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The Lead with Jake Tapper

Now, Manhunt Underway For Brown University Mass Shooter; LAPD Says, Reiners' Son Nick Responsible For Parents' Deaths; Australia Plans Tougher Gun Laws After Bondi Beach Attack; Australia Plans Tougher Gun Laws After Bondi Beach Attack; Trump: Reiner Passed Away From "Trump Derangement Syndrome". Aired 6-7p ET

Aired December 15, 2025 - 18:00   ET

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

[18:00:00]

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to the Lead. We start this hour with breaking news in our Law and Justice Lead. Police in Providence, Rhode Island, releasing brand new video in the last hour as they search for a killer still on the loose. A manhunt intensifying after Saturday's deadly mass shooting at Brown University. The two students killed had been identified as Ella Cook and Mukhammadaziz Umurzokov. Nine others were injured in the shooting.

And CNN's John Berman joins us now from Brown University in Rhode Island where the community has no idea who the suspect is. And, John, are police any closer, do you think, to identifying a specific individual based on those photographs?

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. We just learned from officials who gave a news conference some 50 hours after this attack, they do not have the identity of the person behind these killings, which took place right behind me at this engineering building. But they released these new images. For 48 hours, we were working up one ten-second frame of video. Now, three new series of images, that include pictures from both before and after the attack here.

At first glance, you look at these and say, it's hard to identify much. But when you take a closer look, there are some new features here that come to life. First of all, the FBI, in releasing these images, says this person appears to be about 5'8" with a stocky build, so 5'8" with a stocky build. Our Andrew McCabe moments ago was looking at a video and noticed, as you see the individual walking across the street in this neighborhood where I'm standing right now, he appeared to have, if not a limp, at least a hitch there, lumbering a little bit.

Obviously, the hope is maybe someone will see how this individual was walking and think maybe I know somewhat of that size who walks roughly like that. Also, you can see the person is clearly wearing a mask and a two-tone jacket there above his stocky bill.

It may not be much to go on, but it's more than was known before to the public that was released just a few minutes ago by law enforcement and political leaders who I think were tired, but also quite committed and diligent here in this search. You could sense some of their frustration with some of the questions that were being asked by reporters, but also, again, there were new commitment to find the person who carried out these acts, releasing this little bit of new information, and I should note, offering a $50,000 reward for any information that does ultimately lead to the capture of this individual.

That is what is new here in Providence. These, and as officials say, there's no specific threat to the community now, people should get back to work.

I want to bring in CNN's Brian Todd, who's been working this scene in this city just around the clock over the last two days and can give us, Brian, the very latest on what you're hearing and piecing it all together.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, John. I'm in the spot right now where the suspect is seen walking in the second overall piece of video that was released before that news conference that you referenced just now. I'm in the very spot across the street from that surveillance camera. This spot here is where the suspect was seen walking.

John, you mentioned the three new pieces of video that were just released in this news conference in addition to those two still photos that were just released. That now means that there are five pieces of surveillance video that have been released overall, one earlier today, one on Saturday, and these three that were just released in this news conference tonight in addition to those two still photos.

We do also have new information tonight on this investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PETER NERONHA, RHODE ISLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL: We don't know where he is and we don't know what his intentions are.

TODD (voice over): Investigators are back to an active manhunt for the unidentified Brown University shooter.

NERONHA: And I understand how that makes people feel unsafe.

TODD: Police have just released this second piece of surveillance footage of the person of interest leaving the scene Saturday after killing two students and injuring nine others. Authorities say it's the same person who's shown in this surveillance footage released shortly after the shooting.

NERONHA: We're analyzing additional evidence of that we believe to be the same person.

[18:05:02]

TODD: FBI evidence response teams today conducted this grid search at the same spot that the latest surveillance video shows. The investigation took a turn on Sunday night when law enforcement released a person of interest from custody.

Can you tell us what evidence there was that led you and what did lead you to the decision to release him?

