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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
At Least Eight Killed in Mass Shooting at Indianapolis FedEx Facility; Chicago Police Release Video of Officer Shooting 13-Year-Old Boy; Coronavirus Deaths Down in U.S., Hospitalizations Ticking Up. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired April 16, 2021 - 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.
[05:00:01]
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. This is EARLY START.
I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday, April 16th. It is 5:00 a.m. in New York.
And we begin with breaking news. It has happened again. Eight people are dead in another mass shooting. This one at an Indianapolis FedEx facility.
Here is an employee who was inside the moment the shooting began.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIMOTHY BOILLAT, FEDEX EMPLOYEE WITNESSED SHOOTING: Me and my friend just got our lunch, we had sat down in the back of like this metal smoke shack kind of deal, literally I opened my chips, got my sandwich, about to take a bite, he was about to take a bite out his sandwich and we heard two loud metal clangs at first, because they didn't sound like gunshots at first because there was, again, there was a loud complaining after the first two.
And then my buddy Levi stood up as he was like kind of squatting at the bench and then looked over and out into the parking lot, didn't see anything yet, then we heard three more shots and then my buddy Levi saw someone running out of the building and then more shots went off.
Somebody went behind their car to the trunk and got another -- and got another gun and then I saw one body on the floor. And that was the body behind the trunk.
REPORTER: How are you doing?
BOILLAT: I'm a little -- I'm a little overwhelmed. I've worked here for ten years and I have never seen that happen in my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: The attack happened late last night in the early morning hours. Indianapolis police had this update.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFC. GENAE COOK, SPOKESWMAN, INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT: Just after 11:00 on Thursday evening, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department responded to 8951 Mirabel Road, the FedEx Ground Plainfield operation center. We received a call referenced shots fired to that location.
As officers responded, they arrived to an active shooter incident at that location. Preliminary information at this time is that the alleged shooter has taken his own life here at the scene. After a preliminary search of the grounds inside and out, we have located eight people at the scene with injuries consistent to gunshot wounds. Those eight were pronounced deceased here at the scene.
We have been made aware of multiple other people with injuries who have been transported to local hospitals or who have transported themselves to local hospitals. IMPD detectives are working with the Indiana State Police detectives gathering information and interviewing not just those people who are here at the scene, but also those who have been -- have gone to area hospitals seeking medical treatment.
A family unification center has been established at the Holiday Inn Express, 8555 Stansted Drive. Our victims assistance units and chaplain's office are here at the scene and at the family unification center assisting with family members who have shown up to this area.
Right now, I want to make everybody know that people here at the scene are still being interviewed by detectives so they might not have an opportunity to contact their family, but as soon as they are available to they will.
For any and all information about this situation, we are asking that the primary information comes from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Public Affairs Office. We will be your source for the most accurate and up to date information. You can reach us at impd.publicaffairsoffice -- correction, impd.publicaffairs@indy.gov for information.
Anyone that was here and left the scene to seek medical treatment or just for safety, we ask that you contact 262-TIPS and give us your information and anything that you may know, or contact our homicide office at 317-327-3475.
It's important to know that emotions are very high here. There are a lot of people not just officers but family members who are still arriving and still learning about this incident. This occurred after many went to bed and some are just now waking up to this.
We ask for your continued support for everyone here involved.
[05:05:03] We understand that there are a lot of moving parts and we ask for your patience as we gather the most accurate information and so that that information comes to you and you can relay it accurately to everybody else. We don't want to give out information that may hurt somebody.
REPORTER: Can you put this moment in perspective? This is a horrific situation, eight people dead, can you just -- it's a tough -- this is heartbreaking.
COOK: It is very heartbreaking. You know, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the officers responded, they came in, they went in and they did their job and a lot of them are trying to face this because this is a sight that no one should ever have to see.
We as Indianapolis members need to come together. We need to support each other and understand that there are going to be people out there that are going to be emotionally upset and we need to support them regardless of any circumstance.
This is a tragedy, but yet through it all we will come through it, you know, with flying colors.
REPORTER: Genae, can you describe the gun? Do you have any information?
COOK: I do not have that information right now.
REPORTER: Was the shooter an employee, Genae?
