Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Manhunt For Escaped Killer David Sweat Focused On A 22-Square Mile Perimeter In Upstate New York; Authorities Hunting For Accomplices In Terrifying Attack At Tunisian Beach Resort; Inmate Autopsy: Three Gunshot Wounds To The Head; Nearly 500 Injured In Taiwan Water Park Explosion; U.S. Reacts To Supreme Court's Ruling. Aired 2-3p ET

Aired June 28, 2015 - 14:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[14:00:14] SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, David Sweat eludes police for another night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He could be anywhere. The last time he was seen was at the time of the escape.

MALVEAUX: On the run in the cold and rain. Experts tells CNN Sweat is likely worn down and will make a mistake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His psychological stability is probably almost nothing.

MALVEAUX: Plus, moment after it's launched, the SpaceX racket explodes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And appears to have had a vehicle failure.

MALVEAUX: NEWSROOM starts now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Hello. Thank you for joining me. I'm Suzanne Malveaux in for Fredricka Whitfield.

We are keeping a close eye on the manhunt in upstate New York. There are officers battling bad weather. They're focusing their search for David Sweat on a 22 square mile perimeter. This is near the town of Malone.

Now, a source is telling CNN there have been no sightings yet of Sweat. But the local sheriff says Sweat is tired, he is hungry and he is confident that Sweat is going to make a mistake eventually. We will get a live report from the search area in just a moment.

But first, an unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded at take off today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it coming back to its vehicle on course on track.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The rocket loaded with two tons of supplies was heading for the international space station. And the reaction in mission control when it broke apart was silence for about 30 seconds. Then this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we appear to have had a launch vehicle failure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: SpaceX CEO tweeted Elon Musk tweeted, there was an overpressure event in the upper stage liquid oxygen tank. Data suggests counterintuitive cause. That's all we can say with confidence right now. We will have more to say following a thorough analysis.

Well, NASA is responding during a press conference just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL GERSTENMAIER, NASA ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR: We can learn from this event on cargo, although it is unfortunate, it is recoverable. We can understand what occurred with the SpaceX team and this information can be really important as we move forward into the crew designs and flights.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Joining me is CNN's aviation analyst Miles O'Brien and CNN the digital correspondent Rachel Crane.

So Miles, Rachel, good to see you both.

What do we know, Miles, about what caused the failure regarding this craft?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN AVIATION ANALYST (via phone): Well, Suzanne, that hint from Elon Musk that there was some sort of overpressure in the liquid oxygen tank in the second stage is obviously where the focus is right now. It is very early. There is a lot of streams that (INAUDIBLE) and data which come down to earth constantly from a rocket like that. So it shouldn't take them too long to isolates.

But he used the term "counterintuitive" and why that is counterintuitive is the second stage hadn't started doing its work yet. It was still operating on the first stage when this occurred. And so, it doesn't immediately stand to reason why it would have exploded, as opposed to the first stage, which seemed to operate perfectly fine all the way until the end. So there will be a lot of, you know, weeks and months of investigating before they can contemplate trying to launch again. MALVEAUX: And Rachel, you've been in contact with them since this

explosion and you understand the business side of this. But what is he telling you?

RACHEL CRANE, CNN DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Suzanne, you are right. I have been in touched with Musk since the explosion. He expressed his disappointment in today's events. But he was also quick to point out the success rate of the Falcon 9, which is 95 percent success rate, which is, you know. This is a very strong, capable rocket that has proven itself time and time again. He also said that they will be working close with NASA to discover and correct the root cause of today's explosion. And he also pointed out that rockets are difficult and it's common to have failures. That this is not like aircraft.

Also, I should point out that today is Elon Musk's birthday, so you know, he's not having the best day, to say the least.

MALVEAUX: No, not at all.

Miles, I want to back to you here. In mission control, you can hear the man saying, the vehicle is on course, on track, a moment before it burns into pieces. So, is there nothing on the rocket that is sending real time information back to mission control that something was going wrong?

[14:04:53] O'BRIEN: Well, it's just a testament to the fact that everything on a rocket that's headed to space is at the absolute outer edges of its capabilities. The highest pressures you can imagine. You have the highest temperatures, along with the lowest temperatures. You have high speeds for turbines. Everything is at the edge of what we know is possible.

