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Gunman Killed, 3 Wounded at Florida State University; Obama to Announce Immigration Executive Action; Interview with Rep. Linda Sanchez

Aired November 20, 2014 - 06:00   ET

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

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, a campus shooting at Florida State University, a gunman opens fire inside the library, overnight as students study for finals. Three people injured before the gunman was killed by campus police. We have students describing what happened and the latest on who did it and why.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama, tonight previews his plan to shield millions of illegal immigrants from being deported. Republicans are promising a battle royal. Details of the president's plan ahead.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Due fall out, one project after another getting pulled from embattled comedian, Bill Cosby as more women speak out against him. Is Cosby's image as one of America's favorite dad now tarnished by sexual assault allegations? Where does this leave his career?

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

Good morning. Welcome to NEW DAY. It's Thursday, November 20th, just about 6:00 in the east, Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota here with news overnight of a mass shooting at Florida State University. Campus police confronting the gunman, they say he failed to drop the weapon, turned it on them and was killed.

CAMEROTA: Three people were injured, all of this happened at FSU's main library as students were studying for their final exams. We've just learned that all classes and exams today have been canceled.

The incident, a living nightmare for students trapped and their parents hearing the news miles away. CNN's Susan Candiotti is following the breaking developments for us. Good morning, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

Picture this: students hitting the books -- hitting the books and studying for exams at FSU's campus in the library, and the last thing they expect is this: bullets flying.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Breaking overnight.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you serious? Oh, my God, are you okay? CANDIOTTI: Moments of fear inside this Florida State University

library. One FSU student capturing it on cell-phone video.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the Tallahassee Police Department. And the FSU Police Department. There has been a shooting in the library. Stay where you are.

CANDIOTTI: It was just before 12:30 this morning when an unidentified gunman opened fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you know somebody that has a gun or you know somebody that has been shot, call 911.

CANDIOTTI: One man seen lying on the floor apparently shot in the leg as a librarian makes a frantic 911 call.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God.

CANDIOTTI: The campus on lockdown as police swarm the building. Students warned to, quote, "Seek shelter immediately. Stay away from doors and windows," in a text message from the university emergency alert system.

Photos flood Twitter as the ordeal unfolds, showing police with assault rifles inside the library, eventually leading the students to safety. At least three people injured and transported to the hospital, one in critical condition. The shooter? Shot and killed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was challenged by those officers to drop his weapon. Instead of complying with their commands, the gunman in turn fired a shot at the officers. And they returned fire, killing the suspect.

CANDIOTTI: After a nearly three-hour ordeal, university officials assuring the FSU community the situation is under control.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a -- evolving crime scene. We are working it, and we are working to insure that everybody is safe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: And as we said, all classes have been canceled. FSU's president issuing a statement calling it an isolated incident and saying that security will be increased on campus today. Of course, the big question is: who was the shooter and why and how could this happen -- Chris.

CUOMO: You're absolutely right, Susan. We are standing by for a live press conference where we'll get those answers hopefully. In the meantime, though, let's talk to somebody who managed to live through this, thank God.

Joining us by Skype is Sarah Evans. She's an FSU senior. She was in the library when the shooting began. Sarah, can you hear me OK?

SARAH EVANS, WAS IN LIBRARY WHEN SHOOTING BEGAN: Yes, I can. CUOMO: I'm old. I'm still baffled by this Skype technology. So take

us through it.

EVANS: Me, too, a little bit.

CUOMO: So you're in the library. How do you get word that this is happening?

EVANS: I was actually right by the exit. I was just about to leave the library. And I just hear what I thought was a gunshot. But not as loud as I would expect.

So I was just kind of sitting there, you know, not really alarmed at this point, but asking questions: What's going on? What's going on? And you know, still just waiting around until I saw one of the employees kind of looking frantic, going crazy, and that's when I thought something was pretty wrong.

CUOMO: You saw an employee come by. They seemed frenzied, so you started taking the video. What gave you the presence of mind to do that?

EVANS: Well, I was asking -- something was clearly wrong and I'm standing there with two friends and we were asking, you know, "What is wrong?" And nobody would say anything. So I thought, this isn't really going right. So normally, you know, in today's day and age, what do you do? You take a video when things aren't going right. So that's what I did.