NERONHA: I will say that it is the kind of evidence that made us very confident that we needed to look in another direction.

TODD: Police Major David Lapatin tells CNN they do not have a name for the person in the surveillance video, but officials say canvassing is getting results.

MAJ. DAVID LAPATIN, PROVIDENCE POLICE DEPARTMENT: We're trying to do the best job we can and some things we have to keep, you know, out of the public light until we're ready to come out with everything.

TODD: Police canine teams went back today to the Barus and Holley building where the shooting took place.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that people are a little bit scared also just to see people who are walking by themselves.

VANESSA OROZCO, PROVIDENCE RESIDENT: Yes, a little terrified something could happen anytime.

TODD: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley maintains there's no additional threat to the public.

MAYOR BRETT SMILEY (D-PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND): We don't believe that there's an eminent threat to public safety here in the city of Providence. And there is, in fact, an enhanced police presence throughout the city.

TODD: Why is there no enhanced threat if he still at processes (ph)?

NERONHA: What I'm saying is, yes, of course there's a threat. We have somebody who committed a double homicide and wounded nine Brown students. We don't know where he is. We're working hard as heck to figure that out. That said, you know, we can't go into lockdown.

TODD: One of the victims has been identified as Ella Cook. She was vice president of Brown University's College Republicans. The national organization said in a statement, quote, Ella was known for her bold, brave, and kind heart.

Mukhammadaziz Umurzokov was the other student who was killed, according to the spokesperson for Uzbekistan's foreign minister.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (on camera): Now, Brown University exams and all classes have been canceled for the rest of the semester, but Mayor Brett Smiley says Providence Public Schools remain open. And he said to parents, you should send your kids there to school, quote, if you feel comfortable doing that.

Meanwhile, the FBI has announced that they are now offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the capture of --

BERMAN: Yes. Brian, you mentioned the finals had been canceled here, and images that we saw all day with so many students walking down the streets with wheelie bags. People had planned to get out of town yesterday, but when news broke that the manhunt was still on, the suspect's still on the loose, that took new urgencies and these students raced to get out.

Brian, I do have to say you and I have sort of been -- we've been crossing paths, Brian, all day long here on this about four block area where the investigation's going place -- taking place. And one of the things that has been striking is all this renewed activity after yesterday when law enforcement wasn't really working the scene anymore because probably they had that person of interest in custody. Today, they were back out here. There was the FBI, the canine units you mentioned, the state police, really much more activity on the ground almost everywhere you looked around here. What did you see?

TODD: Right, John. You're exactly right. I mean, since the shooting occurred. And today, really, this afternoon, we can say there wasn't a lot of activity in this neighborhood. I'm probably, maybe five or six blocks away from where you are. But you're right. We saw, and especially on this street, just a couple of hours ago, we saw a very large presence of FBI agents, evidence response teams, they were doing this grid search. You can still see the marks where they were clearing away debris and snow here just to look for some evidence, possibly some anything that the shooter may have left behind. You can see the marks they left behind.

You are right, John. They were scouring these neighborhoods in force today, which leads you to think or ask, at least ask the question, do they know something more than they did 24 hours ago? They're not really being too forthcoming about that, but we'll continue to press them.

BERMAN: Yes. And, again, we have this new video and a couple of new images released during this news conference, also by the FBI with a little bit of a new vantage point. I want to restate it. They say the man is 5'8" with a stocky build. You can see the manner in which he was walking. And you can also see he was clearly masked.

One of the images, and I don't know if that's up right now, it's hard to tell under the black mask if there was something else in his face as well. But, clearly, they hope the public takes a good look at this. And by offering a $50,000 reward, maybe they'll get new tips that will lead to some kind of arrest.

One last thing, the police chief toward the end of the news conference did say that he felt that Brown University was a specific target, but it wasn't clear in how he answered it, whether it meant because that was because of information they've developed in the investigation or it just -- it was obvious because they saw this individual walking around this specific area right before, but it was something that was said.

