>>> TONIGHT, BREAKING NEWS AS WE
COME ON.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EMBATTLED
HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF, OUT.
DAYS AFTER APPEARING AT THE
BORDER WITH THE PRESIDENT, AS
THE NATIONAL DEBATE OVER
IMMIGRATION AND THE WALL RAGES
ON.
>>> ALSO BREAKING TONIGHT, THE
KIDNAPPED AMERICAN RESCUED, FIVE
DAYS AFTER SHE AND A LOCAL GUIDE
WERE KIDNAPPED AT GUNPOINT ON
SAFARI.
HELD FOR A $500,000 RANSOM.
TONIGHT, INSIDE THE RESCUE, AS
THE FIRST PICTURES COME IN.
OUR IAN PANNELL IS ON THE
GROUND.
>>> ALSO DEVELOPING TONIGHT,
SEVERE STORMS STRIKE.
FROM HOUSTON TO NEW ORLEANS,
NORTH THROUGH NASHVILLE.
DAMAGING WINDS, POUNDING HAIL,
THE FLOOD THREAT.
MORE THAN 40 MILLION AMERICANS
IN THE PATH TONIGHT.
>>> SURVIVOR STORY.
THE COUPLE LUCKY TO BE ALIVE,
SPEAKING OUT AFTER A FREAK
ACCIDENT.
MORE THAN A DOZEN POWER LINE
POLES TOPPLING.
ONE SMASHING STRAIGHT THROUGH
THEIR WINDSHIELD.
HOW THEY SURVIVED.
AND THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE
CAUSE OF THAT COLLAPSE.
>>> ALSO TONIGHT, THE ABC NEWS
EXCLUSIVE.
A FAMILY DEMANDING ANSWERS AFTER
THEIR DAUGHTER, A FIFTH GRADER,
DIES FOLLOWING A FIGHT INSIDE OF
HER CLASSROOM.
AUTHORITIES STILL NOT REVEALING
THE OFFICIAL CAUSE OF DEATH.
>>> AND THE HOME EXPLOSION
MYSTERY.
THE RESIDENCE REDUCED TO RUBBLE.
THE BLAST BLOCKING THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
TONIGHT, WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED
THAT HOME TO BLOW.
>>> GOOD EVENING.
I'M TOM LLAMAS.
THANKS FOR JOINING US ON THIS
SUNDAY.
BREAKING NEWS FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE, KIRSTJEN NIELSEN IS OUT
OF A JOB.
THE PRESIDENT CONFIRMING IN A
TWEET THAT SHE'S LEAVING THE
ADMINISTRATION.
TWO DAYS AFTER NIELSEN APPEARED
WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THE
BORDER IN CALIFORNIA.
LET'S GET RIGHT TO TARA PALMERI
AT THE WHITE HOUSE TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, KIRSTJEN
NIELSEN IS OUT.
RESIGNING IN A LETTER, WRITING
IT WAS TIME FOR HER TO STEP
ASIDE.
ADDING, I HOPE THE NEXT
SECRETARY WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT
OF CONGRESS AND THE COURTS IN
FIXING THE LAWS, WHICH HAVE
IMPEDED OUR ABILITY TO FULLY
SECURE AMERICA'S BORDERS.
AN ADMINISTRATION SHAKEUP COMING
AS THE PRESIDENT RATCHETS UP HIS
RHETORIC ABOUT IMMIGRATION.
>> THE ASYLUM PROGRAM IS A SCAM.
OUR COUNTRY IS FULL.
>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT
WITHDREW THE NOMINATION FOR THE
DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION AND
CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT.
>> RON IS A GOOD GUY.
BUT WE MAY JUST GO A DIFFERENT
WAY.
A LITTLE BIT TOUGHER.
>> Reporter: NIELSEN COMING
UNDER FIRE FOR THE CONTROVERSIAL
FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY.
>> I'D LIKE TO THANK SECRETARY
NIELSEN FOR BEING HERE.