And so, when it fails, suddenly and fast, you often times get no warning in advance. And so, everything could have looked fine, and then perhaps, a valve got stuck in that liquid oxygen tank on the first stage, as it got ready to begin doing its work. It over pressurizes and the rest is history.

In other words, things are happening so quickly that you could have seemingly a perfect vehicle, and then suddenly, a very bad day, which is what happened here.

MALVEAUX: Absolutely. Miles, Rachel, thank you so much. I appreciate your perspective.

Back to upstate New York. We have got brand-new information. This has just in. CNN has now obtained a copy of the Richard Matt autopsy report that lists the cause of death as severe skull fractures and brain injury due to three gunshot wounds to the head.

CNN's Jean Casarez, she is in Malone, New York with the latest on the search. So first of all, let's talk about this a little bit. Why do you believe - that police believe that Sweat is in this 22 square mile radius, especially because he really hasn't been seen in a very long time? JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's true. But that is

where they got Richard Matt. And so, it was designated that that 22 square miles was going to be the primary search area. And that is the perimeter that they're looking at. They're also looking today, and we saw them going door to door in the towns of Malone and nearby communities right there. And that is outside the perimeter. But we want to tell everybody, we just got very important information here. This is the autopsy report. It has just come out in regard to Richard Matt, who we know was shot and killed on Friday.

And what it is saying is the tactical unit of the U.S. customs and border patrol actually shot him with a semi-automatic weapon three times, striking him in the head. They are saying the cause of death to be severe skull fractures and brain injuries due to the gunshot wound to the head, those three shots. An examination of his body showed bug bites on his lower extremities, blisters and minor abrasions that were consistent with being out in the woods for three weeks.

So this information is just coming out. We knew that body had been in Albany with the chief medical examiner office for the state. That autopsy has been performed and we do now know that the cause of death were three shots fired by semiautomatic weapon to the head of Richard Matt.

Now, the search continues here. The point now is David Sweat, where is he? The 22 perimeter search is still going on in the thick woods. But they are also now in the township area. We were there with police today as they were going door to door and searching the woods behind the homes. And I asked an officer with the state police, you know, do you have a tip? Is this why you were outside this perimeter right here in this specific area? The answer was no, we just want to check it.

And homeowners told me this was the second time they had come to their area. Because besides homes, there is the forest right behind the homes and even railroad tracks. So they're just looking everywhere they can. Because this, once again, 1300 law enforcement from all levels out today searching for David Sweat -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Jean, have you spoken to any of the people who are actually in some of those homes and those cabins? I mean, we're looking at these pictures here as they go inside. And clearly, it just must be just so emotional and frustrating for people who are there. Three weeks and counting that there could be a murderer in their midst.

CASAREZ: Let me tell you the two emotions that I see the most. They're relieved that police are so close and law enforcement is trying so hard. And they are so, so appreciative of that. The same time, they're scared. And one homeowner told me that she doesn't like to come home to an empty house because that's concerning for her. And so, those are the mixed emotions right there. Fear, but also a lot of gratefulness to so many law enforcement officers trying to help them and help the community.

And one other thing we want to tell everybody, they're really asking for the people's help. The New York state police is saying, if you see anything suspicious, anything at all, call 911. And remember, David Sweat had tattoos. And I think we have some pictures of him because those are identifying marks. That if you happen to see someone, you can look on the right hand. IFB on his fingers. On the left arm, it says "rebel." So those are two identifying marks in case his outward appearance has changed in the last three weeks.

MALVEAUX: All right, Jean, thank you so much for being there and just keeping up with this minute by minute. We are going to still ahead, we'll have more and take a closer look at the area that is where David Sweat might be hiding and whether or not he has managed to make it out altogether and whether or not he is alone.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:13:31] MALVEAUX: While the manhunt for the escaped killer David Sweat is focused on a 22-square mile perimeter in upstate, New York, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo tells CNN he could be anywhere. With no sightings of the fugitive, police are hoping that he will makes a mistake that puts him back in their custody.