CUOMO: You're supposed to be told things as soon as possible. What was the notification? What did you hear from the school? What did they tell you to do?

EVANS: Well, as far as the event, you know, I wish I would have been told a bit sooner to move away from the entrance. But as soon as the 911 call was made, we were signaled to go to the back of the library, head up the stairs, you know, just get completely out of the way. And then we were notified that FSUPD and Tallahassee PD were on their way to secure the location.

CUOMO: Your friends were OK; you were OK, thankfully. But is it true that while you were shoot -- taking the footage of what happened, you did come across somebody who was hurt?

EVANS; Yes, I mean, I will never forget the look on his face. It was -- actually, he yelled, you know, in the video, "I've been shot. There's a gun." And that's when everybody in the library freaked out.

And I didn't believe it. I think I was laughing in the video, because I was like, "What?" You know. You're just not really prepared for something like that.

So he just looked so shocked, and I just didn't know what to do. I just was like, "Oh my gosh, are you OK?" And you know, we just wanted to get him help. But yes, he was wounded, laying on the ground. So that's when we really freaked out. CUOMO: It is literally surreal. We can see how you start to get very

nervous when you recognize what actually has happened to him. Were you able to get him help? Do you know anything about what happened with him?

EVANS: Yes, they immediately rushed help. As far as I know all the victims are recovering, which is great to hear, because you know, my heart goes out to them and all of their families. That's all that I really care about at this point.

You know, I'm happy to be home safe. But all I can think about is them right now.

CUOMO: And he was shot in the leg. He seems to be holding his hip. Now, how long was it before he got help and before you were able to get out of there?

EVANS: To be honest, I think it had to be just a few minutes before he got help. Because the police department came on the intercom quite quickly. But I -- as soon as I saw him is when I started rushing back towards the exit.

CUOMO: What are you being told about who did this and why?

EVANS: I mean, you know, all we wanted was answers for the three hours that we were held in the building across from the library. And as far as I know, you know, the suspect was found. He opened fire, and unfortunately, you know, the police had to fire back at him. I'm not sure who the shooter was. You know, I just really care about the victims at this point.

CUOMO: Absolutely. Absolutely. And we also care about you and your parents. Were you able to get them right away and make sure that they know you're OK?

EVANS: Yes. I mean, I called my dad right away. He was with me on the phone. My mom, I honestly waited a few minutes, because I didn't want to freak her out because I knew she'd be sleeping. But I didn't want her to see it on the news before she spoke with me. So I spoke with both of them right away.

CUOMO: How are you? How are your friends? This is not something that you're supposed to see in university life or anywhere, and we know it's finals week on top of everything else. And you're an "A" student, so you take it very seriously. How's your head? How's your heart this morning?

EVANS: I mean, I'm still a little bit shaky, and I don't think it's this interview. Yes, it was definitely a crazy experience. My friends are okay. We are all just, you know, a little bit shaken up about the whole thing. Because you know, you're just not really prepared for a situation like this, no matter how many times you could go through it in your head.

But you know, I've seen a lot of compassion and support from our student body already. And so I'm just pretty confident that we can all kind of come together and get through this as just the university together.

CUOMO: We're sure you will. We're going to go right now, Sarah, to the live press conference on what's going on, so we can all get more information.

(AUDIO GAP) here. They're working with the campus police to find out. We've been told an active, or they said evolving crime scene. Let's listen.

OFFICER DAVE NORTHWAY, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, TALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT: I'm officer Dave Northway, the public information officer for the Tallahassee Police Department. We welcome you to the FSU Police Department, and we appreciate all of you coming out this morning at such an early hour.

I'm going to provide you a recap of what occurred this evening. Or early this morning, actually for those of you who were not here for the very early-morning press conference that we had. And then we'll have several speakers after us. We are going to provide as much information as we can, investigative-wise. Please bear with us, as this is a new investigation. It just occurred in the last several hours. We will provide all information that we can, but there are going to be questions that we are not going to be able to answer at times. But we will do the very best we can to answer any of your questions.

At approximately 12:30 this morning FSU PD received a call about an armed subject near the Strozier Library. And officers were called to the scene.

As they were driving to the scene, they were notified that an outside victim, an innocent victim, if you will, was also injured, as occurred from the shooter.

