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Continuing Coverage Of On-Air Tragedy. Aired 2-2:30p ET

Aired August 27, 2015 - 14:00   ET

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


[14:00:03] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf Blitzer, thank you so much. Great to be with all of you on this Thursday. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

I want to begin in Roanoke, Virginia, where people there are just simply trying to come to terms with what happened at a local shopping center yesterday morning when a TV news crew was murdered live on television by a former employee of their own station. Reporter Alison Parker, 24 years of age, and videographer Adam Ward, 27, were live on the air when cameras captured their final moments. And a clear picture of the killer, who we now know had a history of hostility towards his former employers.

Back in the newsroom, their colleagues watched just in absolute horror. Ward's fiance, a producer there at our affiliate WDBJ, witnessing his death live from the control room. But they stayed on the air covering their own tragedy and earlier today at the precise time of yesterday morning's shootings, the station's on-air staff stopped the news to something you rarely see, and took a moment to join their community, share their grief in a moment of silence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was yesterday around this time that we went live to Alison Parker and photojournalist Adam Ward. They were out in the field. A story that was like so many others that they did all the time, reporting on our hometown. They were at Bridgewater Plaza near Smith Mountain Lake to report on a happy event, the 50th anniversary of the lake, just a feature. And it was during a conversation with Vicki Gardner about another reason why we love living here when the peacefulness of our community was shattered.

As we approach that moment, we want to pause and reflect and we want to share with you, once again, what made these two so special, not just to us, but to all of our hometowns that WDBJ 7 serves. Please join us now in a moment of silence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I said it yesterday here on this show and I'll say it again, WDBJ, we stand with you.

Hours after stoic on-air coverage, these journalists broke down over what they saw, who they lost. These pictures showing just overwhelming sadness, grief, taking comfort in one another. Alison's father talked to my colleague Chris Cuomo about the heartache and the legacy he wants for his daughter. And I didn't want to cut this interview up. We didn't want to edit it. So here it is in its entirety.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS CUOMO, ANCHOR, CNN'S "NEW DAY": Mr. Parker, thank you for joining us. I know this is an incredibly difficult time for your family. I also know that it's important for you to share who your daughter was in her life, not just in her death. How are you this morning?

ANDY PARKER, ALISON PARKER'S FATHER: Well, you know, I could be better. Yesterday I really didn't think I would be making the news round circuit and just had no -- had no intention of doing so. And then as I reflected during the day, I realized that, you know, Alison was a journalist. She does what you guys did -- did what you guys did. And she would want me to do this. So that's why I'm here.

But I've gone through, you know, the usual emotions of being numb and then, you know, uncontrolled grief and sobbing all day long and then, you know, anger. But, you know, my soul's been crushed.

CUOMO: In one of your statements yesterday, you said something that I hope you're feeling as well as saying, which is the measure of solace you get from knowing that while your daughter had such a young life at 24 years of age, she touched so many people and she made so much of the time that she had. Is that helping?

PARKER: It is. The out pouring from the community and, you know, I think the nation at large, obviously this is a big story nationally and, you know, it -- that has been a comfort. But she was, she was -- she was such a special person. She -- you know, she loved everyone that -- you know, she was loved by everyone and, you know, it was -- and she touched a lot of lives. And, obviously, it shows in the tributes that come her way. And I -- you know, I've got to tell you, I've not watched any television. I can't -- you know, I didn't see any of the recounts. I didn't want to. But I -- you know, after the fact, I'm hearing just, you know, how much, you know -- how much she has been loved and, you know, I certainly -- it doesn't surprise me.

CUOMO: Part of how you want your daughter to be remembered is that you want something to come out of this situation. You were very strong last night when you were talking about how you think we need to be better after a situation like this. What do you want now?

[14:05:06] PARKER: Well, you know, her life was cut short. She had -- she had so much potential and, you know, it's senseless that her life and Adam's life were taken by a crazy person with a gun. And, you know, I -- if I have to be the John Walsh of gun control and, you know, I, look, I'm for the Second Amendment, but there has to be a way to force politicians that are cowards and in the pockets of the NRA to come to grips and make sense -- have sensible laws so that crazy people can't get guns. It can't be that hard. And yet politicians from the local level to the state level to the national level, they side step the issue. They kick the can down the road.

