>>> TONIGHT, THE PURPORTED APOLOGY FROM A MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL FOR KIDNAPPING THOSE FOUR AMERICANS. THE HANDWRITTEN LETTER SAID TO BE FROM A POWERFUL CARTEL SAYING THEY HAVE TURNED OVER THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KIDNAPPING THAT LEFT TWO OF THOSE AMERICANS DEAD. THE MEN WHO ALLEGEDLY DID IT TIED UP AND LEFT IN THE STREET. WHAT WE'RE LEARNING. ALSO TONIGHT, THE CEO OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN ON THE HOT SEAT TELLING THE SENATE HE'S DEEPLY SORRY FOR THE TOXIC TRAIN DERAILMENT IN OHIO AS HE TESTIFIED, THE COMPANY RESPONDING TO YET ANOTHER DERAILMENT. THIS TIME IN ALABAMA. >>> TRACKING TWO STORMS. A POWERFUL NEW SYSTEM BATTERING CALIFORNIA AFTER RECORD SNOW. ANOTHER STORM MOVING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE'LL TIME IT ALL OUT. >>> JUST BREAKING. A DEADLY MASS SHOOTING IN A CHURCH IN GERMANY. REPORTS OF MULTIPLE PEOPLE KILLED. >>> NEW VIDEO OF A HYPERSONIC MISSILE STRIKING A POWER PLANT IN KYIV. THE DEADLY NEW BARRAGE ACROSS UKRAINE. OUR TEAM ON THE GROUND. >> SENATE GOP LEADER MITCH McCONNELL HOSPITALIZED WITH A CONCUSSION AFTER A FALL. HIS CONDITION. JUST IN, LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER HE WAS FOUND GUILTY, ALEX MURDAUGH APPEALING HIS DOUBLE MURDER CONVICTION AND A MAJOR FDA CHANGE FOR MAMMOGRAMS. COULD IT HELP MORE WOMEN DETECT BREAST CANCER EARLIER? ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS WITH LESTER HOLT." >>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. A STUNNING APOLOGY FOR THE KIDNAPPING AND MURDERS OF AMERICANS ON A VISIT TO MEXICO IS GIVING RARE INSIGHT INTO THE THINKING OF A NOTORIOUS CRIME ORGANIZATION. THE APOLOGY COMING IN A LETTER PURPORTING TO BE FROM THE GULF CARTEL IN WHICH IT SEEMS TO DISAVOW A DIRECT ROLE IN THE ATTACK THAT LEFT TWO AMERICANS AND A MEXICAN CITIZEN DEAD, BLAMING IT ON ERRORS CAUSED BY THE INDICE MRIN AND SUGGESTING THAT THOSE ACTS WERE CAUSED BY THOSE WORKING ALONE, AKING AGAINST THE RULES. IN THE LETTER WHICH A SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL SAYS IS BELIEVED BY U.S. AUTHORITIES TO BE LEGITIMATE, THE GROUP STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE KIDNAPPINGS AND MURDERS. THE LETTER OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS INCLUDED A THAT THE GUILTY PARTIES WILL PAY. MORGAN CHESKY HAS MORE. >> THE STUNNING PHOTOS SHOW FIVE MEN LAYING ON THE PAVEMENT, EACH WITH HANDS TIED AND ALL, BUT ONE, SHIRTLESS. WITH A HANDWRITTEN LETTER CLAIMING TO BE FROM MEXICO'S GULF CARTEL, STUCK TO THE WINDSHIELD. A BIZARRE SCENE THAT TODAY A SENIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL TELLS NBC NEWS APPEARS TO BE AN APOLOGY FROM THE CARTEL, FOLLOWING THE KIDNAPPING THAT LEFT TWO AMERICANS DEAD. THE SHOCKING ADMISSION ALMOST UNPRECEDENTED. >> HAVE YOU SEEN A SITUATION LIKE THIS? >> NO, I HAVE NOT. THEY MADE A HUGE MISTAKE. THEY KILLED TWO AMERICANS AND THEY KNOW THAT THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT IS GOING AFTER THEM. THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO AFTER THEM, AS WELL. >> THE LETTER OBTAINED BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FROM A MEXICAN OFFICIAL INCLUDES APOLOGIES TO THE PEOPLE OF MATAMOROS, THE FAMILY OF THE MEXICAN WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED AND THE FAMILIES OF THE AMERICANS. IT READS IN PART, THE GULF CARTEL SCORPION GROUP STRONGLY CONDEMNS THE EVENTS OF FRIDAY, MARCH 3rd. FOR THIS REASON WE HAVE DECIDED TO HAND OVER THOSE INVOLVED ADDING THE MEN ACTED UNDER THEIR OWN DETERMINATION AND UNDISCIPLINED AND AGAINST THE RULES IN WHICH THE CARTEL HAS ALWAYS OPERATED. MEXICAN AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT CONFIRMED IN THE MEN ARE IN CUSTODY OR IF THEY'RE TRULY RESPONSIBLE. MEANWHILE IN TEXAS AS OFFICIALS WORK TO GET TWO SLAIN AMERICANS BACK HOME, SURVIVOR ERIC JAMES WILLIAMS IS RECOVERING. HIS WIFE SHARING DOCTORS PLACED METAL RODS IN HIS LEG, WOUNDED IN A HAIL OF GUN FIRE, TONIGHT THE CARTEL ENDING THEIR LETTER ASKING SOCIETY TO REMAIN CALM. CLOSING WITH THE GUILTY PARTIES WILL PAY REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY ARE. >> MORGAN, WHAT MORE CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE CONDITION AND THE STATUS OF THE AMERICAN VICTIMS? >> WE KNOW THIS PROCESS TO REPATRIATE OR RECOVER THOSE TWO AMERICANS HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW AND JUST IN THE LAST FEW MINUTES OUR CREWS WITNESSED THIS SOLEMN PROCESSION, MULTIPLE VEHICLES CROSSING THIS INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE FROM MEXICO BACK ON TO U.S. SOIL CARRYING THOSE TWO AMERICANS. WE ARE TOLD THEY'RE HEADED TO A LOCAL FUNERAL HOME AND FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS ARE EXPECTED. LESTER? >> ALL RIGHT. MORGAN CHESKY, THANK YOU FOR THAT. >>> TODAY WORD OF ANOTHER TRAIN DERAILMENT JUST AS THE CEO WAS APPEARING BEFORE CONGRESS APOLOGIZING FOR THE TOXIC DERAILMENT IN EAST PALESTINE, OHIO, AND FACING A GRILLING BY LAWMAKERS. HERE'S TOM COSTELLO. >> I WANT TO BEGIN TODAY BY EXPRESSING HOW DEEPLY SORRY I AM. >> FULLY EXPECTING A BIPARTISAN GRILLING, NORFOLK SOUTHERN CEO ALLEN SHAW STARTED WITH AN APOLOGY AND A PROMISE. >> WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO HELP EAST PALESTINE THRIVE AND RECOVER. THAT'S MY PERSONAL COMMITMENT. >> BUT WHEN SENATORS ASKED FOR SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS TO COVER RESIDENTS' MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR EXPOSURE TO TOXINS AND LOST PROPERTY VALUE, THE RAILROAD EXEC KEPT IT VAGUE. >> WILL YOU COMMIT TO PAYING FOR LONG-TERM MEDICAL TESTING FOR PEOPLE IN THE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES? >> SENATOR, I'M COMMITTED TO DOING WHAT'S RIGHT. >> WILL YOU COMMIT TO COMPENSATING AFFECTED HOMEOWNERS WHILE THEY DIMINISH PROPERTY VALUES. >> SENATOR, I'M COMMITTED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. >> WELL, WHAT'S RIGHT IS A FAMILY THAT HAD A HOME WORTH $100,000 THAT IS NOW WORTH $50,000 WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE ABLE TO SELL THAT HOME FOR 100,000 AGAIN. WILL YOU COMPENSATE THAT FAMILY FOR THAT LOSS? >> SENATOR, I AM COMMITTED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. >> THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. >> SHAW SAID THE COMPANY HAS ALREADY PLEDGED $21 MILLION TO HELP THE AREA INSISTING HE RUNS A SAFE RAILROAD, BUT AS HE WAS SPEAKING, WORD OF ANOTHER NORFOLK SOUTHERN DERAILMENT. 