Tonight, the projected landslide election victory in Russia. Vladimir Putin on track to win another six years. Protests amid what's being called record turnout. Dissidents throwing Molotov cocktails, pouring dye in ballot boxes. Putin saying his win means the country is united behind him, but critics allege the vote was reaped. Harker Simmons questioning Putin late tonight.

Mr. President, is this what you call democracy?

The police capturing a suspected coast-to-coast murder a shootout accused of killing a police officer on a highway in New Mexico just days after allegedly murdering an EMT in South Carolina. And parts of Pennsylvania sheltering in place again this morning, one day after a killing spree there left three dead. This carjacking victim speaking out today. I was sitting in my car and someone banged on my window, and then he pulled the gun out. A powerful volcanic eruptions in Iceland, triggering a state of emergency. Stunning of lava flowing toward towns. And winter is not over yet. The dangerous cold snap about to send temperatures plunging. And on this St. Patrick's Day, the country has gone green.

This is NBC Night Daily News.

Good evening, I'm Gadi Schwartz. Tonight in Moscow, Vladimir Putin is celebrating what appears to be a huge victory. How's this for a landslide? Putin is currently projected to win 88% of the vote, giving him another six years. Of course, elections in Russia are not considered free or fair by international overseers, so the outcome was never in doubt. But what was in question, how big would the protest vote be? Across Russia, there were signs of opposition, Molotov cocktails thrown at polling locations, protesters pouring dye in ballot boxes. There was a call for those opposed to Putin to show up at noon today to vote, and that may have led to long lines like these. In his victory speech tonight, Putin He said his win is proof the country is united behind him. Harker Simmons is in Moscow and questioned Putin tonight.

Election night in Moscow, President Putin celebrating a landslide victory which was never in doubt. At his campaign headquarters, NBC News, the first international news organization, to question him. Journalist Evan Gershkowitch spent this election in prison. Boris Nadirschdin, who opposes your in Ukraine, wasn't allowed to stand against you. Alexi Navalny died in one of your prisons during your campaign. Mr. President, is this what you call democracy? Ignoring Gershkowitch, Putin said Nadirschdin was unpopular and Navalny died. That's life, he said. Putin did say that days before Navalny's death, he agreed to exchange him on condition he never returned. Deceased opposition leader Alexi Navalny, before his death last this month had called for protests at polling stations. These lines of many young people looked like the response. Among the 75 people detained was a man wearing a Navalny T-shirt, others through Molotov cocktails or poured her eye into ballot boxes. Nivalny's widow, Yulia, joining a protest in Berlin.

There could be no any negotiations and nothing with Mr. Putin because he's a killer. He's a gun.

Another opponent, Boris Nadiyshtin, who spoke out against the war, wasn't allowed to stand. He voted today with his family, a stark contrast to Putin, who voted alone on a computer Friday. Of course, our election is not very fair, not very free, of course. Sometimes we will have normal democratic, free and fair election, Russian Federation. You believe that one day? I believe not, of course, on this day.

Kier joins us from Moscow, where that Putin press conference just wrapped up. And, Kier, Russia says this is the biggest vote for Putin in his 24 years of leading the country.

That's right, Gardian. Russian officials also say this is the largest turnout of President Putin's leadership. There will be many around the world who will question that. Alexi Navalny's wife, Yulia, calling on global leaders not to recognize this election. Gordie?

Kier, Simmons, in Moscow. Thank you. And back in the US, a dramatic early morning pursuit in New Mexico ended a manhunt for a suspect believed to have killed a police officer there and another first responder on the East Coast just days before. Priya Shreither reports on what we're learning about the suspect and his victims.

A two-day cross country manhunt has come to an end after a police shootout early this morning. 33-year-old Jeremy Smith was captured after allegedly killing a police officer in New Mexico before he was captured by authorities after being spotted by a gas station clerk.

During this time, as they had an eye on Mr. Smith, a foot pursuit ensued. Shots were fired. Some shots strike Smith.

