Transcripts For WPVI Nightline 20170909 : vimarsana.com

On the ground please, im so scared. I want my mom. Reporter but the shooter claiming he was under attack. Why would they try to chase me . Why would they do this to me . Inside the interrogation and the courtroom. Is he a coldblooded killer or a victim . But first, the nightline 5. Number 1 in just 60 seconds. Good evening. Thank you for joining us. Tonight exodus across south florida as Hurricane Irma rages toward the coast. Growing stronger with winds of 160 Miles Per Hour. 5. 6 million have been asked to evacuate, filling up highways and causing shortages of fuel. Our team is there with people preparing for the worst. Irma. A modest name for this monster of a storm. She has killed already. And there is little doubt she will kill again. Her recordhigh winds have ravaged and punished the caribbean for days. She is now taking dead aim at florida. Where over 5 Million People are under mandatory evacuation orders. Anywhere in the state if youre told to evacuate leave. Get out quickly. Do not put yourself or your family at risk. Reporter the city of miami now eerily quiet. A ghost town as they brace for the storm. The path of destruction left behind in the caribbean, a forewarning of Hurricane Irmas strength. At least 22 people have died. This tropical paradise now a ghoulish reminder. Whenever man and Mother Nature meet, its a mismatch. The island of barbuda, practically uninhabitable. This has been one of the worst days of my life. The entire country has been decimated. I have never seen anything like this before. Reporter the high winds reduced buildings to piles of rubble in st. Martin and gutted them in the British Virgin islands. Last night Hurricane Irma hit the island of turks and caicos. Survivors witnessing rolling blackouts, shredded rooftops and flooded streets. We have seen nothing but the worst in the last hour and a half. Reporter tourists barricading doors, even hunkering down in bathrooms. Then all of a sudden youre calling to say goodbye in case you dont have a chance to. Reporter by daylight an agonizingly familiar scene left in the wake of irma. The bahamas is next in the path. We started to feel the first gusts move in as those outer bounds cover the bahamas. Families are now hunkering down in hotels. People going out to buy provisions. Because there are no flights in or out of the bahamas now. Reporter stateside on the only road out of the keys traffic has been bumper to bumper from the bottom of the state all the way up through orlando. Our matt gutman was there. Where are you coming from . Miami. How long has it taken you . We left at 1 00 in the morning. Did you expect it to be this bad . No. Reporter a drive that would normally take a little three hours now spanning eight to nine hours. Its got zone bad people are abandoning their cars because theyve run out of gas. Now, what you can see is a traffic jam that stretches all the way to the horizon. What you cant see is that its tens of miles long. In miamidade county, where nearly 40 of gas stations in the area have run out of fuel, the largest evacuation in that countys history is under way. Matt caught a ride with one of the fuel truck drivers. How are you . Weve been working around the clock since monday. Wow. When you finally deliver the gas, are people very happy . Yeah. They give me presents. They give you presents. They give me lunch, dinner. Reporter a heros welcome for the drivers providing muchneeded fuel. But even they are stopping soon. This is the last tanker to lead fort everglades. Heading up to fort pierce. After this there are no more tankers filled with gas filling up these stations. Folks are going to have to get out of the state without any help. Reporter others flooding airports, taking to the air to escape the coming storm. This map showing hundreds of flights leaving florida this morning. But by this afternoon over 4,600 flights had been canceled. Tonight the terminal nearly empty. A few lucky ones making it out on the remaining flights. Did you plan ahead in did you get a lastminute ticket . I got a lastminute ticket late this afternoon. Reporter but so many here with no flight home. Karen moreno tells my colleague amy robach that shes stranded in miami after a layover. You dont have your bags. No. You just have this. And now youre being bused to a shelter. Yes. That has to be incredibly overwhelming. Yes. Reporter for the locals who didnt leave a run on supplies to keep the power on. And the storm out. I think its going to be worse than andrew. Reporter arnoldo richuli is staying to protect his home, but his family told our tom llamas they want to evacuate. Whats making you want to leave, possibly leave your dad behind . Well, because of the storm surge. Im trying to actually not leave him, trying to bring him with me. Lets go up to gainesville away from all these storm surges. But he doesnt want to go . No. Reporter a