With me now from New York is former FBI special agent Jonathan Gilliam, who is also a former police officer, and in Washington, we have a retired chief deputy U.S. Marshal Matthew Fogg who is also a former member of the U.S. Marshal special operations group.

So thank you both of you for joining us here.

Jonathan, I want to start off with you here. We have this autopsy report by the one that deceased, the suspect Matt. And we know that he has got blisters and he has got cuts and abrasions and bug bites, things like that. So we know he -- it seems like there are signs that he has been in the woods and has been roughing it for a couple weeks. What does that say about the condition of Sweat, do we suppose?

JONATHAN GILLIAM, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, I'd have to say that with Sweat, now that he's alone, and we have proof that they were actually, you know, not just sitting in the cabin, but actually in the elements, now when you add to that the stress that he's alone, I think he knows that there's probably a lot of officers focused on him now because their actual location was given away. And he is really probably, for the first time in this entire scenario, actually on the run where he knows they're on his trail. And I think the stress level that he's at right now is tremendous. And I just have a feeling you're going to see him either give up, shoot it out, or he's going to take his own life, probably today. I think today will be the day.

[14:15:14] MALVEAUX: And Matthew, explain to us, do you think the autopsy report gives us any more clues or information about where Sweat might be?

MATTHEW FOGG, (RET.) CHIEF DEPUTY U.S. MARSHAL: I don't know if it really does, other than the fact we're speculating that Sweat might have been with the -- with Matt when he was killed. But I believe, and I've said all along, I think they've separated at some point in time. They decided to split up. So my thought on that is that, you know, if he was close by, the

authorities would have found him by now because they're combing that area. I think one of the things I just heard that I think is good is they've kind of widened the perimeter a little bit. Just in case Sweat had left sooner and had gotten beyond the perimeter. They need to do that. They need to make sure they cover the area outside of the perimeter. Because I would think he'd be heading for Canada.

MALVEAUX: Jonathan, it has been cold, it has been rainy. What kind of condition do we think he could be in now?

GILLIAM: It's miserable up there now. I mean, if it's anything like it is down here in Manhattan at all, it's deteriorating quickly. And you know, just the sheer fact that you're in that area, when we just had the reporter talking earlier, she's standing on a road. You could see behind her how thick those trees were. When you step off into that, if you're not, you know, really skilled at moving through that, you just cannot move fast. And I don't disagree, the fact they may have split up, but his ability to move quickly is not there in that area. So I do think it's also good that they've expanded this perimeter, because as we saw in Boston, they set the perimeter. As it turned out, the other Tsarnaev brother was outside of that perimeter. So that is good that they're aware of that now.

MALVEAUX: So Matthew, at what point right, this is costing millions of dollars. At what point do officials scale back and realize, OK, maybe he's not in this area. Maybe the 22-square miles that we've identified is not really where he is hiding at all, so we have to pull back and regroup?

FOGG: Well, according to reports if they're going over every inch of that, then I would think that whenever they crunch that search into ground zero area where Matt was killed, they don't have in there, then they have to realize that this is not in that area. He has gotten outside of the perimeter. Whether he could have gotten on a freight train or something headed north or gone into Canada, there are a lot of places in Canada you can walk into Canada.

So again, it's when they separated. I believe they separated, and it's when they did that, let us know if he was able to get away and further than the perimeter.

MALVEAUX: All right, Jonathan Gilliam, Matthew Fogg, thank you so much. We're going to be following this story minute by minute, hour by hour.

And still ahead, authorities, they are hunting for any accomplishes in that terrifying attack at the Tunisia beach resort. CNN has now obtained exclusive new pictures from the resort.

Out Nick Paton Walsh, he is live in Tunisia.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Suzanne, we have an exclusive look inside that hotel behind me, where remarkably, there are still holiday makers at the side of the pool, insisting on finishing their vacation. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:22:05] MALVEAUX: As Americans prepare for the 4th of July holiday, the U.S. now bracing for possible terror attacks. Homeland security and the national counterterrorism center and the FBI have told state and local law enforcement to be on the alert. Especially in light of the three recent terror attacks in France, Kuwait and Tunisia.