30 CARS EARLY THIS MORNING IN ALABAMA. NO INJURIES AND NO HAZMAT SPILL. OVER THE WEEKEND A NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAIN DERAILED IN SPRINGFIELD, OHIO. AGAIN, NO INJURIES. ALSO UNDER FIRE FOR ITS RESPONSE, THE EPA. >> WHY DID IT TAKE WEEKS FOR THE EPA ADMINISTRATOR TO DRINK THE WATER HE REPEATEDLY TOLD RESIDENTS WAS SAFE? >> THE EPA DID REPORT THE EAST PALESTINE AIR AND WATER SAMPLES CONTINUE TO TEST CLEAN. NORFOLK SOUTHERN HAS HAD 20 HAZMAT SPILLS OVER EIGHT YEARS, THE RAILROAD INDUSTRY AVERAGES ONCE A MONTH. OHIO REPUBLICAN J.D. VANCE TOOK AIM AT THOSE WHO OPPOSE NEW RAILROAD SAFETY REGULATIONS. >> WE HAVE A CHOICE. ARE WE FOR BIG BUSINESS AND BIG GOVERNMENT OR ARE WE FOR THE PEOPLE OF EAST PALESTINE? >> SHAW SAYS HE'D SUPPORT PARTS OF THE NEW REGS, BUT NOT ALL. >> NORFOLK SOUTHERN RUNS A SAFE RAILROAD, AND IT'S MY COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE THAT SAFETY. >> TOM, NORFOLK SOUTHERN IS ALREADY FACING SOME LAWSUITS. >> THAT'S RIGHT. 18 SO FAR, AND THE EPA ALSO INSISTS IT WILL HOLD THE COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE. IF IT FAILS TO COMPLETELY CLEAN UP EAST PALESTINE, THE EPA IS THREATENING TO FORCE IT TO PAY TRIPLE THE COST OF THE CLEANUP, LESTER. >> TOM COSTELLO TONIGHT. THANK YOU. >>> NOW TO THE OVER 66 MILLION AMERICANS UNDER WEATHER ALERTS TONIGHT FACING THREATS FROM TWO MAJOR STORMS. DYLAN DREYER IS TRACKING IT. DYLAN, WHAT'S THE LATEST? >> THE HEAVIEST RAIN IS MAKING ITS WAY INTO CENTRAL CALIFORNIA NOW AND IT WILL LAST UNTIL TOMORROW AND WE'RE EXPECTING SO MUCH RAIN THAT A HIGH RISK OF FLASH FLOODING IS POSSIBLE. THESE ARE EXTREMELY RARE AND WHEN THEY ARE ISSUED THEY DO ACCOUNT FOR A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FLOOD DEATHS. SO THIS IS A VERY, VERY SERIOUS SITUATION. THERE'S A LOT OF SNOW PACK IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING SIX TO EIGHT INCHES OF RAIN TO FALL ON TOP OF THAT SNOW THAT CAN LEAD TO AVALANCHES, MUD SLIDES AND ALSO CONTINUING WITH THE REGULAR FLOODING THAT IS ASSOCIATED WITH SIX TO EIGHT TO TEN INCHES OF RAIN. ALSO, WE ARE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON THE STORM SYSTEM AS IT MOVES THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES. THIS IS GOING TO PRODUCE SNOW FOR THE NORTHEAST. WE COULD END UP WITH A WIDESPREAD FOUR INCHES OF SNOW AND SOME AREAS COULD GET CLOSER TO SIX, LESTER. >> DYLAN DREYER, THANK YOU. >> THERE IS BREAKING NEWS IN GERMANY WHERE A SHOOTING INSIDE A CHURCH HAS LEFT SEVERAL PEOPLE DEAD AND OTHERS WOUNDED. AUTHORITIES SAY IT HAPPENED IN A JEHOVAH WITNESS HALL IN HAMBURG, GERMANY'S SECOND LARGEST CITY. >>> ANY THIS WAS A DEADLY DAY IN UKRAINE AS RUSSIA LAUNCHED AN INTENSE NEW WAVE OF MISSILE STRIKES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WHAT RUSSIA CALLS REVENGE ATTACKS. ERIN McLACHLAN IS THERE. >> THIS IS HOW THE UKRAINIAN CAPITAL WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND A HYPERSONIC MISSILE STRIKING THE