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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

Obama Cutting Overseas Trip Short, Will Visit Dallas Next Week; Protesters Gather After Deadly Dallas Ambush; Clinton: Dallas Shootings An "Absolute Horrific Event"; Trump: Dallas Shootings Have "Shaken The Soul Of Our Nation": Dallas Sniper Kills 5 Police Officers, Wounds 7; Protests Gather After Deadly Dallas Ambush; Two Civilians Shot Dead by Police in Minnesota and Louisiana. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired July 08, 2016 - 20:00   ET

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

[20:00:00] DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Good evening. Don Lemon here sitting in for Anderson.

There are new developments on so many fronts in the Dallas killings. At the end of a somber day, after a harrowing week throughout the country, we just learned that President Barack Obama will be cutting his European trip short and will visit the city early next week. He will find it in mourning.

Five police officers are dead along with the killer. We are learning more tonight about them, about him in a very real sense, about us as well. In this week alone, Americans have seen 12 police officers shot in Dallas and two more wounded today in Missouri and Georgia. We have seen two civilians shot dead by police in Minnesota and Louisiana. We have heard the sounds of peaceful protests followed by screams of sheer terror. We have watched police officers open fire and taking lives and we have seen them rushing into the line of fire and saving lives.

And now, with all that we have seen and heard, and all that's been said this week, people are again out on the street. But the context has changed and so have the stakes on all sides and so have some of the images. This one is Dallas. One of several outpourings of support for police and vigils, as well.

So tonight, we will bring you the latest on all of it. However, as 360 viewers may know, what we will not be doing is showing the gunman and saying his name. We will be honoring the victims by telling their stories. We begin, sadly, with the last moments of their lives.

CNN's Stephanie Elam reports.

(GUNSHOTS)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody is really armed to the teeth.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy (bleep).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get back!

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 9:00 p.m., a peaceful protest in Dallas breaks into panic.

Multiple gunshots from above, possible snipers, picking off police one by one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone turned around, tried to suit up and he got hit, boom, fell. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Kept going!

ELAM: Chaos runs rampant.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that a cop dead?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a cop down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a sniper from up here somewhere.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down! Get down!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The man had a rifle, AR-15, clear as day.

ELAM: By 9:40 p.m., three officers are reported down. The number, though, fluctuates as the night wears on. A transit officer is the first to fall.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shots fired. Code three. Stay off the radio. Officer down.

ELAM: Ninety minutes in at 10:30 p.m., it is still unclear what exactly is happening. The police still believe there may be multiple shooters, coordinating a triangulated attack.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a guy with a long rifle, but we don't know where the hell he's at.

ELAM: Sometime in the 11:00 hour one suspect is cornered in a parking garage downtown near daily plaza. Shots are exchanged and an intense standoff between police takes place. A negotiator makes contact and the suspect claims IEDs are nearby, heightening the situation. By 1:20 a.m., officers decide to send in a remote device.

CHIEF DAVID BROWN, DALLAS POLICE: We saw no other option, but see our bomb robot and place a device on its extension for it to detonate where the suspect was.

ELAM: A little after 3:00 a.m., the suspect is confirmed dead and the question of whether there are others remains as authorities detain other suspect. But later police say they are confident the gunman acted alone.

BROWN: The suspect said he was upset about black lives matter. He said he was upset about the recent police shootings. The suspect said he was upset at white people. The suspect stated he wanted to kill white people especially white officers.

ELAM: The president addressing the shooting from Warsaw, at least the 16th such speech he has made on shootings during his presidency.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Is that there has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement.

ELAM: All told, five of Dallas' finest senselessly killed and our nation once again left grieving.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Stephanie Elam joins us now.

Stephanie, what more are we learning tonight about the investigation?

ELAM: Well, Don, for all of the people who are following along while this was happening here in Dallas last night, we know that there were three other people that were detained. We did learn today that those three people have been released. And at this point they do believe this gunman acted alone.

However, in a press conference with t governor of Texas and the mayor of Dallas they said that they want to make sure that he didn't have any accomplices of any kind that may have aided him in any kind of way to pull off such a devastating, devastating attack like he did last night, Don.

[20:05:06] LEMON: Stephanie Elam, thank you very much.

More now on the fallen and wounded officers. Martin Savidge live for us at Baylor medical center and he joins us with that.

Martin, the wounded victims, what's the latest on their condition?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, we haven't had any official update, however, we did hear from the mayor of Dallas actually speaking with CNN's Wolf Blitzer short time ago. He says that all of the wounded officers have been released from the hospital. And that is indeed welcome news on a day that needs much more good news.

