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Sheriff's Deputy Shot in Florida; Rising Oil Prices; State of Emergency in Pakistan; School Shooting in Finland

Aired November 07, 2007 - 10:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning again, everyone. You're with CNN. You're informed.
I'm Tony Harris.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody.

I'm Heidi Collins.

Developments keep coming in to the CNN NEWSROOM on Wednesday, the 7th of November.

Here's what's on the rundown.

A Florida deputy shot and critically wounded. The suspect, a prisoner on the run.

Schools on lockdown this hour.

HARRIS: A first in Finland. A school shooting. Several people reported killed.

COLLINS: The Minutemen guarding the U.S. border and asking for millions to do it. So where's the money going?

We're "Keeping Them Honest" in the NEWSROOM.

Happening right now, a search for a prisoner accused of shooting a Broward County, Florida, sheriff's deputy. All schools in Broward County now under lockdown.

Want to get straight to our John Zarrella in south Florida for the very latest on this.

John, good morning to you.

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, that's right, certainly a tense situation here in south Florida. As you mentioned, all of the schools in Broward County now on lockdown. That's 273 schools, vocational schools, administrative offices of the Broward County school system. All of them are on lockdown because there is an extensive manhunt under way for 40-year-old Michael Mazza -- Michael Mazza.

Now, we are standing at the corner of Martin Luther King and Power Line (ph) Road in northern Broward County, and what happened here early this morning, just to my right, about a hundred yards off to my right, Mazza was being transported by a Broward County sheriff's deputy to the Broward County Courthouse from the jail. At that point, he overpowered the sheriff, took the sheriff's gun, shot the sheriff's deputy, and then whipped the van, made his way out of here, and left the sheriff's deputy lying on the ground there.

When police (INAUDIBLE) realized he had a gunshot wound, and at that point he has been transported to North Broward Medical Center where he (INAUDIBLE) condition. We're hoping, Heidi, that we will have an update on his condition shortly.

Now, some of the things they are saying now is that they have found the van. It was a medical van. That's why he was being transported by himself with one deputy taking him, because Mazza has claimed that he had back pain.

So he was put in a wheelchair and then transported. That's why he was not transported to the courthouse where he was supposed to be in court today by more than one deputy in a bigger vehicle, but because he had complained of back pain.

Now, this could have been a setup. Police are very concerned, Heidi, that perhaps it was all a setup. Perhaps he has had help in this, that this may have been a plan to escape -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes. John, I know you're having difficulty hearing us. We're having a little difficulty with the shot as well. So we're going to stay on top of the story and check back in with you just a little bit later on.

John Zarrella, thanks so much.

HARRIS: One hundred dollars a barrel? Oil prices nearing a bummer of a benchmark. This is really huge.

From the pumps to your pocketbook, we are ready is everything you need to know. CNN's Gerri Willis keeping watch as people fill up.

Good morning to you, Gerri.

And let's start with Ali Velshi in New York at the New York Mercantile Exchange.

And Ali, if you would, make sense of the latest report on oil stockpiles for us.

ALI VELSHI, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, there are a lot of reasons why oil goes up or goes down on a given day or a week. It could be speculation. It could be worries about tension in other parts of the world. But once a week the U.S. government issues a report of what the stockpiles are, how much gasoline and oil we have in the United States as of last Friday, and that report came out this morning.

We were expecting a drop in oil supplies. We have been seeing that for a long time. We're using more oil than we're actually bringing in. But the drop was expected to be 1.6 million barrels.

It turned out to be 800,000 barrels, half of the drop that was expected. We ended up with a little less gasoline than we expected and a little more of things like heating oil and diesel, but fundamentally the drop in oil was smaller than expected.

Now, if that drop had been bigger, that's where you would have seen the push upward in the price of oil. And many people suspected that were so close to $100 that might push it all the way up to $100.

We didn't get that. And, in fact, the news, as it starts settling in, is bringing us a price of oil right now $96.85, roughly.

This is still a very volatile market and there are all sorts of things that can make oil go up or down. And again, Tony, there's nobody who doesn't think that it is headed for $100. The question, of course, is how that starts to trickle through if it stays at these kind of levels to your wallet, the things you pay for, including, gas, heating oil, and all the products that you buy that involve oil.

HARRIS: OK. Ali Velshi following, boy, the price of a barrel of oil, light sweet crude for us this morning. Right now at $96.85 a barrel.

All right, Ali. Appreciate it. Thank you.