Kuwait has identified the man who blew himself up at a mosque on Friday as a Saudi citizen. That attack killed at least 27 people, wounded more than 200 others. And Ireland has confirmed two more of its citizens died from the attack in Tunisia that left at least 38 dead and 39 wounded.

But if the object of terrorism is to terrorize, to scare people away, well, it's not working in Tunisia. The beach now back open. People are out there. Extra police have been deployed at the terrorist sites. But they are out there.

Senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, he is joining us live from Susi (ph).

And Nick, tell us -- you talked to the tourists. They-you have even got some of its exclusive pictures there on these folks. They are defying the terrorism. I mean, they are out there and they are saying, we're going to live our lives despite what happened. What are they telling you?

WALSH: Well, 40 or 50 people we are told are still inside there. When we spoke to them earlier on today near the pool inside the ground, they had a mixture of reasons. Some saying they wanted to help the tourism economy here. Some saying they felt actually were safe because of the number of police around here. This is what the surreal scene inside the hotel, the site of a massacre simply hours ago looked like this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH (voice-over): They will not be moved. The defiant stance pool side, mingling with chlorine, sunscreen and beer where 46 hours earlier, their fellow guests were gunned down. German and British tourists finishing their holiday. Their music even. Its British stiff upper lip spirit (INAUDIBLE). A beat not to let them win.

Nathan from (INAUDIBLE) said Tunisian jobs depend on tourists not fleeing.

NATHAN, TOURIST: It's a very different atmosphere. It's chilling. You know, it's so very chilling and, you know, it is just not the same as what it was. But I think, you know, what we're going to do is just stay here up until the rest of our holiday finishes and then leave. And then, you know, we don't really want to venture too far outside of the resort because we're unsure of what's going to happen. And yes, I think we're in the safest place at the moment. WALSH: Inside the marble and calm is as though a nightmare never

befell here. Yet, this video shows the aftermath of the bloodshed at the indoor pool.

Consular staff from the UK here, yet the gunman scarred more than the building. It is extraordinary and a sign of the resilient spirit of what seems to be German and British tourists here, we're told, that they decide to continue their holiday, despite being meters away from where dozens died, and lying in the sun in areas still riddled with bullet marks.

(INAUDIBLE) washed the sand from the beach off and wonder back toward the bullet holes. How many guests?

[14:25:15] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Forty.

WALSH: All German?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Twenty.

WALSH: Twenty. And the rest are British?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: English.

WALSH: And they will never leave, or stay?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They stay.

WALSH: Many here when the attack happened. But (INAUDIBLE) was in the sea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Suddenly it is explosions. Smoke. And I look up, say to my wife, hurry up! Hurry up! (INAUDIBLE). This woman running, running in this direction in the sand.

WALSH: An inspector from (INAUDIBLE) still goes to the beach, where he saw many die.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A woman here, (INAUDIBLE) red cross here on (INAUDIBLE). That person, a young lady, right here, dead.

WALSH: Where (INAUDIBLE) killed many on the beach, is a crime scene open to the public. A memorial, but also still a place in the sun for some.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH: And Suzanne, we did see hours ago the interior minister of Tunisia in the hotel. I asked him, is it true, like ISIS claim that the attacker here was, in fact, working for ISIS? Remember, that statement included a picture of him, which their uncle told us it was authentic. He said he didn't have an answer to that question at this stage. But it is a big question still remaining.

The holiday makers are trying to forget what happened, trying to carry on with their one chance in the sun for the year for many of them. But we don't know if the gunman was linked to networks were was he a lone wolf who simply dreamt this up by himself -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: It's really amazing that there are out there vacationing, just the day after.

Nick Paton Walsh, thank you very much. Appreciate that.

Still ahead, the manhunt for David Sweat is focused on a 22-square mile area. Over 1,000 people are now taking part in the search. Our Jean Casarez, she is following the latest developments.

CASAREZ: And there are even more federal, local and state authorities searching for this escaped murder. We'll tell you all about it after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Thanks for joining us. I'm Suzanne Malveaux in for Fredricka Whitfield. Just in to CNN, we have now learned that escaped inmate, Richard Matt, died from gunshot wounds to the head. New York state police say Matt was hit in the head three times shots from a semiautomatic weapon fired by U.S. Customs and Border Protection tactical unit.

