phillip mena, abc news, flat rock, alabama. >>> in tennessee, the death toll from the wildfires is up to seven. three more bodies were discovered wednesday amid the ruins of the great smokey mountains. rescue missions are continuing around gatlinburg, but the intense flames have only allowed of the city. the good news, rain has helped slow down the wildfire, but there are concerns about mud and rockslides, and downed power lines creating new fires. >>> president-elect donald trump is going to indiana today, after making good on a campaign promise even before taking office, trump and mike pence will visit the carrier plant to officially announce a deal to keep nearly a thousand manufacturing jobs from moving to mexico. trump has also announced plans to cut ties with his businesses, saying he wants to fully focus conflicts of interest. as he fills out his cabinet, sources say he's considering former vp candidate sarah palin for secretary of veterans affairs. palin tweeted yesterday that we should be grateful we'll soon have a commander in chief who will be a champion for our vets. she a

abc's phillip mena from the storm zone tonight. >> reporter: tonight, a massive cleanup and recovery effort under way after a dozen tornadoes hit eight states, at least five are dead. amid incredible stories of survival. the ef-1 tornado that ripped through leaseburg, mississippi, touched down just feet. you only see a shingle off the house. >> reporter: in athens, tennessee, you're looking at a tiny miracle. ashley newman tried to take shelter in the bathroom with her family when the tornado threw the house 200 feet into the house. it took four hours to get her to the hospital where little ava was delivered a short time later. mom and baby are fine. >> she's the best baby in the world. she's so quiet and sweet. >> we had 20 injured. and one brand-new life. >> reporter: david, those tornadoes stretch more than 500 miles across the southeast. with an outbreak this intense, it's miraculous there weren't even more casualties. david. >> phillip mena, thank you. >>> new reporting tonight after that horrific plane crash in colombia, members of that brazilian soccer team, most of them kille

tonight, residents here are still shellshocked. >> phillip mena leading us off. phillip, thank you. >>> and as the deadly tornadoes move through, another disaster playing out at incredible speed tonight. several major wildfires out of control. the death toll late today rising to seven now. thousands of families and tourists racing to get out. but these fires have been moving so fast that families found themselves surrounded by flames. abc's linzie janis now from tennessee. >> reporter: tonight, those heavy rains are helping, but high winds sparked at least eight new fires in the great smoky mountains. these firefighters taking their first break in 30 hours. >> they've not wavered. even the ones that's lost everything. >> why is every cabin on fire? >> reporter: the death toll rising. now at least seven killed since the fires exploded sunday night, forcing thousands to flee for their lives. >> go, go, go. >> it appears to be human caused. >> reporter: several still missing. michael reed is searching for his wife and daughter. >> i told her to call 911 and i as dis

abc's phillip mena on the scene tonight. >> reporter: tonight, a manhunt underway for the man accused of opening fire, killing this 3-year-old boy, in an apparent case of road rage. a bistander calling 911 saturday night. >> the woman's saying this little kid's been shot. >> reporter: as the boy's grandmother, kim king-macon, desperately tried to revive the child. >> oh, my god! >> reporter: king-macon says she strapped at this intersection in little rock, arkansas. the driver behind her honked. when she honked back, she told police the other driver got out of his vehicle and fired a shot. >> she thought he was going to he didn't. he fired into the vehicle. that's when the child was struck. >> reporter: it wasn't until she pulled into this parking lot that she realized that her grandson, who was in the backseat, was shot. acen king later died saturday night. >> to think that somebody lost a chi child, with christmas over, she was standing at a stop sign too long? i mean, that's just nonsense. >> reporter: police said the grandmother and another grandchild, a 1-year-old who was also in

phillip mena in little rock. >>> next tonight, with millions of americans traveling, just a few days left until christmas now, the slow motion travel nightmare playing out at the denver airport. a weekend snowstorm triggers hundreds of flight cancellations and delays, and tonight, three days later, one airline still sorting out the luggage and some passengers still waiting to take off. here's abc's linzie janis. >> reporter: tonight, frontier airlines struggling to get back on track. some passengers stranded at denver international airport since sunday. >> my daughter and i have been here for two days in the airport waiting. >> reporter: where are you sleeping? >> on chairs. >> reporter: the airline, which uses denver as a hub, crippled by the weekend snowstorm. >> they seem very disorganized. >> reporter: passengers on one flight say they were stranded for five hours on the tarmac sunday. >> after four hours, i called the denver security, and i said, we're going held against our will. >> reporter: some travelers forced to sleep at the airport. >> if you're waiting for baggage -- >>

