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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees

D.C. Mayor: Two National Guardsmen in Critical Condition After "Targeted Shooting"; FBI Believes They Know Identity of Suspect in D.C. Guardsmen Shooting; Trump Requests 500 more Troops to D.C. After Shooting; Two National Guardsmen in Critical Condition After Targeted Shooting; Suspect in Custody, Not Cooperating With Investigations' Bloomberg Reports Witkoff Advised Russia on How Putin Should Pitch Trump on Peace Plan; ICE Arrests Woman With Family Ties to White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt; Death Toll Rises to 44 in Hong Kong Fire, Hundreds Missing. Aired 8-9p ET

Aired November 26, 2025 - 20:00   ET

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

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: ... perhaps a new taxi for the skies.

MARC ALLEN, CEO, ELECTRA: That's the idea of aviation. That's the new era of air travel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JIM SCIUTTO CNN ANCHOR AND CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: And we have a special Thanksgiving morning tomorrow here on CNN. Join us for live coverage of the biggest parades across the country. My colleagues John Berman, Erica Hill and Sara Sidner are live starting at 8:00 A.M., and thanks so much to all of you for joining us. AC36 starts right now.

[20:00:31]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN HOST: Tonight on 360, breaking news in what is being called a targeted attack on two National Guardsmen in Washington, D.C., the latest on their condition and what we now know about the suspected shooters. Some new information just in.

Also tonight, new behind the scenes reporting on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth weighing options on how to punish Senator Mark Kelly over the so-called illegal orders video. We will speak to another veteran and Democratic lawmaker in the video about the FBI seeking an interview with him.

And later, as controversy swirls around the phone call between President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Kremlin, one Republican Congressman calls for him to be fired.

Good evening, John Berman here in for Anderson. And we do begin with breaking news in the ambush attack of two National Guardsmen in our nation's capital just blocks from the White House. Both of the guardsmen, according to officials were shot by a lone gunman. They are in critical condition tonight. We've got new video of a struggle at the scene of the shooting. A crowd of law enforcement surrounds someone on the ground, seemingly trying to subdue that person.

A different video from just after the attack shows both National Guardsmen receiving medical attention. CNN has blurred their faces, but still, some may find this video disturbing.

You can see there an apparent officer of D.C.'s Metropolitan Police, performs chest compressions on one of the guardsmen. The Metropolitan Police and other authorities held a press briefing late today with the latest on how it all unfolded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFFREY CARROLL, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT CHIEF, METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: Members of the D.C. National Guard were on high visibility patrols in the area of 17th and High Street Northwest, when a suspect came around the corner, raised his arm with a firearm and discharged at the National Guard members. The National Guard members, there were other members that were in the area, they were able to, after some back and forth, able to subdue the individual and bring into custody.

Within moments, members of law enforcement in the area were also able to assist and bring that individual into custody. The one suspect that was involved in this incident -- they were shot during the interaction, and they were transported to the hospital for treatment.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: According to sources who have seen video of the incident, the alleged gunman managed to fire three rounds at his targets before a third guardsman returned fire. Sources also say the suspect so far has not been cooperating with law enforcement and did not have any identification on him at the time of his arrest.

However, the FBI believes they have identified the suspect. Multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the matter tell CNN, now, the official said the shooter's initial identification matches a man from Washington State who appears to have immigrated here from Afghanistan in August of 2021.

The alleged shooters victims, members of West Virginia's National Guard, were deployed to Washington, D.C. as part of a mobilization that first began in August and was authorized by President Trump. The President, who was in Mar-a-Lago, was briefed on the shootings and posted this on social media.

About an hour after the attack, he wrote, "The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded. And now, in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded but regardless, we'll pay a very steep price. God bless our great National Guard in all of our military and law enforcement, these are truly great people. I, as President of the United States and everyone associated with the office of the presidency am with you". In the wake of the shootings, the President has asked that 500 more National Guard troops be deployed to Washington. That's according to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Let's get more on this.

Now, with us is CNN senior justice correspondent Evan Perez. Evan, what have you learned? What's the latest on the investigation and the suspect?

EVAN PEREZ, CNN SENIOR JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, they're still trying to determine where, you know, how this gunman chose this location and why he chose this place and these guardsmen to attack.

Now, this went down just outside of a Washington metro station, a subway station near Farragut Square. And it was caught on the video from the metro station there. And it showed really a chilling scene as the gunman approaches. These guardsmen who appear to not have seen him coming at all.

