[HEADLINES]
[TALENT=Kimberly]
(----------------)
[VO-NAT]
The Massachusetts man who allegedly went on a shooting spree, killing seven co- workers pleads "not guilty".
Michael McDermott made his first court appearance this morning.
(----------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
And actor Robert Downey Junior is in a courtroom now, once again facing drug charges.
(/////////////)
[TALENT=Jacey]
[SS=None]
Cloudy skies today but temperatures are inching up to a more comfortable level... forecast details are ahead.
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=None]
News 7 at noon is coming up.
[Video-Open]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A Massachusetts software engineer pleads "Not guilty" to a shooting rampage that left seven people dead.
(------------)
[Office-Shooting]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kor]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
Good Afternoon, I'm Kimberly McBroom.
42- year- old Michael McDermott stood silently during today's brief court appearance.
Authorities say McDermott gunned down seven co- workers yesterday at a Massachusetts technology company.
Details unfolded in court this morning of how McDermott allegedly carried out the murders.
He's now in custody without bail.
Meanwhile, the defense attorney says McDermott has a history of mental illness and was on medication.
Gretchen Carlson joins us now with more from Massachusetts.
[LIVE=Take Newspath /FULL]
[SUPER=01-Gretchen Carlson/Reporting]
[SUPER=05-Wakefield, MA]
((ROLLCUE:...))
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Wakefield, MA;]
[SUPER=01-Thomas O'Reilly/Prosecutor;]
[SUPER=01-Kevin Reddington/McDermott's Attorney;]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=]
((
(TRACK 1)
The arraignment took just a few minutes this morning -- the suspect,
42-year-old Michael McDermott standing in court, listening to the
charges against him - 7 counts of first-degree murder.
The prosecutor began with a stunning description of the events of
Tuesday morning when McDermott allegedly opened fire at the company
where he worked Edgewater Technology.
(sot) - Thomas OReilly/Wakefield Prosecutor about victims crawling
under desks
(TRACK 2)
Prosecutors say the massacre took just 5 to 7 minutes. They say
McDermott arrived at work where he was a software tester in a normal
fashion talking to co-workers about the holidays. Then just after 11
am, they say McDermott came to the reception desk with a gun someone
asked him what he was doing and he said he had to find human resources.
(SOT) prosecutor - specifically targeted people people hiding under
desks, etc
(TRACK 3)
The motive for the methodical shooting spree may have had something to
do with McDermotts taxes. Prosecutors say the IRS had recently asked
Edgewater Technology to start garnishing McDermotts wages to pay back
taxes he owed. This morning, McDermotts attorney only asked that his
client continue receiving psychiatric treatment while in jail.
(SOT) Kevin Reddington/McDermotts Attorney
(STAND-UP CLOSE) Gretchen Carlson Reporting
After searching McDermotts home, police say they found more evidence
linking him to the crime. They say they found bomb making magazines and
boxes full of chemicals labeled dangerous. ))
[LIVE=Newspath /FULL]
[SUPER=05-Wakefield, MA;]
[Roanoke-Shooting]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=00-54]
[GRAPHIC=Shooting]
[anchor tag!!!]
Friends of 18 year old shooting victim Reaco (Rico) Hilton held a vigil in his memory.
Hilton was killed on Christmas Eve in a Roanoke convenience store.
But what was meant to be a peaceful event got out of hand last night.
Tina Tenret was there.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT ]
[IN Q=This was no organized]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]
[SUPER=01-LaToya Minnis/Victim's Friend; :11 QUICK!!!]
[SUPER=01-Ricardo Hilton/Victim's Brother; :44]
[SUPER=@Tina1; :59]
[RUNS=1:17]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7 Roanoke]
(( This was no organized ceremony, just 50 or so of Reaco Hilton's friends huddled outside the Stop & Save in Northwest Roanoke, where their friend was shot.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:22:59]
((LATOYA MINNIS/VICTIM'S FRIEND: HE WAS ALWAYS SMILING, HE WAS ALWAYS CHILLING, JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME. HE WASN'T ABOUT NO TROUBLE.))
