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Mass Shooting in Oregon; President Obama Speaks Out on Gun Control; MD, VA, NY Preparing for Hurricane Joaquin. Aired 3-4a ET.
Aired October 02, 2015 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:02] (ANNOUNCER): This is CNN Breaking News.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: We continue to follow the breaking news this hour. A mass shooting in the U.S. state of Oregon. Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And I'm John Vause in Roseburg, Oregon. We will continue with our breaking news coverage. And police here say we may find out later today the names of the victims of those who were shot here at the Umpqua Community College campus. A 26-year- old gunman opened fire on Thursday morning. We still do not know why he died later, but it's not clear if he was shot by police or if he took his own life. One student spoke with our affiliate, KPTV, about what happened.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was actually in the building, or in the classroom right next door to where the scene, where the shooter supposedly shot, you know, some students. And I was, you know, just in class and I heard a popping noise, almost like a balloon popping with -- you know, when you have too much air. So I knew something wasn't right. And so I get down. All of the students in the classroom got down underneath the tables.
And a lady went to go see, one of my fellow classmates went to go see what was going on, and she opened the door and unfortunately, the gunman shot her. And I don't know, as of right now, what her situation is right now, but then we locked the door, turned off the lights and we, you know, just -- we were all pretty much in panic mode right there. We called 911 and called our parents, our loved ones.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
VAUSE: As we learn more about the gunman, the 26-year-old man who was heavily armed, we have heard just a short time ago from his father who spoke to reporters in Los Angeles.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IAN MERCER, GUNMAN'S FATHER: I don't want to answer any questions right now. Obviously, it's been a devastating day. Devastating for me and my family. All I ask is, I know you guys are here to do your job. All I ask is you just respect our privacy. And so far you've done that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: And after this mass shooting, the U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the nation. He was frustrated and he was angry and he is pushing for tougher gun laws. But the president knows that his critics will accuse him of politicizing this tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Somehow this has become routine. The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine. The conversation in the aftermath of it. We've become numb to this. We talked about this after Columbine and Blacksburg, after Tucson, after Newtown, after Aurora, after Charleston. It cannot be this easy for someone who wants to inflict harm on other people to get his or her hands on a gun. And what's become routine, of course, is the response of those who oppose any kind of common sense on gun legislation. Right now, I can imagine the press releases being cranked out. We need more guns, they'll argue. Fewer gun safety laws. Does anybody really believe that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN VAUSE: Just a few hours ago, it's believed police raided the gunman's apartment. It's not far from here. The area was sealed off. And at this hour we find Sara Sidner there live. And Sara, can you describe the scene? There must have been some concern there because of the way police went in. They seemed to be heavily armed and there was real concern, I suppose, at what the apartment could have been booby- trapped in some way?
[03:04:12] SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The police aren't saying exactly what their concerns were, but there were definitely serious concerns about the safety of officers going into the apartment because they came in in full gear. We talked to neighbors who said they saw some of the S.W.A.T. team, crouched down in the bushes, as they were going towards the apartment. They were wearing their full body gear, a couple of those members of the S.W.A.T. team. So, certainly they were worried that there may be something that they could have put them, or the neighbors, in danger.
They did clear everybody out, at some point, in the apartment complex and have been here throughout the night. Now, the crime scene tape has just gone down, so they are clearing much of the scene. They had people kind of pushed back from the building, which is just behind me. But there are going to be, as we're told, two deputies who stay here throughout the night and overnight.
What we can tell you is we have been talking to neighbors. And we talked to some of the neighbors who lived right next door to the shooter. And they told us that he was very quiet, that they pretty much would see him every now and then. He didn't engage that much. Every now and then, they'd see him shuffling about here in the neighborhood. But that they did notice something that was different today. They noticed a woman who they believed to be his mother, but they're not 100 percent sure. She was very, very emotional a few hours after the shooting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was bawling and she looked really upset. And I mean, I can't blame her. I mean, this is insane. I mean, I just -- my heart goes out to her and all the people there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIDNER: That was Bronte Hart. She is one of the neighbors here living here with her father, her husband and her baby, who's a few months old. She said that, you know, it's usually fairly quiet and that she actually hadn't really ever seen the woman who she saw crying but she did notice her talking with authorities. And at some point, she says, she grabbed a couple of bags and she left the area. So, right now the scene has definitely calmed down. There were FBI, ATF and Sheriff's deputies who have been here for several hours. They are mostly gone except for two deputies we understand will be here throughout the night. John.
