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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Florida State University Shooting; Obama to Announce Immigration Overhaul; Snowstorm Cripples Buffalo; Hopes for Iran Nuke Deal Fading

Aired November 20, 2014 - 04:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning. A gunman opening fire inside Florida State University's library. Three people injured. What we're now learning this morning.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. John Berman is off this week. It is Thursday, November 20th, 4:00 a.m. in the East.

We are following breaking news overnight. Gunshots ringing out at Florida State University's main library. Campus police confronting the gunman telling him to drop his weapon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID NORTHWAY, TALLAHASSEE POLICE: Instead of complying with their commands, the gunman, in turn, fired a shot at the officers and they returned fire killing the suspect.

ALEXANDRA LAUREN, WITNESS: When we were on the first floor, we heard two shots. While we were being moved up the stairwells, we were on the third floor, heard from outside, about five or six rifle shots go off, rapid fire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Three patients with gunshot wounds are being treated at a local hospital. We do not know their condition.

Students report hearing the gunfire from Strozier Library and receiving a police alert telling them to seek shelter and stay away from doors and windows. More than 20 emergency vehicles blocked off the area. We'll have continuing coverage throughout the morning here on CNN.

Joining us now on the phone right now is Perry Kostidakis. He is the sports editor of the Florida State University newspaper, "The FSU". Perry just got home when the shooting occurred and rushed back to school to cover the story for his paper.

Thanks for being here with us. About 12:30 a.m. Eastern Time is when this happened in the library. Students received an automated message right away telling them to seek shelter and stay away from the doors and windows. And now, just barely three and a half hours later, it seems as though the situation -- the dangerous situation has ended.

What is -- what is happening right now?

PERRY KOSTIDAKIS, FSU (via telephone): Right now, it's a very calm eerie kind of thing. There isn't really anybody on campus. They are not letting that was in the library or any of the surrounding areas out. So, there are a few people lingering, waiting for significant others and friends to leave the area. Cops still surround everything.

It's still a very tense situation. But you can tell the danger has passed.

ROMANS: Yes, and certain has -- they wrapped it up very quickly, I would say. Sometimes we see these situations at schools, Perry, and it can be hours and hours, where they're still combing through buildings, trying to make sure they got everybody who could have been wounded, or they've got any other suspects.

What are authorities telling your paper? It looks as though there is one suspect and that suspect is now deceased.

KOSTIDAKIS: Yes. Everything we confirmed with TPD. So far, there are three victims. One shooter now deceased. We know the status of two victims, one of them in critical condition. The other is in stable. We don't know about the third yet. We do know it was one single shooter who was shot down after police told them to drop the gun and he didn't comply.

ROMANS: Do we know if that was a student? Was the shooter a student?

KOSTIDAKIS: We haven't heard any word on that yet. Nothing specific.

ROMANS: Tell us about where it happened. The Strozier Library at 12:30 night Eastern Time on a -- on a -- you know, Wednesday going into Thursday morning. Was it busy? Was it full of people studying? Are you guys getting ready for midterms?

KOSTIDAKIS: Yes, we have midterm -- we have finals coming up in a couple of weeks for the end of fall semester. And at 12:30 on a Wednesday, there could be hundreds of students in Strozier. It is the central location on campus. I know multiple people who said they are either going to or leaving right before it happened. Any number of people could have been in there, and it's definitely one of the most populated places especially at that time at night.

ROMANS: I know authorities at FSU are going to have a press conference I think at 6:00 Eastern Time, in just a couple of hours, to maybe fill out some more details here for us.

The three -- remind us again the three students or three people who were shot -- assuming they were students -- who were shot. One in critical condition. Tell us about what authorities are telling about their condition. KOSTIDAKIS: All we heard is one is in critical condition and the

other is in stable, and the third we don't know about. We heard that one is a student and one is a security guard. We don't know about the third. We haven't confirmed identities of anybody. We just have general talking about and eyewitness reports from people there.