We can tell you a little bit about the wounded. Among them, Misty McBride. She is actually with the Dallas area (INAUDIBLE) transit authority. She was wounded in the arm and the leg. She has been with them five years and it was her fellow officers who dragged her to safety. And another person who is wounded, a civilian, one of two civilians, Shetamia Taylor, 37 years old. She took her four sons to the protest last night and when the shooting began. She dove on top of her 15-year-old son to protect him. She was wounded and alike, but her boys are OK - Don.

LEMON: And Martin, the officers when lost their lives, what are you learning?

SAVIDGE: I mean, one thing is very clear, the motto to protect and serve is not only something they believed in. It's something they died living up to. Let me just give you a few names.

Brent Thompson, he is said to be the first officer to die and he is with the Dallas area rapid transit authority and he is the first of that agency to be killed in the line of duty. He is a seven-year veteran of the transit force. He was married just two weeks ago. And he was a police liaison officer in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Then there is Patrick Zamarripa. He is a father of two. He was serving on the Dallas PD, was a Navy veteran. He had been deployed to Bahrain during the war in Iraq.

Michael Krol. His family says he had wanted to be a police officer his whole life-long. He actually served in the Wayne county sheriff's office. That's up in Michigan, but he moved to Dallas to become a police officer.

Then we have Michael Smith, he was with the Dallas police department since 1989.

And Lauren Ahern, she's a 14-year veteran of the Dallas police department.

And those are the dead - Don.

LEMON: Martin Savidge, thank you very much.

And as we mentioned at the top of this broadcast, two more police officers have been shot in the line of duty since Dallas. One outside St. Louis and badly wounded during a traffic stop. Another in Valdosta, Georgia, shot while responding to a call at a local apartment complex. Authorities treating both shootings as ambushes.

And in some major cities across the country, police officers are now patrolling in pair, doubling up for safety. Until last night the police force that patrols a Dallas area rapid transit system DART had never lost an officer in the line of duty.

So joining us now is DART police Chief James Spiller.

Chief Spiller, first of all, we extend our co condolences to you and the department and their families. How is everyone holding up?

CHIEF JAMS SPILLER, DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY: Everybody is holding up quite well considering the circumstances. And thank you for your condolences and we greatly appreciate it.

LEMON: Yes. Terrible circumstances. I don't understand how you guys are able to stand right now. But the officer who was killed from your department, his name was Brent Thompson. Can you tell us about him? What was he like?

SPILLER: Absolutely. Fun-loving guy. Great people person. Always charming and always had also would greet you with a smile and a hug, you know, and just that kind of person that you want your children to grow up to be.

LEMON: And as I understand, Brent was the first officer in the history of your department who has actually been shot and killed, is that right?

SPILLER: That's correct. LEMON: I know you had the chance to go to the hospital and to visit

the other three officers who were injured last night, the DART officers. How are they doing right now?

SPILLER: They're doing exceptionally well. One has already been released and one has undergone surgery and is recovering well. The other one should be in surgery now. And I have not had a chance to talk with him because quite honestly, I have been out doing a lot of interviews and doing a lot of planning and addressing the other officers that are still out at work in the field making sure they keep their heads high as we always say being aware of their surroundings and not taking anything for granted considering everything that happened last night and what continues to happen around the country with police assaults just openly.

ELAM: Let's talk about the investigation now. What's the latest? What can you tell us?

SPILLER: You know, I really can't tell you much about the investigation because Dallas police department is handling the investigation. I had people -- some of my officers from our criminal shadowing them and so Dallas has the main part of the investigation and we respond to them with any assistance required that may affect the transit that we control.

[20:10:16] LEMON: As you look over the almost 24 hours - the past almost 24 hours, I would imagine it's surreal for you. What is the message to the people in this community? What do you want to say to them right now?

SPILLER: Well, you know, if you take a look around behind me you will see the outpouring of support with the local residents and citizens bringing in flowers to place on the Dallas police car, a DART police car and that's the symbol of the outpouring of support that we gather throughout the community and the north Texas region. And we're getting calls from all across the United States to include Toronto, Canada, and London, England.

So, you know, it's unfortunate what happened. But again, our true American culture is coming out with the showing of support for the police officers in blue. And we want to just make sure that we continue to uphold the traditions of the law enforcement profession.

LEMON: Chief James Spiller, thank you. Again, our deepest condolences.

SPILLER: Thank you very much, and I really appreciate it.

