Unsolved murders. All three of them are linked. Tonight how people in alexandria are responding with the killer or killers still free. A potential gamechanger in the d. C. Race for mayor. I guess we can speculate about it, but i really dont know anything about it. Your reaction tonight to the plea deal that could have an impact on mayor vincent gray. And kids abandoned in cars outside casinos while their parents gamble inside. The news4 iteam finds out what can happen when parents push their luck too far. News4 at 11 starts now. Another threat of Winter Weather headed our way. An east coast storm threatening to bring sleet and ice as far north as d. C. Doug kammerer in storm center 4 now. When are we talking about this coming in . This will move in overnight and it will be here for the morning commute for some areas. Take a look at where this storm is right now. Just down to our south. You can see it down towards north carolina, down towards southern virginia with snow. Around roanoke seeing snow right now. It is moving to the north. But its having a very tough time moving north. And most of this, most of this energy down to the south will head out towards the east. But we do have a Winter Weather advisory that has been posted by the National Weather service for loudoun county, Montgomery County, d. C. , and everybody down do the south. The biggest areas of concern i think would be around fredericksburg over towards southern maryland. D. C. Not really sure if were going see the it here. But we could see some light freezing rain. It doesnt make much to get a weather winter advisory. It could be slick in spots. But the main roads should be okay. Im going break this down for you a little more. Im going to give you my thoughts and talk about the all important weekend forecast coming up. Thanks, doug. Three murders all unsolved, all in the same community, over a period of more than ten years. Now for the first time Alexandria Police arefiing there is a connection among all three. The question still unanswered tonight is whether one man was responsible for killing nancy doning in 2003, ron kirby last november, and Ruthanne Lodato exactly four weeks ago. We begin our News Coverage with erika gonzalez. She is live outside Alexandria Police headquarters. Erica . Reporter hey, doreen. With todays new developments, what this does is it shifts the focus, no longer placed on the most recent incident, but highlights all three. Ten years ago, Nancy Dunning, the wife of a then sheriff murdered in her home. Friends of nancy done having set up reward fund to encourage people to call in with tips. Reporter last november, transportation planner ron kirby gunned down. Detectives are still inside the home where ron kirby was found shot to death. Reporter and just last month, music teacher Ruthanne Lodato shot and killed when answering her front door on ridge road drive. Moments ago the Alexandria Police chief confirmed some very grim news. Now police have evidence that could connect all three. Detectives are investigating them as a, quote, series of murders. But today the police chief avoided any reference to a serial killer. The bullets in Ruthanne Lodato, ron kirby, and Nancy Dunning cases have the same general rifling class and characteristics. Reporter its still unclear if the bullets were fired from the same gun. Kiings, no signs of forced ight entry. These types of crimes just dont happen here. Were not accustomed to them, albeit two within a last couple of months is sobering. Reporter the description after lodatos murder is the only clue, the main clue in bringing them closer to catching a killer. Reporter detectives say there is yet to be anything that leads them to believe that the killer is anything but from alexandria. But what do a music teacher, the wife of a former sheriff and a transportation planner all have in common . Thats what detectives are trying to figure out. Live in alexandria outside police headquarters, erika gonzalez, news4. Thanks, erika. The police chief in alexandria said today that neighbors should take precautions and avoid opening their doors to strangers. He also said this sketch of a suspect in the Ruthanne Lodato murder case could still lead to tips in all three cases. Shomari stone live in alexandria tonight with more on how the community is responding now. Shomari . Reporter well, jim, tonight people in this Alexandria Community are very concerned. One man told me he was frightened after i knocked on his door and he opened it. Ruthanne lodato was killed at her home behind me. And tonight some people tell me that theyre scared that interest is a possible kill attorney loose. Everybody around here is concerned. Reporter tonight jay roberts and some alexandria residents met to discuss the new waterfront plan near old town alexandria. But many are also concerned about todays announcement that three high profile murders could be connected. They want more information. Reporter they wonder who would kill a beloved music teacher, a wellknown transportation planner, and a then sheriffs wife in the daytime with no signs of forced entry. I think that it sounds like they could possibly be linked. The timing, the strangeness of it all. Reporter sandy meyer says this latest development is unusual for her relatively peaceful city. From the years that ive lived here, this is really odd. Weve never had anything like this before. Reporter police say the community should not assume that the killer or killers live in alexandria. At this point, evidence done support that. I hope they get him. They obviously want to catch the person. Reporter and tonight police say that people should remain