Follow him. Reporter that was their chance to act. Both men tell me they chased the robber out of the store. Video shows him running north away from the deli turning east. Then watch this. He pitches the shotgun into a nearby garden. Police found the weapon and these workers hope the gunman is next. This deli closed right now. We saw them close up not long ago. One of the workers says he was still shaking hours later. Theyre grateful the gun malfunctioned. If you know anyone who knows that person, give police a call. News 4 new york. Alleged misdeeds involving the Port Authority of new york and new jersey are costing an executive his job. This time it is the ceo of United Airlines. We are here with the latest. Did United Airlines executives arrange for special flights to help the head of the Port Authority get from new jersey to his South CarolinaVacation Home . Was there a quid pro quo with the Port Authority spending millions to help uniteds businesses at Newark Liberty . United announced its ceo is out as are two other executives. The company acknowledged today that resignation comes because the federal corruption investigation is ongoing. Investigators have been looking into whether former Port Authority chairman David Sampson made any special deals with united executives and whether united put in place a flight so he could travel more easily to his South CarolinaVacation Home. Around that time, the Port Authority ordered added im improvements at new york airport that helped united. Sampson has denied wrongdoing and his lawyers today did not comment on the resignations at united. No criminal charges filed so far in connection with the united Port Authority dealings, but the resignations at united today come amid the ongoing federal criminal investigation. Back to you. Well, this afternoon in brooklyn, the fdny honored 21 of its members who lost their lives after working in the rescue and recovery effort of 9 11. They have developed respiratory problems and other health issues. 14 years later, the number of our fallen continue to rise. No one can say how many lives september 11th will ultimately claim. With the addition of the new names, the memorial honors 110 firefighters who have died since 9 11. Coming up, an update on a 1,000 acre wildfire in new jersey. Plus this. No dogs allowed. The iconic hot dog carts near the World Trade Center site may have to move over security concerns. Im Michael George and thats coming up. Well, for many here in the tristate, the school year officially starts tomorrow. Today, some of you procrastinators got a little bit of lastminute back to School Shopping in. Many stores were offering sales. If you havent finished your shopping, youre not alone. Retailers say 30 of shoppers are in the same boat. I think that people are still kind of feeling around, seeing whats popular. They check with their friends at school. And so a bunch of those purchases are still going to occur. The back to School Shopping period is the second largest retail season of the year after the Winter Holiday season, of course. It is the last of the libraries damaged from Superstorm Sandy to be rebuilt. The Queens Library is officially open for business now. Its a stateoftheart library. A far cry from three years ago as you see here as flood waters pretty much destroyed everything inside. Coming up, the pope is coming to new york city, if you havent heard. Well meet one local man who says coming face to face with the pope can be life changing and he already has the story to prove it. First, heres a look at sibila and i will see you again at 11 00. Well, the 14th anniversary of the 9 11 terror attacks just days away now. Nypd commissioner bill bratton says new york city faces a greater likelihood of an attack now than it has in years. Rudy giuliani testified. Bratton says al qaeda continues to try to plot major attacks from overseas, while isis uses social media to encourage lone wolf attacks here. Isil is focused on attacks that require low tech, low cost, and high impact. Those killing with a gun or a car or an iud is something some fear they can do. Meantime, there are new concerns the push cart vendors who sell hot dogs and other items around World Trade Center site could pose a threat. Michael george has that story. Reporter its part of the sound track of lower manhattan. But Security Fears could force hot dog veen ndors out of their usually spots near the 9 11 memorial. How bad would it be for business its going to be more than half the business down. Reporter theres already a novendor zone surrounding the World Trade Center site. The nypd wants to expand that zone an extra two blocks. Alex worries when he moves away, so does his regular customers. All the workers here know us. They get the lunch. They get everything. Its good to stay in one place. Reporter the concern is over these carts, which some lawmakers say could be used to hide an explosive. A new Police Vehicle checkpoint is being build. Customers we spoke with said the vendors have never caused problems before. Theyre not harassing anybody. Reporter all of these changes are just proposals. It would take a state law to expand the no vendor zone. So far no one has proposed