[RUNS05]
[OUT Q=no trouble]
They brought flowers, balloons, and lots of liquor -- to commemorate the good times they shared over cards and dice.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:07:48]
[IN Q=nat sot]
((NAT SOT ALCOHOL FLOWING. WE GOING TO DO IT LIKE THIS, YO, WE'RE GOING TO DO IT LIKE THIS. KISSES CARDS))
[RUNS06]
[OUT Q=KISSES CARDS]
Reaco's brother says Reaco had argued with his killer the week before he was shot ... but that no one knew the man.
So he says police are wrong to say a shooting the next day was in retaliation.
He says his friends would not go after a guy they did not know.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 21:24:58]
[SOT 21:23:37]
[IN Q=We out here]
((RICARDO HILTON/VICTIM'S BROTHER: WE OUT HERE... OR NOTHING LIKE THAT.
BUTT BUTT BUTT
LATOYA MINNIS/VICTIM'S FRIEND: WE ALL A FAMILY AT A TIME LIKE THIS. WE ALL COME TOGETHER, IT JUST MAKES US TIGHTER TOGETHER.
TINA TENRET/NEWS7: BUT ONLY MINUTES LATER, OTHERS IN THE CROWD STARTED PUSHING EACH OTHER AND FIGHTING. WE TURNED THE CAMERA OFF AND PUT IT NEAR THE GROUND TO PREVENT IT FROM EXCITING PEOPLE, BUT ONE MAN THOUGHT WE WERE STILL ROLLING, HIT THE CAMERA AND BROKE PART OF IT. REACO'S BROTHER BLAMES THE BRAWL ON THE MIX OF GRIEF AND ALCOHOL. TINA TENRET NEWS7))
[RUNS28]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7]))
(-------------)
[anchor=kim]
[ss=HOLD]
Police are still searching for the suspect in Reaco Hilton's murder.
His name is Bernard Walker, and he's 19 years old.[Stabbing]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=12 Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
A 17-year old girl charged with murder was arraigned in juvenile court this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Yesterday]
Prosecutors charge Charlotte Brown stabbed and killed 22-year old Monique Swain early yesterday morning in Roanoke.
Family members say Swain died while shielding her younger sister over a dispute involving Brown's ex-boyfriend.
The judge appointed a public defender in Brown's case and scheduled a hearing for January 9th.
She will be held without bail in detention.
The prosecutor says she will automatically be tried as an adult.
(------------)
[Pitts-Fatal]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=12 Noon]
[WRITER=jus]
[TAPE#=none]
[GRAPHIC=Fatal Accident]
A 21-year old Rustburg man died early this morning in an accident in Pittsylvania County.
It happened just before six on Route 29.
State Police say Nathan Asher Neel was heading south when he hit the median.
Neel was ejected from the vehicle.
The vehicle ended up in the northbound side of the highway and caught fire.
He was pronounced dead at Lynchburg General a short time later.
Officers say he was not wearing his seat belt.
[Downey]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
Troubled actor Robert Downey Junior was arraigned in a California courtroom this morning.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Indio, CA;]
Just about a half- hour ago, Downey's attorney entered a plea-
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 2:08:47 ]
[IN Q=]
((YES, WE ARE.THAT PLEA IS NOT GUILTY, YOUR HONOR.))
[RUNS=:03]
[OUT Q=YOUR HONOR.]
(----------)
[VO-NAT]
Downey was arrested Thanksgiving weekend on two felony drug counts at a luxury hotel resort in Palm Springs.
He was just released from prison in August after serving time for a probation violation.
Since then, he's been working on the t-v show, "Ally McBeal" and his career seemed to be back on track.
Downey's next court appearance is scheduled for January 29th.
(------------)
[Prison-Escapees]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Prison Break]
Seven dangerous convicts are still on the loose in Texas.
They escaped from prison two weeks ago.
Now, they're wanted for the Christmas Eve murder of a police officer.
