hoice of aarp medicarecomplete plans. ?? tonight, fatal encounter. a former nfl star shot to death in an apparent road rage confrontation. where police say the driver, who admits to pulling the trigger, has been set free without charges. high drama. in the trial of slager, seen on video shooting walter scott in the back, the jury tells the judge, it's deadlocked. trump's controversial calls. late word on the president-elect's phone conversations with foreign leaders, raising eyebrows around the world. hidden danger. one child nearly every month, killed by one of the top hazards so many people have inside their homes. a family sounding the alarm, hoping to save even one life. and the dancing principal. our friday "inspiring

a school administrator who moves to her own beat. "nightly news" begins right now. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening. authorities outside new orleans tonight are defending their decision to release from custody the man who shot to death a former nfl player in an apparent case of road rage. the death of ex-nfl running back joe mcknight, who was unarmed, is generating a fair amount of outrage over early accounts of how the confrontation played out, and over the release of the shooter without charges. tonight as questions mount, investigators are cautioning against a rush to judgment. nbc's jacob rascon is on the story for us. >> took somebody life. >> reporter: tonight a frustrated community demanding answers. >> what do we want? >> we want justice. >> reporter: horrified that ronald gasser would be ltd go without charges after

running back joe mcknight during a road rage incident. the sheriff says there's more to the story. >> mr. gasser did not stand over mr. mcknight. >> reporter: despite early earlier rumors, police say mcknight got out of his suv after a heated exchange. >> the three casings were located within the vehicle. >> reporter: mcknight walked up to the passenger side of gasser's sedan when gasser fired his automatic handgun from inside his car. then the futile effort to revive mcknight, as gasser waited for police, handing over his weapon, later giving a statement before being let go pending further investigation. >> the easiest thing for me would have been being book 'em, dano. right? but the fact of the matter is, in trying to flesh out the

>> reporter: mcknight was born and raised here, leading his high school team to several championships, picked up by the jets and later kansas city chiefs. >> good dude. he always had a joke and he'd make you smile. just a really good guy. >> reporter: a source close to the gasser family told nbc news, we pray all will be patient and wait for the facts to come out. it was only eight months ago that another nfl player was killed during a road rage incident in new orleans. toni state mourning another hometown hero. the sheriff insisted his handling of the case has nothing to do with race, adding that the man who raised mcknight was a sheriff's deputy here once. tonight the department is also tracking down more witnesses and will work with the d.a.'s office to determine what if any charges are appropriate. lester? >> jacob rascon, thank you. now to the high drama playing out all day inside a courtroom in charleston, south carolina, where a

walter scott. officer michael slager, caught on cell phone video shooting a fleeing scott in the back. the shocking images producing angry protests at the time. today the jury came in and out of the courtroom multiple times, telling the judge they were deadlocked. we get late details from nbc's gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: tonight jurors in the murder trial of michael slager say they are hopelessly deadlocked. a lone juror sending this judge judge late tote. >> i still cannot without a reasonable doubt convict the defend. at the same time, my heart does not want to have to tell the scott family that the man that killed their son, brother, and father, is innocent. >> reporter: despite the impasse, the jurors are telling the court, they want to keep deliberating. slager charged in the death of walter scott,

traffic stop last year. >> shots fired. subject is down. he grabbed my taser. >> reporter: in emotional testimony, slager had told the jury of 11 whites and one black man about the moments not recorded on video. after he pulled scoot over for a broken tail light. scott bolted from his car, and after a footis cha, slager has scott grabbed his stun gun during a struggle. has scott broke away, slager said he was in total fear for his >> i fired until the threat was stopped, like i'm trained to do. >> reporter: jurors have deliberated for three days, weighing slager was not guilty, guilty of murder or guilty of manslaughter. >> one of the things in this case is what's not on the camera. and there have been weeks of testimony about what is not on that camera. >> reporter: within the last few minutes, the jury just came back and asked the judge to return on

no matter the outcome of this case, michael slager still faces federal civil rights charges. if convicted, he could spend life in prison. there's late word about president-elect trump's phone conversations with foreign leaders, some that are raising eyebrows in washington and around the world, including one that has the potential to infuriate china. nbc's peter alexander has more on this developing story. >> reporter: exactly seven weeks before his trump's now raising red flags for a series of phone calls with world leaders whose relationship to the u.s. remains complicated at best. today speaking with the taiwanese president, the first contact between a president-elect, or president, and taiwan, since 1979. likely to infuriate the chinese who view taiwan as a renegade province. in follows controversial calls to the heads of pakistan, kazakhstan and the philippines, whose

