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At This Hour

More on Charleston Church Shootings

Aired June 18, 2015 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For the murder of her husband was to take place. But I spoke to Joyce Mitchell's attorney. He said, yes, she knew about the murder plot. Yes, she warned her husband about the plot, but he says, "There is no way that she was involved in the planning of that murder plot." Carol?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jason Carroll reporting live. Thanks so much and thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "At This Hour with Berman and Bolduan" starts now.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. We want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm John Berman live in Charleston, South Carolina this morning.

Behind me, over my shoulder is the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church, the oldest African-American church in the south because a humble yet majestic presence in this city and it was a sight where last night at about 9:00 nine peeps - six women and three men, were gunned down inside that church.

As we speak, there is a manhunt underway for the man responsible for this crime. There is a black truck set up outside this church right now, sort of a command presence by law enforcement investigating this murder, and there has been a break in the investigation over the last several minutes. Police here in Charleston say they have a name of the suspect. His name is Dylann Roof, 21 years old. It was his picture they put out with the sandy blond hair, about 5'9", a thin build. He was wearing that gray sweatshirt driving the black Hyundai. He's from Lexington, South Carolina, which is about a two-hour drive northwest from Charleston and right now there is a huge manhunt underway to find this killer. Again, six women were killed, three men were killed at this church behind me last night. Just a few hours ago we heard from the Mayor and the police chief about this manhunt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF GREGORY MULLEN, CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE: Because of the pain and because of the hurt that this individual has caused this community, this entire community, the law enforcement agencies that are working on this are committed, and we will catch this individual.

MAYOR JOSEPH RILEY, SOUTH CAROLINA MAYOR: This is unfathomable and unspeakable act by somebody filled with hate and with a deranged mind. And as Chief Mullen said, this person is dangerous. We need every tip we can get to bring this person into custody as soon as possible and, of course, we'll make sure that he pays the price for this horrible act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: This church has been so key in the history of this city. It was founded while slavery still existed in here. It has thrived for more than 150 years, and the structure that exists now went up in the 1890s. It has been a center of cultural and political meaning ever since. Investigators are looking at this as a hate crime.

They said this man, again his name is Dylann Roof, went into this church and said he wanted to kill black people and there is a horrific detail, again, another horrific detail. He left at least one person alive. There are three survivors but he told at least one that she was being left alive to tell everyone what happened inside.

Of course, South Carolina has been the side of many political campaigns and a side of political campaign, right now Hillary Clinton was in Charleston yesterday, Jeb Bush was scheduled to be here today. He has canceled his event but there were a - great many political reporters who were here to cover them, who has shifted their focus to the horrific event that took place here last night.

Robert Costa from the Washington Post joins me right now. Robert was here yesterday. He's been up all night covering the situation, seeing the development as they take place. And Robert, you described scenes of grief like you've never seen before.

ROBERT COSTA, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER: I was just over at the Embassy Suites which is right a block away. Governor Haley came in to meet with the families on the second floor and I was there 12 hours ago when the families first started congregating. And I've never seen a scene like it - the screaming, the tears because these people were asked to move over there, 50 AME pastors joined them and they were just - broke in the news, almost minute by minute over the course of the night.

BERMAN: And it happened - we understand this man walked into the church around 8 o'clock last night during some kind of prayer meeting. He lingered for an hour or so before then opening fire.

COSTA: I spoke with Chief Mullen about this, and he said it's unlike almost anything he's ever heard out. The killer comes in around 8 o'clock sits with the congregation, with this prayer group for about an hour and then opens fire.

[11:05:00]

And as - according to witnesses I have spoken to, they tried to discourage him from doing so, but he just kind of flipped the switch and started to attack.

BERMAN: Any sense how much of a head start he got between the time of the shooting and when police were on the scene to investigate the situation.

COSTA: Well, when I spoke to the Mayor, a long-time mayor here in Riley, he said that it was such a chaotic scene - the people were grieving inside, they were, of course, hurt, some were dead, and that the police were not really sure where this person went. He was a suspect who was able to flee pretty easily. That's why they were canvassing the entire city. It's not just concentrated to a neighborhood here. You have to search throughout the suburbs, throughout the whole town.

BERMAN: Now, we should say school is out in South Carolina. (INAUDIBLE) is hot. It's 100 degrees, if you haven't noticed, were starting right now. Kids are not in school. I talked to some parents of kids. I mean essentially what people are being told here is just be vigilant, be alert but the city is up and running. It's open for business.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTA: No, that's an important point. When I spoke to the Mayor about an hour ago, he said this city still has traffic moving, it's important that the city continues to function. And he said, "This is one person." He called him a mad man and he said, "That person does not define Charleston, South Carolina," the city he has represented as mayor for nearly four decades.

