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Outrage in Pittsburgh over Police Shooting Unarmed Teen; Rose Family Attorney: No Justification for Shooting; Trump Admin Asks Judge's Permission to Detain Children with Parents Past 20 Days; Atlanta Mayor Signs Executive Order Halting ICE Detainees Being Held at City Jail; Melania Trump Visits Child Detention Center in Texas as Trump Changes Policy. Aired 2:30-3p ET

Aired June 21, 2018 - 14:30   ET

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

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[14:30:07] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: There's outrage in east pittsburgh today. A police officer shot and killed an unarmed black teenager just hours after the officer joined the force and was sworn in. Investigators say 17-year-old Antwon Rose was shot three times from behind. He had just jumped out of a car that police pulled over in connection with another shooting investigation. And video of this whole thing was rolled on and posted by a witness on Facebook.

I'll play part of it for you, but just a warning, it is disturbing to watch.

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BALDWIN: Our CNN national correspondent, Brynn Gingras, is following this story for us.

And, Brynn, tell me more. Were officers wearing body cameras? Do we know?

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, we don't. They weren't, I should say. That is part of this investigation. There was no dash cam video. It's possible there was surveillance video. And that Facebook video is out there as well.

It is important to know, Brooke, the department this officer worked for is comprised of eight officers. It's a small department. The officer, who hasn't been named, is placed on administrative leave independent police department, Allegheny County P.D. investigates.

Here's what they say happened Tuesday night in the Pittsburgh suburb. And 911 dispatchers received calls about a shooting. Witnesses described a silver SUV involved. Just 13 minutes later, the officer involved stopped the vehicle with the same description according to police. They say he commanded the driver and occupants to get out, get on the ground. That's when 17-year-old Antwon Rose and another person from the car jumped out. That's when the officer, according to police, fired shots, hitting Rose three times, and he later died at the hospital. Allegheny P.D. says two weapons were found in the car but Rose himself was unarmed. The other person who ran away has not been found by police. And the driver of the car was not charged.

As you can imagine, the community really up in arms asking questions like, why would you fire shots at someone from running from a scene, or why was a driver not charged if there were guns in the car. The statement from Rose's family said -- and I know you'll talk to their attorney -- but, in part, says, quote, "He posed no immediate threat." And, quote, "There's very little room here to justify the use of deadly force by officers."

As you can see from that video, Brooke, protests have broken out in that area. This 17-year-old Antwon Rose was described as a good kid, volunteered at a community donation center.

I will say we expect a news conference this afternoon to hopefully answer some of those questions that right now really don't add up -- Brooke?

BALDWIN: Brynn Gingras, thank you.

You mentioned that attorney. Attorney for the Rose family said the video of the shooting is a major factor in this case and that there's no justification for the shooting.

He is S. Lee Merritt. He is with me now.

We thank you.

And I'm so sorry for the Rose family loss.

But I want to start with this video. You hear a woman say, "All they did was run and they're shooting at them." Your impression?

S. LEE MERRITT, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF ANTWON ROSE: Yes. I think what I find most striking about this video is what you actually don't hear. If you listen to the video, you hear the screeching of brakes and chatter from the street below and you see the two men take off and hear three gunshots. What you don't hear, which would have been audible, according to everything else in this video, is a command to say stop, don't run or anything that would have mitigated the use of deadly force.

BALDWIN: Now, based on witness statements, police believe officers gave him verbal commands. You're telling me, from the video and also from other people you're talking to, are you hearing otherwise?

MERRITT: Yes, and the family has asked me to do an independent investigation. I heard police make statements that a verbal command was given. But for whatever reason, they don't have a body camera video. They don't have a dash cam video that was standard in every police car. And we have a video that where it would have captured a command, if it were audible because I heard the officer speaking into his -- BALDWIN: Radio.

MERRITT: Radio, thank you. I heard him speak into his radio but never heard him give a command. For whatever reason, they're saying that audio is mysteriously missing, I don't know at what point that occurred.

BALDWIN: Let me ask you about this because police do say Antwon was unarmed but they found the two firearms in the car. This Allegheny police superintendent said he was, quote, "very confident," that the car carrying Antwon was the one involved in the shooting. Pointing to ballistic damage to the rear window. Lee, was the car the same one involved in the shooting?

MERRITT: We have yet to determine that. We know that there were significant circumstantial evidence to point that this was a car that may have been involved in something. But, again, very telling is the fact that they released the driver. If the driver could be an occupant, not only an occupant but the operator of that car and not be criminally charge, we can't impute criminality to Antwon or to anyone else.

[14:35:21] BALDWIN: Has Antwon said if he was involved?