vigilant and dont open up your door to strangers. Live in alexandria, shomari stone, news4. Thank you, shomari. Alexandria police created a special hotline devoted to solving these murders. If you have information, youre invited to call 7037466864. Online right now, you can see police chief earl cooks entire News Conference from earlier today. And our questions also for former fbi profiler about this case. Its all on nbcwashington. Com. Another big story developing tonight. A potential breakthrough in the investigation into d. C. Mayor vincent grays 2010 Shadow Campaign. The primary in the mayors reelection bid is less than a month away now. Chris lawrence asked him about reports that a key player in the 2010 scandal is working on a plea deal. Four more years reporter with his supporters cheering him on, mayor vincent gray slugged off questions about a potential breakthrough in the case against d. C. Businessman Jeffrey Thompson. Mr. Mayor, your reaction to a potential plea deal for thompson . I actually dont know anything about it, gentlemen. I guess we could speculate but i dont know anything about it. Reporter thompson is expected of building an illegal Shadow Campaign to get mayor gray elected in 2010. Now that he is in the final stages of plea negotiations with prosecutors, thompson could be the key to clearing the mayor or linking him to the corruption. I dont know what is known other than the fact that he helped elect vincent gray, and well let the u. S. Attorney sort it out. Reporter you think the politicians gunning for grays job would jump on the news. But it was obvious tonight they dont know what this potential plea deal will say and the extent to which it will or wont implicate the mayor. So as some of them campaign for an endorsement from the citys gay, lesbian and transgendered community, they played it safe. The residents at the District Of Columbia need to know the truth and they need to have the mayor level with them, or we need to have the u. S. Attorney move. Im glad to see thats happening. Reporter Muriel Bowser came in a close second to mayor gray. In a poll, she stands to benefit the most if the mayor is somehow implicated in this expected plea deal on friday. Mayor gray has consistently said he didnt do anything wrong. Jim . Jeffrey thompson could be the ninth person to plead guilty in connection with illegally funding campaigns. Mark seagraves explains how we got to this point. Reporter this all began shortly after mayor vincent gray was elected. Suliman brown, the fringe mayoral candidate accused the Gray Campaign of illegally paying him and then giving him a sixfigure government job that sparked a federal investigation. Then Gray Campaign supporters thomas gore and howard brooks plead guilty to covering up those payments to suliman brown. Next Jeannie Clark harris, a longtime supporter of gray and a Business Partner of Jeffrey Thompson plead guilty to funneling more than 650,000 from thompson to a Shadow Campaign for gray. Not long after that, three Business Associates of thompson, lee calhoun, troy white, and stanley slaughter plead guilty to helping thompson illegally Fund National campaigns, including hillary clintons. And then a longtime associate of both thompson and gray, vernon hawkins, plead guilty to lying to investigators about the Shadow Campaign. Former Councilmember Michael brown has now admitted to not only taking bribes, but also taking Illegal Campaign funds from thompson through harris. Three years after the investigation began, we have eight people have already plead guilty, and it appears thompson will make nine. Mark segraves, news4. Right now if you live in the area of d. C. , highlighted on this map, you should still boil your water before you drink it. The district is waiting for more test results before declaring the water safe for drinking. A power outage at the fort reno pumping station yesterday may have contaminated the system in parts of northwest. D. C. Water says the boil water alert is just a precautionary mode. The test results could be back as early as tomorrow. Tonight there is an amber alert connected to a possible murder investigation. In the search for an 11yearold girl from maryland. Police believe Caitlyn Virts father kidnapped her. Investigators found the girls mother dead this morning at their home in dundalk in baltimore county. Timothy virts had been living there, even though police say he was barred from contact with the little girl. Two other children, including caitlins twin sister. Embarrassing allegations against Lieutenant Colonel joseph morse is being investigated for allegedly groping a female military lawyer. His job is to handle sex and physical abuse cases. The Lieutenant Colonel has been suspended. Army Officials Say the lawyer making the accusations did not work for morse. And tomorrow, opening arguments get under way in a courtmartial involving an army general. Brigadier general Jeffrey Sinclair has already pleaded guilty to a handful of charges including adultery, conduct unbecoming, and obstruction of justice. He also admits he had an affair with a female captain under his command. Sinclair denies allegations of sexual assault. This is one of only a handful Courts Martial against Army Generals in the past 50 years. Next at 11 00, frightening moments inside a mall. Two people arrested after gunshots rang out tonight. Well tell you what were learning about what happened there. Children left in cars while their parents risk it all inside casinos. The news4 iteam uncovers how often its happening and how quickly things can go wrong. And a concert at the white house, spotlighting the women of soul. Soul. [ male announcer ] at northrop grumman, weve always been on the forefront of innovation. When the world called for speed. When the world called for stealth. Intelligence. Endurance. Affordability. Adaptability. And when the world asked for the future. Staying ahead in a constantly evolving world. Thats the value of performance. Northrop grumman. Gunshots tonight in a mall in memphis, tennessee. Shoppers and employees were hiding inside stores. We know one man is in Critical Condition after the shooting. Its at place called the oak court mall. Police right now are questioning four people. Officers pulled over a car near that mall. Right now investigators have not revealed whether that shooting was random or whether a victim was targeted. The lockdown there is now over. Shoppers are being allowed to go home. Parents taking a gamble with much more than money. A review by the news4 iteam reveals the troubling number of local gamblers abandoning children in the parking lot. The casino craze is growing, and the iteams Scott Mcfarland so are the number of people tempted by the slots. Reporter the casino craze spreading in maryland. The lights, the excitement too hard for some to resist. New years eve amid the lights and the roar inside maryland live casino anne arundel county. Police arrested 24yearold alicia brown. They say brown left her 4yearold child alone in the car outside for eight hours. While she went inside to gamble. Police say the child was found hungry, cold, and crying. Brown was charged with child abuse. When we heard what happened that day here in maryland live casino, the iteam started digging, checking Court Records, checking state gaming documents as well and found it happened several times. Statewide and nationwide. Watch this surveillance footage. Two moms walk on a sunday evening, eventually gambling, their four children left alone locked outside in the car. One of the Woman Told Police she had only gone inside to use the bathroom. But the both of you were inside gambling. You checked in at the players club and started playing slots. The Court Records show prosecutors filed neglect charges. We found at least six other cases of abandoned children in just the past year at maryland casinos alone, three of them at maryland live, two more at ocean downs casino, eastern shore. Both of those cases happening in the heat of the summer. A separate review by kids in cars found about 60 more cases outside maryland in the past four years, including at a casino nea philadelphia man. Arrested for leaving his 12yearold grandson alone in the car, and legally parking that car in the lot. Its a dangerous crime no matter when it happens. But safety groups say the maryland live case from new years eve is particularly alarming. Subfreezing temperatures that day. Never leave your child alone in a car. Not even for a minute. Reporter the outdoor temperature about 15 degrees. The group safe kids help show how little the car doors and windows alone. The doors close. The windows close. Reporter protect an abandoned child from the cold. Thats 22 degrees. If a child is experiencing hypothermia, what is that child feeling . In the earliest stages of hypothermia, its just like you and i. When were cold, we start to shiver. When we start to shiver, its our body saying how can i keep you warmer. So kids cant shiver fast enough to warm their body temperature up. Reporter operators of the new mgm casino set for Prince Georges County says theyll use modern security protocols and surveillance to keep gamblers from abandoning kids. As for alicia brown, she still has custody of her child but faces endangerment charges and a Court Appearance later this month. A maryland live spokesperson tells us there are safeguards in place. The casino has a 200person Security Team and surveillance cameras inside and outside in the parking lots and garages. And they say if they do find a child unattended in one of the cars, they do Contact Police immediately. Scott mcfarland, news4 iteam. We have an interactive map showing cases of children being left in cars at casinos. Its online at nbcwashington. Com. Just click on investigations. Some Severe Weather down in florida tonight is from a system coming our way. The worst of it hit the beach cities between miami and west palm beach. This is damage from the delray beach area where strong winds knocked down trees. Did considerable damage to some homes there. About 3,000 homes there are without power in that area tonight. Wow. Doug, as the week has gone on, this friday weather has gotten a little progressively worse, hasnt it . Yeah. But the whole time we said this would mostly stay off the coast. And it will. Down towards raleigh, sleet, freezing rain towards portions of north carolina. Snow just down to the south. Once again, most of this will miss our area. Take a look and show you what is going on out there right now as we looked at cloud cover across the region. Temperatures had been on the cold side all day, and currently we sit 1 degree above freezing, 33 degrees. That is the allimportant temperature at 32 degrees to get any kind of frozen precipitation. Winds out of the east at 11 miles per hour. That easterly flow will help to moisten the atmosphere a little bit. The windchill down to 24. The rest of the area below freezing. 32 in fredericksburg. 29 in charlottesville. 28 towards gaithersburg. So in most area, as this moisture begins to try to make its way up towards the north, we could see some very light freezing rain, freezing drizzle. And thats really why we have a Winter Weather advisory in effect. It includes areas like Montgomery County and loudoun county, aroun