>> Reporter: JUST FRIDAY,
NIELSEN, TRAVELING WITH THE
PRESIDENT TO THE
CALIFORNIA/MEXICO BORDER.
>> WE HAVE SOME OF OUR SHERIFFS
HERE.
OUR FABULOUS, FABULOUS PARTNERS.
>> Reporter: THE PRESIDENT
TOURING A TWO-MILE STRIP OF
30-FOOT STEEL SLATS.
A LONG-PLANNED REPLACEMENT OF
FENCING.
>> IT'S A GREAT WALL, AND IT
LOOKS, I THINK IT LOOKS
FANTASTIC.
>> Reporter: THAT TRIP COMING
JUST ONE WEEK AFTER HE
THREATENED TO CLOSE THE SOUTHERN
BORDER COMPLETELY, AMID A SURGE
OF MIGRANT CROSSINGS.
76,000 MIGRANTS WERE STOPPED AT
THE BORDER IN FEBRUARY.
OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THE NUMBERS
FROM MARCH WILL BE EVEN HIGHER.
>> TARA, THE PRESIDENT AND
NIELSEN WERE MEETING AT THE
WHITE HOUSE TONIGHT.
AND IT SEEMS BY THIS POINT, THE
PRESIDENT WAS FED UP.
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT,
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID HE WANTED A
TOUGHER IMMIGRATION POLICY AT
THE BORDER.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS TELLING ME
HE WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY
FRUSTRATED WITH NIELSEN, AND
BLAMED HER FOR THE SURGE IN
BORDER CROSSINGS.
NOW, AT A TIME WHEN THE
PRESIDENT SAYS THERE IS A CRISIS
AT THE BORDER, WE HAVE ACTING
SECRETARIES IN THE INTERIOR,
DEFENSE, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY.
>> AND TARA, THE PRESIDENT
ANNOUNCING THAT THE COMMISSIONER
OF U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION WILL TAKE OVER
TEMPORARILY?
>> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT,
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NAMED HIM
INTO AN ACTING ROLE, IT'S
TEMPORARY UNTIL HE NAMES A
REPLACEMENT WHO WILL NEED TO BE
CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE.
HE IS A LONGTIME BORDER PATROL
OFFICER.
>> TARA, THANK YOU.
>>> NOW TO TONIGHT'S OTHER
BREAKING NEWS, AN AMERICAN
TOURIST KIDNAPPED AND HELD FOR
OVER FIVE DAYS IS FREE.
OFFICIALS RESCUING HER AND HER
GUIDE.
THE PAIR ARE SAID TO BOTH BE IN
GOOD HEALTH.
THEY WERE ON A SAFARI DRIVE WHEN
FOUR MEN KIDNAPPED THEM,
DEMANDING $500,000 FOR THEIR
RELEASE.
IAN PANNELL IS IN UGANDA
TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: RESCUED.
A FIVE-DAY ORDEAL, OVER AT LAST.
THIS IS THE FIRST PHOTO OF
AMERICAN KIMBERLY SUE ENDICOTT
SHORTLY AFTER BEING RESCUED WITH
HER LOCAL GUIDE, BOTH NOW SAFE
AND WELL AT LAST.
WE'VE JUST HEARD THAT THE
AMERICAN HOSTAGE AND HER
CONGOLESE DRIVER HAVE BEEN
RELEASED.
WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF POLICE AND
MILITARY ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE
DAY, AND IN THE LAST FEW
MOMENTS, A HELICOPTER HAS LANDED
IN THE AREA OF THE LODGE WHERE
THEY WERE ORIGINALLY STAYING.
LOCAL WILDLIFE WORKERS JUBILANT
AS THE NEWS CAME THROUGH.
>> IT'S GOOD TO KNOW SHE'S
RESCUED SAFELY AND IT'S GOOD
NEWS.