LEMON: Up next, new details on what authorities found at the gunman's home and whether anyone who knew him saw this coming.

Also continue to follow the demonstrations on the streets tonight. These images that you're looking at are from Atlanta.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [20:15:11] LEMON: Well tonight, as we watch demonstrators in Atlanta making their ways towards centennial park in the downtown section. It is not far from the CNN center in Atlanta. We are learning more about the Dallas sniper who again, we are not naming. Late today authorities gave more details on the horror he unleashed as well as what they found at his home and who this guy was.

CNN senior investigative correspondent Drew Griffin who joins us now with the latest.

Drew, police searched the gunman's home today. What did they find?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don. They searched his home. We also know he used two guns in the attack and when they searched his home they found rifles and more ammunition and bomb-making equipment. We saw police carrying what seem to be evidence bags out from the home earlier today.

We also know in that home was some kind of a personal diary or a combat journal. This is this manifesto they are talking about. That is --those are the facts, Don. You know, we are not talking about who this guy is and showing you any pictures, but the rest of the picture I can paint for you about this guy just does not make any sense.

This is his home behind me. That two-story, middle-class home. We are in a middle-class neighborhood. We know he lived here with his mom. His parents were divorced. His father apparently remarried a white woman. According to many, many of his friends who we have been talking to today, he was a jovial kid growing up, typical, all- American. He was in ROTC. He had a tight group of friends, football. He did go into the military, army reserve and it was after he came back from Afghanistan that his friends say he began to draw back, but they did not see any signs of any kind of violence. In fact, one of them says he liked gun, but he never talked about violence in any way. It came as a complete shock to I must say probably a dozen friends that we talked to. They didn't want to talk on camera because they were just disgusted by what he did, Don.

LEMON: Yes.

And Drew, if you will bear with me, I want you to standby because we are looking at these images coming, live pictures coming in from Atlanta. And again, this is near the CNN center in downtown Atlanta near centennial Olympic park. And you can see the protesters have taken over the streets there. And if you know anything about Atlanta in that area, some of the interstates and streets are elevated and there are streets below and parking garages below, but again, you see protesters there on the streets and police officers forming a line trying to hold them back from continuing to go -- continuing on down the street and they have surrounded at least one police car. But again, it looks like a double line of police officers. And again, this is all coming into us from Atlanta this evening.

There are protests scheduled around the country, as well and smaller protests in cities across America tonight. But this one we have live pictures of and because it's summer, you can still see, the sun is still up and we can still get good pictures of it. But again, demonstrations going on. Not as big as the demonstrations that happened following the shootings in Louisiana and Minnesota, but they are happening tonight and we're keeping an eye on it.

I'm talking to our senior investigative correspondent Drew Griffin.

And Drew, we are talking about this gunman and about his history and you were at his home today. This is what I want to ask. The gunman, he was pinned down by police. Authorities say that he voiced hatred for law enforcement. And you are actually finding evidence calling for violence against police that he posted online before that attack. What can you tell us about that, Drew?

GRIFFIN: His Facebook was filled with what I would call black nationalist links to various groups that call for Black Nationalism, pan-Africanism. He actually on his Facebook profile picture had the raised fist which symbolizes black power.

But beyond that, Don, he had links and had posts to many different groups that I would call hate groups. This is why CNN is labeling this an act of domestic terrorism. One was from a group called I love Black Archaeologists which today posted this sick posts online, when they are burying those cops in Dallas black people should observe a moment of silence for the thousands of unarmed innocent black people killed in America by racist police officers. This happened obviously after the attack. And another group that he followed and likes is called the African-American defense league which posted this. We are calling on the gangs across the nation attack everything in blue except the mailman unless he is carrying more than the mail.

A lot of electronic links to these type of groups on this killer, this dead killer's computer and on his Facebook, and I am sure police are going to be delving into much, much more as they try to find out if there was anything beyond just a social media connection to some of these various groups and entities.

[20:25:08] LEMON: Drew Griffin, senior investigative correspondent, thank you very much. We appreciate that.

We are looking at these pictures we are following in what's happening in Atlanta, this crowd getting bigger near centennial Olympic park right near the CNN center in Atlanta. They have blocked off a section of the highway there, the police have, at least, trying to hold them in one area. It started - the crowd started a little bit smaller and it appears to be gaining by the moment here. And we will keep an eye on it.

And speaking of protests, I want to bring in someone now, Tyler Johnson who was marching last night when the shooting broke out, Tyler, and we are going to keep an eye on these pictures just so you know.

