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SHOW OPEN-CLIP

USS MOHAWK SINKING-NATSVO WIPE

boom, then cheering.

THE USS MOHAWK TAKES A DIVE--

YOU'RE WATCHING HISTORY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

USS MOHAWK SINKING-NATSVO 2 SHOT

nats of water filling ship

THIS IS THE MOHAWK GOING DOWN FROM ANOTHER ANGLE.

THIS ALL HAPPENING IN ABOUT THREE MINUTES.

THE CUTTER WILL END UP RESTING 90 FEET BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE GULF--

NEARLY 30 MILES OFF THE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST.

I'M COURTNEY ROBINSON.

AND I'M JEFF BUTERA.

LEE COUNTY GOT A ONE POINT THREE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO TURN THE HISTORIC SHIP INTO A REEF.

USS MOHAWK SINKING-PKG

She survived enemy torpedoes,

Rescued thousands of sailors,

And gave the go ahead for world world ii's d-day invasion.

Nat captain

"Here's where shes going"

But now.

Nats

321 ship blowing up

the uss Mohawk is finally at rest,

28 miles west of sanibel island.

Sot Steve boutelle, lee county natural resources " 9:11:50-05 it's. A big day for us. We've done artificial reefs in the past but we've done nothing that was like this, we've got the opportunity to take an old historic vessel and give her a final duty that's fitting of the service that she's given to this country."

6 charges were placed on the uss Mohawk and detonated at different times, Allowing thousands of gallons of water to rush into the ship at once, So she sits right side up.

Sot Jeff miller, costal conservation association president

9:48:02

They spent a lot of time and a lot of money getting the ship ready both environmentally- making sure it's clean, threes no oil leaking, or any problems with that. The guns were taken off, decommissioned, and put back on th props were put back on so from a diver perceptive it's as if the boat did sink a accidentally and it looks like it was operating when it went down."

Sot Jeffrey Allen, spectator

9:52:35-45

" it served one purpose in WWII and one it gets to serve another purpose for a lot longer than WWII"

That purpose?

Sot becca Allen, spectator

9:49:5?

" a habitat for fish and sea animals."

And they'll start moving in immediately.

Brining nature lovers, fishermen and divers to the reef.

Sot Steve boutelle

9:12:37-47

Now this is a destination ands it's really something that's going to draw people from here and beyond to come out and take a look at this historic ship."

And while those watching her final decent have memories of their own-

Sot Steve miller

9;47:26-29

" its something I'll never forget 28

Now others will have a chance to make new ones, ANd see history live on.

Audrey Allen, spectator

9:51:05-13

"it was really cool to see it sink to the bottom and if anyone could see it again- it defiantly should."

WESTCHASE APARTMENTS SHOOTING-OC VO 1 SHOT

THE TWO TEENS ACCUSED OF KILLING A FORT MYERS FOOD DELIVERY MAN MADE THEIR FIRST APPEARANCES IN COURT TODAY.

THIS IS VIDEO OF DEJERION STEWARD, AND EDDIE LEONARD, FACING A JUDGE.

PROSECUTORS SAY THEY MURDERED ZEI WEI HUANG AFTER HE DELIVERED FOOD TO THEIR APARTMENT COMPLEX LAST WEEK.

THE MAN WHO PLACED THAT ORDER TOLD US ON FRIDAY, HE SAW HUANG LAYING IN BLOOD SECONDS AFTER THE DOOR CLOSED.

WESTCHASE APARTMENTS SHOOTING-PKG

4228 "not a murder. Not a murder."

A MOTHER'S HEARTBREAK IS EASY TO SEE THIS MORNING -- JUST HOURS AFTER HER SON EDDIE LEONARD AND HIS FRIEND DEJERION STEWART APPEARED IN COURT AS ACCUSED KILLERS.

DETECTIVES TELL US THE TWO TEENAGERS PLOTTED TO ROB ZHI WEI HUANG'S , A FOOD DELIVERY MAN, THURSDAY EVENING AT THE WESTCHASE APARTMENTS OFF METRO PARKWAY.

