DIRECTOR PAGE

SHOW OPEN-CLIP

TOSS TO LINDSAY-2 SHOT

A "CEASE FIRE" IS IN PLACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ISREAL AND HAMAS BROKERING A DEAL TODAY WITH THE HELP OF THE UNITEST STATES.

FOR A WEEK--

ROCKETS CRISS-CROSSED THE GAZA STRIP.

NBC2's LINDSAY LOGUE IS IN THE STUDIO WITH DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT.

MIDDLE EAST LATEST-TFX CTR MON

THE TRUCE IS ON.

NOW IT NEEDS TO HOLD.

AFTER DAYS OF ROCKETS AND SUICIDE BOMBINGS--

MIDDLE EAST LATEST-PKG

SOT Clinton

"The u.s. welcomes the cease fire between hamas and Israel. For it to hold

the rocket attacks must end."

JUST HOURS AFTER A BOMB TORE THROUGH THIS BUS IN TEL AVIV---

SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND THE EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

ANNOUNCED A CEASE FIRE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS.

EGYPT HELPED BROKER THE DEAL WHICH BOTH SIDES CLAIMED AS A VICTORY.

NETANYAHU-- referencing obama-- then a bit in hebrew.

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU THANKed THE LEADERSHIP OF THE

UNITED STATES FOR ITS UNWAVERING SUPPORT LEADING UP TO THE CEASE FIRE.

PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLED NETANYAHU TO SAY NO NATION SHOULD HAVE TO TOLERATE

ROCKET ATTACKS. SUPPORTING ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF.

BUT HAMAS CLAIMED A MAJOR WIN FROM THE TRUCE, SAYING FROM NOW ON IF ISRAEL

RESPONDS TO ATTACKS BY BOMBING GAZA. HAMAS WILL STRIKE TEL AVIV.

SOT Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Chief rabbi of Tel Aviv:

"The whole state of Israel is a front line. There is no front and back, we are all in the front"

CASE IN POINT- THAT BUS BOMBING, WHICH LEFT DOZENS INJURED. AND STRUCK

ONE OF THE BUSIEST AREAS OF TEL AVIV, ACROSS FROM THE ISRAELI NATIONAL

DEFENSE HEADQUARTERS.

AND AS THE DELICATE CEASE FIRE TAKES HOLD. THE TEMPORARY GOAL FOR BOTH

SIDES TO PREVENT MORE INJURIES.

SOT Professor Pinchas Halpern, Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Tel Aviv

Medical Center:

"One is a severe situation. One is in a moderate condition. They are both in

MIDDLE EAST LATEST-TFX CTR MON

THE PRESDIENT SAID TODAY HE WOULD USE THIS "CEASE FIRE" OPPORTUNITY--

TO HELP ISRAEL STRENGTHEN ITS INTERNAL SECURITY.

JACKSON RESIGNATION-VO

EMBATTLED ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN JESSE JACKSON JUNIOR HAS RESIGNED HIS SEAT IN CONGRESS.

JACKSON TOOK A MEDICAL LEAVE IN JUNE FOR TREATMENT OF BI-POLAR DISORDER.

DESPITE THAT.JACKSON EASILY WON RE-ELECTION A FEW WEEKS AGO.

NOW THERE WILL BE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL HIS SEAT.

MAMMOGRAM STUDY-VO

A NEW STUDY FINDS MAMMOGRAMS ARE *NOT* DOING AS MUCH GOOD AS FIRST THOUGHT.

RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT BREAST CANCER CASES BETWEEN 1976 AND 2008.

THE NUMBER OF "EARLY STAGE" CANCERS DETECTED *DOUBLED*--

WHILE "LATE STAGE" CANCERS WENT *DOWN* EIGHT PERCENT.

EXPERTS SAY THIS IMBALANCE SUGGESTS MANY WOMEN ARE BEING TREATED FOR EARLY STAGE CANCER--

THAT WOULD HAVE *NEVER* PROGRESSED TO A FATAL DISEASE.

UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS-VIDBOX

MORE AMERICANS ARE GOING BACK TO WORK.

FIRST-TIME UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS DROPPED LAST WEEK.

410 THOUSAND PEOPLE FILED FOR BENEFITS LAST WEEK.

THAT'S DOWN 41 THOUSAND FROM THE WEEK BEFORE.

