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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Minnesota Police Kill Black Man During Traffic Stop; Justice Department to Probe Police Shooting; Trump Hammers Decision Not to Charge Clinton; Dwyane Wade to Leave Heat for Bulls. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired July 07, 2016 - 05:00 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.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: We're following breaking news this morning. A new officer involved shooting overnight. A black man shot and killed by police during a traffic stop. Dramatic video captured the aftermath of that shooting and it was streamed live on Facebook.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: This as the FBI and Department of Justice meet over how to investigate the police killings of Alton Sterling. There are new protests in that shooting and a new video as calls for justice grow louder.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Boris Sanchez.
Christine, great to be here with you.
It's Thursday, July 7th, about 5:00 a.m. on the East Coast.
We are following breaking news this morning with what may be the most disturbing police shooting video yet.
[05:00:04] Here's the scene: just a few hours ago in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis, a car was stopped by police. There was a man behind the wheel, a child in the back and a woman in the front passenger seat live streaming on Facebook moments after gunshots.
We want to warn you, the video we about to show you is graphic. Some will find it very troubling. And we are showing it to you specifically because the woman who's in the passenger seat, Diamond Reynolds, clearly wanted the world to see what she was going through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REYNOLDS: Stay with me. We got pulled over for a busted tail light in the back and the police (AUDIO DELETED) he's covered. He's killed my (AUDIO DELETED) boyfriend. He's licensed -- he's carried -- he's licensed to carry.
He was trying to get out his ID and his wallet out his pocket and he let the officer know that he was -- he had a firearm and he was reaching for his wallet and the officer just shot him in his arm. We're waiting for a backup.
OFFICER: Ma'am, keep your hands where they are.
REYNOLDS: I am sir, no worries.
(EXPLETIVE DELETED)
REYNOLDS: He just got his arm shot off. We got pulled over on Larpenteur.
OFFICER: I told him not to reach for it! I told him to get his head up!
REYNOLDS: He had, you told him to get his ID, sir, his driver's license. Oh my God. Please don't tell me he's dead.
(EXPLETIVE DELETED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Less than an hour ago, the police held a one-minute news conference, refusing to take any questions. Here is some of what they did say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON MANGSETH, INTERIM CHIEF, ST. ANTHONY POLICE DEPARTMENT: During the stop, shots were fired. One adult male was taken to the hospital. We have been informed that this individual is deceased. A handgun was recovered from the scene. The BCA will be providing additional information as their investigation progresses.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The St. Anthony Police Department tells CNN last night that they did not see the video, but they know about it. The driver was Philando Castile, he was 32. His family tells CNN he worked as a cafeteria supervisor at a local school.
Right now, we are getting word that about 200 protesters have gathered outside the governor's residence in St. Paul, Minnesota. This is from CNN affiliate WCCO, the reporting that they are sounding car horns and that they draped the gate with the crime scene tape from the scene of the police shooting.
ROMANS: In a matter of hours, the FBI and the Justice Department will meet with Louisiana state police to discuss how to investigate there the police killing of the man named Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge. Now, the 37-year-old African-American CD vendor, he was fatally shot early Tuesday morning during a struggle with two officers outside a convenience store. This all started after someone called 911 complaining that they had been threatened by a man with a gun.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DISPATCH: Copy suspicious code 2 at 2100 North Foster, cross of Fairfield. Selling CDs on the corner. Gun in his pocket. He pulled a gun on a complainant and told him he couldn't be around there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: There is now a second video emerging of the deadly encounter between Sterling and those two police officers. This very disturbing video, we should warn you, it shows that the struggle unfolding, the fatal shots and then one of the officers removes what appears to be a gun from Sterling's pocket. Watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(EXPLETIVE DELETED)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got a gun! Gun!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you move, I swear to God --
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get on the ground!
(GUNFIRE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shots fired. Shots fired.
(EXPLETIVE DELETED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The shooting has sparked outrage in Baton Rouge with protests lingering well into the night as Sterling's family members demand justice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Talk about the last 48 hours.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hell. It's the only word I can describe. Hell.
ANJELICA STERLING, ALTON STERLING'S SISTER: There are four of us. We appreciated everybody from all around the world coming out to share this moment with us for my brother. I hate it had to start with our brother. But we will make sure it don't happen to another brother. And it will stop today.
QUINYETTA MCMILLAN, ALTON STERLING'S WIFE: What I saw last night from the real citizens of Baton Rouge will forever warm my heart. We are a complete community of individuals who will carry this burden and also stand together to ensure that this event will not go unjustly.
[05:05:00] It will not go unnoticed.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: Investigators say the officers were wearing body cameras, but they became dislodged during that struggle. Sources tell CNN both officers were interviewed by the D.A. on Tuesday night and they are now on paid administrative leave, Boris.
SANCHEZ: Yes. To help us sort through these two police shootings of black men caught on came in the space of two days, we're joined now by CNN law enforcement analyst Cedric Alexander. He is the public safety director for DeKalb County, Georgia, and he's author of the book, "The New Guardians: Policing in America's Communities for the 21st Century."
