When he was not buckled in the van. Prosecutors say nero committed a crime when he detained him, handcuffed gray after gray ran from officers, neros defense argued that the law does allow for a stop like the one that happened. The 30yearold officer was charged with assault, two charges of misconduct in office and also Reckless Endangerment. He did plead not guilty. Again, this is a trial that was a bench trial, that is what officer nero opted for instead of a jury trial. It was a sixday trial. Judge barry g. Williams just issuing that ruling a couple minutes ago not guilty on all counts. Back to you. All right. Melissa, thank you. Again, we have that breaking news a not guilty verdict in the case of baltimore officer edward nero. It is the latest in the fredfre freddie gray trial. Lets go to chris live in baltimore the courtroom when judge Barry Williams read a very well reasoned and detailed verdict. It took almost a half an hour. He broke down every charge. He told what had to be proven by the state. And he concluded by saying that the state did not carry its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and found the defendant not guilty of all charges. Now, he said on the main charge assault, these were all misdemeanors, but assault carries with it a very stiff penalty ten years. This was the allegation that officer edward nero, a bike patrol officer, touched freddie gray during an illegal arrest. At that point the judge said that another officer who the prosecution brought in as a key prosecution witness, garrett miller, said he was the one that stopped freddie gray when he ran on the morning of 2015, that miller was the one that handcuffed him and moved him. And that officer nero was not involved therefore did not assault freddie gray. There is a lesser charge of misconduct because the allegation was by the state that officer nero corruptly touched freddie gray. Again, not guilty, the state failing to prove the charge of misconduct. Then we turn to Reckless Endangerment that in this case it has to be proved an act that puts another person at risk of serious injury or death, and the allegation was that officer nero should have been found guilty because he did not seat belt gray into van and he put grays safety and life at risk. However, again, the judge went through the requisite evidence, what happened, t there were superiors that this officer was with and could have and did rely on that a reasonable officer would rely if he had a superior officer that the superior officer would seat belt the defendant, freddie gray into the van. That this defendant in other words acted reasonably thinking either that there was a superior there, lieutenant rice, and there was a van driver, the transport driver, and that when he was involved in the arrest he had transferred custody over to the van drivers whose responsibility it could reasonably assumed would be the safety of freddie gray and to seat belt him. And finally, there was a misconduct charge, the charge of Reckless Endangerment and the fact that as a Police Officer he should have had the training. That there was a general order mandating all prisoners be seat belted, that that general order went out as an email three days before this incident, but the judge found there was no proof that this defendant edward nero read that email. And that he had received any train i training in seat belting detainee in van. Also proven in the trial that baltimore Police Officers generally none of them said that they seat belted detainees into the van. So the main takeaway here is that the van driver, the transport van driver named cesar goodson, who will be standing trial at this point scheduled for june 6th, that custody was transferred to him and that he was responsible for the security of freddie gray. So once again, all four charges, misdemeanors, but misdemeanors that carried substantial penalties if he had been convicted. He s charges. Let me send it back to you in washington. Now, chris, city leaders asked for calm and peace following the verdict here. We know there were some protesters who were standing by even before the verdict was reached. Can you tell us about protesters or whats fwoing on there now . Reporter of course. Well, theres a helicopter overhead, there is a police presence. But what you see behind me is the sidewalk here at the court. This is where the protests began after the mistrial in the case of officer william porter. There is no movement or activity behind me right now. Theres a Police Helicopter overhead. Baltimore police are on duty. They have help from other local counties including anarundel police on hand. A lot of people said because officer nero, the defendant in this trial, was not a prime actor, was not charged with porter who was tried in december, and is not charged with seconddegree murder as the van driver is, that there might not be a big reaction to this even if it was as it is, a complete acquittal. All right. Chris gordon, thank you very much. Chris gordon in baltimore reporting on the not guilty verdict in the case of edward nero in the death of freddie gray. And the next baltimore Police Officer to go on trial will be officer goodson on june 6th. Goodson was the driver of the Police Transport van where prosecutors say gray was critically hurt. He faces seven charges. On july 2nd more officers head to trial. Final two trials are set to begin in the fall. All the officers have pleaded not guilty. Stay with news 4 all day as we keep an eye on the situation in baltimore. You can see what charges all of the officers are facing by opening the nbc washington good morning. Im storm team 4 meteorologist tom kierein. Whats this . Whats that bright object in the sky . Whats that color . Is it blue . Is that the sun . It is. Nasa just confirmed it, that is the sun. We havent seen it for a few days. There it is