POWER PLANT IN THE HEART OF KYIV. ONE OF THE BARRAGE OF MISSILE ATTACKS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT TEMPORARILY KNOCKED OUT POWER AND KILLED AT LEAST SIX ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS. UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY CALLING IT AN ACT OF TERROR. THE KREMLIN CALLING IT AN ACT OF REVENGE FOR AN INCURSION THAT KILLED ONE RUSSIAN CIVILIAN LAST WEEK. UKRAINE DENIES ANY INVOLVEMENT. TODAY AT LEAST FIVE DIED IN THE WESTERN REGION OF LVIV AFTER THE MISSILE LANDED IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND TO THE SOUTH IN ZAPORIZHZHIA, A MISSILE DAMAGED THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, TEMPORARILY FORCING IT ON TO EMERGENCY GENERATORS FOR THE SIXTH TIME. THE POWER LINE HAS SINCE BEEN RESTORED. >> IF WE ALLOW THIS TO CONTINUE TIME AFTER TIME THEN ONE DAY OUR LUCK WILL RUN OUT. >> MISSILES ALSO STRIKING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CENTER OF UKRAINE. >> TONIGHT IN DNIPRO, THE POWER IS ALREADY BACK. THIS WAS THE 15th WIDE-SCALE ATTACK ON UKRAINE'S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE RUSSIANS HAVE VERY LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT. THE RUSSIAN FORCES ALSO HAVE LITTLE TO SHOW FOR THEIR MONTHS' LONG ASSAULT ON THE CITY OF BAKHMUT WHERE THEY DEPLOYED AND LOST THOUSANDS OF MEN. >> TONIGHT, THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA IS WARNING THE RUSSIAN PRESIDENT IS PLAYING THE LONG GAME HOPING THE WEST LOSES INTEREST WHILE UKRAINIANS ARE VOWING TO DEFEND THEIR LAND NO MATTER WHAT. LESTER? >> ERIN McLACHLAN, THANK YOU. >>> BACK HOME TONIGHT, TOP SENATE REPUBLICAN MITCH McCONNELL REMAINS HOSPITALIZED AFTER TRIPPING AND SUFFERING A CONCUSSION. RYAN NOBLES IS AT THE CAPITOL. RYAN, WHAT MORE DO WE KNOW? >> LESTER, IN JUST THE LAST HOUR PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN SAID HE SPOKE WITH THE FAMILY OF MITCH McCONNELL AND HE EXPECTS THAT THE SENATE LEADER WILL BE ALL RIGHT. McCONNELL SUFFERING A CONCUSSION FROM A FALL AFTER AN EVENT THAT HE WAS HOSTING FOR THE SENATE LEADERSHIP FUND WHICH IS A PAC THAT SUPPORTS SENATE REPUBLICANS. McCONNELL'S AIDES SAYING THAT THEY EXPECT HIM TO BE HOSPITALIZED FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. HE IS 81 AND HAS HAD HEALTH SCARES, HEART SURGERY IN 2003 AND SUFFERED A FRACTURED SHOULDER AFTER A FALL BACK IN 2019. THE LENGTH OF HIS ABSENCE WILL LIKELY DETERMINE HOW BIG OF AN IMPACT IT HAS ON THE UNITED STATES SENATE. McCONNELL EXPECTED TO BE A KEY NEGOTIATOR IN THESE LEGISLATIVE SHOWDOWNS OVER THE BUDGET AND OF COURSE, THE DEBT CEILING. AT THIS POINT, LESTER, HIS AIDES ARE NOT SETTING A TIMELINE FOR WHEN HE COULD RETURN. LESTER? >> RYAN NOBLES, THANK YOU. >> THERE IS ANOTHER BUDGET HEADLINE TONIGHT AS PRESIDENT BIDEN LAID OUT HIS $6.8 TRILLION PROPOSAL. KRISTEN WELKER NOW ON THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN AND REPUBLICAN REACTION. >> TONIGHT IN BATTLEGROUND PENNSYLVANIA, PRESIDENT BIDEN UNVEILING HIS SWEEPING BUDGET PROPOSAL CALLING FOR MAJOR TAX HIKES ON THE WEALTHY AND INCREASED SPENDING. >> MY BUDGET'S GOING TO GIVE WORKING PEOPLE A FIGHTING