More than 30,000 homes and buildings under threat. Were in the fire zone. Also tonight, the final countdown to the debate. Kamala harris and donald trump. Inside their lastminute preps before tomorrows highstakes showdown. The manhunt in kentucky for a suspected highway gunman. New tonight, the warning to 911 before the shooting started. Just in, new Police Body Cam of the suspect in the deadly Georgia School shooting more than a year before the massacre. What it reveals. The major ruling in the idaho murders case. Why the trial is being moved. Our exclusive. Miami Dolphins Star Tyreek hill a day after he was detained by police speaking out. What he says really happened. Apple unveiling the Iphone 16. The new features powered by ai. The good news on Princess Kates Health Battle after her cancer diagnosis. And the Hollywood Legend who voiced Darth Vader and starred in so many classics. Remembering James Earl jones. Announcer this is nbc Nightly News with lester holt. Good evening and welcome. Breaking news as we come on the air tonight. Tropical Storm Francine gaining strength in the gulf of mexico, where forecasters expect it to become a hurricane by the time it makes landfall along the Louisiana Gulf Coast as soon as wednesday. But Storm Surge and Hurricane Warnings are already in effect in some areas. A dangerous situation also unfolding tonight in the american west. Searing temperatures, strong gusty winds and bone dry humidity are fueling an outbreak of wildfires so intense that in some cases firefighters have been forced to retreat. Al roker is tracking it all for us tonight, starting with the latest on tropical Storm Francine. Al, good evening. Whats the latest . Well, lester, heres the deal. Weve got this system, its 435 miles southsouthwest of cameron, Louisiana. 65mileperhour winds. We expect that to intensify because the gulf waters are at Record Warmth right now. Its moving northwest at seven miles per hour. So we now have Hurricane Warnings up from the border of texas and Louisiana all the way to florida. Were looking at right now tropical storm watches, hurricane watches as well. We expect this system to make landfall as possibly a category 2 sometime Wednesday Afternoon into the evening bringing anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of more rain or even higher amounts as it makes its way up into the Mississippi River Valley were going to be watching this. And of course the most dangerous part of the storm, the Storm Surge. From cameron, Louisiana to grand isle. Five to ten feet, lester. And that can be deadly. All right, al, thanks very much. We want to get right to the Wildfire Emergency in southern california, where thousands of people have been evacuated. Dana griffin is near the largest wildfire. Dana, what are the conditions on the ground . Reporter yeah, lester, this fire has been so unpredictable the California National Guard has deployed resources and new Evacuation Orders were issued today. Just look behind me. This ridge has seen so much Fire Activity including flareups showing just how quickly the flames can spread. Tonight, chaos on the fire line. Extreme heat fueling dangerous and volatile conditions, forcing crews to fall back. More than a dozen wildfires are burning across the west, from Idaho To Nevada and southern california. 60 miles east of Los Angeles the Line Fire quadrupled in size over the weekend, forcing thousands to flee their homes. We did just get an order to leave. So were packing up and leaving soon. Reporter the 20,000acre inferno burning so hot it created its own thunderstorms, generating erratic and heavy winds, Sparking Hundreds of lightning strikes. Three firefighters have been injured and tens of thousands of homes are threatened. As a Recordbreaking Heatwave continues to bake southern california. Because of steep rugged Terrain Fire crews are having to battle this mostly from air. Take a look. You can see them dropping water to extinguish flames. The Air Attack critical across multiple states. In Northern California the boils fire erupted with overwhelming speed, quickly destroying dozens of homes and vehicles, leaving these burntout shells. Keep going, guys. Reporter in reno, Saturday Horses make a run for it. Escaping the Davis Fire that destroyed multiple homes and upended the president ial campaign season. Vice president ial nominee tim walz canceling tonights rally. The brush is consistently exposed to tripledigit temperatures. It just dries out. Its ready to burn. Reporter a changing climate causing recordbreaking temperatures and dangerous fuel for summer wildfires. Dana griffin, Nbc News. Now to that crucial debate between Vice President harris and former President Trump. Their first and perhaps only showdown. Peter alexander is in philadelphia with new reporting on the 11th Hour preparations. Reporter tonight Vice President harris touching