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New Day

Manhunt for Killers of Illinois Officer; Second Video of Deadly Shooting by Deputies; Baltimore Prepares for Potential Unrest; Trump and Bush Step Up Attacks. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired September 02, 2015 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:04] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama now one vote away.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When somebody says you want to cut your throat, the last thing you should do is buy them a knife.

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

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning and welcome back to your NEW DAY. It is Wednesday, September 2nd, 8:00 in the East.

Up first, three suspected cop killers on the loose in Illinois -- choppers, K9 teams and federal agents all joining a widening hunt this morning. We've learned that schools will remain closed out of an abundance of caution. Meanwhile, the community is in mourning over the death of a veteran police lieutenant.

CAMEROTA: And in another top story, police in San Antonio facing threats after a video surfaces of two officers fatally shooting a man who appears to have his hands in the air.

Also in Baltimore, police bracing for possible violence as hearings begin for six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

CNN has these three developing stories covered starting with Rosa Flores. She's live in Fox Lake, Illinois. That's the scene of the manhunt.

Rosa, what's the latest?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Alisyn, people here with cannot even mourn in peace. Because here we are less than 24 hours after a police officer was shot and killed. People have to watch their backs and lock their doors because these cop killers are still on the loose.

Now, here is how it all started. According to authorities, yesterday about 8:00 a.m., Lieutenant Gliniewicz was investigating suspicious activity when he radioed into dispatch letting them know he was on a short foot case. Here is his last exchange with radio dispatch.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DISPATCH: Could you start for Fox Lake for an officer down, 128 Honing Road.

We'll create the call? They were responding to a report of a suspicious a male black and a male white. It appears the officer's gun is missing now.

All the county units are responding down Fox Lake.

Subjects are to be considered armed and dangerous. Air one has been advised.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

FLORES: Local, state and federal authorities came in. A massive manhunt was in place and is in place still right now. K9s, dozens of them, air support as well. But here we are about 24 hours later and no sign of the suspects. This morning, schools are closed and this community is in mourning. They are mourning the loss of Lieutenant Gliniewicz, who's being described as a man who dedicated more than 30 years of his life to this police department. He is a father of four. He is also a husband and a very, very loved person in this community -- John. .

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Clearly beloved in that community, nicknamed "G.I. Joe." So many people there seemed to know him.

Rosa Flores, thank you so much.

New questions this morning about a deadly police shooting in Texas. There are not just one but two videos that show deputies firing the fatal shots at a man who appears to have his hands in the air. We have seen one video. Will the second one now be released?

CNN's Sara Sidner live for us in San Antonio.

Good morning, Sara.

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

At this point, the second video will not be released. We talk to the district attorney, he says he has viewed it along with members of the FBI and that it is disturbing. He said it shows a very clear picture of what happened. In the first video, you can only see one of the suspect's hands before he is shot. That hand being up like this. And the second video, the district attorney says you can see both of his hand.

We want to warn you, the video you're about to see is disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER (voice-over): Officials in Texas are now examining two videos. Capturing this officer-involved shooting in San Antonio.

MICHAEL THOMAS, RECORDED CELL PHONE VIDEO: He just shot that (EXPLETIVE DELETED), bro.

SIDNER: This video shows veteran officers Greg Vasquez and Robert Sanchez shooting and killing 41-year-old Gilbert Flores Friday afternoon.

THOMAS: They just cold-blooded shot that (EXPLETIVE DELETED).

SIDNER: Michael Thomas record the video and tells us he was surprised to see the officers open fire. And Flores clearly had at least one arm raised.

THOMAS: I was just thinking, like, if he stepped back, why would they shoot a man, after they had just kind of been going back and forth for so long? And then you see them after he steps back, not attacking or anything like that.

SIDNER: Officials say the second video, not released to the public, shows a much closer and clearer angle. The Bexar County D.A. and sheriff both discouraging knee-jerk reactions.

NICHOLAS LAHOOD, BEXAR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I don't have to say anything. But anybody can get to that conclusion on their own when they look at the video. They're troubling. But what I encourage people to do is not react.

