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Severe Storms Hit U.S. Heartland; Mother of Police Shooting Victim Speaks; Boston Bomber Convicted On All Counts. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired April 09, 2015 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:32:40] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to NEW DAY.

Severe storms shifting to the east after hammering the center of the country, including a series of tornadoes touching down in Kansas.

Let's get right to meteorologist Jennifer Gray.

Jennifer, what are you seeing?

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right. We had a total of eight tornadoes yesterday, six of those in Kansas and we are continuing to see the storms this morning. Then they could get nasty as we go through the afternoon.

Already seeing storms from Chicago, all the way down through Little Rock, in fact, already seeing delays in Chicago due to the weather. There's actually a ground stop in Detroit. We have the ingredients coming together. We have very warm, moist air from the south colliding with that very dry air from the north. And that is going to be some of the ingredients that are going to fuel the showers and storms throughout the afternoon. We have the very warm air in place, 81 in Little Rock, 79 in St. Louis, in the much cooler air behind it.

So, we do have a heightened risk for severe weather. We, looking at the main threats being from Chicago down through Little Rock, including Memphis, Nashville, Louisville. We're also looking at the possibility of storms, even in Jackson, Mississippi, Birmingham, Alabama. We're looking at large hail, damaging winds and the possibility of isolated tornadoes -- John.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Jennifer, we need to keep our eye on that all day today. Thanks so much.

So, the witness who recorded last week's South Carolina police shooting has come forward. Feidin Santana was on his way to work when he saw the situation escalating. He tells NBC News that police had control of the situation before Officer Michael Slager fatally shot Walter Scott. Slager has now been fired from the police force. The North Charleston Police Department has increased a previous order of police body cameras.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Another scandal brewing at the Secret Service, this time, a high-ranking supervisor now on administrative leave, his security clearance suspended. Why? A female agent says he made unwanted sexual advances. The supervisor is named Javier Morales, and allegedly saying he was in love with her and wanted to have sex with her.

"The Washington Post" reports this all happened at a party celebrating Morales' new assignment as the head of the Louisville field office.

CAMEROTA: A court hearing expected today for real estate heir Robert Durst on new drug and weapons charges in New Orleans. Durst's defense say that the new charges are a ploy to give investigators in California time to prepare their murder case against him, while keeping his attorneys in the dark, they claim.

[06:35:04] California investigators are expected in New York next week to interview witnesses as they expand their investigation into Durst's alleged execution-style murder of his friend, Susan Berman.

BERMAN: A tectonic shift in the news business, that man, CBS News legend Bob Schieffer has announced he will retire this summer, after 46 years at CBS News. He's been the host of "Face the Nation" for the last 24 years. Schieffer made the announcement at Texas Christian University, his alma mater, where he told the crowd that he could not have asked for a better life or something more fun and fulfilling.

You know, one of the things I love about Bob Schieffer is he actually looks like he enjoys it while sees doing it, and he should.

CAMEROTA: And he's doing well at it. There's no reason for him to retire right now. His Sunday show is doing well.

BERMAN: Another 46 years.

CAMEROTA: Yes, 46 more.

CUOMO: Been there at CBS since '69, the Sunday show since '91 he's been there, in a business that's so pickle.

CAMEROTA: True.

CUOMO: And people just go through.

He's been there a long time, he has done the job as Alisyn said, he's been successful. But more importantly than that, he's done the job the right way. It's hard to look in the business sometimes and say, well who are the giants, who are the giants? He's one of the giants.

CAMEROTA: Absolutely.

BERMAN: Congratulations to him.

CAMEROTA: Yes, we wish him well.

CUOMO: It is now time for CNN Money now. We have chief business correspondent Christine Romans in the money center.

Christine, stocks, near record highs, but Wall Street is not Main Street, is it?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: No, it isn't in. Midst of the third longest bull market in history, Chris, only half of Americans are invested in stocks. According to a brand new Bankrate survey, 52 percent of Americans are not in the stock market. That's including 401(k)s.

Soaring stocks have been incredible though for the investing class. Look at the new IRS numbers, they show the richest 400 taxpayers look at that, nearly $336 million on average earnings in 2012. That's up sharply from the year before.

All right. Do you want YouTube without any ads? You'll soon be able to get it for a price. YouTube is laying the groundwork for an ad-free version. No word yet on what it will cost. The big question, will content providers benefit from the new subscription model. Guys?

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much, Christine.

Well, Walter Scott's mother trying to endure the loss of a child and seeing it all unfold on video. What did she think when she watched that videotape? We'll hear from her, next.

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[06:41:24] CUOMO: The South Carolina video, it's highlighted the police involved and changes need. But imagine being the victim's family. Walter Scott, 50 years old, father of four, his family watching his cold-blooded murder and the casual way officers seemed to treat his body on the video afterwards.

And yet, Walter Scott's mother told Anderson Cooper she's willing to forgive the now-fired officer who took her son's life. Why? Hear.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: So how are you holding up?

JUDY SCOTT, SHOOTING VICTIM'S MOTHER: The Lord is my strength. He's helping me to hold out.

COOPER: That's what's keeping you going right now?

