Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Chicago Releases Shooting Video of Unarmed Black Teen; Boy, 11, Questions Pence on Trump; Rio's City Hospitals Suffer as Games Begin; Miami Officer Prevents Explosion Near Airport. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired August 05, 2016 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:30:00] ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So all of that, of course, is still under investigation.
But I want to point out something else. As you're watching this video and those shocking images of police officers firing their weapons in the middle of this neighborhood, in broad daylight, is that Chicago -- the city of Chicago and the police department have been trying to improve things, quite frankly.
First of all, a bit of transparency. We're actually seeing the video, in contrast to the Laquan McDonald case, in which the video was not released until after a year after the shooting. And then the use of force policy was updated. And in that update, it also says that officers are not to shoot at a vehicle if the vehicle is being used against the police. And that's exactly what you see in this video.
ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Rosa Flores, thank you. Thanks for bringing us the facts of the case.
Joining me now, law enforcement consultant, Tom Verni, also a former NYPD detective; and also with us civil rights attorney, Charles Coleman.
Tom, I'll start with you.
Police have said they are trying to be as transparent as possible as they move forward in this investigation but it is still an open investigation. Are you surprised to see them release this video now?
TOM VERNI, LAW ENFORCEMENT CONSULTANT & FORMER NYPD DETECTIVE: Well, based on what they've been trying to do as far as being more transparency when incidents happen with the police, it is not really all that surprising. I would hope that they would want to collect as much evidence and facts first before they release things because to release things in piecemeal sometimes doesn't give it the full, complete picture.
CABRERA: You want context for it all.
VERNI: I'm all for transparency. That's great. So if this is their first attempt to be more transparency than they were in the past, that's great. But you want as many facts and evidence -- bits of evidence to come out first before coming out with some sort of a dissertation as to what took place in that incident, especially when it comes to the death of and individual.
CABRERA: Based on what you saw, what was your initial reaction there?
VERNI: It is shocking in a couple different ways. One is that clearly there is a breach or violation where the officer shot at the moving vehicle.
(CROSSTALK)
CABRERA: While the vehicle was moving, too.
VERNI: They've already come out and said that, that was a violation of their protocol and procedure. That's a little disturbing to begin with. Had they shot the individual while the vehicle was still moving, it could have gone in all different directions, which is why they come out with procedure like that. Second, it appears, from what we've seen to date, the individual was shot in the back as he was fleeing from the police. Generally, police are trained to not shoot a fleeing felon unless that fleeing felon presents some sort of immediate danger to the officer or someone else. So had the individual been armed, he was firing over his shoulder at the police, then it is a different story because now the police could be injured or killed.
CABRERA: Charles, based on what you saw in this video and learned about this case, is there enough to prosecute the police officers?
CHARLES COLEMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Well, certainly I do think that there is probable cause if only for the fact that, as both Tom and Rosa have already pointed out, this officer was already in violation of Chicago P.D. police procedure by firing into that vehicle. There's recklessness that you see there. Because, one, he's firing into a vehicle that an alleged suspect is driving, which as Tom's already pointed out, that could have created a safety situation as is. But also you notice that's also a residential neighborhood. While we don't necessarily see on the camera that there were individuals around, there could have very well been other civilians around that could have been in danger of that officer, perhaps hitting them with the bullet as he fired into that vehicle. To add on, the fact that this individual was unarmed and shot in the back that does raise probable cause from the standpoint that I have a hard time understanding where that officer thought that his life or the life of someone else was in danger.
CABRERA: Let's bring up other part of the video. We actually see that the one car slamming head-on into a police car which, as we learn from Rosa's report, was apparently the same car that the officer eventually shot and killed this man was riding in. Could he argue, from a legal perspective, that his life was in danger? This guy tried to hit him with his car.
COLEMAN: At that point, when he fires the weapon, the car's already been hit. So if he were firing the weapon as the car was coming toward him, that would be a stronger argument. But we don't know necessarily at this point which of the bullets or what bullet it was that actually killed this young man. So we hear the shots that are fired. We don't know whether he shot in the car, whether he's shot after he gets out of the car as he is attempting to flee. What we do know is that this is an innocent man and he's unarmed. He's also shot by police while he is running away from them in the back. So those facts themselves do not look good when you start talking about whether the officer -- whether there's probable cause in terms of being able to prosecute this officer.
(CROSSTALK)
VERNI: He's in a stolen car. But he's certainly not a choir boy. But clearly, yeah, there were multiple violations of police procedure in Chicago, which is going to be detrimental to the officer involved in this specific case.
[14:35:09] CABRERA: And the optics given the Chicago Police Department has been under scrutiny for use-of-force incidents in the past.
(CROSSTALK)
COLEMAN: Correct. And I have to point out, in terms of me maintaining his innocence, stolen car or not, at that point, that officer may or may not know that. Even still, that's not that officer's job to make that determination in terms of his guilt or innocence. That's what we have due process for. That's what we have criminal justice for.
(CROSSTALK)
VERNI: But they're chasing a stolen car. That's the whole reason for this interaction from the beginning.