BERMAN: And, again, the suspect's name we now believe is Dylann Roof, again, 21 years old from Lexington, South Carolina, which is about two hours or so from here. He was driving a black Hyundai. I believe they identified him from the plates on this vehicle. They have these images of him.

Now that they have his name, they may very well be able to get more clear images of him and they are asking the public to be on the lookout for this man so look for him. Police, investigators want your help. Obviously, be careful. Call authorities. Don't do anything yourself.

This church - again, this church has been a presence in this community for more than 150 years. It is called Mother Emanuel here in the community because of its crucial role.

COSTA: It is the heart of the faith community here in the city of Charleston. This is a place for Martin Luther King has been. He has stepped through those doors. He has preached to that congregation. It is a place that has a civil rights legacy. It has a political place in the community. Of course, the pastor is also a state senator. It has a powerful presence.

And you hear the Mayor and the Police Chief talked today about it. It's a gathering for service, for people to be nurtured in their relationship with their family. And it's just devastating for the city but especially for the people who are goers.

BERMAN: And the victims. We know six women, three men. We know the identity of one of those killed - the pastor, a senate senator, Reverend Clementa Pinckney, who is a leader of pillar in this community.

COSTA: I've spoken to about a dozen of his friends in about - the last 30 minutes. And he just keep running the same thing - a big man, tall, blooming voice, a baritone but such a gentle way about him was a fast riser in (stake) politics, got involved early, caught the eye, even the Washington Post, David Broder, years ago was a rising star. Just tragic.

BERMAN: It is tragic. And, Robert, I know you've been up all night. You've been right at the middle of all these sadness. We thank you for your work and your sensitivity all night.

Robert Costa, the Washington Post, thanks so much.

Again, this was developing at about 8 o'clock is when this man, Dylann Roof, the alleged suspect, walked into that church behind me right now, sat there for an

hour before he opened fire killing nine people. All night the Mayor and the Police Chief have been briefing reporters. Let's listen a little more to the Mayor right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RILEY: We can catch this no good (INAUDIBLE) to see that he pays the price. And then what we will do and what this community has always done is we're going to put up arms around that church and that church family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Again, nine people killed - six women, three men. We do not know the identities of all. Authorities are trying to notify the families of all the people killed.

We know there were three survivors. One of them we believe was wounded, one of the survivors horrifically we are told was kept alive by this murderer so that she could tell people what happened inside.

The one victim whose name we don't know is the Reverend Clementa Pinckney. He's also a state senator. He is a pillar in this community and a man beloved by so many.

One of those men who calls him a friend is with me right now, David Mack, a state representative here. Tell me about your friend who so many people call "Clem".

DAVID MACK, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: Well, you cannot use too many great adjectives to describe him. We came in the House - South Carolina House of Representatives 19 years ago. He was 23 years old. And I always joke to them, "I was nowhere near that mature when I was 23." But great pastor, phenomenal public service. He was able to blend the

two in terms of being a service, whether it was a legislator, as an elect official, or whether he was a pastor.

[11:10:00]

He cared whether people has food to eat, he cared whether people has shelter, he cared whether people has healthcare. That's who he is. And to be so young and so focused and so driven to do the right thing always fighting for people's quality of life, he's special a person.

BERMAN: And you actually said he worked a dual job. I understand where he was at the state capitol during the day, he actually made it back here last night to be part of the bible study right behind us right now.

And another (heat back) I mean, again, this killer was in the room for more than an hour before he opened fire, but it goes to show how welcoming he and the community was to allow someone presumably they had never seen before in the room.

MACK: Well, Emanuel (INAUDIBLE) Mother Emanuel is a very, very warm, warm church. And, of course, a church is really not the building but the people, and as with all great leaderships, Reverend Clement Pinckney created a culture of leadership and a culture of compassion and caring. And that's why - so this community is so broken up right now. We're going to need time to heal individual and collectively and to move on and it's a cliche but true as he would want as to move on.

BERMAN: And the community will lead to come together. All the church is here; all the leaders here, black and white will need to band together because there is no answer.

(CROSSTALK)

MACK: There's no answer to why it happened.

(CROSSTALK)

MACK: There's no answer. Folks ask that. And remember the three girls, the little girls in Alabama, where they bombed the church. Also...

(Crosstalk)

MACK: Martin Luther King.

