Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Shooter Reportedly Active in Washington Navy Yard; New Details Emerge about New York Prison Break; U.S. Antiterrorism Effort Increase for July Fourth Holiday. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired July 02, 2015 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00] RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: -- police responded to shots fired in that area, and it was quite traumatic. So for this to be happening, or the possibility of this happening just two years later, truly troubling. We do know, as you see on your screen there, we're getting word that the Washington Navy Yard is on lockdown. But this is all very fluid. This is all very new. It's all coming into us as we speak to you. So as we get more, of course we'll get that to you. But again, the headline, according to our affiliates, police responding to a possible active shooter situation at the Washington Navy Yard.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, we're seeing some file footage there of the last time around in September 16, 013. Rene, you were there. We know now it was a military contractor killing 12 people. So many people injured in that incident. We don't know what the scenario is here. And this seems to be a situation that is developing rapidly. Obviously you recall that day with horror, I'm sure, because you were there on the ground seeing the aftermath of all that. This is very close to that same building, do we know?

MARSH: We don't have specifics on exactly where on the grounds this may have happened. The only information that we have is that there is a report of an active shooter at the Navy Yard. So it is in that general vicinity.

And you know, going back to 2013, I remember speaking to someone who actually witnessed the shooting, and he explained such graphic details. So I know in speaking to many of those people that it was quite traumatic. You know, you show up for work one day not expecting this sort of situation only to see something like that unfold before your very eyes. We, again don't have any details as far as possible injuries. But we are hearing that law enforcement, they are making their way or they are on scene after this report of shots fired there at the D.C. Navy Yard, Michaela.

PEREIRA: All right, Rene, thank you so much. And keep on that. Let us know if there's any other developments. We'll be watching it with you.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime we do have other stories to report. There has been a shake-up at the Clinton Correctional Facility. It brings in a new warden along with a host of new security measures, starting with more check on cells and tunnels. We're also learning more from the captured killer David Sweat. He claims it was not he and Matt his cohort but Joyce Mitchell who actually wanted to kill her husband in this plot. Let's bring in CNN's Jean Casarez. She's live outside the prison in Dannemora, New York. What do we know, Jean?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So much is happening. We have learned that the body of Richard Matt is being transported at this moment to Buffalo, New York. His family has decided to claim the body. All this while authorities and law enforcement are seeing if they can actually believe what David Sweat is saying.

And so many changes in the prison behind me. Those changes were instituted the day after Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ: This morning a major shakeup behind these prison walls, Clinton County Correctional assigning a new superintendent along with new rules, including weekly cell wall inspections, random bed checks, and new gates placed inside the tunnels inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat used in their brazen escape.

Meanwhile, Sweat continued talking to police Wednesday. The convicted murderer claiming it was Mitchell's idea for the duo to kill her husband Lyle after escaping from prison. Mitchell's attorney says she denies that allegation. Sweat also telling investigators he had no sexual contact with Mitchell, claiming instead it was Matt instead who had the sexual relationship with the prison employee.

Sweat confessing he and Matt found a sledge hammer in the underground passage way, possibly inadvertently left behind by a construction worker, and they used that tool to break down a brick wall.

Once on the run Sweat told investigators the two initially got along. But Sweat soon grew frustrated that Matt was physically out of shape and had trouble keeping up. Then Matt began drinking after breaking into a cabin. Sweat says he became so upset they split up.

In the final days Sweat pushed ahead, getting closer to Canada after hearing Matt was killed. The former fugitive now recovering from two gunshot wounds to his torso at a lockdown center at this Albany hospital. The medical director says inside two guards watch each patient and inmates are often shackled in their hospital beds.

DENNIS MCKENNA, ALBANY MEDICAL DIRECTOR: How confident do we feel that this patient is not going to escape from the hospital? I feel very confident.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ: And about those tunnels which really allowed the pair to get out, not only will there be electronic gates now installed but also photographs are being taken on a monthly basis of those tunnels to see if there are any new security risks. John?