that was phillip mena reporting. developing now...the death toll is rising from those massive wildfires in eastern tennessee. three more bodies were found yesterd of people killed to seven. 53 people have also been their homes and many say their family members are missing. including one man who can't find his wife or daughters. michael reed/wife and daughters missing in fires: "i've called the other shelters here, they said she isn't there...just hoping for a miracle." over 15-thousand acres have much needed help yesterday. rain allowed rescue crews to go house by house looking for those who may be trapped. governor bill haslam says these are the worst fires the state has seen in 100 years. new this midday -- a gruesome story out of tennessee where officials say a son is accused of killing his parents. the sheriff's office says joel guy killed his mother and father, then dismembered their bodies and tried to dissolve their bodies in a acid. his neighbors say he's always friendly. 017 very like non-responsive....028 i

tonight, this system reaching all the way up to the northeast, and we begin here with abc's phillip mena in alabama. >> tornado warning. >> reporter: tonight, a full-on tornado outbreak is hammering the south. this massive funnel cloud caught north of miramar beach, florida. water spouts crashing ashore. in atlanta, tornado sirens sound the alarm, as residents shelter in place. >> you need to seek shelter immediately. >> reporter: this, after more overnight. >> it looks like a war zone up here. >> reporter: residents emerged from storm shelters to utter destruction. >> the damage here is absolutely awful. >> reporter: at least three killed in the town of rosalie, alabama. a tornado, a massive ef-2. wind speeds over 110 miles an hour. this daycare in flat rock, flattened. you can see the toys among the wreckage. three adults and three children who took shelter here seriously injured. the storms cutting a deadly path from mississippi -- >> we're really lucky nobody was hurt here tonight. it could be the other way. >> reporter: -- to tennessee, where two more people were killed in the storm

>> phillip mena with us tonight from little rock. phil, thank you. >>> there is still much more ahead on "world news tonight" this monday. the new medical headline about pregnant women and changes to the brain. >>> also tonight, the deadly crash on the highway. the big rig postal truck. hundreds of christmas packages dumped on the road. we'll have more on that. >>> also, it's crunch time with the post office, ups and amazon. the busiest day of the year. tonight here, three simple steps that will still get your packages there in time for christmas. >>> and made in america christmas is back. we've been asking for your one thing. you've been sending so many ideas in. and tonight, here's a clue. it's a winter staple coming off the line since 1912. is it sitting at your front door tonight? we'll be right back. i have a big meeting when we land, but i'm so stuffed up, i can't rest. nyquil cold and flu liquid gels don't unstuff your nose. they don't? alka-seltzer plus night liquid gels fights your worst cold symptoms. plus, unstuffs your no

abc's phillip mena from the storm zone tonight. >> rorter: tonight a massive cleanup and covery effort under way after a dozen tornadoes hit eight states, at least five are dead. am incredible stories survival. the tornado that ripped through leaseburg, miissippi, touched you only see a shingle off the house. >> reporter: in nashville, tennessee, you're looking at a tiny miracle. she tried to take shelter in the thro with her family when the tornado threw the 200 feet into the house. it took four hours to get her to the hospital where little a was delivered a short time lar. mom and bre fine. >> she's the best baby world. she' so quiet and sweet. shelly doesn't cry. >>ad 20 injured. >> reporter: david, those tornadoes stretched more than 500 miles across thesoutheast. with an outbreak this inte it's miraculous there ren' en more casualties david. >> phillip, tha you. >>> new reporting tonight aer that horric pla crash in colombia, membe of that brazilian socce te, most of them killed in the crh. sky. we're learning there was a second plane wh fuel problems landing jus as their plane wi

mena. >> reporter: prosecutors calling the road rage shooting an execution. jurors hearing closing arguments in the killing of former new orleans saints star, will smith. smith's wife, struck by the gunfire, too. >> my leg has been shot! >> reporter: speaking in his own defense, hayes told jurors he opened fire fearing for his own life. i know get shot, hayes said. claiming he heard a gunshot before pulling the trigger. police say a gun found in smith's car was not fired. >> the testimony has been contradicted by third-party witnesses and by the forensic evidence. >> reporter: former teammates like drew brees showing support throughout the trial. up, deliberations are set to begin. hayes faces a possibility of life in prison if he's convicted of second degree murder. tom? >> thank you. >>> and from georgia tonight, a final farewell to a police officer killed while responding to a domestic pursuit. his friend, who had the scene to back him up, also passing away. >>> and the woman jogger strangled while on the run. here's marci gonzalez. >> reporter: tonight, a

