captions paid for by nbc-universal television martha on "today" is brought to you by macy's. the martha stewart collection is available at macy's and at ma and good morning. welcome to "today" on a wednesday morning. i'm matt lauer. >> and i'm meredith vieira. chilling, disturbing, surreal, macys.com. >> stones can transform you and just some of the words used to describe that scene of the your home for a dazzling holiday school board meeting in florida. festivity. martha stewart is here with so frightening. >> it really is. what's so remarkable, you ideas from the december edition of "living" magazine. actually see what was happening inside that room. some people actually watched it you are blinding me with your happen live. it started as a man identified as clay duke walked to the podium. moments later, he spray painted elegance. this edition of the "holiday" a symbol on the wall of that room, pulled out a handgun, and eventually opened fire. and we should warn you, some of magazine, the 20th anniversary? the video you're going to see this morning is disturbing. >> i can't believe it's been 20 >> yeah. at one point before the shooting happened, a female school board years since we started. we made all sorts of glimmery, member used her purse to try and knock the gun out of duke's hand. we're going the talk to her and sparkly things. two other board members who you can buy these little cyber tried to diffuse the situation, board reforms at any craft straight ahead. but first, let's get right to nbc's mark potter. store. >> did you then spray that gold? he's in panama city, florida, with the latest. mark, what can you tell us? >> reporter: good morning, matt. >> i spray painted it gold. the gunman was killed in the incident, which was caught on and you can use your hot glue tape. but we will not be airing that. gun and put a dollop of glue. and we warn you, the rest of the video leading up to that incident is very intense. just as the bay county school board opened the floor for and if you get any on your public comment, a man later identified as 56-year-old clay finger, put it right in ice water. duke began spray painting the and these little gift bows, wall with a circle and a big they're just gift bows that you "v." after drawing a handgun, he ordered most people out of the room. buy at the craft store? >> leave! >> everything here comes out of you may leave, you may leave. the craft store? >> yesterday i called one of my editors and i said where are the women can leave. six men, stay. you? she said i'm at michael's buying everyone else, leaves. crafts for my kids. once you finish your whole >> reporter: one board member who left the room, ginger wreath. you can embellish with these littleton, tried to intervene, hitting the gunman with her little balls. these look beautiful on a table, purse. >> no! they look beautiful on a wall. no, ginger! ginger, no. >> reporter: littleton was look how gorgeous that is. unhurt and left the room again, >> that's nice. >> that's a big one. while duke, gun still in hand, >> so you hang it fairly high up? complained to the school >> you want to be able to look superintendent, four board members, and their attorney, into it or at it, above a that his wife had been fired. little. and next the napkin rings. board members repeatedly pressed him for details. >> please, talk to us. these are just two see quinnseq if i can help get your wife a job somewhere else, i'll be glad to do that. yes, sir. i'll be very honest with you. balled. these are a little tedious if i swear, i don't know who your wife is or what she did. you're sitting at home watching i don't. your favorite tv, like the i don't want to die like anybody "today" show or the martha show. else doesn't. hey, i will go with you, i will you use this sticky glue. you see how i have it on this stand up with you to get your wife a job. whatever it takes! skewer? you just draw a bead around like hey! >> reporter: off-camera, the that. >> just twisting it around? superintendent tried to get duke to let the others go. >> i'm the one that signed the >> just keep twisting it around paper, right? and you get better and better at okay. it as you do it. i don't remember, and i don't know who she is, but let them >> how does this turn into that? go. i'm the one that did it. i mean, they don't sign the >> a ribbon through the norknotd papers. i'm the only one that signs draw it through the whole. them. will you let them go? and then i have this on a big >> reporter: but as the board upholstery needle. kept talking, duke seemed unmoved, until events spiral out and then take that off the of control. >> i don't want anybody to get needle. and another knot here. hurt, and i've got a feeling is and then you have your napkin ring. what you want is the cops to come in and kill you, because you're mad. you can use pine cones, and you because you said you're going to die today. but why? can use other things too. this isn't worth