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Orlando Hit By Worst Terror Attack Since 9/11; Forty Nine Victims Dead, 53 Injured In Terror Attack; Clinton: Demonizing Islam Plays Into ISIS' Hands; Interview with Sen. Bill Nelson; Trump Renews Calls For Muslim Ban. Aired 9-9:30a ET

Aired June 13, 2016 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:01] ERIN BURNETT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Erin Burnett. Carol Costello also here with me in Florida. I am outside the medical center where many of the victims are right now fighting for their lives. The latest that we understand this morning, 49 people killed. The 50th, as we have been reporting, the shooter who also killed himself.

And I believe we want to get straight here with -- as our coverage continues, to Boris right now who is with us with the very latest that we understand -- Boris.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Erin. Yes. We just got details from officials about an hour and a half ago that we didn't have before. First off, they say the primary mission right now is to notify the next of kin of the 49 people that were killed as a result of this shooter. It's been a long, arduous process of not only processing but then identifying the remains of those that were inside the club.

Right now fewer than half of the names of those killed have been released by authorities. So there are still a lot of families out there desperate for information. We also got some clarity from officials about those three hours between 2:00 a.m. when the shots first started ringing out to 5:00 a.m. when officials finally went into the club and took the shooter out.

We heard that before that 5:00 a.m. entrance into the club they had previously attempted to go inside. They exchanged shots with the shooter and he retreated into a bathroom. They paused because he mentioned some kind of explosive device. You'll remember all day yesterday, ATF officials were on the scene scanning for potential explosives. He also had something that resembled a device on him is what officials told us. So that kind of gave them pause.

Eventually once we got closer to 5:00 a.m., we were actually out here on the scene and we heard a huge explosion. It turned out to be a distractionary device set off by officials in order to distract the shooter. And that's when they went in, with an armored vehicle into a bathroom where he was hiding. Officials gave us a taste of the way they described it. Here is that sound.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHIEF JOHN MINA, ORLANDO POLICE: We used our armored vehicle, the bearcat armored vehicle, to punch a hole in that wall and defeat the wall. There's a hole in the wall about two feet off the ground and about two or three feet wide. We were able to rescue dozens and dozens of people that came out of that hole.

The suspect came out of that hole himself, armed with a handgun and a long gun, engaged in a gun battle with officers where he was ultimately killed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: So, obviously, there's still a lot of families awaiting details to, you know, find out what they fear most, that their loved ones may be gone. We've also heard from officials that, you know, this is an extremely diverse place. Orlando is home to a huge Puerto Rican population so it's not really a surprise that on Latin night where a lot of people were going out to dance to merengue and bachata, that there were a lot of Latinos that were killed. 20 of 24 people identified so far are Latino. And you can expect that when we get the full list of those that were inside the club that were killed there will be a lot of Latinos on it as well -- Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Boris.

And now we have some new information just coming in. And this is a developing story. Let's get to Evan Perez.

Evan, what do you know right now?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Erin, we're learning what investigators have learned that in recent weeks the shooter, Mateen, attempted to buy military-grade body armor. Now this is the kind of body armor that's even higher level than what ordinary police departments supply to their officers. This is the kind of body armor that would have allowed him to survive prolonged shootout with the police officers.

This indicates to investigators a couple of things, including that perhaps he has been planning this attack for weeks, perhaps much longer than that. This wasn't something that he woke up on Saturday morning and decided that he wanted to carry out this attack on this gay nightclub in Orlando.

It also indicates that he had no intention to commit suicide. This was something he wanted to do and prolong this gunfight with police officers -- Erin.

BURNETT: And I mean, Evan, it's pretty stunning here because, obviously, a big part of the question about all of this has been how long he planned it. And as you're reporting now, this means at least it was weeks, which I believe, Evan, does not fully square with what we've heard from the family. The family saying it was just -- perhaps it does but maybe not. They were saying in the past week or so, he saw two gay men were kissing. And they're saying that's what they think set him off. But it sounds like what you're saying is this particular plan could have gone back before that.

PEREZ: Exactly. And that's what investigators are now looking at. And I should add that the store that he went to try to buy this body armor, Erin, declined to sell it to him. It's not clear exactly why. He was certainly capable and had the license -- licenses necessary to buy two firearms which were found at the scene so it's not clear why he was denied this purchase for level three body army.

[09:05:04] But it does, as you say, go back to what the statements made by the family, which is that he saw two men kissing in Miami in the Bayside, Miami, and that that is what drove him to do this. It certainly, perhaps, adds more information for investigators to look at -- Erin.