THE 23 YEAR OLD WAS KILLED -- JUST MOMENTS AFTER EDDIE'S DAD, HENRY'S LEONARD, PAID FOR HIS MEAL.

4537 "he was outside but he wasn't nowhere around. That shooting happened no later than 10 seconds."

LEONARD TELLS US HIS SON IS INNOCENT -- AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY HE FIRED THE DEADLY SHOTS.

4545 "I went looking for him and found him right away. You would think if someone shot somebody they'd be nowhere in the area no even trying to come back."

BUT DETECTIVES DISAGREE -- TELLING US LEONARD AND STEWART SPENT ALL DAY THURSDAY WAITING TO ROB THE MAN.

HUANG WORKED FOR HIS DAD'S RESTUARANT, TUNG HING, JUST AROUND THE CORNER ON FOWLER -- WHICH REMAINS CLOSED AS OF TODAY.

OVER THE WEEKEND, SOMEONE POSTED THE NOTE TELLING THE FAMILY -- THE COMMUNITY IS MOURNING WITH THEM.

AND AS ONE FAMILY MOURNS THEIR LOSS, ANOTHER TRIES TO MAKE SENSE OF WHY THEIR LOVED ONE IS JAILED.

4208 "he's a good kid. He just went down the wrong road. His choices were wrong. If he would have chose better choices He'd be okay."

-- PLEADING AND HOPING THAT THE ONE THEY CALL SON -- ISN'T A KILLER.

WESTCHASE APARTMENTS SHOOTING-ONCAM

ABC7 DID TALK WITH HUANGS FAMILY --

APARTMENT FIRE FOLLOW-VO IN POP MON

IF YOU WERE IN LEE COUNTY SUNDAY, YOU PROBABLY SAW THE SMOKE FROM THIS FIRE.

IT DAMAGED AN APARTMENT COMPLEX.

SIX PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND NEW PLACES TO LIVE.

THE FIRE MARSHAL SAYS THE FIRE WAS AN ACCIDENT.

APARTMENT FIRE FOLLOW-PKG

NATS - MAILMAN DELIVERING

NOBODY'S HOME AT THIS APARTMENT BUILDING ON MEMOLI STREET.

"Fire was just everywhere, shooting up into the ceiling."

AND IT'LL STAY THAT WAY FOR A WHILE AFTER THE FIRE MARSHAL AND BUILDING INSPECTORS DEEMED THE FIRE-STRICKEN BUILDING UNSAFE.

"He said let's go right now."

SUSIE GERSTEIN IS ONE OF SIX PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR HOMES IN SUNDAY AFTERNOON'S FLAMES.

SHE BARELY MADE IT OUT BEFORE THE ROOF COLLAPSED.

NATS- SPRAYING

THAT COLLAPSE SENT TWO FIREFIGHTERS TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES.

"They had some pieces of roof fall of their heads."

IT ALSO MEANT THIS ALMOST MILLION-DOLLAR BUILDING IS A COMPLETE LOSS.

THE FIRE MARSHAL SAYS IT WAS AN ACCIDENT - A SLOW-BURNING FIRE THAT STARTED IN ONE BEDROOM.

IT'S STILL NOT CLEAR WHAT SPARKED THE FIRE IN THE ROOM.

"I left everything in there, my phone and I just grabbed purse."

WHAT'S LEFT OF GERSTEIN AND HER NEIGHBOR'S BELONGINGS WON'T BE CLEAR UNTIL THE FIRE MARSHAL GIVES THE OKAY TO GO BACK INSIDE.

SEX CHILD PORN ARREST FOLO-SS OC SS

NEW DETAILS ON A CASE OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IN LEE COUNTY INVOLVING A 4 YEAR-OLD GIRL.

DEPUTIES TELL US ALAN JOHNSON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, JENNIFER SPARKS RAPED THE CHILD AND RECORDED OTHER SEX ACTS ON THEIR CELL PHONES.