EXPERTS SAY THE NUMBERS WOULD LOOK EVEN BETTER IF NOT FOR SUPERSTORM SANDY.

SANDY TURKEYS-VO

SOME VICTIMS OF SUPERSTORM SANDY WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY SOME TURKEY TO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING.

NEW YORK'S METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ON JEWISH POVERTY.

PROVIDED THOUSANDS OF KOSHER TURKEYS TO NEEDY FAMILIES--

STILL SUFFERING FROM HURRICANE SANDY IN THE ROCKAWAYS.

IN THE FIRST WEEK AFTER THE STORM--

THE MET COUNCIL DISTRIBUTED OVER 46-THOUSAND POUNDS OF BULK FOOD--

HOLIDAY TRAVEL-ON CAM

TOMORROW IS FOR TURKEY--

BUT TODAY IS FOR TRAVELING.

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE ON THE ROAD, OR IN THE AIR--

HOLIDAY TRAVEL-PKG

Triple A says more than 43 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles

or more this Thanksgiving.

And whether those trips are on the roads, in the air or on the tracks like

here at Penn Station in New York.

anticipate big crowds and possible delays.

nats car

An estimated 39 million Americans will hit the highways today and tomorrow.

.creating potential traffic nightmares.

SOT HEATHER HUNTER/SPOKESPERSON, AAA:

"With today expected to be the busiest day, and many people also working, we

're expecting this evening there will be a lot of congestion."

The top five cities that may see the worst traffic.New York, Washington

D.C., Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Road trips out of major cities could take almost a third longer.experts

say that means you really need to think about when you're going to head out.

SOT Genevieve Shaw Brown/ABC News Travel Editor

"If you're going to be leaving the day before Thanksgiving you want to be

leaving late at night at this point after 8pm. If you're going to be

traveling to your destination Thanksgiving I would recommend leaving at 7am

HOLIDAY TRAVEL-TAG

WENDY GILLETTE REPORTING.

TRAINS ARE ALSO BUSY THIS WEEK.

AMTRAK EXPECTS AS MANY AS 140-THOUSAND PASSENGERS WILL TRAVEL BY TRAIN THIS YEAR--

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY-ON CAM

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ARE PREPARING TO BATTLE BACK -- AGAINST RETAIL GIANTS AND DISCOUNT DEALS.

GEARING UP FOR THE DAY AFTER BLACK FRIDAY WHEN THEY ASK EVERYONE TO SHOP LOCAL.

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY-PKG

INSIDE COUNTRY KISSES IN CAPE CORAL-- THE FLAME FLICKERS BRIGHT FOR BUSINESS TO BURN -- COME SATURDAY.

0521 "I put a lot of thought and love into my candles. It's like they're taking a little piece of that with them."

OWNER SARAH VALENTINO TELLS US -- GETTING PEOPLE INTO HER STORE -- CAN BE CHALLENGING.

0415 "I try to draw them in with varity. Over 200 scents"

"from Candles in the Cape to toys in the Fort -- small business owners tell us they'll cut into the competition with one of a kind products."

AT CHESIRE CAT AT THE BELL TOWER SHOPS --- OWNERS WANT SALES TO SOAR ON SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY.

1846 "we know toys inside and out."

FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW -- SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE ASK PEOPLE TO SHOP LOCAL.

AND SUPPORT THE MERCHANTS IN THEIR COMMUNITY WHO LIVE AND WORK HERE.

1749 "last year our small business Saturday was bigger than our Black Friday."

1251 "customer service is just 100 percent better than anything you'd find in a big box store."

HEAVEN SCENT OWNER SUSIE SAYGER SAYS SHOPS LIKE HERS IN BONITA SPRINGS -- STAND OUT -- EVEN AS THEY GO UP AGAINST RETAIL GIANTS.

1300 "people think small stores have higher prices. They really don't"

AS THE "LITTLE GUYS" LOOK TO SNUFF OUT THE COMPETITION --

0555 "so on small business owners when they think of big stores on Firday. We hope they'll think about local stores and that we're there for you."

NEW CARNIVAL SHIP-VO

CARNIVAL'S NEWEST SHIP DOCKED IN MIAMI THIS MORNING.