The initial report shows that as they arrived on scene, they met the suspect in front of the Strozier Library. They gave them -- gave the suspect commands. And the suspect did not comply with the commands, and actually shot at one of the officers. They returned fire, and the subject was killed.

Officers are working at this time to secure the scene, as they have done. And they have also checked all of FSU, and we have no other initial indications to show there is a threat at this time.

TPD was asked to come in via FSU Police Department to assist with the investigation and take over the investigative part of it. That means that our homicide investigators, our forensic technicians are in. They're interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence. This will go on for the next several hours.

In a crime scene, the first time that we get there, that's the only time we're going to get the crime scene the way it was when we arrived, and we would not release it until we are sure that we've collect all the information. So this will be lengthy in nature, and we expect to be here for several hours. At this time I'm going to turn the podium over to Chief Michael DeLeo.

He will speak about the investigation, and then he will introduce the next speaker.

CHIEF MICHAEL DELEO, TALLASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Good morning. First and foremost, after any type of tragic event like this, everyone's thoughts and prayers are first and foremost with our victims. And their families at this time. Obviously this will have long-lasting effects with all of them and that's our priority first and foremost is to victims and their well-being.

As Officer Northway just said, the next priority is to reassure everyone that there's no indication of any additional threats to the university, the students, or our community at this time. All indications that we have based on the information right now is this is an isolated incident and one person acting alone. So we want to reassure everyone of their safety and that this is an isolated incident in nature and it was just one person; and there is no indication of any further threat to anybody.

Our team of first responders performed admirably this morning. And when I say our team, I'm not talking just about the Tallahassee Police Department, it's the FSU Police Department. They were the first primary responders. Along with some of the TPD. Also Leon County EMS, Tallahassee Fire Department. We also have local representatives from the FBI who responded to offer their assistance, as well. Which is the normal protocol in an active shooter type situation, everyone responding and pulling together. All of these agencies responded together;. That is reflective of our previous joint preparation and training for critical incidents such as these. This is why we focus so much attention on working together, planning together, and openly and constantly communicating with each other for these thankfully very isolated incidents. We do preplan and pre-train...

CUOMO: We're listening to one of the members of the Tallahassee Police Department talking about what happened at Florida State University right now. They're saying that there is no further threat. They believe there was a solo gunman. He has been taken out by campus police there when he failed to surrender his weapon. Three people have been injured. We are awaiting -- we'll monitor that press conference to find word of who did this and why. And as soon as we get that, we'll go back to you with it.

CAMEROTA: Meanwhile, there's other news to tell about. Let's check in with Michaela.

PEREIRA: Certainly is. Good morning, you guys.

And good morning to you at home.

An Iowa man has been arrested near the White House after the Secret Service recovered a rifle and ammunition from his car. We're told R.J. Kapheim approached a uniformed officer near the entrance to the East Wing; told that officer someone in Iowa told him to drive to D.C. The 41-year-old is now charged with possessing an unregistered firearm. More charges may be pending. The grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, could rule on whether or not to

indict Officer Darren Wilson for shooting Michael Brown by tomorrow. Law enforcement officials say they expect prosecutors to present their final evidence on Friday, and a decision could come shortly after that. Police have asked prosecutors to delay announcing the grand jury's ruling for 48 hours to prepare for possible violence.

Overseas, a defiant North Korea threatening a nuclear test in response to a U.N. Resolution on human rights violations. The resolution calls for the reclusive regime to be referred to an international court for crimes against humanity. Pyongyang has condemned the move, vowing to bolster its military capability and conduct a fourth nuclear test to counter what it calls, quote, "U.S. hostility."

Embattled auto supplier Takata on the hot seat today. A company official will be grilled on Capitol Hill as part of a Senate probe into its faulty air bags. One issue they're going to look at: why Takata switched to a cheaper air bag propellant that can combust violently. Officials now say it's possible a sixth death is linked to the defect. At least 16 million cars with Takata air bags are being recalled worldwide, more than ten million of those right here in the U.S., despite Takata's refusal to issue a nationwide recall.

We'll be watching that, because it will be interesting to see what comes out of that hearing today.

CUOMO: And why they did it and what they knew and who knew.