>> Reporter: THE PAIR WERE
KIDNAPPED AT GUNPOINT RIGHT HERE
LAST TUESDAY WHILE ON AN EVENING
GAME DRIVE IN QUEEN ELIZABETH
PARK IN UGANDA.
THE GUNMEN DEMANDING A $500,000
RANSOM.
A MASSIVE POLICE AND ARMY HUNT
WAS LAUNCHED.
SCOURING THE SKIES AND THE LAND
IN SEARCH OF THE PAIR.
TONIGHT, WE CAN REPORT THAT
HIGHLY SENSITIVE NEGOTIATIONS
HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR DAYS TO
SECURE THEIR RELEASE.
FBI NEGOTIATORS ACTIVELY
INVOLVED.
UGANDAN POLICE RELEASING A
STATEMENT SAYING THE TWO WERE
RECOVERED UNHARMED, IN GOOD
HEALTH, AND IN THE SAFE HANDS OF
THE JOINT SECURITY TEAM.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TOUR COMPANY
THEY WERE WITH, WILD FRONTIERS
UGANDA, TELLING ABC NEWS THE
PAIR ARE NOW BACK AT HIS SAFARI
LODGE AND ARE IN OKAY PHYSICAL
CONDITION.
A LOCAL LODGE OWNER AND HER
FRIENDS WERE IN THE PARK WHEN
THE PAIR WERE RESCUED.
THEY'RE RELEASED.
YOU LOOK VERY HAPPY.
>> REALLY HAPPY.
>> Reporter: GOOD NEWS FOR
UGANDA, RIGHT?
>> REALLY GOOD NEWS.
>> Reporter: THIS WAS AN
UNPRECEDENTED EVENT FOR UGANDA.
KIMBERLY SUE AND JOHN PAUL CAN
REST EASY KNOWING IT'S FINALLY
OVER.
BUT THE KIDNAPPERS HAVE ESCAPED.
AND TONIGHT, SECURITY OPERATIONS
CONTINUE.
>> IAN JOINS US FROM UGANDA.
SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER
A RANSOM WAS PAID TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: YES, A SPOKESMAN
FOR THE TOUR COMPANY TELLING ABC
NEWS A RANSOM WAS PAID.
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT INSISTING IT
DOESN'T PAY KIDNAPPERS.
BUT IF THAT'S THE CASE, IT WILL
BE A HUGE CONCERN TO THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE HERE AND RELY ON THE
TOURISTS WHO COME TO VISIT.
TOM?
>> IAN, THANK YOU.
>>> AND TONIGHT, BACK HERE AT
HOME, MORE THAN 42 MILLION
AMERICANS IN THE PATH OF SEVERE
WEATHER.
ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST, LIGHTNING
BOLTS LIGHTING UP THE SKY.
HEAVY RAIN SWAMPING SEVERAL
COMMUNITIES.
THIS FOOTAGE, WITH A ROOF RIPPED
AWAY IN TEXAS.
GUSTS TOPPING 75 MILES PER HOUR.
HAIL POUNDING HOMES AND
WINDSHIELDS IN SEVERAL STATES.
AND THIS POWERFUL STORM ISN'T
DONE YET.
HERE'S ROB MARCIANO.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, MILLIONS
BEING BOMBARDED BY SEVERE STORMS
IN THE SOUTH.
>> BIG SIZE HAIL.
>> Reporter: SOFTBALL-SIZE HAIL
SLAMMING THE HOUSTON AREA
PUMMELING THESE CARS.
THIS ONE LEFT WITHOUT ITS BACK
WINDOW.
OUTSIDE AUSTIN, EXTREME WINDS
LEAVING BEHIND A TRAIL OF
DESTRUCTION.
HOMES AND BUSINESSES FLATTENED.
THIS ROOF RIPPED OFF.
ONLY ONE WALL LEFT STANDING.
>> IT'S PRETTY SURREAL.
IT'S KIND OF HARD TO KNOW IT'S
HAPPENED HERE AT THIS PLACE.
>> Reporter: THOUSANDS OF
LIGHTNING STRIKES HITTING
THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND.