slandered president obama's mother. >> the wrong message could be received. so he should be fully briefed by the state department before those communications. >> reporter: here at home, trump's team is planning a series of rallies in key states that propelled him to victory. >> our victory was so great, we have the house, we have the senate and we have the presidency. >> reporter: the strategy, to harness trump's base of support, sending washington a message that he'll remain an untraditional politician. what's clear, lingeringit will follow trump into office. >> we did have a lot of fun fighting hillary, didn't we? >> reporter: that instigating the crowd to chant "lock her up." emotions remain raw, this shouting match between top clnd aide jennifer palmery and trump campaign manager kellyanne conway during a post election forum last night. >> i would rather lose than win the way you guys did. >> no, you wouldn't. >> as for

trump's call to the taiwanese official, the white house was not told about that call until after it happened. also late this evening, president george w. bush's press secretary is warning, quote, china will go nuts. lester? >> peter alexander in washington, thank you. more now on that surprise announcement from the president-elect at his rally last night. james mattis is his pick for secretary of defense. and now a battle is brewing over law that bars him from running the pentagon. >> reporter: for president-elect trump, a sneak announcement. >> we are going to appoint "mad dog" mattis as our secretary of defense. >> reporter: 41 years as a marine, retired general james mattis served tours in iraq and afghanistan, earning four stars and a reputation for blunt talk. winding the adoration of his marines with battlefield bravado

polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet. like the new national security adviser michael flynn, another general forced out by the obama administration. but he's oppose said to shredding the iran nuclear deal, at odds with trump. >> there's no going back, absent a real violation. >> reporter: never married, he's also known as the warrior monk, with books in his bag and weapons on his wall. >> number the ultimate, combat, war-fighting marine. second, he's also an intellectual. he's deeply read. >> reporter: but his candid talk, sometimes catching him in political crossfire. >> you go to afghanistan, for five years. they didn't wear a veil. guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. it was fun to shoot them. >> reporter: the law requires a seven-year wait from serving in

waiver. >> while i deeply respect the extraordinary service of general mattis, i do not believe we should be changing the law for president-elect trump. >> changing it for mattis will require 60 votes in the senate, a tactical disadvantage for a decorated general. we learned today that the unemployment rate is at its lowest level in over nine years. the government says u.s. employers added 1 78d,000 jobs in november, marking a record of 88 straight the unemployment rate fell to 4.6%. it's not all good news, however, as the drop was partially due to more people dropping out of the workforce. meaning they're no longer counted as unemployed. the death toll has risen to 13 in the wildfires in tennessee. thousands were under mandatory evacuation orders and today we were with residents as they made their emotional return to their homes to discover whether anything was left. we get more from nbc's

>> reporter: the panic of escape now gives way to the agony of return. >> i'm just trying to take it all in. >> reporter: carolyn steker hasn't seen home since monday, unsure if it's still there, with her mobility limited by a wheelchair, she awaits word from a friend. >> darling, you're fine. >> reporter: flames, charred her house, but left it standing. >> thank you, lord, i have a home to come back to. so i'm luckier than a lot. >> reporter: the toll of the devastating. 13 people now confirmed dead, including john and janet summers, both 61 from memphis. they were on vacation with their three sons who were recovering in a burn unit. and 75-year-old may vance who died of a heart attack. the fire now contained, has burned 27 square miles. more than a thousand structures, damaged or destroyed. flames skirted the edges of, but ultimately spared dollywood theme park. it re-opened today with name sake dolly

those who lost everything. >> a thousand dollars a month to all those families that have lost their homes in the fires until they get back up on their feet. >> reporter: people like this couple whose night-time escape down a mountainside was illuminated by a terrifying orange glow. >> i didn't know of another way to get down from where we were easy. so cover your mouth and run straight through it. >> reporter: they made it out. some of their neighbors did not. in north dakota, protests over a controversial oil pipeline have reached a critical moment. demonstrators are up against a monday deadline to clear out. if they stay, they face a new challenge. temperatures plunging as wintery cold moves in. tammy leitner is at the protest site. >> reporter: as the brutal north dakota winner closes in, protesters are gearing up for a long fight.