let's get more now from abc's phillip mena. >> reporter: the fbi and little rock police in an all-out man hunt, searching for the suspect accused of opening fire, killing this 3-year-old boy, ason king, in a case of road rage.suspect accused of opening fire, killing this 3-year-old boy, ason king, in a case of road rage. bystanders calling 911. you hear his grandmother trying to describe the horror. >> my grandson's been shot. oh, my god! >> reporter: it was not until she pulled into a parking lot she realized her grandson in the back seat was hit. >> i was at the stop sign and the guy blew the horn at me. and i blew it back. and he shot, but i thought that he shot in the air but he shot the car. >> reporter: authorities saying they received dozens of tips and doubled the reward to $40,000. >> we believe that he either is familiar with the area or he lives in the area. we are hopeful someone in the area where the shooting occurred could lead us in the right direction. >> reporter: hunting for the toddler's killer and black 2003 chevy impala he was said to be driving. phillip mena, abc

. >> a dual funeral is planned for both and phillip mena has more on what todd fisher is saying about these two remarkable women and how they will be remembered. >> she really wanted to be with carrie. >> reporter: a grieving son and brother todd fisher. >> and i watched her leave and go to carrie. >> reporter: speaking with abc's elizabeth vargas two days after his beloved mother, debbie reynolds, and sister, carrie fisher, passed away less than 35 hours apart. >> carrie obviously had more needs in many ways and my mother loved helping her. >> you tweeted out this. >> i did. >> magical. the idea that they would leave, walk off together in their respective roles just, i don't know, it just made sense to me, and i thought they would like it. carrie would like it. >> reporter: fisher providing new details about the planned double funeral for the iconic actresses. will they be buried next to each other? >> will be buried next to each other. their life is high class stuff. and these were high class broads, very high class. >> reporter: his mother america's sweetheart best known for "singi

here's phillip mena. >> you don't have the right to grab and choke nobody's son. >> reporter: jacqueline craig is telling a ft. worth cop that a neighbor has choked her 7-year-old son for littering. but it's the officer's next question that has sparked outrage. >> why don't you teach your son not to litter? >> it doesn't matter if he did or didn't. it doesn't give him the right to put his hands on him. >> why not? >> because he don't! >> reporter: tensions escalate fast. >> don't grab her! don't grab her! >> reporter: craig's daughter shot the video, which appears to have breaks. today, craig has a message for police. >> it was not fair to degrade me as a parent. it was not fair what you did to my children. you degraded your profession, period. >> the officer was rude. this is not the way we do things here. >> reporter: tonight, that officer has been pulled from duty. while investigators review the case. >> thank you. >>> there are new developments in the road rage killing of a 3-year-old boy, shot while riding in the backseat of his grandmother's car. the suspect surrendering, pleading

it's one of several areas in abc's phillip mena in the storm zone. >> tornado warning. >> reporter: a full-on tornado outbreak, hammering the south. this massive funnel cloud, caught north of miramar beach, florida. water spouts crashing ashore. in atlanta, tornado sirens sound the alarm, as residents shelter in place. >> you need to seek shelter immediately. >> this after more than two from storm shelters to utter destruction. >> the damage here is absolutely awful. >> at least three killed in rosalie, alabama. the tornado a massive ef-2, wind speeds over 110 miles an hour. this daycare in flat rock, flattened. you can see the toys among the wreckage. three adults and three children who took shelter here, seriously injured. the storms cutting a deadly path from mississippi. >> we're really lucky that >> reporter: to tennessee, where two others were killed in the storm as they still deal with raging wildfires. this debris and the foundation is all that is left of this daycare center. neighbors telling us, this was one of the few places they could take shelter when the storm hit. resid