Cedric, good morning to you, sir.
CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Good morning.
SANCHEZ: The first question we want to ask is about the shooting in Falcon Heights. And specifically -- before we should ask, what we know so far about that incident, we got from the woman in the passenger seat. From her live Facebook feed.
What I wanted to ask, though, was about the procedure for an officer who is dealing with someone who has a concealed weapon. What is the standard operating procedure when someone says, "I have a weapon in the car"? What should the officer do next?
ALEXANDER: Well, in a situation such as that, when someone informs a police officer I have a concealed weapon, the officer has to take a great deal of precaution. But at the same time, the owner of the weapon needs to be very cautious as well, too, understanding that the police officer don't know who they are and they don't have any real credibility they have ownership to the weapon or license with the weapon. That's just part of the initial investigation.
What we saw here, and it is important to keep this in mind, is that we see a piece of the video. It's very graphic, it's so sad to see this. However, I think what's important is there needs to be a full investigation. It's going to be interesting to hear and get the statements of the officer. Again, to get the statement of the girlfriend.
But what's going to be critically important in this case is the physical evidence and the forensics evidence that's going to be collected. One thing I would suggest to the police department there in Minnesota is that they become as transparent and open as they can very early on sharing with the community as much as they can and that does not jeopardize the integrity of the investigation.
But to have a one-minute news blast --
ROMANS: Yes.
ALEXANDERS: -- is certainly not a good sign they really need to step back and begin to gather as much as they can to assure the community that this is going to be open investigation and an investigation that's going to be conducted by an agency outside of themselves. ROMANS: I mean, it was hours ago that this happened. So, a one-
minute news conference. They are still gathering information. They say they have heard of the video. They know it exists. They haven't seen it yet, although hundreds of thousands of people had been watching it now. We know that there are protesters there in Minnesota, had gone to St. Paul where the governor's residence is.
So, we know that, you know, this is something sparking a lot of concern in communities.
You know, let me ask you this. In the days since Ferguson, for example, are local police departments, are they teaching officers how to deescalate? Do you think the de-escalation is a priority in general? Has that been implemented around the country?
ALEXANDER: Absolutely, it's been implemented across the country and many police departments are doing a very good job at it.
But we also have to understand that each and every case that we see are different in the case before. And we see similarities, but there are also differences. The circumstances are different.
We also have to remember we are watching powerful video where we're seeing bits and pieces of it. That's why full investigation is always important and to gather information as much information as we can and share as much as we can with the public. Images are very, very powerful as we very much know. And even if we look at the image there in Minnesota from last night, it is a very powerful image.
But what's going to be critically important is that a fair, open and transparent investigation is conducted to bring it all together that make sense to that community and make sense to the rest of this country that's watching this as well.
SANCHEZ: Now, we wanted to ask about the situation in Baton Rouge. We know the Department of Justice is taking over that investigation. What was your initial response to seeing the new video we have? The other angle we did not have before of the police and confrontation with Alton Sterling?
ALEXANDER: It certainly does add and give us a different angle of what took place. But what is going to be important here again is that there may be other video that may emerge from a different angle that has a different sound to it. Here again, the forensics evidence that's gathered is going to be critically important, the witness statements. The statements of the officers are going to be very important. So, none of these videos look very good as we watch them from our homes.
[05:10:01] But being there in that, being there on that scene involved in those incidents as police officers, we don't want to second guess anyone until all the facts are gathered, so that a fair assessment and fair investigation is conducted. That's going to be fair to both those communities. That's going to be fair to the victims that are involved, and going to be fair to those officers. That is clearly a very important piece that we cannot understate in all of this. ROMANS: Cedric, thank you so much. We will keep you here as
developments come in about the Minnesota case and also, as we continue to analyze that video out of Baton Rouge. Thank you so much for joining us.
ALEXANDER: Thank you for having me this morning. Thank you.
ROMANS: In just hours, Donald Trump meets the GOP leaders in Washington. Can the Republican Party unite in time for the convention? It's less than two weeks away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:15:09] SANCHEZ: Donald Trump expected to be on Capitol Hill today, meeting with Republican lawmakers. He's trying to win their support ahead of the Republican National Convention which is now less than two weeks away. But exactly who's going to be speaking at the convention is still a mystery this morning. Trump had promised to release the lineup yesterday, but now says the speaker list will be out today so that he can use yesterday to focus on what he called crooked Hillary and rigged system under which we live.
At the rally last night in Ohio, Trump blasted the Justice Department for not charging Hillary Clinton over her use of e-mail as secretary of state. But he also swiveled to defending this controversial graphic I'm sure you've seen that he tweeted last week, attacking Hillary Clinton, an image that critics are calling anti-Semitic. Trump sticking to that defense, late last night tweeting a picture of Disney's "Frozen" book with a similar star on the cover.
Trump wrote, quote, "Where is the outrage for this Disney book? Is this the star of David also? Dishonest media, #frozen."
For the latest, politics reporter Sara Murray is with the Trump campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARA MURRAY, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Good morning, Boris and Christine.
On the day when Loretta Lynch decided she was not going to bring charges against Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump started off right on message. He was hammering Hillary Clinton, calling her a liar for everything she said about her e-mails in the past and saying any normal American would have gone to prison for the kinds of things that Hillary Clinton got away with. But then he went off on tangents, doubling down on his campaign decision to put out a graphic of Hillary Clinton, a six-pointed star and piles of cash behind her.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: It could have been a star for anything. To me, it was just a star. But when I really looked at it, it looked like a sheriff's star.
But CNN started this dialogue going, it's the star of David, and because it's the star of David, Donald Trump has racist tendencies. These people are sick, folks. I'm telling you.
So, we have unbelievably dishonest media. Think of that. You have the star, which is fine. I shouldn't have taken down. They took the star down.
I said, too bad. You should have left it up. I would have rather defended it. Just leave it up and say, no, that's not a star of David. That's just a star. It is all about corrupt Hillary, corrupt Hillary.
MURRAY: That was one of a number of instances where Trump essentially blamed the media for ginning up controversy. But that is just one of a number of story lines that emerged in the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio, last night. He also appeared alongside former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. This is one of the folks that Trump has essentially been auditioning to be one of his VPs.
Now, we know Gingrich is in the formal vetting process, but it's anyone's guess still who Donald Trump will choose.
Back to you, guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Sara, thank you.
Donald Trump's first fund raising round moderately successful. He is still well behind Hillary Clinton though. The Trump campaign raised, look at this, $51 million since late May. Compare that with Clinton's haul of $68 million.
The big difference here is that most of Clinton's cash is going to her official campaign. It gives her more flexibility in spending it.
Trump raked in $26 million from small donations, mostly online. The $25 million came from his joint fund raising committee. That money will mostly go to the Republican National Committee, meaning it will be spent on helping the entire Republican ballot, not just Trump's presidential bid. Trump personally contributed $3.8 million as well.
Both candidates will submit their bankroll numbers to the Federal Election Commission in two weeks. That will tell us more about how much of the money they have spent.
SANCHEZ: A good month for him. In one single day, he gathered more than $3 million.
ROMANS: Yes, yes.
SANCHEZ: Welcome news, considering last month, he was in the single digits.
ROMANS: Yes.
SANCHEZ: The NBA merry-go-round keeping turning. Dwyane Wade is taking his talents out of South Beach. Say it ain't so, Dwayne. Where is the superstar guard heading? Andy Scholes has more in this morning's bleacher report, next.
ROMANS: Chicago, Chicago --
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:23:44] SANCHEZ: In a surprising way and some would say heart wrenching --
ROMANS: You keep crying all morning.
SANCHEZ: -- move, Dwyane Wade announcing that he is leaving South Beach for the Windy City.
ROMANS: Andy, Boris moves back to Miami, and look, his guy moves to Chicago.
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: They will leave.
ROMANS: I know. How are you?
SCHOLES: Good morning, guys. I'm doing well.
Dwyane Wade, he is going home. After playing every single game of his career and winning three titles for the Miami Heat, Wade announcing last night that he is going to sign with the Chicago Bulls.
This was all about respect. Wade was never the highest paid player for the Miami Heat. He always helped the team bring in stars. After years of voluntarily taking those pay cuts, he said enough is enough. Wade reportedly will sign a two-year $47 million deal with the Bulls. He grew up in Chicago and played his college ball nearby at Marquette. So, Wade is going home.
John Jones will not be in the Octagon Saturday night for UFC 200. He has been pulled from the main event for a possible doping violation. UFC president Dana White held an impromptu press conference yesterday to announce the news.
Jones tested positive for a banned substance in an out of competition sample taken last month by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. Jones previously tested positive for traces of cocaine in 2015.
[05:25:05] If it's found that Jones tested positive for performance- enhancing drugs, he could face a two-year suspension.
All right. Cristiano Ronaldo making the argument that he truly is the best soccer player in the world. Ronaldo scoring a goal in a very impressive header, also assisting on another as Portugal beat Wales 2- 0 in the Euro semifinals.
France plays Germany later today to see who will meet Portugal in the championship game.
All right. The sentimental favorite at Wimbledon coming through with an amazing come back. Roger Federer was down two sets to none and faced not one, not two, but three match points against Marin Cilic. He fought back each time and go on to win the match in five sets to advance in the semifinals.
Federer called this one of the best wins of his career. He hasn't won a grand slam since winning Wimbledon back in 2012.
Later this morning, guys, both Serena and Venus will take the court in the women semifinals. And if they both win, we're going to get that all Williams finals for a fifth time. So, I know a lot of people rooting for the Williams sisters today.
ROMANS: Awesome.
All right. Thanks, Andy. Nice to see you.
SCHOLES: All right.
ROMANS: Twenty-six minutes past the hour. Our breaking news this morning: Minnesota police shoot and kill black man during a traffic stop. Dramatic video capturing the aftermath streamed live on Facebook. What the passenger in that car has to say, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