[08:05:08] JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Jean Casarez for us in Dannemora. Thanks so much, Jean.

We have a new shark attack to report in North Carolina which has beach goers on high alert. The victim is now the seventh in the state to be attacked in just the last few weeks. What is behind the sudden rise? And could this scare beachgoers to stay out of the holiday weekend sun? CNN's Alina Machado live for us is Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, withmore. Alina?

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John. You know, authorities tell me the 67-year-old was alert and he was talking to first responders even though he suffered severe puncture wounds in the area between his hip and his knee. And he also had several bites on his leg. That attack happened in the outer banks. And it's the seventh to be reported off the coast of North Carolina so far this year.

The victims of some of the other attacks include a 13-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy. Each of them lost an arm in separate attacks some 90 minutes apart in an area south of here on June 14th. Bites have also been reported in South Carolina and in Florida.

Now, some experts say that warmer water and drought conditions could be contributing factors. But another big factor is the fact that more people are heading out into the water. And the greater number of people you have in the water the greater the likelihood somebody could run into a shark and have an encounter. We know that this is a very busy holiday weekend. We're already seeing people showing up here at Wrightsville Beach, and we can expect this trend to continue throughout the weekend. So the best thing people can do if they decide to head out into the water is just be aware of their surroundings to try to minimize the inherent risk that exists when you head out into the ocean. Michaela?

PEREIRA: It's such a strange thing to have to be aware of sharks when you're swimming in waist deep water but it's the new reality. Alina, thanks for that advice.

U.S. anti-terrorism officials are launching unprecedented efforts to keep Americans safe over the July 4th holiday from coast to coast. Officials say there is a greater risk of attacks because of ISIS's growing presence online. CNN justice correspondent Pamela Brown joins us now with more.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's really concerning. Security is being boosted across the country because there is more concern among law enforcement this Fourth of July compared to years past. And here's why. Not only is ISIS more aggressive with its social media use, but also it's becoming harder and harder to detect attacks before they happen.

Also putting law enforcement on high alert is the fact that there has been near simultaneous attacks globally. So all of this combined has police departments nationwide taking steps to ensure people are safe on this Fourth of July. Here's what NYPD's John Miller had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHN MILLER: They are following the ISIS call. And the ISIS call as well as that of other terrorist groups has been to use what you have on hand. And that means if you can make a bomb, you're a bomber. But if you can't, use a gun. And if you can't find a gun, use a knife. And if you can't find a knife, use a car.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: So in response, police departments like NYPD are using more radiation detection devices, bomb sniffing dogs, utilizing closed circuit cameras, and also doing more to monitor social media as well. Just to put this in perspective, so far in year there have been 49 ISIS related arrests and there are likely more to come. Back to you guys.

BERMAN: All right, Pamela, thanks so much.

We do have breaking news we want to get to right now. Police responding to reports of an active shooter at the Washington naval yard. That is the site where two years ago 12 people were killed in a mass shooting there. The U.S. Navy just tweeted out "The Navy Yard is on lockdown, shelter in place." The U.S. Navy does say no incident can be confirmed as of yet, but they also say more to follow. You're looking at live pictures right now of the huge police presence at the Navy. Joining us now by phone CNN senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny who is also live at the scene. Jeff, what are you seeing?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. I'm about two blocks or so from the Navy Yard in the southeast corner of Washington. And you're right. There is a massive police presence as you can see. Some workers who work in the Navy Yard told me they were trying to go to work about 20 minutes or so ago and were told they could not enter. Unclear if there is an active shooter. That's not been confirmed by police on the scene.

But, John, so many memories of the 2013 shooting here so vivid in employees' minds. There are metropolitan police department employees. There's heavy fire and ambulance presence, which is a little bit surprising considering there's not much other activity here. But there is air support overhead. So at this hour, unclear what is going on inside. But lock down inside the Navy Yard and scores of people outside sort of watching what the situation is.