Maureen Maher reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Irving, TX; :00]
[SUPER=01-John McAuliffe/Dept. of Criminal Justice; :27]
[SUPER=01-Maureen Maher/Reporting; :40]
[RUNS=:58]
[OUT Q=freak out]
((
open w/ nat pop of helicopter)
IT'S BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE THE ESCAPEES WERE LAST SEEN
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, POLICE SAY THE GROUP ROBBED A SUBURBAN DALLAS SPORTING
GOOD STORE, THEN - WHILE FLEEING THE BUILDING - SHOT AND KILLED OFFICER
AUBREY HAWKINS
THE SEVEN MEN HAVE MANAGED TO AVOID CHECK POINTS AND A MASSIVE MANHUNT
SINCE THEY STORMED A GUARD TOWER AT A SAN ANTONIO AREA PRISON, STOLE
MORE THAN A DOZEN WEAPONS AND ESCAPED ON DECEMBER 13TH
(SOT/JOHN MCAULIFFE/TEXAS DEPT. OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE/00:16:54) "WE
BELIEVE THEY HAD HELP, OUR FEAR ALL ALONG HAS BEEN THERE WOULD BE MORE
VICTIMS"
OFFICER HAWKINS IS THE FIRST DEATH SINCE THE SEVEN BANDED TOGETHER BUT
THEY ALL HAVE VIOLENT BACKGROUNDS RANGING FROM MURDER AND RAPE TO
ROBBERY AND CHILD ABUSE
...NOW, RESIDENTS IN NORTH TEXAS ARE AFRAID AND ON THE LOOK-OUT...
(SOT/MOS/12:03) "MY DAUGHTER WAS SCARED STIFF, MAN, SHE WAS OUTSIDE, SHE
WAS ACTUALLY OUT THAT NIGHT - AND SHE SAW THREE PEOPLE WEARING BLACK
COATS ON THE STREET AND SHE JUST ABOUT FREAKED OUT." (:09)
MAUREEN MAHER CBS NEWS
)
(------------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
That was Maureen Maher reporting.
All seven men are charged with capital murder for the death of Officer Hawkins.
That means they all could face the death penalty.
[Mideast-Peace]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=Mideast Peace Talks]
A meeting is planned in Egypt tomorrow between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Jerusalem;]
The two leaders are getting together, in hopes of finding common ground on a U-S brokered peace plan.
President Clinton's plan involves
Israeli concessions on the hot- button issue of Jerusalem.
[SUPER=03-Gaza;]
The proposal also calls on the Palestinians to scale back their demand on a "right of return" for millions of refugees.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KIMBERLY]
[GRAPHIC=HOLD]
President Clinton is pushing hard to bring the two sides together before he leaves office January 20th.[Lewis-Gale]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jsu]
[TAPE#=500-17 TC1:54:05]
[GRAPHIC=Lawsuit]
Lewis Gale Clinic is suing two doctors for violating the "no compete clause" in their contracts.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Salem]
Dr. Preston Waldrop and Dr. Gregory D. (Ree-bul) Riebel both left the clinic in November and opened Virginia Orthopedics in Salem.
Their lawyer says the doctors' contract with the clinic is not enforceable because "the no compete clause in the contract" is too broad and has already expired.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT1:37:30]
[IN Q=My clients simply want]
((MIKE URBANSKI/DOCTORS LAWYER:MY CLIENTS SIMPLY WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR PATIENTS, THIS AGREEMENT IS COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE AND IT'S NOT LIMITED BY ANY BOUNDS THAT ANY COURT OF VIRGINIA HAS EVER ENFORCED))
[SUPER=01-Mike Urbanski/Doctors' Attorney]
[RUNS=12]
[OUT Q=has ever enforced.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Urbanski's hopeful they case will get thrown out of court.
The Lewis Gale Clinic says that current clinic physicians are simply asking their former colleagues to honor the contract that they all voluntarily signed for the overall good of the organization.
The case is scheduled to be heard in Salem circuit court on January 11th.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[SS=HOLD]
Mike Urbanski believes no matter what the judge decides, this case will most likely end up in the Virginia Supreme Court.
[Burcham-Anniversary]
[ANCHOR=Kim]
[NEWSCAST=noon]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=00-44; 1:03:00]
[GRAPHIC=Burcham]
Darlene Burcham is already looking ahead to what her second year as Roanoke's City Manager will bring.
Since she took over the job a year ago, she's faced a number of substantial challenges.
Burcham talked with Joe Dashiell about the past year.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=It's a good feeling]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke/Jan. 5; :14]
[SUPER=01-Darlene Burcham/Roanoke City Manager; :26 quick]
[SUPER=04-December 18; 1:09]
[RUNS=2:25]
[OUT Q=JD News 7 Roanoke]
(([OPENS ON BURCHAM BITE 99-44 01:54:00]
[IN Q=It's a good feeling]
((DARLENE BURCHAM/ROANOKE CITY MANAGER: IT'S A GOOD FEELING TO BE SO WELL RECEIVED BY A COMMUNITY AND FOR SO MANY PEOPLE TO SEEM SO EXCITED ABOUT HAVING A NEW CITY MANAGER ABOUT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY'VE BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=they've done in the past.]
In early January, Darlene Burcham was enjoying a warm welcome... getting to know the city and the citizens she'd been hired to lead.
Almost 12 months later, Burcham says she still feels the community's "warmth and friendliness."
[SOT 41:25]
[IN Q=I have not felt]
((I HAVE NOT FELT THAT I WAS A STRANGER FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY THAT I'VE BEEN HERE.))
[RUNS:05]
[OUT Q=that I've been here]
That's not to say her first months have passed without challenge or controversy.
On issues such as the proposed biomedical institute and the future of Victory Stadium... she has faced substantial opposition, but Burcham says she's not afraid of the public debate.
[SOT 43:27]
[IN Q=I think it's healthy]
((I THINK IT'S HEALTHY TO HAVE DISAGREEMENT AND IN FACT IT WOULD BE A PRETTY DULL WORLD IF SOMEONE ALWAYS AGREED WITH YOU. AND I HAVE SEEN EVERY DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE HAD AS A COMMUNITY AS BEING RESPECTFUL IN ITS DEMEANOR AND HAVING VERY VALID OPINIONS COMING FROM THE POSITIONS THEY COME FROM.))
[RUNS:19]
[OUT Q=from the positions they come from.]
At a recent council meeting, Burcham said she had found Roanoke poised for change...
[NAT SOUND OF MEETING]
[IN Q=]
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
Victory Stadium for example, is the type of issue she says the city must confront if it hopes to remain competitive and continue to grow.
[SOT 45:34]
[IN Q=My sense is]
((MY SENSE IS THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT IN ORDER FOR ROANOKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE AS IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAY IN THE REAL WORLD AND STAY COMPETITIVE.))
[RUNS:13]
[OUT Q=and stay competitive.]
Burcham says she has tried to be decisive... and instill a sense of urgency in the way city government
responds to citizens' concerns.
Her first year has flown, and Burcham says she hopes to keep up that pace.
[SOT 56:13]
[IN Q=I just hope that feeling lasts]
((I JUST HOPE THAT FEELING LASTS BECAUSE AS I SAID AT THE BEGINNING WHEN I CAME, I THINK WE'RE POISED FOR GREATNESS. I DON'T THINK THOSE CHOICES COME VERY OFTEN. AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO WORK QUICKLY WHILE THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS STILL OPEN.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=while the opportunity is still open.]
Burcham says she's most proud of citizen involvement...in the comprehensive planning process, and even controversial issues such as Washington Park.
As she looks toward her second year as Roanoke's City Manager, Burcham promises many more opportunities to continue that dialogue.
Joe Dashiell News 7 Roanoke))
[Robards]
[ANCHOR=Kimberly]
[NEWSCAST=Noon]
[WRITER=kmc]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=none]
The entertainment world has lost a legend--
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Washington, DC/Last Year;]
Veteran actor Jason Robards has died of cancer at age 78.
Robards died yesterday at a Connecticut hospital.
[SUPER=03-File Tape;]
Robards started his career as a stage actor in the 1950s and made his film debut in 19-59.
He earned critical acclaim for his acting, and earned back-to-back Oscars for "All the President's Men" and "Julia".
[SUPER=04-"Magnolia";]
Ironically, Robards also appeared as a dying man in last year's film, "Magnolia".
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 10:29:45 ]
[IN Q=But what ]
((JASON ROBARDS/ACTOR: BUT WHAT DREW ME TO IT TOO IS THAT THE GUY THAT I'M PLAYING IS DYING OF CANCER AT HOME AND I HAD JUST WENT THROUGH A EXPERIENCE IN WHICH A LIFE OF DEATH THING WAS UNKNOWN. ))
[SUPER=01-Jason Robards/Actor;]
[RUNS=:21]
[OUT Q=was unknown.]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
Robards was once quoted as saying, "all I know about acting is that I just have to keep on doing it."
(------------)
by SS