Well, meanwhile, 1,300 law enforcement members continue the hunt in upstate New York for the other prisoner, David Sweat. They are going door to door. They are focusing on 22-square mile perimeter near the town of Malone. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says police are looking at every scenario, including the possibility that Matt and Sweat were not together.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: There are three options, at least, right, three scenarios. They could have split up very early on. They could have said, you go this way, and I'll go that way. They could have been traveling together, which would then have Sweat right around where Matt was killed.

We're pursuing that or something else could have happened along the way because there has been no exclusive sighting of Sweat and no exclusive DNA evidence of Sweat since day one. We have 2,500 leads. That's why we're following up on all of them. (END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: CNN's Jean Casarez is in Malone, New York with the very latest. Jean, first of all, listening to the governor there, I mean, he has all of these various scenarios. So it sounds to me like they really have no idea where he is.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is why they are pursuing many, many different things right here in the area. We're here in the search area. That is the 22-square miles. What do we want to tell you everybody, that that autopsy of Richard Matt, we have just gotten the results of.

The autopsy was performed yesterday at the state capital forensic lab of the medical examiner and what it says here is that the cause of death of Richard Matt is severe skull fractures and brain injuries due to gunshot wounds to the head.

It does go on to say that the tactical unit of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol with a semiautomatic weapon shot him three times in the head. An examination of the body shows that there were bug bites on the lower extremities, there were blisters and also minor abrasions, consistent with someone living in the woods for three weeks, which is extremely interesting.

The woods being right behind me because that's where that 22-square mile perimeter is, they're using aviation units, canine units and tactical units today, 1,300 law enforcement. They are also, at the same time, searching outside that 22-square mile perimeter.

The towns of Malone, Duane, state police were there going door to door today, looking behind the woods of where the families live. We spoke to one homeowner. Listen to what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONNA RILEY, RESIDENT: I feel fairly safe, but we are locking everything up tight. A little nervous when I come home to an empty house, check everything through before -- my husband checks it through and gives us the all clear, and then we come in. It's a little unsettling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CASAREZ: Her husband is a correction officer. The homeowners are grateful that law enforcement is there to protect them. This is the second time they've come to that be particular area. They are also concerned.

As you were talking about the governor speaking out today, one of the big questions is where was the DNA of David Sweat found, the escapee that's still on the loose? Well, the governor told our Poppy Harlow that in one of the cabins that was broken in was a water bottle.

On that water bottle was the DNA of Sweat and the DNA of Richard Matt. So as the governor says it could be that they were together. It could be that was a water bottle that Sweat had before they split up and then it was found in that cabin.

[14:35:07] So who's to know? But the governor says that's the only time and only place they have DNA from Sweat.

MALVEAUX: That's interesting. That pins him to the water bottle in that cabin. Jean, thank you so much. We'll get back to you shortly. David Sweat has been on the run now for more than three weeks. How has he managed to keep this going for so long?

We'll talk Survivalist Shane Hoble. He's with us via Skype from New York. He is the founder and owner of the Mountain Scout Survival School. So thanks for joining us. I have so many questions here and Jean has been out there for many, many weeks and days really trying to sort his all out.

Law enforcement officials are trying to sort this out. It appears David Sweat has been out there since his escape. Have we seen any visual signs of him since his escape three weeks ago?

SHANE HOBLE, FOUNDER AND OWNER, THE MOUNTAIN SCOUT SURVIVAL SCHOOL: Well, that's the thing, you know, we've had plenty of eyewitness accounts. People seeing two people walk on the road and then quickly dodging off into the woods. We assume that they are traveling together, since the witness accounts before were two people.

It obviously in a survival situation, or even in a scenario like this, it's best to stay together. It's always best to have that support. It's extra eyes, extra ears. This is a different thing from a survival scenario that we're so used to.

In that case, we're always going to take the time to make a fire, going to make a shelter. We want to be found. In this case, they're avoiding all survival rules. It's out the window at this point. It's such a desperate place that Sweat is in right now.

He's probably malnourished. I'm sure he's dehydrated. I'm sure he's hypothermic. It's a zone that's treacherous, in terms of its topography. There are a lot of nooks that people can slide in and out. In terms of the survival, he is really just going into these cabins and getting whatever he can get his hands on. For being in the woods, it's not there.