[08:10:03] BERMAN: And people being told to shelter in place inside the Navy Yard there. Jeff, remember, again, two years ago there was that mass shooting there, 12 people killed by someone who turned out to be a contractor. And after that there were new security measures implemented having to do with the screening of people who could go in and out of the Navy Yard there. Remind us, what is the Navy Yard? Who works there? What kind of personnel would be present on a regular Thursday like this?

ZELENY: John, just to give you sort of a sense of place here, for anyone who is familiar with Washington, it is in the southeast corner of Washington, about a mile or so from the U.S. capital, from Capitol Hill. But the Navy Yard is where a lot of naval employees work. That's where some intelligence activity happens and just other sort of functions of the U.S. Navy.

So this is not the Pentagon. This is the Navy Yard, which is a sprawling facility in the southeast corner of Washington. But you're right, those memories of that 2013 shooting with that contractor who was able to enter the building there and we have no idea if it's a similar situation or not.

Several things have changed since that happened of course in 2013. The workers we've been able to speak to so far here say they're certainly on edge with that so fresh in their mind. But again we are not sure if it's a similar situation. Police quite frankly aren't saying. They're trying to determine exactly what is going on the anything inside.

CAMEROTA: We're looking at the scene outside. We can see swarms of police officers, some look like they're in some form of riot gear, dogs outside. You said you had encountered some workers at the Navy Yard that weren't able to get in. Do you have any sense of how many people are inside the Navy Yard at this point?

ZELENY: It's unclear, Alisyn, because it's a shift type situation. It's a 24 hour place where some people were likely coming off of their shifts this morning and of course many were going into work. As really hundreds of workers are coming off the Washington Metro system on what would be a normal walk to work, they are not being allowed in. But we do not know how many workers are inside.

But one person I just talked to a few moments ago said this is a 24- hour facility, which is of course not surprising. And this is not a normal 9:00 to 5:00 building here. So there definitely would be people inside. And now we're being told right now, police are clearing some onlookers and media away from this area. We, again, are about three blocks away from the Navy Yard. And we are being told that we need to move back a little bit farther here. But, again, no sense of what is going on inside.

PEREIRA: All right, Jeff Zeleny, thank you so much for that. We're going to ask you to stay there and keep working the scene for us.

We want to turn to Tom Fuentes who's one of our experts that can talk to us about exactly the situation that is going on here as best he can with the limited information that's available to all of us. Tom joins us, I believe, via Skype. So Tom, we know that the U.S. Navy is officially tweeting that they are on lock down, urging people to shelter in place. No incident can be confirmed as of yet. That's not a lot to work with, but what can with surmise from this?

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: I'm sure, Michaela, they're very concerned that they have another situation like they had two years ago, that somebody came in, brought a weapon in, and is engaged in shooting other people at the facility.

The problem with these things is that it's very difficult to get accurate information very early. And sometimes even if it's a real shooting you'll see a lot of people start running, and witnesses think they can't tell the runners from the actual person that did the shooting. That happened in the Navy Yard, as you recall. The police were looking for several people that were sited. It turned out to only be one shooter.

But this is very early in terms of trying to get accurate information of whether there's been a shooting, how many shooters, how many victims, what the situation is.

PEREIRA: What complicated things that time in 2013 when a military contractor killed 12, injuring dozens, was the fact that he had an active I.D. and was allowed to be on that base legally. That further complicated that. Obviously with the security that is around here, there's generally a very large presence of military security, naval security here. The response would be very rapid, would it not?

FUENTES: Well, yes, you would think so. But the problem is that, you know, they can't do all the searches that they would need to do to make sure it's 100 safe inside. You know, the people come in. If they have a valid I.D., whether they're a contractor or Navy personnel, they're going to be allowed in generally without their vehicles being searched unless there some other reason to arouse suspicion on the part of the security guards at the gate.

[08:15:06] But that's the problem here. And most of our military bases in many cases are like small cities. If they start to institute that kind of vehicle search, they'll have people backed up for ten miles trying to get to work in the morning. MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Right. Obviously that's an

inconvenience. But there's concern about safety obviously, on our military bases and naval bases around the U.S.

Tom, we're going to ask you to stand by.