gleaming off the capitol dome. Live view from the storm team 4 capitol camera. Temperatures jumping up nicely as well. Mid to upper 60s all around the region from the bay to the metro area. Reagan national now at 67 degrees. Beautiful day under way north and west in the mid to upper 60s, but still some clouds and cool weather around the lower part of the bay where its just around 60 degrees. They have a few light showers there, cambridge to leonard town, st. Marys county, Northern Neck of virginia, all of that is tracking off to the south and west, stay well south of the metro area. Well have the sunshine in and out through the afternoon. But have an umbrella ready. We might have a passing shower or thundershower. Youll be comfortable in short sleeves and shorts. Have the sunglasses ready but you may need rain boots later in the day as w lightning. New timing on that in a few minutes. Happy to see the sun, tom, thank you. We are still tracking developments on a Murder Investigation unfolding in temple hills, maryland, right now. Police are searching for the person who shot and killed a man overnight along 23rd parkway. News 4s Kristen Wright is there live with details from a witness who saw what happened after the shooting. Kristin. Reporter you know, people who live here that we talk to are trying their best to go on with their day, but its very hard knowing that a man is dead and police are looking for a killer who was right here. It was one loud one. It sounded like a boom. Reporter the gunshots woke regina harvey. I looked out the window and saw him on the ground leaned up against the car and he fell over. Reporter the White Mercedes sat in the middle of the crime scene, the drivers side door wide open. Police got a call reporting the try to keep him awake, keep him alive until the ambulance got here, and i saw them kind of doing the cpr thing. And i said, oh, my god, i hope he doesnt die. Reporter the man didnt survive. Police had the car towed. Now theyre looking for a ller. And putting together a possible motive, after ten years in her home, harvey is completely shaken. I couldnt sleep all night long because that really shook me up. Reporter there is a 25,000 reward in the case through Prince Georges County crime solvers. Police have not told us anything at this point about the man who lost his life. In Prince Georges County, kristin wright, news 4. A man is in Critical Condition affairfax police say someone he knew shot him. This happened in falls church on stillwood circle just before midnight. Police say the gun accidentally went off when the victim was shot. Its not clear whether the shooter will face any charges. And right now grief counselors are helping local Elementary Students deal with a difficult loss. 24yearold Terese Sampson shot and killed friday morning in the alexandria section. His girlfriend told news 4 he returned home to find a crime in progress. Fairfax county police have not made any arrests in his death. Also right now president barack obama is overseas to announce the u. S. Is lifting its ban on armed sales to vietnam. Nbcs tracie potts has ts Details Behind todays announcement. Reporter despite lingering concerns about human rights, this morning president obama announced the u. S. Is lifting its near decades long arms embargo against vietnam. This change will ensure that vietnam has access to the equipment it needs to defend itself. Reporter against china claiming disputed islands in the south china sea, and it eases vietnams reliance on russia. The president ao u. S. Investment in vietnam, 100 planes from boeing, engine and electricity from General Electric totaling 16 billion. And the white house says 60,000 new jobs. New companies and new jobs being created constantly, so the United States wants to be a part of that. Reporter there are still concerns about human rights abuses in vietnam, which the countrys president says will be addressed. Translator we need to work closely together, expand our dialogue together and by so doing we can narrow the gap. Reporter historic agreements announced today expanding americas reach into one of the Fastest Growing regions of the world. Also this morning the president talked about the tpp, the transpacific partnership, that trade deal thats been stuck here on capitol hill. He says even though its an Election Year he thinks they can get it done. Tracie potts, nbc news, washington new poll results are in and well tell you how the race looks in a headtohead matchup between hillary inclnto and donald trump. Plus, the search for the black boxes from the egyptair plane that crashed last week, morning noon or night theres always a moment to discover visit annapolis and create your moment we have breaking news right now, just minutes ago a maryland judge has found baltimore Police Officer on all charges in the death of freddie gray. Nero was acquit of seconddegree assault, Reckless Endangerment and two counts of misconduct in office. One of six officers charged with crimes related to grays death while in custody in april of 2015. We are keeping an eye on protests at the courthouse right now and live updates at 11 30. Developing in syria right now, a series of bombings at least 65 people are dead. Syrian state tv says isis terrorists targeted two cities on the coast, both which support president bashar assad. Suicide bombers, rockets and a car bomb all went off within hours of each other. Investigators are still trying to figure out whether terrorism caused that plane crash. They said some kind of catastrophic event brought down egyptair flight 804 last week. The only way to know for sure is to find the black boxes, however the flight and voice recorder batteries could run out before theyre found. United states, a french ship and an egyptian submarine are all searching right now. Funeral services have started for some of the