You were involved in the demonstration last night. I want you to explain to our viewers what you saw and heard last night. And what did you think when those shots first rang out? TYLER JOHNSON, DALLAS SHOOTING WITNESS: When the shots first were

shot everyone dispersed and there was chaos. You couldn't tell where the shots were coming from, who was being shot. I actually approached a street where a lot of people were gathered and where they were running from to make sure there weren't any women or children out in the street. And shortly afterwards I could see the police firing at someone. I couldn't see who they were firing at, but I can see a lot of shooting going on.

LEMON: So, Tyler, was there a lot of confusion, obviously. That's something we continue to hear about a lot. How soon did you realize that police officers were the ones being targeted and that this wasn't just some random shooting?

JOHNSON: Actually, being down there on the ground, looking at the police shooting, you couldn't tell exactly who they were shooting at and what was going on. Like I said, everyone from the protest spread out. And they weren't aiming at anyone from the protest so you couldn't tell exactly who was doing the shooting. It was until later when I actually spoke to a police officer that I knew that they were targeting police.

LEMON: You actually saw wounded police officers, is that right?

JOHNSON: My friends were trapped in the Omni, in the basement. I went down there and police were saying that there was a shooter in the Omni. And I was told that I couldn't do down there. I tried to go the other way. I saw a police with a bullet in his leg. My friends reported they saw wounded officer, as well. It was complete chaos.

LEMON: Yes.

I want to tell our viewers that as we're talking to Tyler who was at the march last night and actually was there and witnessed the chaos. We are looking at pictures coming in, live pictures coming in from Atlanta, Georgia, where protesters have gathered and they have taken over at least a section of the highway there. Police are trying to keep them corralled to one area, but this crowd is growing by the moment and we're keeping an eye on it.

And we want to thank Tyler Johnson. Tyler, thank you very much. We appreciate you joining us. We are glad that you're safe, OK?

JOHNSON: Thank you for having me. Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you very much.

OK. We are going to keep an eye on these pictures and the latest protests going right now all across this country. We are going to check in with our reporter at the scene in Atlanta. So make sure you stay tuned.

We are also going to talk more about last night' events and what that means for the black lives matter movement and for every American and what Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are saying tonight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:27:36] LEMON: All right. Back now live and you are looking at live pictures. This is from Atlanta right off interstate 75-85 the exit off that interstate. If you're in Atlanta heading toward the airport. This is the Williams street exit. And if you know the area, but there they are, hundreds of people gathering on this exit of the interstate and it's near centennial Olympic park, not far from the CNN center. I believe the W hotel is right there. Again, if you know the area.

But if you look at this you can see police officers trying to hold those protesters back from moving any further along that interstate and on that exit.

Our correspondent is Polo Sandoval. He is in the crowd.

Polo, do you hear me? Are you there? All right. I'm not sure if Polo can hear me, as we try to figure out if he can. Again, I just want you to just take a look at this listen.

And listen, this is Friday night in Atlanta, very busy night. You can see traffic is backed up there in Atlanta. And there are scenes like this that are going to play out all across the country tonight and probably into the weekend. And again, all of this happening after this deadly ambush on the officers in Dallas, Texas.

We saw protesters two nights ago and last night, as well. Obviously when all of the chaos and the melee took place in Dallas. But again, this is all playing out and we are keeping a close eye on it because at this point in time you never know what's going to happen and we hope that these protests are peaceful, but obviously people are upset. Tensions are high right now. A big part of the country is sad, angry, emotions all over the place in the country. And again, people are taking to the streets now and they are displaying their right to protest in America to demonstrate.

We will keep an eye on it. We will try to get back to our correspondent Polo Sandoval in a moment.

As you know, as we mentioned at that top of this program, we have just learned that President Barack Obama is going to cut his trip to Europe short and he's going to be visiting Dallas early next week. The two people hoping to replace him today to address the violent scene this week and here is what Hillary Clinton said in an interview with our very owned Wolf Blitzer earlier today.

[20:30:12] Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We must do more to have national guidelines about the use of force by police especially deadly force. We need to do more to look into implicit bias, and we need to do more to respect and protect our police. Look at what happened in Dallas. Those police officers were protecting a peaceful protest, a protest of authority. That is a hallmark of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Donald Trump has also spoken about the shootings in Dallas and the killing of two African-American men by police this week. He released a video statement just over an hour ago. A portion of it now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: We must stand in solidarity with law enforcement which we must remember is the force between civilization and total chaos. Every American has the right to live in safety and peace. The deaths of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota also make clear how much more work we have to do to make every American feel that their safety is protected.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So let's talk about this. Let's talk about the demonstrations going on as well. Joining me now, CNN political commentator and "New York Times" op-ed columnist, Charles Blow, CNN political commentator and former executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus, Angela Rye, and Jeff Roorda of the St. Louis Police Officers Association. Good evening to all of you.