(CROSSTALK)
CABRERA: There is so much to discuss here.
(CROSSTALK)
CABRERA: The body camera missing and all of those pieces. There is still a lot more to this story.
(CROSSTALK)
CABRERA: We appreciate you both coming on to lend your voices. Thank you very much.
Coming up, an 11-year-old boy pressing the Republican vice presidential candidate with a tough question about Donald Trump. He's going to join me right after the break. He is a smart one, at just 11 years old. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:40:27] CABRERA: While Donald Trump isn't officially there yet on supporting some Republicans in the re-election bids, his running mate, Governor Pence, is. The split between the two has the governor answering some tough questions, the toughest, it seems, from an 11- year-old. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEW SCHRICKER, QUESTIONS MIKE PENCE ON DONALD TRUMP: I've been noticing that you've been kind of softening up on Mr. Trump's policies and words. Is this going to be your role in the administration?
MIKE PENCE, (R), INDIANA GOVERNOR & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I couldn't be more proud to stand with Donald Trump. And we are shoulder to shoulder in this campaign, my friend.
(APPLAUSE)
PENCE: Sometimes things don't always come out like you mean, right? And Donald Trump and I are absolutely determined to work together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CABRERA: Joining us now, Matthew Schricker, the boy who asked that question, and his mom, Mary Schricker.
That you both for coming on. Great to have you.
Matthew, first, were you satisfied with the answer you got?
SCHRICKER: I was very satisfied with the answer that I got from Mr. Pence.
CABRERA: You're 11 years old. You can't vote. You're at this campaign rally. Clearly, you're following along with the election, given the question that you asked. Why do you care so much?
SCHRICKER: Well, as you said before, I couldn't vote but I can still influence people to vote for me. And since -- well, I want to influence other people to vote for Mr. Trump. And this is my future that I'm talking about. And I'm going to have to carry the debt when I'm going to grow up and I really don't want to deal with $19 trillion of debt. And I kind of want Mr. Trump to take down the debt a little bit.
CABRERA: What is it about Donald Trump that draws you to him?
SCHRICKER: He is very tough and I like that because Obama has been downgrading America a little bit in how America stands in the world. And I love his personality and how his kids are so smart and intelligent. And I know that if his kids are so intelligent, then he must have done a really good job and t he's going to do a good job, too. If he's created a multi-billion dollar business, then I think that he can handle a country.
CABRERA: No doubt, he has some smart kids, that's for sure, Matt.
But I have to ask mom here, Mary, what do you make though of the fact that so many people are watching Donald Trump and some of his rhetoric people have call, maybe bullying. Does that make you feel uncomfortable at all as a parent? MARY SCHRICKER, MOTHER OF MATTHEW SCHRICKER: Well, certainly as a
parent, you don't appreciate bullying and bombastic language. But I think Matthew's been raised in a good, loving, devout family. He has good morals and good foundation. So my husband and I and our two daughter's help to steer him back to what is correct -- or what perhaps might be a better way of saying it. But certainly from Trump's perspective, I appreciate him as a leader, that he will be using such strong language against terrorist leaders.
(CROSSTALK)
SCHRICKER: I can answer that question myself, please?
CABRERA: Go for it, Matthew.
SCHRICKER: I think the rhetoric is totally fine for the situation now we're in. America's really failing and we need strong leader. And sometimes toughness is a lot better than weak. And I think that Trump's rhetoric shows that. And I think the world leaders see that and I think the American citizens see that. And I think Trump is going to win the election because of that.
CABRERA: All right, Matthew and Mary Schricker. I wish we had more time. You're obviously wise beyond your years. You're very mature and clearly a very confident 11-year-old.
We appreciate that. Thank you for coming on.
SCHRICKER: Thank you.
MARY SCHRICKER: Thank you.
CABRERA: Up next, we are live in Rio. Tonight's opening ceremony kicks off for the 2016 Olympics. The torch has arrived. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is there. He joins me live, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:48:43] CABRERA: The eyes of the world will be on Rio de Janeiro tonight as the opening ceremony for the Olympics gets under way. Organizers have been very busy putting all those finishing touches on the sporting venues. Athletes are doing their finals. But critics say the same care is not being put into the medical facilities for the general public there.
CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has the story of two very different hospitals in Rio.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The images increasingly disturbing, overcrowding in Rio's public hospitals. Wait times here are measured not in minutes, not even hours, but days. And this horrifying situation. A patient passed away, lying in a body bag, and also waiting.
(SIREN)
GUPTA: To understand what is happening here, we went along with Rio's first emergency response battalion to see them in action.
(on camera): Another problem. It's been 20 minutes now, roughly, since we left and we're lost. We're not exactly sure where the patient is that needs our assistance.
(voice-over): We finally arrive. A man has collapsed.
(on camera): What they're going to try and do is administer as much care as they can in the ambulance and not take him to a hospital if they don't have to.
(voice-over): But turns out, he needs a hospital. The next goal -- find a bed for him. Any bed. And that is typically not very easy here.