This can't happen anymore because it -- Alison was one of you guys. This has got to hit home for journalists. And if journalists, you know, if journalists are targets, and we're not talking about, you know, someone going to Syria and being in the cross-hairs of ISIL, we're talking about two kids that were -- two young people that were doing a benign story about a marina opening or celebration and someone -- and a crazy person with a gun shoots them. And I know that the NRA, their position is going to be, I can hear it now, they're going to say, oh, gee, well, if they were carrying, this never would have happened. I've got news for you, if Alison or Adam had been carrying an AK-47 strapped around their waist, it wouldn't have made any difference. They couldn't have seen this thing coming. So, you know, I don't want to hear that argument from the NRA and you know that's going to happen. And I'm going to take it on.

I got a call from Governor McAuliffe yesterday and I told him exactly what my plan was. If I have to be a crusader on this, I'm not going to rest until I see this something happen. And he said, Andy, he said, you go for it. I'm right there with you. We've got to have our legislators and our congressmen step up to the plate and stop being cowards about this.

CUOMO: But, Andy, you know what you're going to hear, and, obviously, you're very emotional right now and it's motivating you and you have to put emotion where you can right now to help you in this situation and we wish you well with that. But we just had Donald Trump on. He's leading in the polls and he says these are tough issues and I'm for the Second Amendment and I don't think that you should take away more guns. That doesn't seem to be the answer. And mental illness is tough and we should do more. And those things sound great to people. We hear them from politicians all the time and yet nothing changes because the two sides are very rooted. The law is what it is and change is hard. What do you say to those -- those issues?

PARKER: Of course. And I'm not -- you know, I'm not saying let's take away guns. I'm just saying, let's make it harder for people with mental issues or people that, you know, like this guy that killed Alison and Adam, you know, to make it difficult for them to purchase guns. There's got to be a mechanism that gets put in place for that. And I don't think that's unreasonable to do. But steps have -- you know, how many -- how many Newtowns are we going to have?: How many Sandy Hooks? How many people -- how many Alisons are going to, you know, to -- is this going to happen to before we stop it?

And it is -- you know, and I'm challenging you, the media, because, again, this is one of your own. And, you know, I know how the business works. I -- you know, this is going to -- it's a great story for a couple of days and then it goes to the back burner and nothing happens. But I can promise you, and I can promise the American people, I'm not going to rest until I see something get done here.

CUOMO: You're being motivated, obviously, by the loss of your daughter. You know there's been a great outpouring of support for her and the eyes of the country are on this story. What do you want them to know about your daughter?

PARKER: That she was -- she was kind and she was sweet and she touched everybody and that, you know, I'm standing here now and, you know, I've got to see her in action in, you know, doing stories like this with a camera set up. She -- she loved us and we loved her and I talked to her every single day. Every single day I talked to her. And right now, she would be texting me right now saying, dad, what did you think of my story, you know? What did you think of it? And I'm -- I'm never going to hear that again. [14:10:09] She was -- she was so loved by all and -- and I know I --

my heart is broken but I want to try and do something that will change that and make her life -- will do something meaningful for her life so that this doesn't happen to someone else again. But she was -- she was a special young lady and I think people across the country and certainly around here realize that.

CUOMO: Often maybe the best thing that comes out of a situation like this, Andy, is that people get a respect for the victims who were involved and what is lost when somebody decides to take out their anger the way that this mad man did. And your daughter, in her own way, is becoming the best example of how precious life is. And you got to see it even in her boyfriend Chris, who you know so well, the love he had for your daughter and the love she had for him, that is one way that your daughter will live on in the hearts of people who loved her.