victims of that plane crash. Were looking at services for two of the victims. They lived in cairo. We know there were no americans on board that plane. Pope francis is working to improve relations with islamic leaders. The pope is meeting with the grand imam today, talks between the churches and islamic leaders have been frozen for the last five years because of religious attacks. After meeting with the pope alazhar grand imam will take part in a conference in paris. To decision 2016, a new nbc news the wall street journal poll show Hillary Clinton and donald trump nearly tied. Last month clinton held a nearly 11point advantage, that lead narrowed to three points in the poll out yesterday. Senator bernie san better against trump leading 54 to 39 percent. Nbcs Peter Alexander has the latest on the push for unity within the gop. Reporter theyre duel now a dead heat, Hillary Clintons lead over donald trump just three points, within the margin of error. Down from 11 points last month. Theres no evidence he has any ideas about making America Great, as he advertises. Hillary is weak. Shes a weak person. She has bad judgment reporter the 2016 contenders now unloading. The latest flash point, guns. With trump accepting the nras endorsements. Were getting rid of gunfree zones, okay. Reporter clinton is taking aim speaking to the families of gun violence victims including Trayvon Martins mother warning the risks of allowing guns in schools. If you want to imagine what trumps america will look like, picture more kids at risk of violence and bigotry. Picture more anger and fear. Reporter trump trying to clarify his position, but contradicting himself in the sam classrooms, although in some cases teachers should have guns in classrooms, frankly, because teachers are, you know, things that are going on in our schools are unbelievable. Reporter trump and clinton are the two most unpopular likely nominees in the history of our poll. 58 with a negative view of trump, 54 for clinton. Clinton now looking to capitalize after a recent report showed the last time trumps tax returns became public in the late 70s he didnt pay the federal government a cent. If youve got someone running for president whos afraid to release his tax returns because it will expose the fact that he pays no federal income tax, i think thats a big problem. Reporter but its not a oneonone race yet. Clintons immediate challenge wooing Bernie Sanders supporters. Only twothirds of democrats behind sanders say theyd vote for clinton this fall. 17 for trump. Sanders now seemingly at war with the party, now backing dnc chair debbie wassermanschultzs democratic challenge. Meanwhile, bill clinton overnight in california setting his sights on trump, name dropping the Presumptive Republican nominee four times, using his own slogan against him. You know what make America Great again really means is, hey, ill make it the way it used to be, youll be better off and if not at least youll have somebody else to look down on. That is a dumb idea. It will no work. Peter alexander reporting there. The next big primary is two weeks from tomorrow, california and four other states will vote that day. Parents and teachers will weighin tonight on a plan to rename a Fairfax County school. J. E. B. Stuart high school is named after a confederate general. The superintendent believes if theres enough support to change the name, a public vote will be held. Today students from across the country are testing their geography knowledge to win a to alaska. The National Geography bee kicked off this morning here in washington. Sidwell sixth grader is one of 54 students competing. Later this week more with kids will be here for the Scripps National spelling bee. Some really impressive kids who have a lot of knowledge. Always humbling to be around them. It certainly is. The new information on when zika could become a problem in the u. S. Plus, severe weather, dramatic new video and who is in the danger nowwhich means its the perfect time to create the perfect home. Now through may 30th, take an extra hundred dollars off every thousand dollars you spend. Plus, enjoy 36month, nointerest financing. With havertys, your home can be perfect. Even when life isnt. Sfx nocking. Were early the memorial day sale. From classic to contemporary. Havertys. Right now 14 Million People are at risk for severe thunderstorms today. This comes after at least 27 tornadoes were reported across several states on sunday. Youre looking at pictures of a tornado that touched down near spearman, texas, yesterday. So far there are no reports of any injuries or damages. Look at that dramatic video. I know. Weve got a little sunshine here today, at least so far. Its about time, tom. My goodness. We deserve it. We do. You know, 19 of the 23 days so far in may weve had at least a trace of rain in washington, dont we know it. And were going to finish up the month with a few more sunny days to come, so lets look forward to that. Theres a live view from the storm team 4 tower camera overlooking theres ten litown, middle friendship heights, foreground montgomery county, bethesda. Its not sunny south and east of us, thats where the moving rain now in Southern Maryland, Northern Neck of virginia down to near where williamsburg is, william and mary, down that way, that college is getting a little bit wet today. Weve got a group of their students here, great to see you all. And as we are going to be looking the rest of the day were going to be on the dry side of that and Going Forward into the afternoon hours, we have a chance, a small chance this is as of about 1 00 or 2 00 in the afternoon of some of these popping up some showers maybe some thunder and lightning this area in orange, some thunder and lightning southern falkier county down to just west of fredericksburg, thats by 3 00 p. M. Then around 5 00 to 6 00