MALVEAUX: The fact that we have this information, this new information coming from the autopsy report regarding Matt, when they talk about the bug bites and the blisters, what does that tell you about what Sweat is dealing with, and what condition he might be in if they find him?

HOBLE: I'm sure his condition is deteriorating rapidly. Some of our special forces guys up there, these guys are high tempo, very talented, very trained individuals who train almost on a daily basis to keep a high tempo pace. They're in good shape.

Neither one of these two guys are even remotely close to that. They're not survival experts. I'm not surprised they're exposed to the bugs out there, to the ticks, the mosquitos. They're not making a fire, which helps to keep those things away. Little smoke bath.

He's really betting down wherever he can. There are tricks in the survival world that keeps you warm, dry and safe. They're not following any of these. They're laying down to wherever he can rest his head.

Abrasions, exposure to poisonous plants, water out of a stream without the purification process so he's actually putting himself in a much bigger and dangerous situation by staying out there.

MALVEAUX: Shane, real quick here, is there any possibility here that perhaps he is not alive, that he has died in this process? Do we have any kind of hints or information that that could be the possibility, as well?

HOBLE: No. Suzanne, it is a very good possibility. Look at the three three's. It's the rule with survival. The three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. He's approaching those parameters, water and food. I know he's in a really bad position.

Somebody running through the woods, trying to evade, it's simple thing to slip, fall or not see a crevice or other dangers out there. There's a good chance that he is down on the landscape injured or dead.

MALVEAUX: All right, Shane Hoble, thank you very much. We are going to be following this story minute by minute as we try to find this escapee.

There's also this story. People ran for their lives after a fiery explosion at a water park in Taiwan. New details now about what caused that disaster. That's up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Autopsy results show escaped inmate, Richard Matt, died from three gunshot wounds to the head, fired by law enforcement tactical team. New York State Police say Matt also had bug bites and abrasions consistent with living in the woods for three weeks.

Meanwhile, the search for the other prisoner, David Sweat, is now focused on a 22-square mile perimeter near the town of Malone, New York. Officers are going door to door, looking for Sweat who has not been spotted since he broke out of the Clinton Correctional facility. Now a local sheriff says Sweat is tired. He is hungry. He's confident that Sweat is going to make a mistake.

In Taiwan police have questioned two people after an explosion at a giant explosion at a water park injuring nearly 500 people. Just look at this visual. One organized the event, the other was in charge of the lighting, both have been released on bail.

Also today, an emergency call is now going out for medical supplies and skin grafts for the injured, many with severe burns. The investigation into the cause of the explosion centers on the colored powder used as part of a celebration at the park. Here's CNN's Kathy Novak.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATHY NOVAK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was supposed to be a fun night out, dancing with friends, partying at a water park, music, flashing lights then this --

[14:45:07] A massive fire ball engulfing the stage, terrified people screaming, running for their lives through flames that seemed to come out of nowhere. The injured carried in the arms of others. Some dragged out on inflatable rafts, fellow party goers doing what they could to cool the skin of those who had been burned in the blaze. Hundreds rushed to nearby hospitals, beds made available in military hospitals across the region to accommodate the casualties of what the local mayor says is the worst ever incident of mass injury in new Taipei.

It's believed the colored powder sprayed on the crowd ignited, causing the mid-air explosion. These events have been held here before. Video on the organizer's Facebook page shows bags of the powder for sale, people throwing it in the air and on friends.

A bit of fun, similar to the Indian festival running events around the world seemingly to blame for this terrifying disaster. In a statement, it is regrettable for this accident that caused injuries to many victims. A marketing company had leased out the space. The governor shut down the water park and ordered an investigation. Kathy Novak, CNN, Taipei.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: It's so sad. Coming up, the nation reacts to the Supreme Court's ruling to allow same-sex couples to marry nationwide. We'll go live to New York's pride parade next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: This has been a week that has changed our nation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing same-sex couples to marry in all 50 states now ending a long legal battle for equality by the LGBT community changing the lives of millions of men and women.

