enable it, the weight of this crisis is on your conscience. Reporter less than 24 hours after moderating his fiery rhetoric, calling on north korea to make a deal the president again encouraging the rogue regime to take an alternate course. We will offer a path to a much better future. Reporter mr. Trump comparing his host success to his own. Like korea, and since my election, exactly one year ago today, i celebrate with you. Reporter even praising south korean golfers with a plug for one of his properties. The womens u. S. Open was held this year at Trump National golf club in bedminster, new jersey, and it just happened to be won by a great korean golfer. Reporter before the speech the president attempted to pull off a surprise visit to the dmz, that divides north and south korea t. Bad weather forced marine one to abandon the mission five minutes before landing. White House Press Secretary senior ra Huckaby Sanders telling us the president was disappointed and frustrated by that trip. Last week the white house told supporters the president wouldnt be making a stop at the fortified demilitarized zone, last month the president said you will be surprised and trying to preserve that surprised this morning, sanders gathered a group of reporters before scheduled, revealing their secret destination with a piece of paper, the letters dmz sprawled across it. Matt, savannah. All right, peteral sand ertz, thank you. We have more to get to, including disturbing information tied to that tragic Church Shooting in texas. We are learning more about the gunmans troubled past, his escape from a Mental Health facility and a visit he made to First Baptist church days before the shooting. Nbc news Gabe Gutierrez is in southerland springs, he has the latest. Good morning. Reporter matt, good morning, Vice President pence will visit here to try to offer comfort to the victims family and law enforcement. Investigators say they have the government phone, but say he visited the fall festival with his kids five days before the shooting. New this morning, video taken shortly after the mass murderer crashed his suv and took his own life with a single gunshot. It was recorded by a man who chased down kelly after he fled the church. Along with Steven Willeford many are calling a hero for shooting kelly. I turned his fight into flight and then i did what i had to do. Reporter for the first time, we are also hearing from First Responders to the massacre. Many struggling to tell their stories. There is no words for it. Reporter mike and jamie shaw were the first paramedics to arrive at the church. Whats been the toughest part . Trying to get the horror out of my mind, but you cant unsee what you already saw. Reporter emt Rebecca Metcalf was on duty and raced to the scene to find her father killed and her mother wounded. Its so much tragedy and so much loss, senseless loss. Reporter as investigators tried to make sense of it all, troubling new details about the him is emerging. He escaped from a Mental Health facility. Adding kelly had also been sneaking firearms in Holloman Air Force base to carry out Death Threats to officers. He pled guilty and led to a year in detention and a discharge for bad conduct t. Families of the 26 killed are now planning funerals, the Southern Baptist convention has offered to pay for all of them. To go in and shoot children . Her grandson is if critical condition, after being shot five times, she lost her duties from law and two grandchildren, brooke and emily. Emily, slefrs the sweetest little helper. She was always smiling. Always happy. Brook, she wanted to be a ballarry narcs she wanted to take ballet, she would go to the church, threw her arms up, kick and spin doing her ballet. Reporter kelly should not have been able to legally buy the firearms he used in the church massacre, but his Court Marshall records, or previous Domestic Abuse case were never entered into the national database. Defense secretary mattis has ordered an independent investigation to find out why they were. In thank you also this morning the tribute to pouring in for former Major League Pitcher roy halladay the two time cy young winner was killed tuesday in a small plane. Hi, joe, good morning. Reporter savannah, good morning t. National Transportation Safety board is investigating the accident. At this point its too early to say why halladays single engine plane went down in the gulf of mexico. But word of his death is causing heartache for baseball fans and players. Shortly after authorities were called to the upsidedown plane that crashed off floridas coast, they realized it was someone they knew well. Its safe to say, its a friend of ours, roy halladay. Hes known as a no hitter. Reporter known by his nickname doc, he was a towering figure for 16 seasons before retiring in 2013. It was a tremendous run, tremendous experience. Something ill never forget. Hes got the breaking ball, thats a beauty. Reporter he was an eighttime all star who won two cy young awards, one with the toronto blue jays, the other with the philadelphia phillies. He means a lot to all of us. This is, were really going to miss him. Reporter the son of a pilot, halladay was passionate about flying, his twitter page filled with images of the plane, he bought the the light sport aircraft last month, halladays wife brandy initially expressed reservations about him getting his pilots license in this promotional video posted to the youtube page and now removed by the company. I was very against it. When i got up in that plane, i looked over, i said, okay i get it. Reporter the 40yearold star was the only person that crashed in shallow waters, he was close with the Pasco Sheriffs Office and donated money for the department to get a k9, a dog they named doc. He was there when we needed him. He was probably one of the most humble human beings you will ever meet. Reporter icon the manufacturer of halladays plane expresses condolences to the family and says it will do everything it can to support