AT LEAST ONE INJURED WHEN AN
11-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS STRUCK.
TORRENTIAL RAIN SHUTTING DOWN
ROADS IN ROCKWELL, TEXAS.
A DRIVER RESCUED FROM THIS CAR
AS IT WAS PULLED OUT FROM
FLOODWATERS.
IN NORTH DAKOTA, RISING WATER
LEVELS.
CHUCKS OF ICE CREATING ICE JAMS
ALONG THE RED RIVER.
AND IN THE MIDWEST, FAMILIES
EVACUATING THEIR HOMES AS THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER CONTINUES TO
RISE ALONG THE IOWA/ILLINOIS
BORDER.
>> LET'S GET RIGHT TO ROB FOR
FORECASTS.
>> A WATCH POSTED FOR LOUISIANA.
WARNING POSTED AS WELL.
LAFAYETTE, GETTING TO BATON
ROUGE.
SOME STORMS IN TEXAS HAD WINDS
TO 74 MILES PER HOUR.
LOTS OF WIND ENERGY.
8:00 A.M., IT'S PAST NEW
ORLEANS.
5:00 P.M., THROUGH GEORGIA.
THROUGH SOUTH CAROLINA.
AND THE THREAT FOR SEVERE
WEATHER TOMORROW HAS BEEN
EXTENDED TO ATLANTA, CHARLOTTE,
AUGUSTA, COLUMBIA, THROUGH
NORFOLK.
AND COMING INTO THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST, RIVERS ARE RUNNING
HIGH.
AND ADDITIONAL RAINFALL, WITH
FLOODING POTENTIALLY.
AND THIS SYSTEM WILL GET INTO
THE PLAINS OVER THAT FLOOD ZONE
MIDWEEK.
TOM?
>> ROB, THANK YOU.
>>> NOW TO THE WEST COAST, WHERE
A COUPLE IS SHARING THEIR
DRAMATIC SURVIVAL STORY.
LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER LIVE
POWER LINES SLAMMED THROUGH
THEIR CAR IN SEATTLE WITHOUT
WARNING.
HERE'S MAGGIE RULLI.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE COUPLE
TRAPPED IN THIS MANGLED MESS OF
POLES AND POWER LINES.
BRUISED BUT THANKFUL TO BE
ALIVE.
>> WIRES DOWN, ABOUT 15 POLES
DOWN.
>> Reporter: TOM AND LINDA COOK
WERE DRIVING IN THEIR SEATTLE
NEIGHBORHOOD ON FRIDAY WHEN
SUDDENLY THEY SAW A FLASH.
>> I SAW THE POLE START FALLING
TO THE GROUND AND I THOUGHT,
WOW, WE HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER WAY
OUT.
>> Reporter: BUT THAT LED TO A
DOMINO EFFECT, WITH DOZENS MORE
TUMBLING DOWN.
>> IT WAS SO SURREAL AND THEN IT
WAS ONE AFTER ANOTHER AFTER
ANOTHER.
>> Reporter: THE COUPLE SWERVED
BUT THE POLE LANDED RIGHT IN THE
CENTER OF THE CAR, CAUSING THE
ROOF TO CAVE IN.
>> HAD IT HIT TO THE LEFT OR
RIGHT, IT WOULD HAVE COME DOWN
ON TOP OF ONE OF US.
>> Reporter: RESCUERS
FRANTICALLY WORKING TO GET THEM
OUT.
>> I STARTED TO OPEN THE DOOR
AND I HEARD SOMEONE SAY THAT'S
NOT A GOOD IDEA BECAUSE THOSE
WIRES MIGHT BE LIVE.
>> Reporter: THE DOWNED POLES
SPANNING A MILE, WIPING OUT
POWER TO THOUSANDS.
THE COUPLE RUSHED TO A LOCAL
HOSPITAL.
HOME TONIGHT, FEELING GRATEFUL
AFTER A CLOSE CALL.