Brian Todd, our thanks to you for all this reporting.

[18:10:00]

And, Jake, as we sit here tonight, clearly, the search is still on.

TAPPER: Yes. John Berman and Brian Todd in Providence, Rhode Island, thank you so much.

New video in the manhunt in Providence, Rhode Island, growing anxiety, no suspect under arrest, law enforcement giving no indication that they have any idea who they're looking for, we're going to dive much more into this investigation, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TAPPER: Now, we are back with more in our Law and Justice Lead, the focus on the ongoing manhunt for the Brown University mass shooter who killed two students and injured nine others over the weekend.

Democratic Congressman Seth Magaziner from Rhode Island joins us now. Congressman, are you surprised there still isn't a suspect that we know of?

REP. SETH MAGAZINER (D-RI): Well, of course. I mean, we were all shocked last night when we heard that the person of interest was being released and was no longer a person of interest. I think it's safe to say that everyone in providence is feeling on edge.

[18:15:00]

But, you know, the most important thing now is that law enforcement needs to have the space to do their jobs.

It's a jarring situation. People are feeling a lot of grief a lot of fear but also really stepping up to support each other. Earlier this morning, when I was in Rhode Island, I stopped by the Rhode Island Blood Center and they told me there that more people in Rhode Island volunteered to give blood yesterday than any day since 9/11. And that's a testament to the way that people are stepping up. But it's obviously still a situation where people are feeling very concerned.

TAPPER: What are you hearing from your constituents in terms of how worried they might be given the suspect is still on the loose?

MAGAZINER: Yes, it's a range, as you can imagine. You know, Providence has made great strides in recent years. Before Saturday, before this terrible shooting at Brown, there had only been two homicides in Providence all year long. This type of thing, school shootings, you know, on a certain level that it can happen anywhere, but we haven't had anything like this in Rhode Island in a very long time. So, it's definitely unsettling.

You know, that being said, you know, under the guidance of the mayor, people I think are also trying to live their lives as best they can. But it's a very surreal and sad and unsettling situation, for sure.

TAPPER: Have you heard anything that might suggest possible motive or anything about the shooter? I read an interview with the T.A. in the Boston Globe in which the T.A. said that the shooter yelled something, but he couldn't understand what it was that he was yelling. MAGAZINER: No. And I think it's very important that people not pay attention to the various theories that are floating around online. You know, there's all kinds of noise online trying to speculate who the shooter may be, what the motive may be. But none of that is substantiated at this point. And it's a real shame that when you have tragedies like this, there are sometimes people who look to capitalize on it for political or ideological reasons to stoke more fear and to stoke more division.

And so, you know, what I would say to everyone is cancel that out. You know, unless there is official notification or official guidance, we shouldn't be guessing or making assumptions about what the motive might have been or who the shooter might be.

And it's also important that we rely on the officials on the ground to give the most accurate information. It's very frustrating that there had been announcements coming from Washington saying that, you know, people had been detained or caught or whatever before that was actually the case.

So, I would say, you know, follow those regular press conferences from the local officials to get the real information, not the noise online.

TAPPER: Congressman Seth Magaziner, Democrat of Rhode Island, thank you so much, sir. I appreciate your time.

Let's bring in CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller.

And, John, we saw that investigators just released these new images of this new person of interest in the last hour. What do you make of the images? Did anything stand out to you in that news conference?

JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, these are much better images, much more useful images. It gives us a lot of advantages. Number one, you can see him from the front. You can see him from the side. And, you know, as we've seen in cases, whether it was the Charlie Kirk assassin or the UnitedHealthcare assassin, he has done his best to cover himself up. He's got the mask up high, the hat down low, the coat covering everything.

