5:00. as a remind he were lester holt is next with nightly news. >> see you at 6:00. bye. >> breaking news tonight in the verge of a historic vote, house democrats at the brink of approving two articles of impeachment against president trump the first vote happening tonight setting the stage for the final showdown of the house. breaking the domestic terrorism investigation launching into the targeted attack on a kosher grocery store. the shooter motivated, police say, by hate against juice speaking out for the first time, the lone survivor on surveillance escaping as they enter.

how he got out and what he saw >> they came to kill and tonight, the victims, one mother killed on her son's 11th birthday. the hunt for a killer, the 18-year-old college freshman stabbed to death in a new york city park near her school. the campus on edge tonight the new alert after our report on a family terrorized. >> who is that >> i'm your best friend. i'm santa claus. >> what we're learning so many other families' ring cameras hacked and the underground podcast that does it live on air. how to protect your family. caught on camera, the split second rescue, the dog's leash caught on the elevator the hero neighbors springing into action. the price you pay, the big deal days may be over but you can still save on holiday shopping >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt good evening as we come on the here tonight we're nearing a

momentous vote that could bring president trump to the edge of impeachment before this night is over all day we've been monitoring a marathon session of the judiciary committee, a tense partisan back and forth all leading up to that potentially historic vote happening tonight on articles of impeachment brought by house democrats peter alexander is tracking it all. >> reporter: tonight, a partisan showdown, the house judiciary committee debating a momentous move, whether to approve two articles of impeachment against president trum the momentous move punctuating a partisan showdown. >> this is about facts and the constitution. >> they don't care facts be dammed. >> reporter: the first article abuse of power that alleges president trump solicited a foreign government, ukraine in the 2020 u.s. presidential election. >> we're here today because the president abused his power we're here today because he solicited foreign interference in the 2020 election. >> none of your fact witnesses were able to establish any evidence of bribery, treason, high crimes or misdemeanors, not one single one and that's what it says has to be done in the constitution. >> reporter: and another clash over the second article, obstruction of congress. the charges the president has directed the unprecedented

categorical and defiance o subpoenas that issued by the house of representatives. >> do we want a dictator no matter how popular he may be, no matter how good or bad his policies may be? no president is supposed to be a dictator in the united states. >> that's a really beautiful argument i think you should make it in court because that's what you're supposed to do under our system. you're not going to do it. you know why you guaranteed your base you would get an impeachment by december, by christmas this is ridiculous. >> reporter: at times, the debate turning personal, bringing up heightener biden's job with the gas company and the younger biden's past substance abuse. >> it's a little hard to believe that burisma hired hunter biden to resolve their international disputes when he could not resolve his own dispute with

hertz rental car over leaving cocaine and a crack pipe in a rental car >> reporter: democrats pointing out gaetz's past arrest for dui. >> the pot calling the kettle black is not something that we should do. >> peter, democrats control the committee so articles are expected to pass tonight walk us through what happens next. >> reporter: lester, there would be a full house vote likely next week with democrats and the majority the president is expected to be impeached, but a key question here, how many of them from districts the president won will vote against impeachment lester >> history unfolding for us tonight. all right. thank you, peter. also tonight, the other major story we're following. the lone survivor of what the fbi now suspects was a domesti terror incident, targeting police and jews at a koshe food store in new jersey that left three people inside and a detective dead the shooters crossing paths. tonight he tells his story to our gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: he calls it a miracle. when two people rushed into a

jersey city kosher grocery store and opened fire, david lake could be seen in this chilling video running from the barrage of bullets he's the only person who made it out alive. >> if you had waited a split second longer, do you think you would have been shocked? >> the way it looks like, yes. >> reporter: he says he dove under a salad bar when he heard the first shots and somehow bolted out the door. >> they came to kill. >> reporter: they came to kill it happened so fast, he says he can't remember whether the pair said anything. did this seem to you to be an attempted robbery? >> sir, this was not a robbery. >> reporter: authorities now say the evidence points to a hate crime. >> i can confirm that we're investigating this matter as potential acts of domestic terrorism fueled both by anti-semitism and anti law enforcement believes. >> reporter: police say the shooters were david anderson and