Jeff, to you first, when you look at these pictures of what's happening now in Atlanta, what do you think?

JEFF ROORDA, ST. LOUIS POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION: Well, I'm thinking what those cops are thinking, Don. They feel like sitting ducks out there. They're all on that line thinking if some monster wants to perform the same sort of evil acts that were carried out last night I'm here for the taking. There's not much that we can do as law enforcement to combat snipers other than have snipers in place ourselves. And we saw the criticism that was heaped on law enforcement in Ferguson when we had snipers in place while people on the ground protesting were shooting at police officers. So it's a tenuous situation for them and every cop standing on the street tonight.

LEMON: Angela, has the tone changed now from one to one of fear with protest?

ANGELA RYE, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS: I think on couple of things, Don, I think that what you're saying on this Atlanta highway and I saw this coming into the building tonight, it's not just fear, it's a desire to see change happen. The reason why these folks are outside sweating right now is not because any of them are desiring to be a monster or monstrous, it's because they want to live in peace. They want to ensure their livelihood and they deserve it as human beings and as Americans. And so I hope that the paradigm of these police officers is not to protect themselves against monsters, but against young black people who also have the right to life. That is why the Congressional Black Caucus earlier today said that they stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter because they do matter and we continue to have to prove that every time another one is shot and killed.

I think that Donald Trump even in his statement that you just mentioned, Don, or just aired. Donald Trump said we stand in solidarity with law enforcement and almost mentioned Alton Sterling and Philando Castile as an afterthought, not standing in solidarity with them. So just in that statement you hear why black people feel like they're the outcasts of this country whether they're tax paying people or not, whether they have a criminal ...

LEMON: Angela ...

RYE: ... record or not. You see why people feel like they are outcasts and why they're not heard.

LEMON: I want Charles to weigh in on this, because, Charles, you warned last night and even this morning about the dangers of politicizing this.

CHARLES BLOW, "NEW YORK TIMES" OP-ED COLUMNIST: Right. I mean it is so easy for me to say about the shooter in Dallas that he's a coward, that he's a terrorist, that he's a racist, that he's a murderer, that he should be -- that there should be no kind of making of common cause with that person. And it is easy for me to say that my heart goes out to the families of the people who were injured and especially those who were killed. It is easy because it is part of being human.

But when you encounter people who cannot seem to find a way to extend that humanity to black people who are also killed, then that person is telling you that they are morally deficient, that they are bereft, that they are humanly diminished.

[20:35:01] That person is telling you to your face that the only accompaniment, proper accompaniment for black blood and black pain and black loss is black silence and black acceptance. And that is something for which I cannot accept, not now and not ever.

LEMON: Jeff, you say that the rhetoric that has taken place over the last two years since Ferguson and maybe even beyond, since Trayvon Martin. You think that it has led up to this moment in Dallas?

ROORDA: Absolutely. Positively.

LEMON: Why is that?

ROORDA: Well, because it stirs the exact emotions that we saw in that sick human being that took these five police officers' lives. Listen, if Charles is sincere in wanting to avoid these deadly confrontations between police and young Black men as I am, because those confrontations can just as easily end with a police officer dead. That we have talked about the underlying problems that leads to those deadly confrontations instead of all these hate speech against police and all these dishonesty about what's really happening here. LEMON: Well then let's have -- let's have a question -- conversations about that because that is a historical lesson that we should all learn and we can made as we have, start having that conversation tonight.

(Crosstalk)

LEMON: Wait, one second. One second.

BLOW: I'm trying to agree with you.

LEMON: I don't agree while I'm talking, though. The ghettos in this country were created by design, by government policy. Concentrated poverty is a condition that is created by policy that this country has created over decades and over centuries. Concentrated poverty is a fertile ground for violence and crime, and then we then have to send police officers into those environments that we created and then we -- then when they -- when we have the friction and they rub up against each other and then something invariably tragically goes wrong, this is what we get.

But what we can't do is to have, kind of an amnesia about history and how we got it to this place. We can't say that black people just woke up one day and said, you know, what? I would really like to live in the poorest, most dangerous parts of the country because that's where I want to be.

ROORDA: I totally agree to Charles. Economic segregation is a very real thing. It's at the root of these deadly confrontations, but law enforcement didn't create that economic segregation.