>> WASN'T OUR TIME.
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: AUTHORITIES SAY THE
POLES WERE GIVEN A FULL
INSPECTION JUST A COUPLE OF
YEARS AGO.
AND NOW, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT
COULD HAVE CAUSED THEM TO COME
CRASHING DOWN.
TOM?
>> INCREDIBLE THAT THEY
SURVIVED.
MAGGIE, THANK YOU.
>>> NEXT TONIGHT TO CHICAGO,
WHERE SIX PEOPLE INCLUDING TWO
CHILDREN WERE SHOT OUTSIDE OF A
BABY SHOWER.
A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND
8-YEAR-OLD BOY WERE AMONG THE
WOUNDED WHEN POLICE SAY TWO MEN
APPROACHED THE GATHERING AND
OPENED FIRE.
FOUR ADULTS ALSO HIT.
ONE OF THEM, CRITICALLY INJURED.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE SHOOTING MAY
HAVE BEEN GANG RELATED.
>>> IN LOUISIANA, AUTHORITIES
REMAIN ON HIGH ALERT AFTER FIRES
IN TEN DAYS AT HISTORICALLY
BLACK CHURCHES.
THE FBI AND ATF TRYING TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THE FIRES WERE
INTENTIONALLY SET.
>>> AND NOW TO AN ABC NEWS
EXCLUSIVE.
THE FAMILY OF A FIFTH GRADER
DEMANDING ANSWERS.
THE 10-YEAR-OLD DIED AFTER A
FIGHT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT IN
CLASS.
AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT REVEALED
THE CAUSE OF THE DEATH.
HERE'S ZACHARY KIESCH.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, THE FAMILY
OF 10-YEAR-OLD RANIYA WRIGHT,
BREAKING THEIR SILENCE,
DEMANDING ANSWERS FOR WHY THE
10-YEAR-OLD DIED, DAYS AFTER A
FIGHT IN HER SOUTH CAROLINA
SCHOOL.
>> I SENT MY CHILD TO SCHOOL
FEELING LIKE SHE COULD BE
PROTECTED WHILE SHE'S NOT IN MY
CARE ANYMORE.
I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING AND
THEY DIDN'T HAVE NO ANSWERS FOR
ME AT ALL.
>> Reporter: ON MARCH 25th,
RANIYA WAS INVOLVED IN A FIGHT
WITH ANOTHER FIFTH GRADE GIRL.
RANIYA'S CONDITION SO SEVERE,
SHE WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND IN
CRITICAL CONDITION WHEN SHE WAS
TAKEN TO A CHARLESTON HOSPITAL,
WHERE SHE DIED TWO DAYS LATER.
THE OTHER GIRL HAS BEEN
SUSPENDED, AND POLICE SAY THERE
WAS NO WEAPON USED IN THE FIGHT.
AS MEMORIALS GROW, HER FAMILY
AND CONCERNED PARENTS HAVE
RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WAY
THE INCIDENT WAS HANDLED, AND
THE LACK OF INFORMATION
OFFICIALS AND THE SCHOOL HAVE
RELEASED.
>> THE SCHOOL FAILED.
THEY DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THEY
FAILED, THEY DON'T WANT TO OWN
UP TO WHAT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW,
BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE EVERYTHING
AND SWEEP IT UNDER THE RUG.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A
10-YEAR-OLD GIRL.
>> Reporter: AN AUTOPSY HAS BEEN
DONE BUT OFFICIALS SAY IT COULD
TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO GET THE
RESULTS BACK, LEAVING THE FAMILY
INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED AS THEY
DEAL WITH THE LOSS OF THEIR
LITTLE GIRL.
TOM?
>> ZACHARY, THANK YOU.
AND THERE WILL BE MUCH MORE FROM
THAT INTERVIEW TOMORROW ON "GOOD
MORNING AMERICA."
>>> WE MOVE ON NOW TO A CIRCUS
SCARE.