COLLINS: So are you driving less? Combining errands to stretch that tank of gas just a little bit further?

CNN's Gerri Willis is at a gas station in Queens, where I bet a lot of people are talking about it this morning.

Gerri, just wondering what the reaction is out there to these prices.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Well, you know, I'd love to say people are happy about it, but they're certainly not.

Hey, look, this is where the American wallet is getting stretched the furthest, right at the gas stations. Let's take a look at prices.

We're in Queens, New York. The price for regular unleaded gallon of gas, almost $3.20 here. That's higher than the rest of the nation, where it's $3.02 for a regular unleaded gallon of gas. That's a whole lot of dough. It's stretching the American wallet further and further.

If you're a family of four and you're paying those average prices, your bill this year at this price would be $2,600. That's $700 more than last year.

Heidi, I want you to meet somebody here who is filling up their SUV, and they've had to face these higher prices.

Hi, Steven. How are you?

STEVEN FRATIANNI, SUV DRIVER: I'm good.

WILLIS: Tell me, now, how much did it cost you to fill up your tank today?

FRATIANNI: Well, I just filled up with half a tank. It was $44. And I'm averaging probably roughly about $80 to $90 a week. And that's just for my wife to get around town.

This is her vehicle. I'm not even -- I use an economy vehicle for work, but I'm going two hours up north today so I said I'd take this.

WILLIS: OK. Well, you know, this is a Toyota Sequoia. It's a big car, right? Are you thinking about -- will she think about trading down at all with prices at these levels?

FRATIANNI: Unfortunately, we bought the Sequoia for safety reasons. We have two children, and I was in a bad car accident about seven months ago, so that's why we opted for this, is safety reasons.

Everything on the road seems to be SUVs these days. And no, we won't. We'll stretch it, and unfortunately $3.19, I mean, last week it was $2.90. I mean, I don't know why they fluctuate so often, but that seems to be what it's doing.

WILLIS: It's scary stuff, and it's stretching everybody's wallet. Tell me where you are saving in your budget, where you are pulling back because you're paying more for gas.

FRATIANNI: Just on, you know, going out to dinner and that type of stuff and treating yourself to the nice things in life, you know. That's what you've got to do -- what you've got to do.

WILLIS: All right. Thank you so much for your help today. I appreciate it.

FRATIANNI: You're welcome.

WILLIS: So that's the story from here. People aren't happy about the higher gas prices, but they're paying them anyway, and they're obviously paying less for things they really want to buy.

COLLINS: Yes, no question.

All right. CNN's personal finance editor, Gerri Willis.

Gerri, thank you.

So how come oil prices are so high? Is there a shortage?

In recent weeks, stockpiles have dropped in the U.S., but the Energy Department says supplies are above average for this time of year. Some experts are saying prices are surging on fear. Fear that supply will be disrupted because of world trouble spots.

We're also heading into winter, of course, when we use more heating oil. Worldwide demand is higher as China's economy booms.

The U.S. is the world's biggest user of oil. We go through more than 20 million barrels every day.

HARRIS: A school shooting in southern Finland to give you an update on now, breaking news.

Doctors say seven people have been killed. Officials say an 18- year-old student at the high school opened fire. Police quickly surrounded the school.

The gunman still believed to be inside. Police say they have taken fire. Finnish media reported someone posted a message two weeks ago on YouTube warning of a bloodbath at the school.

COLLINS: New clashes in Pakistan today. Riot police firing their tear gas and swinging batons to hold back protesters. They've gathered near parliament in Islamabad.

These are supporters of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. She called for demonstrations against the president's emergency rule. So far no one here arrested, but Bhutto says 400 of her supporters have been rounded up begins Saturday. Hundreds of judges, lawyers and activists also detained. The U.S. and other countries want President Pervez Musharraf to lift the emergency declaration and return to constitutional government.

Staying on top of all these developments, the situation in Pakistan, is CNN's Isha Sesay. She's at the International Update Desk now right here in Atlanta.

Good morning, Isha.

ISHA SESAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

Yes, we want to share with our viewers some of the latest video we're getting out of Pakistan. They may not have seen it overnight, pictures that give you some sense of the incredible tension in the country right at this present time.

Just listen.

People are taking to the streets there. People unhappy with the declaration of emergency rule.

Let's bring you up to full speed with conditions on the ground.

There are at least 1,734 lawyers currently in jail. Many judges are under house arrest. The judicial system is under lockdown.