VAUSE: And Sarah, do we know if they actually learned anything about the gunman? Did they find any evidence inside his apartment?
SIDNER: They are not giving any details. They will not even confirm that they believe that this is the apartment of the shooter. What they have said is that any details that will be coming out, will be coming out sometime tomorrow. If they do give details about what is happening here. But they are mum. They are not talking of anything about it. However, we did notice what appeared to be a van that was somewhere where you'd bring in evidence. An evidence van that pulled up at some point. But really, the scene has calmed down quite a bit here. It looks like that there's just a bit of mopping up.
We saw a few things being taken out of an apartment. But we couldn't quite see what those were because it was behind the bushes, but we did notice deputies taking some things out. At this point, everyone in the neighborhood is just watching and waiting. A lot of people have decided to stay elsewhere because they lived in the building where this happened; Stay elsewhere because this has been cordoned off for quite some time this evening. John.
VAUSE: And Sara, do we know how long the gunman had actually lived in that building or had, in fact, lived in the area?
SIDNER: No. He do not know the answer to that. The neighbors we talked to had only been here for six months and said they hadn't noticed anybody moving in or out and that everybody had been here for at least that long. But there's no indication just yet, just how long he may have been living here. We also know that some people have kind of bumped into him throughout the time and seen him walking around, and they said that look, he really didn't engage that much. He really didn't talk to folks that much and so it was kind of hard for them to get to know him, so to speak. But every now and then, he would go over and pet someone's dog or say hello but mostly kept to himself, John. VAUSE: Yeah, of course, the question everybody would like to know is why he chose this campus to go on a shooting rampage; why he decided to take the lives of ten people here. Sara Sidner live for us this hour. Thank you.
Normally, when we speak to our Military Analyst Rick Francona, it's about Syria and the Middle East. But, Rick is actually from this part of the world. And he knows it well. And I spoke to him a short time ago about Oregon's gun laws and just how this community will cope with this tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK FRANCONA, RETIRED UNITED STATES AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT COLONEL AND MEDIA MILITARY ANALYST: It's just like such a shock wave has gone through here because this is not why people live here. This is a small, rural community, serves a large area. There's a huge V.A. facility. Used to have a vibrant timber economy. And that change in the economy is one of the reasons this campus is here. It's helping people retrain in other things. It's an integral part. And when something like this happens to this campus, it affects everybody in town.
And just the look on people's faces today. Just utter shock. This is a strong community. I think that we'll come out of this okay. But it's going to take a long time, to get over the shock, go through the grieving process, put their lives back together. But in the end, you will see them come back, just like other communities in the United States have reacted to these things. Virginia tech, Marshall, things like that.
VAUSE: I don't know if you've heard these reports but, we are hearing from a number of people that the gunman called out people, asked them if they're Christians, asked them to stand up and then shot them. When you hear that kind of thing happening here on a campus, it's horrific, it's terrifying. These things don't -- well, they're not meant to happen.
[03:10:08] FRANCONA: They don't happen here. That's why a lot of people live here. That's why a lot of people came here so they don't have to put up with the outside world. Unfortunately, that outside world came to Roseburg today.
VAUSE: So when we look at this community, this is a unique college. You touched on it before. The average age, I think, it's 38.
FRANCONA: 38.
VAUSE: A lot people go there to retrain, to try and get new jobs, to basically start a new life. And this is the place where so many lives ended. I just -- I don't know how these people will get through this. The other question, too, is, this is a campus which has discussed the entire issue of having security guards who are armed on campus because this is meant to be a gun-free zone.
FRANCONA: Right. There's been a lot of discussion today about the gun- free zone. Is it a gun-free zone? Was it not? And Oregon law is very tricky. Technically, they can't prevent from you bringing a gun onto campus, but they can prevent you from bringing it into a building. So technically, it's a gun-free zone. And they had an armed guard. So, this is going to bring out a reassessment of the security in this area because everybody thought this is such a safe area. The guards were more of a watch to make sure things were okay. No one realized we were going to have to have a gun battle on this campus.
VAUSE: Put your military hat on very quickly. How much of a soft target are these kind of campuses?