PARKER: It is. And, you know, we can at least take solace in the fact that she lived -- you know, she was only 24. She just turned 24 last week. And she had -- she packed in a great life in 24 years. She did a lot of things. And she was -- most of all, she was happy with what she was doing. She loved what she was doing. She loved her family. She loved Chris very much. And at least we know -- and from what I can -- know from the law enforcement officials, she didn't suffer. And, you know, she led a happy life. But I just -- I just wish I could touch her soul right now because -- I'm sorry. I --

CUOMO: No, Andy, don't say you're sorry.

PARKER: It's tough for me right now.

CUOMO: Listen, I know this is difficult for you. I know that you -- I know it is. And I know that you feel that you have to come out and address this because you want people to remember her the right way and you want to say what you think is important in this. But, please, take care of yourself and take care of your family. And you know that people will stay on this story for the right reasons, not just because Alison was a journalist, but because it matters. And I'm sorry for you to have to share your pain like this, but I know it's important to you. And I appreciate it, sir. And our hearts and our prayers go to you and your family.

PARKER: Please do. Well, thank you. She would have wanted this. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:17:06] BALDWIN: You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. A vigil is scheduled this evening in Roanoke, Virginia, to honor the young journalists' lives lost from the WDBJ morning news team. Alison Parker, photographer Adam Ward both killed and killed during live television by a disgruntled former station employee. Obviously everyone just absolutely numb, soul crushing, to quote Alison's father, over what happened. And it's tough to even just wrap your brain around this, what it's like for their own colleagues in this newsroom. But somehow they found the strength to return to work today to remember these two journalists as they try to make sense of what happened. Parker's boyfriend, Chris Hurst, who also works at the station, talked to Chris Cuomo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS HURST, ALISON PARKER'S BOYFRIEND: I can understand fully that he has tried to create a narrative that is one that I hope everybody quickly, quickly forgets because the manner in which he took Alison and Adam's life should not be the focus of this story. The focus of this story should be two amazing lights that were extinguished yesterday for no good reason. And I now join so many thousands of other Americans who cannot explain why their loved ones were taken from them. And when you ask me how I'm doing, I can't explain why either. I have no idea how I'm doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I have Victor Blackwell, who is standing just outside of that news station in Roanoke, Virginia, and also our investigative correspondent Drew Griffin, standing by in Atlanta.

Victor, first to you. And just to remind our viewers, we're just about 40 minutes away from the news conference just across the street from you that will be given by the station's general manager and perhaps we'll hear from some of the other employees there as well. I can only imagine the memorial over your shoulder is growing. How are these two young journalists being remembered today?

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well -- well, they -- I guess there are two ways to answer that, Brooke. First, they're being remembered as an energetic team, as dependable. Alison Parker, a rising star, who a manager said they could throw anything at them. Adam Ward, a dependable, creative cameraman.

But this community -- I mean you worked in small market, local television.

BALDWIN: Sure did.

BLACKWELL: People get to know the morning team because it is a routine. Every morning you turn on the same channel and they depended upon Alison Parker and got to know Adam Ward as well. So that's how they're being remembered.

You say that the memorial is growing behind me, flowers, cards. There's a note there that thanked them for believing in this community. So that's one way they're being remembered.

We got a heads up from the mayor here, David Bowers, saying that there will be scholarships named in their honors at James Madison University, the alma mater of Alison Parker. Also at Virginia Tech. We know that Adam Ward was a bit Virginia Tech fan and a Virginia Tech alum. So that will be a way in which to pay tribute to these two journalists who were killed here on live television. [14:20:10] BALDWIN: That is lovely. Two scholarships for these two.

And, Drew Griffin, I know you've been looking into the -- into the background of the shooter. What more have you learned?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: That this guy just had a trouble work record just about everywhere he went. Hostile work environment, which he seemed to create. And then would turn the table and sue the various stations that he worked at. The last of which was WDBJ Television.

He worked there for just a year, as we've been reporting, and there are stacks and stacks of internal memos, reprimands from management to him concerning his behavior, aggressive behavior, how he makes people feel uncomfortable, how he makes co-workers feel threatened, especially out in the field. There's also a big string of criticism about his actual journalism.