Forgive me.

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MERRITT: You misspoke --

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BALDWIN: Yes, I misspoke. I misspoke.

The officer who shot him, though, he had been sworn in, right, a couple hours before this happened. And we know that he had been an officer at other local departments for seven years. What are your comments on this officer?

MERRITT: Well, I don't know enough about this officer and I'm demanding on behalf of the family the release of his name so he can be properly vetted and investigated. We know when officers move from department to department, as seen as the pattern here, if that is the pattern, that typically is a pretty good indication of a troubled officer. Either problems behind the ranks or problems on the streets. I can't say that is the case here, but that is what happens when you shroud an officer in a cloud of mystery.

BALDWIN: Sure. Of course, I didn't mean Antwon. My sincerest apologies. I just meant eyewitnesses, anyone who would know anything about that shooting.

S. Lee Merritt, let's stay in contact. I appreciate you.

MERRITT: Thank you.

BALDWIN: And working with this family. And let's stay on this in Pittsburgh. Thank you.

MERRITT: Will do. Thank you.

BALDWIN: We have more on our breaking news here on the first lady, Melania Trump, making a surprise visit to the border after the president reverses his policy of separating these families. You'll see what happened on her visit down there.

Also, the "Time" cover. Have you seen this today? This has everyone talking. We'll talk to the editor behind this, ahead.

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[14:40:52] BALDWIN: More breaking news now. The Trump administration just asked a judge for permission to detain children with parents past that 20-day mark. This is all part of the president's executive order to keep immigrant families together. And it all has to do with that Flores settlement agreement.

Laura Jarrett is all in this with the Justice Department.

Laura, explain what the administration is asking for.

LAURA JARRETT, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: What they're asking for here, Brooke, is a limited modification of the Flores settlement agreement. It all goes back to 1997 when there was a court case which essentially tried to limit the accompanied minor situation and make sure that the federal government couldn't hold you beyond a certain amount of days. That got amended over the years in various court rulings, even up until last year said you cannot hold children beyond the 20-day mark. Well, of course, that presents a problem if they're being held with their parents who are in criminal justice proceedings or even asylum proceedings. So, the Trump administration, obviously, wants to prosecute the parents, and so the question is, well, what do you do with the children? They're now asking to modify that court order.

It's interesting, Brooke, they're still putting the pressure on congressional lawmakers here. And in a statement from the Justice Department today, they say, "Irrespective of the court's decision in Flores, it's incumbent for Congress to finally act to keep families together in catch-and-release, and create the foundation for an immigration system that serves the national interest."

But the headline still here is a major switch from the Trump administration and now trying to modify this court order. But the big question is whether the court will go for it because, under the Obama administration, the Justice Department tried this before and they did not win.

BALDWIN: Talked to a former ICE director at the top of the show and he said there's no way they would be successful in this attempt to overturn. We'll see.

Laura Jarrett, keep --

(CROSSTALK) JARRETT: We're watching. Yes.

BALDWIN: Thank you so very much.

Coming up next, the mayor of Atlanta says no more to this policy of holding ICE detainees in their city's jail. Signing an executive order just a short while ago. Why do this? Why do this now? Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms joins me live, next.

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[14:47:28] BALDWIN: The mayor of Atlanta is pushing back against President Trump's zero-tolerance policy. Keisha Lance Bottoms just signed an executive order halting ICE detainees from being held at the city jail.

Mayor Bottoms is with me now.

Ms. Mayor, pleasure to have you on. Welcome.

KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS, (D), ATLANTA MAYOR: Thank you for having me.

BALDWIN: First, just on what you have done, is these 200 ICE detainees currently in the city jail, but you turned away nine new detainees last night. Tell me what this is about.

LANCE BOTTOMS: We did. I signed an executive order on yesterday afternoon saying we no longer accept new detainees. We have 200 in our facility. But what I was most concerned about, Brooke, is we would somehow unknowingly become complicit in this policy that President Trump has to separate families. It is inhumane. And as a mother of four, I wanted to really be able to look my children in the eyes and be able to say that we, in the city of Atlanta, did what we could to bring attention to this issue and also to take meaningful action.

BALDWIN: So, you're taking action in Atlanta. You're not the only one. We were talking earlier this week, the Republican governor of Maryland is recalling the National Guardsmen that Trump wanted on the border, other states, North Carolina, Virginia, others are doing similar things. What are other tangible examples that cities and states can do to send that kind of message to the administration?