it. >> and we move on from that? this is a problem -- please, >> and two candles. if you want to have some pretty don't. candles down your table, you can please! [ gunshots ] do as many as you want. >> i am going to kill you. [ gunshots ] you can use a flog like that. >> reporter: after duke fired at the board members, witnesses andthat goes right down your say, school board security chief mike jones rushed in and exchanged shots with him. panm city police say duke, who was wounded, then ended up table. sparkle plenty. killing himself with his own weapon. right? >> very, very nice. >> you could see in his eyes >> these are christmas trees. we have them over here, look how pretty. that he was intent on dying. >> how did you make that? you could just tell. and i don't have a lot of >> two 8 by 11 pieces of paper. experience with this, but you could tell, he was going to kill get hard pressed paper. himself, at least, if not other and cut it into a pyramid like that. people. and we thought he was going to try to shoot us as well. >> right. >> actually what kind of pyramid >> reporter: the entire incident was also captured on a school board camera and streamed live, do you call that? a triangle? as horrified workers and viewers and then you piaette them. watched the drama unfold. >> the only thing i could think of the whole time is, he wants somebody to rush in here. and, you know, it was a tragedy all the way around, but it could this works so much easier just have been a lot worse. >> reporter: on facebook, duke to squeeze a little glue on. and then draw a bead of crafts reportedly posted, "some people, glue right down. the government-sponsored media, will say i was evil, a monster, >> you glue them together? >> you glue them together. just like this. "v," no, i was just born poor in and this goes right on the -- a country where the wealthy and it holds, believe me, it manipulate." one of his apparent profile pictures is similar to the "v" holds. it's very strong. he painted on the school board wall. a symbol some have suggested looks like the one used in the >> that's very nice. 2006 thriller, "v for vendetta," but police say they cannot confirm any link between duke's as always, merry christmas. actions and the movie. >> same to you. >> thanks for all the ideas. now, police say they have confirmed that the shooter's wife indeed worked as a teacher and up next, the newly and was dismissed a year ago. they also say clay duke carried crowned winner of the biggest extra ammunition in his pocket loser. but first this is "today" on and described the school board nbc. l security chief, mike jones, as a real hero. meredith? >> mark potter, thank you very much. we are joined now by three of the people who were inside that school board meeting. all of them stepped in to try and stop the gunman. ginger littleton and jerry register are both school board members, bill husfelt is the superintendent of the bay county school district. good morning to all of you. >> good morning, meredith. >> i've looked at that video now several times and i find it frightening and surreal. you people lived it. how are you feeling today, besides just very grateful to be alive? >> that's number one, meredith. we are so happy to be alive. life means a lot more today than it did yesterday, probably. and i'm so proud of mike jones. he was truly the hero and mike jones deserves a lot of credit. >> yeah, mike jones is the security guard who shot this man. >> he's not just a security guard, though, he's a -- >> he's a retired detective from the police department. he literally saved our lives. if he hadn't had come in when he did, we wouldn't be here with each other this morning. >> bill, take me back to yesterday. this was a regular school board meeting. suddenly this man comes up that none of you knew, in front of the room, draws that circle, puts the "v" in the middle of it, and then turns on you with a gun. what is going through your mind at that point, bill? >> well, at first i thought he was upset because we'd been talking about head lice and technology. and i thought, what is he upset about? you know, we've had people come in and be frustrated about something, but then he turned around with that gun in his hand, and it just totally changed. i didn't know what was going on at that point. he started rambling on and told people to get out. and it was just, you know, i haven't timed it, but it seemed like a lot longer than it actually was, i'm sure. but it was the most surreal thing i've ever been a part of. >> meredith, the gun -- excuse me. the gun made a difference. when he turned around from that wall, the whole situation changed. you know, i had dealt with parents in the past, as administrator, but when -- but never before with a gun. it changed everything. back now at 8:44 with the >> well, he did -- as bill pointed out, he told all the man who has to be proud to be women to get out. called the biggest loser. ginger, you left, and then