Media-wise, only state TV is available, and if you're watching that, you're not getting much of an indication of the conditions there on the ground in Pakistan. Privately run channels are off the air. Newspapers are under pressure to censor themselves and not to criticize the government, the president, the army, or the judiciary. Now, I should tell you that the Federal Union of Journalists is planning to declare Friday, November 9th a black day in protest of the censorship on the media. That's if the government doesn't lift the restrictions by tomorrow.

We have every angle of this story covered for you right at the international desk. As and when developments occur, we'll bring them right to you.

Back to you, Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. Terrific. Isha Sesay, thank you.

HARRIS: Megachurches under the microscope. A senator wants to know where the money goes. We talk with the leader of a church finance organization in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: A year away from elections now. Lots to talk about as the political climate certainly heats up. The author of "America: The Last Best Hope," host of "Morning in America" and CNN contributor -- boy, that's quite a bunch of titles there, Dr. Bennett.

Bill Bennett giving us his political outlook from New York this morning. Nice to have you with us.

BILL BENNETT, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Thanks, Heidi.

COLLINS: Lots to talk about.

BENNETT: Yes.

COLLINS: No question about that. Let's start with this: the Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, a little self-reflection on her performance after one of the debates.

Let's go ahead and listen in to an interview with Candy Crowley for a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I wasn't at my best the other night. We've had a bunch of debates and, you know, I wouldn't rank that up in my very top list.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Well, add this to some of the latest polls that we've been looking at. I think we can put a couple of them on the screen here. We're looking at this one here, where her numbers were 44 percent -- are 44 percent now. In October they were 51 percent as the frontrunner.

Is this a turning point or it's too early to say? It is a year away still.

BENNETT: Well, Iowa will be the turning point if there is one, Heidi. She still has a very comfortable lead.

She had a bad night. It was a bad performance. I don't think that matters so much as what she said and what lasting power that has. I think that will probably matter less in the Democrat primary than the general election.

COLLINS: How so?

BENNETT: She came out -- she came out in favor of giving illegals driver's licenses. It's very unpopular in the United States, it's very unpopular in a blue state, New York. Seventy-two percent of New Yorkers are opposed.

If the Republicans can get a uniunified theory of immigration, at least the candidates can, they can win on this issue, or at least score some points.

COLLINS: You're talking about Governor Eliot Spitzer's recommend there.

Did she come out in favor or did she just say that she was not saying it was a bad idea?

BENNETT: Well, she flipped and flopped, and people said, well, what about the flip and the flop? And I would say it's better to flip and flop than end up in the wrong side. They clarified her position later that day and the next day, and she said she supported Governor Spitzer's position of giving licenses to illegals.

I think it's a bad place to be. I think it's wrong. And I think Republicans will take advantage of it.

You will see some slippage, I think, in the Democrats, but I doubt that it's really going to hurt her in the primaries.

COLLINS: Well, speaking of slippage, are we talking about a little bit of slippage for the Republicans? The elections -- even you said, it really wasn't a good night for Republicans.

BENNETT: I'm sorry, say the last part again.

COLLINS: It really wasn't a good night for Republicans when you look at, I guess, Virginia, Kentucky...

BENNETT: No, no, no, that's right. No, it wasn't a good night for Republicans. And we hope this doesn't -- isn't the shape of things to come. We lost the Kentucky thing, the other elections looked good for the Democrats.

There are people who are, you know, predicting a wipeout next year. I don't think it will be. I don't think the odds for the Republicans regaining the House or Senate are very good, but I think there will be a real battle for the White House, and I think we have a good shot there. But the numbers are daunting.

There's a very good article in "The National Review" pointing out just how daunting it is. They're outraising Republicans. Democrats are outraising Republicans. Identification is much higher with the Democrats. So it's an uphill climb for the Republicans for sure.

COLLINS: It's always a good discussion though, and maybe even this far out, a year away. What do you think about polls? How do you know which ones to believe? How accurate are they?

BENNETT: You mean the polls?

COLLINS: Yes.

BENNETT: It's very hard to predict. The most interesting thing -- I'm sorry, it's just a little distortion, that's why I'm questioning.

The numbers are a little odd in that no one is above 30 percent or 35 percent. Rudy is leading the pack. Big endorsement, Heidi, by Pat Robertson of Rudy Giuliani today.

COLLINS: Right.

BENNETT: That's a major thing. But nobody is above 35 or 40. It's still fluid.

I think he's doing quite well. I think Romney is doing well in South Carolina. Fred Thompson seems to be doing better. And John McCain seem to be resurging.