BURNETT: All right. Thank you very much, Evan.

And I want to get now to Carol who of course is with me for these couple of hours here in Orlando -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Erin, thanks so much.

Over my shoulder, actually you can see police activity down there. That's the nightclub right there. Pulse. Investigators are on the scene, trying to piece together what happened. The crime scene -- well, let's just say it is very difficult. And of course investigators are trying to figure out exactly why this gunman ran on the shooting rampage at this particular club.

Those who knew the gunman now painting a chilling picture of a man with two very different personalities. People who lived nearby the shooter say he was a quiet man. The shooter's ex-wife says he was abusive and unstable, though. The shooter's father says he didn't see any warning signs. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEDDIQUE MIR MATEEN, ORLANDO GUNMAN'S FATHER: He was a very respectful person. He was respected by his family, his immediate family, especially the parent. He was on time on his work. He never slack off his work. He was on time. We provided really a lot of love and care for him. He was well-behaved. Appearance was perfect. I didn't see any sign of worrying, being upset or nervous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. Let's bring in CNN's Polo Sandoval. He is live in Fort Pierce, Florida, right outside the gunman's apartment. Tell us what more you know, Polo.

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we understand that there's so many of these investigative leads that have led officers here to Fort Pierce, Florida, only about a two-hour drive south of Orlando.

As you may imagine, people living in the actual condo complex which is where the gunman lived are still in a state of disbelief. The complex that you see over my left shoulder. The parking lots that are typically used for the residents empty right now since this morning. It's the first time it was actually opened by authorities. The scene essentially released by authorities. So we are beginning to see people return home slowly, but steadily. And based on our conversations with them, they are still in a state of disbelief.

We encountered at least one gentleman who was coming home for the first time the last 24 hours and he explained, really the extent, a very limited extent of his interaction with the gunman. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON BEERS, LIVES NEAR GUNMAN: Very quiet. Kept to himself. Greet normally everybody around here when he come down, he'd say hello, good morning, you know. He never said anything. Kept to himself. I mean, you never know. I mean, he looked like the normal Joe. And he wasn't obviously. You never know who your neighbor is, bottom line.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Again, we are here in For Pierce, Florida, the place where the gunman lived, the place where he worked. And according to my conversation with one of the local spiritual leaders, worshipped as recent as Friday. Last thing I should mention, something fairly significant here. And standing out here, much of the day, there was a car that was parked only a couple of parking spots next to where we're standing right now. Looking in the window, and you're actually able to make out what appears to be federal search warrant with the gunman's name on there.

At this point we're trying to find out exactly what could be behind that. But I can tell you that as you look through that search warrant you'll find that there is crucial evidence that was actually collected here just yesterday from the interior of that car, including DNA samples, also some vacuum samples. So while that is fairly standard of any federal investigation, this is significant as just this morning we heard from federal prosecutors in Orlando saying that they are looking into the possibility that there could have been other individuals involved in at least the planning process.

So this is a clear indication that investigators are trying to look at all avenues here, including a vehicle that remains, really considered evidence at this point. And especially what was removed from inside that car, Carol. But again the main headline out of the people living in this quiet community, they still can't believe a man that they lived so close to is responsible for so much pain -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We hear that same stories so often. Polo Sandoval reporting live for us this morning. Thank you.

As that gunman moved through the nightclub, those trapped inside, well, they hid wherever they could. Some in bathrooms, dressing rooms, or even underneath the bar or under the bodies of other shooting victims. Many of those inside the club used their phones to call for help. Nina Justice got several texts from her son, Eddie, just after 2:00

a.m. This is what the texts read. Quote, "Mommy, I love you. In the club. They're shooting. Trapped in the bathroom. Call police. I'm going to die." She texted her son back, "Calling them now. Are you still there? Answer your phone. Call me." And then again, "Call me."

[09:10:04] They texted back and forth. She told him help was on the way and later Eddie texted back, "Still here in bathroom. He has us." Then later, "They need to come get us. Hurry, he's in the bathroom with us. He's a terror." After that, he went silent. His mother waited for hours with no news of what happened to him. And then later that day he was listed as one of the 49 people who were killed.

CNN correspondent Brynn Gingras joins us now from New York.

And Brynn, we're still learning about awful stories like this, this morning.