TODAY THE POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFFICE TOLD US DETECTIVES ARE QUESTIONING MORE POTENTIAL SUSPECTS ACROSS THE STATE.

ABC7 ALSO FOUND JOHNSON PLEADED GUILTY IN 2003 ON FEDERAL CHARGES OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF MINORS.

GOV SCOTT HEALTHCARE-VO WIPE

GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT WENT ON NATIONAL T-V TODAY, TELLING THE COUNTRY FLORIDA WILL OPT OUT OF TWO KEY ELEMENTS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S HEALTHCARE PLAN.

THERE ARE TWO AREAS WHERE STATES CAN OPT OUT.

MEDICAID *EXPANSION, AND SETTING UP 'INSURANCE EXCHANGES.'

GOVERNOR SCOTT CLAIMS EXTENDING MEDICAID WILL COST THE STATE ALMOST TWO BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.

GOV SCOTT HEALTHCARE-SOTVO WIPE

"You're going to pay more with these exchanges, they don't work. Government involvement in healthcare has only caused healthcare costs to go up. and it's rationing care, it's devastating to patients."

AN EXCHANGE IS BASICALLY A MARKETPLACE WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE THE PRICES AND SERVICES OF A VARIETY OF INSURANCE PLANS.

IF STATES DON'T SET THOSE UP, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL STEP IN AND DO IT.

TODAY WE SPOKE WITH A HEALTH ADVOCACY GROUP PUSHING GOVERNOR SCOTT TO IMPLEMENT *ALL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

THEY SAY FLORIDA IS FAR BEHIND OTHER STATES IN SETTING UP THIS HEALTHCARE REFORM.

GOV SCOTT HEALTHCARE-SOTVO

"A huge amount of money, $20.3 is what would come to Florida in the next 10 years, would be turned away and it would go to other states. To us that's a tragedy."

THIS HEALTHCARE ISSUE IS NOT ENTIRELY IN GOVERNOR SCOTT'S CONTROL -- THE LEGISLATURE DOES HAVE A SAY.

MEDICAID FOR EXAMPLE.

WHETHER FLORIDA AGREES TO THE EXPANSION PROBABLY WON'T BE DECIDED UNTIL LAWMAKERS MEETNEXT SPRING.

GOVERNOR SCOTT HAS THE VOTES IN HIS FAVOR.

SENIOR BEAT UP REPORTABLE-SS

A YOUNG MAN IS BEHIND BARS AFTER DEPUTIES SAY HE BEAT UP A SENIOR AND HIS WIFE.

THEY ARRESTED 20-YEAR-OLD MITCHELL TODDY YESTERDAY AFTER HE REPORTEDLY PUNCHED A 71-YEAR-OLD NAPLES MAN, AND HIS 65-YEAR-OLD WIFE.

DEPUTIES SAY THE VICTIMS WERE ON A WALK WHEN TODDY NEARLY RAN THEM OVER WITH HIS CAR.

THE ELDERLY MAN SHOUTED, THEN TODDY GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH HIS FISTS UP.

THE OLDER MAN TACKLED TODDY TO THE GROUND, THEN LET HIM UP.

NAPLES PLAZA BIZ COMPLAINTS-VO WIPE

MONTHS OF CONSTRUCTION IS CRUSHING BUSINESS IN A COLLIER COUNTY STRIP MALL.

THE NAPLES PLAZA ON US41 IS UNDERGOING A MAKEOVER.

NAPLES PLAZA BIZ COMPLAINTS-SOTVO

"It has been a headache. It's dirty, it's messy, it's been tough for our customers."

MANY BUSINESS OWNERS SAY SALES HAVE DROPPED BETWEEN THIRTY AND FIFTY PERCENT COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.

82 & COLONIAL LANE SHIFT-VO WIPE

THE INTERSECTION OF STATE ROAD 82 AND LEE BOULEVARD MAY LOOK VERY DIFFERENT THE NEXT TIME YOU DRIVE THROUGH IT.