down in philadelphia. Her face to face with former President Trump just 24 hours away. How are you feeling . Reporter Campaign Sources tell Nbc News harris and her team are focusing on ways to needle trump, to provoke him, and that shes studied past Trump Debate clips. Its time to turn the page on the divisiveness. Its time to bring our country together. Reporter but a key challenge for harris trying to present herself as the Change Candidate when shes also the incumbent vp. A new poll shows more than 60 of likely voters want a major change from president biden. More than half of those voters say trump will bring that change. But only 25 say harris will. Meanwhile, the former president at maralago doing what sources describe as informal debate prep. Among those advising him former democratic congresswoman tulsi gabbard. Were run by stupid people. And we found that out at the debate with joe. How did that work out . And were going to find it out again on tuesday night. Reporter a crucial challenge for trump, winning back more women voters. But this Warning Today from Trump Rival turned supporter nikki haley. Donald Trump And J. D. Vance need to change the way they speak about women. You dont need to go and talk about intelligence or looks or anything else. Just focus on the policies. Reporter this will be trumps seventh general election debate, harriss first, and it could be their only showdown. Notably, the two have never met. Trump left town before president bidens inauguration. Lester . Peter alexander, thank you. And a topic that could come up in Tomorrow Nights debate, the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric from former President Trump about his perceived enemies. Heres vaughn hillyard. Reporter tonight as he prepares for his critical Debate Showdown former President Trump vowing to totally reshape the Justice Department and target political opponents. We will completely overhaul kamalas corrupt department of injustice. Reporter he recently reposted doctored images of top democrats along with Anthony Fauci and Bill Gates in orange jumpsuits with the caption how to feel fix the system. And in trumps new book alleging Facebook Ceo Mark Zucker Brerg will try to unlawfully influence the 2024 Election Writing if he does anything illegal this time he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Just this Weekend Trump promising possible retribution against 2024 election administrators, writing lawyers, political operatives, donors, illegal voters and corrupt Election Officials, those involved in unscrupulous behavior will be sought out, caught and prosecuted at levels unfortunately never seen before in our country. But illegal voting is rare and tonight a republican Election Official in arizona told us hes worried. Im concerned we will see potentially professionals who are more willing to bend general rules of prosecutorial ethics or legal standards, who will occupy these positions. Reporter this summers consequential supreme Court Ruling also gave a president absolute immunity over anything he orders or says to his attorney general. Though trumps gop supporters argue that doj and democratic prosecutors are going after him to hurt his campaign. My Poll Numbers i believe are higher now because the public understands its a hoax. Reporter the Harris Campaign responding by saying that trump will, quote, use his unchecked powers to prosecute his enemies. Lester . All right. Vaughn hillyard, thank you. Join us Tomorrow Night for coverage of the president ial debate. We get under way starting at 8 00 p. M. On nbc. Tonight in kentucky an urgent search is under way after a gunman opened fire, injuring five people. Schools in the area have been closed and authorities are offering a 10,000 reward. Priya sridhar is there. Reporter tonight the manhunt continues for a suspected shooter in laurel county, kentucky. Our goal is to apply steady pressure and wearing mr. Couch down. Reporter according to newly released Court Documents obtained by Nbc News, a woman called 911 30 minutes before the shooting to warn that 32yearold Joseph Couch had texted her that he was, quote, going to kill a lot of people and then, quote, kill myself. Authorities say couch bought an ar15 and 1,000 rounds of ammunition at this store before he drove eight Miles Away and allegedly began randomly shooting at cars on the interstate. Officials say couch served in the army reserve. According to the documents, officers began tracking couchs phone, which led them to his car. Nearby they found a green Army Style Duffel bag with his name on it and several magazines of ammunition. Shayna lowry says her truck was struck in the gunfire. All i could think about was my children and my significant other. You know, and the real reality that i couldnt be here. Reporter now dozens of Law Enforcement agents are scouring the densely wooded area. Well