legislation. News 4 new york. Lester holt joins us now. Coming up tonight, we have an update on that charleston, South Carolina carolina, Police Officer that was fired and charged with murdering walter scott back in april. We have some exclusive details of the Defense Strategy of the officer, who is still being held on those charges. Lets talk about that video. It was pretty compelling. It clearly showed seemed to show him shooting him in the back. Theres always going to be a defense. How are they going to do that exactly . The defense is going to talk about what the tape didnt capture. There was a scuffle. Scott was violently resisting arrest. The video shows that walter scott was not simply a man running away from a misdee meanor. The main goal is to get him out on bond so hes not a flight risk. Have you seen the set outside on the plaza . No. Take a look. Take a look at this. Its enormous. Ellen is taping two shows on the plaza. We can hear the crowds cheering from our newsroom. Hillary clinton and pink scheduled to appear. All right. Were a little less than 16 days away from the historic visit by pope francis. Pope francis visit to new york is historic, and his unique style is creating excitement. One local man personally knows coming face to face with the pope can be life changing. Reporter preparing for the pope with prayers. The father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen. Reporter and personal messages. Your holiness. Your holiness. Hi. Reporter words of welcome penned from eager hearts overlooking the hudson. The moment i found it you were coming to new york, i was thrilled. Were honored that youll be in our presence this september. Here at saint augustus, we have a phenomenal religion program. We wish you a safe trip and welcome you to new york. Reporter leading the excitement, saint augustus biology teacher who is sharing not from a textbook, but his own personal experience. Growing up in rome, stephanie o had a chance to serve Pope John Paul as an altar boy. Mom, you cant imagine what happened to me today. What happened . For my birthday, they sent me to seay. Rve mass for john paul ii. Reporter this westchester husband and father met one of the worlds most beloved popes several times. And now, this adult has one prayer for children across the tristate. I really would like the kids to be a part of that great experience of the pope being here in the u. S. It changes your life, definitely. Reporter mark santia, news 4 new york. Were getting ready for the popes visit here in new york later this month. We set up a special section on our website with everything you need to know. Go to nbcnewyork. Com and check it out. We have a warning for new jersey residents who live near this burning wild fire. Officials are saying its not a good idea to breathe that air outdoors. You should stay indoors. It is now 100 contained, but a lot of the lingering smoke is is pouring into neighbors like manchester township. The fire burned just under 1,000 acres in a remote section of the pine lands. Theres no word on the official cause. They have it contained, but the weather theres not much wind. It is just lingering. It lingers in the air when you have this High Pressure system overhead. There are reports they smelled it in brooklyn last night because it was moving up the coastline. The air is definitely not very healthy out there right now just in general because of the heat and the humidity and everything sitting right on top of us. 89 degrees right now. Feels like 92 in the city. Humidity is higher today. You probably noticed that. The air quality alert is still in effect until 11 00. You know it by today that summer sure isnt over and technically it isnt. It doesnt usually get this hot this late in the season, but hazy, hot, and humid for us today. 97 degrees in central park today. The old record was 93. Here are the headlines. July in september is what were having here. There is a cold front that will bring relief for the weekend and some soaking rain in some spots. That comes into play thursday. We may get a few showers tomorrow but not widespread rain. A west wind, a cool wind, a dry wind, comes in to save us friday into saturday. We get a break from this heat. These are the other highs today. Morristown was 97. 96 in poughkeepsie. Belmar and islip, youre in the low 90s too. Right now, it is 93 staten island. 93 in morristown. Its 81 in westhampton. Generally, its been 45 and 55 , so it feels like mid to upper 90s in some inland spots. Heres our relief. The cold front is coming slowly but surely. There may be a few showers out ahead of it tomorrow, but the bulk of the rain will be moving in on thursday and lingering into friday. Its clear across the area tonight, but we have the clouds building in the morning. A couple of showers possible in the area tomorrow, but most of the heavier rain will come thursday into friday. In the meantime, heres the sevenday forecast to show you how things are going to change. Tomorrow, if we hit 90, its officially a heat wave. It breaks after that. Feeling more like september after this. I cant wait. John chandler is up next live from the u. S. Open. Reporter thats right. It is serena against