The first, they know that he's there is when he opens fire and strikes one of them and then the other. And then the third guardsman who is standing there manages eventually to return fire and injures the gunman and that's when they finally are able to subdue him.

So, that's where this investigation right now is focused on is who is he? More about him, they certainly have his identification. They're trying to figure out if there's any family members, friends, anybody that they can talk to learn more about this and why he came to Washington, how he came here today to carry out this attack.

[20:05:12]

Now, as far as the handgun, that is also a focus of this investigation because investigators recovered it from the scene. And so, they're trying to figure out how he obtained it. As you know, firearms laws do restrict the sales to people who are not permanent residents or citizens of the United States. He came in here in 2021, so it's not clear to us investigators whether he could have legally obtained this firearm. But again, that's a big focus of investigators tonight to find out where he obtained it and to see if that again, points to the reason why this attack happened today.

BERMAN: You keep talking about a reason here. They are calling this a targeted shooting. Are they saying anything about motive?

PEREZ: Well, that's exactly what they're focused on because clearly he approached no one else. And fired these guardsmen who obviously are wearing uniforms. So, was this something that was motivated to attack U.S. soldiers?

Again, the fact the fact that he emigrated here from Afghanistan, that is also part of this investigation. FBI's counterterrorism teams are poring through all of their resources to see what they can learn more about this person's history, where he came from, anything that he that he presented when he entered this country. All of that is being worked on right now. But no, at this point, John, they do not know exactly what the motive is, but obviously the fact that -- the circumstances are sort of blinking red if you're a counterterrorism investigator at the FBI right now.

BERMAN: We'll let you get back to your sources. Evan Perez, thank you so much for giving us the latest.

With us now, CNN chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst John Miller, CNN law enforcement analyst Jonathan Wackrow and former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. John Miller, let me start with you. What more are you hearing from your sources about the investigation and about the suspect?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, it's becoming a little bit of a clearer picture. So, you know, authorities were clear this was a targeted attack. Chief Carroll from the Washington, D.C., Metro Police called it an ambush.

Evan Perez described a video where he comes around the corner, sees the two uniformed soldiers and then approaches his arm extended with a pistol. So, we know this was a very deliberate, very chosen attack in terms of this target.

What do we know about the individual? We've been trying to dig into that. What we know is that he comes here from Afghanistan. Now, this is a guy who's been living in Washington State, not Washington, D.C., on the other end of the country. He comes here from Afghanistan in the summer of 2021.

Remember what that was like? Refugees fleeing Afghanistan. People had to be recommended by U.S. people on one end, vetted on this end by government background checks as far as they could do in Afghanistan, have sponsors and so on. He settled in Washington. He applies for asylum in December of 2024.

Now, he goes through another vetting process involving that, and he's approved for asylum in April of this year under the Trump administration. He comes in under the Biden administration. These checks are being done. I remember as a part of the joint terrorism task force in New York, where we supplied people for that vetting process. It was a lot of pressure. There was a lot of people they were being kept in military installations. A lot of that vetting had to be done very quickly.

I also remember we had to go back afterwards when we found information on certain people and bring them back. In this case, that's all we know about this individual. But it appears that he must have done work either for or with the United States in Afghanistan to become part of the allies welcome program and be brought here. That still doesn't get us closer to motive.

BERMAN: No, although I do imagine we will find out more, maybe much more, in the coming hours. If he is in the federal records like that. Jonathan Wackrow, we looked at the map. You can see Farragut Square. I mean, this is really just a few blocks from the White House. JONATHAN WACKROW, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Two blocks.

BERMAN: So how does that impact the investigation?

WACKROW: Well, first you have to think about what is the security at the White House look like, even when the President is not there and its constantly going to be these rings, these concentric rings of protection that radiate out from the White House. This location was clearly within one of those rings. And because it falls within the proximity and the security zone of the White House, you have a heavy concentration of uniformed division officers from the United States Secret Service.

So, again, the proximity to the White House really played a critical factor in two things. One, the velocity of -- and the speed at which these officers got on scene. I believe that the Secret Service is one of the first uniformed officers on scene. And when you see that very dramatic video, you see them doing two things. They're trying to maintain scene safety, but they're also in public safety, but they're also trying to address the medical condition at the moment and take somebody into custody.