A LION TAMER ATTACKED WHILE
PERFORMING.
THE CAT SCRATCHING AND BITING
THE TRAINER.
A TOOTH REPORTEDLY STUCK INSIDE
THE TAMER'S BODY.
TONIGHT, HE'S SPEAKING OUT.
HERE'S MARCI GONZALEZ.
>> Reporter: THIS TERRIFYING
LION ATTACK CAPTURED ON CAMERA
AT A CIRCUS IN UKRAINE.
YOU CAN HEAR MEMBERS OF THE
AUDIENCE SCREAMING AS THE GIANT
CAT POUNCES ON HIS TRAINER.
IN THIS VIDEO POSTED BY PETA YOU
SEE THE LION'S JAW CLAMPED ONTO
32-YEAR-OLD HAMADA KOUTA'S ARM,
FORCING HIM TO THE GROUND.
>> TWO SECONDS.
HE'S COME TO ME AND ATTACK ME
AND CATCH ME.
>> Reporter: THE TRAINER LEFT
COVERED IN GASHES AND BITE
MARKS, SAYING HE HAD A TOOTH
STILL STUCK IN HIS MUSCLE.
INCREDIBLY GETTING BACK UP AND
MOVING TOWARDS THE LION.
>> THE TRAINER'S LIFE WAS
ABSOLUTELY IN DANGER.
HE'S VERY LUCKY TO SURVIVE THAT.
IF THAT LION HAD GOTTEN THE
TRAINER BY THE NECK IT PROBABLY
WOULDN'T HAVE ENDED AS WELL AS
IT DID.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, KOUTA IS
ALREADY BACK IN THE RING WITH
THE SAME LION JUST ONE WEEK
AFTER THIS ATTACK.
>> THIS IS NOT FIRST TIME I HAVE
ATTACKED.
THEY HAVE SO MANY TIMES.
THESE LIONS AND TIGERS FOR ME
JUST LIKE MY SONS, LIKE MY
DAUGHTER.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, KOUTA IS
STILL RECOVERING FROM THOSE
BITES AND SCRATCHES.
ADMITTING MOST ATTACKS LIKE THIS
ARE THE LION TAMER'S FAULT.
TOM?
>> MARCI, THANK YOU.
>>> THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD ON
"WORLD NEWS TONIGHT" THIS
SUNDAY.
THE HOME EXPLOSION MYSTERY.
A MASSIVE BLAST ROCKING A
NEIGHBORHOOD.
BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING THROUGH
THE SKY.
AN INFERNO SEEN FOR MILES.
TONIGHT, THE WARNING BECAUSE OF
WHAT MAY HAVE SPARKED THE
EXPLOSION.
>>> AND THE TERRIFYING MOMENT A
14-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS SLAMMED AND
SENT FLYING INTO TRAFFIC.
THAT RECKLESS DRIVER FLEEING THE
SCENE.
TONIGHT, THE HIT AND RUN MANHUNT
UNDER WAY.
>>> AND, HER MAJESTY'S SECRET
SERVICE.
WHAT PRINCE WILLIAM IS SAYING
NOW ABOUT SHADOWING SPIES.
STAY WITH US.
>>> BACK NOW WITH THAT INTENSE
SCENE OUTSIDE OF FT. WORTH,
TEXAS.
A MASSIVE FIRE AND A BLAST IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE BLAZE SEEN FOR MILES, AND
THE HOME BURNT TO THE GROUND.
HERE'S DIANE MACEDO.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT, TARRANT
COUNTY INVESTIGATORS ARE
SEARCHING FOR THE CAUSE OF AN
EXPLOSION AND FIRE THAT LEFT ONE
PERSON INJURED AND A HOME
DESTROYED.
THE BLAST OCCURRED ABOUT
7:30 P.M. SATURDAY NIGHT.
THE HOUSE WAS MORE THAN
6,000 SQUARE FEET.
FIRE OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS BEING
RENOVATED AND BELIEVE PAINT
FUMES SOMEHOW IGNITED A FLASH
FIRE.