FRANCONA: This campus, in particular, is a soft target. If you look at the way it's built, it's built in a circle. Around the area, there are parking lots all the way around it. No gates, perfectly open. I've been on this campus just many times. Just drive your car up, you can walk through it. Never meant to be secured. It was supposed to be an open environment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Rick Francona there speaking with me just a short time ago. A short break here on CNN. When we come back, more on our continuing coverage of the shooting on the college campus, including more on President Barack Obama's angry and frustrated reaction to yet another mass shooting here in the United States.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hello, everyone. I'm CNN Meteorologist Karen Maginnis, and this is your weather watch. Closely monitoring what is happening with hurricane Joaquin. A category 4 hurricane that has been churning around the Bahamas over the last 24 hours and has moved very little. Now the computer models are suggesting that this is going to take a track much further towards the east. At least that's the way it's setting up for now. But nonetheless, we're watching some enhanced moisture across the southeast.
This is going to be a big problem going into the next 24, 48, and 72 hours all the way through the Carolinas up through the mid-Atlantic and into New England. But some areas across the Carolinas, in particular South Carolina, could see staggering amounts of rainfall. That's all thanks to this area of low pressure that's going to be stuck in the atmosphere, and because of its lingering there, also drawing a little bit of moisture in from this hurricane. But the hurricane's going to follow the track of that ridge of high pressure. Area of low pressure, not a lot of steering currents here and that's why the rainfall is going to be particularly dangerous. There's also the potential for rip current. And we could see some trees down and power lines down as well. That's your weather watch.
[03:14:46] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and all around the world. I'm John Vause in Roseburg, Virginia where law enforcement sources have told us the gunman who opened fire on this college campus is a 26-year-old man. He came here heavily armed, opened fire and killed 10 people and wounded seven others. Some of them critically. Investigators say the gunman had body armor, enough ammunition for a prolonged gun fight. He died after a shootout with police. It's not clear, though, whether they killed him or he killed himself. The Douglas County Sheriff says he wants the focus now to be on the victims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN HANLIN, DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF: Let me be very clear. I will not name the shooter. I will not give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and cowardly act. Media will get the name confirmed in time. But you will never hear me mention his name.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: And authorities say they should release the names of the victims sometime on Friday, maybe later. Meantime, hundreds of people gathered for a candlelit vigil service in a park not far from this campus. We should note this is a small community, just 22,000 people live here. And this community college is central to life here. So many people attend this college. They come here for retraining. The average age of the students here is 38. George?
HOWELL: John, a small community, but looking at that video a moment ago with all the candles, so many candles, people coming together in grief from what happened there in Oregon. John Vause for us on the ground there. John, thank you so much.
The U.S. President Barack Obama was visibly angry, and his voice sad. You could see his sadness as he talked about this shooting during a White House news conference. At that same event on Thursday, he asked news organizations to do some research. To compare the numbers of Americans killed in terror attacks over the last decade to the number of Americans killed by gun violence. The point, Mr. Obama presumably wanted to make, is that far more Americans die from gun-related incidents than terror attacks. A point that supports his desire for new gun-control laws.
CNN looked into the numbers using data from the U.S. State Department and from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. And here's what we found. Since 2004, more than 300,000 Americans have died by gun violence on U.S. soil. During that same time period, 313 people have died in terror attacks in the U.S. and outside the country. The last available data was from the year 2013. Joining us now to talk more about this is Arthur Roderick. He is a CNN law enforcement analyst and former assistant director of the U.S. Marshal's office. Arthur, thank you so much for taking time to chat with us about this. So, looking at the overall situation here and the law enforcement response, what are your thoughts?
ARTHUR RODERICK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, George, this is actually called a mass casualty event, or incident, as you heard mentioned in previous press conferences. And I think what you see here is a classic response to these types of incidences where law enforcement now goes immediately in and confronts the active shooter. Where in previous years, 10, 15 years ago, we would actually set up a perimeter and call in the tactical unit. A lot of lives were lost in that. We learned from that. Unfortunately, we've had multiple shootings over the years, and we have now learned that actually going in and confronting the shooter right away saves a lot of lives.
HOWELL: But again, the strategy is to go in and take the shooter out directly.
RODERICK: Correct. Exactly, to stop the threat. Whether that's either using deadly force or using some type of physical force. Generally, in these types of instances, it's going to be deadly force. And that's exactly what happened in this particular instance.