[20:10:15]

So, there's a lot of things going on at the same time but the fact that additional people were not injured, that the suspect was immediately brought into custody has to do with that proximity, because you had this surge of not only Secret Service, but park police were right around the corner. You had transit police coming out of Farragut Station. You had a lot of concentration right there. And for the layperson watching these videos, you say, well, is this just a surge? That's not coordinated, it's actually highly coordinated.

And anytime you have a critical incident, and this is stuff that the law enforcement entities in Washington D.C. practice continuously, are these roles and responsibilities in incident command structures. So, you have to have that coordinated response.

BERMAN: All these layers that have to mesh together, particularly as you get closer and closer to the White House.

WACKROW: Precisely.

BERMAN: Ed Davis, to you, we keep calling this a targeted shooting. How do you -- how do authorities identify that, determine that, and also how will they go about this investigation differently, having it be targeting National Guard, uniformed National Guard, as opposed to uniformed police officers?

ED DAVIS, FORMER BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER: Right, the symbolism here is incredible. Within a few-- a couple of blocks of the White House, two military personnel targeted by an individual came from a war-torn country. There's clearly a lot going on here that that would send this in the direction of the joint terrorism task force and really have a have to take a hard look at that component of it. But you determine what kind of attack it was by the video. You watch very closely as to how the person entered the area. What the National Guardsmen were doing prior to the assault occurring. And then, you know, you see this cowardly attack from the rear of someone who extends their arm and is clearly planning to do this. So, then you think about how did they get there? What are they talking about online? Are there any coconspirators? Motivation is going to be critical here, but it's becoming clearer now as we get as were getting more information.

So, we have to go down that road and make sure there's no other further attacks planned.

BERMAN: All right, Ed Davis, John Miller, Jonathan Wackrow, stand by please. Obviously, we are getting more information by the minute here. The breaking news continues.

Next, we're going to have a live report from near the scene of the shooting. Reaction from the White House as well. And later a woman with family ties to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was taken into ICE custody during the administrations immigration crackdown. We've got more details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:17:30]

BERMAN: All right, the breaking news tonight. Two National Guardsmen have been shot and critically wounded. Just blocks, two blocks from the White House. The mayor of Washington, D.C., has called it a targeted shooting. Video shows an apparent struggle at the scene with several law enforcement officers over a person on the ground. Authorities say the suspect, who also was wounded, is in custody shortly after the attack. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the President is ordering 500 more troops to the Nation's capital. That is on top of the more than 2,000 already there.

I want to get to CNN's Brian Todd, who is near the scene of the shooting, and joins us with the latest. Brian, I do understand you spoke with some eyewitnesses. What did they tell you?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, John, we spoke to two eyewitnesses who heard the gunshots and then witnessed what happened in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. One of them, a young man named Ryan Akeed (ph) a 21-year-old student from Cornell University here to visit his family at Thanksgiving.

He said he was at a potbelly sandwich shop very near the scene. He said he was about 30 seconds after he walked out of the potbelly shop where he when he heard the shots, he said he hid behind chairs because he knew what was happening. But then he looked up and he saw a person on the ground, on their stomach, with their hands behind their back, being held down by at least one person. He said he assumed that was the shooter. He said he also saw some people administering CPR to someone else who was on the ground.

Another eyewitness gave us a fairly similar account. These accounts pretty consistent that were getting here. A lady who said she heard the gunshots, she turned and saw a bunch of people giving CPR to someone on the ground.

This is the shooting scene right here behind me, John. We're not very far away from it. These are uniformed Secret Service Police Officers and Park Police Officers. We also have Metropolitan Washington Police Officers kind of swarming the scene here. The shooting scene is just beyond where these officers are in the foreground. It's just less than a block over on that corner there. According to Jeff Carroll, the Executive Assistant Police Chief Of Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police. That's where the shooting occurred, 17th and I-Street Northwest, right over there, we're less than a block away from it. He said that at about 2:15 P.M., the suspect, "came around a corner, raised a handgun, and then discharged the handgun toward, one National Guardsman who was just a mere feet away from the suspect".

Sources tell us that the suspect then turned their gun on a second guardsman who tried to take cover behind a bus stop shelter, and then, according to our sources, the guardsmen engaged in gunfire with the suspect before they were, in fact, shot. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the two National Guardsmen are in critical condition tonight.

Mayor Muriel Bowser is calling this a targeted shooting. By all accounts, it was an ambush. We yelled a question to the police chief and the mayor as they were walking away from us this afternoon about a possible motive. They did not answer that question -- John.