CHANCE. IT'S GOING TO CREATE GOOD-PAYING JOBS. >> STILL WITH DIVIDED GOVERNMENT, THAT PLAN IS DEAD ON ARRIVAL WITH REPUBLICANS STAUNCHLY OPPOSED TO ANY NEW TAX INCREASES, BUT MR. BIDEN'S PROPOSAL LIKELY A BLUEPRINT FOR HIS BATTLE PLAN AGAINST REPUBLICANS IN HIS EXPECTED 2024 RE-ELECTION BID. >> MAGA REPUBLICANS ALL VOTED TO GET RID OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THEY VOTED TO GET RID OF IT 50 TIMES SINCE BARACK PASSED IT. >> THE $6.8 BILLION PLAN CALLS FOR PROTECTING SOCIAL SECURITY AND SHORING UP MEDICARE BY RAISING TAXES ON THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS AND INCREASING PENALTIES ON OIL AND GAS COMPANIES AND IMPOSING A BILLIONAIRE TAX OF 25% AND HIKING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE FROM 21% TO 28%, AND IT INCLUDES RECORD SPENDING ON THE MILITARY AND INCREASING FUNDING FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMS LIKE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE, BUT REPUBLICANS BLASTING IT AS A RECKLESS TAX AND SPEND PLAN. >> WHAT DOES THIS BUDGET DO? RAISE MORE TAXES, SPENDS MORE MONEY, CREATES PROBABLY THE BIGGEST GOVERNMENT WE'VE EVER SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. >> THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN ALSO AN ATTEMPT TO REVIVE HIS STANDING, IN OUR LATEST NBC NEWS POLL JUST 36% SAY THEY APPROVE OF HIS HANDLING OF THE ECONOMY AND JUST 32% SAY THEY ARE ENTHUSIASTIC OR COMFORTABLE WITH HIM RUNNING FOR OFFICE AGAIN. AS FOR THAT IMPENDING SHOWDOWN OVER THE DEBT CEILING, THE PRESIDENT WILL MEET WITH SPEAKER McKARTHER ONCE THE REPUBLICANS RELEASE THEIR BUDGET. LESTER? >> KRISTEN WELKER AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THANKS. >> ONE WEEK AFTER CONVICTED OF MURDERING HIS WIFE AND SON, ALEX MURDAUGH'S LAWYERS FILED A NOTICE TO APPEAL HIS CONVICTIONS TODAY. MURDAUGH WAS SENTENCED TO TWO TERMS OF LIFE IN PRISON AND MAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE POTENTIALLY >>> BACK NOW WITH AN IMPORTANT HEALTH UPDATE. NEW STANDARDS FROM THE FDA THAT COULD SAVE LIVES BY HELPING WOMEN LEARN IF THEY'RE AT HIGHER RISK FOR BREAST CANCER. HERE'S KRISTEN DAHLGREN. >> WHEN JOANN PUSHKIN WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN 2005 SHE WONDERED WHY HERE YEARLY MAMMOGRAMS NEVER SPOTTED IT. >> THE LETTER I GOT AFTER MY MAMMOGRAM SIMPLY SAID NEGATIVE, NO EVIDENCE OF CANCER. THERE WAS NO WORD OF BREAST DENSITY. >> ALMOST HALF OF WOMEN HAVE WHAT ARE CONSIDERED DENSE BREASTS. THEY APPEAR WHITE ON MAMMOGRAPHY, MAKING CANCER, WHICH ALSO APPEARS WHITE, MORE DIFFICULT TO DETECT. HERE'S A SPOT OF CANCER ON THE MAMMOGRAM OF A FATTY BREAST. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN A DENSE BREAST. >> LIKE TRYING TO FIND A SNOWBALL IN A BLIZZARD. EASILY MISSED AND OVERLOOKED. HOW MANY WOMEN HAVE BEEN FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS? >> DENSE BREASTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH FOUR TIMES HIGHER RISK OF DEVELOPING BREAST CANCER. TODAY THE FDA IS MANDATING A NEW NATIONWIDE STANDARD FOR NOTIFYING WOMEN OF THEIR BREAST DANCITY. >> WOMEN WITH DENSE BREASTS HAVE AN INCREASED HIGHER RISK OF BREAST