PEREIRA: Yes, exactly.

CAMEROTA: All right. Thanks, Michaela.

Meanwhile President Obama set to outline his plan for immigration reform tonight in a primetime speech as Republicans brace for a fight. We'll have both sides for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Immigration is a problem. Everybody knows it. And it may get worse tonight.

President Obama is going to make his big "go it alone" speech on immigration in a primetime address. It will happen tonight, as I said, and the president is going to outline his executive order.

He is saying that what he will do will protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation and that he will bypass Congress to do this. Now, of course, the Republican opposition is up in arms. They're calling the president's action unprecedented and illegal and warning of retaliation.

Let's start with CNN's Michelle Kosinski live at the White House. What's the word there, Michelle?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Chris. Tonight the president takes this momentous executive action on immigration, expected to affect at least three million people, possibly as many as five million.

Now, this hasn't even been unveiled yet, but already the president is facing push-back from both sides. Those who feel that this acting on his own doesn't go far enough and those Republicans who feel it goes way too far.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KOSINSKI (voice-over): The president now ready to change the landscape for millions of undocumented immigrants in this country. And announcing his impending announcement on Facebook.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So what I'm going to be laying out is the things that I can do with my lawful authority as president to make the system work better, even as I continue to work with Congress and encourage them to get a bipartisan comprehensive Bill that can solve the entire problem.

KOSINSKI: What his plan will do, according to sources, is not a path to citizenship but temporary renewable relief, in the form of permission to stay without being deported and permission to work. Expected to include parents of children who are American citizens or have legal status, so long as those parents have been in this country at least five years.

Also, it will likely expand those same allowances granted by the president in 2012, to people brought here illegally as children, known as DREAMers. But, sources say, it is not expected to include parents of those DREAMers, leaving some already to criticize it for not protecting families enough.

On the other side, Republicans furious.

REP. STEVE KING (R), IOWA: We can announce that we're prepared to cut off any funding that would implement or enforce his unconstitutional act.

GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: If he goes through with this, and he sticks a finger in the eye of the American people, with no thought, other than "This is what I'm going to do, and I'm going to do it," then I think he jeopardizes long-term the Democrats ever to get back in power again in Washington, D.C.

KOSINSKI: According to several recent polls, a majority of Americans would rather see immigrants given a chance at legality than be deported, though a "USA Today" poll shows slightly more people want the president to wait for Congress to vote on immigration reform than to act alone now.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KOSINSKI: So far we have heard Republicans threaten everything from lawsuits to shutting down the government, even impeachment. But the White House places the blame for Congress failing to act on immigration reform firmly on their shoulders. And the White House says it feels confident that this executive action has a strong legal basis and that it will be firmly -- fully implemented -- Chris. CUOMO: Michelle, this reeks of brinksmanship, and we will see how it

unfolds after the president lays out the plan tonight. But there will be a lot of talk today, and we'll be talking it on on NEW DAY. Thank you for the reporting -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Let's talk more about the plan right now. Joining us is Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. She's a Democrat from California, and she's the newly-elected chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and senior Democratic whip. She also met with the president last night, getting the details of the plan.

Good morning, Congresswoman.

REP. LINDA SANCHEZ (D-CA), CHAIR, CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS: You were one of 18 Democratic lawmakers who went to the White House to meet with the president, I think, for dinner and hear about his plan. What's he going to say tonight?

SANCHEZ: Well, I'm going to leave the details to the president. It's his plan, and I think he ought to be the one to announce it. I don't want to preempt that. But suffice to say that I think he's taking good first step in the right direction.

But it still remains incumbent upon the Congress to fix this problem in a long-term way, and that is to legislate a comprehensive immigration reform. Something that the Republican leadership has been unwilling to do in the house.

CAMEROTA: Well, the Republicans say that the president is going to preempt them by taking executive action, and they're not happy about it. They want more time to deal with this.

In fact, they are threatening that if the president takes executive action, there will be retaliation on their side. Let me play for you what Senator Ted Cruz has just said about this.