ROMANS: All right. Perry Kostidakis, thank you so much, in Tallassee for us, the sports editor of the "FSU" paper. Thank you so much. We will check in with you again as events warrant.

And again, in a couple of hours, there will be a -- there will be a press conference with officials there who'll be able to fill in for more of the details.

But again, the shooter -- the shooter is dead, according to authorities at Florida State University and police there.

Five minutes after the hour.

An explosive battle over immigration is about to erupt on Capitol Hill. President Obama is preparing to reveal his plan for overhauling the nation's immigration system. That will be in primetime tonight. He is expected to rewrite the rules for deportation. This will affect more than 3 million undocumented immigrants. He will do it all without Congress.

Listen to the president explaining what he is doing and why in this post on his Facebook page.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So what I'm going to be laying out is the things I can do with my lawful authority as president to make the system work better, even as I continue to work with Congress and encourage them to get a bipartisan comprehensive bill that can solve the problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The president's decision to bypass Congress by using his executive authority has Republicans outraged. We're going to get more on the plan and the reaction from White House correspondent now Michelle Kosinski.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Christine.

Right now, we know tonight, the president will take this momentous executive action on immigration. It could affect at least 3 million people, possibly up to 5 million.

What this would do, it is not a path to citizenship. It would be temporary and renewable. It will give people two things, the right to stay in America without being deported and the right to work here. According to sources, it would likely affect the parents of children who are already American citizens or have a legal basis to stay here, provided that those parents have been in America for a period of years. We don't know exactly what the parameters are.

It is also likely this would expand the same kind of allowances that were granted by President Obama in 2012 to people who were brought to America illegally as children, also known as DREAMers. But the sources say this would likely not extend to the parents of those DREAMers.

So, that has led to groups that President Obama's action is not going far enough, and then, on the other hand, you have fiercely angry Republicans who have called President Obama "Emperor Obama" and then threatened everything, from lawsuits, to defunding parts of the budget that would allow this executive action to work, even impeachment.

The White House, though, says it is confident that this executive action has a strong legal foundation and that it will be fully implemented -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Michelle Kosinski at the White House.

The White House released this photo of President Obama working on his big speech tonight. The president addresses the nation at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. You could see it live right here on CNN.

All right. Now to the bruised and battered Buffalo, New York, where they are buried under six feet of snow, with more on the way starting today. This monster lake-effect storm has already killed seven people and another foot and a half of snow is on the way.

Governor Cuomo declaring a state of emergency for the region that is shutdown and overwhelmed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: We are bringing in hundreds of pieces of equipment from all throughout the state. We've asked neighboring states for equipment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Just look at the scene in the Buffalo suburbs, look at that. Emergency crews simply can't get through the mountains of snow to reach hundreds of abandoned cars. Cars stopped in their tracks by the storm.

For those who have managed to get out of their homes, there's a lot of shoveling to do. But they're not going anywhere anytime soon, because the plows are nowhere in sight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BRYON BROWN, BUFFALO, NY (via telephone): At this point, there is so much snow, it is hard to plow. So, we're not plowing it. We are actually hauling it out, lifting it with high lifts, putting it in pay loaders and actually removing it from South Buffalo. At this point, probably over 300 truckloads of snow have been removed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Truckloads of snow. There's so much on the ground, the sheer weight of it all is buckling homes.

Listen to this woman describing what happened in her house at the height of the storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISSY HAZARD, TRAPPED INSIDE HOME: It was a pressure from the snow. Some of it also came down from the roof and when it did, it blew the doors right across my living room.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Blew the doors in. So much snow.

I want to get to meteorologist Indra Petersons. She is tracking the storm for us and brings us the latest.

More snow is coming.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I was just going to say, everyone keeps talking about these clean-up efforts. But, unfortunately, we have round two that has started to get underway. Another two feet of snow is possible unfortunately in the same locations that were hit the hardest. You can see yesterday, look at that long line, that's the band of the lake effect snow that went through.

They started to get a breather as they went through the afternoon, started to dissipate. Some of this was light snow that went on this afternoon. You see that long line of snow. That same set up is right back into place.