francine graham and that they brought five pipe bomb after having shot police officers joe seals nearby and pushed antis-semitic conspiracies and advocated for violence against police. police found both shooters dead in the store along with three victims identified as 24-year-old mosh deutsche and 31-year-old mindy feretz who ran the store with her husband. she died on her son's 11th birthday. >> i hope that this should send a message to everyone in our community. we have to stop hate. >> reporter: and thousands gathered overnight to mourn the victims. david lax was among them they were his friends. the enormity of it all is still sinking in.

>> i'm not sure why but i'm happy i'm alive and hope to do good things in the future. >> the losses are heartbreaking, gabe have investigators determined whether these suspects were affiliated in some way with a hate group >> reporter: well, lester, the group is the black hebrew movement those analysts attract hate groups and today new jersey's attorney general says while the pair expressed interest in the group so far investigators have not been able to accomplish any formal links. lester >> gabe gutierrez, thank you shades of a darker period here in new york city, a college that is part of colombia university is in shock tonight following the brutal killing of an 18-year-old freshman stabbed to death in a city park just off campus nbc's ron allen is there >> reporter: after night fall, 18-year-old tessa majors staggered up these park stairs, fighting for her life after she was robbed and repeatedly stabbed, her wounds fatal. >> there is a despicable crime. >> reporter: tonight new york's mayor vowing to find her killers. >> there is a high level of confidence these perpetrators

will be arrested and prosecuted. >> reporter: the freshman from virginia was a musician and aspiring writer, heard on a podcast before entering an elite school, affiliated with colombia university >> iea that. >> reporter: in a statement majors' family calls her a light that shined brightly adding our hearts will never be the same. barnard's president says this is an unthinkable tragedy that's shaken us to our core. >> to realize, dear god, that could have been literally any of us >> reporter: at the park blocks from campus that police say ha one of the highest number of robberies in the city, students are horrified. >> i know in the evening you should not enter the park. >> reporter: he lives right across the street from the park. >> this is a huge wakeup call for us. >> reporter: with overall city wide crime down but murders up, officials say they are committed to taking action. >> we're not going to allow anything like this to happen going forward. >> reporter: a campus in mourning facing the loss of a young woman just beginning her journey.

tonight, police have questioned a number of area teenagers, but they have all been released. there are no suspects. meanwhile, police have stepped up patrols at the park and nearby college campuses. lester >> ron allen, thank you. >> now to a story that both horrified us and left us riveted in new zealand right now a grim and dangerous recovery effort is under way for eight dead, including two american brothers our janis mackey frayer is there. >> reporter: underway tonight, a high-risk mission to white island where the air is toxic, temperatures scorching, the crater spewing gas and could erupt again. >> we have to be aware of the fact there might be an eruption because we can't eliminate that. >> reporter: going by helicopter from a nearby navy ship, the eight-member team with protective gear and breathing devices to step foot on the island, the volcano officials say highly volatile.

authorities here under pressure to retrieve the remains for desperate families who boarded boats before dawn for a prayer service at sea 47 people were on the island that day the hollander boys from chicago. 13-year-old matthew, his older brother, barron, dying from their injuries i their parents still missing. a family erase. the hospital >> horrendous. >> fortunately, they were together because they were very close-knit family. >> reporter: with the mission underway, people gathered at the shore to offer prayers and honor the dead and wait for word that it's over. police confirmed they received six bodies and say as long as the team stays safe out there, they will search for two others they believe are still on the island lester >> janice, thank you for the update. it's election night in britain where the man who has been praised by president trump, who claims he can lead the country out of the european

union heads for a decisive victory. nbc's bill neely is in london. >> reporter: the most decisive election in a generation ends with a clear exit poll prediction. >> a large conservative majority. >> reporter: if true, it means boris johnson will leave britain as well as his job and lead it out of the european union. johnson determined to get brexit done it was the brexit election, a bitter angry campaign. johnson often avoiding media questions. >> i'll be with you in a second. >> reporter: here escaping into a milk fridge and swiping a reporter's phone to avoid seeing a photo of a sick boy. >> take my phone and put it in your pocket prime minister. >> reporter: trust in him was low. >> does the truth matter >> i think it does and i think he's very important. >> reporter: president trump appears to like him. >> boris is very capable and i think he'll do a good job. >> reporter: even though johnson was in a group mocking him last week, britain is facing extraordinary change johnson tonight appears to have won the prize.

