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Former NFL QB Steve McNair Killed; Serial Killer on the Loose in South Carolina; The Jackson Drug Investigation; Behind Palin's Big Decision; Queen Latifah Reflects on Jackson's Legacy
Aired July 04, 2009 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight on the program breaking news. A former Super Bowl quarterback is found dead in a woman's apartment.
Police manhunt, a serial killer on the loose. Five people have been murdered. We are live.
Political curve ball. Sarah Palin speaks out about her decision to step down as Alaska's governor. Is a presidential run in her future.
And a family in mourning. Singer Dionne Warwick, a close Michael Jackson spent the last few days with the family. She tells us how they are doing tonight.
The news starts right now.
Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon.
Our breaking story tonight, just over year after retiring from the NFL as a top quarterback, Steve McNair is dead. Police found his body today inside a Nashville condominium. He and a woman had been shot to death. The case has police digging for answers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON AARON, METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE POLICE: At this point, we don't know the circumstances of these shooting deaths. The investigation is going to be conducted by the police department's centralized homicide unit. Those detectives have assembled here at the scene and the condominium still has to be processed.
There's a lot of work yet to be done. It's going to take many hours to process the scene. I don't have any answers for you now as to what's happened, who's responsible, what the circumstances are.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Police say McNair was shot in the head. They say the female victim was not his wife, Michelle. A law enforcement source identifies her as a girlfriend. No one has been arrested in the case.
McNair's career in the NFL began in 1995. He would go on to spend 13 seasons playing the game he loved. Here's a look at some of his career highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON (voice-over): Steve McNair was a small-town boy with big- time dreams, and a throwing arm to match. As a star quarterback in Mt. Olive, Mississippi, McNair was recruited to play football at several major universities, but they wanted him to play on defense.
Determined to play quarterback, McNair went to Alcorn State, an historically black university, where he became one of the most prolific passers in college football and was nicknamed Air McNair.
During his senior year, he was featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated," and was third in a Heisman Trophy voting and was the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers. McNair became a starter in 1997, the same year the Oilers moved to Tennessee.
In 1999, he led the team to the franchise's first and so far only Super Bowl, becoming just the second African-American quarterback to start on the game's biggest stage. It was a thrilling game which ended with the Titans coming up just short of the goal line for what would have been the winning score.
McNair never would get back to the championship game. But was the NFL's co-MVP with Peyton Manning in 2003. He left the Titans after 11 seasons and played two more with the Baltimore Ravens before injuries took their toll. McNair retired after the 2007 season with more than 30,000 yards passing, good enough for 28th on the all-time list.
Titans' owner Bud Adams said of McNair, quote, "He played with unquestioned heart and leadership, and led us to places that we had never reached."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Steve McNair was 36 years old.
Also breaking news out of South Carolina. A manhunt is under way for a suspected serial killer. Police say that serial killer killed at least five people in the past week, including a 15-year-old girl.
CNN's Richard Liu joins us from Gaffney, a small town known mostly for its peach orchards, now in the middle of a very big crime.
Richard?
RICHARD LIU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Good evening to you there, Don.
Well, we have learned just over seven hours ago from the county coroner that an alleged serial killer had claimed his youngest victim.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LIU (voice-over): Abby Tyler a much-loved 15-year-old died Saturday morning, two days after being shot. The Cherokee County sheriff says she is the fifth victim of a serial killer within one week. Her pastor remembered Abby.
UNIDENTIFIED PASTOR: Very vivacious, very upbeat smile. She's lived her faith every day. She got that faith from her mother, her father, her grandparents. They passed that faith to her. She lived that faith every day for her 15 years. She was a good model for all of us.
LIU: Abby was with her father at the family business on Thursday when she was shot. Her father was pronounced dead at the scene. This picture of the family is from her church.
The killings began a week ago with the shooting of peach famer Kline Cash at his home. On Wednesday, the bodies of 83-year-old Hazel Linder and her daughter were found bound and shot. Police have issued this sketch of the suspect, a white male in his 40s with salt and pepper hair.
The town of Gaffney, population 13,000, is on edge, trying to celebrate the holiday weekend under a blanket of fear. Taking precautions, but also scared, one shop owner and resident told us how his son reacted to the concern of a serial killer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was actually fearful and scared and asked me not to stay up late, because he was afraid that something would happen at the house, because of what he hears. It's constantly in the news. People are talking. That's what they've been hearing for the last two days. So he was fearful. He was scared. And he was concerned for my safety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) has a firearm all the time just for protection.
QUESTION: Do you always wear it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Just working up here and open like this, I'll wear it if I'm working. Or it stays in my truck all the time (INAUDIBLE). I do carry it in my car all the time.