IT CAN HOLD NEARLY 4-THOUSAND PASSENGERS--

AND IS THE LARGEST IN CARNIVAL'S FLEET.

IT'S CALLED "CARNIVAL BREEZE".

IN CELEBRATION OF THANKSGIVING--

THE CRUISE LINE ERECTED A 50-FOOT TALL INFLATABLE TURKEY ON ITS SPORTS DECK.

CHEERLEADER SHAVES HEAD-SOT, ON CAM

A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY IN INDIANAPOLIS FOR COLT'S COACH CHUCK PAGANO.

RECENTLY DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA--

ONE OF THE COLT'S CHEERLEADERS IS HOPING HER BOLD MOVE WILL BRING MORE DONATIONS TO THE CHUCKSTRONG FOUNDATION.

"Actually Blue tweeted out to all of the cheerleaders to see if any of us would shave our head if they raised 10-thousand dollars and I accepted the challenge, so on November 25th at the Buffalo Bills game, if we raise all the money, so please donate, I am going to shave my head."

NBC FOOTBALL GAMES-SS

THANKSGIVING AND FOOTBALL GO HAND IN HAND--

AND NBC HAS *TWO* GREAT GAMES THIS WEEK!

TOMORROW NIGHT IN PRIME TIME--

THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS TAKE ON THE NEW YORK JETS!

COVERAGE STARTS AT EIGHT--

KICKFOFF IS AT 8:30.

THEN SUNDAY NIGHT TWO POWERHOUSES COLLIDE--

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS TRAVEL TO THE BIG APPLE TO FACE DEFENDING SUPER BOWL CHAMPS NEW YORK GIANTS.

TEASE ONE-2SHOT

A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MAN SAYS HE KILLED A DOG THAT WAS CHARGING HIM.IN SELF DEFENSE.

TONIGHT THE DOG'S OWNER SAYS HIS NEIGHBOR OVER-REACTED.

WE TALKED TO WITNESSES TO GET THEIR TAKE.

AND REMEMBER THESE PICTURES?

THEY STIRRED QUITE A CONTROVERSY!

TZ1 A) MAN SHOOTS DOG-VO WIPE

TZ1 B) McCONAUGHEY TALKS-VO TOPS

TZ1 C) WEATHER TEASE-STC

McCONAUGHEY TALKS-ON CAM

AFTER WEEKS OF SILENCE AND PAPPARAZZI PICTURES--

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY IS FINALLY TALKING ABOUT HIS DRAMATIC WEIGHT LOSS.

IT'S FOR HIS ROLE AS AN AIDS PATIENT IN HIS UPCOMING MOVIE

McCONAUGHEY TALKS-PKG

FANS STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOCKING, SKELETAL FIGURE IS THE SAME

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY WHO - JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO --LOOKED LIKE THIS

BUT SINCE THIS SUMMER'S "MAGIC MIKE" THE HOLLYWOOD HUNK HAS SUDDENLY SHRUNK

INTENTIONALLY DROPPING WEIGHT FOR HIS NEXT ROLE AS A MAN SUFFERING FROM AIDS

IN THE 80S.

==SOT mcconaughey=="

I feel good now. Overall I got 35 percent less in me."

IT'S A DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATION FOR THE FORMER "SEXIEST MAN ALIVE" A

TRANSFORMATION MCCONAUGHEY TELLS HITFIX HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

===SOT McConaughey==="

I wouldn't want to do this interview at a Pizza Hut buffet! I chose to pick

my places where there's less good smells."

==GRAPHICS===

THE 6-FOOT-TALL ACTOR HAS DROPPED FROM 181 POUNDS DOWN TO JUST 143 /.

THAT'S ONE FOURTH OF HIS TOTAL BODY WEIGHT

===SOT McConaughey===

It's 90 percent diet. It's 90 percent amount and then what you're eating.

Because right now I'm not losing anymore weight if I burn 1500 more calories

in two hours of cardio in an afternoon, or if I don't. It doesn't matter."

WHAT DOES MATTER-- TO HEALTH EXPERTS--IS THAT MCCONAUGHEY'S EXTREME WEIGHT

LOSS COULD SET A BAD EXAMPLE FOR HIS FANS.

