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 in the elevator the hero neighbor 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 air 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 trump. >> let's be clear. 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 indiscriminate bias of subpoenas that was 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. but 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, trump ally matt gaetz bringing up hunter biden's controversial job with the ukrainian 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 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 domestic terror incident, targeting police and jews at a kosher food store in new jersey that left three people inside and a detective dead the shooters crossing paths with a man escaping amid a hail of gunfire. 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 lax 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 shot >> the way it looks like, yes. >> reporter: lax said 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 >> right. >> reporter: it happened so fast, lax said 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 beliefs. >> reporter: police say the shooters were david anderson and francine graham and that they brought five guns and a pipe

bomb in their van, after having shot and killed police detective joe seals nearby online posts pushed anti-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 mosha deutsche, 49-year-old miguel rodriguez, 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 which analysts had labeled anti-semitic those analysts track hate groups today new jersey's attorney general says while the pair expressed interest in the group, so far investigators have not been able to establish 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, police say, after she was robbed and repeatedly stabbed, her wounds fatal. >> this 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 just before entering an elite school affiliated with ivy league colombia university >> i'm really excited about 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 has 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: this man lives right across the street from the park. >> i think this was a huge wake-up 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 around the 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 operation is under way on the ground for eight presumed dead, in that volcano disaster eight others were killed, including two american brother our janis mackey frayer is s. 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 needing 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 at the hospital their parents still missing. a family erased. >> 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 >> janis, 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 lead britain, as well as his dog, 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 was johnson's catchy slogan. and it seems he has won big, but now the hard part. years of trade talks ahead, a 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 for $3 million. prosecutors say that they fake invoices for medical equipment they never bought. his attorney denies wrongdoing. there is a major policy 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 from a drug overdose sent shockwaves through the world of sports, tonight, major league baseball and its players union announcing groundbreaking new policy.

starting this season, players will be tested for opioids and cocaine, in addition to screening for performance-enhancing substances, saying the policy will prioritize treatment over punishment meaning 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 accidentally 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 are 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. 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 among those selling for big-named restaurants, theme parks 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. his classroom stunts have endeared him to generations of college students and millions of viewers. who knew that 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 are 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 own 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 an underground podcast that hacks and harasses ring camera owners on air. >> welcome to tonight's podcast. 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: tonight, ring, owned by amazon, 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. >> 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 with a special code if a hacker tries to get in and 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. lester >> all right, thank you. creepy, but at least there's a way to protect yourself.

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. >> 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 was like -- she started screaming, freaking out. >> that's when he springs into action, fighting through fur to free the dog from its 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. >> 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. >> as for her pomeranian, he seemed unfazed >> 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 the classroom something his students won't forget. >> announcer: "nbc nightly news" is brought to you by pacific life, a reliable income that lets 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

hover 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 being 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, slingshotting 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 stunt montage just 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. >> literally >> 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 closet collection of gadgets to engage

and inspire. >> nice job! you're a natural 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. ♪ >> ♪ i can't sleep at night ♪ i toss and turn ♪ listenin' for the telephone ♪ but when i get your call ♪ i'm all choked up ♪ can't believe you called ♪ my home ♪ and as a matter of fact

♪ it blows my mind ♪ you would even talk to me ♪ because a girl like you ♪ is a dream come true ♪ a real life fantasy ♪ no matter what your friends ♪ try to tell ya ♪ we were made to fall in love ♪ and we will be together ♪ any kind of weather ♪ it's like that ♪ it's like that ♪ every little step i take ♪ you will be there ♪ every little step i make ♪ we'll be together ♪ every little step i take ♪ you will be there ♪ every little step i make ♪ we'll be together ♪ every little ♪ every little ♪ no matter what your friends ♪ try to tell ya ♪ we were made to fall in love ♪ and we will be together ♪ any kind of weather ♪ it's like that ♪ it's like that ♪ every little step i take ♪ you will be there

♪ every little step i make ♪ we'll be together ♪ every little step i take ♪ you will be there ♪ every little ♪ step i make ♪ we'll be together ♪ every little ♪ step i make [cheers and applause] >> kelly: welcome to "the kelly clarkson show." we have got a great hour ahead of us. first, who requested "every little step"? hi, ashley. you are so cute. i love your sweater. that's one of my favorite colors. why did you request this song? >> i love "every little step" by bobby brown because i love