>>> TONIGHT, THE AMERICANS COMING HOME AFTER THEY WERE RELEASED IN THE LARGEST PRISONER SWAP WITH RUSSIA SINCE THE COLD WAR. THE THREE AMERICANS ON A PLANE HOME INCLUDING JOURNALIST EVAN GERSHKOVICH, DETAINED NEARLY 500 DAYS, AND PAUL WHELAN, A MARINE VETERAN HELD MORE THAN FIVE YEARS. BOTH DETAINED ON SPYING CHARGES THE U.S. CALLED A SHAM. THE FAMILIES WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, SPEAKING TO THEM FROM THE OVAL OFFICE. THE DEAL TWO YEARS IN THE MAKING INVOLVING SEVEN COUNTRIES. VLADIMIR PUTIN WELCOMING RUSSIA'S FREED PRISONERS. WHO DID THE U.S. GIVE UP IN EXCHANGE? >>> ALSO TONIGHT, HERE IN PARIS, SIMONE BILES WINNING GOLD IN THE ALL-AROUND, BEATING HER OWN TEAMMATE SUNI LEE. WHAT SIMONE TOLD US AFTER MAKING HISTORY. AND BACK HOME AT HER GYMNASIUM, THE SPORT'S NEXT GENERATION ERUPTING IN CHEERS. >>> DONALD TRUMP FACING BACKLASH AFTER QUESTIONING KAMALA HARRIS' RACIAL IDENTITY. HOW HE IS DOUBLING DOWN, POSTING ONE OF HARRIS' OLD FAMILY PHOTOS. >>> ISRAEL SAYING IT'S KILLED ANOTHER TOP HAMAS LEADER AFTER ASSASSINATING TWO OTHER MILITANT LEADERS THIS WEEK. >>> NEW TONIGHT, THE SHERIFF WHO OVERSAW THE DEPUTY WHO KILLED SONYA MASSEY TELLING US HE WON'T RESIGN, AND WE ASK WHY DID HE HIRE THAT DEPUTY WITH A HISTORY OF DISCIPLINARY PROBLEMS. >>> AND HE IS TEAM USA'S SECRET WEAPON. OUR DAY WITH OLYMPIC SUPER FAN SNOOP DOGG. >> Announcer: THIS IS "NBC NIGHTLY NEWS" REPORTING TONIGHT FROM THE OLYMPICS IN PARIS. HERE IS LESTER HOLT. >> GOOD EVENING. FOR ALL THE JOY AND EMOTION WE HAVE WITNESSED AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS THIS WEEK, NOTHING CAN TOP THE ELATION AND RELIEF BEING FELT BY THE FAMILIES OF FOUR U.S. RESIDENTS, THREE OF THEM U.S. CITIZENS FREED TODAY BY RUSSIA. THIS PHOTO OF "WALL STREET JOURNAL" REPORTER EVAN GERSHKOVICH, MARINE VETERAN PAUL WHELAN, AND JOURNALIST ALSU KURMASHEVA ABOARD A U.S. TRANSPORT PLANE EN ROUTE TO JOINT BASE ANDREWS. THEY'RE EXPECTED TO LAND LATE TONIGHT TO BE WELCOMED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. A FOURTH U.S. RESIDENT REUNITING WITH FAMILY IN GERMANY TONIGHT. THE U.S. SAYS ALL FOUR WERE UNJUSTLY HELD BY RUSSIA. THEIR RELEASE PART OF A MULTINATIONAL PRISONER SWAP INVOLVING 24 PEOPLE. THE PRESIDENT TONIGHT CALLING IT A FEAT OF DIPLOMACY. OUR KEIR SIMMONS STARTS US OFF WITH LATE DETAILS. >> Reporter: TONIGHT, A HISTORY-MAKING HOMECOMING. THREE AMERICANS FREED AND ON THEIR WAY BACK TO THE UNITED STATES. RUSSIAN MEDIA BROADCASTING THESE IMAGES OF SEVERAL OF THE 16 DETAINEES RELEASED, GATHERING THEIR BAGS AND BOARDING A FLIGHT OUT OF THE COUNTRY. IN THE OVAL OFFICE, THE DAUGHTER ONE OF ONE SPEAKING TO HER MOTHER A DAY BEFORE HER 13th BIRTHDAY. AMONG THOSE RELEASED, EVAN GERSHKOVICH, THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" REPORTER. THE PAPER'S NEWSROOM TODAY FILLED WITH EMOTION, ITS FRONT PAGE DECLARING "EVAN GERSHKOVICH IS FREE." HIS FAMILY IS SAYING "WE CAN'T WAIT TO GIVE HIM THE BIGGEST HUG." HE WAS DETAINED ON ASSIGNMENT IN MARCH OF 2023, THEN LAST MONTH HE WAS HURRIEDLY SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN A RUSSIAN PENAL COLONY FOR ESPIONAGE. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CALLING THAT A SHAM. >> THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE RELIEF. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN CELEBRATING AT THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY, SURROUNDED BY FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE RELEASED. >> NOW THEIR BRUTAL ORDEAL IS OVER AND THEY'RE FREE. >> Reporter: THEY INCLUDE PAUL WHELAN, THE MARINE VETERAN WHO WAS DETAINED IN MOSCOW IN 2018. TONIGHT HIS FAMILY THANKING PRESIDENT BIDEN WHILE ACCUSING THE KREMLIN OF TAKING YEARS OFF HIS LIFE. ALSO ALSU KURMASHEVA, A RUSSIAN DUAL CITIZEN WHO WAS VISITING HER MOTHER IN MAY OF LAST YEAR WHEN SHE WAS DETAINED ON A FOREIGN AGENT CHARGE. AND VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA, A PROMINENT RUSSIAN DISSIDENT WHO HOLDS A U.S. GREENCARD. A COMPLEX PRISONER SWAP, NOTHING LIKE IT SEEN SINCE THE COLD WAR. THE DEAL INVOLVING 24 INDIVIDUALS, THE HANDOVER IN TURKEY, WITH SEVEN SEPARATE AIRCRAFT AND EIGHT RUSSIANS PUTIN WANTED BACK RETURNED, GREETING THEM WITH FLOWERS ON THE TARMAC. THE GROUP INCLUDING CONVICTED RUSSIAN SPIES AND THEIR CHILDREN. CONTROVERSIALLY KEY TO THE DEAL WAS THE RELEASE OF VADIM KRASIKOV, A RUSSIAN ASSASSIN CONVICTED OF MURDER IN GERMANY. GERMANY SAYING TONIGHT IT DID NOT TAKE THE DECISION LIGHTLY. >> ANYONE WHO QUESTIONS WHETHER ALLIES MATTER, THEY DO. THEY MATTER. TODAY IS A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF WHY IT'S VITAL TO HAVE FRIENDS IN THIS WORLD, FRIENDS YOU CAN TRUST. >> Reporter: BASKETBALL PLAYER BRITTNEY GRINER RELEASED FROM RUSSIAN DETENTION IN 2022 IS IN FRANCE FOR THE OLYMPICS AND TOLD REPORTERS TODAY SHE IS HEAD OVER HEELS THAT THE AMERICANS ARE HEADED HOME. NOTABLY, NOT INCLUDED IN THE SWAP AND TONIGHT AMONG THE AMERICANS STILL IN RUSSIAN CUSTODY KSENIA KARELINA, A RUSSIAN AMERICAN BALLERINA WHO MADE A SMALL DONATION TO A UKRAINE AID GROUP AND WAS DETAINED WHILST VISITING FAMILY IN RUSSIA, AND MARK VOGEL, THE AMERICAN TEACHER HELD ON CHARGES OF BRINGING A SMALL AMOUNT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA INTO RUSSIA. HIS FAMILY TONIGHT SAYING WE ARE COMPLETELY HEARTBROKEN AND OUTRAGED THAT MARK HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND WHILE THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BROUGHT OTHER AMERICANS HOME. TONIGHT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SAYING IT IS ACTIVELY WORKING TO GET HIS RELEASE AS WELL. >> AND KEIR JOINING ME NOW. WE'RE HEARING MORE FROM RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN ABOUT THIS DEAL. >> Reporter: THAT'S RIGHT, LESTER. PRESIDENT PUTIN OFFERING THOSE RETURNING RUSSIANS AWARDS. MEANWHILE, NEWS FROM "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL" TONIGHT. IT SAYS EVAN GERSHKOVICH, JUST BEFORE HE WAS REL RELEASED, WROTE TO PRESIDENT PUTIN ASKING FOR AN INTERVIEW. WE'RE ALREADY LOOKING FOR HIS NEXT STORY. LESTER? >> AMAZING, KEIR, THANK YOU. TODAY'S HISTORIC PRISONER SWAP WAS THE RESULT OF LONG AND DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIA AND KEY ALLIES. PETER ALEXANDER IS AT THE WHITE HOUSE. PETER, WHAT MORE HAVE WE LEARNED? >> LESTER, OFFICIALS HERE SAY TODAY'S PRISONER SWAP MARKS THE CULMINATION OF NEARLY TWO YEARS OF EFFORT BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WHERE THE PRESIDENT'S TOP AIDES HAVE MADE IT VERY CLEAR IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE TENSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND RUSSIA. THIS IS THE EMOTIONAL MOMENT INSIDE THE OVAL OFFICE WHEN THE FAMILIES OF THOSE RELEASED PRISONERS SPOKE TO THEIR LOVED ONES, FINALLY FREE. >> WHAT DID YOU SAY? WHEN THEY ANSWERED THE PHONE ON THE OTHER SIDE? >> I SAID WELCOME ALMOST HOME. >> Reporter: PRESIDENT BIDEN SPEARHEADING THE DEAL ON THE PHONE WITH A EUROPEAN COUNTERPART JUST AN HOUR BEFORE HE ANNOUNCED HE WAS DROPPING OUT OF THE 2024 RACE, AND PERSONALLY LOBBYING THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR TO HELP FACILITATE THE SWAP. OLAF SCHOLZ RESPONDING ACCORDING TO AN OFFICIAL HERE, "FOR YOU, I WILL DO THIS." >> THE DEAL THAT MADE THIS POSSIBLE WAS A FEAT OF DIPLOMACY AND FRIENDSHIP. >> Reporter: NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER JAKE SULLIVAN TODAY HOLDING BACK TEARS. >> TODAY WAS A VERY GOOD DAY. >> Reporter: SULLIVAN REVEALING THAT FIERCE PUTIN CRITIC ALEXEI NAVALNY WAS PART OF AN ORIGINAL PROPOSAL BEFORE HE DIED IN A RUSSIAN PRISON IN FEBRUARY. LATER SAYING NO MONEY WAS EXCHANGED AND NO SANCTIONS WERE LOOSENED TO SECURE TODAY'S RELEASE. BUT WITH CRITICISM THAT THESE SWAPS INCENTIVIZE AMERICA'S ADVERSARIES TO TAKE MORE PRISONERS, SULLIVAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE CHALLENGING DECISION. >> WE HAVE ASSESSED AND ANALYZED THAT RISK AND WE HAVE JUVENILED THAT THE BENEFIT OF REUNITING AMERICANS, OF BRINGING PEOPLE HOME, THAT THAT BENEFIT OUTWEIGHS THE RISK. >> Reporter: FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TONIGHT DID NOT EMBRACE THE NEWS. INSTEAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA SLAMMED THE NEGOTIATORS, SAYING THEY'RE ALWAYS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO US. PRESIDENT BIDEN EARLIER SNAPPING BACK WHEN PRESSED ABOUT MR. TRUMP'S REPEATED CLAIMS THAT HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THE PRISONERS OUT OF RUSSIA WITHOUT CONCESSIONS. PAUL WHELAN HAD BEEN HELD