the crash investigation. He leaves behind a wife and two sons. He will be eligible for baseballs hall of fame starting 2019. Joe, thank you very much also a new twist in the mysterious abduction of the Young California mother. Police have now released under Surveillance Video showing Sherry Papini on the morning she reappeared last thanksgiving. Reporter this morning, newly released images from a church under surveillance camera that may show her first moments of freedom after she says she was kidnapped and tortured for weeks. Authorities say the video taken at 4 15 thanksgiving morning appears to show her running across a Church Parking lot, then running back to an interstate, where she later flagged down a truck driver for help. First responders reporting she was shackled and beaten. This video critical in establishing a timeline was first overlooked by investigators, according to Church Members we spoke with last year. Sam, investigators spent some time looking at that time videos. That one the one own e over there, they were looking through them all. We went through the whole system. Did they find snaeng. No, they didnt find anything. Now detectives are releasing the video hoping someone will come forward with information. Last month investigators released sketches she says kidnapped her out for a run and disclosed male dna was found on her clothing. She told him about two fights, one between her and her alleged kidnapper. Another between the kidnapper, themself, after she was found, her husband describing some of her injuries to abc news. One of the officers kind of braced me and kind of put his arm around me and he said, ah, you know, prepare yourself, and they branded her. Reporter they are thanking the community for their support but asking for privacy while investigator asks for more leads in the case. And now to some arrests in china, that are getting a lot of attention here in the u. S. , several basketball players from ucla have been accused of shop lifting. Nbc news keir simmons has the latest. Good morning. Good morning the idea is a good one, right . Take some of americas brightest basketball stars to china, to influence people through sports and not so much. This morning, reports that the players have been released but still face Legal Process in china, an alleged personal foul for these players on a very public stage. It was supposed to be a week in china spreading good will through sports, some of americas hottest young basketball talent were said to take part in a game between ucla and georgia tech. Thats not the way it turned out, with the spotlight on President Trumps arrival in china this morning, three of the hoop stars were detained by chinese authorities and accused of shop lifting. Uclas budding stars, liangelo ball and hill were allegedly involved in the incident. This morning theyre released, they were questioned about steeling from a Louis Vuitton store next to the hotel t. Ucla coach confirming the players will not play in the game this friday, saturday, china time. Those individuals wont play saturday. Reporter according to espn, about 20 Police Officer arrived at the teams hotel and allegedly kept the players from both teams in their rooms for about five hours before loading the three ucla players into a police vehicle. Diangelo ball is a part of a basketball family and up and coming star and top draft pick, younger brother lamelo is considered a top in the tour. They are telling reporters. Hell be fine. Hell be fine. Theyre making a big deal. The ball family phenomenon increasingly getting attention in the states to an online reality show and marketing high end basketball shoes. This incident, though, unwelcome publicity just as President Trump prepares to meet chinas leader at a diplomatically sensitive time. They report the players have been released may have to stay at their hotel who ill the Legal Process continues. That could take day, weeks, even months. That is a lot of thinking time. Absolutely. Keir, thank you. Al joins us us now. He has a first check of the weather. Little winter out there . Its coming. Its chilly this morning. It will get colder. This arctic blast out of canada will bring temperatures the coldest of the season. Today from yellowstone to minneapolis, five to 17 degrees below average, tomorrow, chicago, you will be at 44. Des moines 16 ep 16 degrees below average. Bismark atom 22 degrees, look at friday, new york city 39 for a highs, cleveland, 21 degrees below average and watch what happens for the lows on saturday morning. Were probably going to see records from pittsburgh, d. C. , all the way up to boston. Were going to get to your local forecast coming up in the next 30 seconds. Where, every day. Not just airline purchases. Seriously. Double miles. Everywhere whats in your wallet . Good morning, im meteorologist, kari hall. We are starting to see rain move into the north bay. Its been over northern Sonoma County and approaching marin county. A lot of dark greens and yellow indicating heavier rain moving in. That will be approaching santa rosa as we go into the next couple hours. The rest of the bay area starting out with light rain. The heavier rain will be arriving later on tonight. Thats your latest weather. Guys . All right, al. Coming up, new details and questions of the two women who were at sea for five long months. Theyre here to talk with us live. And guys and gowns. The worthy cause that has the men of today dressed up like that. First, this is today on nbc. [brother] any last words . [boy] karma, danny. Karma [vo] progress is seizing the moment. Your summer moment awaits you, now that the summer of audi sales event is here. Audi will cover your first months lease payment on select models during the summer of audi sales event. The prank that ellen and adam levine just pulled on an unsuspected food delivery guy. Look who is here. Sam smith is bringing his soulful voice to its ok that everybody ignores me when i drive. Its fine, cause i get a safe driving bonus ch