COOK: At this time, it's too early to tell. They're still attempting to identify different people and we need to make the proper notification at this time.
REPORTER: Have any law enforcement officers been injured?
COOK: No, they have not.
REPORTER: When you talk about the people injured and at the different hospitals, can you give us a ballpark at this time? Dozens? Hundreds?
COOK: We know for sure that we had four people transported by ambulance, one in critical condition with gunshot injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. We had three others that were transported with various other injuries and then we had two other people that were here at the scene treated by medical staff and then released from -- by that.
We've had multiple other walk-ins to different local hospitals around this area. You have to understand that we are in Marion County, we are very into err to two other counties and some of them are going to other counties for medical treatment.
So this is where we continue to reach out and find out, you know, ask for them to call us, let us know what they saw, what they heard. It's very important that we work together on this.
REPORTER: Genae, can you confirm --
COOK: I'm sorry?
REPORTER: Hundreds of people's work this that facility, will it remain open? Should people report to work? What should people do waking up this morning to all these images and wondering what do I do? Do I go to work? Do I stay home? What would I do?
COOK: I think the best thing for them to do is contact their supervisor or the human resources office. This building will be closed for a while due to this investigation. This is going to go long into the morning. There are a lot of components that detectives need to gather and get the evidence picked up.
REPORTER: Is the shooter the ninth or the eighth?
COOK: Go ahead. I am sorry.
REPORTER: Can you talk about the bravery of the officers and first responders and those that as the shooting was going on, we're helping each other and making sure that people were safe? Can you give us any insight into that because my understanding is that officers when they arrived on the scene obviously did their jobs but also there were Good Samaritans who also helped one another to make sure that people were safe.
COOK: You know, I don't have a lot of the independent stories that you're looking for. Like I said, detectives are still walking with people. We don't have that information. The officers came in and without second thought they went in to try to help people.
REPORTER: Genae, the eight dead, is the gunman part of that number of eight?
COOK: No, he would be the ninth.
REPORTER: He would be the ninth. Okay.
REPORTER: Do we know anything go about the person who was found dead? My understanding is that he was quickly found by a metro police officer I believe 17 minutes after the initial shots. Can you tell us anything about that at all?
I know it's an investigation. We don't want to get in the way of an ongoing investigation. But anything you can tell us?
COOK: There's a lot of things that we're trying to gather also. Right now, it's too early to give out any preliminary information on that. We're still trying to ascertain the exact reason and cause for this incident.
REPORTER: Can you talk about whether -- did the gunman go in and just start firing? Was there any message?
COOK: You know, Courtney, that's something that we're still trying to figure out exactly how, why, what went on. And that's going to be a -- this is going to be an investigation that goes on throughout the day. We're going to brief again, this will be our last brief from here at the scene, but we will have a press conference later on this morning.
(INAUDIBLE)
REPORTER: -- watch something on television.
[05:10:05]
What do you tell the people who are wondering what the heck is going on?
COOK: That's a great question. You know, you have to look at your own life and say, you know, look at the positive things in your own world and you have to keep going and you have to look for a way to support each other, whether it's your neighbor, the guy down the street, your family member. That's where you have to start at and you just keep supporting each other, and we're all together.
Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. FedEx responding to the mass shooting, quote, we are aware of the tragic shooting at our FedEx Ground facility near the Indianapolis airport. Safety is our top priority and our thoughts are with all of those who are affected. We're working to gather more information and Cooperating with investigating authorities.
We'll have more on that Indianapolis mass shooting and we will head to Chicago where new video shows a 13-year-old boy fatally shot by police. What that video shows next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:15:06]
ROMANS: Welcome back.
It has been a tough week for police and their communities and it's been capped off now with yet another video of a shooting by a police officer that has a grieving family looking for answers. Bodycam footage shows 13-year-old Adam Toledo being shot and field killed by an officer in Chicago. Police say less than a second passes between the time Toledo is seen holding a handgun and is then shot.
The officer has been identified as Eric Stillman. His union leader -- union lawyer calls the case tragic but insists Officer Stillman was left with no other option.
We want to warn you, the video you are about to see is disturbing.