you made a decision to come back patrick was crowned the winner into the room. why? why did you change your mind? of nbc's hit reality show after dropping an amazing 181 pounds. >> well, i turned back around to unbelievable. look at this. check on what was happening, and at that point, he had moved up look at hose arms. on to the dais, where the board made the cross country flight to be with us this morning. members were sitting, and my guys were lined up like ducks in congratulations. >> thank you. >> has it hit yet? a pond. so i could either walk away and i'm sure you haven't gotten much try to live with myself, because i knew something bad was going sleep. >> i haven't had much time to to happen, or i could try to sleep. fortunately i had any wife defend, delay, somehow or other bradley on the plane with me last night. and we are so excited. divert, hoping that the cavalry in fact bradley is over there. would come soon. my guys had three-ring binders >> you must be so proud of and pencils to protect patrick. >> i'm so proud. he looks amazing. themselves. so i whacked him with the purse, >> and you and fredo were neck hoping i could get him to drop the gun. and neck all the way. obviously, that didn't work. and i did not have a plan "b," did you think you had this thing wrappeded up? >> i never really knew for sure which was probably not -- he if i had it wrapped up or not. said, you stupid blank. and i think the "you stupid" fredo and i had been close the part, i thought at that point, entire season. you're right, i'm pretty stupid. >> and he was pointing a gun -- good friends. >> she tried. i talked to fredo off and on >> i understand you tried. but he's pointing a gun at you after we were home. at that point. did you just assume, this is it? and last night finally seeing the numbers and seeing that >> yes, i did. >> i think i did as well, but at confetti come down, that point, there's nothing you can do. i was already committed. unbelievable. >> let's take a look at your before picture. so probably should have been your weight, really an uphill committed, but there was nothing to be done. battle. especially after your football so it wasn't terror or anything career ended in college. like that, it was like, oh, it must have been difficult to look at a picture like this. well, here we are. >> it was. >> she did it because she cares i mean that guy is a completely about us. we've got a really good board. different man than i am now. we work well together. it really is. >> love each other. and i like to feel like i have made the changes mentally now, >> and she was trying to help us like we were trying to help that it's a lifestyle change and ourselves. >> well, fortunately, he didn't not a diet anymore. i'm going to make different options in my life and it's going to be a healthy lifestyle shoot ginger -- >> excuse me. >> you go ahead. for me. >> yes, that was a very good thing. >> and you obviously have an it was nice to see the sun come up this morning. >> when ginger was laying on the extra floor, i thought, well, this -- she attempted something, and the extra incentive for this prize. gun, she was playing by me, behind the board desk. you were laid off work. and the gun was right over her. and now you've got this new body, a new life really. and that's when it became very >> getting laid off in january. scary. >> but after ginger left, what early in 2010, seemed pretty struck me, jerry, about you and bleak for my family. but now being the biggest loser, bill, how calm you both remained i have got a great opportunity as you basically tried to talk at mine stream academy in south this man off the left. you said, look, if your wife lost his job, jerry, you said, carolina. it's for teenagers that are are i'll try to help her get one. overweight, they can come in and get help. bill, you said to the gunman, to be on the forefront of i'll take full responsibility for this, just let everyone else battling childhood obesity in go, even though you knew this america. was not going to end well, bill. >> he had that look in his eyes >> the first thing, it's going to go back to paying my parents and i've seen anger before, and he almost had like a grimace, a and my in-laws who i have borrowed money from this whole year to get through. smile. i mean, he had planned to do >> literally paying it forward. this, and we knew it wasn't >> i know they're excited to see me win too. going well. >> your children, they're 2 and and i don't say this 4 years old. they're going to never really facetiously, i mean this. if i was going to die, i knew know the old dad. where i was going to go, and i they probably won't remember this. that's got to be very special was very comfortable knowing for you. >> it is. that. not wanting that to happen, but you know, having colton and i knew i would go to heaven. kate, there's a lot in my life and bradley and knowing now that so i just didn't want to see all i have changed my life