CANCER. TODAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT ENSURES PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THIS INFORMATION IN STANDARD LANGUAGE. >> WOMEN WITH DENSE BREASTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TALK TO THEIR DOCTORS AND ASK IF THEY NEED ADDITIONAL SCREENING LIKE AN ULTRASOUND OR MRI. THE FDA STANDARDS WON'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL 2024. MEANTIME, ONLY 15 STATES CURRENTLY REQUIRE INSURANCE TO PAY FOR ALL OR PART OF ADDITIONAL SCREENING. SO CONGRESS WILL SOON RE-CONSIDER THE FIND IT EARLY ACT TO ENSURE ALL HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS COVER MAMMOGRAMS AND ADDITIONAL SCREENING. >> WHEN WE FINANCE MATTERS. CANCER IS FOUND AT AN EARLY STAGE AND HAVE A 99% FIVE-YEAR SURVIVAL RATE. TONIGHT, HOPE THAT WOMEN ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO FINDING BREAST CANCER BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. KRISTEN DAHLGREN, NBC NEWS. >>> AND UP NEXT FOR US, A PUSH TO HELP DIAGNOSE BOYS WITH EATING DISORDERS. ONE FAMILY'S JOURNEY >>> NO >>> NOW TO OUR SERIES "KIDS UNDER PRESSURE" AND AN ISSUE THAT OFTEN DOESN'T GET THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES. BOYS AND EATING DISORDERS. ABOUT ONE IN THREE PEOPLE DIAGNOSED WITH AN EATING DISORDER IS MALE, BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT NUMBER IS PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER. HERE'S SAVANNAH SELLERS. >> AT JUST 17 YEARS OLD, RYAN HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH HIS BODY IMAGE FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE. >> AT FIRST IT WAS KIND OF, OH, I'M TOO BIG. >> IN SIXTH GRADE RYAN BEGAN SKIPPING SNACKS AND DESSERT. HE JOINED THE WRESTLING TEAM AND OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS STARTED TO RESTRICT EACH MORE. >> THERE WAS A LOT OF CUTTING YOUR WEIGHT TO GET TO LOWER WEIGHT CLASSES. >> BY EIGHTH GRADE FOOD CONSUMED HIS THOUGHTS. >> I WAS THINKING ABOUT EATING EVERY DAY, EVERY MEAL. EITHER, LIKE, GUILT, DREADING A MEAL. >> THE CHANGE IN RYAN'S PHYSICAL APPEARANCE WAS DRAMATIC. >> THIS HERE IS ONE. >> FRESHMAN YEAR. >> YOU'RE A LOT THINNER. >> YEAH. >> STILL, IT TOOK YEARS FOR RYAN TO SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR HIS EATING DISORDER. >> I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A GIRL THING. >> WHEN DID YOU THINK, OKAY, MAYBE IT CAN APPLY TO BOYS, TOO. >> IT WOULDN'T BE UNTIL I STARTED TREATMENT. >> EVEN DOCTORS STRUGGLED TO IDENTIFY MALE PATIENTS IN PART BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO ROAD MAP TO DO SO. >> 99% OF THE RESEARCH UP UNTIL NOW HAS FOCUSED ON FEMALES. >> DR. JASON NEGATA IS AN EATING DISORDER SPECIALIST AT UCSF PUSHING FOR GUIDELINES SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON BOYS AND MEN. HE SAYS NO EATING DISORDER ACCOUNTS FOR BOYS TRYING TO BULK UP AND UNTIL 2020 TO BE DIAGNOSEDED WITH AN REXHA, A PERSON HAD TO MISS AT LEAST THREE PERIODS. >> ESPECIALLY WITH ATHLETES THAT ARE DOING THE EXACT SAME THINGS THAT GIRLS WITH EATING DISORDERS ARE DOING TO MEET THESE WEIGHT CUTOFFS, BUT IT'S VIEWED AS NORMAL BECAUSE