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: \Absolutely, Carol. And we're also learning about ways family members are just remembering those who were killed in this horrific incident. And all but one of the victims have been identified by authorities. They're still actually trying to just get in touch with family members before they can actually release the names of everyone.

So we know the names of about half of the people that -- who were killed. And let me give you a few of those names and a few of those stories that we're learning about them. Stanley Almodovar III, he was just 23 years old. And get this, his mother made him a tomato and cheese dip. She put it in the refrigerator. She left it there for him so that he would have it when he got home that night from the club. Of course he never made it home that night. That's according to the "Orlando Sentinel."

Then there was 25-year-old Enrique Rios. A friend say, you know what, he wanted to be on Broadway. He dreamed big. And a cousin wrote on Facebook, quote, "My heart is heavy. We grew up together. And now he is gone. God took someone who was already an angel for so many people."

We're also learning about Edward Sotomayor, Jr., 34 years old. And he had a nickname that everybody knew him by, it was "Top Hat Eddie." And he got that name because he was a travel agent and he would always wear a top hat on his head and actually friends and people who knew him paid tribute by posting sort of that top hat emoji all over Facebook. And that's how they remembered him.

Also Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, the youngest of the victims, 20 years old. There are so many ways that people are trying to remember all of these people that were killed. We have more names to show you. We're still working together and learning about these stories, these last moments of their lives.

But also again, Carol, as I mentioned, the tributes people are paying to them now that they are gone -- Carol. COSTELLO: All right, Brynn Gingras, reporting live for us, thanks so

much.

I want to throw it back to Erin, who is at one of the hospitals. And of course doctors are still treating some of the victims -- Erin.

BURNETT: Yes, they are. And of course there are security now at every entrance to these hospitals as they try to protect those victims this morning, Carol, as their families we see coming in to visit them this morning.

Still to come, the killer at one point was on the FBI's radar. In fact two investigations. A heated debate now brewing over who was to blame and whether something crucial was overlooked. Were warning signs missed?

Reaction from the Florida Senator Bill Nelson, as he joins us live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BURNETT: Later this morning, President Obama is going to be getting his very latest security briefing. His update on the Orlando terror attacks. He will be briefed by a number of officials.

FBI is going to be there. FBI Director James Comey along with Jeh Johnson from Homeland Security. On Sunday, it was very dark day for President Obama's presidency. He addressed the nation after the deadliest mass shooting on American soil and of course, the deadliest terror attack in this country since 9/11.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Although it's still early in the investigation, we know enough to say that this was an act of terror and an act of hate. As Americans, we are united in grief, in outrage, and in resolve to defend our people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNETT: This is a scene that is all too familiar to this president. He has addressed the nation following a mass shooting more than a dozen times. You heard me correctly, more than a dozen times since he has been in office. Carol, every time he is angry, bereft and yet very little has changed.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Just these awful mass shootings go on. Thank you, Erin.

The terror attack in Orlando did prompt a swift response from the 2016 campaign trail. Something quite unusual during the presidential campaign.

Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump took to Twitter and elsewhere to condemn the attacks. With Mr. Trump hitting Mrs. Clinton for not using the phrase radical Islam and saying she should actually drop out of the race because of it.

This morning, Secretary Clinton responding in an interview on CNN. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): From my perspective, it matters what we do more than what we say. I have clearly said that we face terrorist enemies who used Islam to justify slaughtering innocent people.

And you know, whether you call it radical Jihadism, radical Islamism, I think they mean the same thing. I'm happy to say either. So I won't do because I think it is dangerous for our efforts to defeat this threat is to demonize, and demagogue and declare war on an entire religion. That plays right into ISIS' hands.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. Before we get to Donald Trump, I want to bring in Senator Bill Nelson. He is a senator from Florida. He represents this district. Thank you for being here.

First of all, I'd like you to react to what Hillary Clinton said about terminology. Donald Trump is accusing her of not calling it what it is. We can't fight it until we all know what it is. Does Donald Trump have a point?

SENATOR BILL NELSON (D), FLORIDA: Well, that point is ridiculous. First of all, we're at ground zero of the grieving process. This is a time for healing and for unity, not a time for division.

[09:20:08]But given the fact that we're in this political season, recognize what ultimately the FBI will conclude. It was ISIS inspired and it was a hate crime. It was anti-gay. Either one of them is terrorism. So whether you call it --

COSTELLO: So let's concentrate on that for just a second. So wasn't this mentally unbalanced man who hated gay people, and he somehow justified that hatred by looking into ISIS and that's why he did it, or did ISIS inspire him and his hatred of gay people?