And we're going to turn to Alisyn who can bring in someone else to talk about what's going on in the ground.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: We do, Michaela. I want to bring in our own Jim Sciutto.

We know you've just spoken to some folks at the Navy, Jim. Can you tell us what the update is?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Hi. Good morning, Alisyn.

I spoke with the U.S. Navy. They confirmed that the base -- the navy yard is on lockdown, that there are orders to shelter in place. They still have not confirmed a shooter. They're waiting to do so. But they're taking every precaution in the meantime.

And, Alisyn, you're aware of the level of security right now at U.S. bases around the country in light of threat from ISIS, the July 4th weekend coming up. All naval installations are at security level bravo, which is two down from the top but still very serious. That puts the threat as (INAUDIBLE) in the words of the Navy.

It means nothing specific, but there is a heightened level of security. And that's meant a number of measures. That everyone has to check their ID before going on bases, that more vehicles are being checked.

This is something that the defense secretary was just commenting on yesterday at the Pentagon. I was there for a briefing. He said this heightened threat from lone wolves in the U.S. is something they take very seriously.

Now, there's no perceived or reported link to terrorism in this case, but just describing the level of concern and awareness and vigilance that they have right now for any sort of threats. And that's the posture they're in now. They have not confirmed a shooter.

CAMEROTA: And, Jim, we know that back in 2013 when the massacre happened there, 12 people were killed. It was in building 197. Has the navy given you any indication of what area they're focused on at this hour?

SCIUTTO: No, they haven't. It's not clear that they know yet. They put the whole navy yard on lockdown, not having to confirm the shooter yet, and not having confirmed a location of a possible shooting. But I'll tell you, I was there in 2013. I remember the scene, remember speaking to people who responded and people who were involved. It was just a horrible shooting and it showed in a short time how much damage someone can do.

So, the combination of the current threat just across the U.S. at all military installations plus that history two years ago puts them at a very high level of alert and vigilance. And it's something that a number of military officials in recent days have expressed.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Jim Sciutto, we're looking at live pictures right now where you have on a phone, really just a huge police presence around the navy yard right now in Washington, D.C.

Just to bring people back up to speed, there are reports of an active shooter at the navy yard. The Navy says these are not confirmed. They have not confirmed the existence of an active shooter there. You're looking at a tweet right now. "Navy Yard on lockdown, shelter in place. No incident can be confirmed as of yet. More to follow."

Pamela Brown, our justice correspondent, joins us right now.

Pamela, what's interesting here is you have a naval yard which obviously has military security.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Of course.

BERMAN: But you also have the local police, the metropolitan force. They're responding to the scene. You've been working your sources in Washington. What are they saying?

BROWN: Well, what I can tell you right now is so far nothing has been found. There isn't a confirmation that a shooting has actually occurred. What we can tell you is that people have been tweeting that calls were

made that someone was seen with a gun. And so, as per protocol, the active shooter protocol of MPD has been activated. They responded to the scene. They're going to the building, going room to room, trying to see if there's any validity to this.

And we know park police have also responded as well, FBI, ATF on the scene. You know, this is something they're going to take seriously for a lot of reasons and also because of history there as we've been talking about. A couple of years ago, 12 people were killed there in a shooting.

So, as soon as you hear there could be an active shooter situation at the navy yard, especially with all the threats around the 4th of July, authorities are taking this very seriously.

But, again, you know, we're at the stage right now where it's fluid. We don't want any, you know, be too alarming with people, because there hasn't been an actual confirmed shooting. But we are waiting to see what the situation is given the fact this was called in.

CAMEROTA: Jim, are you still with us?

SCIUTTO: I am.

CAMEROTA: OK. What security measures have changed there at the navy yard since 2013?

SCIUTTO: What security measures have changed there at the Navy Yard since 2013?

CAMEROTA: Really about -- U.S. installations across the country. This was imposed in the middle of May. So even before the higher alert as we approach the July 4th holiday, and that's what they call, describing earlier, threat level bravo.