[14:50:12] DR. NELSON NAHON, VICE PRESIDENT, CREMER (through translation): In the state of Rio de Janeiro, we lack 150 intensive care beds every day.
GUPTA: Dr. Nelson Nahon is the vice president at the Cremer, the Regional Council of Medicine.
NAHON (through translation): It is an absurd situation.
GUPTA: According to Dr. Nahon, in order to make room for hundreds of thousands of Olympic tourists, things may have just become worse for local residents. All elective operations at nearby public hospitals have been postponed for the duration of the Olympics. For the residents of the Olympic village, however, a different story. This poly clinic will be the first stop for any Olympic athlete, coach or family member, able to handle 60 patients with C.T. and MRI scanners, even dental care. For many athletes, even from the poorest countries, this is even an opportunity for typically hard to access health care.
And if necessary, they will likely arrive here, America's Medical City.
Dr. Antonio Marttos is responsible for the emergency response for Rio 2016, giving us a rare look inside the facility.
DR. ANTONIO MARTTOS, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI HEALTH SYSTEM: For people inside the venues, if they need, will be ready to take care.
GUPTA: For nearly three years, they've been planning for these three weeks.
Here in the city's command center, director of emergency services, Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Sinas, tells me the biggest concern is not Zika, not illness from the water, but a mass casualty incident from a terrorist attack. And that will bring into view for all to see a tale of two hospitals, one a world away from the other.
On this day, our unknown patient is finally wheeled into the emergency room of that other world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Ana, I can tell you, what happens in preparation for big-world events like this, games, is a lot of preparation, obviously, but sometimes that preparation comes on the backs of the local citizens here. Their lives may have become more difficult as a result of this preparation.
I will say, Ana, those poly clinics that you just saw with those C.T. scanners, MRI, we will believe this when we see it, but what they've promised is that they will give all that equipment to the public hospitals at the end of the games. So there will be a little bit of relief for those hospitals and for people who need those services.
CABRERA: Well, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, it is certainly unsettling to see that report but we thank you for shedding some light. Thanks.
Coming up, Donald Trump set to speak any moment now, alongside his running mate. Tonight, we are told he is going to make a very big endorsement. We'll be live in Wisconsin.
Plus, an officer narrowly escapes with his life in a clash with a violent man who was trying to create an explosion near an airport. It was all caught on video, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:57:15] CABRERA: This week on "Beyond the Call," a police officer in Miami comes face to face with man trying to blow up an underground gasoline storage tank. Their violent confrontation was all caught on camera.
CNN's Ed Lavandera shows us what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On an October night in Miami, Dominic Jean tried setting fired to an 8,000-gallon underground storage tank at this gas station next to the Miami International Airport. Surveillance shows the smoke smoldering as Jean grabs a gas pump and starts dousing the ground.
OFC. MARIO GUTIERREZ, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT: It scared me because I thought, wow, we're going to die.
LAVANDERA: That's Miami-Dade County police officer, Mario Gutierrez, who happened to be patrolling the area, racing in, jumps out of his car, hits the emergency shut-off to the gas pumps, then finds himself standing over a simmering time bomb, unsure if the gas tanks would explode.
GUTIERREZ: There would have been a massive chaos. They would have thought it was terrorism. Who knows? They wouldn't have been able to talk to me because I would have been nothing but vaporized. LAVANDERA: Gutierrez tried stopping Jean with a taser but it doesn't
work. Jean starts wildly trying to stab Gutierrez with a knife and a screwdriver.
GUTIERREZ: He came for my throat and I blocked it.
LAVANDERA: Gutierrez falls to the ground. Jean viciously swings at him more than 20 times.
GUTIERREZ: That was a fight to the death and only o person was going to walk away from that.
LAVANDERA: Gutierrez was stabbed about a dozen times but he's able to briefly kick the man off just long enough to grab his gun, firing five times, killing Jean on the spot.
GUTIERREZ: I never heard the gunshots. All I heard was the clinking of the shell casings hitting the ground.
LAVANDERA: It only lasted 30 seconds, but dealing with the emotions hasn't always easy.
GUTIERREZ: I felt like -- like I failed. I was -- I need to know that I put up a fight, that I fought this guy, because I didn't remember. I don't -- no recollection of it. So that really bothered me.
LAVANDERA: These days, Officer Gutierrez patrols the Miami airport alongside his hero.
(on camera): So who are these guys we're going to go see?
GUTIERREZ: You'll see, one, Juan Leon, who saved my life.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): It was Officer Juan Leon who found Gutierrez laying on the ground bleeding that night.
OFC. JUAN LEON, MIAMI-DADE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT: When I pulled up, I knew he was he trouble. His brown shirt was completely covered. It was just red.
LAVANDERA: Leon raced his friend to the hospital just in time to save his life.
GUTIERREZ: He's my brother. He's my brother.
LAVANDERA: That's the unbreakable bond of officers on the front lines.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Miami
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CABRERA: Tough story to watch. Amazing video, but he's OK.
NEWSROOM continues right now. Top of the hour.