[20:20:24]

BERMAN: All right, Brian Todd working the scene. Thank you so much for the work that you are doing. I want to go now to CNN senior White House correspondent Kristen Holmes, who is in West Palm Beach traveling with the President. What is the President's reaction to the shooting tonight, Kristen?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Look, the President and the White House are watching this very closely. We saw President Trump on Truth Social posting about this, giving details that were not already public at that time, noting that both of these two National Guardsmen had been critically injured. And on top of that, that the suspect had also been injured. And that was the first time we had heard about what had happened to the suspect. We know he's being briefed constantly, and there are a lot of questions within the White House. And for President Trump himself on what the motive was.

They're still figuring out how this happened, what this looked like logistically. Obviously, we've been piecing it together ourselves through witness accounts as well as video evidence. And that's what the White House and all these federal agencies are doing. But there are still questions as to why exactly this happened, as we know and we've reported, the National Guard has become somewhat of a political flashpoint. Did that have something to do with it?

The other questions about this are -- was the proximity to the White House something that they were paying attention to? Was that something that was to send some kind of message to the White House or to President Trump? We still don't have the answers to this. But as you can see, from the response, it is a full of administration response here and they have their top people really working on this and communicating with President.

While we won't see him again tonight, we are watching to see if he gives the public any more updates on what he's being briefed about.

BERMAN: And of course, it is important to note the President was not in the White House. He was in Florida, where you are with him tonight. Kristen Holmes, thank you very much.

With us now, CNN senior legal analyst and former federal prosecutor Elie Honig. Elie, good to see you. Given what we know at this point, you know, what kind of possible charges might we expect the suspect to face?

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, John, first, I'd expect to see charges of attempted murder under Washington, D.C. local law, the equivalent of state law if it happened anywhere else. Now, those charges carry sentences of anywhere from two to 15 years, and I would expect to see two counts against the shooter, one for each of the two victims who he shot separately. In addition to that, we could see federal charges for attempted murder of a federal official. That law does cover uniformed members of the military. Slightly higher potential penalty there, up to 20 years. Again, I'd expect to see two counts there.

And, John, important to know if one of these victims, god forbid, should take a turn for the worse, should pass away. We hope that doesn't happen. If that were to happen, that would upgrade these charges, then to murder. And that's significant because that would then raise it to a life sentence and even on the federal side, a potential death sentence.

Also, let me add, building off what John Miller told you earlier, depending on the specifics of this individual's citizenship status and other specifics about the gun itself, there could be illegal firearms charges here, which could add to the penalties.

BERMAN: I think one question, common question that people have here, you see Afghan National, there are questions about could there have been religious motivations, could there be Islamic terror? Again, no idea. If we end up going down this road, but what would it take for there to be a terror charge?

HONIG: So you would need to show, first of all, if there is some sort of religious motivation, you could see additional charges for hate crime. For there to be a terror charge, you would actually have to show some sort of nexus to an international terrorist group.

We hear the phrase domestic terrorism. That's a phrase that's a phrase that's defined in federal law, but there's actually, surprisingly, no crime of domestic terrorism. But if you could show that this was done in furtherance of some designated foreign terrorist group, then you could see terrorist charges, which, of course, carry sentences of up to life and potentially death.

BERMAN: Very quickly, Elie, the President, ordered 500 more National Guard troops to Washington after this. This is in conjunction with an emergency motion to keep National Guard troops on the streets. After a court ruled it was unlawful. So what happens next here?

HONIG: Yes so, the administration has already announced that they will appeal that ruling, which came down six days ago from a district court judge in D.C.. So, that judge ruled that the President's deployment of the National Guard in D.C. was illegal. The judge said, I'm putting my ruling on hold so you can appeal. Now, that appeal has been taken.

John, really important to keep in mind, the President is in charge of the National Guard in D.C., that's different. In the states, it's always under the governor. And so, the President has really broad authority under the National Guard. Frankly, I was surprised by the ruling out of that district court judge the other day, and it would not shock me if that gets reversed on appeal.

[20:25:03]

BERMAN: All right, Elie Honig, thank you very much for your help on this.