SIDNER: The officers arrived at Flores's house, responding to a domestic dispute call.

DISPATCH: Looks like the male that called it in assaulted his wife and child. So possibly two patients. And he is also threatening suicide.

SIDNER: When police arrived, they say he was armed with a knife and resisting arrest.

SUSAN PAMERLEAU, BEXAR COUNTY SHERIFF: They also used -- tried to use nonlethal weapons to try and detain him.

[08:05:04] And after a lengthy confrontation, those deputies fired shots, causing the man's death.

SIDNER: Thomas first provided his video to CNN affiliate KSAP. On Monday, the sheriff's office labeling it as "unethical and sad" for the news station to purchase and air the video, also tweeting, "Broadcasting a man's death for $100 has sparked threats to our deputies' lives."

To which the station said it's their obligation to inform the public, saying in part, "It is not uncommon for news organizations to pay for video from freelancers or citizen journalists."

(END VIDEOTAPE) SIDNER: Now, the district attorney has told us that he is grateful for the video, saying that both of the videos and the other evidence will really help them determine whether or not these officers will be charged. We also know that the family has hired an attorney and that attorney says he plans to sue.

CAMEROTA: OK, Sara, thanks so much for all of the update on that.

Well, Baltimore police preparing for potential unrest as a hearing gets underway for the six officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray.

Let's get right to CNN's Jean Casarez. She's live in Baltimore.

What's the scene there, Jean?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the scene is that the courthouse is just opening right now. So the court day is beginning. The hearing is in about an hour and a half. But we did hear there's going to be increased police presence around the courthouse and also the possibility of protesters.

Our producer just saw several people with great big signs that are trying to find a place to protest in front of the courthouse. The police department says if anything happens -- because this is a critical hearing today. There are some major issues at stake. Police department saying they will be ready. And any of the officers that wanted to take leave today and not come in, they're saying you have to be here. We have to have a full force. Actually telling CNN, "We would rather have an abundance of people readily available as needed."

The reason being, this hearing, the defense is asking for the charges to be dismissed, all in part saying there is no reasonable basis in fact for these charges to be brought against these six officers in relation to the death of Freddie Gray. Obviously, the prosecutor disagreeing very strongly in that.

And speaking of the prosecutor, the defense says there are so many conflicts of interest with Marilyn Mosby that she should be recused. She should not prosecute this case. A special prosecutor should be brought in. One of their arguments is that on the night before the charges were announced, and the arrest warrants were issued, that the prosecutor's office had a special meeting with the assistant medical examiner.

And this was before the defense says in documents that a cause and manner of death was even established. And then the next day, there are arrest warrants that are issued. Prosecutors saying we believe beyond a reasonable doubt these charges are justified and we can prove them with a jury of the peers of the police officers right here in Baltimore.

We don't know if the judge will rule from the bench or take this under advisement. But the community is aware this is happening today -- Michael.

PEREIRA: OK. And important day there in Baltimore. We'll be watching with you. Thank you, Jeanne, so much.

Well, the gloves are off between Donald Trump and Jeb Bush. Trump taking to CNN to fire back at Bush's latest attacks. All of this as a new poll shows Trump's unfavorable numbers are inching the wrong way, especially among Hispanics.

Athena Jones following all of the political drama for us, live from D.C. -- Athena.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Michaela.

These are not good numbers from this new "Washington Post"/ABC poll. It shows that among all voters, not just Republicans now, Donald Trump has just a 37 percent favorability rating versus 59 percent unfavorable. And so, while his favorability may be creeping up among Republicans in states like Iowa, as other polls have shown, it's not doing so well with the broader electorate.

I should mention, though, that Jeb Bush's favorability numbers are not much better. He's only at 38 percent favorability rating. After months of hits from Trump, Bush is now trying to show a little more fight. He's striking back on social media which is one of Trump's favorite means of communication. Meanwhile those hits from Trump are still coming.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via phone): Jeb is paying for these ads by the lobbyists, by the special interests and by his donors.