[03:19:58] HOWELL: And talk to us just about, you know, what are you supposed to do? If you find yourself caught in a situation like this, where these students, they were going about their regular day and all of a sudden they had to take cover. What is a person to do?
RODERICK: I mean, the biggest thing right now is sheltering in place. Finding a room that you can lock the door and keep very, very quiet. Because an individual in this type of heightened state, that is carrying the weapons that he carried, a rifle and three handguns, obviously has a lot of ammunition. It's going to go towards where he hears noise, where he hears screams. So you've just got to hunker down wherever you are, find a quiet place, lock the door and then just stay put until law enforcement comes around and clears your particular area.
HOWELL: Investigators at this point, Arthur, they are not mentioning the names of the deceased. That's part of the process, obviously, to release these names slowly as they learn more information. But talk to us from a law enforcement standpoint about what happens next with the investigation. How do investigators even begin to try to understand the motive behind this deranged act?
HOWELL: Yeah, George. Obviously, in this particular case we have the shooter who's dead. So, now it's just a matter of piecing together this individual's life. From the minute he was born on this earth, figure out where he came from, look at all the social media sites, talk to family, friends. And you know that's another case, too, here. We've heard different reports. And I understand in the fog of war, initially the reports that come out are generally either very sketchy or completely incorrect. And in this particular case I think he's got to have some type of tie to that community. And I know that hasn't been confirmed yet, but I would find it highly unusual if he didn't have a tie to this community either through family members, or a girlfriend, or some relationship that he had in that particular community.
HOWELL: Investigators are certainly digging into the case and many families are mourning senseless loss. Arthur Roderick, thank you so much for taking time with us.
RODERICK: Thank you, George.
HOWELL: Hurricane Joaquin, it is now a category 4 storm and now we know that schools in the Bahamas are closed today as that hurricane barrels through. It's dumping heavy rain on the islands right now, sending two to three feet, or roughly one meter, of water into the roads as you see there. The U.S. could be next. South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey have already declared states of emergency in preparation for the heavy rain later this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL DE BLASIO, MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: NYC is ready. That is the important point here. New York City is ready.
TERRY MCAULIFFE, GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA: We will have flooding. We will see trees down. We will see power lost. Our message to everybody in the commonwealth is be prepared.
LARRY HOGAN, GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND: While we're hoping for the best, we're preparing for the worst.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Meteorologist Karen Maginnis joining us now live. And even Governor Chris Christie tweeted at one point, I need you not to panic. But they're prepared, they say. What will this storm do to the east coast?
[03:23:09] MAGINNIS: It looks as if most of the computer models are still taking it offshore. But the level of uncertainty with hurricane Joaquin is high because we're all over the place as far as those computer models are concerned. We rely on those. But they input different data. And because of that, we get varying degrees of certainty. But right now, I can honestly say we're not sure beyond that 24 and 48-hour time period what this system's going to do. Right now, 215-kilometer per-hour winds, 130 miles per hour. Category 4.
It has been languishing across the Bahamas. Well, what can we expect? Let's go ahead and show you this. The core of the system has been influencing the Turks, Caicos, Eleuthera, the Berry Islands, Grand Bahama Island, and it is slowly going to make its way, pull away from the Bahamas. But not before dropping between 12 and 18 inches of rainfall. That's where you see that white shaded area, in excess of 500 millimeters in some areas. Well, then, what beyond that time period? We are occasionally trying to make that correlation with what happened with Sandy because we don't know exactly what's going to happen. Here we can see what's happening with Joaquin, the computer model's kind of all spread out. A couple of them actually take it in across the mid-Atlantic coast.
Right here across coastal sections of the Carolinas. If you remember Sandy back in 2012, it was October, it was a late system. It was offshore, offshore, offshore. And then it made that turn towards the coast. So, even the best of planning is still going to have that certain level of uncertainty. We've got a deep area of low pressure across the deep south. This continues to kind of tap the Gulf moisture, tap the Atlantic moisture, and tap the moisture from hurricane Joaquin. So that's why places already in South Carolina, they're seeing record rainfall now, and we're not even hardly the life span of this system yet. But that enhanced area of low pressure's just going to languish across
the southeast.