===SOT Dr. Jennifer Ashton/01:09:23 =="

if you're talking about someone normal / to lose 20% of their body weight

over a 5 to 6 month period could put them in medical jeopardy."

MCCONAUGHEY SAYS THE THAT WHILE HE'S EAGER TO START BEEFING UP AS SOON AS

POSSIBLE IT MAY NOW BE DIFFICULT.

===SOT McConaughey==="

my stomach has shrunk as well. So as much as I can't wait to have that

cheeseburger, on the day it will probably be damn hard to eat the whole

McCONAUGHEY TALKS-TAG

THAT WAS BAZI KANANI.

MATT NEEDS TO KEEP THE WEIGHT OFF FOR ANOTHER FEW WEEKS.

TEASE TWO-ON CAM

TONIGHT -- THE NBC2 INVESTIGATORS UNCOVER A PROBLEM WITH FLORIDA'S PRESCRIPTION PILL CRACK DOWN.

LEGITIMATE PATIENTS CAN'T GET THEIR MEDS.

STEVE YANCEY 30:48 it's been a real hard road. been a real hard road 51

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE PROBLEM -- AND HOW PATIENTS ARE TRYING TO GET AROUND IT.

AND IT MAY BE THANKSGIVING--

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CHRISTMAS TREE SHOPPING!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW--

TZ2 A) PRESCRIPT DRUG IMPACT-SOTVO WIPE

TZ2 B) XMAS TREE SHOPPING-VO TOPS

ROBERT WX OPEN-CLIP

FIRST ALERT FORECAST-WXWALL

THIS WEATHERCAST HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE NBC2 WEATHER STAFF.

IT IS NOT A VERBATIM OF WHAT IS BEING SAID, BUT IS THE FORECAST FOR OUR AREA.

"Beautiful Thanksgiving weather"

We are wrapping up a beautiful Wednesday and our weather couldn't be better for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.

For the balance of our afternoon, expect our mostly sunny skies to continue with temperatures in the mid 70s. A few patchy clouds may mix in with our late day sunshine, as a lazy front works its way down the peninsula through the evening hours. This will open the gates for a nice and refreshing airmass to settle down across our part of the state just in time for Thanksgiving.

Tonight, clear skies will prevail and temperatures will be on the chilly side as most of us will wake up on our Thanksgiving morning with lows in the lower 50s along the urban corridor with middle to upper 40s across our inland and northern cold spots.

Thursday is shaping up beautifully with bright sunshine and comfortable weather. Temperatures will gradually warm into the lower to middle 70s during the day with a delightful breeze out of the north between 5 and 15 mph. Cool and dry high pressure will remain in control of our weather through the holiday weekend keeping our skies mostly sunny and a dry pattern in place.

On Saturday, a reinforcing shot of cool and dry air will keep our pleasant weather in place through the weekend and into early next week. Expect temperatures to remain below normal for this time of year with cooler nights and mild afternoons.

Early next week, temperatures will begin to moderate as daytime highs reach the lower 80s with lows back in the 60s.

INVESTIGATORS OPEN-CLIP

PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPACT-2SHOT

THE CRACK DOWN ON PRESCRIPTION PILLS HERE IN FLORIDA --

IS CREATING PROBLEMS FOR *LEGITIMATE PATIENTS.

IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TO FOUR OR FIVE PHARMACIES JUST TO GET THEIR MEDS.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPACT-PKG

NAT 33:07 your medications seem to be helping?

AFTER YEARS OF PAIN.AND TWO OPERATIONS ON HIS NECK AND BACK --

STEVE YANCEY 30:48 it's been a real hard road. been a real hard road 51

STEVE YANCEY IS HITTING AN EXTRA BUMP WHEN HE GOES TO FILL HIS PRESCRIPTIONS.

STEVE YANCEY 29:10 they just don't have the medication 11

mix in nats - taking blood pressure?

PHARMACY.

AFTER PHARMACY.

HAS TURNED HIM AWAY.

STEVE YANCEY 28:04 a lot of times you have to go four, five different places, pharmacies to get 'em 07

NANCY HARRIS 24:52 i would have to say 50 patients, we get 25 that call that they cannot find their medicines anywhere 59

NANCY HARRIS OWNS A PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINIC IN PORT CHARLOTTE.

SHE'S HAD TO HIRE A PART-TIME STAFFER JUST TO HANDLE THE CALLS ABOUT THIS.