LIU: And that is a more common reaction in this town as dozens of federal, state, and local investigators work to track down the killer.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And, Don, this is what we're seeing here. Terrorized. It says it all on Friday's paper from yesterday. Now is what the town is dealing with as they begin to celebrate July 4th. We have just heard five minutes ago, a flurry of fireworks. You see the dichotomy, Don.
LEMON: All right. Richard Liu, thank you very much.
Here in Los Angeles. The preparations are well under way for Tuesday's memorial service for Michael Jackson. When registration closed about an hour ago, about 1.6 million people had signed up for a chance to get tickets to the service. Beginning tonight, 8,750 people are being randomly selected to each receive a pair of tickets. E-mail notifications will be sent out tomorrow.
Also, CNN has confirmed that singer Jennifer Hudson will be among the performers at Tuesday's service.
As for the investigation into what caused Jackson's death, the latest focus appears to center around reports of a powerful drug found in Jackson's home.
CNN's Drew Griffin has the latest.
Drew?
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATION'S UNIT CORRESPONDENT: Don, the "Los Angeles Times," the latest to report that Diprivan, according to one of its sources, was found in Jackson's home. This is the very powerful medication used in surgeries basically to put people under. And the "L.A. Times" is reporting that bottles of it were found inside that home, leading to even more speculation the drug could be involved.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN (voice-over): What we do know is that Michael Jackson asked for Diprivan, by name, just months ago, telling this nurse in April Diprivan was the only drug that could help him sleep.
CHERILYN LEE, NURSE WHO SAYS SHE TREATED JACKSON: Yes, that was odd.
GRIFFIN: Without asking for a regular, old sleeping pill?
LEE: Yes. And I said, "Have you taken sleeping pills." And he said they don't work. He said, "I don't want those things. They don't work. I want it in an IV. I don't want pills. I don't want any pills."
GRIFFIN: Nurse practitioner Cherilyn Lee said Jackson described how Diprivan is administered, and IV drip, instant sleep.
We also know from several sources Jackson traveled with a doctor in the mid-'90s who carried what is described as a mini-clinic complete with IV stents. And we know from Jackson's own friends that sleep problems, past surgeries and injuries left him at times dependent on prescription drugs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was really addicted to these prescription drugs. Is that what --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In my belief, yes. From what I know, he was.
GRIFFIN: While officially investigators have mentioned no drug or drugs, the direction of the investigation has this week pointed towards drugs Michael Jackson may have been taking.
On Monday detectives returned to Jackson's rented home and left with what we are told were medications. The federal DEA was asked to join the investigation, and later in the week, California's attorney general office announced he, too, was involved trying to help trace possible supplies of medications and who may have administered them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
But, Don, this remains a death investigation even though others may be involved in this. There is no crime at this time being alleged.
Don?
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much for that, Drew.
Tonight, I spoke with Officer Jim McDonald, the first assistant police chief of a Los Angeles police department. I asked him about criticism that the LAPD did not secure Jackson's home properly and may not have gotten all the evidence needed to investigate this case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE: Well, as I mentioned, we have good people out there and those people will go to the scene, make the determination. There's always people who will criticize from a distance and feel it should have been done different. I think they make the call at the time based on the information they have. And as the investigation concludes, we'll be able to determine better, maybe things could have been done differently. Maybe they were done absolutely on target. So that's something that remains to be seen, but we're comfortable in moving ahead with the investigation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The assistant chief also told me that Tuesday's service could be the biggest event of its kind ever, but he repeated the pleas of organizers and city officials that anyone without a ticket should just stay home.
And make sure you stay with us for more on the Michael Jackson story. Make sure you join us at the bottom of the hour when Queen Latifah shares her memories of Michael Jackson.
And be sure to tune in for a CNN presents special on the life and music of Michael Jackson, "THE MAN IN THE MIRROR" airs tonight, 11:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.
She says her career as governor of Alaska is about to end. Sarah Palin also lashes out at the media.
Plus, one from legend to another, Dionne Warwick spends time with Michael Jackson's family, and tells us how they are doing.
Also, we want you to be a part of our show tonight. Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com is how you can do that. We'll get your responses on the air.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has made a career out of defying conventional wisdom, and she is at it again. Her stunning announcement that she's going to resign by the end of the month has everybody talking. Her term is supposed to run through December of next year.
During a speech outside her home yesterday, Palin talked about everything from family concerns to a desire to work for political change beyond Alaska.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. SARAH PALIN (R), ALASKA: Though it may be tempting and more comfortable to just kind of keep your head down and plod along and appease those who are demanding, hey, just sit down and shut up, but that's a worthless, easy path out. That's the quitter's way out. And I think a problem in our country is today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just kind of hunker down and go with the flow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, that speech left a lot of people puzzled, but today Governor Palin posted a Facebook message that offers a few clues to her future.