major concern for miamis infrastructure, its glass towers and the cranes that built them. Those are big targets out there. Again, were going to lose buildings that are going to have to be repaired. But i dont think buildings are going to completely collapse. Reporter 25 cranes have been secured. Those that live near them told to evacuate. Developers and builders maintain that the buildings in downtown miami are safe from irmas punishing winds. But they caution that highrises could sway up to 12 inches. Being in a highrise youre less likely to get hit by debris on the ground. But high up, 50 floors up like we are right now, theres another danger. The wind up here is much more powerful. Reporter hurricane researchers say the higher up you go the faster the wind. A category 4 hurricane with winds at 140 Miles Per Hour could be up to 220 Miles Per Hour on the 50th floor. But the greatest damage could well be down on the first floor, where irmas expected to cause a massive storm surge. Storm surge here could easily be up and over my head. This is one of many marineas that line the city of miami, a massive city that is pinned up against the water. And extremely susceptible to Hurricane Storm surge. Reporter the areas in yellow would be underwater with only a threefoot storm surge. The latest forecast now predicting a storm surge of up to ten feet in miami. That would mean all the areas in red would be underwater. With hurricaneforce winds extending up to 70 miles outward from the center, irma already dwarfs the size of hurricane andrew, which devastated the region in 1992. Ive lost everything i own. Reporter andrew made landfall as a category 5 storm, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. It took 25 years to build. It took an hour or two hours and a half to destroy. Reporter but irmas magnitude might surpass that historic storm. Its forecast to make 4r57landf early sunday morning losing strrnt up the coast and lingering in atlanta and jacksonville on tuesday. And irma is not alone. There are two other hurricanes in the atlantic basin. Katya currently a category 1 storm has just made landfall in mexicos southern gulf coast. And category 4 jose, seen in this International Space station image earlier today, is forecast to come close to barbuda and the other caribbean islands that irma battered days ago. Meanwhile, former president s carter, clinton, obama, and president s bush 43 and 41 teaming up to start a fund for harvey victims. As former president s we wanted to help our fellow americans begin to recover. Thank you. Reporter and today our current president offering support for those in irmas path. Were very prepared. Were prepared at the highest level. Reporter in the Sunshine State the hurricane flags are up and sand from the beaches no longer part of the scenery. Its being bagged and put into use as residents hunker down in their homes. And lines to get inside miami shelters swell. Up floridas northern coast and up to South Carolina the warning to evacuate echoes. And we understand its not convenient. But this is not evacuations are not about convenience. Theyre about making sure that youre safe. Reporter for those still in the storms path time to evacuate is almost over. Fearless, foolish or simply without options, they will soon face irma. Thus far she is undefeated. And for breaking news alerts on Hurricane Irma you can download the abc news app. Next, a college argument turns deadly when a student pulls out a gun. What he says really happened. And would a jury believe it . Outu even more incredible shrimp and new flavors like new Nashville Hot shrimp drizzled with sweet amber honey, and new grilled mediterranean shrimp finished with a savory blend of green onions, tomatoes, and herbs. Feeling hungry yet . Good, cuz theres plenty more where these came from. Like garlic shrimp scampi, and other classics you love. As much as you want, however you want em. But hurry, endless shrimp wont be here long. The unpredictability of a flaree may weigh on your mind. Thinking about what to avoid, where to go, and how to work around your uc. Thats how i thought it had to be. But then i talked to my doctor about humira, and learned humira can help get and keep uc under control. When certain medications havent worked well enough. Humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. Before treatment, get tested for tb. Tell your doctor if youve been to areas where certain fungal infections are common and if youve had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flulike symptoms or sores. Dont start humira if you have an infection. Raise your expectations and ask your gastroenterologist if humira may be right for you. With humira, control is possible. When you switch to progressive. Winds stirring. Too treacherous for a selfie. [ camera shutter clicks ] sure, ive taken discounts to new heights with safe driver and paperless billing. But the prize at the top is worth