SINCE MR. TRUMP'S TIME IN OFFICE. >> WHY DIDN'T HE DO IT WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT? >> Reporter: FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN, THE LEGACY ACHIEVEMENT. FOR THE FREED AMERICANS, A LONG-AWAITED HOMECOMING. PETER ALEXANDER, NBC NEWS, THE WHITE HOUSE. >>> HERE IN PARIS, IT WAS ALL ABOUT GOLD, LOTS OF IT FOR TEAM USA, INCLUDING A HISTORIC NIGHT FOR SIMONE BILES AS SHE WON THE WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS INDIVIDUAL ALL AROUND FOR A SECOND TIME. STEPHANIE GOSK IS HERE. IT WAS A TENSE, TENSE NIGHT. >> IT WAS, LESTER. WE WERE ON THE EDGE OF OUR SEATS. GYMNASTICS CAN BE UNPREDICTABLE, AND IT DEFINITELY WAS TONIGHT. THE LEAD CHANGED HANDS MULTIPLE TIMES, AND IT WENT RIGHT DOWN TO THE WIRE. >> EVERYTHING HAS LED TO THIS MOMENT. >> Reporter: IN THE END, IT CAME DOWN TO THE FINAL ROTATION, THE FINAL PERFORMANCE. SIMONE BILES TOOK THE FLOOR. IT WAS HERS TO WIN. >> AND SHE PUT PRESSURE ON SIMONE. >> BUT BRAZILIAN REBECA ANDRADE SET THE BAR HIGH. BILES WOULD NEED TO BE NEARLY PERFECT, AND SHE WAS. >> THAT'S WHAT GREATNESS LOOKS LIKE. >> Reporter: WHATEVER INNER DEMONS THERE MAY HAVE BEEN IN TOKYO, TONIGHT SIMONE BILES BEAT THEM. BUT IT WAS A NAIL BITER THE ENTIRE WAY. ANDRADE LOOKED SOLID AND TOOK AN EARLY LEAD. >> GAME ON. >> Reporter: AFTER TWO ROTATIONS, BILES IS IN THIRD PLACE AFTER A SLIP-UP ON THE UNEVEN BARS. BUT IT IS REALLY TIGHT AND REALLY TENSE. THE BRAZILIAN WOULD WOBBLE ON THE BEAM, AND IT LEFT AN OPENING THAT BILES WAS HAPPY TO FLIP HER WAY INTO. THE COMPETITION FOR BRONZE WAS EQUALLY TIGHT, BUT SUNI LEE PULLED IT OUT. BILES HAS BEEN ON THE EVENT BEFORE IN THE ALL AROUND WINNING GOLD IN RIO AND TOKYO, BUT TELLING HODA KOTB THE MEDALS HERE IN PARIS FEEL PARTICULARLY SPECIAL. >> THIS ONE FEELS EVEN BETTER THAN THE PAST. I'M A LOT MORE MATURED SO I KNOW WHAT MY BODY IS CAPABLE OF MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY. SO TO GO OUT THERE AND ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. >> IT FELT ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. TO BE BACK OUT HERE IS SUCH AN AMAZING ACCOMPLISHMENT. TO HAVE THIS MEDAL AROUND MY NECK MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. >> Reporter: THERE WERE HISTORIC MOMENTS FOR TEAM USA THROUGHOUT THE DAY. >> AND THE MEN'S FOUR DELIVERS GOLD! >> Reporter: THAT GOLD THE FIRST FOR THE MEN'S FOUR ROWING TEAM SINCE 1960. >> I THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE SOME INSANE CELEBRATION, START JUMPING UP AND DOWN. BUT IT WAS UTTER DISBELIEF. I WASN'T ABLE TO DO THAT. >> Reporter: AND IN FENCING THE WOMEN WON THEIR FIRST EVER GOLD IN WOMEN'S FOIL. >> USA WITH GOLD! >> SHE IS GOING TO MAKE IT A CLEAN SWEEP. >> Reporter: TEAM USA CONTINUES TO DOMINATE AT THE POOL. TODAY INDICATE DOUGLAS WON GOLD AT THE BREASTSTROKE. THE