JONES (voice-over): In a new interview with CNN, Donald Trump not holding back on anything or anyone, including Jeb Bush.

TRUMP: He's getting all of his money from people that are lobbyists and, you know, a tough group of people. I know all of them. And they wanted to do something, and they should do something, because he's got to fight back. And he's way down in the polls. He's got to.

JONES: Hitting him on his fundraising strength and his poor poll position in the same breath. The former Florida governor has long been a top Trump target. Bush Tuesday firing back in front of the cameras.

BUSH: This is not a guy who's a conservative.

[08:10:00] And using his own words is not a mischaracterization. It came out of his own mouth.

JONES: And online.

TRUMP (on camera): I have lived in New York City and Manhattan all my life, OK? So, you know, my views are a little bit different than if I lived in Iowa.

JONES: Taking a jab at what he calls the one-time Democrat's liberal views.

TRUMP: I'm very pro-choice.

Hillary Clinton, I think, is a terrific woman.

You'd be shocked if I said that, in many cases, I probably identify more as a Democrat.

JONES: Trump, whose love of social media has become legendary for a political candidate, took to Twitter to call Bush weak and posted another Instagram video, pointing to nice things Bush has said about Hillary Clinton.

BUSH: We recognize the commitment of someone who has devoted her life to public service.

JONES: And after weeks of tough talk on illegal immigration --

TRUMP: They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime.

JONES: -- Trump spent more than an hour at Trump Tower, talking about the issue, and the Hispanic electorate, with the head of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

JAVIER PALOMAREZ, CEO, U.S. HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: He understands that the Hispanic vote will be critically important, not only for him, but anybody seeking the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JONES: And that meeting with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce president was at Trump's request. Both sides said it went well. They said they wanted Trump to clarify his policies on immigration and other issues and said he's agreed to appear in a public Q&A session later this fall. It should be very interesting. So, we'll keep a lookout for all of that -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Thanks so much for all of that, Athena.

Well, joining us now to discuss the entire 2016 race is Wesley Clark, retired four-star Army general, former NATO supreme allied commander. And he, of course, ran for president in 2004.

Good morning, General.

WESLEY CLARK, RET. U.S. ARMY GENERAL: Good morning, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Let's start in 2004, because that's the end, you were seen as a political outsider. You were not a politician before you ran for president. It appears that you were ahead of your time because this year, there is such a deep desire for outsiders. How do you explain what the electorate seems to be saying about people like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump?

CLARK: Well, I think there is a legitimate anger in America out there. We've been through the financial crisis. People my age, they've seen their savings get no interest rates whatsoever.

We know that money is subsidizing big banks. The housing market where people had their wealth has not really come back. And much of America, despite the fact that there's some (INAUDIBLE) going on, we're still involved in fighting.

People have a sense there's something wrong. They don't know exactly what it is. But they want clean, clear answers. And that's what we've seen over the summer from both parties, because they're looking for easy answers.

And the thing is, here's the trouble, Alisyn, there are no easy answers for this, because it's taken us over 30 years to get where we are from the Reagan administration in 1980 through right now. We're not going to find an easy, quick fix.

But the American public is expressing its frustration, its anger. And that's what Sanders and Trump are both tapping.

CAMEROTA: You said people are looking for clean, clear answers. That leads to the next question about Hillary Clinton. How big of a deal do you think it is, this investigation into her e-mails?

CLARK: Well, I think it's a great political boon to the Republicans. But if you ask, is there any real substance to this issue, the answer is, don't think so. All of us who have been in government and especially those who have worked at high levels and seen the interplay between the various intelligence agencies, the Pentagon and the State Department, know there's a lot of -- let's call it slack in the system.

There are people who say things, refer to things, send e-mails, have telephone conversations that, if you went strictly by the guidelines and tracked it back afterwards, you'd say, well, he shouldn't say that because that could be classified. But people say things in a way -- and some of this stuff got into Hillary's e-mail system.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CLARK: And it wasn't classified at the time. It wasn't marked classified. And she would never have tried to use that system to handle classified data. But when you go back and look at it, there's some junior person who says, your responsibility is you tell us if this could have been classified. Of course, they're going to say, oh, that could be classified.