Authorities say Officer Justin Hair stopped to help Smith with a flat tire on Friday morning when Smith allegedly shot and killed him. Police say Smith pushed hair his body into the passenger seat before taking off in his patrol car, which was later found abandoned.

The last words Officer Hair uttered on this Earth was to offer help to a man who's about to kill him.

Police say when Officer hair first approached Smith, he was driving a car that belonged to 52-year-old Finesia Machado, four, a South Carolina paramedic who was reported missing by her family on Thursday. Friday, her body was found, and authorities say Smith is a person of interest in her death.

We want to extend our heartfelt condolences to that community for their loss of a fellow first responder.

Tonight, tributes from across the country are pouring in for the two victims. Machado 4 is remembered as a loving mother and grandmother and dedicated first responder. And 35-year-old Justin Haer, a devoted father of two girls who had another baby on the way.

We'll now be able to spend some time focusing on honoring him in the best way that we can and grieving his loss.

So, Priya, what are the next steps in this case?

So right now, Smith is being treated in a nearby hospital. And The investigation continues in both South Carolina and New Mexico. Gadi.

Priya, thanks so much. It was another terrifying day in Pennsylvania. Parts of suburban Philadelphia, once again, forced to shelter in place just 24 hours after a killing spree started there and spread into a neighboring state. George Solis has the latest.

This was the scene this morning in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a suburb just outside Philadelphia.

Right out my back window, there were cops running around with guns.

For the second day in a row now, a community was placed in lockdown as authorities responded to the threat of an armed suspect. It's quite scary. According to police, this morning's standoff started when a man allegedly assaulted a woman in this housing development. The suspect eventually are entering after a two and a half hour standoff.

We were able to successfully locate the gentleman and place him in custody with that incident and no injuries to police.

The dramatic scene, less than 24 hours after the harrowing scenes in neighboring Falls Township, Bucks County.

I don't know if I've actually processed it.

You know what I mean? Authorities arresting and charging 26-year-old Andre Gordon, who they say murdered three of his family members before crossing state lines into Trenton, New Jersey, where police say he had taken hostages inside a home. These dramatic images of swan officers pulling people from a roof, the suspect somehow breaking through the police line, but later, surrender less than a mile from the home.

Well, it's apparent that he left before the police arrived.

Tonight, court documents obtained by NBC News revealing authorities say Gordon used a so-called ghost gun to commit the murders and carjack two individuals. Police say one of those victims was Sonja Hanson.

Then he pulled the gun out, and my grandson seen the gun. He's only nine years old. He jumped out the car and ran.

Gordon now faces multiple charges related to the murders, carjackings, and possession of weapons, according to authorities.

Back now with George in Levittown, Pennsylvania, at the home where one of the murders took place. George, do we know if the suspect will be charged in Pennsylvania?

Yeah, God. First, we should know that some people have been stopping by the home here today, none saying a word. You'll notice that there may be some plywood here on the front door, possibly connected to that force entered, noted by authorities. As far as extradition, authorities tell me he expected, Andre Gordon, expected to be extradited back here to Pennsylvania. In the coming days. Gadi.

George Lise, thank you. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is blasting recent comments by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the US, said Netanyahu Netanyahu and his cabinet are a barrier to long term peace in the region. Today, Netanyahu firing back.

I think what he said is totally inappropriate. It's inappropriate to go to a sister democracy and try to replace the elected leadership there.

The comments come as Israel faces growing backlash over its invasion of Gaza. To the 2024 election now, with both President Biden and former President Trump locking up their nominations, there's a new block of voters who could decide inside the election. They're being called the Double Haters because they don't like either candidate. How will they vote come November? Shaquille Brewster talked to some of them in the swing state of Wisconsin.

Excuse me there. How are you? I'm from BBC News. Can I ask you a quick question? First thing that comes to mind.

Oh, boy.

What do you think when you see these two options? Not great. In Battleground, Wisconsin, the choice these swing voters face in November is one they prefer not to make. Are you excited about these being your options?

Quite honestly, no. I can't say that I'm happy about either option.