get brexit done with johnson, catchy slogan. and now the hard part. years of trade talks ahead, deal with the u.s. far from certain. lester >> bill neely in london, thank you. back home several nfl players are facing serious charges. clinton portis is among ten ex-stars accused of defrauding the health care program. they gave fake invoices for medical equipment they never bought his attorney denies wrongdoing. there is a major polic change in major league baseball to tell you about tonight on drug testing for opioids after the death of a young baseball star here is miguel almaguer. >> reporter: just five months after star pitcher tyler skaggs' sudden death by overdose sent

baseball into tonight major league baseball and players league union announcing a groundbreaking policy starting the season players will be tested for opioids and cocaine and advanced screening for substances it will prioritize treatment over punishment. if they test positive, they won't be disciplined unless they fail to cooperate with the initial evaluation or prescribed treatment plan the league also removed marijuana from its banned substance list. >> this is not we want to catch you because you're doing drugs this is we -- if you have a problem, we want to head it off. >> reporter: it comes as the u.s. drug enforcement agency investigates the circumstances surrounding skaggs' death after his autopsy report showed he accidently overdosed on fentanyl and oxycodone in a texas hotel while on the road with his team. >> the death of a major league player is a devastating event. it was a motivating factor. >> reporter: tonight in the wake

of a tragic death, baseball is responding, hoping a new approach will save lives miguel almaguer, nbc news. looking ahead tonight, brace yourself the holiday travel rush is expected to break records. aaa says more than 115 million people are expected to travel this year. predictions show the worst day will be the day after christmas when major cities could experience double drive times. good news if you're still holiday shopping, the big deal days may be gone but there is still a lot of ways to save. nbc's vicki nguyen with the price you pay. >> reporter: if you're one of the millions of americans headed to a brick and mortar this month -- >> start early in the morning when the doors open. >> reporter: many retailers offer door-buster deals but they don't last all day another tip, skip the front of the store and head straight to

the back these items are less likely to be picked over and you'll have a better selection if you're cyber shopping and a new customer, by just entering your email address, most retailers will immediately send you a discount code. sign up for free reward programs the points add up for perks in the future and follow the brands you love on social media where they often advertise special promotions one hot item every year, gift cards you can buy at a discount, costco, bjs and sam's club selling for big-named restaurants and more up to 25% off full value a $50 gift card could cost you less than $40 and if you're in the market for toys, now is the time to buy. the hot items usually run out before christmas electronics consider older models stores deeply discounted to get off the shelves smart shopping to save money as we close in on the holidays. vicki nguyen, nbc news, new york. >> some very useful tips. just ahead as we continue after that hacking horror story we showed you, so many more victims coming to light. their security cameras taken over we'll take a look at the steps you can take, right now, to

protect your family. also, the tense moments captured on video as a dog's leash is caught in an elevator the hero bystander who sprang into action. college students and millions of viewers, who knew physics could be so much fun stay with us

i think a lot of us were rattled after the alarming report last night on a hacker that tapped into a security camera in a child's bedroom. turns out the cameras were being targeted all over the country. for more on that, here is gadi schwartz. >> reporter: tonight a secret group of hackers exposed after spying on families and taunting them through their security cameras. >> mommy >> i'm santa claus don't you want to be my best friend >> reporter: a new report from the tech website mother board shedding light on a board that hacks and harasses ring cameras. >> what's going on how are you doing? >> what? >> nothing. >> reporter: hacks like this one in michigan. >> what's going on, buddy? what are you watching?