[08:20:10] So, that's a predictable threat. And that means things like everybody at those installations have to show their ID. You think that's fairly simple. You might have imagined that that was already in place before. But that's part of it and they check more vehicles going in.

There's two levels above that. One is Charlie which would if you had specific information about a specific target, timing, et cetera. And then there's delta. Delta means there's an attack underway.

I'm not aware they've called delta for the navy yard right now. But many of the things they're doing fall under that. And that is things like shelter in place, put the police on lockdown, and, of course, have the kind of police response we've had and that you're seeing out there on those live pictures.

PEREIRA: Let's have you stand by for a second, Jim Sciutto. I want to turn to Tom Fuentes again, one of our security analysts, to talk about the possibility that right now -- no confirmation, Tom, has been made of an active shooter. There is a report of an active shooter. There is a possibility that this could have been a hoax.

How do law enforcement weed through that, Tom? Because we know there have been hoaxes called in, bomb threats, other threats to both military bases in D.C., even to airlines. How do they wade through the truth from the fiction?

FUENTES: Well, the problem is just like with the airline hoaxes, they have to treat it as if it's the real thing. That's why you see the police, SWAT teams, all the agencies arriving, you see ambulances arriving. And it may completely be a hoax.

First, they'll go by who called it in. If it's an anonymous call from a public phone somewhere or a different way that can't be traced back, that might be a clue that it's fictitious rather than if it's coming off a phone line in the navy yard. Somebody that there's or on their mobile that works there calling it in. So that's, first of all a clue.

And second of all, when they arrive and start checking the premises and start doing building checks and can find nothing, can find no shooter no victims, nothing to indicate that it's real, at some point they'll get the idea. But in the meantime, they have to treat it as real and do all of the response that's required.

CAMEROTA: Is it also another clue to us that they haven't said anything? They're being very tight lipped about the investigation now, where it stands. There's not much being said other than the fact that the navy has announced they are on lockdown. They're asking people on base to shelter in place.

FUENTES: Well, they can't say what they can't be aware of. That's the problem is that they don't know the facts. As you've seen in so many of these cases, what the initial information is turns out to be false.

You know, the last time at the navy yard, witnesses said they saw two shooters leaving the seen. And it turned out the actual shooter was already dead at the scene, and everybody else. When shots get fired no matter where it's at -- we saw this with the D.C. sniper -- when shots are fired people flee. They run, they drive away fast, and often times witnesses describe them as being the shooter when they're just normal citizens or employees trying to get away from the shots.

PEREIRA: And one of the challenges I suppose too with the threat level being where it is right now, somewhat enhanced and the security level be at that military base ahead of the 4th of July, as you mentioned all of the threats have to be taken very, very seriously. But I suppose there's a certain element out there looking to take advantage and cause undue fear.

FUENTES: That's true. And that's what we've seen with the airline hoaxes, you know, if somebody phoned this in and it's a false threat, that's what they see. They're sitting at home laughing watching television, watching everybody scramble, watching the police and the fire department, just like a little kid pulling the fire alarm in a school. And then setting back and watching everybody run around. And I think that's unfortunate that we have people in our society from

little kids on up to deranged adults that pull these kind of pranks, if it's a prank. But it's too early to know one way or the other. And as I said, usually, the first information out is false.

PEREIRA: Well, that's the part. We've known in our coverage of breaking news that these stories are so fluid and they change minute by minute and advance. We want to take caution with that and only report what we know. Right now, we know that the naval yard is on lockdown. There is a gigantic police, ambulance and fire fighter presence there on scene. You're seeing the images on your screen, compliments of our partners at WJLA.

Tom, obviously this is going to be one of those situations they want to be extra careful given the history of September 16th, 2013 when a military contractor killed 12 people, injuring over a dozen more. Extra scrutiny will be paid here today, will it not?

FUENTES: It will, but especially with the lockdown, I mean, it's already in place as far as today is concerned.