But there are a couple of tells in some of these things you see, he's wearing both gloves, but in others he's taken the glove off the right hand. In the first one, you can see his left hand, but his right hand is in the pocket. It suggests that if he did that shooting with a handgun and he put that gun in his pocket, that he still got his hand on it as he walks away. That's one of those shots of the ungloved right hand as he's walking around.

The real point is, though, they've captured these images, Jake. So, what's the next step? One, you crowdsource that. Who knows this guy? Who knows that walk? He has a bit of something less than a limp but an odd gait with that right leg, that clothing.

But the next step is you go to where you found these pictures and you see that direction he's taking. Then you go do the -- you extend that video canvas down that street. And if it goes blank, then you make a right or a left until you pick him up again.

Ultimately, what investigators want to do is pull that thread forward until they see he either disappears and they figure out that is where he took some other mode of transportation other than walking, or maybe they'll be lucky enough to be able visually to put him into a car or some other vehicle, a bicycle, a motorcycle, a scooter, which will give them an idea of which way he went.

[18:20:01]

TAPPER: Are you surprised at all that that here we are on Monday, two days after the shooting, and it seems as though we don't really know or have any idea who this individual might be or why he did this horrific thing?

MILLER: Well, motive is interesting because he is not the typical school shooter. He didn't stay there and take his own life. He didn't wait to be confronted by police and shoot it out. He didn't surrender. He did this horrific act and then he disappeared into the ether. That means his motive may be only known to him and that, you know, separates this from a lot of these cases.

I'm not surprised that just this many days into it we don't know who he is because that is a process. And I think this video canvas today will help move it forward. I think that slowed down yesterday when, for a number of hours, they believed that they had a viable suspect in custody until they were able to figure out that they didn't. And that's when a lot of this work picked up again.

TAPPER: All right. John Miller, thanks so much. I appreciate your time.

We're also following some breaking news in California. Director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, killed in their California home and their adult son is in custody. One of Rob Reiner's former co-stars for actors that started a movie he directed, Kevin Pollak, who was in A Few Good Men, will join me next with his thoughts on this loss of his friend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:25:00]

TAPPER: New tonight, flowers along the Hollywood Walk of Fame star of prolific director and actor Rob Reiner. It was his daughter who discovered him and her mother, his wife, producer, and photographer Michele Singer Reiner, dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday night, a source tells CNN.

The Los Angeles Police Department says that the Reiner's adult son, Nick, is responsible for the murders. Nick is currently being held without bail. A source says, the 32-year-old was seen having an argument with his father on Saturday night at a holiday party. His mother, Michelle, was also present at that party. Nick Reiner has spoken publicly about struggling with addiction, including experiencing homelessness, going to rehab. Condolences are pouring in for those who worked with and admired Rob and Michele for their work in Hollywood and devotion to progressive politics. The former first lady of California, Maria Shriver, says the couple were among her closest friends, quote, we had dinner this past week and they were in the best place in their lives, loving one another, loving their friends, their family, their country. John Cusack, who worked with Rob in The Sure Thing, and he, of course, also had that cameo and Stand by Me, john Cusack calls him a great man. Carrie Elwes, one of the stars of the Princess Bride, posted a photo from the set of their chairs side by side.

And just in, a statement from the film's star, The Princess Bride, Robin Wright, she says, Rob was one of the most loving, compassionate and kind people I've ever known. He was an extraordinary director and the impact he had on me has stayed with me throughout my career. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.

Rob Reiner joined us here on The Lead in 2017 alongside Woody Harrelson to talk to us about the project he directed starring Harrelson as President Lyndon Johnson. Here's a brief clip.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WOODY HARRELSON, ACTOR: And he wanted me to embody the humanity of --

ROB REINER, DIRECTOR: Yes, and the essence of him. And that's really what we wanted, you know? I mean, I don't think people are going to nitpick exactly the outside of Houston accent as opposed to the Hill Country. He had everything that I wanted to see because Johnson was a very complicated, Shakespearean-type character. As much as he was, had the bravado and the arm twisting and the bull in the China shop and all that, he was also incredibly insecure.