search until we can find him, until we exhaust all resources. Reporter priya sridhar, Nbc News, london, kentucky. Just in tonight, newly revealed Body Cam of the Teen Suspect in that deadly school shooting. It shows an encounter a year earlier between police and the accused gunman and his father. Our Priscilla Thompson has the video. This is some serious stuff. Yeah, i know. Reporter newly released Body Cam footage from the Jackson County Sheriffs Department shows the moment Law Enforcement questioned Colt Gray Last year about threats made online to, quote, shoot up an elementary school. I promise i would never say something like that. You havent used discord in a few months . Oh, no. And youre saying you didnt say anything like that . No, the only thing i have is tiktok and i just go on there and watch videos. Reporter now the 14yearold is charged with four counts of Felony Murder after allegedly killing students and teachers at his High School last week. A little over a year after officers left his doorstep deeming the threat unsubstantiated. Ive got no choice but to take you at your word right now but like i was telling your dad if we find out otherwise then its a different story. Okay . Its a real different story. Reporter the Video Release comes as were learning that the Shooters Mother made an urgent Call Warning School officials a half hour before shots rang out. The School District declined to comment on specific details of an active investigation. Schools here are set to reopen tomorrow except for the High School, which will remain closed. Meanwhile, investigators are still searching for a motive. Lester . All right. Priscilla thompson, thank you. Now to that major development in the case of those four murdered Idaho College students. The judge granting a motion to move suspect brian kohbergers trial. Our senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett is here. Laura, what was the judges thinking . Well, lester, the judge cited the amount of Media Attention in a community thats so tightknit and so small that simply they cannot handle this case. Hes worried about the lack of resources. Hes pointing to a Defense Survey where the majority of those residents say they already believe hes guilty. He obviously has pled not guilty in this case. Those four College Students being killed just two years ago, but the case has been slowmoving and thus far really hasnt got off the ground. One family of the victims tonight, the goncalves family, saying they are incredibly disappointed in this result, lester. Laura, thank you. Hollywood has lost a legend tonight. James Earl Jones the trailblazing actor who voiced Darth Vader and Starred In Countless Classic Films has died at 93. Steve patterson now on his life and legacy. I shall pray for you reporter for over 70 years he graced Stage And Screen with a voice that commanded attention. Dont you try and go through life worried if somebody like you or not. Reporter James Earl jones was born in Rural Mississippi in 1931. As a child he developed a debilitating stutter. You never get over it, really. You simply learn how to work around it. Keeping him off me. Reporter his breakthrough tonywinning performance came as Boxing Champ Jack johnson in the great white hope, which was later turned into a movie. I am your father. Reporter but it was a 2 1 2hour Voiceover Session for George Lucas that changed his life. The role propelled him, or at least his voice to worldwide fame as Darth Vader in star wars. For the next 40 years he excelled on stage, winning a second tony award. James Earl Jones. Reporter and on the big screen a Navy Admiral in the hunt for red october. And i was never here. Reporter in the lion king. You are more than what you have become. Reporter and The Voice of all Baseball Fans in field of dreams. People will come, ray. People will most definitely come. May i have your attention, please . Reporter on screen and in life James Earl jones was a king. The Goal Wasnt to be a millionaire, to be a hollywood star. To be a part of good storytelling. The goal was about that. I found you reporter he found his voice. And we got a legend. Steve patterson, Nbc News, Los Angeles. What a life. What an actor. In 60 seconds, our exclusive oneonone with nfl Star Tyreek Hill. What he says about being pulled over, detained and handcuffed by police as he was on his way to the dolphins home opener. Stay with us. Started. Its. The side hug. Tween milestones like this may start at age 9. 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We are back now with our exclusive interview with Tyreek Hill one day after the star Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver found himself detained and handcuffed by police during a Traffic Stop on his way to the home opener. Jesse kirsch sat down with him late today. Put your window down. Keep your window down. Im going to