>>> BREAKING NEWS TONIGHT. FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES HE ILLEGALLY CONSPIRED TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION. MR. TRUMP IN A FEDERAL COURTROOM IN WASHINGTON JUST STEPS FROM THE CAPITAL WHERE HIS SUPPORTERS RIOTED ON JANUARY 6th. THE FORMER PRESIDENT FACING HIS THIRD ARRAIGNMENT CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL SCHEME TO STAY IN POWER AFTER HIS LOSS. SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH JUST FEET AWAY FROM HIM IN THE COURTROOM BEFORE LEAVING WASHINGTON. MR. TRUMP, WHO IS RUNNING TO RETAKE THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2024 COMING BEFORE THE CAMERAS, CALLING IT A VERY SAD DAY FOR AMERICA. OUR TEAM AT THE COURTHOUSE AND OUR LEGAL ANALYST STANDING BY. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, TWO U.S. NAVY SAILORS UNDER ARREST, ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR CHINA. THE SECRET THEY'RE ACCUSED OF SELLING. >>> THE GRIM DISCOVERY. TWO BODIES IN THE RIO GRANDE. ONE AT THAT FLOATING BARRIER TEXAS INSTALLED IN THE RIVER. WHAT TEXAS AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS ARE SAYING. >>> TERRIFYING MOMENTS ABOARD A DELTA FLIGHT. POLICE SAY A PASSENGER WITH A SHARP OBJECT CUT HIMSELF AND THEN ATTACKED A FLIGHT ATTENDANT. HOW HE WAS STOPPED. >>> THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN THE GILGO BEACH SERIAL KILLER INVESTIGATION. WHAT PROSECUTORS ARE SEEKING TO GET FROM THE SUSPECT. >>> AND THE COUNTDOWN TO KICK OFF. THE NFL IS BACK TONIGHT, RIGHT HERE ON NBC. >> THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" WITH LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. IT WAS A MOMENT SURELY SEEN THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES IN THIS DIVIDED NATION, AND YET A MOMENT OF UNDENIABLE CONSEQUENCE. A FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT STANDING BEFORE A FEDERAL JUDGE TO ANSWER WHETHER HE SOUGHT TO THWART THE WILL OF VOTERS AND BLOCK A BEDROCK OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER. IN A 27-MINUTE LONG ARRAIGNMENT, FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO FOUR CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY AND OBSTRUCTION. HIS THIRD CRIMINAL ARRAIGNMENT IN FOUR MONTHS, AND ARGUABLY THE MOST SERIOUS. AFTERWARDS, MR. TRUMP SLAMMING THE INDICTMENT AS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, A PERSECUTION OF A POLITICAL OPPONENT. THE EX-PRESIDENT FLYING FROM HIS NEW JERSEY HOME TO WASHINGTON AND A COURTROOM NOT FAR FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE U.S. CAPITOL, WHERE SOME OF HIS SUPPORTERS RIOTED ON JANUARY 6th. DEFIANT AND UNDETERRED, DONALD TRUMP PRESSING FORWARD WITH HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AS HE GATHERS POLITICAL STRENGTH FROM WHAT SOME CONSIDER A MOMENT OF POLITICAL DISGRACE. NBC'S GARRETT HAAKE WAS IN THE COURTROOM FOR THE ARRAIGNMENT. GARRETT, ANOTHER STUNNING MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY THAT IS STARTING TO FEEL ROUTINE. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. FOR THE THIRD TIME IN FOUR MONTHS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT APPEARING BEFORE A JUDGE TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO MULTIPLE FELONIES. IT WAS A REMARKABLE SCENE. THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, WHO ACCUSES HIM OF TRYING TO STEAL AN ELECTION, SITTING JUST A FEW FEET AWAY. THE SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH WATCHING MR. TRUMP THROUGHOUT THE HEARING. THE FORMER PRESIDENT TURNED CRIMINAL DEFENDANT NEVER APPEARING TO RETURN HIS GAZE. ONCE AGAIN A FORMER AMERICAN PRESIDENT IS A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT IN COURT. DONALD TRUMP LEAVING HIS BEDMINSTER GOLF CLUB IN NEW MEXICO, IN A MOTORCADE FOR THE AIRPORT FOR A FLIGHT TO WASHINGTON. POSTING IT IS A GREAT HONOR, BECAUSE I'M BEING ARRESTED FOR YOU. AFTER ARRIVING, VEHICLES WINDING THROUGH DOWNTOWN D.C. TO THE FEDERAL COURTHOUSE. IN THE SHADOW OF THE U.S. CAPITOL, WHERE THE CONSPIRACY HE IS ALLEGED TO HAVE LED CONCLUDED WITH THE DEADLY JANUARY 6th RIOT. THE REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER TONIGHT PLEADING NOT GUILTY TO FOUR FEDERAL CHARGES, ALL RELATED TO WHAT PROSECUTORS SAY WAS A CRIMINAL SCHEME TO CLING TO POWER AFTER LOSING THE 2020 ELECTION. HE WAS PROCESSED AND FINGERPRINTED, BUT NO MUG SHOT TAKEN. INSIDE THE COURTROOM, MR. TRUMP AND HIS ATTORNEYS ROUGHLY 15 UFEET AWAY FROM SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH. PROSECUTORS NOT OBJECTING TO MR. TRUMP'S RELEASE. THE JUDGE READING OUT CONDITIONS, INCLUDING NOT TALKING TO WITNESSES ABOUT THE CASE. IN AN OVERFLOW ROOM, TWO CAPITOL POLICE OFFICERS AND A D.C. OFFICER WHO WERE THERE ON JANUARY 6th. WITH PERSONAL AID AND CO-DEFENDANT IN THE DOCUMENTS CASE WALT NAUTA NEARBY, MR. TRUMP SLAMMING THE CHARGES. >> THIS IS A VERY SAD DAY FOR AMERICA. THIS IS A PERSECUTION OF A POLITICAL OPPONENT. THIS WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN IN AMERICA. THIS IS THE PERSECUTION OF THE PERSON THAT'S LEADING BY VERY, VERY SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, AND LEADING BIDEN BY A LOT. SO IF YOU CAN'T BEAT HIM, YOU PERSECUTE HIM OR YOU PROSECUTE HIM. >> Reporter: THIS IS THE THIRD ARRAIGNMENT FOR MR. TRUMP IN FOUR MONTHS AND THE MOST SERIOUS OF THE INDICTMENTS HE FACES WITH CHARGES INCLUDING CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD THE U.S. AND THE RIGHTS OF VOTERS. PROSECUTORS ALLEGING MR. TRUMP FIRST TRIED TO PRESSURE STATE OFFICIALS TO CHANGE ELECTION RESULTS. THEN ALLEGEDLY ASKED HIS VICE PRESIDENT WHO REFUSED. LATER SUMMONING SUPPORTERS ON THE 6th, THOUGH THE INDICTMENT DOES NOT ACCUSE MR. TRUMP OF INCITING THE RIOT. THE REPUBLICAN FRONT-RUNNER ARGUING THE CASE IS DESIGNED TO FORCE HIM TO SPEND LARGE AMOUNTS OF TIME AND MONEY TO DEFEND HIMSELF, INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON HIS 2024 CAMPAIGN. TRUMP ALLIES BLASTING WHAT THEY CALL A PARTISAN DOJ. >> WHEN IT COMES TO DONALD TRUMP, THERE ARE NO RULES. DESTROY HIM, DESTROY HIS FAMILY. WHEN IT COMES TO JOE BIDEN AND HUNTER BIDEN, THEY GET AWAY. >> Reporter: HE CLAIMS HIS FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT A STOLEN ELECTION WERE CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED FREE SPEECH. AN ARGUMENT DISMISSED BY HIS FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL TURNED FIERCE CRITIC BILL