What's the word that you think when you see these two candidates running for president? Oh, hell no. They're the so-called double haters. Why is it them two again? It happened four years ago. And they could decide the election by holding their nose and voting for one of the major party candidates, choosing not to vote at all, or...

I'd like to have more choices.

Well, funny you say that because asking you shall receive. Well, look at that. Does it change at all if I do that and give you a third option? Depending on who that is.

Coca-cola or Pepsi.

Maybe we do need a third option.

Support for third party candidates is one of the biggest wild cards this election. In a February poll, 21% of voters backed third-party candidates, with independent Robert F. Kennedy grabbing 15%. For context, in 1992, Ross Perot snagged 19% of the vote in what's considered one of the more successful third-party bids, and the options may grow. The group No Labels is vowing to field a unity ticket, pairing a Democrat with a Republican.

If somebody steps up to the plate other than these two, I would consider it.

But the challenges are massive: getting on the ballot in all 50 states, fundraising, and navigating hot button issues like abortion. But perhaps the biggest hurdle-If the third-party option makes it easier for Trump to win, would you even consider it?

Oh, no.

Absolutely not. No.

I believe it would be disruptive.

Perot was blamed for taking votes away from George H. W. Bush and giving the presidency to Bill Clinton. Just as Ralph Nader is still attacked for shifting liberal votes away from Al Gore in 2000.

Just doesn't get any closer than this.

But for many of these double haters, they want to have the choice to vote with their heart. Could you see yourself voting for a third party in this Absolutely, I could. Shaquille Brewster, NBC News, Wauwitosa, Wisconsin.

Spring is just a few days away, but this winter weather is not behind us yet. Look at this. 21 million people across parts of the south are under alert from now through Tuesday, looking at temperatures in the '20s and 30s. It'll be ice cold as far south as Montgomery, Alabama. And clear skies this weekend for a lot of the nation's biggest St. Patrick's Day celebrations. No throws a party like they do in Boston. Here's their St. Patty's Day parade today. Always a big turnout since it's got one of the largest Irish populations in the country. And in New York, an estimated 2 million people lined up along Fifth Avenue to watch bagpipers, floats, and more on Saturday. Meanwhile, they were seeing green for the 69th year for the dying of the Chicago River. Still ahead tonight, the massive new volcanic eruption, Rocking Iceland. We are back with some astonishing new images out of Iceland following another powerful volcanic eruption there. The massive lava flow snaking its way towards one town and forcing the evacuation of the world famous Blue Lagoon. Josh Letterman has the latest.

Tonight, a blazing wall of lava is spreading across Southern Iceland. A volcano spewing bright orange smoke been seen here in stunning photos from a Coast Guard helicopter for the fourth time in his many months. This time, threatening Iceland's most famous tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon Hot Spring, where bathers had just minutes to flee.

We're evacuating waiting.

Look at that.

Wow. American Melissa Isair's vacation with her husband interrupted mid-meal.

As the waitress is bringing my wine, you heard the sound go off, and that's when my husband and I looked at each other and they said, Okay, evacuation in route.

Local media say hundreds in a town near the Blue Lagoon have now fled to safety.

Everybody was steady and prepared.

Meteorological authorities say the volcano erupted with little notice, just about 40 minutes and carved a fissure into the Earth nearly two miles long, triggering a state of emergency, an orange glow visible for more than 20 miles away in Reykjavik, the capital. Volcanos are common in Iceland, which sits atop a geological hotspot. This volcano has been erupting roughly once a month since December, but this eruption appears to be the biggest yet. No deaths have been reported, and tonight, defensive barriers built to contain the lava are holding so far. But scientists say it may only be the beginning.

We might have eruptions on the peninsula on and off for the next few hundred years.

A fiery future for an island where volcanoes are a fact of life. Josh Letterman, NBC News.