BERMAN: Hang on one second, Representative, the Attorney General Loretta Lynch is speaking right now about the tragedy. Here, let's listen to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORETTA LYNCH, ATTORNEY GENERAL: And the U.S. Attorney's Office are working closely with our state and local partners and we stand ready to offer every resource, every means and every tool that we possess in order to locate and to apprehend the perpetrator of this barbaric crime. Acts like this won't have no place in our country and no place in a civilized society.

And I want to be clear, the individual who committed these acts will be found and will face justice. Now, as we move forward in this matter, my thoughts and prayers and those of our entire law enforcement community here at the Department of Justice and around the country are with the families and loved ones of the victims in Charleston.

Even as we struggle to comprehend this heart-breaking event, I want everyone in Charleston and everyone who has been affected by this tragedy to know that we will do everything in our power to help heal this community and make it whole again.

I encourage the people of Charleston, South Carolina and the wider area to continue circulating the photos of the alleged perpetrator and report any tip no matter how small, no matter how minor to the tip line which can be reached at 1-800-CALLFBI. Thank you.

And now, today's announcement. Today, I am joined by Secretary Sylvia Burwell.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right. That was Attorney General Loretta Lynch. She's holding another event on Medicare fraud. But before that event started, she did want to talk about the crime that was committed behind me at here at the Emanuel AME Church last night - nine people killed. She announced there is a federal investigation and that the federal government is deeply involved in finding the person who did this. I'm sure it will be treated as a hate crime. They're investigating it as a hate crime.

She asked the community at large and at around the country to be on the lookout for the man - the suspect right now. The suspect is man named Dylann Roof.

Now, we don't want to put too much attention on the name of this person or glorify what we he did or prop him up.

But right now, it's important to know his name and know his face and be on the lookout for him. So now is the time when you want to recognize who this is and tell authorities if you see him.

Again, one more question to David Mack with me right now who know Clemente Pickney. You know what message do you want to send right now to this community here in Charleston?

MACK: This community - we have to pull together. We have - black, white, Asian, (INAUDIBLE) everyone.

Again, what represented and what he would have wanted. I knew him very well. As I said, we came in together 19 years ago to the South Carolina (Jones) and we - all the accolades during - people are saying is very, very true.

BERMAN: And that's just one of the lives lost. There were nine lives lost. Each one a tragedy in itself. David Mack, Representative. David Mack, thanks so much for being with us.

MACK: Thank you.

BERMAN: Kate, let's go back to you.

BOLDUAN: All right. Thanks, John. We're going to getting back down to the ground in South Carolina with John in just a second.

We heard from the Attorney General as John was talking about, Loretta Lynch. We were also just into CNN, we will be hearing from the President himself a little later this hour in just about 30 minutes. President Obama will be making a statement on the shooting in South Carolina. He'll be making that statement from the White House. We will, of course, bring that to you live.

A lot of developments coming in to CNN as we speak. We're going to be following all of the developments in the shooting massacre in South Carolina.

[11:15:00]

But we also have this breaking news coming from Memphis police in Tennessee, and they are now investigating a case involving shots fired at one of that cities, African-American churches. We're told that one of the church's pastors noticed bullet holes in the front door of the sanctuary last night.

Now, they do stress at this moment, they're saying nothing so far indicates a connection between this in Memphis - these bullets in the sanctuary door in Memphis and the shooting at the Charleston church attack. We're going to bring you updates as we get them.

We're following this breaking news throughout the morning. The hunt is on. What law enforcement is doing right now to find this man, Dylann Roof, in a desperate search. This is CNN special live coverage of the massacre in Charleston. We'll be right back.

(START VIDEO CLIP)

MULLEN: This is a very dangerous individual and we do not want more people harmed trying to approach him or trying to follow the vehicle if they see it. Notify law enforcement and we will address that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BOLDUAN: Now, we have breaking news. And just now the CNN - CNN's Deborah Feyerick is citing her sources who tell her that they do believe they have caught this suspect, Dylann Roof. That is according to senior law enforcement officials telling our Deborah Feyerick who will hopefully be joining us very soon to discuss what more she is learning but the big headlines right now is that they believe they have caught this suspect that you're seeing on the screen right now, Dylann Roof to remind our viewers. He is 21 years old. He's from Lexington, South Carolina.

[11:20:00]

He is the suspect in this shooting massacre at the Emanuel AME Church in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Senior law enforcement officials tell Deborah Feyerick that he has been caught. They have been tracking him all morning as this shooting happened overnight.