Tonight, online posts already pointing fingers trying to link these shootings to the video from six Democratic lawmakers. One of them, Congressman Chris Deluzio, joins us next. And ahead, well speak with one Republican congressman who wants Steve Witkoff fired after he appeared to coach the Kremlin on how to deal with President Trump and a possible Ukraine peace deal. Plus, the latest on the Hong-Kong inferno that has killed dozens and left hundreds missing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:30:10]

BERMAN: More on the Breaking News tonight, two National Guardsmen are in critical condition after what authorities are calling a targeted shooting in the streets of Washington, D.C. in broad daylight. The FBI does have a suspect in custody. My next guest is a veteran and one of the six Democratic lawmakers that recently posted this video to social media, imploring military members not to follow illegal orders.

The president has suggested they are guilty of treason. The FBI has opened an investigation, and I am now joined by Pennsylvania Congressman, Chris Deluzio. Congressman, thanks so much for being with us. First, I just want to get your reaction to this shooting in Washington, D.C. That unfolded this afternoon and as now, obviously, we're getting new information tonight.

REP. CHRIS DELUZIO, (D-PA): Yeah, just heartbreaking news. I certainly send my thoughts and my prayers out to those two National Guardsmen, the brothers and sisters in arms, they serve with their families in West Virginia. Just awful news and, I really, if you're a praying type, pray that those two folks come through. BERMAN: I mean, obviously, the latest we know is they're in critical condition right now, being treated in separate hospitals. Now, it didn't take long, Congressmen, after these shootings, people did start posting online, criticizing you and the five other Democratic members of Congress for posting your video, suggesting that it may somehow have put a target on the National Guardsmen's backs. Now, I know you didn't mention any specific orders in the video, but some critics of the president have suggested that National Guard deployments around the country, broadly speaking, are not always legal.

So, I wanted to give you a chance to respond to some of this criticism, which I'm sure you've already seen.

DELUZIO: Yeah, it's just crazy stuff, outrageous stuff. I mean, it's been, what, a half hour since we've even learned any basic facts about the alleged shooter here. Dangerous rhetoric and let's be clear, the only threats and calls for violence came from the president and his supporters after he called for our arrest, our death by hanging. That's where the calls for violence have come from, from the most powerful man in the country who has more power and more responsibility than anyone else to condemn these calls for political violence, to bring the temperature down.

I hope the president will do that. I hope those around him will do it. The country doesn't need any more of this. They don't need these calls for political prosecutions. They don't need these calls for violence. It's a dangerous time and a dark time. But I will tell you, what I hear from folks back home in Pennsylvania is they've had enough, they've had enough of these calls for violence. They've had enough of targeting of political opponents by this president or people around him. They've really had enough of it.

BERMAN: Have you been contacted by the FBI as part of their now investigation into the six of you?

DELUZIO: Well, and that's been reported now, I think, since yesterday. Right? That the FBI wants to ask me and the other members of Congress I serve with for voluntary interviews. As I said, when this news broke, it's a clear attempt to intimidate us as members of Congress, to try to deter us from criticizing the president, my goodness.

And remember, the thing that we said, a basic foundational truth about our constitution, about the oath we all take, it's something that you learn whether you go to bootcamp, that I learned as a plea with the Naval Academy, that commanders and the JAG lawyers around them train troops on. Is the Justice Department and the FBI and Donald Trump going to go investigate everyone who trains their troops on what orders they have to follow? It's outrageous, and it tells you how outrageous it is.

BERMAN: What contact has there been from the FBI so far?

DELUZIO: I'll leave that to defer that over to the FBI. But I mean, what's been reported out there is they've tried to contact me and the other members for voluntary interviews. BERMAN: Do you plan on cooperating?

DELUZIO: I'm not planning to sit down for a voluntary interview, no.

BERMAN: Oh, why not?

DELUZIO: Well, look, everyone in this country has a right to refuse to do that and I think this is a clear attempt to intimidate us. I'm a member of Congress. In the Article I of our Constitution, I have the president and his Justice Department and FBI, trying to intimidate and silence his perceived rivals who stated the law. Remember, stated the law, the thing that we said, that our oath to the Constitution comes first, that no service members can ever be required to follow illegal orders is something you learn your first day in the military and train throughout your time in uniform.

And the president's response is to call for our arrest and death. And the fact that you now have Republicans, elected officials speaking up, saying this is out of bounds, saying enough is enough, tells you something of how outrageous this really is.

BERMAN: Congressman Deluzio from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, we do appreciate your time tonight. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving, and along with you, I know your thoughts are with those two Guardsmen in critical condition in Washington hospitals tonight. Thank you.