Today, June 28th, marks the 46th anniversary of the police raid at Stone Wall in New York City. It sparked protests that started the same-sex civil rights movement.

CNN reporter, Chris Welch, is joining from New York where people are celebrating pride week. Chris, I imagine the energy is infectious.

CHRIS WELCH, CNN REPORTER: It really is. I don't know how much you can feel it through the screen, but take a look behind me. We're looking straight uptown, along Fifth Avenue. Here you have the United Federation of Teachers. We have 22,000 marchers in this parade. It stretches two miles. They're expecting two million people here today.

One thing that a lot of people today are telling me that makes today different than all the other New York Pride marches that we've seen in the past is that in the past, it was about fighting for our rights. One man told me today, because of what happened Friday with the Supreme Court, today, we have our rights.

Today, it's about a celebration. This really is a big, giant party today. I also want to mention something else you brought up. The Stonewall Inn, the scene of the stonewall riots from 1969.

I spoke to Ian McKellen today. He started the U.K. Stonewall Group, a gay rights LGBT organization. We caught up with him before the start of the parade. He is the grand marshal. He had a chance to meet the plaintiffs from Friday's Supreme Court ruling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WELCH: Ian, what's going through your mind today?

SIR IAN MCKELLEN, ACTOR AND GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST: I'm very happy. A bit emotional meeting guys like that. Supreme Courts don't just happen on their own, they happen as a result of people working hard and making the case and arguing the case. It's a great day of celebration. It's a march, marching forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WELCH: As I mentioned, 2 million people. Look at some of these crowds here that have lined Fifth Avenue. As we make our way to Greenwich Village, we're a couple blocks away from the stone wall and the site of the riots in 1969.

I want to point out Governor Andrew Cuomo the other day, the legislature in the state of New York passed a bill that included a provision to allow the governor to officiate weddings. He did his first one today, it was a gay one, and it happened outside of the Stonewall Inn -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right, Chris, because of the Supreme Court decision, it is marriage for all. Not a gay or straight marriage, but just a marriage. Chris, thanks. Looks like it's a lot of fun out there. People celebrating a lot of the success. Thanks, again, Chris.

Donald Trump sitting down with CNN's Jake Tapper for an open-ended interview about why he is running for president, why he said what he said about Mexicans that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:57:20]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Serena Williams is the top-ranked tennis player in the world, but she is not of the reigning. She could spoil Serena's title this year. She snapped a 27-win match streak.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm glad I had a few matches playing really well against Serena.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The world number two hasn't played since losing in the fourth round of the French Open at the start of June. She goes into Wimbledon without playing matches on grass. She withdrew from a warm up tournament because of an illness. She still has the mindset of a champion.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think I can do it so easily. But, as I said, I should be working to defend the title.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Donald Trump says this time he's for real, but Trump is already on defense over remarks during his campaign announcement that he made about Mexico and Mexicans, he tried explaining it to CNN's Jake Tapper on "STATE OF THE UNION."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I respect what they're doing. I love the Mexican people. I do business with the Mexican people, but you have people coming through the border that are from all over. They're bad. They're really bad.

I've spoken to border guards. I said, how bad is it? They said, Mr. Trump, you have no idea how bad. You have people coming in, and I'm not just saying Mexicans, I'm talking about people that are from all over, that are killers and rapists. I mean, they're coming into this country.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Let me talk to you for that. The government of Mexico called the comments prejudicial and absurd. I think of the 11 million undocumented workers, illegal immigrants, whatever you want to call them in this country, you're painting them with a very broad brush, rapists, criminals when that's probably a small percentage.

TRUMP: Well, I don't think it's a small percentage. It's a lot, but it's not Mexicans necessarily. They're coming from all over.

TAPPER: You've talked about building a wall and having Mexico pay for it?

TRUMP: Yes.

TAPPER: How exactly will you get them to pay for it?

TRUMP: Mexico has not treated us well. They treat us as though we're stupid people which, of course, our leaders are. I don't blame Mexico. China is even worse.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: You can catch more of that "STATE OF THE UNION" with Jake Tapper every Sunday, 9 a.m. and 12 noon Eastern Time.

We'll have much more ahead in the NEWSROOM and it all starts right now.