who i'm of us -- i mean, that guy had a going to be and live so much mission. he'd already told us he was longer, it's just a surreal going to die. experience. he told us he was going to kill >> for all of us who have himself, basically. struggled with our weight and and he was going to try to do lost the weight. the same to us. it's hard enough to lose the weight. and i feel so sorry for his keeping it off is the real family and what they're going battle. how do you fight that? through right now. it's just a terrible tragedy. >> when i was at home, one of the things that really, really >> meredith, i was talking for my life. helped me with the weight loss i never have been as afraid in was using the biggest loser meal my life as i was yesterday. and when i asked him, what are you doing? what's the problem? plan. it takes that time out of and he began to tell about his weighing the chicken, weighing wife, and i said, look here, the vegetable. so you get your biggest loser man, i'm a pretty good guy. meal plan, pop it in the i've been married to my wife for microwave. 40 years. it's great food and portion control, so important to weight i was real sincere when i said loss. this, i've got two great kids, i especially right now around the holidays. really don't want to die at this and people can check my website. time. and bill and i, we continued to it was launched last night. talk with him, and just for it's www.biggestloser.com. time's sake. for time's sake. but as time drew closer, we knew that he knew the authorities >> patrick, good to see you. were coming. and that's when he came closer to the desk, and that was up next, who's going to be beginning, when he was bringing the gun up, that's when i dove our biggest loser of our staff to the side and all the other board members, including bill, cook-off challenge. went down, and it's just a this is a battle royon, e for or miracle, this morning, that this man sitting to my left, a great friend of mine, is here. because he was almost point-blank, shooting of the gun. >> you've got to wonder whether the gunman was a lousy shot or he didn't intend to kill you. the whole idea was he was going to be killed by whoever came in. that that was his plan all along. >> he continued to say that -- i'm going to die and you are too. he said that several different times. >> i will go to my grave believing that those bullets were blocked by a greater power. i mean, it's just obvious to me. and i just, we're just very thankful to be here. i mean, meredith, you just don't know the sense of relief that i'm sure we all share, just to be able to be here and talk with you. >> our family and friends are so elated. we had e-mails and phone calls last night. what a day. >> what a day. that's the understatement of the interview. thank you, jerry, bill, and ginger, so much. we are so glad that you're with us this morning. >> thank you. >> thank you so much. >> thank you, meredith. off great day. >> you too. and now here's matt. >> meredith, thank you very much. an incredible story. another big story in florida and across the east is the bitter cold. nbc's kerry sander is in frosty, orlando, where they're flirting with record low temperatures. kerry, good morning to you. >> reporter: good morning. a record here in orlando, 32 degrees. i'm at the wizarding world of harry potter at universal orlando. right now as the sun comes up, it's come up a degree, to about 33 degrees. but a record across the state, 23 degrees in jacksonville. a record at the southern-most point in key west, 47 degrees. we're back now at 8:50 and tourists who are coming here are we're ready to crown "today's" wondering, what is going on. this is so rare. staff top cook. they'll be competing with their those who are going to area best holiday recipes. stores to buy gloves, hats, and scarves are discovering, well, we have got bravo's top chefs. they don't really exist in florida stores, because this weather is so unusual. to give you an idea how unusual so let's bring in the this is, yesterday and again contestants. what are you looking for in a this morning, some planes at florida airports are having to dish? is it presentation, creativity? be grounded for a short period of time because of ice on the >> taste, presentation and creativity. wing. florida airports don't have >> all right, perfect. get ready. de-icing equipment, so the i know you have already tasted pilots are having the planes these things. pushed back into the sun to melt let's bring in our first it off before they can take off contestant. and have a safe flight. this is angela, she handles a the real damage here is in the lot of the more humorous segments here on the show. agricultural industry. the beans, the corn, it's but there's nothing humorous completely wiped out. and the tomatoes, severely about her mother marry's fruit damaged. it's estimated this time of toast. >> do you serve these at year, nine out of every tomato parties? >> yes. s