>> reporter: where a dad was harassed in his own living room. >> look at the top of your head, man, what the [ bleep ] happened to your hair >> reporter: ring says the security wasn't breached but hackers stealing passwords. >> can you bring a web browser up on your phone and type in the website that i tell you? >> no. >> reporter: experts say both nest and ring cameras are being targeted across the country using special software that steals usernames and passwords. >> once the intruder has broken through your security, that password might be used by other devices in your home. >> reporter: and if you're like a lot of us that have these cameras, the best way to protect your family is set up two-factor authentication by going into your account and linking it to your phone, which will send you a text message to your phone, and you won't be able to control your cameras without that four-digit pin if you want to see how to do that step by step, go to our nightly news web page and we'll walk you through it. >> creepy but a way to protect yourself.

next, an incredible rescue

he's being called a hero tonight, a neighbor in the right place at the right time and made a big save for a little dog. it was a harrowing rescue. >> my adrenaline was just rushing. >> reporter: that's welder johnny mathis walking out of an elevator as his neighbor walks in her pomeranian trailing behind her. three seconds later, the elevator closes. the owner is inside, the dog outside, still attached to its leash. >> when the door closed, the girl start e >> reporter: that's when he screaming, freaking out. springs into action, fightin through fur to free the dog from his retractable leash. >> i was struggling. as you can see in the video, it took me a while to get it unlatched, but when i did, i let go, and it shot up to the top of the elevator door. >> reporter: meanwhile, the dog's owner is still stuck in the elevator

rising to the sixth floor and then back down. >> when the door opens, she had her hands covering her face, bawling. i mean, she was like devastated. she thought the worst. >> reporter: for her dog, he seemed unfazeed. >> when she took him, the dog started licking her face and he was happy. >> thank goodness he was there i think we'll all walk our dogs a little closer tonight. up next, how one professor makes it for his students to never forget. >> announcer: nbc news brought to you by pacific life a reliable income that lets you retire without retiring from life that's the power of pacific. helping you retire without retiring from life that's the power of pacific.

finally tonight, inspiring america. the professor making science so fun, his action-packed lessons are now going viral. here is catie beck. >> like being a human hockey

puck >> reporter: on his homemade hoover board, college physics professor david wright teaches newton's first law motion stays in motion. >> you have to be enthusiastic in the class because physics has a reputation of dull and boring. >> reporter: no chance of dozing off in wright's classroom. he's been sharing the gravity of the science he loves at virginia's tidewater community college since 1974 at almost 70 a magnetic machine of energy sling-shotting himself into demonstration with fire, pogo sticks and a bed of nails. >> i feel guilty sometimes they are paying me to have fun. >> reporter: one student posted this yesterday on twitter already watched more than 13 million times. you have to be going into that classroom every day thinking what is this guy going to do today? >> yes. >> reporter: his class is a roller coaster ride and while wright gets thrills from the physics of sky diving and bungee jumping, nothing compares to teaching. >> look what happens.

>> reporter: using a close collection of gadgets to engage and inspire. >> i love coming to work in the morning. i love every minute of it. >> reporter: a passion and purpose even science can't explain. catie beck, nbc news, virginia beach, virginia. >> come on who wouldn't want to take that right now at six an odor sickens workers. a prius may be to blame. >> the rash of red kettle robberies hitting contra costa county. first the democratic front runner in the bay area tonight. we're tracking joe biden's stop. >> thanks for joining. >> this was a critical visit for joe biden. he's in town tonight not only

fundraising but meeting with his top donors and local advisers, their challenge how to win over some of california liberal voters. he started his day in palo alto and this evening the former vice president is in san francisco. mr. biden at the fairmont hotel. he'll be leaving the fairmont at any moment to go to his third bay area of the day. that's where we join ashonoo a rasta. >> reporter: we do not know where. we want to show you pictures of the private visit in palo alto earlier this afternoon. what we know for sure at this point is that this trip is expected to add millions of dollars to joe biden's campaign