For more, let's continue to discuss all of its breaking news that is coming in right now. Let's bring in two law enforcement officials that we lean on very heavily all the time.

Richard Schwein; he's a former FBI special agent who led the manhunt for the Olympic Park bomber, Eric Rudolph. And also with us is CNN law enforcement analyst and former FBI assistant director, Tom Fuentes.

Tom, a lot of information coming in right now. We're hearing Deborah Feyerick is hearing from a senior law enforcement official that they have caught this 21-year-old Dylann Roof. What in terms of the investigation this intense manhunt that has been going on overnight for this suspect. What all will be going on right now, Tom?

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I think, first of all, Kate, the fact that they had a great photo of him in the first place

and the description of the vehicle with license plate number, I think most of us were confident that he would be in custody by close of business today, which has happened.

So now what they'll be looking at is, "Is he alone? Did he act by himself?" They'll be looking at all of his social media posting, his phone calls, who else was he contacting, friends, neighbors, colleagues to see there are many white supremist hate groups unfortunately in this country. Many in South Carolina. "Was he a member of one of them? Where there people that inspired him through those groups?"

So actually the methodology will be very similar whether it was an ISIS wannabe or an Al Qaeda wannabe, someone who was communicating with others, someone using social media to put out what their personal doctrine or ideology was. Or was he just, you know, mentally deranged individual, a lone wolf that wanted to do this and, yes, had possibly a hatred of blacks but in any of that is not part of a big movement, let's say, or others involved in this conspiracy.

BOLDUAN: Yes. And our Justice Reporter, Evan Perez, he is a - a law enforcement source is telling him that they are looking into that, Tom, that if Roof has any links to white supremacists groups or hate groups. That's one avenue that they're looking obviously. But the big news is is that we're hearing that this 21 year-old has

been caught. Let's bring in Deborah Feyerick right now. She's the one who's bringing in this information.

Deb, thank you so much for rushing into the studio. Tell us a little bit more about what you're hearing from your sources.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So, here is what we know so far. They put out this bolo - this beyond the lookout about an hour ago. They had the model of the car, they have the license plate, they also

had the name. They were able to identify the name of the driver of that care. They now (INAUDIBLE) to Dylann Roof, 21 years old and the car - somebody saw the car, somebody called into authorities, and that car was picked up driving North - to North Carolina.

FEYERICK: And so we're being told to North Carolina...

BOLDUAN: To North Carolina.

Feyerick: So we are now being told that Dylann is in custody in North Carolina.

BOLDUAN: In North Carolina, and that comes from a tip from your law enforcement sources, and that's why they were stressing so much in these early morning press conferences, Deb, to have a lookout for first a distinctive-looking person, then they had his name, his description, and that's why they kept pushing and pushing saying they needed help from the public.

FEYERICK: You're exactly right. It's almost like an amber alert. When you put a - when you out a bolo or beyond the lookout, it's so that you can identify and cast the widest net possible because once these shootings happen and once the individual is identified, chance are they're likely going to run.

And so by putting out these alerts, they have more eyes on the ground. And a tip came in that in fact he was heading up to North Carolina and that's where we believe - that's - we're being told by source, been briefed by investigators on the ground. That's where we believe he's in custody.

BOLDUAN: And, Deborah, stick with us. Let's bring in Richard on this.

And before I go on, guys, I'm hearing from the voices in my head from our control room that the Charleston police will holding another press briefing very shortly. We, of course, will go to that to bring that to our viewers as all of these is developing as we speak.

But Richard, as Deborah is laying out, they now have this - they have this guy in custody and it came from a tip from the public. And that's what we noticed earlier this morning is the police chief, the Mayor all saying over and over again, "This is what we're looking for. We need your help," because this guy clearly wasn't - was trying to get away. RICHARD SCHWEIN JR, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE OF BIRMINGHAM

DIVISION: Absolutely. And I think it's a great success story and it can be done without the coverage of CNN and the rest of the media. That public awareness often times leads to a successful and more importantly, safe resolution in these matters. The FBI recently did a study of that the (INAUDIBLE) events from 2000 to 2013. And of the things that came out of that study is almost a third of those events and with a violent confrontation with police.

So this is a great news story. And in fact, he is in custody and he was arrested safely.

BOLDUAN: Yes. A great news story in one sense and a horrific news story in the same breath, Richard.

[11:25:00]

That's for sure. About nine people being killed at the hands of a gun man and they believe - and they have this suspect in custody. We're showing you this picture right now.