TAPPER: Right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Reiner rose to fame, of course, as an actor on the sitcom, All in the Family as Mike Stivic. And in the 1980s, he established himself as a director, credited with starting the mockumentary genre in some ways with his debut film, this is Spinal Tap, about a fictional heavy metal band.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REINER: Why don't you just make ten louder and make ten be the top number and make that a little louder?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These guys were 11.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Reiner -- Sorry, that's still funny. Reiner went on a legendary directorial run in the late 80s, from the romcom, The Sure Thing, to the coming of age classic, Stand by Me, the fantasy romance- packed with quotable lines, The Princess Bride.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Reiner, of course, cemented himself in romcom history with When Harry Met Sally in 1989.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Yes. Oh God. Oh.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: His second adaptation of a Stephen King novel, Misery, earned an Academy Award for a leading best actress, Kathy Bates.

And here with us now is someone who starred in a Few Good Men, which was also directed by Rob Reiner, a film, which you may remember from this unforgettable courtroom scene between Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want answers?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I'm entitled to.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want answers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want the truth.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't handle the truth. Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's going to do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Actor Kevin Pollak, the aforementioned Lieutenant Weinberg in that clip, joins us now. Kevin, we're so sorry for the loss of your friend. What will you remember most about him?

[18:30:00]

What should we think of when we think of Rob Reiner besides those unforgettable films?

KEVIN POLLAK, WORKED WITH ROB REINER ON A FEW GOOD MEN: Well, a body of work as a filmmaker that is almost unparalleled, if not completely. His first seven films, I guess the sure thing would be A-minus, but the other six are classics within their own genre. You mentioned, I think, most of them. And also, yes, Spinal Tap, giving way to -- I mean, Ricky Gervais is credited as inspiring him to do The Office, which, of course, brought us The American Office, this man launched more careers, and including mine, giving me the keys to the castle and changed so many lives with his artistry and his genius. I mean, truly a gift to all in a sad, sad time for all of us. And his wife, Michele, I spent a lot of time with both of them.

And I was just thinking in -- we were shooting in D.C. We shot the exteriors of A Few Good Men having a Chinese buffet spread out on their hotel room bed while we watched, I think, a basketball game. Yes, it must be because we were shooting there in December.

Yes, they were a loving couple and family and that's -- they embraced everyone, including total strangers. I also remember walking on the sidewalk one day while shooting, and we passed someone and the person recognized Rob and said, oh, hey, wow. Are you here shooting something? And he said, yes, The Godfather. And the guy went, oh, great. And then we walked on and I said, why'd you say The Godfather? And he said, because if I say A Few Good Men, then I got to explain, because I don't know what that is. If I say The Godfather, they move on and we're done with this.

TAPPER: He had, as you know, just an iconic career spanning decades, some of the most memorable films of all time.

POLLAK: Yes.

TAPPER: He's also being celebrated today for his kindness, for his generosity.

POLLAK: Yes.

TAPPER: What was it like being his friend?

POLLAK: Yes. The humanitarian in him reached all manner of family and friends and the public at large. You know, what he did for fighting for human rights and the rights of children, oh my goodness, and programs, put a -- you know, spearheaded a ballot on California, raised taxes for children's programs.

Yes, so being around him was larger than life and jovial always, oh, great laugh, love to laugh. And the joy of making him laugh unparalleled, honestly. And because he started as such a brilliant actor, when he directed, he did so sort of actor to actor. And that was a joy, truly.

TAPPER: Well, tell me about that. Like what -- so sometimes actors get into film and with mixed results, but, obviously, you know, he was amazing. What was it about his acting experience, having been Mike Stivic on All in the Family in such a classic role that made him better able to direct you or Nicholson or Cruise or whoever?

POLLAK: Well, because you did feel like you were being spoken to by not only a filmmaker but someone who spent time in the trenches to award-winning effect.