All right. Back with us, John Miller and Jonathan Wackrow. I want to go back to the investigation, John -- the fact -- John Miller, the fact that this suspect is not cooperating, A, a surprise? B, how does that affect the next several hours?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: We've seen this both ways. In cases where the suspect, if they survived the attack, has been fully cooperative because they want to get their story out to authorities and then to the public. And we've seen the opposite, which is I'm not saying anything, so it's hard to say what that means.

[20:35:00]

But regardless of whether he cooperates or not, the attack is on videotape. His life is deeply embedded in U.S. government records because of the vetting process he would've gone through, coming as an asylum seeker from Afghanistan, going through that asylum process just this year, the number of statements, the background, the stories that he would've had to tell to authorities to get that asylum approved. So, they have a lot that's going to be on their plate. Getting into his social media, what has he been looking at? Who has he been talking to? Those things may get us closer to motive.

BERMAN: I have to tell you, I mean, even sitting here during the breaks, listening to two law enforcement professionals with so much knowledge talk about this, I learned so much. Jonathan Wackrow, what questions do you have as this continues to unfold throughout the evening? JONATHAN WACKROW, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, listen, there's a lot more information that we need to start piecing together, was this a targeted attack? But, we're starting to get closer there. The fact that this suspect may have traveled across country --

BERMAN: Yeah.

WACKROW: -- that's really indicative -- if you think about behavioral threats, that's really indicative of goal-based behavior, not a spontaneous act. So someone had to actually think about traveling all the way, all the logistics of traveling into the national capital region. That's one issue. Then you start looking at the attack dynamics. Coming up behind these Guardsmen, taking them -- really catching them off guard and then attacking them the way that he would know that they would be most vulnerable.

They're wearing combat armor, not helmets in this instance. So the attack methodology would be to attack them where they do not have that armor. Someone with working knowledge of that would plan the attack that way, not a spontaneous act. Someone who's doing this spontaneously would shoot at center mass. So there's a lot of these little behavioral traits that we need to start, piecing together. Investigators need to learn where did that gun come from? Where there anybody else? Is this part of a larger group that is now anti- government, anti-military? Is there going to be a copycat attack?

We have the holidays tomorrow, the National Guard around the country is still deployed. Is there a risk of a copycat attack? Those are the questions I want to ask.

BERMAN: Yeah. John Miller, we've got about 25 seconds left. What about that? I mean, you've been in so many public positions before on big event days, the fact this happened the night before Thanksgiving, what will that do around the country?

MILLER: You're going to see a whipsaw effect of security being increased, but in different ways in different places. New York City is already operating on a high-tier threat level alert. But in Washington, you'll see more National Guard, but you'll also see security around National Guard places and government places.

BERMAN: John Miller, Jonathan Wackrow, thank you so much for both being here, helping us understand everything that's unfolding.

Next, we -- more on the Breaking News. I'm going to speak to an eyewitness to today's attack, and a Republican Congressman who says Steve Witkoff should be fired for appearing to advise the Kremlin about a possible deal to end Russia's war on Ukraine. And a woman swept up in President Trump's immigration crackdown has family ties to White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[20:42:55]

BERMAN: Much more on the Breaking News in just a moment. First though, the fallout continues after a phone conversation between Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff and a top Putin aide, Yuri Ushakov. That conversation was leaked to Bloomberg. In the October 14th call, Witkoff appears to coach his Russian counterpart on how to approach President Trump ahead of a scheduled meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to Bloomberg, Witkoff says in the call, "Yuri, Yuri, here's what I would do, my recommendation." And then Ushakov replies, "Yes, please." Witkoff continues, "I would make the call and just reiterate that you congratulate the president on his achievement. That you supported it -- that you supported it and you respect that he's a man of peace, and you're just really glad to have seen it happen." They were talking about the deal at that point between Israel and Hamas over Gaza. Later in the conversation, according to Bloomberg, Witkoff says, "Me to you, I know what it's going to take to get a peace deal done, Donetsk and maybe a land swap somewhere. But I'm saying instead of talking like that, let's talk more hopefully, because I think we're going to get a deal here."

Now, President Trump last night appeared to brush off the call saying it was, "a standard thing." Meanwhile, supporters of Ukraine in Congress, including some Republicans are up in arms, among them is Republican Congressman Don Bacon from Nebraska who posted this on social media. "For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign and democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians. He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian-paid agent do less than he? He should be fired."

Now, I did speak with Congressman Bacon shortly before airtime.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: So Congressman, as we said, you have called on social media for Special Envoy, Steve Witkoff to be fired. What are the main dangers in your view of keeping him in his position?