[08:25:01] But as I mentioned, you know, the difficulty for military bases is the kind of security that would be very strict in terms of searching every car that comes in would then make it almost impossible for them to have a normal workday and do business. It would take hours to get the employees through the gate in the first place. So, that's why they rely on checking IDs and looking for anything else that might be out of place or suspicious.

But if you end up with an employee or a contractor who has badging credentials to get on base and then they do this, it's going to be very difficult to prevent it in advance.

BERMAN: All right. Tom Fuentes, stand by for us right now.

Again, just to bring people up to speed here. The Washington navy yard is on lockdown at this moment. People inside being told to shelter in place. Our reporters say police were called for a report with a man with a gun in the facility. The navy says they are investigating.

But as of now, they cannot confirm those reports. It's possible they can't confirm them because they're frankly not true -- but as you see right now a huge police presence, huge law enforcement presence.

Our Jeff Zeleny is nearby on the scene.

Jeff, what are you seeing?

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Well, you can see just a couple blocks behind me here on M Street in Washington southeast, that's the navy yard behind me in the distance there. You're right, a massive police presence of Metropolitan Police Department as well as park police and other agencies. We still do not know what's going on inside, if anything. But there

is a shelter in place, a lockdown inside. This is happening as scores of morning workers were preparing to come here to work. And they have effectively been stopped here on the sidewalk.

So, something is happening inside there. We're not able to get any closer than this right now. But workers remind us this is a 24-hour facility. There would have been people inside overnight working.

This happened at least an hour ago at this point. So, we've not gotten much more new information at this point. But people still gathering outside.

There is no threat outside, John. People are standing just a couple blocks away. So, whatever is going on seems to be secure inside.

BERMAN: The first call came in around 7:40 a.m. on the inside. It's not long ago right now. it's about 45 or 50 minutes ago. You can just see how large the police presence got very, very quickly there. And again, we're seeing police. We're seeing firefighter s outside.

Any sense on who is inside right now spearheading this investigation? Again, a call of shots fired inside the navy yard?

ZELENY: No sense of who is doing that. We're trying to get a better sense of that by talking some commanders here on the scene. But, of course, this is a police presence. There is a security presence. This is a military installation. So, there is high security especially in light of what happened here in 2013 here, that shooting that is just so fresh in the minds of everyone here.

But at this point, there are -- I can tell you, John, out of the camera view here you can see there are ambulances and other police that seem to be sort of staging, waiting if they are needed, if anything is needed here.

So, a bit of -- I would say not a panic out here at all. There's just a bit of confusion as to what is going on inside. And we're trying to get a better sense of that right now.

CAMEROTA: Jeff, I know you've had a chance to talk to some people who were supposed to be reporting to work at the navy yard this morning but were told not to go into the building because of this possible active shooter scene. Did you hear any reports of gunshots heard?

ZELENY: No, I did not. I've been on the scene for about 30 minutes or so and talking to several workers who were trying to get in, and they did not have a sense of if there were gunshots.

So, there were no -- I have not talked to any witnesses, if you will, who have seen that. Of course, any of those will be inside if that actually happened. The people on the outside were in fact trying to get to work. You know, the beginning of a weekend, a long weekend holiday here. That, of course, is on their mind.

But there seems to be a bit of a briefing going on here just not too far from me. So I may dip out of this and go check in on that. I'll report back to you over here.

BERMAN: Jeff Zeleny, go work those sources, work that scene.

Alisyn?

CAMEROTA: We want to bring in Congressman Henry Cuellar. He's on the Homeland Security Committee. He joins us now from Laredo, Texas.

Congressman, we know you're just getting reports of what is going on at the navy yard. What are you hearing?

REP. HENRY CUELLAR (D), TEXAS: Well, the same thing -- the U.S. Capitol Police sent a notice that there are reports of an active shooter, for folks to keep away from that area. That's actually my neighborhood where I live in Washington, D.C.

So, again let them investigate. We don't know if it's for sure or not. But again since it happened just a couple years ago I can understand what we had to make sure that we take all precautions.

But it's unfortunately the new era that we live in. We're going to see situations like this. We've got to prevent as much as we can.