SCOTT: Yes, knowing God as my personal savior.

COOPER: When did you get the news about your son?

SCOTT: It was Saturday.

COOPER: What did you hear? What did they tell you?

SCOTT: They -- really, my elder son is the one that told me. I heard nothing from the police or anyone.

COOPER: And when you were told that the police were saying there had been a scuffle, that your son had fought for the Taser, did that sound believable to you?

SCOTT: I knew that was not true. Because he know how, especially the North Charleston policemen, conduct themselves, he would never jeopardize his life.

COOPER: He would not have done something like that?

SCOTT: No, he would not have done it.

COOPER: So, when did you learn there was a videotape?

SCOTT: It was the next day.

COOPER: So when you finally saw it, I can't imagine what went through your mind.

SCOTT: I couldn't -- really watch the whole tape. When I saw my son running, and I saw the policeman behind him, I couldn't take it. I had to turn away. I couldn't handle it.

COOPER: Knowing what you know now, I mean, that not only what happened to your son, the way it happened, that it was all captured on tape and even what seems to be pictures of the policeman picking up something, maybe the Taser, placing it near your son's body. What do you think about what happened?

SCOTT: That was not right. The policemen are supposed to protect the people. Not try to frame them or get out of what they've done wrong. They're supposed to be honest people, protecting us.

COOPER: What do you want people to know about your son?

SCOTT: I want them to know he was a loving son, a loving father. He cared about his family. And I will, no matter what happens, it will not replace my son.

COOPER: Do you believe that the justice will be done?

SCOTT: I believe in God. With the policeman being arrested, he's got to get convicted. And I believe since God moves so fast, the God I serve is able.

[06:45:01] I know God will make a way. God will fix it.

COOPER: What do you think of the person who came forward with the video?

SCOTT: He was there, God planned that. He's the ram in the bush. I truly believe that.

COOPER: Because some people would have been scared and run away. He not only stayed, he approached the police officers to get -- closer video.

SCOTT: Yes.

COOPER: Have you been able to talk to him?

SCOTT: No.

COOPER: What would you want to say to him?

SCOTT: I would want to thank him for what he did.

COOPER: Do you believe something like this has happened before here, but nobody knows about it because there's not a videotape?

SCOTT: Yes. I do believe that.

COOPER: Is that something you've always felt?

SCOTT: Well there are -- I hate to say it -- but there's some dirty cops.

COOPER: I know the chief of police, I understand came by, a member of clergy, I believe maybe the mayor came by as well. What did you feel about their visit?

SCOTT: I thanked them for coming. I mean, I'm supposed to be really angry and upset and raging and all that. But I can't. Because of the love of God in me, I can't be like that.

COOPER: You don't feel that in your heart?

SCOTT: No, I don't, I feel forgiveness in my heart. Even for the guy that shot and killed my son.

COOPER: You feel forgiveness?

SCOTT: Yes, for him. Yes, I do.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Wow. Walter Scott's family is filled with impressive people. His brother and his mother are both so gracious in the face of this tragedy. They're -- I'm struck by their sort of emotional tenor, they're both sort of even-keeled and open-hearted, despite what they've just lived through.

BERMAN: I do not know where she finds the strength to be in a way as introspective and forgiving as she is, and to hear her describe seeing the video. Can you imagine watching that video of your son being gunned down?

CUOMO: The down side of what it takes to bring the situation to light is exposing the family to that truth as well. I mean, their faith is everything for them right now. And one of the strengths of belief is what it restores in you. And forgiving for people like the Scott family right now, takes the power away from those who have hurt them, instead of making it linger. But it's got to be amazingly difficult to do, especially so soon.

CAMEROTA: I could listen to her all day. We will have more of that for you later in the program.

BERMAN: All right. This South Carolina shooting is getting reaction from across the country right now, including several people with an eye on the White House. Dr. Ben Carson is among the Republicans weighing a run. We're going to ask him what he thinks of what went on in South Carolina.

CAMEROTA: And with the verdict in, focus shifts to the sentencing of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. What do people who lived through the attack want to see happen now? We'll get reaction from a survivor, next.

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[06:52:11] BERMAN: The Boston bombing case now moves into the penalty phase. Jurors will decide if Dzhokhar Tsarnaev should get the death penalty or life in prison. One of the big questions now is, what does the conviction mean for those who lived through the attack?

Joining us now is Dave Fortier. He is a survivor. He was just about to cross the finish line when that first bomb went off. As you can see, Dave is still a runner.

You look fast, my friend, thanks so much for being with us this morning. I appreciate it.

DAVE FORTIER, BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING SURVIVOR: Thanks, John, I appreciate it.

BERMAN: So, Dave, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, guilty, 30 times guilty, for his role in these attacks almost two years ago now. When you heard news of the verdict, what's your reaction?

FORTIER: My initial reaction is that that justice has been served. But at the top of that, it doesn't replace the lives that were lost. You know, it doesn't repair the damage to those that were severely injured that day. But it does begin to bring some closure.

BERMAN: Four people killed by the Tsarnaev brothers. You know, more than 250 injured there.