So, yes, on -- listen, again, as I said, the man gave me the keys to the castle. I went from auditioning to getting offers after A Few Good Men and for the rest of my life because of him. That sort of effect, you know, Carrie Elwes and I were on the phone last night crying about this man who changed both of our lives, he and Princess Bride.

And the effect of being in his presence was fun. He was the one I quoted the rest of my life who said on set, if we're not having fun, what is the point of any of this, on this very serious courtroom drama, yes. So, the sense of that was extraordinary to be around intoxicated.

TAPPER: Take a listen to one of your co-stars in A Few Good Man, Kevin Bacon. Here he is talking about working with Reiner on that film.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEVIN BACON, ACTOR: The making of that movie was one of the best experiences that I've ever had on a set. He was so fun, you know, and it really -- it comes down from the top. You know, you can set a tone where people feel like we are working hard, but also working hard in a safe and pleasant and fun situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: You've worked on a lot of films. It sounds really special to be directed by Rob Reiner.

[18:35:00]

POLLAK: But by leading by example also, in terms of having fun while you are, quote/unquote, working. I remember in the courtroom scene, the bailiff had to keep saying, as the judge entered, all rise, and at some point, Rob said, Paul Riser, and it was -- so there was, again, leading by example. We are here to have fun while you see the result of very intense courtroom drama that you wouldn't necessarily think there were comedic high jinks going on off camera.

And what was the story about him not realizing until later that it was you doing a Nicholson impression and not actually Nicholson? There was --

POLLAK: Yes. So, Jack worked a total of ten days, five of which were in the courtroom. And at the end of that ten-day period, Rob needed a few more camera angles from Jack on the stand giving the soliloquy. And so he had to go to Jack and say, you know, your rate, your daily rate, if I may, it was half a million, your daily rate is incredible, we can't really afford to have you come back tomorrow. But I desperately need you to come back, if you would, on the goodness of your heart. I promise to have you done by noon. And sure enough, he will -- anything you need, Robby. The next day, we're done at noon, Rob throws up his hands after a take by Jack and says, that's a wrap on Jack, and the place goes bananas. And they were still shooting over Jack sitting on the stand onto the actor, A.J., playing the judge.

And so I went to Rob and said, listen, I've been driving home every night and doing this soliloquy into my rear view mirror. I've sort of got it. If it'll help A.J., I'll sit on the stand and do Jack's part for him to act off it. If it's going to throw him or in any weird way, of course, no, but if it's, in any way, helpful. Well, A.J. loved the idea. We did it. After the first take, the crew erupted in applause, which was not the point. The point was to help A.J.

And then two days later, this was back when you had dailies, which took a couple days to watch what you had shot in previous days. And Rob came up to me and said, you know, I was watching dailies last night of Jack's last day on set during the soliloquy from the stand. And it wasn't until the third take of you doing his voice that I realized that wasn't Jack anymore.

But, again, yes, the love and wherewithal of the man to have that moment for me, there's no reason, honestly. It was so not about me, which was one of the points of coming here today, thank you for the invite, to also not be about me, but to have the opportunity to celebrate a man that I absolutely adored and changed my and so many others' lives forever.

TAPPER: Yes. And as they say, you know, people remember how you made them feel, and you can tell he made you feel great, Kevin.

POLLAK: Oh my goodness, yes. Oh my goodness, yes. I've never felt more empowered, honestly.

TAPPER: It's so special. Kevin Pollak, it's an honor, thank you so much to talk and talking about your friend with us.

POLLAK: Thank you.

TAPPER: Coming up another horrific investigation, unfolding a terrorist attack on Australian's Bondi Beach targeting the Jewish community on the first night of Hanukkah. How Australia is already working to change its gun laws in the wake of this attack.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:40:00]

TAPPER: In our World Lead, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he's planning to enact even stricter gun laws in his country following yesterday's deadly shooting at a Hanukkah event on Bondi Beach. We're also learning new details about the victims, which range in age from the youngest, ten-year-old Matilda, described by her aunts as a very sweet, happy child with a beautiful smile, to the oldest, 87-year-old Alex Clayton, a survivor of the Holocaust, who was killed while protecting his wife from the gunman's bullets.