NANCY HARRIS 27:08 i mean it's a nightmare

SHE TRIES CHANGING PATIENTS' MEDICATIONS --

STEVE YANCEY 29:19 and i still have the same problem 22

AND THAT'S NOT THE *ONLY PROBLEM* IN THE STATE THAT RANKS FIRST IN THE NATION FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE.

STEVE YANCEY 29:35 they look you right in the eye and say i don't feel comfortable giving you this prescription. makes me feel like they think i'm a junkie or something and i'm not 49

JEN STANDUP the problem comes down to limits set by the DEA. those controlled substances like percocet and xanax can only be a small percentage of all the prescriptions a pharmacy fills.

RICH LAWRENCE 1:29:28 if i fill a prescription for a controlled substance, whether it's a sleeping medication or oxycontin for pain, i have to offset that prescription if you will

PHARMACIST RICH LAWRENCE SAYS IT'S BEEN A LEARNING CURVE OVER THE LAST YEAR --

HE ESTIMATES CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES CAN ONLY MAKE UP *EIGHT TO TEN PERCENT* OF THE 'SCRIPTS HE FILLS.

RICH LAWRENCE 1:30:30 at both of my pharmacies we've had to turn patients - legitimate patients away 33

IVANHOE

MANY BELIEVE THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION'S YEARLY QUOTAS ON THE *PRODUCTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ARE CAUSING THESE SHORTAGES.

THE D-E-A BLAMES MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS.

BUT THE AGENCY DID VOTE TO INCREASE THE QUOTA FOR SOME DRUGS IN 2013.

OXYCODONE WILL SEE ITS QUOTA INCREASE BY 25-PERCENT.

NAT

FOR YANCEY -- THE HOPE IS THAT WILL LEAD TO ONE FEWER STOP.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPACT-CKW-TAG

TONIGHT ON NBC2 NEWS AT SIX --

WE LOOK INTO FLORIDA'S PRESCRIPTION DATABASE THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE FOR A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR.

DOCTORS FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO GET IT -- BUT ARE THEY REALLY USING IT?? AND IS IT CURBING THE PROBLEM OF DOCTOR SHOPPING??

TOSS TO KELLY-ON CAM

WHILE MOST PEOPLE ARE PREPPING FOR A THANKSGIVING DINNER--

SOME ARE ACTUALLY GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS!

XMAS TREE SHOPPING-LIVE

XMAS TREE SHOPPING-PKG

Nats

Take sound

Al Mueller

"They're as fresh as can be."

1100 trees from North Carolina--were shipped and put on display at Uncle Al's Christmas Trees in fort Myers.

Nats

Just a little sprucing up--and these Fraser and noble firs are ready for their price tag.

Take sound

Al Mueller, Uncle Al's Christmas Trees

"Depends on how dense the tree is, how full, cylindrical, if its hit gaps, holes there's a lot of variables."

And of course--how tall.

Nats

Down the street at Heath Christmas Trees, workers are loading in fresh cut firs from Wisconsin, North Carolina and the west coast.

Take sound

Bob Heath, Heath Christmas Trees, Inc

"Constantly over the next three weeks, bringing in trucks for two reasons. One, we don't have enough storage to store everything."

The other reason--to make sure these pines stay pretty--which also means it could cost you a pretty penny.

Take gfx

The average price for a six foot Fraser fir at the local tents costs anywhere between $49 and $69. An eight footer can be close to $100 bucks and a towering twelve foot fir is double that.

Take sound

Bob Armocida, Shopper

"Getting a live tree is part of our Christmas tradition."

For Bob Armocida and his daughter--lowe's was a little more in their price range.

Take gfx

A six foot Fraser fir ranges from $25-$35 bucks---and the most expensive tree was $120.

Take sound

Ron Wotring, Manager

"There's set prices for each size, so you'll see a lot of people picking through the trees to get the one just right for their family."

While the local sellers say they don't try to compete with the chain store prices--they do offer something else.

Take sound

Bob Heath

XMAS TREE SHOPPING-LIVE

TEASE THREE-2SHOT

A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA MAN.ON HIS DAILY WALK.SHOT AND KILLED HIS NEIGHBOR'S DOG.

HE SAYS HE HAD "NO CHOICE".