Ron Paul raised $4 million, you know, over the Internet yesterday, and everybody is talking about Mike Huckabee. So it's very puzzling to know -- with all that swirling and that forward movement tells you there's still a lot of indecision on the Republican side.

COLLINS: Yes. Well, next time we have you on, we're going to have you nail it down for who is the Democratic nomination and who is the Republican nomination.

BENNETT: OK.

COLLINS: And maybe we'll even go so far as to figure out who the next guy or woman running the White House will be.

BENNETT: Great.

COLLINS: All right. Bill Bennett, thanks so much.

BENNETT: Thank you, Heidi. Good to be with you.

COLLINS: Thanks.

So, are you worried about your wallet? A new poll finds -- polls, by the way -- the economy is now the top issue heading into the presidential primary. It's interesting, too. In a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, look at this. Eighty-two percent of Americans say the economy will be extremely important or very important in their vote for president. Concern over high gas prices is fueling some of the worries. Two-thirds say gas prices are extremely important or very important in their presidential choice.

Other issues of concern -- poverty, taxes and immigration.

HARRIS: And to Capitol Hill right now as the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy -- Heidi, you say that so much better than I do.

COLLINS: Nicolas Sarkozy?

HARRIS: Yes. Speaking...

COLLINS: I have been waiting for days to say that.

HARRIS: You did that really well.

Receiving, as you can see here, a really warm reception as he meets with Congress. Sarkozy vowing to fix relations with America.

You'd have to say badly frayed under the former president, Jacques Chirac, and over the Iraq war.

You guys let me know -- do we want to listen to just a bit of this? No? OK.

We will monitor this speech and bring you some highlights a little bit later in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And still to come, our top story today, a deputy shot. The prisoner he was driving to court on the loose and on the run this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Looking at some more pictures here now of French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

You've got to admit, it's pretty fun to say.

HARRIS: That's good, Heidi. That's good.

COLLINS: This is a joint meeting of Congress, ceremonial in nature, where he speaks to the members of the House and Senate. Last night at the White House dinner, a pretty interesting comment that he made talking about wanting to reconquer America's heart. And France and the United States are friends, allies, always and forever. A bit of a quote there from the White House dinner last night.

Just a live picture for you in Congress today.

HARRIS: Look out for that "conquer" word. Megachurches putting millions in the pews and millions in the bank. Now a senator is looking into the finances of six megachurches headed by popular TV preachers.

Kenneth Behr is president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and Accreditation Agency for Ministries.

Good to see you, sir. Thanks for your time this morning.

KENNETH BEHR, EVANGELICAL COUNCIL FOR FIN. ACCOUNTABILITY: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: Hey, I have to ask you, are you in any way surprised by Senator Grassley attempting to find out here where the money goes?

BEHR: Well, I'm not really surprised that Senator Grassley is interested in asking these kind of questions. You know, Senator Grassley for a number of years has been taking a look at both for- profit as well as not-for-profit organizations.

HARRIS: Well, I have to ask you, is there any kind of a sense -- maybe you can share your thoughts on this -- that these so-called prosperity preachers perhaps are taking money that they're not entitled to?

BEHR: Well, I know this is one of Senator Grassley's interests.

HARRIS: Yes.

BEHR: There's always been an interest on Senator Grassley's part, the Senate Finance Committee, as well as the IRS, that nonprofits behave like nonprofits. So I think it would only be natural for him to ask the questions about where is compensation going, are you being compensated? Is there a board of review? Are there audited financial statements that we can take a look at?

HARRIS: Yes. How often does that kind of thing happen?

BEHR: Well, this is actually quite rare. You know, these are -- the one thing these six organizations have in common is they're all organized as churches.

HARRIS: Yes.

BEHR: Now, the general public might only recognize two or three of them as churches. The rest of them are basically television ministries. But because they're recognized as churches, they don't have to file a Form 990, which is the way that the public and the United States government has a right to know what the finances are of the organization.

HARRIS: Hey, is this an important distinction, the church ministry distinction?

BEHR: Yes, I think it is. You know, in the past, the nonprofit investigations and the number of organizations that have gone before the Senate Finance Committee have been specifically nonprofit. Some of them have been religious organizations, but they're nonprofits. These are exempt-exempt organizations. They're organized as churches.

HARRIS: OK. So if I'm Bishop Eddie Long today, if I'm Joyce Meyer, if I'm (INAUDIBLE), and I get this request for documents -- and look, there's a lot here about my compensation, housing allowances, checking and savings accounts, cars, airplanes and overseas trips -- what do I do here?