EVERYONE ON THE TEAM IS DOING IT. >> RYAN'S MOM KERRY NEVER SAW THIS COMING. >> I REALLY THOUGHT OH, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS WITH MY DAUGHTER AND IT ENDED UP BEING RYAN. IT WAS -- THAT WAS VERY SURPRISING. >> WERE YOU SCARED? >> YEAH. OH, YEAH. VERY SCARED. I WOULD TRY TO GO ONLINE, GO TO THE LIBRARY GET BOOKS ABOUT BOYS WITH EATING DISORDERS AND THERE WAS NOTHING. >> AFTER AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH, KERRY FOUND NEWPORT HEALTHCARE WHERE RYAN COMPLETED A 60-DAY IN-PATIENT PROGRAM LAST YEAR. >> I STILL BATTLE WITH THE THOUGHTS ON A DAILY BASIS, THAT I HAVE SO MANY COPING STILLS NOW THAT I LEARNED THROUGH TREATMENT. >> HE ALSO HAS A MESSAGE TO OTHER BOYS. >> AS A YOUNG BOY YOU WANT TO BE MASCULINE AND YOU DON'T WANT TO SHOW ANY WEAKNESS, BUT REALLY WHAT MAKES YOU STRONG IS REALIZING YOUR OWN WEAKNESSES AND FIGHTING THEM. >> SAVANNAH SELLERS, NBC NEWS. >>> WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. COMING UP, SAVING KIDS FROM GUN VIOLENCE. ONE MAS MISSIO >>> FINALLY, A LESSON THAT COULD SAVE LIVES. REHEMA ELLIS AND A NEW WAY OF TEACHING KIDS THE DANGERS OF GUN VIOLENCE. ♪ RUN, RUN AWAY ♪ ♪ IF YOU SEE A GUN ♪ >> FOR WILLIAM ELECTRIC BLACK IT'S AN URGENT MESSAGE THAT HAS TO BE TAUGHT TO SAVE KIDS. >> KIDS ARE DYING. KIDS OF COLOR AND YOU KNOW, IT BREAKS MY HEART, REALLY. >> THIS APPROACH, TEACHING CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS 4 ABOUT THE DANGERS OF GUNS, INCORPORATING NURSERY RHYMES, MIMES AND PUPPETRY. >> IS IT ENOUGH TO HAVE A MESSAGE OR DO YOU NEED A MOVEMENT? >> WE NEED A MOVEMENT. THERE'S MORE GUNS OUT THERE THAN PEOPLE. >> AN EMMY AWARD-WINNING SESAME STREET WRITER, ELECTRIC KNOWS THE POWER OF RHYME. >> A GUN IS NOT -- >> FUN! >> RECENTLY HE WAS AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN EAST HARLEM MODELING A PROGRAM HE HOPES TO BRING TO ALL NEW YORK CITY SCHOOLS. >> IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE PARENTS IN THIS, AS WELL, WORKING WITH THEIR CHILDREN? SINGING WITH THEIR CHILDREN? >> YES. >> READING WITH THEIR CHILDREN? >> THAT'S HOW IT WORKS, DOESN'T IT? WHO DOESN'T KNOW THE ITSY-BITSY SPIDER? >> THE PEOPLE, WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY CHASE THE GUN AWAY. >> FIREARMS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR CHILDREN IN THE U.S. LAST YEAR MORE THAN 6,000 WERE KILLED OR INJURED BY GUN VIOLENCE. >> I PUT TEETH ON THE CHARACTERS. >> WHY DID YOU DO THAT? >> MENACING, BAD, DANGEROUS! >> I NEVER LET THE KIDS COME UP AND OH, LET ME TOUCH IT. LET ME HOLD IT. THAT'S NOT PART OF IT. >> NO. >> SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE STARTING TOO YOUNG. THIS IS TOO SERIOUS, IT'S TOO VIOLENT. IT'S TOO HURTFUL. WHAT DO YOU SAY? >> IT'S AGE APPROPRIATE. IF A CHILD JUST REALIZES THAT A GUN CAN DO THIS AND YOU SHOULD TRY TO CALL 911, THAT'S BIG. >> A BIG LIFE LESSON STARTING WITH THE SMALLEST OF US. ♪♪ HIP, HIP, HOORAY! >> REHEMA ELLIS, NBC NEWS, NEW YORK. >> THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS THURSDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, EVERYONE. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT.