tonight, breaking news as we come on the air. the stunning arrest. the former police officer surrounded and arrested. accused of the unthinkable. 12 murders, at least 45 rapes, 120 burglaries. tonight, his alleged reign of theory, and the major clue that just came weeks ago. we have breaking news on president trump and his personal physician who he picked to lead the v.a. tonight, ronny jackson facing new allegations, accused of recklessly describing an opioid. tonight, admiral jackson fighting back. what he said just a short time ago. the urgent manhunt under way at this hour. the sheriff's deputy shot and killed. the gunman stealing his car. he is on the run tonight. the student takedown. a mother outraged tonight over a deputy seen slamming her

daughter to the floor, sent to the e.r. the sheriff's department defending their deputy tonight. this evening, the recordings leaked. nfl players and owners, their private meeting to talk about nfl protests and president trump. the president's own friend, bob kraft, and what he said about the president. and the dog attack on a new york city subway. the passenger, the dog and the witnesses horrified. good evening. and it's great to have you with us here on a wednesday night. and we begin with that bomb shell arrest, the former police officer who authorities say went on a reign of terror for so many years. the numbers are staggering. at least 12 murders, 45 rapes. they have been searching for more than four decades. tonight the major clue that unlocked this just days away. they say this is their man, joseph deangelo, arrested outside his home. they surprised him. he spent years as a california police officer. he'd be married. abc's whit johnson leads us off

from california on the man dubbed the golden state killer. >> reporter: tonight, hiding in plain sight. police say one of the most elusive serial killers in american history has been captured outside his suburban home. >> we found the needle in the haystack and it was right here in sacramento. >> reporter: law enforcement eye dent fig 72-year-old joseph james deangelo as the golden state killer. the once married former police officer now under arrest for a violent crime spree that terrorized california for more than 40 years. >> he was committing the crimes during the time he was employed as a peace officer. and we'll be looking into if it was on the job. >> reporter: detectives working the case for decades, but deangelo not a suspect until days ago, when they got a break in the case. cutting edge dna testing allowed them to make a match. >> we were able to get some discarded dna and confirm what we already knew, that we had our

man. >> reporter: at least 12 murders, 45 rapes, and more than 100 burglaries spread fear across the state in the 1970s '80s. his voice allegedly heard in this chilling phone call, taunting one of his victims. >> i'm going to kill you. >> reporter: those crimes meticulously planned. the suspect, wearing a ski mask, would break into homes, gag, blindfold and tie up his female prey before carrying out his brutal attacks. today, police could be seen searching deangelo's home in this quiet sacramento neighborhood. his neighbors stunned. >> he was just an odd guy, kind of kept to himself, but had a temper. >> reporter: for the victims' families, overwhelming relief. >> it is time for all victims to grieve and to take measure one last time. >> reporter: 18-year-old janelle cruz, the last known victim, was murdered in 1986. soon after, her sister michelle

fled california, fearing for her own safety. >> the feeling is undescribable, i'm so happy, i feel so blessed. we finally got the guy who brutally raped and murdered my sister. >> so, let's get to whit johnson, live from california tonight. and whit, it's hard to wraparound these numbers. he's accused in at least a dozen murders, 45 rapes, as we mentioned there. but he's only been charged with a few of them. where does the case go from here? >> reporter: david, this is just the beginning. that key dna evidence came to light only six days ago. prosecutors say that dna and the methods he used links dozens of these cases up and down the state. they're promising more charges in the coming days. david? >> whit johnson leading us off tonight. whit, thank you. we are following breaking developments at this hour involving president trump's personal physician, the president's pick to lead the v.a. there are new allegations s revealed tonight. ronny jackson is accused of recklessly proibing an opioid.

just a short time ago, admiral jackson was fighting back. what he's now saying. abc's mary bruce is on the hill for us again tonight. >> reporter: toxic, abusive and volatile. tonight, that's how some former and current colleagues are describing the president's pick to lead the v.a. accounts from more than 20 people provided to abc news by the top democrat on the veterans affairs committee paint an explosive picture of dr. ronny jackson. one describing him as, quote, "the most unethical person i have ever worked with." have you seen any concrete evidence? >> we've talked to a number of folks that have made these claims. and we need to find out if it's true or not. >> reporter: jackson is accused of drinking on duty. on one occasion, when traveling with the president, he allegedly could not be reached when needed because he was "passed out drunk in his hotel room." and at a party, he allegedly got "drunk and wrecked a government vehicle." there are also accusations about jackson's prescribing practices. he once allegedly gave a "large

