>> and i'm dan ashley. for sandhya patel and the rest of us here tonight, the verdict is in. that dramatic moment in court. the former prep school student breaking down, accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl at one of the country's most prestigious schools. whose story did the jury believe? state of emergency. erika strikes. florida now on alert. the massive rainmaking causing flash floods, destroying buildings. dozens now feared dead or missing. point of attack. the gunman who killed two journalists on air. tonight, we take you inside his home. plus, the lone survivor of the shooting describes the ambush. sniper alert. police on the hunt for a gunman possibly taking aim on drivers that are unsuspecting on an american highway. and an abc news exclusive.

the americans who took down a terror suspect on a train, returning home to the u.s. telling us about that life- life-or-death moment. good evening. i'm tom llamas in for david. great to have you with us on this busy friday night. we begin with that bombshell verdict in the case that has captured national attention. emerging from court today, the former student at one of the nation's most elite prep schools accused of raping a classmate. inside the courtroom, fighting back tears. a jury, nine men, three women, finding him not guilty of the most serious charges, but then collapsing as he learns his fate, guilty of one felony and four lesser charges. tonight that decision sending shock waves and sparking a national conversation about teens and sex. abc's dan abrams standing by, but first abc's gio benitez who was inside that courthouse when the verdict came down. >> guilty or not guilty?

>> not guilty. >> reporter: the face of 19-year-old owen labrie the moment he is acquitted of the most serious charges that he forcibly raped his 15-year-old schoolmate late one night in the science building. she testified that she said no but that he forced her anyway. >> i was raped. >> reporter: the now 16-year-old girl sobbing in court today as the verdict was read. the jury made up of nine men and three women were not convinced but they also rejected labrie's claim that the two didn't have sex at all. >> guilty or not guilty. >> guilty. >> reporter: he broke down as they convicted him on several lesser charges of having sex with a minor, and one felony charge of using a computer to entice her to join into a st. paul student tradition known as the senior salute. graduating seniors spending time with younger students, sometimes intimately. >> well the thought of my name in your in-box makes me blush perhaps more that it should. there's something i want to share with you.

>> reporter: prosecutors claiming the flowery language concealed dark intentions. that labrie and his friends were competing to, quote, slay the most girls before graduation, that they made a list, and the accuser's name was on it. >> by the defendant's own words, older students take great pride in taking the virginity of younger students. >> reporter: labrie's lawyer telling us he's disappointed. what does this verdict tell you? >> that they concluded that these were two teenagers getting together for a consensual encounter. >> reporter: a spokesperson for the girl's family saying they were betrayed by the elite st. paul's prep school. >> they allowed and fostered a toxic culture and left our daughter and several other students at risk of sexual violence. we trusted the school to protect her, and it failed us. >> reporter: and, tom, today the school sent a letter to parents and alumni praising the girl's resolve and unwavering commitment to the pursuit of truth. tom? >> thank you.

and we want to talk about that victim with dan abrams. dan, that teenager got on the stand and said i was raped. did the jury believe her? >> for the most part they did. they certainly didn't believe him. he said they didn't have sex, they didn't believe it. he said, i didn't try to have sex with her. they didn't believe it but those are crimes related to her age. on the ultimate question of was she raped the jury isn't saying we don't believe they are her, they're saying we don't think the prosecution was able to prove beyond a reasonable dut that it wasn't consensual. >> now, the young man in this case could face up to 11 years in prison? >> more realistically, he's going to face a lot less. if this wasn't such a high-profile indication, he might be facing two to three year, no criminal background but because the world is watching, i think you're going to see a tougher sentence here, probably more like five to ten years but more important he will have to register as a sex offender for life. >> both lives forever changed. dan, thank you. that other breaking headline

tonight, the state of emergency in florida. this satellite image of tropical storm erika, take a look, barreling through the atlantic. set to roar across florida in the next couple of days. on the ground tonight, lines at gas stations, empty shelves at stores. families trying to stock up. that storm already deadly. at least four people killed in the caribbean. that church on the island of dominica demolished by the rushing water. senior meteorologist rob marciano reporting in tonight from florida. >> reporter: tonight, high winds from tropical storm erika barreling through the dominican republic. laura gordon vacationing in punta cana. >> the winds are picking up and the rain is starting to get heavy. >> reporter: the storms hammered nearby dominica, leaving behind mud-caked graveyards of cars, washed out roads and bridges. at least 31 feared dead. at least 200,000 without power in puerto rico. across florida, long lines at gas stations and grocery stores. >> you just have to think if the worst happened are you ready.