Do I respond? Do I wait for a subpoena? What do I do?

BEHR: Well, I'd encourage them to respond. You know, the Senate -- this is really just an inquiry by Senator Grassley. But when Senator Grassley speaks, he speaks with a tremendous amount of authority. The Senate Finance Committee has subpoena power. So if these inquiries are not -- don't result in some cooperation from the ministries, it could easily lead to a subpoena.

HARRIS: This is interesting. Mr. Grassley said in a telephone interview, "Jesus comes into the city on a simple mule, and you got people today expanding his gospel in corporate jets. Somebody ought to raise questions about is it right or wrong?"

What is he getting at here? Does he have a sense -- is he responding to specific complaints or allegations, or is this a fishing expedition?

BEHR: No, I think it's a little bit of -- a little bit of both. I wouldn't say it's a fishing expedition.

I think if you really go back over the last couple years, Senator Grassley led the Senate Finance Committee and also an organization called the (INAUDIBLE) nonprofit, which our organization was a part of. And they took a look at all nonprofits and basically the types of things that a nonprofit should be doing.

What was excluded from that was a lot of the religious charities. In fact, that was fortunate for our organization because that's where we live. But at the same time, these questions were being asked by the general public.

When he had inquiries, there were a number of inquiries that came in about specific ministries and said, oh, by the way, we hear about a real estate transaction. Or, did you know they have a private plane?

HARRIS: Yes.

BEHR: And so these ended up on a laundry list of questions, and now is the time that he's making them public.

HARRIS: All right. Let's see where this goes.

Kenneth Behr, thanks for your time this morning. Good to see you.

BEHR: Thank you. HARRIS: And still to come, Minutemen who pledge to protect the border. Now some of them feel ripped off.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Tony Harris.

We're going to get you the latest information we have on the shooting of the sheriff's deputy in Pompano Beach, Broward County. A Broward County sheriff's deputy, I wish we had more information as to the condition of the sheriff's deputy at this point. Last word we received is that he is in critical condition. He was transported to North Broward Medical Center. No new information on his condition. Wish we had some more information, updated information on the search for the suspect, Michael Mazza. 40 years old, 5'9", 200 pounds.

As you can see, there is a ton of police activity right now, and maybe we'll show you again the picture of the van. Apparently what happened here is that Mazza was being transported from the jail to a court hearing this morning when he just overwhelmed the sheriff's deputy in that van allegedly shot that sheriff's deputy, fled the scene in the van, later ditched that van, and may be traveling in another vehicle but he is believed to be in this mix of residential and business office buildings and homes right now, and as you can see, just a lot of activity right now as police continue to look and search and try to find Michael Mazza. All 273 schools in Broward County, including adult centers, vocational schools, and charter schools, on lockdown right now. We are awaiting a news conference. We're expecting to hear from the Broward County sheriff at any moment and when that begins we will take you there live for the latest information right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: OK. Want to get you back to this story out of Finland that we have been telling you about. Some breaking news to report there. A terrible situation, a school shooting in fact. CNN has been able to now confirm seven people dead. We are getting all kinds of information coming in from other news outlets as well. Associated press and finish media both reporting eight people dead. Again, so far CNN has been able to confirm seven. I want to, in fact, take a moment to get back to the other our that we've been telling you about in Broward County. We've got the sheriff at the podium and the microphones right now. Let's listen in.

SHERIFF AL LAMBERTI, BROWARD CO., FLORIDA: He's a 20 year veteran of the Broward sheriff's office. Signed to the department of detention and he serves in the transport division. He's been a career transportation deputy. Transports inmates to court, hospitals, wherever they need to go between facilities, and that's what he was doing this morning at about 8:00 this morning. He made a routine pickup at the North Broward Detention Center, transporting an inmate to court. The deputy picked up Michael Mazza, 40 years old. He was on his way to the Broward County Courthouse for a second day of a trial for armed robbery. He was currently in custody for two life sentences on previous armed robbery cases. This was the third armed robbery case he was going to trial on, and somewhere en route shortly after pickup at Power Line Road is the when this incident occurred.

We got a call from a passer by that a deputy had been pushed from the van, was lying on the ground, and when the deputies arrived on the scene, they found Deputy Ryan lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. Rescue transported here to North Broward Medical Center, and he was seen here in the emergency room for quite a while. But unfortunately, he did not survive, and he was pronounced here at the hospital.