CREWS ARE SHIFTING LANES, STARTING TOMORROW NIGHT AT EIGHT.

THE LANE SHIFT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SIX WEDNESDAY MORNING.

82 & COLONIAL LANE SHIFT-SOTVO

KAYE 5:40:33 it will kind of spread out some of the traffic on the roadway and the crews will work in the median to coplete the lee colonial boulevard side 39

WORK IS ON SCHEDULE, BUT IT'S A BIGGER PROJECT THAN WHEN IT FIRST STARTED.

NEXT AT 6 OPEN-CLIP

TEASE ONE-NO SHOT

A FATHER AND SON ARE TRYING TO RECOVER, AFTER A BOAT EXPLOSION IN NAPLES OVER THE WEEKEND.

WE'LL TELL YOU HOW THEY'RE DOING, AND HOW THE COMMUNITY IS COMING TOGETHER TO HELP.

PLUS: DETAILS ABOUT THE NEW EFFORT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR LOCAL VETERANS TO GET AROUND SOUTWHEST FLORIDA.

TZ1 A BOAT EXPLOSION-VOTOPS

TZ1 B HELPING VETERANS-VOTOPS

LOCAL HEAT-VOTOPS

THE HEAT IS ON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

FROM BEACHES TO WATERPARKS, PEOPLE TRIED TO ENJOY THE WEATHER, AND STAY COOL, TODAY.

NATIONAL HEAT & STORMS-VIDBOX RVL

THE WEATHER IS A LOT MORE INTENSE UP NORTH.

EMERGENCY OFFICIALS BLAME SEVERE STORMS FOR AT LEAST 22 DEATHS UP THE EAST COAST AND INTO THE MIDWEST, MOST FROM TREES FALLING ON HOMES AND CARS.

MORE THAN TWO MILLION PEOPLE ARE SPENDING ANOTHER HOT DAY WITHOUT POWER.

THE OUTAGES EXTEND FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO NEW JERSEY AND AS FAR WEST AS ILLINOIS.

JP STORMWARN OPEN-CLIP

WEATHER-PWC

BOAT EXPLOSION-SS VO WIPE

DOCTORS ARE TREATING A NAPLES FATHER AND HIS SON FOR BURNS, AFTER THEIR BOAT EXPLODED.

ALEX SEMPF AND HIS 11-YEAR-OLD SON KRISTOFF ARE IN TAMPA GENERAL.

FIRST RESPONDERS TELL US THE TWO WERE ON THE 26 FOOT SEA RAY FRIDAY NIGHT.

WITNESSES SAY THEY WERE PUTTING FUEL IN IT, GETTING IT READY FOR THE 4TH OF JULY, WHEN GAS SPILLED.

SEMPF USED A VACUUM TO SUCK UP THE GAS.

BOAT EXPLOSION-SOTVO

04:40 Judy Hunter -Neighbor

There's no boat left. The boat's done. It's gone. It took them 12 hours to put it out. I don't know how the man is alive but it's by the grace of god he is.

SEMPF IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION, HIS SON IS LISTED IN FAIR CONDITION.

NEIGHBORS ARE STEPPING UP TO HELP THE SINGLE FATHER.

ONE NEIGHBOR IS WATCHING THE VICTIM'S DAUGHTER.

SHE SAYS SEMPF CALLED HIS DAUGHTER YESTERDAY AND TOLD HER HE'S OKAY BUT HE STILL HAS A LONG ROAD OF RECOVERY AHEAD.

HELPING VETERANS-VO WIPE

TODAY WE LEARNED ABOUT AN EFFORT TO MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR LOCAL AMERICAN HEROES.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AWARDED LEE COUNTY TRANSIT A ONE-POINT-FOUR MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO HELP VETERANS GET AROUND TOWN.

THE MONEY WILL PAY FOR NEW KIOSK MACHINES AT PLACES LIKE THE NEW V-A OUTPATIENT CLINIC AND LEE COUNTY BUS TRANSFER STATIONS.