REP. DON BACON, (R-NE): Well, first, it appears that he was behind the Thursday 28-point surrender plan for Ukraine, where he was going to -- he was willing to offer up more territory to Ukraine that Russia's not even controlling yet. He was going to demand a reduction of Ukrainian army size, was going to prevent Ukraine ever be allied or part of NATO or have allied forces within Ukraine.

[20:45:00]

It was a recipe to keep Ukraine weak and vulnerable to Russian attack for decades to come. And then, we later see a leak where he was being taped, sort of advising the Russians how to talk to President Trump. And my takeaway from this, and also watching him over the last three to four months, he seems very prone to take the Russian position. And he is -- I don't think, could be trusted to deal fairly with Ukraine.

BERMAN: You said on social media, would a paid Russian agent do less than he? That's pretty -- that's pretty strong. BACON: It was meant to be strong, especially when you see him advising how -- to the Russians, how to butter up President Trump to get what they want. And it appears he set up the phone call right before President Trump was going to make decisions on the Tomahawk missiles to go to Ukraine, in an effort to prevent, or to at least talk President Trump out of sending those missiles. And it worked.

BERMAN: So the president has framed it though as a standard exchange, the type of thing that happens in negotiations, that Steve Witkoff talks to people on both sides. How was this different than that in your mind?

BACON: Well, what I see from Witkoff and also President Trump, I hate to say this, when they deal with President Zelenskyy, they're wearing punching gloves or boxing gloves. When they're dealing with Putin, they're wearing velvet gloves. I wish -- they're not treating the two the same. That's what is apparent to me from day one. And it was very apparent when they had Zelenskyy in the office. And almost every step of the way, just this past week, the president was blaming Zelenskyy for the war. It doesn't -- it doesn't make sense.

And since this administration does not know who started the war, who is at fault, by the way, who can we trust and who can we not trust? Putin has murdered all his rivals. Zelenskyy was rightfully elected, and it just seems like these people don't get it. We had the vice president on, and I want to say this respectfully, but we heard him this week say multiple times, why do Republicans care so much for Ukraine? As if he doesn't know. I've studied history in the 1930s, I saw what happened with Neville Chamberlain gave away the Sudetenland to Nazi Germany. It didn't stop the invasion of Czechoslovakia later that year, nor the invasion of Poland. And we've learned you cannot appease a tyrant or a dictator who is bent on invasion and occupation.

BERMAN: So, the State Department claimed that the U.S. authored the original 28-point plan. That's despite Senator Mike Rounds and other elected officials claiming they were told by Secretary Rubio, it was a Russian proposal. How do you think it was originally written? And by whom?

BACON: Well, it's hard to really know, but I'm a pretty avid reader. I'm pretty convinced about 90 percent of that was written by the Russians. I'm sure there were some part added in by Witkoff or other -- it seems like Secretary Rubio was even out of the picture on this for a couple days, unfortunately. I think that was intentional. That's to me another story of, we don't have an orchestrated White House team trying to negotiate. You have two different teams jacking for position or so it appears.

BERMAN: Congressman Don Bacon, we do appreciate your time tonight on Thanksgiving evening.

BACON: Thank you.

BERMAN: Hope you have a wonderful holiday.

BACON: Thank you. (END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: More now on the Breaking News. Two National Guard troops shot by a lone gunman today in Washington, D.C. Leila Christopher was on the scene and joins us now. Thank you so much for being with us. Just walk me through where you were and what you saw.

LEILA CHRISTOPHER, WITNESS TO D.C. SHOOTING: Yeah, my friend and I were metro-ing for the day. We were planning on going to the holiday market in DuPont Circle. And we were coming up at the train station and there were National Guards persons telling us to run. We heard that there was a shooting. We ran into the nearest cafe and shortly after, there were Secret Service surrounding the building, in the streets, taping off the streets. And we saw one National Guardsman being wheeled out on a stretcher and he had a device helping pump his heart, it looked like, doing automatic like CPR and his face was covered in blood.

BERMAN: Was it already chaos when you came out of the subway? Did you hear the shots yourself?

CHRISTOPHER: So we did not hear the shots. We were actively coming up from Metro Center and were just told by National Guards people to run. And we heard from a woman next to us that there was a shooting. So we went into the nearest building and they locked the doors. And from there is where we saw the medical, I guess, personnel helping the National Guardsmen.

