Tonight, the director of the FBI, Christopher Ray, announcing his resignation under pressure

from President-elect Donald Trump.

The FBI chief telling employees at a bureau town hall he will resign at the end of the current

administration with three years left on his 10-year term.

It comes after the President-elect announced plans to replace Ray with hard-lined ally Cash Patel

and days after he criticized Ray in our NBC News interview.

Also tonight, the new evidence in the CEO murder investigation, police saying the suspect's

gun matches shell casings at the scene, and his fingerprints match those found on a water bottle

and a rapper nearby, and the writings allegedly found in the suspect's notebook discussing

his plans to kill. The explosive wildfire in Malibu destroying homes, 20,000 people forced to evacuate.

Among those fleeing the flames, stars like Dick Van Dyke and Cher, the strong storms impacting

millions up and down the East Coast, the flash flood threat in New England and wind gusts

up to 50 miles per hour.

The growing mystery over the drones spotted over New Jersey, Where are they coming from and are they a threat?

The Pentagon today weighing in.

And after some Grinches tried to steal their holiday cheer, the community theater where the show must go on.

This is NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.

Good evening and welcome.

With the writing on the wall, FBI director Christopher Ray revealed today that he will step down from the job he has held for the last seven years.

His departure announcement, not unexpected, after President-elect Trump recently put forth the name of Cash Patel to take over the job,

leaving Ray the choice of resigning or being fired.

Ray telling employees' resignation is the best way to avoid dragging the Bureau deeper into the fray.

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