HELPING VETERANS-SOTVO

38:22-peter rogoff/federal transit administrator-"our grant is going to help connect veterans to lee and collier counties. Not only to services here but job training, shopping and church."

TEASE TWO-POP

IT WAS GOING TO BE HARD FOR MICHAEL PHELPS TO DUPLICATE 8 GOLD MEDALS. NO IT'S GOING TO BE IMPOSSIBLE. THAT PLUS IT'S CHAMPIONSHIP MONDAY FOR THE FLORIDA TARPONS

TZ2 A SPORTS TEASE-VO

FIREWORKS SCROLL-CGTOPS

WORLD NEWS TEASE-BLK-SOT

MARS SPACE CAPSULE-VO WIPE

NASA SAYS IT'S AIMING FOR MARS, AND THAT'S GOOD FOR FLORIDA'S ECONOMY.

THE AGENCY SHOWED OFF THE ORION CAPSULE TODAY, AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER.

WHEN IT'S FINISHED, IT'LL BE THE MOST ADVANCED SPACECRAFT EVER DESIGNED.

NASA PLANS AN UN-MANNED EXPLORATION TEST FOR 2014.

MARS SPACE CAPSULE-SOTVO

S/ Lori Carver/ NASA Deputy Administrator:11

"We, through this program, are going to be ending the outsourcing of American space jobs and bringing them right back here to America and to Florida and to other states across the country."

TONIGHT AT 7 OPEN-CLIP

TONIGHT AT 7 O'CLOCK-ONCAM

TONIGHT ON ABC-7 AT SEVEN.

WE'RE HEARING WHAT A 14-YEAR OLD ACCUSED KILLER TOLD 9-1-1 DISPATCHERS.

THE DAY HIS PARENTS WERE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR APARTMENT.

AND --

A HISTORIC MOMENT ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA WATERS.

ABC-SEVEN WAS THERE AS THE U-S-S MOHAWK SUNK TO ITS FINAL RESTING PLACE.

WE'LL HAVE THE AMAZING PICTURES AND VIDEO YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS.

SPORTS OPEN-CLIP

MATT PRATER-POPMON

MATT PRATER-VOTOPS

AND THE DENVER BRONCOS WERE NOT ABOUT TO LET THAT STRONG LEG GO.

TODAY THEY SIGNED MATT TO A 4-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.. DETAILS HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. BUT IT'S SAFE TO SAY. HIS PAYCHECK WILL HAVE A LOT OF ZEROS

FLORIDA TARPONS-VOTOPS

SPEAKING OF FOOTBALL THE FLORIDA TARPONS HAVE A CHAMPIONSHIP TO WIN.

THE FELLAS PLAY CINCINNATI IN THE ULITMATE BOWL 2. TONIGHT AT GERMAIN ARENA. KICKOFF 730

THE TARPONS ARE A PERFECT 11-0 ON THE YEAR.

FLORIDA TARPONS-SOTTOPS

DWIGHT HOWARD-POPMON

DWIGHT HOWARD-SOTTOPS

WIMBLEDON-VOTOPS

SPEAKING OF OUT. THE TOP SEED ON THE WOMEN'S DRAW. IS OUT AT WIMBLEDON.

MARIA SHARAPOVA. GOT BOUNCED IN STRAIGHT SETS BY SABINE LISICKI.

PHELPS-VOTOPS

MICHAEL PHELPS WILL NOT BE WINNING 8 GOLD MEDALS IN LONDON THIS SUMMER.

TODAY PHELPS DECIDED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE 200 METER FREE-STYLE. SO NOW HE IS DOWN TO 7 EVENTS. INCLUDING 3 RELAYS.

EVERBLADES-VOTOPS

FROM POOL WATER. TO FROZEN WATER. THE EVERBLADES HAVE EXTENDED QUALIFYING OFFERS TO 7 PLAYERS FROM LAST YEAR'S TEAM.

GOODBYE-4SHOT