every last breath. Here we go. [ grunts ] got em. Ahh. Wait a minute. Whole wheat waffles . [ crying ] why what we know is that late one night at Northern Arizona university a freshman named steven jones opened fire on a group of students, killing one. What no one can agree on is why. Its not just the prosecution and defense that are at odds. Even witnesses from the night are telling drastically different stories. Soon it will be up to a jury to decide who to believe. Heres abcs matt gutman. Can i call my mom . Reporter steven jones was either a scared College Freshman in fear for his life why would they even try to chase me . Why would they do this to me . I dont know them. He was surrounded, bullied, threatened, and attacked. Reporter or a murderer who retaliated by gunning down four Fraternity Brothers at Northern Arizona university, killing one of them . There was no threat to his safety. In fact, with that gun in his hand he was the most deadly person in sight. Reporter it was during an offcampus party on october 9th, 2015 at this apartment complex known as the courtyard that tragedy struck. Partygoers hear what sounds like an argument. It wasnt a memorable night until everything went south. Reporter zack volpo is a delta ki brother who was there that night. Theres a verbal confrontation going on in the street. All of a sudden i see the group move into the parking lot. Thats when i saw the flashlight flick on. Reporter zack runs across the street into the n. A. U. Parking lot, and hes horrified. His Fraternity Brothers colin bruin and nick peering are down. Both had been shot twice. I was in so much shock i had no idea. I saw a puddle of blood next to me. Reporter so you are second floor up, second window in, right there. Yes. Reporter mikey scollard a sophomore at n. A. U. Jumps from her bed and runs down to the parking lot. You begin to see people on the ground. Yes. And the first person i see is nick. Reporter what mikey doesnt realize is at this moment the shooter is still on the scene, right behind her. Before you know it theres more gunshots. Youre literally administering first aid to somebody whod been shot and you hear gunshots behind you. I hear gunshots and they say hes still shooting dont move, dont scream. Reporter thats when the two Fraternity Brothers nick prado and kyle zintek were hit pl nau police begin arriving with body cameras rolling. Ive got one here with a gunshot wound to the chests. Reporter this video shows the chaos still unfolding. The young boys bleeding, lying shot on the ground. Mikey scollard applying pressure to nick peerings wounds. And on the other side right there a quick glimpse of a frantic 18yearold on the ground. But this one is being handcuffed. Turn around. On the ground please go help them. Im so sorry, please. Please go help them. Im so scared. I have one detained. He identified himself as the shooter. Reporter the hysterical shooter on that body cam is nau freshman steven jones. Please. Im so scared. I want my mom. Stand up. Is your name steven . Yes, sir. You identified yourself to me as the shooter. Nobody else. None of my friends theres nobody else involved . No. Nobody but me. I take all the responsibility. Okay. Reporter 20yearold colin brew lay dead on the ground while his three Fraternity Brothers are raced to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. But in the back of that squad car the suspect, steven jones, isnt acting like a deranged rampage shooter. More like a distraught kid. Oh, my god. Officer. How bad are they hurt . I dont know yet. Reporter repeatedly begging for his mom. Im so scared. Can i call my mom . Just have a seat over there in that chair. Reporter the teenager is led ton a tiny interrogation room, still handcuffed. Are you going to leave me in here alone . Reporter and when hes finally able to see the blood on his hands thats fine. Reporter horror at what they have allegedly done. Thats fine, steven. Reporter at first reluctant, steven begins to describe a tame night at a different party. Until he says his group somehow loses track of one of the friends. Looking for him, steven says one of them knocked on the door of the party at the courtyard. Ten or twelve dudes came out and they started like like talking [ bleep ]. Get the [ bleep ] off our porch. And wen we were we just decided to turn around and walk away. What were they saying . Im going to kill you, you [ bleep ]. I bet you couldnt go back to the freshman dorms. They were obviously very drunk. Toxicology reports would later prove that colin brew was in fact very drunk. More than three times the legal limit. And he also tested positive for marijuana and for xanax. Steven says someone punches him in the face. [ bleep ]. Like rocked my world. Like i had no idea what was going on. My glasses fell off. I could barely see. Reporter now, its not clear who did throw that punch. But eyewitnesses all later confirm that it was not colin brew. Jones tells police that as he retreats towards his red mustang hes pursued, chased into the parking lot. I thought i was going to die. Reporter and thats the moment jones says when he opens the glove compartment and pulls out his glock. 