supply" of percocet, a prescription opioid, to another staffer without documenting it, throwing his staff "into a panic." when traveling on air force one, physicians and nurses describe him handing out ambien to help people sleep and provigil to help them wake up, earning him this nickname -- >> the candy man. because he doled out prescription drugs like can down these trips where they flew through multiple time zones. >> reporter: we talk to some who say that's standard operating procedure, to make sleeping aids, for instance, available on long trips. >> well, all i've got to say is, that if that's standard operating procedure, i have not witnessed it nor have i participated in. >> reporter: late today, as these new details emerged, jackson was spotted at the white house. asked about prescribing that percocet, he denied it. >> i have no idea where that's coming from. >> reporter: and wrecking a government car? he denies that, too. >> it should be very easy to prove that. i have not wrecked a car. >> reporter: before these new bombshell allegations came out, the white house spent the day defending jackson. >> dr. jackson has had at least four independent background investigations conducted during

his time at the white house. the investigations revealed no areas of concern. >> reporter: but she couldn't say if they vetted him again before nominating him to lead the v.a. >> when was his most recent background check? >> i'd have to look at the specific date, but my understanding is that a new one took place at the time of the new administration. >> reporter: there were already serious questions about whether the president's personal physician can manage the government's second-largest agency, with a budget of nearly $200 billion. >> it was a suggestion, now, i know there's an experience problem, because lack of experience. >> reporter: today, the white house insisted jackson is the right person for the job. >> if he didn't think he had the experience, he wouldn't have nominated him. he said that had been one of the questions people had posed about him. >> so, let's get to mary bruce, live up on the hill for us. and mary, the white house says ronny jackson was thoroughly vetted in the past. they claim more than most nominees, in fact. and that none of these issues were raised? >> reporter: david, we heard the white house press secretary today say jackson received, quote, glowing evaluations, and

that no red flags were ever raised. the white house says these sweeping allegations simply never came up before he was nominated. and we've just learned that jackson is on his way back up here to the hill to meet with lawmakers again. jackson still making his case. david? >> mary bruce live on the hill. mary, thank you. also from capitol hill tonight, jeff sessions questioned by a senate committee, asked about reports he indicated he would resign if president trump fired his deputy, rod rosenstein. the attorney general saying he is not able to speculate, but abc's pierre thomas catching up with the attorney general afterward, asking about any possible tension with the president. >> reporter: general sessions, how is your relationship with the president? >> getting along. >> pierre thomas with the a.g. today. as this was playing out, we learned tonight that president trump's new personal attorney on the russia investigation, rudy giuliani, has met with the special counsel robert mueller. giuliani met with mueller tuesday to reopen negotiations

about a possible interview with the president. giuliani reportedly telling mueller the president is resistant to the idea, but hasn't ruled it out. giuliani pushed for clarity on when the investigation will end. next, to other news tonight, the manhunt at this hour, after a sheriff's deputy was shot and killed in maine. authorities are looking for this man, seen in the moments after he allegedly killed the deputy and stole his car. he's on the run tonight. and here's abc's eva pilgrim now. >> reporter: tonight, an urgent nationwide manhunt for a suspected cop killer. >> there certainly is an ongoing public threat. he's considered armed and dangerous. >> reporter: authorities in norridgewock, maine, say that overnight, 29-year-old john williams allegedly shot and killed corporal sheriff eugene cole, before stealing cole's marked cruiser. surveillance cameras capturing him robbing this nearby convenience store. investigators say williams then ditched the stolen cruiser and fled the scene. >> last known direction was on

route 8, high rate of speed towards smithfield. >> we have lost an outstanding deputy today. he was one of the finest deputies that you would want to meet. >> reporter: officers armed with long guns scouring the rural area for williams. while heavy armored vehicles are also on the lookout. >> we will work tirelessly until williams can be safely apprehended. >> working into the night on this one. and eva, that suspect was already facing firearms charges? >> reporter: that's right. williams was expected to be in a massachusetts court today on those firearms charges. he is now likely facing murder charges, as well. david? >> eva, thank you. and we should mention that that killing in maine just 24 hours after an attack on police officers in dallas. tonight, one of those officers has died. rogelio santander, his partner and a home depot employee shot. armando juarez is now in custody tonight. he's been charged with capital murder. next tonight here, the