So, if you had plans to go to Charleston, or Myrtle Beach, or into Nagshead, or to Wilmington, this is not going to be the weekend to do that. The next several days we're looking at the impact. Downed trees, downed power lines, rip current. We're looking at serious, serious flooding associated with this. Bluffton in South Carolina, that is in the vicinity of Hilton head. Lots of people know this area because it is very famous for its golf courses. And for its resort living. Flash flooding in Clemson. A lot of people know Clemson. University in upstate South Carolina. I went to the other one, University of South Carolina.
All the way up and down from the highlands, from the mid-lands area, into the lowlands, the low country of South Carolina, that's where you're looking at significant rainfall. So you need to be prepared. And it's not necessarily just going to be the impact from hurricane Joaquin. Even though now, suggestions are it's going to move a little further east, stay offshore, but it's going to be this enhanced moisture from this area of low pressure. So from the Carolinas all the way up to New England and places like Atlantic City. Also for Washington, D.C into Newport News, extending up towards Boston. You have to be aware of what's going to happen here over the next several days. And George, I can't emphasize this enough. There are about 80 million people that could feel the effects of this over the next few days, not just one or two days. Five days from now.
HOWELL: You know, I think back to covering hurricane Sandy. I was on the shores there of the Outerbanks, and I remember even before the storm got close to land, you could feel the winds, the rain. It was all very intense. So, you're right. People need to be prepared.
MAGINNIS: It's scary.
HOWELL: Karen Maginnis, thank you so much. We continue with the breaking news coverage here on CNN. This campus shooting in the U.S. state of Oregon. Just ahead, we will talk with a former federal investigator about how agents are looking for clues in a case like this. Stay with us.
[03:27:29] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWSROOM ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. We continue with our Breaking News coverage here on CNN, a mass shooting in the U.S. State of Oregon. I'm George Howell at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. For the very latest, let's get to my colleague, Anchor John Vause, on the ground for us this hour in Oregon. John?
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, George, we're expecting another briefing here from police in Oregon at 10:00 a.m. local time. That's about 9 1/2 hours from now, where we're hoping to learn more details about a motive as to why this gunman opened fire on the campus. In the meantime, we have heard from the gunman's father. He did speak to reporters just a few hours ago. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IAN MERCER, FATHER OF GUNMAN: I can't answer any questions right now. I don't want to answer any questions right now. Obviously, it's been a devastating day, devastating for me and my family. All I asks is, I know you guys are here to do your job. All I asks is, will you just please respect our privacy. And so far you've done that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now, police say the 26-year-old gunman opened fire here, killing 10 people, wounding seven others. He is now dead, although, it's not clear if he died in a police shootout or if he took his own life. Now police have not stated a clear motive for yet another mass shooting here in the United States, but President Obama did address the nation. He was clearly angry and frustrated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: Earlier this year, I answered a question in an interview by saying the United States of America is the one advanced nation on earth in which we do not have sufficient common sense gun safety laws, even in the face of repeated mass killings. And later that day, there was a mass shooting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now, one student spoke to our affiliate KOIN about this shooting. She said her teacher was afraid to open the door once she heard those gunshots ring out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANNAH MILES, UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENT: Open the door and she yelled through the door. She said, "Hey is everyone OK over there?" And then as soon as she said that multiple shots were fired. And when she turned and she looked in the classroom, the look on her face was horrifying, and that's when I knew something was wrong. And she looked at us and it was just -- I don't know. It's hard to explain. When she looked at us, she said, "We have to get out now." And one of my other classmates jumped up, he's like, "Everybody out. Come on, let's go." And we just immediately began running. Still didn't know really what was going on, but I knew by the look and the fear on my teacher's face that it was serious.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now, members of Congress, presidential candidates, they've all spoken out on this. They've offered their condolences to the victims. Here's Oregon's Governor, Kate Brown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE BROWN, OREGON GOVERNOR: Facts are still emerging. We know now there were casualties and confirmed injuries. Our top priority now is the medical treatment for victims and the security of the campus. We have confirmation that the shooter is deceased. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. We are holding the community of Douglas County in our hearts today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now Thursday here, life began on this campus like pretty much any other day, but then the horror began to unfold. And as Isha Sesay reports, the first indication that something was wrong, it all begun with a flood of 911 calls.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ISHA SESAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 10:38 a.m., Thursday morning, the first calls come in to authorities.