THE HOUSE IS ALSO LOCATED WITHIN
AN UNINCORPORATED GATED
COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE FIRE
HYDRANTS, SO AUTHORITIES HAD TO
BRING IN ROUGHLY 10,000 GALLONS
OF WATER.
>> DUE TO THE LACK OF WATER, WE
HAD TO SHUTTLE TANKERS BACK AND
FORTH, SO THAT TAKES A LITTLE
BIT MORE TIME.
BASICALLY, THE HOUSE WAS A
TOTAL WRITE-OFF BEFORE THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT GOT HERE, BECAUSE OF
THE AMOUNT OF FIRE THAT WAS
THERE.
>> Reporter: TWO WORKERS WERE
REPORTEDLY IN THE HOUSE AT THE
TIME OF THE EXPLOSION.
ONE OF THE MEN WAS TAKEN TO A
LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR BURNS TO HIS
ARM.
IT APPEARS NONE OF THE OTHER
HOMES IN THE AREA WERE DAMAGED.
INVESTIGATORS ARE COMBING
THROUGH THE RUBBLE, TRYING TO
PIECE THIS TOGETHER.
BUT THEY SAY THEY MAY NEVER KNOW
EXACTLY HOW THIS FIRE STARTED.
TOM?
>> DIANE, THANK YOU.
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THE
DEADLY FLOODING OVERSEAS.
RECORD RAINS SWEEPING THROUGH
IRAN.
AT LEAST 70 PEOPLE KILLED.
TONIGHT, THEY'RE BRACING FOR A
NEW ROUND OF DOWNPOURS.
>>> AND THE WRESTLING STAR
ATTACKED IN THE RING BY A FAN.
SECURITY STRUGGLING TO STOP THE
FIGHT.
YOU'LL SEE IT ALL.
STAY WITH US.
>>> TIME NOW FOR OUR "INDEX."
AND THE FRIGHTENING HIT AND RUN
CAUGHT ON CAMERA IN NEW YORK
CITY.
A DRIVER BARRELING THROUGH THE
CROSSWALK, PLOWING RIGHT INTO A
14-YEAR-OLD GIRL ON HER WAY HOME
FROM SCHOOL.
SENDING HER FLYING STRAIGHT INTO
ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
SHE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL
WITH BRUISES.
AND TONIGHT, POLICE ARE ON THE
HUNT FOR THAT DRIVER, WHO FLED
THE SCENE WHEN A WITNESS CALLED
911.
>>> TURNING OVERSEAS, THE DEADLY
FLOODING SWEEPING ACROSS IRAN.
RIVERS BURSTING THEIR BANKS WITH
MUDDY DEBRIS, SWEEPING CARS FROM
ROADWAYS, WHOLE NEIGHBORHOODS
UNDER WATER.
AT LEAST 70 PEOPLE KILLED SO
FAR, DISPLACING THOUSANDS MORE
AS WHOLE TOWNS ARE FORCED TO
EVACUATE.
RECORD DOWNPOURS SOAKING THAT
NATION, AND THEY'RE HOLDING
THEIR BREATH AS A NEW ROUND OF
RAIN NOW LOOMS ON THE HORIZON.
>>> BACK HERE AT HOME, AT
BROOKLYN'S BARCLAYS CENTER,
WRESTLING SUPERSTAR BRET "THE
HITMAN" HART, ATTACKED.
MAKING A SPEECH AT THE HALL OF
FAME CEREMONY.
SUDDENLY, A FAN JUMPING INTO THE
RING, TACKLING HART TO THE
GROUND, AND PUNCHING HIM IN THE
FACE.
SECURITY RUSHING IN TO PULL THE
MAN OUT, STILL SLUGGING HART ON
THE MAT.
THAT ATTACKER WAS FINALLY TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY, AND IS NOW FACING
ASSAULT AND CRIMINAL TRESPASSING
CHARGES.