TONIGHT NBC2 TRACKS DOWN WITNESSES FOR THEIR ACCOUNT.

AND ALL NEW AT SIX--

22:46 "It was really sad for me to think what kind of person would do something like that

THAT LEE COUNTY TEENAGER MADE A GRISLY AND SAD DISCOVERY.

A DEAD DOG FOUND HANGING FROM A ROPE ON A TREE.

TZ3 A) MAN SHOOTS DOG-VO WIPE

AHEAD AT 6-BANNER

A) HANGING DOG-SOTVO TOPS

MAN SHOOTS DOG-2SHOT, VO

A CHARLOTTE COUNTY MAN ON HIS DAILY WALK. SHOOTS AND KILLS HIS NEIGHBORS DOG

HE CLAIMS THE BOXER WAS CHARGING AT HIM.

BUT THE DOG'S OWNER SAYS HIS DOGS AREN'T AGGRESSIVE.

MAN SHOOTS DOG-PKG

MICHAEL BUSTAMANTE NOW HAS ONE DOG BY HIS SIDE.

NATS

LIBBY IS A GREAT COMPANION, BUT LIKE BUSTAMANTE, SHE MISSES ASTRO.

"IT'S A BAD FEELING, HE WAS MY COMPANION, I'VE HAD HIM SINCE DAY 1." MICHAEL BUSTAMANTE/DOG OWNER

THE FOUR YEAR OLD BOXER DIED YESTERDAY.

BUSTAMANTE SAYS HE WAS LETTING HIS DOGS OUT BEFORE HE LEFT FOR WORK. THEY WEREN'T WEARING LEASHES.

REPORTS SAY THE DOG RAN ACROSS THE STREET TOWARD FRANK GROSS WHO WAS WALKING BY.

THAT'S WHEN GOSS TOOK OUT A GUN AND SHOT ASTRO.

"I HEARD A LOUD POP, I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED." MICHAEL BUSTAMANTE/DOG OWNER

STANDUP "EVIDENCE OF THE SHOOTING STILL REMAINS ON THE STREET. WHEN BUSTAMANTE CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE HE SAYS HE SAW HIS DOG LAYING HERE TWITCHING AND THE SHOOTER WAS PUTTING AWAY HIS GUN."

"WHEN I ASKED HIM HAT HE DID HE JUST SAID MY DOG TRIED TO ATTACK HIM." MICHAEL BUSTAMANTE/DOG OWNER

LOU ALFIERI SAW THE WHOLE THING HAPPEN.

HE SAYS ASTRO WAS LESS THAN TEN FEET AWAY FROM GROSS WHEN HE HEARD A POP!

"DIDN'T SEE ANY GUN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT THE FIRST DOG WENT DOWN AND THE SECOND DOG STOPPED IN IT'S TRACKS TURNED AROUND AND WENT RUNNING BACK TO THE HOUSE." LOU ALFIERI/WITNESS

ALFIERI IS A DOG-LOVER HIMSELF, BUT CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE MAN WAS SCARED.

"THAT DOG WAS RUNNING PRETTY GOOD AND IF I WAS IN THAT MAN'S SHOES I WOULD HAVE BEEN NERVOUS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE." LOU ALFIERI/WITNESS

BUSTAMANTE WISHES THE SHOOTER WOULD HAVE KICKED HIS DOG OR PICKED UP A STICK TO PROTECT HIMSELF INSTEAD OF KILLING ASTRO.

"IT SOUNDS FUNNY BC IT'S A DOG, BUT DOGS ARE HUMAN TOO, THEY'RE JUST LIKE PEOPLE AND HE WAS A TRUE MAN'S BEST FRIEND." MICHAEL BUSTAMANTE/DOG OWNER

GROSS DIDN'T WANT TO TALK WITH US… THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ANIMAL CONTROL DID NOT ISSUE ANY CITATIONS.

SELL THE 6PM-2SHOT

A NEIGHBOR.FINED MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS AFTER A JUDGE AGREES -- HE WAS BASICALLY BEING A JERK.

HOW IN THE WORLD THIS CAME ABOUT -- NEXT AT SIX.

PLUS NBC2 IS LIVE ON A DEVELOPING STORY -- A DOG FOUND DEAD, HANGING FROM A TREE.