>> reporter: buildings here in miami have a lot of glass so a big concern outdoor furniture. stuff like this can go flying even in a weak storm. engineers opening the floodgates, the governor calling erika a severe threat. >> and there's so many people who've moved here since we've had a hurricane, so i think that's one of our biggest risks. >> and, rob joins us now from miami. rob, what's the latest on erika? >> tom, erika right now is hitting the dominican republic pretty hard with heavy rain and big-time wind. it's going to go across haiti and scoot towards cuba. where there are tropical storm warnings up now. because it will interact with so much language, it will be difficult for it to strengthen into a significant storm. furthermore, the track of this thing has shifted a little bit further to the west. so, the entire peninsula of florida regardless of strength will be under the gun here. i want to touch on hurricane ignacio, 900 miles away from honolulu. tracking towards hawaii as a wrg 1 or 2 storm category. it's within that cone of uncertainty, so we'll be watching that one as well. >> busy on both coasts, rob, thank you so much. we turn to major

developments in the tragedy on live television. the gunman, ambushing his former colleagues as the cameras roll. now stunning new details from the third victim, how she survived, curling up in a ball. and chilling new images from inside the gunman's apartment. what they found on his refrigerator. abc's senior national correspondent jim avila covering it all. >> reporter: tonight these new images from inside the suspect's spartan apartment. the refrigerator adorned with modeling shots while at the crime scene, the blood-stained boards now replaced. as the first personal account of what happened here emerges. >> he waited until they were live on the air, so he knew exactly what he was doing. >> reporter: only one person survived the attack, vicki gardner now out of a medically induced coma telling her husband how a lone gunman they both knew got the violent drop on them. >> they never knew he was coming until the shots were fired. >> reporter: the gunman

approached from directly behind the lights. vicki says they were shining right in alison and her eye, they couldn't see him at all. did she get a feeling about who was the target? >> well, alison was the initial target. >> reporter: adam was hit next. and then -- >> he shot three times at my wife, and she was trying to dodge everything. he missed twice, then she dove to the ground, curled up in a ball and he shot her in the back. >> he came over to do a coup de gras? >> pulled the trigger several times, only fired once. >> reporter: he fired 17 rounds. the gun now empty, he fled, and remarkably vicki got to her feet. >> she's one of those individuals that says, if i'm going to get up, i'm going to get up and walked to the ambulance. >> reporter: she called her husband to say she was alive and to meet her at the hospital. doctors now expect a full recovery. tom. >> jim avila for us tonight, thank you. and we'll have more tonight on

"20/20" "tragedy on tv" at 10:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. central. and hillary clinton facing a new firestorm over her husband's e-mails showing bill clinton asked for the green light to give speeches with ties to some of the most brutal regimes in the world for big bucks. all while his wife was secretary of state. jon karl is on the story abc chief white house correspondent jon karl broke this story and he's back on the case tonight. >> reporter: with its vast army, nuclear weapons, and the world's most notorious dictator, north korea would seem an unlikely place for a former president to make a buck. but e-mails obtained by abc news show bill clinton tried to get approval to give a north korea speech while hillary was secretary of state. the request coming from one of his top aides to mrs. clinton's chief of staff, cheryl mills. mills' terse reply -- "decline it." but the former president's aide asked for an explanation. mills wrote back to tell bill clinton, "if he needs more, let him know his wife knows and i am happy to call him." the e-mails came to light

because of a lawsuit by the conservative group citizens united. today, mrs. clinton acknowledged her husband asked for approval to give this speech and many others. >> there were some unusual requests, but they all went through the process to try to make sure that the state department conducted its independent review. >> reporter: another unusual request, a speech for $650,000 in the congo attended by two of africa's most notorious dictators. clinton's own speaking agency recommended declining the invite, noting, "the prevalence and intensity of sexual violence against women in eastern congo is widely described as the worst in the world." but mr. clinton did not want to take no for an answer. his aide asking if he could do the speech if all the money went to the clinton foundation instead of to clinton directly. neither of those speeches