FINAL RECORD-MAKING MOMENT OF THE DAY, LEDECKY HELPED TEAM USA WIN SILVER IN THE 200 METER FREESTYLE RELAY, MAKING HER THE MOST DECORATED WOMAN IN U.S. OLYMPIC HISTORY. STEPHANIE GOSK, NBC NEWS, PARIS. >> STEPHANIE GOSK REPORTING FOR US. JOIN US TONIGHT FOR PRIME-TIME IN PARIS AS SIMONE BILES AND SUNI LEE GO FOR GOLD. IT ALL STARTS AT 8:00 EASTERN. >>> THERE IS NEW FALLOUT TONIGHT OVER FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FALSE QUESTIONING OF THE RACIAL IDENTITY OF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. HE IS DOUBLING DOWN, AND SHE IS RESPONDING. HERE IS GARRETT HAAKE. >> Reporter: TONIGHT THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN FACING MORE BACKLASH OVER THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT THE RACIAL IDENTITY OF VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS. RUNNING MATE J.D. VANCE DEFENDING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP TODAY. >> TRUMP'S POINT IS THAT SHE IS A CHAMELEON. SHE PRESENTS A DIFFERENT FACE DEPENDING ON THE AUDIENCE SHE SPEAKS TO. YOU DON'T WANT A PERSON LIKE THAT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: TRUMP MADE THE COMMENTS DURING A PANEL INTERVIEW WITH BLACK JOURNALISTS. >> SHE WAS ONLY PROMOTING INDIAN HERITAGE. I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS BLACK UNTIL A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO WHEN SHE HAPPENED TO TURN BLACK. AND NOW SHE WANTS TO BE KNOWN AS BLACK. >> Reporter: HARRIS IS THE DAUGHTER OF JAMAICAN AND INDIAN IMMIGRANTS AND ATTENDED A HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE. BUT TRUMP CONTINUES TO PRESS HIS CLAIMS IN THIS SOCIAL MEDIA POST, WRITING, QUOTE, THANK YOU, KAMAL WILL, FOR THE NICE PICTURE YOU SENT FROM MANY YEARS AGO. HARRIS LARGELY SHRUGGING OFF THE COMMENTS AT A BLACK SORORITY APPEARANCE OVERNIGHT. >> IT WAS THE SAME OLD SHOW. THE DIVISIVENESS AND THE DISRESPECT. AND LET ME JUST SAY, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER. >> Reporter: REPUBLICAN MARYLAND SENATE CANDIDATE LARRY HOGAN CALLING TRUMP'S COMMENTS, QUOTE, UNACCEPTABLE AND ABHORRENT, AND THIS FROM A TOP TRUMP ALLY. >> SHE HAS ALWAYS EMBRACED HER HERITAGE PROUDLY, AS SHE HAS. >> Reporter: MEANWHILE, VANCE WITH BORDER OFFICIALS IN ARIZONA. >> KAMALA HARRIS CAME INTO OFFICE MAKING PROMISES, AND SHE KEPT THOSE PROMISES TO OPEN THE AMERICAN SOUTHERN BORDER. >> Reporter: SLAMMING HARRIS FOR HIGH NUMBERS OF MIGRANTS AND FENTANYL COMING INTO THE U.S. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF MOMS AND DADS OUT THERE WHO WILL NEVER SEE THEIR KIDS WALK DOWN THE AISLE BECAUSE OF WHAT KAMALA HARRIS HAS UNLEASHED AT THIS BORDER. >> Reporter: SOURCES TELL NBC NEWS THAT HARRIS' VETTING TEAM HAS MET WITH SIX POTENTIAL RUNNING MATES AHEAD OF A VP CHOICE TO BE ANNOUNCED TUESDAY. LESTER? >> GARRETT HAAKE, THANK YOU. >>> ISRAEL CONFIRMING IT KILLED THE MILITARY LEADER OF HAMAS AFTER ASSASSINATING TWO OTHER TOP MILITARY LEADERS IN RECENT DAYS. RICHARD ENGEL IS IN JERUSALEM AMID NEW CONCERNS THIS WAR COULD EXPAND. RICHARD? >> Reporter: LESTER, ISRAEL HAS CARRIED OUT THREE TARGETED ATTACKS IN RECENT DAY, ONLY CONFIRMING TWO, KILLING THE MILITARY COMMANDER OF HAMAS IN THE GAZA STRIP, THE POLITICAL LEADER OF HAMAS ON A VISIT TO IRAN, EFFECTIVELY ENDING AT LEAST FOR NOW CEASEFIRE AND HOSTAGE TALKS AND KILLING THE MILITARY LEADER OF HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON. THE OVERALL COMMANDER OF HEZBOLLAH THIS CONFLICT HAS NOW ENTERED A NEW PHASE, THAT THERE WILL BE REPRISAL, THAT HEZBOLLAH WILL RESPOND AGAINST ISRAEL AND ITS MAIN BACKER, PRESUMABLY THE UNITED STATES. LESTER? >> RICHARD ENGEL, THANK YOU. >>> IN 60 SECONDS, THE DEATH OF SONYA MASSEY. WHY HER MOTHER CALLED 911, BUT WAS WORRIED ABOUT POLICE COMING TO HER DAUGHTER'S HOME. AND WERE RED FLAGS >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH THE GROWING >>> WE'RE BACK NOW WITH THE GROWING OUTRAGE OVER THE KILLING OF SONYA MASSEY. TONIGHT THE SHERIFF WHO HIRED THE DEPUTY WHO FIRED THE FATAL SHOT IS TALKING WITH US ONE-ON-ONE AS HE FACES CALLS FROM MASSEY'S FAMILY TO RESIGN. HERE IS MAGGIE VESPA. >> SHE GETS UPSET, THEN SHE THINKS EVERYBODY IS AFTER HER, LIKE PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA. >> Reporter: TONIGHT SONYA MASSEY'S MOTHER HEARD ON NEWLY RELEASED 911 CALLS WARNING HER DAUGHTER WAS HAVING A MENTAL BREAKDOWN. >> AND PLEASE DON'T SEND NO COMBATIVE POLICEMEN THAT ARE PREJUDICE, PLEASE. THEY WILL KILL HER. >> THEY'LL JUST DO THEIR JOB, OKAY? >> I'M SCARED OF THE POLICE. >> OKAY. NOTHING TO BE FEARFUL OF, MA'AM. >> Reporter: THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CONFIRMS THAT CALL CAME IN ONE DAY BEFORE THEN DEPUTY SEAN GRAYSON SHOT AND KILLED MASSEY IN HER SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS HOME. >> I REBUKE YOU BETTER [ BLEEP ] I'LL SHOOT YOUR [ BLEEP ] FACE. >> IT SOUNDS LIKE SONYA'S MOM WAS TRYING TO WARN AUTHORITIES, POTENTIALLY WARN YOUR AGENCY. HOW DOES THAT HIT YOU NOW KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED? >> WELL, I HAVEN'T HEARD THE TAPE. I'M CERTAINLY CONCERNED. I WANT OUR DEPUTIES TO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THEY CAN BEFORE THEY ARRIVE. AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT WASN'T TRANSMITTED. >> Reporter: SANGAMON COUNTY SHERIFF JACK CAMPBELL RELEASING GRAYSON'S PERSONNEL RECORDS SHOWING TWO OF HIS PAST EMPLOYERS SAYING HE NEEDED MORE TRAINING. A THIRD ADVISED GRAYSON DID NOT DEMONSTRATE GOOD OFFICER SAFETY SKILLS. THE SHERIFF TONIGHT SAYS HE PUT GRAYSON THROUGH 16 WEEKS OF TRAINING, ADDING GRAYSON'S PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS, NAMELY LOGAN COUNTY, NEVER INFORMED