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Active shooter at UCC, 1140 Umpqua College Road. Somebody is outside one of the doors, shooting through the door. We do have one female that has been shot at this time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SESAY: Within minutes, law enforcement is on the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exchanging shots with him. He's in the classroom.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Copy. Roger 17, exchanging gunshots right now with a male. He's in a classroom on the southeast side of Snyder Hall.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unconfirmed report that he's got a long gun.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:35:05] SESAY: We now know the shooter is a 26-year-old male and believed to have four guns according to a law enforcement official.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I heard it was just like a loud bang. There was a couple girls running like sprinting away from the building and then I heard screaming after that first gunshot. And I looked up and saw the people running and I said to the teacher, "We need to get out of here right now."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dispatch as many ambulances as possible to this incident. We have upwards of 20 victims.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SESAY: And then, police are able to stop the gunman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHERIFF JOHN HANLIN, DOUGLAS COUNTY, OREGON: Officers from around the county immediately responded to the college. And upon arriving there, they located the shooter in one of the buildings. Officers engaged that suspect. There was an exchange of gunfire. The shooter is deceased.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SESAY: In the aftermath of the massacre, law enforcements are searching for any warning signs. Isha Sesay, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: And George, we're only really learning now exactly what happened during that shooting on campus. There was this disturbing report that we're hearing from the father of one of the victims, she told him that the gunman went into a classroom, asked if the students were Christians, told them to stand up and then he shot them, and that's just one of the harrowing stories which we've started to hear, George.
HOWELL: John Vause on the ground force in Oregon. John, thank you.
Once again, the topic of gun control is front and center. And joining us now to talk more about this is Matt Horace. He is a former ATF executive and the senior vice president of FJC Security Services. Thank you so much for taking time with us. So you used to work there in the west coast, in the Seattle area. I used to work out there too and...
MATT HORACE, FORMER ATF EXECUTIVE: Sure.
HOWELL: You know that there really is a divide when it comes to this topic. Many people who are, you know, really against guns, but there is there are many pro-gun people in the rural areas. When this issue comes up, you know, and you heard what the president had to say with it, he's frustrated that nothing happens.
HORACE: Well, you know, I really believe that at some point, if we're going to change the narrative, you have to change the dialogue. And that the dialogue has to be consistent, has to be upfront and that it has to be enduring and not waiting for the next incident to happen. Every two to three weeks now in the United States, we have an active shooter incident, normally, involving mass casualties. But then remember, we also have the violence in our urban cities that the chiefs of police talk about so often, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, D.C. The whole entire gun issue should be put front and center, and hopefully, the president's plea will fall on some of listening ears.
HOWELL: And the Douglas County sheriff himself, John Hanlin, has his own opinions on gun control.
HORACE: Sure, sure. I'll tell you what. In my own experience, having work in the great northwest and the rocky mountain region, those are areas that are generally very pro gun. And that does not disinclude (ph) law enforcement executives and officials. HOWELL: Like the sheriff.
HORACE: Like the sheriff, absolutely. It doesn't mean they're not for strengthening laws to keep criminals off the streets, and keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, but they're also not for tightening gun legislation to prohibit people's ability to be able to own and purchase guns.
HOWELL: Talk to us about this case from an investigative standpoint. What's the next step?
HORACE: Well, this investigation is just beginning. Obviously, we still have an active ongoing crime scene where it occurred, but then there's a lot of background that needs to be done. The farms need to be trace. We need to determine what happened to those guns between the time the suspect possessed them, and they were legally purchased at a Federal Firearms Licensing.
HOWELL: From the standpoint of investigators, actually trying to determine the motive, is it something that they can really ever know or ascertain?
HORACE: Well, at this point, they're going to go back and they're going to examine every single facet of his life, to try to determine what he was reading, who he was spending time with, what he was espousing, what he was putting or communicating on social media, and we're going to have to try to determine what the motive may have been. And shortly, soon down the line, we will determine it. Was there a relationship? Was it multiple relationships? Was it something he was reading? You know again, we're at this area of murder, mayhem, and manifestos and it is unfortunate.
HOWELL: Matt, you saw how those investigators -- how the first responders, rather, how they got into that scene quickly. Talk to us about that.
HORACE: Well, you know, the protocols have changed over the past 10, 15 year...
HOWELL: Now it's about going in and taking the shooter out as quickly as possible.
HORACE: Well, it's about taking the shooter. It's about addressing the threat.