Here is Ryan Young in Chicago.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, still a lot of question marks in terms of what happened in this shooting. An officer got a call to a shots fired call where eight shots were detected by a shot spotter in the nearby neighborhood. Eight shots that were fired toward a car.
When the officer arrived, he saw two males running. He gave a foot pursuit and this is what played out in the next few seconds.
POLICE OFFICER: Stop. Stop right (EXPLETIVE DELETED) now. Hey. Show me your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) hands. Stop. Stop.
(GUNFIRE)
YOUNG: A difficult video to watch. Adam Toledo was 13 years old. The police department says he had a gun in his right hand and when the officer gave those commands he turned towards the officer and that's why he fired.
The family attorney for Adam Toledo doesn't believe that the teen was turning towards the officer, that he was listening to commands when he dropped that gun. Still there were protesters out on Thursday night trying to make their voices heard about the displeasure with the shooting but so far police believe their officer was justified -- Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Ryan Young, thank you for that, Ryan.
We're following that breaking news out of Indianapolis, eight people shot and killed at a FedEx facility, others wounded and being treated now.
Plus, coronavirus deaths are down, so why are hospitalizations going in the wrong direction?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:21:30]
ROMANS: We are following breaking news.
At least eight people are dead after a gunman opened fire at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis overnight. Authorities say four victims were transported to the hospital, one in critical condition. Police believe the shooter took his own life. Officials working at this hour to reunite survivors with families. We are going to bring you more on this in just a few moments.
To the pandemic now. Over the last month the coronavirus deaths in the U.S. are down. They're down almost everywhere. And 30 percent of American adults are now fully vaccinated.
But the number of people hospitalized is rising. That's usually an early indicator of death rates. Average daily cases hovering around 70,000, way too early to let our guard down.
CNN has the pandemic covered coast to coast.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Alexandra Field.
Pfizer's CEO Albert Bourla is saying it's likely we will need a third dose of the vaccine within six to 12 months and that it's also a likely scenario we could need annual revaccination after that. Bourla says the data shows that the vaccine remains extremely effective after six months but that that protection can go down over time.
ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Athena Jones.
Hospitals in Michigan's largest health care system are at about 90 percent to 95 percent capacity due to a third COVID-19 surge in the state. A medical director for the system which operates eight hospitals in Michigan said while hospitals have enough PPE and ventilators, they are strained from a staffing perspective. Dr. Nate Galpen (ph) said he believes the surge is driven in part by a younger unvaccinated population gathering together.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Martin Savidge in Atlanta.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Houston intercepted a shipment of counterfeit N95 masks with an estimated value of $350,000. The ship originated in China, which was headed for New York. When the phony masks arrived officers found many had a logo from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
But when officers checked with the trademark owner, they were told the shipment wasn't licensed. CBP says in the first three months of 2021 officers have seized 18 million counterfeit face masks.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam in Los Angeles.
Universal Studios Hollywood is reopening today, but for now, only to California residents. They're saying most of the rides will be available with some opening at a later date to comply with government restrictions. They're also working with health officials to make sure that they keep capacity controlled and also physical distancing and masks will be required throughout the park.
Guests can also expect to have their temperature taken upon arrival. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or above will not be allowed inside.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. To Stephanie and all my colleagues, thank you for those.
Breaking news out of Indianapolis, eight people are dead. More in the hospital at this hour after a mass shooting at a FedEx facility. What we know moments away. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
[05:28:59]
ROMANS: Good morning.
ANNOUNCER: this is CNN breaking news.
ROMANS: Good morning. This is EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. Twenty-eight minutes past the hour.
And the breaking news overnight, yet another deadly mass shooting in America. At least eight people killed at a FedEx warehouse near the Indianapolis airport. Local police are left trying to explain how this could happen again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COOK: Minneapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the responded, they came in, they went in and they did their job. And a lot of them are trying to face this because this is a sight that no one should ever have to see. But we as Indianapolis members need to come together. We need to support each other and understand that there are going to be people out there that are going to be emotionally upset and we need to support them regardless of any circumstance. This is a tragedy, but yet through it all we will come through it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Jason Carroll joins us by phone from Indianapolis, he is on his way there to that FedEx facility.
Jason, what do we know?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, as you know, a lot of folks waking up with this tragic news.