And, Brooke, quite frankly, how the station was trying to use these memos to help him, to get him better, to become a better journalist, a better colleague in the newsroom. He seemed to shun every attempt, up until the very last attempt which -- which we have in one of the memos. This is from management to him talking about how "clearly much has been done already in your working relationships with several members of the photography staff. You are now required to contact health advocate by Friday. Failure to comply will result in termination of employment."

So the company was saying, listen, you've got to go see our health specialist to deal with what they perceived to be some kind of a behavioral problem that you're dealing with. That attempt failed. He was fired. Violent outburst in the newsroom. He gets escorted out and then he sues. He sues for various racial discrimination charges. It's basically dismissed.

Back in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2000, almost identical thing happened. Take a listen to what his then news director said about this shooting suspect's employment, this is back in the year 2000, Brooke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN SHAFER, KILLER'S FORMER NEWS DIRECTOR: I guess you could say he had kind of a personality where he sometimes could be a little bit difficult to deal with. He had some problems with some of his co- workers and the production staff. We found that they were maybe saying something about him. We ended up having to dismiss him and he left the station and subsequently sued the station for racial discrimination. And naturally (ph) we fought it in court and it was dismissed in a summary judgement (ph) by the judge (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: A constant pattern in this guy's life.

Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes, absolutely. Drew Griffin, thank you so much. Victor Blackwell, we'll see you next hour, again, as we watch and wait to hear from the general manager.

Victor mentioned the scholarships. Both of their alma maters, both Alison and Adam's. And I'm sure the station is thinking of a way to honor them as well.

Next, Alison Parker's father, grief stricken and speaking out about, you know, what he called sensible gun control legislation in this country. My next guests were also personally touched by similar tragedies. Richard Martinez, his son, Christopher, killed in the Isla Vista shooting rampage in California, he will join me live. Also, I'll talk with Erica Lafferty, the daughter of the hero principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Dawn Hochsprung, who was killed when that gunman stormed the school, taking all those young, innocent lives. Erica and Richard weighing in on something so important to this country, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:27:51] BALDWIN: It's a lonely club that's growing. Family and friends left behind after murderers steal the lives of innocent victims. The senseless killings of two journalists is no different. As you saw at the top of the program, Alison Parker's father is numb. He's devastated, dealing with unbearable grief. We haven't heard publically from Adam Ward's parents, but I have to imagine the feelings are similar.

Reminiscent of another father who dealt with a similar loss. Do you remember Rich Martinez, the father of Christopher Michael Martinez, the University of California student who was killed in the Santa Barbara campus shooting rampage more than a year ago. Listen to his torment then.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICH MARTINEZ, FATHER OF CHRISTOPHER MICHAEL MARTINEZ: Why did Chris die? Chris died because of craven, irresponsible politicians and the NRA. They talk about gun rights. What about Chris' right to live?

He was the most warm, loving, kind-hearted kid you could ask for. I mean it's just -- if you talk to people that knew him, they would tell you, just a great kid.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And the family of Dawn Hochsprung, the heroic Sandy Hook principal, who was killed in the elementary school massacre. My colleague, Gary Tuchman, had this emotional interview with her daughter, Erica Lafferty, after her mother's heroism cost her her life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ERICA LAFFERTY, DAUGHTER OF SANDY HOOK PRINCIPAL DAWN HOCHSPRUNG: Every game, she was there. Every practice, she was there. All of my sister's cheerleading stuff, she was there. Every dance competitions, she was doing homework on the bleachers, but she was there. And she -- she was my rock. My rock.

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What would you say to your mom right now?

LAFFERTY: Come back. Just come back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Erica and Richard join me now. And just to both of you, I know time has passed but still I am so sorry for both of your losses and I just wanted to welcome you and thank you for taking the time with me today.

[14:30:00] I know, Erica, you were the first to reach out to Rich after the murder of his son. And so I want to talk about the relationship, you know, and the work you've done both to contribute to the organization Every Town for Gun Safety, creating a network for victims of gun violence.