CNN's Angus Watson filed this report for us from Australia.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANGUS WATSON, CNN REPORTER (voice over): The horrific violence against Sydney's Jewish community and crowds in Bondi Beach on Sunday, the worst mass shooting in Australia since 1996 when 35 people were killed by a lone gunman at Port Arthur in Tasmania. That attack prompted the center right government of the time to enact some of the world's strictest gun laws. Rates of gun violence plummeted. JOHN HOWARD, FORMER AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: And the whole country just reeled for days afterwards. And the overwhelming feeling was, this is terrible. We had to do something about it.

WATSON: A multimillion dollar buyback scheme was put in place with a short amnesty period before guns were made illegal except under license with strict conditions. Semi-automatic weapons like the one used at Port Arthur are completely banned.

But the guns turned on children, families, and the elderly as they celebrated Hanukkah on Sunday were owned legally. A 50-year-old suspect killed at the scene held permits to six long-barreled guns.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese now says that one response to this tragedy must be to tighten gun laws further.

ANTHONY ALBANESE, AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER: The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws.

WATSON: The Australian government has shown it can legislate to curb gun violence. People here in Bondi are demanding an end to anti- Semitism along with it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATSON (on camera): Now Jake, I'm here in Bondi, where this proud, vibrant Jewish community is responding to that hateful, anti-Semitic terror attack on Sunday with grief. But they're coming together to try to support one in each one another through this horrific time.

They're also calling on the government not just to enact stricter gun laws but to stamp out anti-Semitism. The community here, Jewish people across Australia have pointed to a spike in anti-Semitic attacks against them since Hamas attacked Israel on the 7th of October, 2023.

[18:45:05]

This community here in mourning wants the government to do more to squash that hateful ideology -- Jake.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: All right. Angus Watson, thank you so much.

Joining us now, a witness to the shooting, 28-year-old Emily Singer, who is from Los Angeles. She was able to flee the area once the shooting began.

Emily, thank you so much for being here. I'm so sorry you went through this.

Shortly after the shooting, you posted your reaction on TikTok, and in that video you asked, why is it that being Jewish makes you a target to being shot and killed? It's a horrible question and unfortunately, very relevant. How are you doing today?

EMILY SINGER, AUSTRALIA SHOOTING WITNESS: I'm okay. I'm sad. I'm devastated. I'm actually watching the memorial from my window right now as people gather and have been there myself, and the energy has just shifted so much here. It's really, really devastating.

TAPPER: You were across the street from the beach when once the shooting started, what did you see and hear? Was -- were there only two shooters?

SINGER: So, I was at that beach all day. I left about 45 minutes before the shooting started to take a shower and get ready for dinner, and I stepped out two minutes before I heard the shooting. Again, I'm right across the street from the Bondi pavilion, so a little ways down from where the shooters were firing off the guns.

But I started -- I met a friend. He said, happy Hanukkah. I was just at the event prior to this. I didn't know there was one, or else I probably would have gone. We started walking in the other direction across the street, and within two minutes heard what we thought were originally fireworks. Because no one in Sydney would ever think this would happen. I believe.

And then people started running and I started running. I didn't look back to see if I could see I was too scared. And a bunch of people hopped onto a bus. We hopped onto the bus and it was just chaos. It was absolute mayhem. The bus driver wouldn't -- wouldn't start the bus. I thought maybe he wanted to get as many people on as he could, but I think he was just frozen in shock. I'm so grateful that I left the beach.

TAPPER: Yeah, I am very -- we're all grateful that you left the beach.