So, a lot of people want to know, what is exactly lake effect now? How does this happen? Remember, it's such cold air well up high in the sky. You look at that contrast between that warm water right over the lakes.

Remember, cold air wants to sink, warm air wants to rise. They go like this. It basically flips. That allows the instability to occur. You have the winds across the lake and all that snow will pile up right at the end of the lake.

So, wind direction. That is key. The more fetch you have across the lake, the more snow you're going to be having. The longer effect you have there. Notice the difference on the southwesterly wind would make there over Lake Erie, in comparison to the west-southwesterly wind. And unfortunately, that's exact reason some places are looking at 67 inches of snow. Meanwhile, just a few miles away, only 3 inches. This is the problem. They continue to get this perfect set up to look

at the snow piling up right at the end of the lakes. That is still the story as we go through the morning hours.

Right now, we are seeing another band of this ramping up. Good news: by the time we get through tomorrow, high pressure will start to settle in. It will cut off those winds right off the lakes and we will start to see relief.

But, Christine, behind that, we have two chances for rain. Think about all that snow. Yes, they want it to melt, but not all at once. Flooding would be the next problem.

ROMANS: Unbelievable. It is almost like a misprint, but it's not.

PETERSONS: It feels that way. Absolutely.

ROMANS: It's not.

All right. Indra, thank you.

There is a ray of sunshine among that Buffalo snow. Look at that. A 6-pound 2-ounce miracle named Lucy Hojnacki. Lucy's mom, Bethany, went into labor early Tuesday morning as the massive snowstorm hit her Buffalo neighborhood.

Beth's husband knew they were in a jam. He spotted a firefighter outside his home. He knew what to do.

Listen to Jared, her husband, tell Anderson Cooper what happened next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JARED HOJNACKI: He was helping a woman. So, we came together, to the woman together, and she overheard my conversation with the lieutenant which was that my wife was in labor, and that, you know, I'm a nurse, but I'm labor and delivery nurse. And the lieutenant said, you know, you're coming with us.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Wait, the stranded driver who the lieutenant was helping out when you got there, that stranded driver was a labor and delivery nurse?

HOJNACKI: Yes.

COOPER: That's amazing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: What are the chances of that? Well, in that case, 100 percent, because that's what happened, and that stranded nurse stayed with Bethany for hours until firefighters were able to evacuate her. They couldn't get to the hospital because stranded cars blocked the way. So, they brought her to the firehouse where Lucy Grace Hojnacki came into the world at 9:31 p.m. Tuesday night. Wow, that's an amazing story. Twelve minutes past the hour.

We're following breaking news this morning: a gunman opening fire inside a college campus library. Three people injured. The gunman killed by police. What we're learning this morning, ahead.

And new fallout for Bill Cosby. NBC pulling the plug on his new sitcom amidst new allegations of rape. The very latest ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Breaking overnight: gunfire on the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee. The school put out an alert for a dangerous situation shortly after midnight when shots rang out in the school's library. At least three people are being treated at local hospital for gunshot wounds. The authorities confirming the unidentified gunman was shot and killed by campus police after refusing to put down his weapon.

Stay with CNN all morning for the latest developments on this.

More fallout this morning from rape allegations against comedian Bill Cosby. NBC has killed an upcoming project with Cosby and TV Land has pulled reruns of "The Cosby Show." A stunning fall for the once beloved comedian who has faced allegations of sexual assault for decades now. On Tuesday, Netflix also shelved an upcoming comedy special with Cosby.

The 77-year-old entertainer continues to deny rape charges through his attorney when accuser says even if Cosby did apologize, it's too late.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOAN KARSHISH, COSBY ACCUSER: Well, I never heard any remorse in the times after each episode that we had together, each incident. When he called after them, I heard no remorse in his voice. So, I think it would be disingenuous for him to apologize or say, I'm sorry, I was wrong. I don't think the man has it in his nature.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Cosby is scheduled to go ahead with a performance Friday night at a sold out show in Florida.