RYE: OK.

ROORDA: The politicians who are now attacking law enforcement, like one of our fellow panelists, are the ones that created that and allow it to continue. Cops are there to make those neighborhoods safer, to try to make Black Lives Matter, to try to allow these kids to see a future where many don't.

LEMON: Let Angela respond. Give your talk to Angela. Go ahead.

RYE: Yeah. So first of all, I don't know what you're talking about. I have not said anything that was hate-filled or anything towards law enforcement. I worked for 40-plus members of Congress who have never done such a thing. So I reject that and I hope that you start telling the truth on air because we have an awesome responsibility to try to ...

LEMON: We couldn't entrust the issue, Angela.

ROORDA: Whatever.

RYE: So that -- did you say whatever?

LEMON: Angela, just ... RYE: Anyway, so let me read this because we read, we had Donald Trump's statement, we have Hillary Clinton's statement and we're talking about an entity that is supposedly anti-police. I hope it's not Black Lives Matter because this is what Black Lives Matter said. They said, "Black activists have raised a call for an end to violence and not an escalation of it. Yesterday's attack was the result of the actions of a lone gunman. To assign the actions of one person to an entire movement is dangerous and irresponsible." And so that, I stand within the solidarity.

ROORDA: Were you here in Ferguson? Did you see the way the Black Lives Matter protesters conducted themselves?

RYE: So what I think is very important is for you to understand just like there are rogue cops who shoot black people for sport. There are rogue protesters. There are people who are ...

ROORDA: That's the most offensive thing I've ever heard on this network.

RYE: Well, you know what's most -- more offensive than that to me is that is you calling an organization that I stand behind.

ROORDA: We're mounting heads on the wall. That's what law enforcement's about. We're trying to save lives.

LEMON: Angela, do you think it's inflammatory to say that police officers shoot black people for sport?

RYE: No, I don't. I think that is exactly how I feel and when you look across this country at the data, when you look at why these folks in the streets are angry, we have been saying this for years, Don.

ROORDA: It's because of that rhetoric.

RYE: You've been saying -- it's not rhetoric, these are facts.

ROORDA: You're the ones promoting (ph) the violence and resulted in cops' death last night.

RYE: Sir, let me finish my point because you ...

ROORDA: Shame on you. Shame on you.

LEMON: One at a time please.

RYE: Shame on you. Why don't you be quiet? Why don't you listen? You're so arrogant, you can't even hear. Listen, listen to what ...

ROORDA: Because you're saying the same things that led to murders last night.

[20:40:00] RYE: Yeah.

ROORDA: That's why I'm not going to be quiet. RYE: And you know what? I'm not going to be -- the blood is not on my hands for telling the truth. There have been lynch mobs for decades. There have been killings for decades that we have been totally lied about before there was videotape and audiotape and conveniently, during Alton Sterling's cold-hearted murder the other day, body cameras fell off. Don't tell me about how I'm doing -- the blood is not on my hands, sir.

ROORDA: And the video from convenience store exonerates those cops.

LEMON: Yeah. Hey, Charles.

RYE: And what I'm telling you, that is not true. You know that's not true.

LEMON: Charles, give us the final word here, please, because again, nobody hears when everybody is talking.

BLOW: Listen, I just think that what we have to ask ourselves is, isn't acceptable for us that so many of these young black people, just disproportionately young black people, are collateral damage in the quest for our safety.

LEMON: Yeah.

BLOW: And that's a very simple question, right? That's the moral argument, that's separate from the legal argument. That's the moral argument. If we accept and say that this is not acceptable to us, that is the starting -- that is a baseline for a constructive conversation and constructive kind of re-aligning of policing.

LEMON: And again, we all have to listen if ...

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Thank you, Jeff, thank you, Charles, thank you, Angela. I really appreciate it. We're going to continue to follow our breaking news coverage here on CNN and you can see protesters taking over at least a section of the interstate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is in the downtown area as the sun starts to go down. The sun is setting very soon in Atlanta, Georgia, and we're going to continue to follow this.

Our Polo Sandova is in that crowd. We're going to talk to him on the other side of this break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, welcome back. You see the live pictures on T.V. on close down, demonstrations going on tonight. The night after a peaceful protest in Dallas was shattered by gun fire.

The latest happening in Atlanta, and there's a crowd, a ground shots. CNN's Polo Sandoval among them. Polo, take us through this demonstration. What's going on?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don. Earlier today, law enforcement somewhat put down a law and said no traffic on the highway and that is something that's already they're trying to keep right now from happening.