happened, because ultimately the state department didn't approve either of them. but all told, bill clinton made over $48 million giving speeches while hillary was secretary of state. tom? >> jon, thank you. now to a chilling warning in michigan tonight. a possible sniper on the loose, taking aim at drivers on two interstates. a string of shootings. now investigators want to know, is the same gunman behind them all? abc's alex perez is there tonight. >> reporter: tonight, michigan authorities warning drivers near two major highways to be on high alert, a possible sniper targeting motorists. >> we want to make sure we can put an end to it before somebody gets hurt. >> reporter: the nightmare unfolding on i-94 and i-69 in rural areas near battle creek, michigan. investigators say since late july, as many as six vehicles driving along the highways have been damaged. sniper cases can be difficult to solve. >> i'm on the highway right now, and somebody just hit me, and i'm bleeding from my neck and i'm scared. >> reporter: this spring, 20-year-old cori romero was shot

driving north of denver. the bullet went into one side of her neck and out the other. a trio of nearby shootings there, still under investigation. back in michigan, investigators working round the clock, even flying up above, looking for any clues that might lead to the shooter. >> it's like a big jigsaw puzzle, trying to put all the pieces together. >> reporter: and investigators say if you believe your car was hit while moving, do not stop. instead, take note of the area, get somewhere safe, and then call 911. tom? >> alex perez in battle creek, michigan tonight, alex, thank you. we want to head to new orleans now, on the eve of a solemn anniversary. ten years ago tonight, hurricane katrina about to hit. in the days that followed these unforgettable images emerged, the crescent city underwater, residents stranded, the cry for help on that roof. and the superdome, the scene of so much suffering, families huddled inside. bob woodruff was there on those flooded streets ten years ago, and tonight he's

back bearing witness to one city's strength and one survivor's extraordinary journey back. >> reporter: ten years ago, the winds whipping. the storm brewing. the worst about to come. the next morning, the water bursting through the levees, first burying the ninth ward. from the helicopters up above to the streets below, this was then. today, new orleans is back. ten years ago, the convention center, surrounded by desperation. >> we need help! >> reporter: now, the economy is booming. katrina is considered the single most catastrophic natural disaster in u.s. history. $135 billion in damage. more than 1,800 dead. throughout the gulf region. i never forgot this 10-year-old girl who i met in this darkened superdome. are you getting water and food or anything like that. >> i'm not drinking that water. that water is hot. >> reporter: erica harris, who

fled with her mother to houston, and never returned. how badly do you want to get out of here? >> bad. >> reporter: this week, we found her. can you believe we traced you down? after living through foster care and family tragedies, today 1450ez these thriving in student, an honor student in college, a volunteer in haiti. planning to become a minister. >> i can help so many other people in ways that others can't because of what i've gone through and experieed and overcome. >> reporter: tomorrow, there will be mourning for those that died. and in true new orleans fashion, there will be a huge mardi gras-style parade that ends in a street party. tom? >> bob woodrough from new orleans, thank you. new images from a deadly crash. a stunt plane suddenly going down during a rehearsal for an upcoming air show. it had been practicing tricks in the air. a trail of smoke. the tail of the plane, gone. later in pieces on the ground. the pilot died. luckily there was no one on the ground injured. still to come, the menace in

the sky. drones, and the operators behind so many close calls in midair. tonight, we ride with the drone hunters. a police unit tracking them down. and one of the unsolved mysteries of world war ii. have treasure hunters finally uncovered the mysterious nazi gold train? and a hero's welcoming. the emotional homecoming for one of the americans who took down that suspect on the train. we'll hear from him tonight. prescription kerydin. used daily, kerydin drops may kill the fungus at the site of infection and get to the root of your toe tucking. kerydin may cause irritation at the treated site. most common side effects include skin peeling... ...ingrown toenail, redness, itching, and swelling. tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. stop toe tucking... and get the drop on toenail fungus. ask your doctor today about kerydin. every auto insurance policy has a number. but not every insurance company