CAMEROTA: But, you know, General, I mean, I mean --

CLARK: So, there's a lot of fluff in this.

CAMEROTA: You're an interesting person to talk to about this. So many people say General Petraeus lost his standing and was, you know, investigated and prosecuted over this same thing. I mean, you know both sides of this from the military and from being a supporter, as you are, of Hillary Clinton.

How can you say there's nothing there when the investigation isn't done yet?

CLARK: Well, because the two circumstances are entirely different.

[08:15:02] Now, the General Petraeus had a great military career. He was an outstanding director of the Central Intelligence Agency by all reports.

However, what he did was put together a collection of classified documents, highly sensitive documents that were marked with classification and delivered them to a writer, someone he was involved with personally. And he did that intentionally. He then attempted to conceal that.

This is totally different. From people in the normal course of the day e-mailing the secretary of state and saying, are you going to be able to make the dinner tonight, and, what about the issue with the tariffs on Gefilte fish --

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CLARK: -- and things like this? It's entirely different. There's just no connection to this.

CAMEROTA: Let's talk about Joe Biden. He's going to be going on the new late show with Stephen Colbert, I believe on September 10th. Some people say that why would he be going on there? Maybe he's making some sort of big announcement. Do you think that Joe Biden is going to get into this race?

CLARK: I haven't spoken to Vice President Biden. I know him. He's been a friend. I think the world of him.

My personal opinion is, I don't think he's going to get into the race. I think it's important that he is looking at it. I think it's great. He's a great public servant. He's done a great job as vice president.

But this is all about an effort by, again, I think a hot of mischief by the Republican party to puff up the chance that maybe there will be people coming in, Elizabeth Ward and Joe Biden against Hillary Clinton. I mean, when Dick Cheney encourages Joe Biden to run, then you have to believe that there's some ulterior motive, some hidden agenda there.

I think, you know, if Hillary were to get sick, if she were to drop out of the race, sure that's an entirely different thing.

But let me tell you something: Hillary Clinton is a -- she's self- made. There's no dynasty here. She came from nothing, really, just an ordinary family. Her parents weren't any big deal. She made it to a great college on the basis of her own efforts. She's leader.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CLARK: She's the most experienced candidate at every level we've ever had stand for national office. And she stands up for people who need help. She's pragmatic. She did a great job as secretary of state managing the State Department.

CAMEROTA: OK.

CLARK: Even Henry Kissinger said she's the best secretary of state we've ever had.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

CLARK: So, I think this race is really, on all sides, it's really about Hillary Clinton.

CAMEROTA: All right. There you go. General Wesley Clark, thanks so much. Always great to get your perspective on all of this.

Tomorrow on NEW DAY, we will speak with Carly Fiorina about her recent surge and potentially qualifying for CNN's main debate. Stick around for that.

Also, be sure to join us, two weeks from tonight for the next Republican presidential debate. CNN will host the event at the Reagan presidential library in California. Coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. Eastern, with the main debate, 9:00 p.m., only here on CNN.

BERMAN: That will be something.

All right. A cell phone video shows police in Texas gunning down a man who appears to have his hands up. We will speak with the person who took the video about what he saw during this encounter.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:22:00] PEREIRA: Officials in San Antonio have obtained a second video now showing the fatal police shooting of 41-year-old Gilbert Flores who was shot by sheriff's deputies in Bexar County, Texas, despite appearing to have his hands up.

The first video was first released by local news stations. We need to warn you, I really want to warn you that what you're about to see is disturbing.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

PEREIRA: Joining us now is Michael Thomas. He's the young man who took this cell phone video. Mark Wilson, a reporter covering the story for "San Antonio Express-News" is joining him there.

Gentlemen, I'm really appreciative of both of you.

Michael, I think we have to start with you. First of all, I understand you were working near the house where the shooting occurred. What did you see and what led you to think to record this incident?