We are back now in a moment with a closer look at the parachute technology that's just helped a California family survive a plane crash. Plus, a major retailer is making some big changes to those self-checkout lanes. We're going to tell you about that coming up. Target stores are making a big change starting today. You know those self-checkout lanes? Well, Target is now limiting the number of items you can buy there to just 10. The retail giant says it's working to make checkout lanes move faster and is even experimenting finting with adding back more staffed checkout lanes to handle shoppers with more merchandise. The California family is alive tonight after a plane crash that could have been so much worse, if not for the parachute technology that brought the entire plane down safely. Steven Romo has more.

We're getting reports of a plane crash at the 76 250 Ustall Road. This is what first responders saw when they arrived at the scene of a small plane crash in Northern California last Last week, a single engine Serus SR-22 aircraft split in two and partially upside down. Those three accidents are currently code four on the ground. On board, pilot Artym Conynuk, his partner, and their two-year-old daughter, who suffered only minor cuts and scratches, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's office.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

Whoa.

And in Washington State...

Is anybody else seeing this?

Hold Holy shit. This, SR-22, crashing in a busy Bellevue neighborhood.

We heard a loud bang, so we thought it was like gun shots or something, so we got scared.

Neighbors saw two men climb out with no apparent injuries.

I'm not surprised at all to see these stories.

Former NCSB investigator Jeff Gazzetti points to the type of aircraft's built-in Serus Airframe Parachute System, or CAPS, for short.

Rather than just having the airplane crash, they They reach up, they pull a T-handle. It activates a solid rocket booster, which pulls a parachute out, and in eight seconds, you're safely swinging underneath the parachute. It's really quite revolutionary.

It sounds like once they're used, is this a survival rate for a crash involving one of these parachuts, is it pretty high?

It's very high. There's just been a handful of fatalities or injuries that occurred even after deploying the parachute.

According to the Ceres Owners and Pilots Association, there have been 128 saves and 263 survivors with this CAP system. But Gazzetti warns a parachute is no replacement for good pilot training.

You still need piloting skills to make emergency landings. There's so many other aspects. But on those few select accidents in which a parachute comes in handy, this particular airplane has a very good success story. Negative.

That direction went for H1. When we come back, there There is good news tonight, the surprise of a lifetime for a beloved college security guard, how the students made it all happen. There is good news tonight about finding family far from home, and the college students coming together to show their dorm security guard just how much he means to them.

Happy birthday to you.

For the students from Raymond Hall dorm at Rhode Island's Providence College, beloved security guard, James Moghajjee, is more than just a friend. To guys like freshman Brandon Rykert, he's family. What is it about him that draws people in?

He's a beacon of light in our community. He's always smiling.

He's always willing to help people. So they celebrated James on his birthday birthday because his own family lives across the globe in Nigeria.

I'm blessed because this is the first time someone is going to celebrate my birthday for me since I've been in this country.

Thank you. That emotional moment setting the stage for another surprise. It's almost like you give him the birthday cake, and then you think, Hey, wait, what if he could celebrate with his family?

Yeah, absolutely.

Turns out James hadn't been back in Nigeria for more than a decade. So they started an online fundraiser to buy him a ticket home, hoping to raise three grand by the end of the semester. But they hit that goal in just hours. My goal is to get to you is a trip to Nigeria. Dormar Ray, Daniel sing, giving James the good news. I don't know how much I can thank you. I pray from the bottom of my heart that God will continue to protect you guys, to make sure that you achieve your goals. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you, guys. We wanted to talk to James, but understandably, he is totally overwhelmed. What did he say after you presented him with that check? He woke his family up and told them. I said, James, who's that on the phone? He said, Oh, it's my son. His little son said, Thank you and God bless. That little boy said, Thank you for allowing his dad to come home. Yeah, absolutely. Just, Thank you and God bless you. Blessings for the man who's gone above and beyond to be there for them. How about that?

James is hoping to make the trip home to Nigeria in June. Oh, and by the way, it gets even better. That online fundraiser the student started is now almost $30,000. That's NBC Nightly News for this Sunday. Lester Holt will be in tomorrow. I'm Gadi Schwartz. Thanks so much for watching. Have a great night. Happy birthday, dear James. Thanks for watching. Stay updated about breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social media.