deadline to vacate camp by monday. >> we're here for the long haul, as long as we can make it. >> we have a wood-burning stove. we came prepared. >> reporter: for months, thousands of protesters, who call themselves water protectors, have descended on rural north dakota, to protest against the dakota access pipeline. the intense stand-off, resulting in hundreds of arrests. last month, water, tear gas, and rubber bullets were used to disperse protesters. >> law enforcement is not the aggressors here. we are only reacting to what protesters are doing against law enforcement. >> reporter: it's a fight over a pipeline that crosses four states, including an area of land along the standing rock sioux reservation. once complete, it would carry roughly 470,000 barrels of oil per day. proponents say the $3.8 billion pipeline will provide jobs and help the local economy. but the land is considered sacred by

and the pipeline would cross under their only water source. >> it poses a threat to our culture, our way of line, our land, our environment. >> reporter: back at camp, protesters face another challenge. the bitter cold will feel like just 10 degrees. >> cold weather be damned. >> as a veteran, i'm here to protect the people peacefully protesting. their weapon is prayer. my weapon is training. >> reporter: 2,000 u.s. vets this camp this weekend. we're told they will link arms and form a human chain on the front line of the protest. lester? >> tammy leitner, thank you. still ahead, the terrible tragedy impacting the family of a college football coach. his 3-year-old daughter killed by a hidden danger in millions of homes. ? ? i found a better deal on prescriptions. we found lower co-pays...

y. it's medicare open enrollment. have you compared plans yet? it's easy at medicare.gov. or you can call 1-800-medicare. medicare open enrollment. you'll never know unless you go. i did it. you can too. ? ? it's just a cough. if you could see your cough, you'd see just how far it can spread. robitussin dm max is now better tasting, robitussin dm max. because it's never just a cough. no matter how the markets change... at t. rowe price... our disciplined approach remains. global markets may be uncertain... but you can feel confident in our investment experience around the world. call us or your advisor... t. rowe price. invest with confidence. i love my shop, but my back pain was making it hard to sleep and open up on time. then i found aleve pm.

now i'm back. aleve pm for a better am. ?? as soon as i became a parent i changed as a person, drastically. ?? but when we brought our daughter home that was it. ?? now i have nicoderm cq. the nicoderm cq patch with unique extended release technology helps prevent your urge to smoke all day. it's the best thing that ever happened to me. can you say thanks nicoderm cq?

we're back now to hidden home danger. tragic news in utah, where a 3-year-old girl has been killed in an accident that experts say is far too common and easily preventable. it's a tragedy that happens more often than you might think. and one posing a serious danger in homes with children all across the country. nbc's miguel almaguer explains. >> reporter: 3-year-old elsie who her family called sweet girl, fought for her life for a week, before doctors said there was nothing else

her father reno, a former nfl running back, confirming elsie was found tangled in a mini blind at home, with cords wrapped around her neck. the accident tragic, but not uncommon. >> she was special. >> reporter: cyrus lost his 5-year-old son gavin when he was found hanging from the cords of a roman blind. >> i kept on yelling his name. because i wanted him to hear me. so he could -- s >> reporter: according to the consumer products safety commission, nearly one child a month is strangled to death by cords hanging from blinds. one of the top five hidden dangers inside the home. >> if this story reaches one family that didn't know about this hazard, and if it saves one life, then it's worth it. >> reporter: a known hazard for decades, the safety commission began the process to create new standards two years ago.

proposing all stock products be required to be cordless or have inaccessible or short cords. several major retailers have already stopped selling corded blinds. safety groups recommend parents use cordless blinds. for those that don't have that option, manufacturers will give you a retrofit kit like this, which can be installed in a matter of minutes. for the mahi family and the o'bryants, proposed changes in how blinds are comes too late. but for many others, there is still time. miguel almaguer, nbc news. we'll take a break, be back in a moment with a story of snow in paradise. moment with a story of snow in paradise. incredible images impressive linda. it seems age isn't slowing you down. but your immune system weakens as you get older increasing the risk for me, the shingles virus. i've been lurking inside you since you had chickenpox. i could surface anytime as a painful, blistering rash.

will it be you? and that's why linda got me zostavax, a single shot vaccine. i'm working to boost linda's immune system to help protect her against you, shingles. zostavax is a vaccine used to prevent shingles in adults fifty years of age and older. zostavax does not protect everyone and cannot be used to treat shingles or the nerve pain that may follow it. you should not get zostavax if you are allergic to gelatin or neomycin, have a weakened immune system or take high doses of steroids are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. n side effects include redness, pain, itching, swelling, hard lump warmth or bruising at the injection site and headache. it's important to talk to your doctor about what situations you may need to avoid since zostavax contains a weakened chickenpox virus. remember one in three people get shingles in their lifetime, will it be you? talk you to your doctor or pharmacist about me, single shot zostavax.