22 handgun. I turn on the flashlight, and i point it at him and i said i have a gun, dont [ bleep ] move. And then reporter and shoots colin brew and nick peering. He was running at me and staring right at me and saying he was going to kill me. I was afraid for my life. Reporter jones says after shooting collegein and nick the rest of the frat guys in the parking lot descend on him, pummeling him on the ground. Jones says he frantically fired in the air just to get those kids off of him. But he shot two more students. I wasnt trying to hurt anybody. I wasnt even aiming at anybody. Reporter after more than two hours of questioning the freshman is led off to jail, charged with firstdegree murder. His trial begins in flagstaff, arizona a year and a half after the shootings. He pleads not guilty. In their Opening Statements prosecutors and Defense Attorneys paint dramatically different pictures of what happened in that nau parking lot. To the victims the defendant was an assassin emerging from the darkness. Reporter prosecutor ammon barker argues steven jones was a calculating coldblooded killer. The question for you during this trial will be what was the defendants intent when he shot these four unarmed victims. Reporter its a question the defense is eager to answer in its opening statement. This is a case about an 18yearold kid who found himself in a situation where he was surrounded, bullied, threatened, and attacked and did what he had to do to protect himself. Reporter but the young men who were shot dispute that. Insisting no one threatened steven. I wouldnt even say it was an aggressive situation. It was a verbal argument from what i could see. The people who say that steven jones was just defending himself against a bunch of bullying frat guys. Thats his defense. Never even saw the kid until he came back with a gun. So. The trial lasts almost two weeks, and the testimony does little to clarify what actually happened that night or even how it all started. Then steven jones does something rarely done in a firstdegree murder trial. Hello. My name is steven jones. He takes the stand in his own defense. I knew that if i waited even another split second i would get seriously hurt or die. Reporter but prosecutors hammer the fact that steven walked 90 feet toward colin brew before he says colin charged him. Even though he told police he was in front of his car. You keep saying to the officers that you were right in front of your car, right . Correct. So each time you were describing that you were just wrong about it. Right . Correct. Reporter jurors head out to begin deliberations, and five days later the jury is hopelessly deadlocked. This court is therefore going to declare a mistrial in this case. Breaking news coming in out of flagstaff. They tried but just couldnt agree. Reporter prosecutors intend to try steven jones again next month, hoping theyll have better luck with a new jury. For nightline im matt gutman in flagstaff, arizona. Our thanks to matt. Well be right back. dog mmm. This new beneful grain free is so healthy. Oh farmraised chicken thats good chicken. Hm . Here come the accents. Blueberries and pumpkin. Wow. And spinach that was my favorite bite so far. avo new beneful grain free. Out with the grain, in with the farmraised chicken. Healthful. Flavorful. Beneful. To you need moreong againsthan a conditioner,. You need a miracle. Pantene 3 minute miracle daily conditioner. Has a super concentrated prov formula. That makes hair stronger in just 3 minutes. So your hair is smoother everyday. Pantene 3 minute miracle daily conditioner. Because strong is beautiful. Take the zantac it challenge pill works fast . Zantac works in as little as 30 minutes. Nexium can take 24 hours. When heartburn strikes, take zantac for faster relief than nexium or your money back. Take the zantac it challenge. Been trying to prepare for this day. And im still not ready. The reason im telling you this is that there will be moments in your life that. Youll never be ready for. Your little girl getting married being one of them. The good book of ecclesiastes reminds us theres a time for all seasons. Were in hurricane season. For those in irmas path prayers lifted, fingers crossed. Well be tracking the storm all weekend. Expected to come ashore in florida sunday morning. Tune to abc news for full team coverage. Good night. Hey, everybody, im hoping to make some people very rich today. Maybe 1 million rich. Did i mention i love this job . Lets play who wants to be millionaire. [cheers and applause] [dramatic music] welcome to who wants to be a millionaire. Are you guys ready to play today . I am, too. 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