NELSON: Well, that's what the FBI investigation will tell us. But clearly, he was somewhat imbalanced.

COSTELLO: Why is that distinction important?

NELSON: Whether he was ISIS inspired or ISIS directed is typical of the new modus operandi of ISIS. They say because they know if they communicate, our intelligence apparatus is so good, we're going to pick up those communications.

So they say, OK, you go on and do it on your own. So, any crazy person that might think that this is their jihad and that's where it's more important on everyone else, if you see something, say something.

COSTELLO: I want you to listen to what Donald Trump said this morning on "NEW DAY" about the solution to this problem. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): First of all, we have to stop people from coming in from Syria. We're taking them in by the thousands. You're going to have tremendous problems. Look at the people that have come to the country and you look at -- and are here, and for that, we need intelligence gathering. We have to look at the mosques. We have to look at all -- we have to look at the community.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Of course, this shooter, I just want to clarify for our viewers, the shooter was born in the United States. His parents were born in Afghanistan, but they have been in the United States for many, many years. So, would banning all Syrians or a temporary ban on Muslims coming into the country have prevented this attack?

NELSON: Of course that's exactly the opposite of what we ought to be doing. We ought to be unifying and let that Muslim-American community, which thinks of themselves as Americans, help us find the misfits. Donald Trump said we're letting thousands in. We have let in about 2,000 compare that to the scores and scores of thousands in Europe.

The rest of what we anticipate, another 8,000, will be vetted over the course of a year before they ever come in. No, the attitude that Trump is expressing is constantly divide, divide. That's not the character of the American people and that's exactly the opposite of what we need at this time.

COSTELLO: Let me go back to what Hillary Clinton said. The terminology -- I call it radical Islam. There's no difference from radical Jihadism, right? That's a change in the language for her. I'll ask you that. Is that a change in language for her?

NELSON: I don't get involved in those semantics. It is what it is.

COSTELLO: She did say it. She is running for president, so is she more receptive of it, do you think, because of what the Republicans are saying or she doesn't really care about terminology?

NELSON: Again, that's an attempt to divide. It's an attempt to nitpick. It's radical Islam inspired by ISIS, period. The way we have to respond is we have got to come together as Americans.

COSTELLO: OK, another question about the shooter's target. It's a nightclub, Pulse. Not very well known across the country. I talk to a lot of people here in Orlando, who have never heard of it. So, if ISIS wanted to make a splash from one of its soldiers -- we don't know if that's true or not -- why pick this club? We're in Orlando. There are bigger targets to pick.

NELSON: Well, this fellow who apparently is operating as a lone wolf, 100 miles from here in Fort Pierce. He had obviously cased it out because here's 300 people packed into a small building. It becomes a very vulnerable target.

He comes late in the evening probably when security had let down a little bit, how he got the weapons in, and then he takes advantage of it.

COSTELLO: In your opinion, was this a plan he had in the works for a lengthy period of time and he checked out other gay clubs throughout the state of Florida?

[09:25:08]NELSON: We don't know the answer to that yet, but he had obviously checked it out.

COSTELLO: OK. So, you have a lot of experience of stopping these things. So what is it that you can do to stop it?

NELSON: Well, first of all, the FBI had looked at him in '13 and '14. The case was closed. Under their operating procedures, when that is done, that is done. But now we know when he got the guns, the background check showed no criminal record and no notation.

Maybe when we have an investigation, even though it's closed, there ought to be a notation so that comes up on the background check when he purchases an automatic weapon.

COSTELLO: Still the FBI questioned him twice. There was a police report, supposedly, according to his ex-wife, that he beat her and she left the marriage because of that. Yet he was a security guard and even before he guns that he used at Pulse, he owned a gun. How is that possible?

NELSON: Well, perhaps that's where we need to change the law. So that a notation is made on this person's record even though he has been cleared for the purpose of purchasing a weapon. There's another argument going on in Congress right now.

If you have been on some terrorist list or been checked, shouldn't you automatically go on the no-fly list? And right now, you don't have to be put on the no-fly list if you're on one of these terrorist watch lists. We have a lot of updating to do, Carol.

COSTELLO: Senator Bill Nelson, thank you so much for coming this morning. I appreciate it.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, a lone attacker pledges allegiance to ISIS while carrying out the worst U.S. terror attack since 9/11. But was this really motivated by radical ideology? We'll delve deeper into that next.

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