Oh -- well, we don't have that sound byte right now, but I will get that for you. Basically, he's saying that he would block all judicial and Senate, and nominees that the president puts up for the next two years.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Not a great strategy. You know, you can disagree with the president's policy. But don't hold up what -- the common ground where we can agree. I think, you know, trying to link two things that are fundamentally not linked is not good for the country. It's essentially holding the country hostage. And you know, threats are not great.

I just have to say this. We've been waiting on action from the House leadership for more than a year. For more than a year, by a 2-1 margin, bipartisan group of senators passed a comprehensive immigration reform package, and the House, which promised to take it up, still hasn't. What have they been waiting for? And now they say they need more time?

It's very clear do me that they have no intention of exhibiting leadership on this. And I think the president needs to act in the absence of leadership.

CAMEROTA: Well...

SANCHEZ: It doesn't preclude Congress from getting something done on comprehensive immigration reform. And in fact, it might provide the impetus for them to really get their act together and lead and legislate and govern. Something that the House has been unwilling to do under Speaker Boehner.

CAMEROTA: Well, the American public, it sounds like from the latest polls, do -- are willing to give it some more time and don't think that the president should yet resort to executive action.

Here's the latest poll. This is from "USA Today." It shows that they asked respondents. Forty-two percent believe that the president should act this year. But 46 percent say that the president should wait until January, wait for the new Congress to be seated to see if they can move forward. Your response?

SANCHEZ: It's a very narrow margin, and I think for the families that are affected, it is the right thing to do and it is the right time to do it. I think it's long overdue, and I think trying to place blame -- in the absence of leadership, I think the president is doing the right thing.

And I think this is going to be good for the country. It's not just good for these families. It's good for the economics of our country, as well. And I think the sooner that we can address this issue, I think the sooner that Congress realizes, you know, they need to get on the ball and do something -- the better. Think it's a bold first step in the right direction and I think it's what our country needs. It's long overdue.

CAMEROTA: Let me show you another poll that suggests that Americans don't necessarily believe with you -- agree with you that the president should go it alone. This one is from "The Wall Street Journal," newly released. It said, "Should the president take executive action on immigration?" Forty-eight percent disapprove; they say no. Only 38 percent approve of doing that; 14 percent are still unsure. What does that tell you?

SANCHEZ: Well, again, it tells me that there's a difference of opinion in this country. I don't think necessarily the last several election cycles can tell you polling is not always very accurate. Historically, polling has shown that the vast majority of Americans are in favor of doing something on immigration reform. Because the status quo is not sustainable.

CAMEROTA: And yes. I mean, to your point, they are in favor of doing something on immigration reform. But it sounds like they want Congress to do something, and they -- they are not as comfortable with the president acting unilaterally.

SANCHEZ; I will tell you, I've been in Congress for a dozen years; 12 years I've been here. When I was first elected, I came to the Hill, and one of the things that I really wanted to work on was comprehensive immigration reform. For 12 long years we've been trying to accomplish this. So I don't think it's a matter of time.

I just think that that argument is specious. It's something that has really been worked on, and we've looked at it for many, many years. It's overdue.

And again, the president isn't doing -- isn't legislating; he's simply using his legal authority to provide some relief and some accountability, by the way, to immigrants that are in this country.

And I think, you know, prioritizing things like criminals...

CAMEROTA: Yes.

SANCHEZ: ... over the deportation of families is a good thing for this country. And I think that creating a system of accountability where people have to go through background checks...

CAMEROTA: Yes.

SANCHEZ: ... and people have to pay taxes, is good for this country. So you know, these threats that "Oh, we need more time and, if not, we're going to throw another tantrum. And we're going to, you know, get our way by holding our breath and holding the country hostage -- hostage," that's not helpful. That's not constructive; that's not proactive. It doesn't move our country in the direction that it needs to move.

CAMEROTA: Congressman Linda Sanchez, thanks so much for being with us this morning on NEW DAY. We'll see what happens tonight.

And be sure to join CNN tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern for comprehensive coverage of the president's address. CNN will carry his address live, and we'll have full analysis of the plan and its implications.

Over to Chris.

CUOMO: All right. It is not over in Buffalo. People are trapped; supplies are running short. Efforts to rescue and clear are hampered. And another three feet expected today. We have a live report from the snow zone.

And Bill Cosby, he may not be facing legal action, but he's already taking hits professionally. There are new developments, and we have them for you coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)