HOWELL: OK.
HORACE: Whether it's one shooter, two shooters, three shooters, or four shooters, we have to address the threat. Identify this threat and address it.
HOWELL: Right.
HORACE: In most cases, these individuals are prepared to die. They know that they're not going to win a gun battle with police. Once we put the array of resources that we can on these scenes, and that's exactly what you saw happen tonight.
[03:39:58] HOWELL: Now what are people supposed to do? I mean, you're just going about your regular day, but these people, you know, these students who were, you know, in classrooms at that university, doing what they regularly do, then they find themselves in this terrible situation. What would you do? What's the first step to protect yourself?
HORACE: Well, people have to be aware, and I know from my space in the security industry, we get training on active shooting drills. People have to be aware, shelter in place, get to an area where people can't find you, be very quite -- I heard a woman on an interview tonight say that she actually turned her cell phone from ring to silent because she didn't want someone to hear her. We've been through this so many times now that people are getting trained mentally, on how to respond, how to react when they hear those gunshots go off.
HOWELL: It's good to get the insight from a Former ATF Executive Matt Horace, thank you so much for...
HORACE: Thank you.
HOWELL: Your time.
The news continues here on CNN Newsroom. Russian President Vladimir Putin says civilians were not hurt by his country's air operation in Syria this week, but not everyone seems to agree with him -- more at CNN Newsroom.
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HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom, other news that we're following from around the world, Russia's president, Vladimir Putin, defending his country's air strikes in Syria. Mr. Putin says civilians were not hurt by Russia's air operation this week, despite what some media outlets are reporting. Opposition officials in that country say at least 36 civilians were killed. Russia has been clear in its intent to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The country has been accused of using the strikes to target anti-Assad groups.
Let's go straight to Moscow now, CNN's Phil Black standing by live for us following this developing story, Phil, good to have you with us. Russia has asserted that it is doing the exact same thing that the coalition forces are doing, that it's targeting terrorist groups. But now we know that their scope goes beyond just ISIS, what more can you tell us?
[03:45:02] PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're right, George. Russia does say that. That it's pursuing the same targets, in its words, that the U.S. and its coalition are fighting ISIS and doing so as well. Using the term ISIS and other terrorist groups, but the criticism from that international coalition led by the United States is that no, that is not the case. Based upon the areas they believe that Russia has been striking so far. Just today, now, a statement from the Turkish foreign ministry which it says is a joint statement on behalf of all the members of that international coalition against ISIS. So countries including the United States, the U.K., Germany, France, Saudi Arabia, expressing deep concern about these Russian strikes, calling on them to stop because these countries it says believe that Russia is striking other opposition groups, not ISIS. And the result is civilian casualties, not any damage or degrading of ISIS's ability that in Syria itself.
Now Russia, the Russian government as we've been saying has been dismissing these sorts of claims. Claims about civilian casualties, claims about just who they're going after, the Russian view is that they are going after terrorists, only terrorists. And they are not concerned, necessarily, about other opposition groups, although they are not being particularly specific either in saying just which groups they are going after. But they say they are doing, this they say they are openly supporting the government of Syrian and President Bashar al- Assad and its military forces because they believe that his military forces, his government remain the best obstacle, really, to allowing terrorist groups to overrun the rest of the country as well, George.
HOWELL: And Phil, just briefly. Here, also, the Russian president is in France today for talks on Ukraine, but I would surmise that the Syria issue comes up in those talks.
BLACK: You would certainly expect so, yes, Vladimir Putin traveling to Paris today for talks with the French President Francois Hollande as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. Ukraine is the primary function, the reason these talks are taking place, but very likely that Syria will be raised as well. And we'll be looking to see what comments if any, Vladimir Putin makes that about that issue while he's there, George?
HOWELL: CNN's Phil Black, live for us in Moscow. Phil, thank you so much for your reporting, and as Phil mentioned that Mr. Putin, along with the leaders from Ukraine, Germany and France are all set to meet up in Paris in just a few hours to discuss the fighting in Eastern Ukraine. Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists, initially agreed to a cease-fire in September of last year, but it has failed to hold. More than 6,000 people have been killed since the conflict began early last year.
You're watching CNN Newsroom and our Breaking News coverage of the school shooting in Roseburg, Oregon continues, exactly what we're learning about the gunman, after a short break.