LANCE BOTTOMS: I think it's important that we look at our policies. We have had a long-standing agreement with the U.S. Marshal's Office to hold ICE detainees in our facilities. Certainly, as we're looking at how we house these detainees, a big concern for me is that, as we balance between potentially becoming complicit with the separation of families, is that if they are sent to other facilities throughout the state, that they will not receive the legal attention and have access and proximity to their families in the way that they do in Metro Atlanta. I think that cities and states have to look at their relationship is to this policy and act accordingly.

BALDWIN: But when, on the flip side, when President Trump then says, all right, that means you want open borders, you want crime, and uses you as an example on the campaign trail, what would your response to him be?

LANCE BOTTOMS: My response would be that that is ridiculous. That there's no link between our crime issue in this country and immigration. Those are two separate issues. These are people who are seeking a better life. And as an inclusive city, Atlanta has always been the example of what it means to do things that are challenging to make a difference. We made a difference in the world with the civil rights movement. And I think as we look at where we are in this moment in time, as local leaders, we have a responsibility to continue to make a difference.

[14:50:26] BALDWIN: And, finally, Mayor Bottoms, just your reaction. We saw first lady, Melania Trump, did go down to the border for just a little while this morning. Do you give her any credit for going?

LANCE BOTTOMS: I think any attention that she can bring to this policy that will be helpful in getting it to change, big or small, then certainly I applaud her for doing it. She lives with the president each and every day. So, perhaps her visit will somehow send a message to him that this matters to families. As a parent, I would think that parenthood and empathy with Trump politics. And I hope on the national level, this is just the beginning of a conversation with our local leaders that truly can make a difference.

BALDWIN: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, thank you.

LANCE BOTTOMS: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Ahead here, what is the story behind this new "Time" magazine cover? We'll talk to the editor about why he says the president's approach isn't holding America to a higher purpose.

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[14:55:08] BALDWIN: All eyes are on Russia as two of the biggest stars, Messi of Argentina, and Neymar of Brazil face concerns before the second round of group stage games.

"Bleacher Report's" Amanda Davis has more from Moscow.

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AMANDA DAVIS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Brooke, we're set for another chapter in the battle to be the best here on Thursday after Cristiano Ronaldo's headline-grabbing performances with Portugal. The challenge has been set for Argentina's Messi to step up in his second match against Croatia. The pressure is mounting for the five-time world player of the year who has been facing criticism that he has not been doing for his country what he does week in and week out for his club side Barcelona.

Brazil fans holding their breaths over the fitness of their main man Neymar after limping out of training this week. But the good news is he has been cleared to play Friday's game against Costa Rica.

Brooke, even better news for viewers who were concerned yesterday when the beer was running out here in Moscow, I was out and about with fans this afternoon and there seems to be more than enough to go around.

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BALDWIN: All right, Amanda Davis, thank you.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BALDWIN: All right, you're watching CNN on this Thursday afternoon. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me.

We begin with the breaking news. A major legal development in the Trump administration's efforts to keep children with their undocumented parents. So government lawyers have now asked a judge for the children to be able to be detained for more than the maximum of 20 days.

This is coming just hours after the first lady traveled down to the border, got this first-hand look at the crisis there. She visited one of the facilities housing migrant children.

And it comes one day after her husband reversed his policy that created these circumstances to begin with. His executive order directs that children can now stay with their undocumented parents who are currently detained.

But the move certainly did not quell the controversy. Since it is not exactly clear how 2,300 children taken from their families will now reunite with them.

During the first lady's visit, she asked about the mental wellbeing of the 58 kids at this one facility, ages 12 to 17. Here she was.

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MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: We all know they're having -- they're here without their families. And I want to thank you for your hard work, your compassion, and your kindness in these difficult times. And I would also like to ask you how I can help for these children to reunite with their families.

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BALDWIN: With me now, CNN chief political correspondent, Dana Bash, and Mary Jordan, national political correspondent for "Washington Post."

Ladies.

Dana, I will turn to you and ask you, I was watching during your show earlier where she did pop up in this unannounced visit. She's visiting this facility, 58 kids. But you pointed out, a small percentage of them had been the kids who were taken from their parents. Do you give her any credit for going all the way down there or is this just, listen, the crisis of her husband's administration's own making?

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Both.

BALDWIN: Yes.

BASH: The answer is both of those are true. Sure, she gets credit for going down there. The president of the United States should have been down there, long ago, to see for himself what is going on there. I've talked to people who are close to him who don't disagree with that idea. And it isn't unusual for a first lady to go out. It's been happening since the days of FDR. And I think it was because he was unable to travel. But it is appropriate for her to go.

Having said that, the big controversy is about children who are being ripped from the parents who bring them across the border illegally. The majority of the children in this shelter came unaccompanied. Five or six, maybe seven, tops, were taken from their parents. So when you're talking --