Another security scare at the White House. Officials say the Secret Service arrested an Iowa man who had an unregistered rifle and ammunition in his car. They say he approached officers on foot, at a White House gate and said, someone had told him to go there.

Agents searched his car. About a block away, they found the rifle and ammunition. He is being held for illegal weapon possessions. Other charges are also expected.

The grand jury in Michael Brown's shooting death could decide to indict or clear the officer who killed him by tomorrow. Law enforcement officials say they expect prosecutors to present their final evidence on Friday and a decision could come quickly after that, even the same day.

Police have asked protesters to delay -- or prosecutors, rather, to delay announcing the grand jury decision for 48 hours to prepare for possible violence. Schools in Ferguson bracing for the worst, releasing plans to shutdown if violence erupts with seven local churches offering to provide shelter to the children if necessary.

Time for an early start on money this Thursday morning.

Stocks pulling back a bit from records. U.S. stock futures are moving lower right now after yesterday's -- following yesterday's lead frankly. The Dow closed down two points away from Tuesday's record. The S&P 500 inched back as well after the Federal Reserve kept relatively steady on low interest rates.

A new Senate report says banks are so powerful, they can manipulate markets for things like oil, aluminum and coal. In recent years, major banks have become owners of the essential commodities. And this two-year investigation found these banks are able to influences prices and also get inside information. Officials from Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and other banks will testify about these allegations today and tomorrow.

We are following the breaking news this morning: a shooting inside a college campus library at Florida State University, just a few hours ago. Three people taken to the hospital. New details are unfolding at this hour. We've got that for you ahead.

Plus, happening now: tense nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. A deadline fast approaching. Can a deal be reached? We're live right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Hopes for a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran fading fast this morning. Right now, six major powers trying to hammer out an agreement with the Iranians to curb Iran's nuclear programs, in exchange for relief from economic sanctions. With only four days remaining to get a deal done, time may be running out.

I want to go to Vienna this morning. Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is there.

And hopes fading fast. What's the sticking point here, Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Christine, it does seem to be at the moment, more along the line of sanctions when they would be lifted. From what we're hearing, the technical issues, the majority of those have been agreed. And there is no lack of talks going on here. Yesterday, the Iranians had bilaterals with the Russians, the Germans, the French, the British, as well as the U.S. delegation here.

So, the talks are happening. And today, the deputy foreign ministers of Russia and Iran are also meeting and talking. But what the Iranian delegation here wants and what they are under pressure to get from Tehran is to get those banking, E.U., and energy sanctions get them all lifted.

Secretary of State John Kerry has made it very clear that if there is agreement, those sanctions would be lifted as a matter of process over a period of time. So, it does appear as if there is a gap there.

On Monday, Secretary Kerry met with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. And Hammond has been quoted as saying that he feels that an agreement doesn't seem to be close. He said if there is enough progress in these talks over the next few days, then there is a possibility that they could be extended given a few more weeks to try to find agreement.

But at the moment, that doesn't seem to be happening. We know that right now, Secretary Kerry in Paris expected to meet with the French foreign minister within the next couple of hours. Obviously, they have a range of things they can talk about. But obviously, the talks here in Vienna about Iran are going to be pretty much front and center on that as well -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Nic Robertson for us in Vienna this morning, keep us up-to-date if there's any progress. Thanks, Nic.

Twenty-five minutes past the hour. New ISIS propaganda video just released shows jihadi members burning French passports, threatening to terrorize the people of France. The video shows four men delivering messages in French, promising to spread fear and horror. France has been rocked by the identification of two French nationals who were seen in an ISIS video beheading tied up Syrian soldiers.

We are following breaking news overnight: a gunman opening fire inside a Florida State University library, right in the middle of finals. Three people shot, the gunman now dead. What we are learning about the terrifying attack, ahead.

Plus, President Obama hours away from unveiling his plan to reform the immigration system. Millions of people in this country illegally, the president wants them to stay. What we know about the plan, next.

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