abc's phillip mena is in michigan. >> reporter: tonight, along the great wrecking havoc for drivers. a mangled mess of up to 70 tractor trailers and cars, just west of erie, pennsylvania. >> watched the guy climb out of this seat. >> reporter: towing company owner paul pardo shooting the scene, as first responders race to pull victims wreckage. wrecks all along the great lakes, from ohio to western new york, where snowfall over two inches an hour made it hard to even walk. >> this is a skating more go in. >> reporter: on interstate 96, east of lancing, michigan, at least three people were killed in this 40-vehicle, chain reaction crash that left some of the injured trapped in their cars. the storms, fueled by that arctic blast, moving over the great lakes. >> look at it spin. >> guys, that's reaching. >> reporter: powerful enough to lake e rie. and david, i'm right by that michigan highway. part of the road has reopened, but officials are still asking drivers to stay off of these icy roads. it is going to freeze again tonight. david? >> all right, good advice, phil, thank you. marcia

abc's phillip mena reports. >> reporter: tonight the man accused of murdering former new orleans saints star will smith during a road rage incident, telling the jury he feared for his life. cardell hayes shot smith eight his wife hit in the leg. >> my leg has been shot! >> reporter: surveillance video from april 9th what appears to be hayes' red hummer stopping in the middle of the road minutes before the gunshots. will smith and his wife in the silver mercedes behind seemingly bumping the hummer, then quickly leaving the scene. hayes claiming he followed smith's vehicle to get the license plate number but accidently rear-ended smith while trying to unlock his phone statements, hayes testifying smith was the aggressor, saying, will punched me three or four times. he said smith told him, you got your gun, i'm going to get mine and i'm going to show you what to do with it. the prosecution says today was the first day hayes has ever said he saw smith holding a gun. investigators did find a loaded gun inside smith's car that night, but there's no evidence it was ever fired. cecilia? >> phil

and he will to act quickly as he saw that turn to flames and phillip mena has the details. >> reporter: it's not often you get the chance to meet your hero. >> oh, my goodness. jeff jones is a mailman in outsn fire. >> i saw the fire, you know, the smoke go inside, knocked on the door, barksening bang, bang. >> reporter: cheryl's three young girls and grandmother were inside unaware of the danger. she was out christmas shopping and told the girls not to answer the door while she was gone. surveillance video showing jeff on the phone with 911. >> there's some kids. i think they are not allowed to answer the door. >> reporter: with the help of an officer jeff managed to get the girls and grandmother out of the house safely. >> he's special. he's special. and i hope he knows that. >> reporter: the girls thankful too making this sign for the mailman who helped save their home. and their christmas. >> and the police say it's very lucky he was there and tried to put it out with a garden hose but that was all burned up. >> just imagine how the rest of his career will go. >>> a look outside ou

abc's phillip mena brings us the latest. >> reporter: tense moments, families trapped sky-high. stuck for eight agonizing hours on this amusement park ride. the observation deck at knott's berry farm in california, stalling around 2:00 p.m. with 21 people inside including seven children. by 5:00, firefighters finally called to the scene, but their ladder not even close to reaching the riders. stranded more than 120 feet in the air. the only way down, by rope, one by one. this woman clinging to her rescuer. witnesses on the ground terrified. >> i'm ready to go into tears. >> reporter: gabe javage, and his family were among those inside the rotating ride. he captured this video of firefighters harnessing his 3-year-old niece in the darkness. the last person rescued finally rescued just before 10:00, nearly eight hours later. >> thankfully no one was hurt here. officials here say the ride will remain closed while they conduct an investigation. cecilia? >>> we want to turn to what is shaping up to be a cold and damp new year's eve for so many people. police say dense fog may be to b

here's abc's phillip mena. >> reporter: it's not often you get the chance to meet your hero. >> oh, my goodness. >> reporter: jeff jones is a mailman in mckinney, texas, near dallas. just days before christmas, on the last stop of the day, jeff noticed the outside of a home on fire. >> i saw the fire, the smoke, so, i knocked on the door. bang, bang, bang. >> reporter: cheryl richard's three young girls and their grandmother were inside, unaware of the danger. cheryl was out christmas shopping and told the girls not to answer the door while she was gone. surveillance video showing jeff on the phone with 911. >> there's some kids. i think they're not allowed to answer the door or something, because i happened to look inside. >> reporter: with the help of an officer, jeff managed to get the girls and grandma out of the house safely. >> he's special. he's special. and i hope he knows that. >> reporter: the girls thankful too, making this sign for the mailman who helped save their home, and their christmas. >> our thanks to phillip for that story. for david and all of us here, thank you fo