HIM OF ALLEGATIONS OVER MISCONDUCT. INCLUDING RECORDS SHOW LYING ABOUT A HIGH-SPEED CHASE THAT VIOLATED DEPARTMENT POLICY. >> IT'S UNFORTUNATE. WE NEEDED INFORMATION. AND IT'S AN INFORMAL PROCESS. IT WAS NOT PROVIDED. >> Reporter: LOGAN COUNTY TONIGHT NOT RESPONDING TO OUR REQUEST FOR COMMENT. GRAYSON HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CHARGES RELATED TO MASSEY'S DEATH. HIS ATTORNEY DECLINING TO COMMENT. MASSEY'S FAMILY IS CALLING ON THE SHERIFF WHO FIRED GRAYSON TO RESIGN. WILL YOU RESIGN? >> I WILL NOT RESIGN. I UNDERSTAND THE PAIN, THAT THEY'RE HURTING AND THEY WANT TO HOLD SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE. WE ARE HOLDING SOMEBODY ACCOUNTABLE THAT IS SEAN GRAYSON. HE DID THIS. HE ALONE DID THIS. >> Reporter: MAGGIE VESPA, NBC, NEWS, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS. >>> WE'LL TAKE A BREAK. WHEN WE RETURN, THE EYES OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF GYMNASTS LOCKED ♪♪ >>> WHILE SIMONE BILES IS WINNING GOLD IN THE ALL-AROUND FINAL HERE AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS, THE NEXT GENERATION OF GYMNASTS SHE INSPIRED WAS GATHERED IN HER GYM BACK HOME. OUR EMILIE IKEDA WAS THERE. >> Reporter: AS SIMONE BILES AND SUNI LEE BROUGHT THE HOUSE DOWN IN PARIS, HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD, AN EQUALLY MASS ERUPTION OF EXCITEMENT. [ CHEERING ] FROM THE GYMNASTS AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONS CENTER WHERE BILES TRAINS IN THE HOUSTON SUBURB. TODAY ALL AGES PILED IN TO WATCH THE GYMNASTICS ALL-AROUND FINALS, TAKING IN EVERY VAULT, FLIP, AND DISMOUNT IN UTTER AWE. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM? >> TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS. >> Reporter: THESE GYMNASTS MAY HAVE TO SETTLE FOR WATCHING THE OLYMPICS THROUGH A SCREEN, BUT THEY'VE GOTTEN THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS BILES' TRAINING FOR THE PODIUM IN PERSON. SO MUCH SO THEY'VE EVEN MEMORIZED HER FLOOR ROUTINE. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FROM WATCHING SIMONE BILES TRAIN? >> THAT ALL GOALS ARE COMFORTABLE. >> Reporter: THE BEST GYMNAST IN THE WORLD TRAINS AT THE SAME GYM AS YOU. HAS THAT SUNK IN? >> NO. IT REALLY HASN'T. I SEE HER IN HER EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M IN HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY. >> Reporter: IS THAT A GIFT? >> YES, IT'S AWESOME. >> Reporter: SOAKING UP EVERY NUGGET OF KNOWLEDGE FROM THE G.O.A.T., FROM GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP TO RESILIENCE AS BILES COMPLETES THE COMEBACK OF THE CENTURY. >> I THINK IT'S SO COOL THAT SHE CAME BACK AND DID THAT, AND SHE IS REALLY INSPIRING TO ALL OF US. >> Reporter: A REMINDER THAT AS THE GREATEST ATHLETES STEP ON TO THE WORLD STAGE, BRIGHT-EYED YOUNG FANS ARE BEAMING WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING FUTURE OLYMPIANS. DOES SHE MAKE YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING? >> YEAH. >> Reporter: EMILIE IKEDA, NBC NEWS, SPRING, TEXAS. >>> AND NEXT, AS WE CONTINUE, TONIGHT THE STAR WHO WAS STAR-STRUCK BY THESE OLYMPICS. WE WATCH WITH NONE OTHER THAN SNOOP DOGG, RIGHT AFTER ♪♪ >>> FINALLY, THESE OLYMPICS HAVE ATTRACTED A LOT OF CELEBRITIES, BUT NONE HAS MADE THE GAMES HIS OWN PLAYGROUND QUITE LIKE ONE FAMOUS RAPPER. IT TURNS OUT YOU DON'T NEED A MEDAL TO BE AN OLYMPIC STAR, NOT WHEN YOU'RE SNOOP DOGG. >> IT'S TIME! >> Reporter: SNOOP IS A CROWD PLEASER IN PARIS AND MAKING FUN AN OLYMPIC SPORT OF ITS OWN. I STEPPED INTO SNOOP'S WORLD TODAY AT JUDO. >> NICE CLOSE RANGE, COME ON! >> YOU'VE BEEN DOING YOUR HOMEWORK. >> OH, YEAH. >> IT'S CLEAR HE RESPECTS THE GAMES AND THE FANS. >> WATCH OUT, NOW! >> HIS COMMENTARY ON POINT. I SAT DOWN WITH SNOOP TO TALK ABOUT THIS NEW CHAPTER IN HIS CAREER. YOU'RE LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE. >> I AM, I AM. I'M HAVING FUN. >> DID YOU EXPECT ANY OF THIS? >> NEVER. NEVER IN MY WILDEST DREAMS, ESPECIALLY AS A KID GROWING UP, WATCHING THE OLYMPICS SEEING HOW BIG THIS WAS. >> SO YOU DID WATCH AS A KID? >> YES. >> I RAN INTO YOUR BEACH VOLLEYBALL THE OTHER DAY. YOU WERE LEADING THE CROWD. YOU'RE AMERICA'S BIGGEST CHEERLEADER. >> COME ON, MAN. I'M THE BIGGEST KID IN THE CROWD. >> AND HE HAS BEEN EVERYWHERE. >> I PUT ON A FENCING OUTFIT AND I FOUGHT AGAINST ONE OF OUR MEDALISTS. >> DON'T SAY FOUGHT. IT'S A SPORT. >> I SPARRED. WE'LL USE THAT. >> HE HAS DONE COMMENTARY FOR BADMINTON. >> GIVE ME THAT, NO, I NEED THAT. OVER HERE. >> SWAM WITH MICHAEL PHELPS, RODE A TRAIN WITH LEBRON JAMES. >> I LOVE IT THE OTHER DAY WHEN THE AMERICAN GYMNASTS SPOTTED YOU. DID YOU REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING? >> I WAS THERE AND I WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME. I LOOK AND I SEE JORDAN, I SEE SIMONE, THEY SEE IT'S ME. AND IT'S KINETIC. >> STILL TO COME, HITTING UP AN EQUESTRIAN EVENT WITH HIS PAL MARTHA STEWART. >> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY. DRESSAGE? DRESSAGE. I'M INTERESTED IN THE HORSES THAT DANCE, AND I WANT TO GIVE THEM SOME CARROTS, SOME APPLES AND MAKE SURE THAT THE HORSES IS FED PROPERLY BEFORE THEY DO THEIR THING. >> BUT FOR ALL HIS ADVENTURES IN PARIS, ONE MOMENT STANDS OUTSIDE, HIS TURN AS TORCH BEARER. >> IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M GOING TO BE LIVE WITH AND BE HAPPY WITH TO KNOW THAT I WAS THE FACE AND THE VOICE OF PEACE FOR THAT ONE MOMENT IN TIME. >> EXPERIENCING THE OLYMPICS IN A WHOLE NEW WAY. THAT'S "NIGHTLY NEWS" FOR THIS THURSDAY. THANK YOU FOR WATCHING. I'M LESTER HOLT. PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND EACH OTHER. GOOD NIGHT. >> OH, WHAT A DEAL!