BARR. >> I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT'S A VALID ARGUMENT. FREE SPEECH DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN A FRAUDULENT CONSPIRACY. >> SO GARRETT, WHERE DOES THIS CASE GO FROM HERE? >> LESTER, THE JUDGE SET THE NEXT HEARING FOR AUGUST 28th, THOUGH MR. TRUMP DOES NOT HAVE TO ATTEND. THE PROSECUTION WILL LIKELY PUSH FOR A SPEEDY TRIAL DATE. THE TRUMP DEFENSE LAWYERS LIKELY PUSHING FOR A DELAY WITH THE JUDGE HOPING TO PICK A TRIAL DATE IN THAT MEX HEARING. >> GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. I'M JOINED BY SENIOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT LAURA JARRETT, CHIEF JUSTICE CONTRIBUTOR JONATHAN DIENST AND KRISTEN WELKER. YOU'RE GETTING INDICATIONS THE JUDGE MAY WANT TO MOVE QUICKLY WITH THIS CASE? >> ABSOLUTELY, LESTER. ALL SIGNS POINT TO THE JUDGE, TANYA CHUTKAN, NOT LOOKING TO WASTE ANY TIME. COORDINATORING WITH THE IMAGINE TRAIT AHEAD OF TODAY'S HEARING TO MAKE SURE 20 GET EVERYONE BACK IN COURT LATER THIS MONTH. SHE INTENDS TO SET THE TRIAL DATE AT THIS HEARING. THIS IS THE SAME JUDGE WHO NEARLY TWO YEARS AGO SAID PRESIDENTS ARE NOT KINGS WHEN SHE REJECTED MR. TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO BLOCK THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE FROM GETTING HANDS ON DOCUMENTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. AND SHE HAS A HISTORY OF SENDING DOWN LONGER SENTENCES FOR THOSE ON TRIAL FOR STORMING THE GOVERNMENT. >> KRISTEN, TELL US ABOUT THE FORMER PRESIDENT. HE WAS REALLY DEFIANT TODAY. >> HE ABSOLUTELY WAS, LESTER. IT'S INTERESTING. THE JUDGE GAVE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR VIRTUALLY, BUT HE SHOWED UP IN PERSON. HE SPOKE OUT AFTER. IT'S SOMETHING HE HAS DONE AFTER THE FIRST TWO INDICTMENTS, ESSENTIALLY TREATING THESE MOMENTS AS EVENTS. TODAY POSTING HE ONLY NEEDS ONE MORE INDICTMENT TO WIN THE ELECTION. WHILE SOME OF HIS CHALLENGERS ARE TAKING AIM, INCLUDING MIKE PENCE, MR. TRUMP IS STILL DOMINATING THE RACE. THE BIG QUESTION NOW, WILL ANY OF HIS RIVALS START TO SHARPEN THEIR TONE LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AWAY. A TOP AIDE TELLING ME MR. TRUMP STILL HAS NO PLANS TO ATTEND THAT FIRST DEBATE WHICH IS JUST DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT COURT TRIAL DATE. >> JONATHAN, SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THOSE UNINDICTED UNNAMED CO-CONSPIRATORS. WHAT MORE HAVE YOU LEARNED? >> LESTER, RUDY GIULIANI ACKNOWLEDGING HE IS MOST LIKELY UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR 1. RUDY GIULIANI SAYS DONALD TRUMP TO THIS DAY BELIEVES IN HIS HEART THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN. JOHN EASTMAN, ANOTHER LAWYER NAMED AS AN UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR. HIS LAWYERS TELL ME HE WAS ACTING AS A TRUMP LEGAL ADVISER. HE WAS THROWING OUT THEORIES AND POSSIBILITIES THAT NEEDED TO BE EXPLORED, THAT THIS WAS IN NO WAY A CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY. PROSECUTORS SAY MR. TRUMP KNEW HE LOST TO BIDEN BECAUSE SO MANY TRUMP OFFICIALS TOLD HIM SO. THIS AS A CLOSE FRIEND OF DONALD TRUMP'S TELLS ME HE SPOKE WITH THE FORMER PRESIDENT THIS MORNING. HE SAYS MR. TRUMP VOICED FRUSTRATION, BUT TOLD HIM HE IS CONFIDENT HE WILL WIN AT COURT AND AT THE BALLOT BOX. LESTER? >> THANKS TO ALL OF YOU. >>> ALSO BREAKING TONIGHT, TWO U.S. SAILORS ARE UNDER ARREST, ACCUSED OF PROVIDING SENSITIVE NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION TO CHINA. ANDREA MITCHELL HAS LATE DETAILS FOR US. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE TWO NAVY SAILORS HAVE EACH BEEN ARRESTED FOR SELLING MILITARY SECRETS TO CHINA. >> SENSITIVE MILITARY INFORMATION ENDED UP IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA. >> Reporter: THE FIRST DEFENDANT, 22-YEAR-OLD JIN CHOW WEI FACES NATIONAL DEFENSE CHARGES. >> DOCUMENTS, PHOTOS, VIDEO, AND TECHNICAL MANUALS. IN EXCHANGE, HIS INTELLIGENCE OFFICER PAID WEI THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. >> Reporter: AUTHORITIES SAY WEI, A MACHINIST ON THE USSS ESSEX IN SAN DIEGO SENT THE CHINESE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER PHOTOS OF MILITARY HARDWARE AND VEHICLES AND DIVULGED INFORMATION ABOUT WARFARE EXERCISES. THE SECOND PERSON CHARGED 26-YEAR-OLD PETTY OFFICER WE THINK HANG JAO. FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALLEGE JAO RECEIVED $15,000 FROM A CHINESE INTELLIGENCE OFFICER IN EXCHANGE FOR SHARING OPERATIONAL PLANS, NAVY MOVEMENTS AND BLUEPRINTS FOR A RADAR SYSTEM AT A U.S. MILITARY BASE IN OKINAWA, JAPAN. >> IN SHORT, MR. JAO CHOSE A PATH OF CORRUPTION. >> Reporter: THE INDICTMENTS COME AMID HEIGHTENED FEARS OF CHINA ESPIONAGE WITH MICROSOFT REPORTING CHINESE-BACKED HACKERS GROEK SBROOEK THE EMAILS OF COMMERCE AND DEPARTMENT OF STATES EMPLOYEES. BOTH MEN HELD SECURITY CLEARANCES. JAO JUST APPEARED IN FEDERAL COURT AND PLEADED NOT GUILTY. LESTER? >> ANDREA MITCHELL, THANK YOU. >>> A GRIM DISCOVERY ALONG THE U.S. SOUTHERN BORDER. TWO BODIES IN THE RIO GRANDE, ONE FOUND AT THE FLOATING BARRIER THAT TEXAS INSTALLED IN THE RIVER. THE INCIDENT NOW ESCALATING TENSIONS BETWEEN TEXAS AND MEXICAN OFFICIALS. HERE IS JULIA AINSLEY. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, TRAGEDY IN TEXAS. TWO MIGRANTS DYING IN THE RIO GRANDE, AND NOW A DISPUTE OVER WHERE IT HAPPENED. MEXICO SAYS A BODY WAS FOUND STUCK IN ONE OF THESE CONTROVERSIAL FLOATING BARRIERS TEXAS INSTALLED TO STOP ILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS. BUOYS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS SUING TO REMOVE, CITING A DANGER TO MIGRANTS. BUT TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT SAYS THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS FLAT-OUT WRONG. PRELIMINARY INFORMATION POINTS TO THE DROWNING OCCURRING BEFORE THE BODY WAS EVEN NEAR THE BARRIER. MEANWHILE, TONIGHT IN ARIZONA, THE CRISIS GETTING WORSE. WITH BORDER RESTRICTIONS TIGHTENING IN TEXAS, OFFICIALS HERE IN ARIZONA SAY TUCSON IS NOW THE BUSIEST SECTOR, WITH OVER ONE THOUSAND MIGRANTS CROSSING HERE A DAY. WITH THE BORDER PATROL IN NOGALES, WE COME ACROSS A GROUP OF MOTHERS AND CHILDREN IN THE SWELTERING HEAT. THIS MOTHER AND SON TELL US THEY HAVE BEEN SLEEPING IN THE MOUNTAINS AND WALKING UNTIL THEY WERE EXHAUSTED. WHAT DID YOU HAVE FOR FOOD AND WATER? >> NADA. >> Reporter: "NOTHING," SHE SAYS. "WE ARE HUNGRY." AGENT ALEJANDRE ALVERA TELLS US THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT RISE IN FAMILY UNITS. >> MIGRANT NUMBERS ARE HIGH BECAUSE OF BIDEN POLICIES. >> IT'S NEVER GOING END. >> Reporter: A GROWING FLASH POINT OVER ONE THOUSAND MILES AWAY IN NEW YORK CITY. HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS SLEEPING ON MIDTOWN MANHATTAN SIDEWALKS OUTSIDE THE ROOSEVELT HOTEL, NOW A MIGRANT SHELTER AND INTAKE CENTER. OFFICIALS SAY ARRIVING MIGRANTS WILL COST THE CITY OVER $4 BILLION. THE MAYOR PLEADING FOR FEDERAL HELP. >> WE NEED HELP. AND IT'S NOT GOING TO GET ANY BETTER. FROM THIS MOMENT ON IS DOWNHILL. THERE IS NO MORE ROOM. >> Reporter: BACK HERE IN ARIZONA, AGENTS SAY RECORD-BREAKING HEAT MEANS MORE RESCUES USING HELICOPTERS LIKE THESE. AND SOMETIMES THEY FIND MIGRANTS TOO LATE TO SAVE THEM. LESTER? >> JULIA, THANK YOU. >>> ALSO TONIGHT, NEW DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE SUSPECT IN THE GILGO BEACH MURDERS ON LONG ISLAND AS PROSECUTORS TRY TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CASE USING HIS DNA. STEPHANIE GOSK IS FOLLOWING THIS. DNA HAS ALREADY PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN BREAKING THIS CASE. >> IT REALLY HAS, LESTER. NAH IS AT THE HEART OF THE MURDER CASE AGAINST REX HEUERMANN. AND NOW ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, THE HAIR FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE MATCHES DNA FROM A PIZZA BOX THAT THE 59-YEAR-OLD THREW IN THE TRASH. AND PROSECUTORS WANT TO SAMPLE DIRECTLY FROM HEUERMANN, SPECIFICALLY A CHEEK SWAB. ACCORDING TO A MOTION FILED BY D.A.'S OFFICE, IT WOULD, QUOTE, PROVIDE FURTHER RELEVANCE OF THE DEFENDANT'S IDENTITY AS THE PERPETRATOR OF THE CRIME. HEUERMANN PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THREE COUNTS OF MURDER. WE REACHED OUT THE HEUERMANN'S ATTORNEY, BUT HE WOULDN'T COMMENT. LATE TONIGHT, LESTER, WE HEARD THAT THE SUFFOLK COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE IS HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW WITH LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS TO ANNOUNCE WHAT THEY SAID IS AN UPDATE IN THE CASE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER DETAILS. >> ALL RIGHT, STEPHANIE, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> WELL, TURN TO SCARY MOMENTS ON A DELTA FLIGHT ARRIVING IN NEW ORLEANS FROM ATLANTA. AUTHORITIES SAY A 39-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE INJURED HIMSELF WITH A SHARP OBJECT, THEN ATTACKED A FLIGHT ATTENDANT ON WEDNESDAY. FELLOW PASSENGERS SUBDUED HIM UNTIL DEPUTIES ARRIVED ON BOARD. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS TREATED FOR SUPERFICIAL LACERATIONS. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, RAW EMOTION INSIDE A PITTSBURGH COURTROOM TODAY AS THE MAN WHO MURDERED 11 PEOPLE INSIDE A SYNAGOGUE IS FORMALLY SENTENCED >>> IN PITTSBURGH TODAY, THE GUNMAN WHO KILLED 11 PEOPLE AT A SYNAGOGUE WAS FORMALLY SENTENCED TO DEATH. BUT FOR THE TREE OF LIFE CONGREGATION AND THE COMMUNITY AROUND THEM, THE SCARS HAVE NOT YET HEALED. WE GET MORE FROM DAVID JOHNSON OF OUR NBC AFFILIATE IN PITTSBURGH, WPXI. >> Reporter: SENSELESS VIOLENCE SHATTERED SQUIRREL HILL, THE HEART OF PITTSBURGH'S JEWISH COMMUNITY WHEN A MASS SHOOTER TOOK THE LIVES OF 11, WOUNDING 7 AT THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE, COMMITTING THE MOST DEADLY ACT OF ANTI-SEMITISM IN U.S. HISTORY. >> I WAS THERE THAT MORNING TO READ TORAH. >> Reporter: STEPHEN WEISS SURVIVED THAT DAY. >> ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FOUNDATIONAL PARTS OF JUDAISM IS WE ARE A COMMUNITY. WE CAN ALL STAY HOME AND PRAY IN ISOLATION AT HOME. THAT'S WHY I THINK WE GO TO SYNAGOGUE, WHY WE TRY TO BE TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY. THERE IS MORE STRENGTH IN NUMBERS, AND WE GAIN STRENGTH FROM EACH OTHER WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER. >> Reporter: THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IS INCREASINGLY AT RISK WITH ANTI-SEMITIC ATTACKS UP 36% LAST YEAR, THE HIGHEST IN MORE THAN FOUR DECADES. IT'S BEEN NEARLY FIVE YEARS SINCE THE SHOOTER, WHO POSTED HIS VIEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WALKED INTO SERVICES HERE ARMED WITH AN AR-15 AND THREE HANDGUNS. TODAY HIS FATE WAS FINALLY DETERMINED. >> HE REALLY DOESN'T SHOW ANY AFFECT AT ALL ABOUT ANYTHING THAT HE'S DONE. >> Reporter: A FEDERAL JUDGE SENTENCED ROBERT BOWERS TO DEATH, THOUGH A FEDERAL MORTATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS MAKES IT UNCLEAR WHEN OR IF HE WILL BE EXECUTED. TODAY IN COURT, A KILLER CONFRONTED WITH RAW EMOTION. ONE VICTIM'S SON SAYING "I REMEMBER PLEADING WITH GOD, ONE MORE HUG, ONE MORE PHONE CALL." A SURVIVOR SAYING "I STRUGGLE TO ACCEPT THAT I SURVIVED AND THEY DID NOT." THE 11 WHO DID NOT RICHARD GODFREY, ROSE MALLINGER, JERRY RABINOWITZ, MARRIED COUPLE BERNICE AND SYLVAN SIMON. DANIEL STEIN, MELVIN WAX, IRVING YOUNGER, BROTHER CECIL AND DAVID ROSENTHAL AND JOYCE WEINBERG. >> WE'VE BEEN IN SPITTING DISTANCE OF EVIL. >> Reporter: JOYCE'S SON WAS IN COURT TODAY AS HE HAD BEEN FOR THE TWO MONTHS OF THE TRIAL. WHAT WAS THE MOOD IN THERE LIKE TODAY? >> A BIT TENSE. THE UPSIDE IS THAT WE FINALLY SAW THE MONSTER COME OUT IN HIS PRISON GARB. THERE IS NO CLOSURE BECAUSE MY MOM IS STILL DEAD. SO WE BUILD FROM HERE. I CAN'T BRING HER BACK. >> Reporter: THIS COMMUNITY DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD. >> WE HEAL REALLY THROUGH BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO LIVE OUR LIVES TO THE FULLEST. WE HAVE ALL BEEN GIVEN FREEDOM. WE'RE ALL GRANTED FREEDOM IN OUR LIFE. AND WE CAN CHOOSE WHAT WE MAKE OF IT. >> Reporter: THE END OF THE TRIAL HOPEFULLY BRINGING A SENSE OF SHALOM, SOME PEACE. THOUGH IT CANNOT HEAL THE PAIN, THAT MAY COME ONLY WITH TIME AND PRAYER. FOR NBC NEWS, DAVID JOHNSON, PITTSBURGH. >>> AND UP NEXT HERE TONIGHT, HIGH ALERT FOR AN >>> MASSIVE EFFORT IS UNDER WAY IN CALIFORNIA TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF AN INVASIVE PEST THAT COULD THREATEN FARMS THERE AND BEYOND. HERE IS MIGUEL ALMAGUER. >> Reporter: THIS IS THE TINY INVASIVE FRUIT FLY NOW RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST EVER QUARANTINE OF ITS KIND IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, THE DISCOVERY OF ROUGHLY THIRD TAU FRUIT FLIES IN THE L.A. SUBURB OF STEVENSON RANCH PROMPTED STATE OFFICIALS TO ORDER THE AGRICULTURAL QUARANTINE ACROSS NEARLY 80 SQUARE MILES IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY. >> WE'RE NOT EATING ANY FRUIT HOLE AT THE MOMENT WITHOUT LOOKING AT IT FIRST. >> Reporter: OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE FLY, NATIVE TO ASIA, ARRIVED HERE BY WAY OF A TRAVELLER WHO BROUGHT IN UNINSPECTED PRODUCE. HOPING TO STOP ITS SPREAD, THOUSANDS OF TRAPS HAVE BEEN SET, AND RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN BLANKETED WITH WARNINGS NOT TO MOVE ANY FRUITS OR VEGETABLES FROM THEIR HOMES. >> I THINK THIS IS DEFINITELY A WAKE-UP CALL. WE CAN SPREAD PESTS FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER WITHOUT KNOWING IT. IT CAN CAUSE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DAMAGE. >> Reporter: THE YELLOW BLANGD FRUIT FLY DISCOVERIES COULD POSE A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE CRITICAL AGRICULTURE ECONOMY. THE INVASIVE PEST ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HOUSE FLY CAN LAY EGGS IN PRODUCE, DEEMING ENTIRE YIELDS OF CROPS UNFIT FOR CONSUMPTION. CALIFORNIA'S $51 BILLION AG INDUSTRY HELPS FEED THE NATION AND THE WORLD. LISA TATE'S FAMILY HAS BEEN FARMING SINCE THE 1870s. >> ONE PEST CAN TAKE OUT A CROP. IT CAN TAKE OUT AN INDUSTRY IN MONTHS. SO-SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP PESTS OUT. >> Reporter: TONIGHT A BIG FIGHT AGAINST A TINY FLY. MIGUEL ALMAGUER, NBC NEWS. >>> UP NEXT HER >>> FINELY, WHAT BETTER WAY TO BEAT THE HEAT THAN TAKING A SUMMER SWIM WITH A FEW THOUSAND OF YOUR FRIENDS. HERE IS JESSE KIRSCH. >> HOW YOU? >> GOOD, HOW YOU? >> GOOD. >> Reporter: WHEN IT COMES TO MORNING COFFEE, CHICAGO DOES THINGS DIFFERENTLY. WELCOME TO FRIDAY MORNING SWIM CLUB. AROUND 7:00 A.M. ON SUMMER FRIDAY, HUNDREDS OF STRANGERS GRAB FREE COLD BREW AND A QUICK DIP IN LAKE MICHIGAN. >> THERE IS NO AGENDA. THERE IS NO EXPECTATIONS. ANYONE CAN COME. >> Reporter: FRIENDS ANDREW AND NICOLE STARTED THE GROUP BY ACCIDENT WITH WEEKLY SWIMS IN 2021. >> LET'S JUST PUT OUR PHONES DOWN, CONNECT, CATCH UP. >> Reporter: THEY INVITED THEIR FRIENDS BROUGHT FRIENDS. AND PRETTY SOON -- >> THREE, TWO, ONE! >> Reporter: PEOPLE WERE SHOWING UP BY THE THOUSANDS. >> WE COME EVERY FRIDAY. >> Reporter: ANY REGRETS NOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE IT? >> DEFINITELY NOT. >> Reporter: EVEN WHEN THE WEATHER ISN'T IDEAL, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE STILL SHOWED UP EARLY ON THE CHICAGO LAKEFRONT IN THE MORNING, TAKING THINGS A STEP FURTHER, MAKING A SPLASH. [ CHEERING ] WE MET FIRST-TIMER. >> EXHILARATED. >> Reporter: FREQUENT FLOATERS. >> WE LEFT OUR HOUSE AT 6:00 IN THE MORNING. >> Reporter: WORTH IT? >> YES. >> Reporter: AND FAST FRIENDS TURNED BEST FRIENDS. WHERE DID YOU MEET? >> LIKE, YEAH, I WOULD SAY RIGHT THERE. >> THIS IS THE LARGEST GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH THE BEST VIBES, THE MOST POSITIVE ATTITUDE. >> Reporter: CREATING COMMUNITY AND SIMPLE SUMMER FUN. JESSE KIRSCH, NBC NEWS, CHICAGO. >> ANOTHER REASON TO LOVE CHICAGO. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS." UP NEXT ON NBC AND PEACOCK, THE NFL PRESEASON KICKS OFF IN CANTON, OHIO WHEN THE NEW-LOOK JETS TAKE ON THE BROWNS IN THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME GAME. THANKS FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. EASE TAKE CARE O