venus. The battle of the williams sisters officially for the 27th time in their careers. We know whats at stake for serena, but why this is a big match for venus as well. Well get into that just after this. Reporter greetings from flushing where the story is Serena Williams as she marches on towards what she hopes will be a calendar grand slam. The next step toward that will be her toughest. Tonight, she has to try to beat her big sister venus in the quarter finals. Venus has won once in her last seven times. But serena is very clear about this. She knows shes facing the one player tonight who knows every little weakness in her game. Its not very easy. Like i said, for me, the only playor in the draw i dont want to play not only because shes my sister. For me, shes the best player. Its still all focus. You still have to prepare. You still have to play well. Even though youre playing your sister, you have to be prepared and focused. The preparation doesnt change. Reporter more sibling rivalry tonight. To some awful news from out of the nfl and a former giants player. Tyler sash was found dead this morning at his home in iowa. Heartbreaking news. He was a former giant who won a super bowl ring with the team. His former teammates took to twitter to offer condoll condolences. Tyler sash was only 27. One bit of late breaking and late developing giants news. Jason pierrepaul has not signed his franchise tender yet. That contract situation has a ways to go. The mets, chances of resigning Yoenis Cespedes just got slightly better. Both sides have worked to amend a clause that was set up to only give the mets five days after the world series to sign him. The mets feel like theyll have a full, fair chance to negotiate with cespedes after the season. The price for cespedes rises seemingly with every big swing he connects on. The mets hope to have a few more of those big swings tonight. They hope to bury the nationals between harvey and the mets. Big one for the yankees. They are a half p me behind the blue jays taking on the orioles. Toronto taking on the red sox. And serena and venus at the u. S. Open. Back to you guys. Up next on nightly news. Defense attorneys say they have new evidence that can clear a Police Officer who gunned down a man who was running away. Well see you back here at 11 00. Good night. Tonight, freed and defiant. The kentucky clerk emerges from jail to a cheering crowd of supporters. Will she defy the judge ord and go back to denying marriage licenses to samesex couples . Clintons apology. For he first time she says shes sorry for using private email with word that donors are getting nervous as her campaign makes a change of strategy. Stepping down. Late word that the ceo of United Airlines is resigning amid questions about whether the airline added routes in exchange for preferential treatment. And another break from yoradition for pope francis. Making the most significant change in centuries for catholics wanting to wipe the slate clean on broken marriages. Nightly news begins right now. Announcer from nbc news World Headquarters in new york, this is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening. She didnt blink. Refusing to budge on issuing marriage licenses for samesex couples. But her subordinates issued them anyway and that was enough for a federal judge in kentucky today to free county clerk kim davis, who had been lokds up locked up for contempt. While other workers in the Rowan County Clerks Office are issuing licenses to gay and lesbian couples, kim davis emerges from behind bars as defiant as ever, embraced as a hero by some on the religious right and making it clear the fight isnt over. Nbcs Gabe Gutierrez is in grayson, kentucky. Pr ase help me welcome to the stage kim davis. Reporter kim davis walked out of the Carter CountyDetention Center after almost five full days behind bars as a rock star. I just want to give god the glory. People have rallied. And you are a strong people reporter a judge suddenly setting her free because her deputy clerks issued marriage licenses to samesex couples, complying with federal law. We are not issuing marriage licenses reporter davis had stood firm amid a National Firestorm after she refused to issue the licenses, citing her religious beliefs as an apostolic christian. Whose authority . Zblund under gods authority. Reporter last week a judge found her in contempt. Today just before her release republican president ial candidates ted cruz and Mike Huckabee came to show their support. Es the elected rowan county clerk, so she cant be fired, only removed by impeachment. Her salary around 80,000 a year. Critics think davis should resign. If you do not want to obey the law and you think that is not right, then maybe you should not be in office. Reporter daviss attorneys now saying her deputies did not have the authority to issue the licenses. What does she plan to do tomorrow . The licenses that were issued were issued without the authority of the clerk of rowan county. D they are not valid. Rtporter but today Governor Steve Beshear disagreed and said he would not call a special session of the legislature to debate the issue. Those marriage licenses are legal. Reporter this