As far as leads, the inmate then took the van and Deputy Ryan's weapon and fled from the scene. We set up perimeters, looked into the van. We have subsequently found the van at 2700 block of Davey Boulevard, which is just west of I-95. From there it looks like the inmate called a taxicab. He was not dressed in the traditional prison garb since he was going to court, he was dressed in court attire, a suit, which is common for court dates. So he was dressed in civilian attire, not jail attire. Looks like he got a cab. Got cooperation from the taxicab company.

We're working some good leads right now. We have some ideas on where he might be, but again we put out this photograph. Michael Mazza, this is who we're looking for now. We are working some excellent leads, and hopefully we will have him in custody shortly.

Again, the van has been recovered. The deputy's weapon has not been. The only thing I can say is this morning when I got the call from -- now you know in my 30-year career here, we've had a lot of these but this is reminiscent of a deputy -- I was working when that happened. As soon as I heard it, it's a copy situation, a flashback for me. Same thing, a medical transport going to the dentist, and that's when he was ambushed.

Looking at the way this happened, you know, we have strong suspicions, we don't know for sure, but this could have been a preplanned event, and he may have had accomplices. We don't know for sure, but just the way it happened, there's a strong possibility and we're looking at that right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you talk about what's happening right now at Lauderdale by the Sea?

LAMBERTI: Based on the information from the taxicab service, that's approximately where he went.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was it like to [ inaudible ]. This is the first time you've had to do this in your new capacity.

LAMBERTI: It's ironic that Deputy Ryan comes from a law enforcement family as well. His son, Richard Ryan, was a Davey police officer who ironically had just retired several weeks ago from the Davey Police Department, and his stepson is a police officer. Obviously I have spoken to his wife. It's not easy. She spoke to him like ten minutes before this happened. She made the statement in the hospital, you never think it's going to happen to you, and you don't know when it could be your turn, and the last time you speak to your loved one, and ironically she spoke to him by cell phone ten minutes before this happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [ inaudible question ].

LAMBERTI: Yes. The one I just spoke to was his son who is the retired officer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know it's early in the investigation, but the suspect, was he handcuffed in the back of the van?

LAMBERTI: Yes, he was handcuffed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you presume he's still handcuffed?

LAMBERTI: We would assume so. At this point we don't know. When he left the jail he was handcuffs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were they plexicuffs or --

LAMBERTI: That I don't know.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [inaudible question]

LAMBERTI: I don't have that information right at this particular time.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Something about his health, having back troubles.

LAMBERTI: The inmate had a medical condition. He was housed in a medical facility at North Broward, so he did have a medical condition, and he was being transported in a medical van.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: [ inaudible question ].

LAMBERTI: I don't know that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it -- to have a deputy working alone?

LAMBERTI: If the transport deputy usually by himself unless we're going to ...

COLLINS: OK. We're having a little bit of difficulty hearing the sheriff there, but we have been listening in to Sheriff Al Lamberti giving us an update on the situation in Broward update. We have just learned that Deputy Paul Ryan, who was the jail transport sheriff's deputy, has died of his injuries in this story that we have been telling you about this morning where the suspect, Michael Mazza, was being transported from the jail to the court for a proceeding today in his third armed robbery charge. He had been sentenced to two life sentences prior to that, going to court for proceedings on this latest charge. Once again Deputy Paul Ryan who was allegedly shot by the suspect, Michael Mazza, who is still on the loose, has died. That's the latest information on all this. All schools in Broward County are shut down, on lockdown as we speak. They do continue to look very, very closely for this suspect, and we'll stay on top of this story for you. Not a good update that we wanted to provide, unfortunately.

Also, an update on this story that we have been following for several weeks now. Attempted murder charges are reduced. The last defendant to be arraigned in the Jena six case appeared in court just a short time ago. Sean Callebs is on the story for us coming to us live from Louisiana. Sean, what happened?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it only took a matter of minutes. Bryant Purvis appearing before the judge and as expected the district attorney asked that the charges of attempted murder be pared back to aggravated battery in this case and also with a deadly weapon. The deadly weapon would be his foot. If you remember this all stems from a December 4th schoolyard beating involving six members of the school who have now become known as the Jena six allegedly attacking Justin Barker, knocking him out and kicking him so severely he had to be hospitalized. All of them were initially charged with attempted murder, and that really sparked a sense of outrage among many people across the country that culminated with a massive civil rights demonstration in mid-September here in the little town of Jena.