MICHAEL THOMAS, FILMED CELL PHONE VIDEO OF SAN ANTONIO SHOOTING: I was actually just in the neighborhood. I stopped by the corner store right by there to get some food on the way back to my job. I kind of seen there was cops and ambulances and things like that out there. So, I kind of went down the road and checked out what was going on. I kind of just seen there was like two cops in a row. One had a riot shield pointed at a guy in the yard.

So I kind of just turned around and kind of just sat there for a while, just watching them. I was like there's been a lot of things going on in the world, so as I'm sitting here, I might as well go ahead and just pull my camera out and kind of just see what's going on. So, I kind of just started recording then.

PEREIRA: So, from your vantage point, it sounds like you could see -- sometimes cell phones don't see it as well as our own eyes see it. Did it seem as though the suspect was posing any threat to the officers?

THOMAS: At the time he was shot, it didn't look like he was posing a threat to the cops -- no, ma'am.

PEREIRA: Was there any doubt in your mind that both of his hands are up, because from one advantage point it almost looks like the telephone pole is in the way. You can see one hand up clearly, but from your vantage point, what did you see?

THOMAS: Yes, ma'am. It happened so fast, I can't tell you, yes, I saw both his hands up. You can see from the video at least one hand were up.

PEREIRA: Mark, let's bring you in. You've been doing some great reporting on this story for us, and we understand there is a recorded radio conversation between the county dispatcher and the EMS units on the scene. We understand that Flores had injured his wife and child. We understand also that he was threatening suicide.

Let's play the recording first.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

DISPATCH: Looks like the male that called it in assaulted his wife and child. So possibly two patients. And he is also threatening suicide. So possibly three patients.

PARAMEDIC: We are talking to the subject now. He's outside talking to them and he has a knife in his hands.

PARAMEDIC: Suspect down at this time, they just had additional shots fired.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PEREIRA: So, Mark, it sounds like this all started as a domestic call, right? What more do we know about Flores?

MARK WILSON, CRIME REPORTER, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS: Right. It began was a domestic call. Officers -- deputies were dispatched to the seen around 11:30 a.m. on Friday. [08:25:04] Now, they arrived and found a woman with a gash in her head holding a baby who may have also been injured. And reports indicate that Flores was outside and was armed with a knife at the time. Apparently, there was a lengthy confrontation prior to the actual shooting that is not seen in the video that was played by our local TV. But exactly what happened in the time leading up to shots being fired is still unclear at this point.

PEREIRA: Right. And that's what Michael's video does not show.

Now, I understand, Mark, that there is a second video that's been obtained by authorities. What are you learning about this second video? Does it give a different vantage point?

WILSON: The second video apparently does give a separate vantage point and perhaps is more clear of depicting what happened. That video has still not been made public. However, authorities here have said that it is disturbing or troubling as well.

PEREIRA: Interesting.

WILSON: It's still unclear as to whether or not it shows Flores armed with a knife.

PEREIRA: Now, Michael I want to show you a tweet that we saw from the station that you sold your video to. Apparently, we hear that the county sheriff's office is now saying that because of this video that some of their officers are receiving death threats. What made you decide to take the video to the media before taking it to the authorities?

THOMAS: I'm actually just -- I just kind of thought that maybe it had something to do with the cops so I didn't want to go directly to them with the video and kind of just give it to them. So, I kind of just talked to some people at my job when I got back. They said I should go to the news and kind of let them do what they want with it instead of kind of giving it to the cops and maybe it would just go under the rug, won't be doing with anything like that.

PEREIRA: Well, it's a terrible thing for any person to see, but you're such a young man. I hope this is not going to scar you having witnessed that scene play out.

Mark, thank you so much for your terrific reporting. Obviously, the second video is going to be paramount to the investigation. Hopefully, we'll learn some more information in the coming hours and days.

Gentlemen, thanks for joining us here on NEW DAY.

John?

BERMAN: All right. Thanks, Michaela.

President Obama now just one vote away from making sure the Iran nuclear deal becomes a reality. One of the latest senators to pledge his support, a surprise to many. He joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)