The -- we've heard a lot over the last few years, since October 7th, 2023, really, since Hamas attacked Israel and then Israel began its war in Gaza. Weve heard a lot of people in Australia, a lot of people in the Jewish community worried about rising antisemitism.

Is that something you would -- you had talked to anybody about before this happened?

SINGER: Absolutely. I studied abroad here about seven and a half years ago, and I have a couple friends that live here, especially in the Jewish community. And they always told me how horrible the policies were here.

The day after October 7th, which is by far the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust. People gathered at the opera house shouting, "gas the Jews," waving Palestinian flags and there were no repercussions, as far as I'm aware. And since then, there have been several antisemitic attacks all throughout Sydney.

TAPPER: So, as you noted, you're -- you used to live there when you were studying abroad. You're currently in Australia for a wedding, you know, Bondi Beach. Well and I know you've visited the memorial for the 15 people killed. How is -- how is the community, the Jewish community there coping?

SINGER: I was walking the streets yesterday with my parents. A lot of places closed, especially on the boardwalk because of all the roads being closed. And I just saw people crying on the street, hugging, bringing flowers. I think everybody in the community, regardless if you're Jewish or not, is completely shaken.

But specifically, I mean, the Jewish community here is really small and tightknit. So, I think every single person at least knows someone I know because the rabbi was killed, a lot of people knew the rabbi especially. And Jews are just a small people, obviously. So we're one -- we're one degree over from each other almost always.

TAPPER: Emily Singer, thank you so much. I'm glad you're okay. It feels weird to say happy Hanukkah to you, but I'm sending you all of our best wishes here

SINGER: Happy Hanukkah. Thank you. Thank you for --

TAPPER: There are those calling out hate. Then there are those who seem to incite it. How that seemed to come from the very top today. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:53:19]

TAPPER: Today at the White House, President Trump managed to take the horrific murders of film director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, and not offer compassion or condolences or humanity, but instead to make it all about who else? Himself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I wasn't a fan of his at all. He was a deranged person as far as Trump is concerned. I think he hurt himself in career wise. He became like a deranged person, Trump derangement syndrome.

So, I was not a fan of Rob Reiner at all in any way, shape or form. I thought he was very bad for our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: That outburst followed the president's Truth Social post earlier today, in which the president seemed to blame the mental illness of Rob and Michele Reiner's killer on Rob having Trump derangement syndrome. The LAPD says that the Reiners son, Nick, is responsible for their death and is currently being held without bail.

Republican Congressman Don Bacon of Nebraska reacted to the president's post, telling me, quote, "I'd expect to hear something like this from a drunk guy at a bar, not the president of the United States."

Can the president be presidential? It's a good question.

Coming up, the bomb plot the FBI says was in the works for New Year's Eve. Details on that, thankfully, foiled attack, next (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[18:59:01]

TAPPER: Our last late start in our national lead. The FBI says they've thwarted potential terrorist attack in Los Angeles. Four people have been arrested for allegedly working together on a bomb plot that was targeting five separate locations across the city on New Year's Eve. The four people arrested were identified as members of the extremist Turtle Island Liberation Front, which the Justice Department says has an anti-government ideology.

Officials say the suspects used the encrypted messaging platform Signal to plan the attack. The four were allegedly targeting U.S. companies with their bombs, which they hope to blow up the same time on New Year's Eve.

And our pop culture lead, Anthony Geary, who played Luke Spencer on the ABC soap opera "General Hospital", has died. He was 78 years old. He was on "General Hospital" for almost 40 of those years. The show's executive producer released a statement saying that the team is heartbroken over the news of his passing, saying his legacy will live on through the generations of "General Hospital" cast members who have followed in his footsteps.

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, X, and on TikTok @jaketapper. You can follow the show on X and Instagram @TheLeadCNN.

If you ever miss an episode of THE LEAD, you can watch the show on the brand new CNN streaming app. I hope tomorrow's news is a little nicer.

"ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT" starts now.