The significance about today's hearing, the attorney representing Bryant Purvis says that his client was about 30 feet away from Barker when Barker was savagely beaten, and he also alleges that no police report has been filed in this case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DARRYL HICKMAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I asked for a copy of the initial police report, which I understand there isn't one --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no police report?

HICKMAN: No initial police report, no. Never one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was a police report written?

HICKMAN: As far as I know, it hasn't been written yet. There's no initial police report in this case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: We called the Jena Police Department. They say they believe a police report has been written. They just don't know if it is at the police station. It's a very small town here.

As for Purvis, when he came out of the court, he talked about the severity of the charges still facing him. He could get 22 years in prison if convicted of aggravated battery in this case. He has since moved to Dallas and is attending high school and playing basketball at a school there, and he says that he really wants people to know there is still racism out in the United States, and he believes right here in his hometown. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYANT PURVIS, DEFENDANT: There's racism still out here in the world, and you might not see it every day, but in some places it's still here, and it's devastating to know that it's still out. That's way big. It's the 21st century.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CALLEBS: And Heidi, if things continue to move forward, Purvis would come to jury trial in March of 2008.

COLLINS: All right. CNN's Sean Callebs following the story for us out of Jena, Louisiana. Sean, thanks.

HARRIS: Now a shot at an ordinary life. A girl with four arms and four legs out of surgery today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: All right. We want to get you back to this story that we began telling you about just a little while ago in Finland. There has been a school shooting where CNN has now confirmed at least eight people are dead. Those reports also coming from the Associated Press and finish media as well.

According to what we have learned here, apparently an 18-year-old student opened fire in his school. This is a town in southern Finland. Again, killing eight people and wounding apparently 12 more. We are going to continue to follow this story. Apparently the suspect also tried to shoot himself. He is still alive in critical condition in a local hospital. Again, we will continue to follow this story and try to get more details as we get them in, but we also are understanding here, according to some reports, that the high school principal was among the dead.

HARRIS: Boy, new hope for a toddler born with eight limbs. Have you been following this story? Surgeons in India say they have successfully removed an undeveloped twin fetus from a 2-year-old. Besides taking away the girl's extra limbs, doctors removed over duplicate body parts during the 27-hour operation. The girl is listed in stable condition. When she is removed from a ventilator, doctors will check how well she can move her arms and legs. Doctors are hopeful she can learn to walk and live a normal life. To get your daily dose of health news online, logon to our website at CNN.com/health.

COLLINS: Minutemen who pledged to protect the border now some of them feel ripped off.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To this day we still don't have an idea of how much Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has raised. We don't have a clue.

COLLINS: Stick around. CNN, keeping them honest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The self-proclaimed defenders of the U.S. border with Mexico now facing a battle within. Some members of the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps firing accusations at their leader. Keeping them honest, our new CNN investigative correspondent, Abbie Boudreau. Welcome to the worldwide leader in news.

ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.

Welcome, welcome. All right. These complaints, why are we hearing about them now? Why are these people speaking out?

BOUDREAU: They feel it's important for people to know where their donations are actually going. The leader of the minutemen civil defense corps says he wants to raise tens of millions of dollars to build a high-tech security fence along the U.S./Mexico border. Some big promises were made, but have they been kept? We went to the border to find out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Friends, the solution is so simple.

BOUDREAU: It was a reaction to the horror of 9/11.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If elected officials will not lead, it is up to the citizens.

BOUDREAU: A way for people to really do something to make America safe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Secure our borders and enforce our laws.

BOUDREAU: It was as if 9/11 had somehow unleashed a growing frustration.

SANDY DOTY, FORMER MINUTEMAN LEADER: Here we were grandparents, and we were willing to go down and do something about the border and our government wouldn't do.

BOUDREAU: For many, it's a noble calling, and Chris Simcox, the President of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, a worthy leader, using the media.

CHRIS SIMCOX, PRESIDENT MINUTEMAN CIVIL DEFENSE CORPS: The greatest threat to our national security.

BOUDREAU: United, they would contribute and raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. How much of your lives have you dedicated to this cause?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 110 percent.

BOUDREAU: And make sacrifices to build a sturdy barrier to keep illegal border crossers out of the U.S. at least that's what they thought. Today the barrier is little more than an invisible fence to nowhere, and there are growing questions about Chris Simcox.

BOB WRIGHT, FORMER MINUTEMAN LEADER: For asking the questions, we were terminated from the organization.

BOUDREAU: What happened to all the minuteman money?