extraordinary y'all student takedown. the school resource officer accused of using excessive force on a teenage girl. that 16-year-old ending up in the e.r. authorities tonight defending the deputy, and abc's victor oquendo is in florida. >> i'm not going to hurt -- >> reporter: controversy tonight over a violent takedown caught on camera. >> give me your hand. >> reporter: the pasco county sheriff's office says sunlake high school administrators asked corporal rich stackon for assistance with a female student who was skipping class and causing a disruption in the cafeteria. >> ow! >> reporter: the cellphone video capturing only part of the incident. but today, the sheriff's office released body cam video it reveals the entire interaction. >> what's going on? >> reporter: corporal stackon repeatedly asking the student to step outside. >> well, come on outside and talk to me. i won't have to lay a hand on you. you got it? >> talk to me right here. >> get these guys out of here. out, go. >> oh, now you want to touch. i'm not going to hurt -- >> reporter: the bodycam shows the student raise her hand at the corporal and that's when he took her to the ground and into

custody. the sheriff's office saying they're aware of reports she was taken to the hospital. tonight, after reviewing the evidence, the sheriff says they stand by stackon's actions. >> everything implies that he did what he was supposed to do in his role and responsibility and he'll be going back into to that school again. >> reporter: the student is being charged with resisting arrest and disrupting a school function. her family has reportedly hired an attorney. david? >> victor, thank you. and the president's travel ban was before the supreme court today, and court watchers say many of the judges appeared to side with the government's argue, the white house government. hawaii and several private plaintiffs arguing the president exceeded his authority with that ban. there was scrutiny in many other questions, though. justin elaina kagan asking this. >> let's say in some future time, a president gets elected who is a vehement anti-semite and asks his staff or cabinet members to issue recommendations

so he can issue a proclamation of this kind, and they dot all the is and they cross all the ts. and what emerges is a proclamation that says no one shall enter from israel. >> if his cabinet were to actually come to him and say, mr. president, there is honestly a national security risk here, and you have to act, i think then that the president would be allowed to follow that advice, even if in his private heart of hearts, he also harbored an any must. >> audio from the supreme court. a final decision is expected at the end of june. in the meantime, we move on tonight. the recordings leaked, nfl players and owners, their private meeting. they were talking about nfl protests and president trump. and the president's own friend, patriots owner bob kraft, and what he said about the president. here tonight, gio benitez. >> reporter: the president and the patriots, again and again talking up his friendship with star quarterback tom brady and team owner bob kraft.

>> i have friends, they own teams, and bob kraft is a great owner. >> reporter: kraft even giving the president his own super bowl ring. >> no team has been this good for this long. >> reporter: but today, new recordings obtained by "the new york times" reveal kraft's deep frustration when the president attacked players taking a knee during the national anthem. >> wouldn't you love to see one of these nfl owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, get that son of a [ bleep ] off the field right now, out. he's fired. >> reporter: the president's words, topic "a" at a private meeting of nfl owners and players in october. according to "the times," kraft called on the group to address "the elephant in the room, this kneeling. the problem we have is, we have a president who will use that as fodder to do his mission that i don't feel is in the best interests of america. it's divisive and it's horrible." public publicly, the patriots mounting a show of unity on the field. tom brady linking arms with his teammates. and david, several other nfl owners took on the president

during that private meeting. one reportedly calling his presidency disastrous. another adding this -- "we need to put a band-aid on what's going on in this country." david? >> all right, gio benitez, thank you. and promising news from houston tonight. former president george h.w. bush is now out of intensive care. a spokesperson says he is alert, he's talking, he's making progress, all great news. he wants everyone to know he's more focused on the houston rockets playoff game tonight than on anything that landed him in the hospital, he says. the former president was hospitalized with an infection the day after the funeral for his beloved barbara. there is still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this wednesday. the tv crew member killed in the cross fire. newly released video tonight, the deadly shootout erupting during the production of a popular tv show, and the family lawsuit tonight. also, playing out just late today, the dramatic rescue. a kayaker trapped in mutd and debris right up to his chest. and the dog attack on a new york city subway. the passenger, the dog.

the witnesses horrified watching this whole thing play out. a lot more news ahead. a lot more news ahead. itis. before you and your rheumatologist move to another treatment, ask if xeljanz xr is right for you. xeljanz xr is a once-daily pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. it can reduce pain, swelling and further joint damage, even without methotrexate. xeljanz xr can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections, lymphoma and other cancers have happened. don't start xeljanz xr if you have an infection. tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. your doctor should perform blood tests before you start and while taking xeljanz xr, and monitor certain liver tests. tell your doctor if you were in a region where fungal infections are common and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. xeljanz xr can reduce the symptoms of ra, even without methotrexate. ask your rheumatologist about xeljanz xr.