We have seen these demonstrators march throughout Downtown Atlanta for two hours now. Law enforcement, and the Atlanta Police State were giving them free ride in Downtown Atlanta as long as they stayed off the highway. And now we get about this just 30 minutes or so ago that thousands of these demonstrators made their way toward the interstate and those are some of the pictures you're able to see, not only from high above, but also on the ground where law enforcement are trying to create a line to keep some of the protesters from making their way on to the interstate.

Yesterday we marched with about 1,500 or so, obviously, a smaller crowd and the moments things did get tense is when they made it on to the I-75 corridor.

So that is what we heard from the Mayor this morning, pleading with protesters to please at least stay off the highway and obviously this is something that now they are trying to do, and an interesting development here a few moments ago, Don. We have a PI just throughout the crowd, so I'm not sure if that would actually help the situation or not, but I just don't show down is obviously every part of these people. This is the place where you, right now, find people of all ages, (inaudible) as well as they continue to try and have their voice heard.

But again, the message that the city was trying to deliver to the crowds today was to try to see what the Mayor called keeping the tradition of the protest, that's according (inaudible) asking for respect of the laws, at the same time, allowing people to actually and maintain their commitment to their mission.

LEMON: And just to be clear. Emotions are running high around the country, so far it has been peaceful there, Polo?

SANDOVAL: Things have stayed relatively quiet, and I think that's something that we should keep in mind. Things have stayed peaceful. This is really at the height of anything thing that we've actually seen so far.

It started as a dialogue which is outside of CNN Center at Centennial Park at the heart of downtown and then it's now that the protesters made their way on to the streets. Many of them trying to open up this dialogue and police really did -- they were fairly restrained, even holding back and simply just watching and you see some law enforcement officers on rooftops, as well.s

Obviously security reason is a concern, almost 24 hours since the shots of the gun fire rang out on the street of Dallas, so obviously, authorities said earlier today there is that concern.

Lemon: OK.

SANDOVAL: And for security every time you get so many people together, but they did say that they would try to increase a certain tactical presence, but it wouldn't be something that would necessarily (inaudible) on the street so as not to stir up the crowd.

LEMON: All right, Polo Sandoval in the crowd in Atlanta. Thank you very much Polo, we appreciate that.

You know by all accounts, last night's protesters in Dallas was a peaceful one, protesters even taking pictures with police officers, and as you know, that peace was shattered by what officials now believe was a lone gunman.

One of the organizers of the Dallas protest is Reverend Jeff Hood. He saw the massacre happening and he joins me.

So Reverend, you not only helped organize protest the protest last night, but were an eyewitness to the shooting. I want you to take me through it. I understand that you were talking to a police officer about how non-violent the protest was and then shots rang out.

REV. JEFF HOOD, ORGANIZER OF DALLAS PROTEST: You know, there's no question about it. You know, we had -- we started organizing a non- violent protest. We held a non-violent protest. We organized a non- violent march and held a non-violent march. And I was standing there, and I was talking to one of the police officers who had helped us throughout the march, and we both were, you know, just keeping on talking and talking about, you know, for so many people how non- violent the protest was, I mean, you know, and how things were going great, and then all of a sudden, we hear pow, pow, pow, pow, pow, pow and when those shots hit, my initial reaction was, you know, perhaps this is fireworks, and you know, that was -- that lasted in a millisecond.

[20:45:08] And then I realized that these were gun shots. And ultimately I started to see people diving. I believe I saw what appeared to be two police officers on the ground and you know, the officer ran towards the shooting.

I knew that I had 800 people behind me that I felt responsible for and I knew that they were walking into the line of fire. At that point, we had no idea why anyone would be shooting. I just knew people were shooting. And I was screaming, "Run, run, run, active shooter, active shooter, go, go, go, go, go."

And as people took off, you know, we were -- I was stopping to pray, I was stopping to talk to people about their questions and what was going on.

LEMON: And really, it sounds like -- it sounds like chaos with -- out there when it happened. But I have to ask you a question, because now that you know, now that we know more about what happened and how it happened, again, utter chaos, how do you make sense of all this?

The idea that this protest is going on against police brutality and then a mass shooting of police officers is carried out.

HOOD: The bottom line is, is that love and justice is what's going to bring about an end to police brutality. Not violence. And we saw the opposite of how we should engage police brutality here last night. LEMON: The shooter, according to police, Reverend, said that he was

upset about recent police killings. He expressed anger for the Black Lives Matter Movement. And you know, as you know, did you have any -- did he have any connection to any of the organizations or the event, to your knowledge?