DAVID JONES, FORMER MINUTEMAN LEADER: We needed equipment. And we were not getting equipment.

WRIGHT: We still don't have any idea how much Minuteman Civil Defense Corps has raised.

BOUDREAU: Chris Simcox called this a "witch hunt" and refused requests from CNN for an interview. As for the plan for the massive fence? That part of the story is only more curious. In the spring a year ago, Chris Simcox, the leader of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, was facing growing agitation from members of his group.

JONES: What happened to the money? Why don't we have more gear?

BOUDREAU: And that's why Simcox's own lieutenants were stunned on Memorial Day. It was a groundbreaking on the Arizona border.

JOES: But all at once we're going to build a fence if the government doesn't build it, and we looked at each other, what?

BOUDREAU: Not just any fence. Something like the barrier Israel erected. Posted on the minuteman website, it was described as 14 feet high quipped with security sensors, topped with razor wire, 2,000 miles of state of the art fencing, wanting to raise $55 million. One man actually mortgaged his home donating more than $100,000. Keeping them honest, we went looking for the fence. We did find the fence the federal government is building, but where was that 14-foot high minuteman fence? If you look really closely, you can see parts of the minutemen fence down there. In order to get a true understanding of the minutemen fence, you have to go down to the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the minuteman fence right here. It's a five-strand barb wire fence.

WRIGHT: It wasn't until they actually started the ceremony that it became clear this was going to be a cow fence.

BOUDREAU: In fact, the rancher who owns the land, John Ladd, is more than happy the minutemen built him a fence to keep in his cattle and keep out Mexican cows. But while there are some tall poles, there is no Israeli-style barrier. So this isn't real fencing material? This is just ...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, this is electrical conduit.

BOUDREAU: So why bring the poles?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Show and tell.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sham. BOUDREAU: These former minutemen leaders say the groundbreaking was a ploy by is Simcox to raise even more money. When they questioned him about how donations were being spent, they say he fired them. Simcox now says he never promised to build the high-tech security fence on Ladd's ranch, and he insists the barbed wire fence really does protect the country.

Does this fence stop people from crossing the border?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a bit.

RICHARD HODGES, RANCHER: This area is great for illegal activity.

BOUDREAU: Another border rancher, Richard Hodges, agreed to allow Simcox to build nearly a mile of that Israeli style fence on his land.

What do you think the purpose of this fence is?

HODGES: Absolutely to stop people, yes. Absolutely.

BOUDREAU: But that was ten months ago. Today, here is what we found on Hodge's ranch. Very little. No razor wire. No trenches. None of the promised fancy facial recognition cameras. In fact, a company Simcox cited in his news release tells CNN it has no deal to provide cameras and hasn't even heard from the minutemen in 18 months. Is that what donors thought they were donating their money toward?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

BOUDREAU: So what happened to all the money? It's hard to tell. Simcox posted his group's most recent tax filing and an independent audit on the minutemen website. In the audit, the largest expense listed by far is professional services. No further details given. CNN asked Chris Simcox for responses to call the allegations made by these former insiders. Simcox told us these allegations and CNN's investigation are "part of a smear campaign." He declined multiple interview requests. .

Paul Newman, the board supervisor of Cochise County, Arizona, says Simcox's fence was a pipe dream from the beginning. It's a patchwork of public and private land. A fence builder could never get permission to cross all of it.

PAUL NEWMAN, COCHISE COUNTY BOARD SUPERVISOR: In actuality, for the people who are still giving him money, they should know that money is not going to build a fence.

BOUDREAU: Just lost month in an e-mail, he asked for even more donations. This time boasting of this new communications tower, but the tower owner told CNN the e-mail is a lie. The minutemen aren't using the tower, he says and he only let the minutemen put this small antenna on the roof of the shack next door.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HARRIS: Wow. What a story. Well done. Abbie, I understand that the minutemen may now be building that fence after 10 months. Is that true?

BOUDREAU: Well I did get a call from prospective rancher you met in this stsory. His name is Richard Hodges. And he called last night and said you know what, in fact the fene builders are now out and they're going to fulfill that part of the promise to build nine tenths of a mile that's been promised to them. Even if they did build that fence which now they say that they're going to finish, I mean it's nine tenths of a mile. People can easily ...

HARRIS: Sure, sure. Great story, Abbie, and welcome aboard.

BOUDREAU: Thank you.

COLLINS: Thank you, Abbie.

CNN NEWSROOM continues just one hour from now. "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe. I'm Heidi Collins.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Have a good day.

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