[20:50:00]

BERMAN: How many law enforcement were on the scene from your vantage point?

CHRISTOPHER: So many. I saw FBI, Secret Service, vehicles, policemen, more National Guard people. It was -- it was a lot. And there were people actively taping off the surrounding streets, and we were just like in the midst of it.

BERMAN: What was going through your head at the time, uh, about the range of possibilities? I mean, you're really just a couple blocks from the White House.

CHRISTOPHER: Yeah, that was definitely something that I thought of. I also -- I don't think either of us had any idea what was going on. There was nothing in the news yet. We were just kind of looking around. But as soon as I saw Secret Service vehicles and FBI, I was even more confused to be honest. I don't know, I think our minds kind of went in the worst places, but kind of just stayed in that building and stayed with the other people in the building until we were told it was OK to leave.

BERMAN: And how long -- I mean, how long did it take for you to be able to get out and move around and clear the scene?

CHRISTOPHER: I was texting and calling my dad. I want to say around like 2:20. I don't quite remember, but we were in there for hours. I thought we were in there for like 15 minutes, but we were in there for hours. There was just more and more personnel outside. And we were just waiting to be told what was happening, if someone had been detained. We knew that there were shots fired. People in the cafe had heard that there were six shots fired. And we had seen the Guardsman roll in the stretcher right in front of our eyes and had no idea what was going on.

BERMAN: Leila Christopher, I appreciate you being with us. I know it must have been a very difficult afternoon for you in the city. Thank you for your time tonight.

CHRISTOPHER: Thank you.

BERMAN: Up next, a terrifying scene of fire tears through several high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong. Dozens killed, hundreds missing tonight. The latest on the investigation ahead. And also, a woman with family ties to White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt taken into ICE custody. We've got new details.

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[20:56:55]

BERMAN: All right, more Breaking News. We have a live feed, live now from Hong Kong where several high-rise apartment buildings, they are still on fire. More than 12 hours ago, this was the scene, just terrifying. After that fire broke out at a public housing complex, the death toll is now at 44. Nearly 300 people are unaccounted for, so that death toll could very much rise. Authorities say they received calls from people trapped on higher floors and have struggled to reach them. The people who did make it out say they had little time to escape.

Police say three men working for a construction company have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the fire. Police accuse the three of gross negligence after they say they found flammable boards blocking some windows.

So here in the U.S., President Trump's controversial immigration crackdown is now affecting a top member of his staff. A woman with family ties to White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt was arrested by ICE this month. Bruno Ferreira is the mother of Leavitt's 11-year-old nephew. Homeland Security describes the Brazil native as a criminal illegal alien and is moving to deport her. Let's get more on this story from CNN's Tom Foreman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Amid the autumn leaves near Boston, a woman goes to pick up her young son, but is picked up herself by ICE agents who ship her more than 1,500 miles to a Detention Center in Louisiana, threatening deportation. The rub, this allegedly undocumented immigrant, Bruno Ferreira, had that child with the brother of White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, a leading defender of the immigration roundup from the get go. KAROLINE LEAVITT, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Our heroic ICE agents continue to prioritize the removal of violent, criminal, illegal aliens in communities across the country.

FOREMAN (voice-over): White House did say it would focus first on dangerous criminals for deportation, but even before a vast majority of those arrested would be found to have no serious record, Leavitt was weaving a bigger net.

LEAVITT: If you are an individual, a foreign national who illegally enters the United States of America, you are by definition a criminal.

FOREMAN (voice-over): Ferreira's story is complicated. Homeland Security insists she overstayed a tourist visa that ran out in 1999. Her sister says, Ferreira was brought from Brazil as a child by their parents and she has done everything in her power to build a stable, honest life, including legally staying in the U.S. under the DACA program. Her lawyer says she was unable to renew her status a few years ago, but is currently in a lawful immigration process for U.S. citizenship. Homeland Security says Ferreira has a previous arrest for battery. Her lawyer says we dispute that she has any criminal record.

TODD POMERLEAU, ATTORNEY FOR BRUNA FERREIRA: She should not be sitting in a jail, hours away from her family and taken from her child's life.

FOREMAN: Ferreira's attorney says she and Leavitt's brother were once engaged, but live apart and share custody of their child. What's more, Ferreira and the Press Secretary have not spoken for many years. And Leavitt is not talking publicly about the situation now, or backing away from her previous comments about other immigrants and their families caught in the crackdown. --