Tom, a couple of the things that have been coming out this morning, and I want to get your take on what is on what is really said. You know one of the things that we've been hearing is that the gun men left some survivors alive telling them that he wanted them to be alive so that he could go out and tell and say the story - and tell the story of what happened in that church. What does that say to you?

TOM FUENTES: I think it says to me that extreme degree of narcissism on his part. He just thought he was something. He wanted to be famous. He was going to do this horrific act. He didn't care if he was spotted on camera. He didn't care if his license plate and car were observed at the parking lot. And then he didn't care if he left witnesses alive inside that church. And in fact wanted to - wanted somebody to help tell his story to the media right away as he took off and, you know, tried to make his escape and it may have been only been a half-hearted escape.

I think that this kind of personality, the fact that he sat there the whole hour before he started shooting indicates no remorse, no emotion, cold-blooded killer.

BOLDUAN: Now, we've got major developments in this. Deborah Feyerick bringing us the breaking news that the according to law enforcements they have this suspect, Dylann Roof in custody. The Charleston are going to be holding another news briefing very soon. We're going to bring that to you. Richard Schwein, thank you so much. Tom Fuentes, Deborah, thank you very much. Deborah is going to be sticking close by. She's working her sources to bring us more information. Let's now go back to the ground in South Carolina. Let's get back over to John.

BERMAN: Thanks so much, Kate. Just to be clear again we're waiting to hear from the Charleston police any minute now to brief us on this breaking news that the suspect, Dylann Roof, is now in custody, apparently caught in Shelby, North Carolina, which is about three hours and 45 minutes from here.

So the shooting took place in about nine last night, which is about 14 hours ago and he travelled a fair distance before police or investigators or law enforcements were able to apprehend him.

We're also waiting to hear from President Obama who is expected to make announcements shortly. I imagine the president will wait for the police department here to brief first but we are expecting to hear from both very soon.

In the mean time, we want to talk about the victims here - the people who were so viciously gun down in this church behind me. Six women, three men, we do not know the identities of any except for one, the pastor of this church, that Reverend Clementa Pinckney who's also a state senator, 41 years old, a community leader. And as I am finding just by being here for a short time, a friend to practically everyone.

And one of his true friends is with me now, former state representative Bakari Sellers. Am I right? A friend to everyone?

(CROSSTALK)

BAKARI SELLERS, FORMER SOUTH CAROLINA STATE REPRESENTATIVE: You know he had a baritone voice and it was so bombastic. And I think it was that way because he spoke for so many people. There were so many unheard voices in our community and our districts overlapped. He was my (fate) senator for a period of time in a poor very of Colleton County. And he was always there. He loved to serve people. He loved to serve the Lord. And, you know, it - Clem had to go out anyway - is in prayer serving his lord, serving his people.

BERMAN: Because I look up to you about a split - about - you are a large man. I keep hearing that Clem, as you call him, the Reverend of Faith Center was an enormous man.

SELLERS: He was a - he was an enormous man but he didn't speak loudly. He wasn't angry but when he spoke in (INAUDIBLE), I mean you know that - one of the things that I think about and people talk about the shooter and people talk about this and that, I think about his two kids. And I think, "How is that?" And it's just tough, it really is tough.

BERMAN: That break your heart. When you - how old is his kids?

SELLERS: They were young. They were very young. I don't want to (disclose) the ages.

BERMAN: Young kids - and a (fourth). He's just one of the nine victims here at this church right now.

You said he like to seek you as a leader and he has the perch from which to lead in this community - this historically significant church.

SELLERS: Well, not only was he a leader in the church in the Faith Community but he was a leader in the political community. I remember when I was running if (INAUDIBLE) governor and they worked with the people who believed in me. Not only did he prayed for me but he prayed with me. He was one of the first people to jump on board and even though we lost he - he said, "Keep your head up," you know? He's - we're going to miss him. It's a whole in the hearts of everyone. We made a lot of progress in the state of South Carolina but that progress is very fragile.

One of the things that we're leaning on since (INAUDIBLE) for the black and white and Republican and Democrat kind of like is we have to make sure that people don't tear us apart.

BERMAN: "Keep your head up," I think is the message that he would send right now in these difficult times. Talk to me about this church. Mother Emanuel as it's called.

Sellers: Well, the AME church is - I mean it is - you know it's the backbone for political progress. And not only in South Carolina but throughout the country. And you know I was speaking to a reporter earlier and I think some people don't know that on Wednesday nights, everybody knows that in the black church you're in bible study.

[11:30:00]

That's when you go to bible study. You probably have a - you probably have bible rehearsal on Tuesday and Thursday and then you're in church all day Sunday morning.