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as police try to crack down. recently, when the nypd aviation unit got the call, a drone sighting, we went along. in the country's busiest airspace -- >> it was a white or silver drone. >> reporter: -- these pilots try to spot drones flying illegally. the batteries on these drones last 15 to 20 minutes, so the helicopter has to get on station very quickly if they have any chance of finding a drone flying in these pathways into the new york airports. nypd says it's pushing for prosecutions. you see this problem getting worse before it gets better? >> absolutely. it's a huge spike in the drone encounters. you're talking a 737 coming in, they had to alter their course to avoid these things, so that's how serious it is. >> reporter: last year, only four arrests. this year, so far, only two in new york. on our call, scanning the tree tops, no sign of the drone, which is often the case. david kerley, abc news, new york.

and when we come back, the new report tonight. how much does it cost to raise a family in america? one of the great mysteries of world war ii. after two decades of searching, have treasure hunters finally discovered the nazi gold train? and the stunning sight in hawaii from one of the world's most active volcanoes. unfortunately, many people who spread it may not know they have it. it's called whooping cough. and the cdc recommends everyone, including those around babies, make sure their whooping cough vaccination is up to date. understand the danger your new grandchild faces. talk to your doctor or pharmacist about you and your family getting a whooping cough vaccination today.

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washington, d.c., $106,493 a year. all right, now to a really interesting story. a world war ii mystery possibly solved. treasure hunters in poland believe they discovered the famous nazi gold train. the legend has it that it disappeared in a network of tunnels in 1945. a pole i shall official says a radar image seems to confirm it actually exists and reaching it could take weeks. and check this out. mesmerizing images coming in from hawaii. a river of molten lava from an ancient volcano, kilauea, one of the most active in the world. when we come back, an american hero in his own words and his emotional family reunion. our persons of the week. the week. talk to your doctor about viagra. ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take viagra if you take nitrates for chest pain;

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finally tonight, our persons of the week. three american heroes celebrated around the world, working together to save lives. abc's linsey davis on one of those emotional homecomings. >> reporter: a hero's welcome as the first of the three americans praised for their quick, life-saving actions on that paris-bound train returns to u.s. soil. today, abc's robin roberts spoke exclusively with army national guard specialist alek skarlatos. >> what was going through your mind when you first saw the guy on the train and the fact that he was armed? >> well, i mean, i immediately recognized what was happening and i just thought there's just no way. >> reporter: what happened landed the trio on the cover of "people" magazine. one week ago, what was supposed to be a european vacation for three childhood friends was upended by a man armed with an ak-47 appearing on their train.

>> alek just hit me on the shoulder, said, let's go, ran down and tackled him. >> reporter: alek skarlatos, along with his buddies spencer stone and anthony sadler, becoming international icons, receiving france's highest medal. >> it was just pretty much a gut reaction. we were just acting on adrenaline, doing what we had to do to survive. >> reporter: thanks to that gut reaction, an untold number of lives saved, and these three now in the history books as heroes. >> three heroes, our persons of the week. thank you for watching. i'm tom llamas. good night. tonight at 6:00, why service veterans say a new road built in san francisco isn't safe. plus... >> she wasn't just my mother, but my best friend. a san jose family makes a

plea after their mother was killed in a car crash. and an out break in san jose prison is forcing inmates out of their cells. i am scared of going back there. they don't look at us. sometimes, we have to dodge them. >> war veterans, many disabled say a safety measure built in the presidio is making things more dangerous for them, good evening, thanks for joining us, i'm ama daetz. >> and i'm dan ashley. at the center of this is a new crosswalk put in as part of the new doyle drive improvement project. >> it's the story you'll see only on abc7. vic? >> reporter: this is the crosswalk behind me. to my left, the new on and off ramps to highway 101. that seems to be the problem.

photographer kathy and i have been here all afternoon and have seen drivers traveling too fast to stop safely on the crosswalk. robert webb is an army veteran who is sight impaired. he lives with 100 others, many senior citizens and disabled, just like him. across the street, gerard road, and a new crosswalk. webb avoids it at all costs. >> it took a while to cross because people weren't generous in letting me cross. >> reporter: swords to plow shares tried to get caltrans or the presidio trust to install traffic cop trolls but to no avail. >> this is where we're at. this is why we turned to you. >> reporter: it created a new on and off ramp to highway 101 just off