[burke] hot dog. seen it. covered it. we know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two. ? we are farmers. bum-pa-dum, bum-bum-bum-bum ? wh only new alka-seltzer plus free of artificial dyesf. and preservatives liquid gels delivers the powerful cold symptom relief you need without the unnecessary additives you don't. store manager: clean up, aisle 4.

in california today, a moment of silence held to mark the one-year anniversary of a terror attack in san bernardino. during a morl at the social services center, where the attack occurred, a

killed. 22 people were also injured in the attack, carried out by a county health inspector and his wife, who had pledged allegiance to isis and were later killed in a shoot-out with police. bad news. if you're planning a trip to the sights in washington, d.c., the national monument will remain close said until 2019. 's been plagued with problems since an earthquake hit the nation's capital in 2011. it will remain close repairs and renovate the elevator. believe it or not, the national weather service has issued a winter storm warning in hawaii. up to 30 inches of snow is in the forecast. high up in the mountains through saturday. don't worry if you're planning a vacation, we're talking about 11,000 feet up. things are still looking pretty beachy down below. if that's a word. when we come back, how a principal with all the right moves is bringing smiles to her students. i know you're my financial advisor,

my dad gave me those shares, you know. he ran that company. i get it. but you know i think you own too much. gotta manage your risk. and you've gotta switch to decaf. an honest opinion, even if you disagree. with 13,000 financial advisors, it's how edward jones makes sense of investing. it's easy to love your laxative...

and softens to unblock naturally. so you have peace of mind from start to finish. love your laxative. miralax. as soon as i left the hospital after a dvt blood clot, i sure had a lot to think about. what about the people i care about? ...including this little girl. and what if this happened again? i was given warfarin in the hospital, but wondered, was this the best treatment for me? so i asked my doctor. and he recommended eliquis. eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots and reduces the risk of them happening again. yes, eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots. eliquis also had significantly less major bleeding than the standard treatment. both made me turn around my thinking. don't stop eliquis unless your doctor tells you to. eliquis can cause serious and in rare cases fatal bleeding. don't take eliquis if you have an artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. if you had a spinal injection while on eliquis call your doctor right away if you have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness.

...and it may take longer than usual for bleeding to stop. seek immediate medical care for sudden signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. eliquis may increase your bleeding risk if you take certain medicines. tell your doctor about all planned medical or dental procedures. eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots. plus had less major bleeding. both made eliquis the right treatment for me. ask your doctor if switching to eliquis is right for you. finally tonight, if you have a tween or remember being one yourself, you know that middle school can be a tough time for kids. but one principal is

her inner popstar, and she hopes other schools will follow in her dance steps. >> reporter: the light beaming upon gale ranch middle school doesn't come from a sunrise. the really source is found in a place you might not expect. the office of principal sue goldman, who every morning lets that light shine. >> good morning. >> reporter: this is her morning routine, turning the school's crosswalk into floor, giving her kids a daily sidewalk sock hop. do you have favorite dance moves? >> no, i only have one. >> reporter: which is? >> this. >> she has her own style. >> i'm not a good dancer. they think i am. it's a secret. don't tell them. >> i think she's just putting herself down. she's a great dancer. how did the kids react at first?

and honestly it was only me out there dancing. ? ? >> reporter: but her relentless groove eventually became contagious. >> it's a lot of fun because we don't care what other people think and we just have fun. >> reporter: they've discovered this positive start carries through the entire day. >> it's a dance party, so then everyone's really excited about everything. >> reporter: impressive when you consider just how difficult these years can be. goldman herself had a hard time in middle a dancing principal would have might a little bit of a difference? >> would have made a huge difference. at least you know somebody at the top is looking out for you. >> reporter: which is why goldman hopes every principal will steal her idea. no dance lessons required. joe fryer, nbc news, san ramone, california. >> okay, admit it, you want to dance now, right? that's going to do it for us on a friday

for all of us at nbc news, thank you for watching and ?? >> announcer: right now, from milwaukee, this is today's tmj4, live at 6:00. >> now at 6:00, reports of rape shocked parents on the south side. police are investigating a reported sexual assault in the tippecanoe neighborhood near a park. >> lauren residents in the neighborhood. >> the investigation is still in its early stages, milwaukee police weren't able to pro avoid much information. the people i spoke with say they are nervous. >> residents of the tippecanoe neighborhood on the city's south side are questioning their safety. >> i think it's crazy. >> allison mills is referring to a sexual assault police say happened thursday evening near the tippecanoe park, which just happens to be steps away from an elementary school.

you know, and play basketball at the courts, and like all the neighbors that live near know each other, it's a nice well knitted community. i would never picture that something like that would happen here. >> parents of clement avenue school are not only shocked, but they're also upset. >> i'm very concerned about this, because, not getting another -- from the school, i leave, courtesy, they're they're investigating, or something like at >> according to millie, she learned via facebook and questioned why the school didn't notify her first. >> i would like to know that answer. i'm trying to get that same answer from the school. >> while she waits for that answer, she says she plans to be more proactive and vigilant as she works to protect her community. >> as a volunteer, you know, like we can actually set up parents in different areas, such to watch for our kids.