>>> AND, HER MAJESTY'S SECRET
SERVICE.
PRINCE WILLIAM GETTING A TASTE
OF 007 LIFE, SPENDING THREE
WEEKS SHADOWING BRITAIN'S
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES, LEARNING
MORE ABOUT HOW HIS COUNTRY'S
SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE TEAMS
WORK.
PREPARING FOR THE LEVEL OF
BRIEFINGS HE'LL BE GIVEN IN THE
FUTURE.
WILLIAM CALLING HIS TOP SECRET
WORK EXPERIENCE, QUOTE,
"HUMBLING."
>>> WHEN WE COME BACK, THEY
LOCKED EYES AND THAT WAS IT.
AN INCREDIBLE STORY.
A NURSE AND HER LITTLE PATIENT'S
FIGHT FOR HEALTH THAT FOUND THEM
BOTH A FAMILY.
STAY WITH US.
>>> FINALLY TONIGHT, AN
INCREDIBLE STORY THAT TOOK PLACE
IN THE HALLWAYS OF A HOSPITAL.
PROOF THAT SOMETIMES THE BEST
MEDICINE IS LOVE.
2-YEAR-OLD GISELE SMITH JUST
GLOWS WITH HAPPINESS AND JOY.
AND, SHE SHOULD.
SHE LIVES NOW IN A WORLD FULL OF
LOVE.
FAR FROM THE WORLD SHE WAS BORN
INTO, WEIGHING LESS THAN TWO
POUNDS.
SHE NEEDED A FEEDING TUBE AND
SPECIAL CARE.
SHE WAS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE
STATE, HER BIRTH PARENTS
APPARENTLY UNABLE TO CARE FOR
HER.
AND FOR FIVE MONTHS, NOT A
SINGLE PERSON VISITED THIS BABY
IN THE HOSPITAL.
THEN, A CHANCE ENCOUNTER CHANGED
EVERYTHING.
>> THIS LITTLE GIRL IN A
STROLLER CROSSED MY PATH, AND I
SAID, WHO IS THAT BEAUTIFUL
LITTLE ANGEL?
AND THE NURSE SAID, THIS IS
GISELE.
THAT WAS THE MOMENT WHERE I
REALIZED THIS WAS MEANT TO BE.
>> Reporter: THAT'S LIZ SMITH,
THE DIRECTOR OF NURSING AT
FRANCISCAN CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
IN BOSTON.
LIZ HAD BEEN TRYING
UNSUCCESSFULLY TO START A FAMILY
OF HER OWN.
>> I THOUGHT MY DOOR TO
MOTHERHOOD HAD CLOSED.
>> Reporter: LIZ KNEW THIS COULD
BE THE SECOND CHANCE AT A FAMILY
THAT SHE AND GISELE BOTH NEEDED.
SO SHE TOOK IN THE BABY AS HER
FOSTER DAUGHTER, KNOWING IT
MIGHT NOT BE FOREVER.
>> THAT WAS HARD BECAUSE THERE
WAS A LOT OF UNKNOWN, BUT WHAT I
DID KNOW WAS THAT SHE DESERVED
EVERY OUNCE OF LOVE I HAD TO
GIVE HER.
>> Reporter: BUT THEN LIZ GOT
THE NEWS THAT SHE AND GISELE HAD
BEEN WAITING FOR.
HER ADOPTION, FINALIZED.
LIZ GETTING TO HEAR THE ONE WORD
SHE ALWAYS HOPED FOR.
>> SHE CALLS ME MAMA OR MUM.
>> NO, MAMA.
>> SORRY, SHE CALLS ME MAMA.
>> MAMA IS RIGHT.
WE THANK THEM FOR SHARING THEIR
STORY.
WE THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.
"GMA" FIRST THING IN THE
MORNING.
DAVID MUIR IS RIGHT BACK HERE
TOMORROW NIGHT.
I'M TOM LLAMAS IN NEW YORK.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
GOOD NIGHT.