Plus, U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House, you see him here watching coverage of the tragedy and growing angrier by the second. Stay with us.
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[03:49:29] KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN World Sport headlines. There have been many Europa League matches taking place with some big teams in action. Liverpool played FC Sion (inaudible) and what have (ph) with disappointing one of draw of Adam Lallana gave the Reds the early lead. Liverpool's primary rival Tottenham were in Monaco and had the exact same result. Erik Lamela continued his impressive start to the season scoring again, but Monaco equalized 10 minutes from time. Speaking of impressive, surprise Serie A leader Fiorentina scored four goals for the second successive match, this time away to Portuguese side Bolonese (ph). There were two matches at the Rugby World Cup and it was business as usual for safest team including France who eased past calendar 41-18. Earlier, Wales beat Fiji 23-13 in an end to end encounter in Cardiff, but they missed out on a bonus point. It means Wales will qualify for the quarterfinals if England doesn't beat Australia on Saturday.
And the Formula 1 season may be winding down, but not so the career of Jenson Button. He's confirmed he'll race for McLaren Honda in 2016. The 2009 world champion had been considering his feature, but said McLaren's determination to improve, was a key in his decision to continue. That's a look at all your sports headlines. I'm Kate Riley.
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HOWELL: Welcome back. As we continue with our Breaking News coverage, a mass shooting in the U.S. State of Oregon. I'm George Howell at CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. For the very latest on this story let's go straight to my colleague, anchor John Vause on the ground for us this hour in Oregon. John?
VAUSE: Well, George, authorities here say they may start to release some of the names of those who were shot and killed here on campus later on Friday. They were gunned down by a 26-year-old man who opened fire on Thursday morning. He died later after a shootout with police, but it's not clear if he was killed by those police officers or if in fact he took his own life. Seven other people were wounded in the attack. Three are in a critical condition. The gunman's father has also spoken out. He talked to reporters outside his home. He said it has been a devastating day and he asked for privacy.
The U.S. President Barack Obama reacted with frustration and anger to yet, another mass shooting here on U.S. soil. And take a look at this photograph issued by the White House. The president there watching the coverage of this shooting in Oregon. The frustration etched on his face. And at a press conference later, he lamented that mass killings have become routine in the U.S. and he called for stronger -- excuse me, gun control. This was the 15th time during his presidency that he has addressed gun violence. We look back now at what he has said after each deadly incident.
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[03:53:30] OBAMA: Communities have had to endure tragedies like this, too many times.
We come together, filled with sorrow for the 13 Americans that we have lost. With gratitude for the lives that they led and with a determination to honor them through the work we carry on.
I have come here tonight, as an American who likes all Americans to pray with you today and we'll stand by you tomorrow.
And the federal government stands ready to do whatever's necessary to bring whoever's responsible for this heinous crime to justice.
All of us are heartbroken by what's happened, and I offered the thoughts and prayers, not only myself and Michelle, but also for the country as a whole.
And each time I learn the news I react not as a president, but as anybody else would -- as a parent. In our days to come, that community needs us to be at our best as Americans, and I will do everything in my power as president to help.
The lives that were taken from us were unique. The memories their loved ones carry are unique. And they will carry them and endure long after the news cameras are gone.
For any shooting is troubling. Obviously, this reopens the pain of what happened at Fort Hood, five years ago.
The country has to do some soul searching about this. This is becoming the norm. And we take it for granted in ways that as a parent are terrifying to me.
The good news is I'm confident that the outpouring of unity and strength and fellowship and love across Charleston today, it indicates the degree to which those old vestiges of hatred can be overcome.
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VAUSE: And George, you know, I've covered school shootings in this country since Columbine and all the way to Sandy Hook and thinking back to Sandy Hook when 26-year-old kids were gunned down and everyone thought back then that something would change and it never did, so -- and there's been more than 100 shootings since then. And it really is now, I've been questioning this country, what will they do? Will anything change now after 10 more people have been killed because of someone with a gun, George?
HOWELL: And John, as night turns to day there and investigators slowly but surely identify the victims, there will be many families that will be given some really awful news, and you know, our thoughts are certainly with them. John Vause, live for us in Oregon. John, thank you so much.
And we thank you for watching this hour of CNN Newsroom. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Our Breaking News coverage continues of the mass shooting in the U.S. State of Oregon, right after the break.
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