HOOD: No, no. I -- you know, as soon as when I saw his picture, I have no idea. That was a -- this afternoon was the first time I had ever seen him.

LEMON: First time you had seen him. You're an activist but also ...

HOOD: No question about it.

LEMON: ... you're a man of God as well. Tensions are running really high over ...

HOOD: Absolutely.

LEMON: ... what happened last night to these officers. But tensions are also high over what happened to, you know, those killed by police officers earlier in the week. What is your message tonight ...

HOOD: Absolutely.

LEMON: ... to the people in Dallas? And really all across this country?

HOOD: Stop shooting. Stop shooting, America. Stop shooting. Love and justice is the only way. It is the only way. So let's love somebody and let's bring about justice for all of our neighbors. Amen.

LEMON: Reverend Hood, thank you.

HOOD: Thank you.

LEMON: And the five police officers killed last night in Dallas are being remembered as heroes who died in the line of duty protecting peaceful protesters who were exercising their First Amendment rights.

They were fathers and husbands, brothers and sons. Seven other officers were wounded in the ambush along with two civilians. This is obviously a devastating time for the Dallas Police Force.

At a prayer vigil today, this officer wiped away tears as strangers hugged her, a show of support in a sea of grief. And these are difficult days for the Dallas and the country, really. And in the days ahead, there will be five funerals to get through.

Here's Martin Savidge.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Officer Patrick Zamarripa loved being a cop. He served on the Dallas Police Force for five years. On Thursday night, he was deployed to watch over the protest. A navy veteran who survived multiple tours in the Iraq war, Officer Zamarripa died on the streets of Dallas.

He leaves behind two young children. His father and brother posting tributes to him on Facebook and Twitter, saying they couldn't be prouder. Officer Zamarripa was 32-years-old.

Officer Michael Krol worked as a Sheriff's Deputy in Michigan. He moved to Dallas in 2007 to fulfill his goal of becoming a police officer. His uncle says he worked hard to join the Dallas Police Force. Officer Krol was 40-years-old.

Officer Lorne Ahrens was a 14 year veteran of the Dallas Police Force. He was married to a Dallas Police Detective and leaves behind two children.

Brent Thompson was a Dallas Area Rapid Transit Officer, a seven-year veteran of the force. He was a father and grandfather and a newlywed. He married a fellow Transit Officer just weeks ago.

CHIEF JAMES SPILLER, DALLAS AREA RAPID TRANSIT AUTHORITY: I just spoke with him a couple weeks ago. He was in great spirit.

SAVIDGE: Before working in Dallas he worked overseas as a Police Liaison Officer in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was the first officer to be killed in the protests. Officer Thompson was 43-years-old.

[20:55:00] Three other DART officers were also shot in the protest but they are expected to survive. Officer Misty McBride was shot twice, one to the arm and one to the abdomen. Her fellow officers helped her to safety. Her young daughter says she was able to tell her mom she loved her before she headed in for surgery.

HUNTER MCBRIDE, DAUGHTER OF INJURED VICTIM: I was just happy that she was OK. That she can live on to tomorrow and that I'm just glad that she's alive, really.

SAVIDGE: Two civilians were also wounded in the shooting. One of them was attending the protest with her four sons.

When the gunfire broke out, 37-year-old Shetamia Taylor was shot in the right leg and immediately jumped to cover her 15-year-old son with her body.

THERESA WILLIAMS, SISTER OF INJURED VICTIM: She jumped on top to cover him on the ground as she pushed him in between two cars in the curb. Her other three boys scattered and ran in opposite directions so she lost three of her boys. Didn't know where they were.

SAVIDGE: She's expected to make a full recovery. And her sister says she's been praying for the families of the fallen police officers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Martin Savidge joins me now from Dallas. And Martin so much more to these victims than you could even put together in that short amount of time in that story.

SAVIDGE: Oh yeah. Right. And we will continue to add, I should mention the other officer, Michael Smith, 55-years of age, he leaves behind two daughters and he joined the Dallas Police Force in 1989.

I'll leave you with at least some good news and that is according to the Governor in the State of Texas, in the conversation he had with Wolf Blitzer a while ago, he said that all of the other wounded officers have now been released from the hospital. Don.

LEMON: Martin Savidge, thank you very much.

Much more ahead in this two-hour edition of "360" as we continue to watch the protests in Atlanta and there are protests in major cities from coast to coast after a deadly week of shootings and a day of fast-moving developments in the Dallas ambush of police officers.