You went to the trial. Why did you go? What did you need?

FORTIER: Yes. For me, I was amazed at the number of people involved, with bringing him to justice. And I got to meet a lot of those folks along the way.

And it was a way to support some of the other survivors that were there. And it was a way also to say thank you to a lot of those folks that sacrificed so much of their time and energy. Sleepless nights, just, I think of folks from the Department of Justice, folks from the FBI, state, local police, the city of Boston. It really was amazing how everybody came together to put all the pieces in place.

BERMAN: What did you think when you were in that courtroom, looking at Dzhokhar Tsarnaev?

FORTIER: You're looking at somebody who just committed horrific and heinous acts. And you wonder how somebody can do something like that. How they can inflict damage on other people. It's very difficult to see. And I would imagine that the jury will have a very difficult time getting beyond some of the image these that they had to endure for that time.

BERMAN: You could you see how they took it looking at the images for all of those days that they did.

Dave, what do you need now?

FORTIER: I think for me personally -- and I know a lot of others, we've started to move on from what had happened.

[06:55:05] You know, a lot of us, or several of us, that were injured that day are actually running in the marathon this year. Several of us ran in the marathon last year. And it's -- we've formed a very tight-knit community. You know, a lot of these folks have become family members. Very close. All of us have become.

BERMAN: You suffered some hearing loss, you still have some pain in your foot from where the shrapnel hit in 2013. Which I understand was your first marathon, right, and now you've essentially become a marathon runner. You have the haircut to prove it right there. You ran the New York marathon, you did Boston last year and you're doing Boston again. It's, what, 11 days from now, April 20th. Are you ready?

FORTIER: Feeling ready. We're pretty excited about it. The weather has been tough here, in the Northeast in the last few months. So, we missed a few days just for safety and not being on the roads. But a lot of us have been together over the last few weeks and I think everybody is feeling really ready for this.

It's become a way for folks that are involved in our group to take back the finish line. To take back what happened on Boylston Street.

BERMAN: Yes, you want to cross that finish line on your own terms now. And you did it last year. You're about to do it again. In 11 days, in a better time than you did ever before, personal best I'm sure. What do you think about when you cross the finish line in a race?

FORTIER: I originally started running, really thanks to a dear friend a couple of years ago. He's battling leukemia. We had chance to talk one day, and he said, you know, why don't you just go for a run, you know, clear your head? And I kept running and that turned into a 5K, which turned into a half-marathon, which turned into the Boston marathon in 2013.

So, I'm running for a reason. I run for Dana Farber, I run for the National CML Society. And I'm running for a new family of people. I'm running for a bunch of folks that can't run. That's really why I'm there.

BERMAN: Running for folks who can't run. The Dana Farber marathon challenge team, it's a great cause, you are a survivor. You have your life. You have won this, my friend.

Dave Fortier, thanks so much for being with us.

FORTIER: Thanks, John.

BERMAN: We're following a lot of news this morning. Let's get right to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see my brother running for the last time, trying to run for his life. He just couldn't outrun the bullets.

SCOTT: The policemen are supposed to protect the people.

BERMAN: The president is calling it an end to conversion therapy for gay and transgender youth. The White House started a petition. That petition has received 120,000 signatures in just three months.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thirty counts, Dzokhar Tsarnaev found guilty in each and every one of them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I literally saw my sons get blown up. I want the death penalty.

SEN. RAND PAUL (R-KY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I just want to be careful we don't paint with a broad brush that somehow all of our police are bad.

CUOMO: How will race and policing impact the 2016 elections?

DR. BEN CARSON: I was aghast at an execution that occurred without a trial.

CUOMO: Dr. Ben Carson returns to NEW DAY.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to your NEW DAY. Michaela is off and John Berman joins us.

Great to have you with us.

BERMAN: Good to be here.

CAMEROTA: Well, this morning, the man who captured the video of that deadly encounter between a South Carolina police officer and an unarmed man is speaking out for the first time. And what he says contradicts what the police report claimed.

CUOMO: North Charleston police wasting no time firing Officer Michael Slager. The department making changes as the state takes over the investigation. Is that enough?

We begin our coverage with CNN's Martin Savidge in South Carolina.

Good morning, Martin.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris.

The community remains calm here as the investigation moves forward. You know, we're all familiar with the now-famous video taken by the bystander. But the real question is what about other videos that are out there? And we know there are other videos that are out there. Dash cam videos that were taken by the police.

What do they show? What could they possibly tell us? We could get a glimpse of those today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PROTESTERS: No justice, no peace!

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Days after the release of the shocking video, North Charleston feeling the fallout.

Demonstrators gathered in front of city hall, demanding the mayor resign and more officers be arrested, as the investigation into the shooting death of Walter Scott by Officer Michael Slager intensifies.

(EXPLETIVE DELETED)

OFFICER MICHAEL SLAGER: Put your hands behind your back!

SAVIDGE: In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Slager seen here being debriefed by another officer, described a scuffle, and claimed through an attorney that the 50-year-old fought for his Taser and he felt threatened. In an interview with NBC, the man who shot the disturbing video says he did see the two struggling on the ground.