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preparation h. get comfortable with it. next tonight, the tv crew member caught in the cross fire in omaha. a deadly shootout erupting between police and a suspect during production of the tv show "cops." this happened sometime back, but tonight, a judge has just ordered the release of the video, and we warn, it's difficult. here's abc's clayton sandell. >> hey, where are they running? >> reporter: it's the show that takes viewers to the front lines as cops hunt for criminals. >> i got it. i got it. hold on. >> reporter: but on this night, it's the "cops" camera crew caught in the crossfire. an armed robbery suspect inside an omaha wendy's. it erupts into a brutal firefight. >> reporter: the shooting stops, but 38-year-old soundman brice dion, his microphone on the ground, is hit. >> brice, are you all right? brice, are you all right? >> reporter: the bullet that killed dion just missed his bulletproof vest.

>> bryce, stay with me man, stay with me. >> reporter: the fatal shot fired by an omaha police officer. dion's family now suing the city of omaha for negligence. >> i think it sheds light on exactly what happened and the fact that mr. dion was caught in the crossfire through no fault of his own. >> reporter: the suspect -- who was armed with a pellet gun -- was also killed. the shooting happened in 2014. the video just released as part of a wrongful death lawsuit. the city of home what tonight is not commenting. david? >> clayton, thank you. when we come back, how dark chocolate may effect your brain. we all paid attention to this today. and then more on this scare on a new york city subway. the pit bull attacking a passenger. the dog would not let go. brad's b looking forward to this all week, but how will his denture cope with... a steak. luckily for brad, this isn't a worry because he's discovered super poligrip. it holds his denture tight and helps give him 65% more chewing power. leaving brad to dig in

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safety. to that pit bull attack on a new york city subway. the dog biting down on a woman's foot. witnesses say the owner seated the dog next to her. they say the dog reacted when she pushed it away. she was not badly hurt. you can hear the screaming on the subway. investigating tonight. researchers say dark chocolate is good for your brain. it helps connect thoughts and ideas and could help shrink infla make. more study is needed. when we come back here tonight, the remarkable story behind one image this evening. a row of truckers blocking the highway -- it's not what you think. for just a few days, it's only $59 to discover your heritage.

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finally tonight here, america strong. a group effort to save a life. it is the image that has so many people simply taking a moment to think about it. detroit, michigan, interstate 696. a row of truckers lined up on the highway. but what you're really looking at is the power of people coming together to try to save a life. to help someone in their moment of need. there was a man on top of the bridge, authorities believed he was about to take his own life. officers had been called, they were calmly talking to him. and below, officers on the highway were flagging down truck drivers. state police lieutenant michael shaw. >> they start to grab semi-drivers, and they were able to line the semi-trucks underneath that overpass. it's a safety net to make sure if he moved anywhere on that overpass, there was a semi there. >> reporter: the lieutenant telling us, they've done this before, but rarely has the image been captured like this. >> we've never, ever had a truck

driver turn. >> reporter: the man said he was having issues with his family. after four hours talking with him and with those truckers waiting below, they got him off that ledge and they saved him. the police department tweeting about the work done by those troopers and those drivers, but adding, also in that photo is a man struggling with the decision to take his own life. adding, please remember, help is available through the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. >> we always want to make sure that people realize, there's so many other options. there's 13 truck drivers that didn't even know this guy and were willing to slide underneath that overpass to help him. >> there is help out there. the kindness of strangers. i hope to see you right back here tomorrow. good night. >> announcer: live, where you

live. this is abc 7 news. >> many have dedicated their virtual entire professions to seeking in answer. it was one of the worst unsolved crime sprees in u.s. history, until today. and now a former police officer is behind bars suspected in at least 12 murders and dozen attention of rapes here in california. good afternoon. i'm larry beil. >> i'm ama daetz. prosecutors say the crime spree spanned about a decade from the mid-'70s to '80s. every city where the killer attacked. the number indicate the amount of incidents in each location. sacramento is where he struck most at least 90 times. >> and late 1978 he focused on the bay area. attacking in concord, san ramon. san jose, danville, walnut creek and fremont. today, the 72-year-old was arrested in sacramento county. abc 7 news reporter eric thomas with our story from sacramento.

>> we found the needle in the hey stack. and it was right here in sacramento >> law enforcement? willie in sacramento called a news conference to announce the arrest of joseph james deangelo of citrus height but he was more widely known as the east area rapis and the golden state killer >> there were upward willings 50 rapes, 12 murders, crimes spanning 12 yeerps across 10 different counties. >> police say his crimes started in and around sacramento before he moved to contra costa, santa clara and alameda counties. the crimes deeply affected the nancy omaly who helped some of the early victims while working at a rape crisis center in college. >> i went to the hospital with victims to -- who had been sexually assaulted. and the not knowing who the person was terrorized contra costa county at the time. >> the suspect deangelo