She writes, "The response in the main-stream media has been most predictable, ironic and always detached from the lives of ordinary Americans who are sick of the politics of personal destruction. How sad that Washington and the media will never understand it's about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course, we know by now for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it's right for all, including your family."
Governor Palin ended her Facebook statement with these words. "Now is the time to rebuild and help our nation achieve greatness. God bless you, and I look forward to making a difference with you."
Well, the Palin announcement shocked everyone, it seems, from Washington to her home town of Wasilla, Alaska.
Let's talk about it now with Michael Carey. He's a columnist for the Anchorage Daily News.
Thank you very much, sir.
I've been reading a lot of what you wrote, and you say that this is the end of Sarah Palin politically.
Why do you say that?
MICHAEL CAREY, ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS: That's a pretty definitive statement, but I wrote in the "Los Angeles Times," I don't see how she can recover from this. I don't see how somebody can say I'm running for president and my biggest step is I have this job, it's difficult, I quit.
LEMON: A lot of people are responding to this saying Sarah Palin seems to blame the media a lot for her own faults.
Do you find that true with your writing, and what you hear from people.
CAREY: Well, it's not so much personal with me, but she's been feuding with the Daily News, the Anchorage Daily News, and the other media up here. She's had a very difficult time with what would pass the political establishment up here, the political leaders. She has very little support in the legislature. It's a kind of a sad thing, but there are a lot of people who are glad to see her go in government and public affairs.
LEMON: I would have to say that most Americans believe that hard work and sticking it out even when you're not happy and if you think that it's business as usual, then you work within the system to make that change.
Does Sarah Palin not believe in that?
CAREY: No, I don't think that's the case. I think this is very personal. And she's made it clear. She's very upset about the way she's been treated by the media, as you said, and others. I don't think we really know the whole story here.
Some people up here who think she's going to get some kind of job or career opportunity, or she's going to go on television. We don't know what it is. She may just be fed up with government. But I think everybody, even her supporters, would agree it's very strange for a governor to just say, I don't want to do this anymore. I quit.
LEMON: Yes. There are a whole lot of rumors out there. And if she does have aspirations beyond being governor, for being, you know, to be the president of the United States possibly one day or even vice president, she was on the ticket with John McCain, would it not be best for her, sir, to serve out her term and try to do it in the way that makes a difference in Alaska.
CAREY: Well, people here in Alaska assume that she would do exactly that. She'd serve out her term. She might not run for reelection again, but that she would be willing to serve out her term. So for most of us, it was pretty shocking and pretty strange, and we don't know what's next.
LEMON: There's a lot of rumors out there. Do you think that this is something personal that we don't know about with her?
CAREY: I think it's personal in the sense that --
LEMON: Or does she have bigger aspirations?
CAREY: You know, Sherlock Holmes said, "Investigating a crime scene, rule out the obvious." I'm not saying this is a crime at all. That's not what I'm saying. But if you just look at her situation, I think she just didn't want to do this anymore. And found that she was in too many conflicts and too unhappy, and there may be economic opportunities that come in this. There's a conspiracy theory, mostly on the left, that the federal government is going to indict her. I'm very skeptical of that. That there's some big court case weighing on her. I'm very skeptical of that. My impression is she just became very unhappy and didn't want to be governor.
LEMON: Michael Carey, a columnist for the Anchorage Daily News.
Thank you, Michael.
CAREY: Thank you.
LEMON: It is President Obama's first 4th of July in the White House. His message to U.S. soldiers.
Plus, one of the first daughters is also celebrating tonight.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Families of military members were invited to the White House today for the 4th of July. The president and first lady played host to about 1,200 families providing barbecue, music and entertainment. President Obama also spoke to the crowd about their sacrifices on behalf of the Iraqi people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because the courage and capability and commitment of every single American who has served in Iraq, a sovereign and united Iraq is taking control of its own destiny. Iraq's future now rests in the hands of its own people. It's extraordinary accomplishment as that is, we know that this transition won't be without problems. We know there will be difficult days ahead. And that's why we will remain a strong partner to the Iraqi people on behalf of their security and prosperity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: And America's birthday is also a special day for first daughter Malia Obama. It is her 11th birthday. Twenty of her young friends joined the first family at Camp David, the presidential retreat in the mountains of Maryland to help celebrate.
Happy birthday to Malia.
Even though they're far from home, troops in Iraq are not letting the holiday pass without making the best of it. Somewhere in that thick yellow haze, you see right there, the all-American pass time of softball was the order of the day at Camp Hammer.
Now despite the cycling heat and heavy sandstorms, both sides played hard, and boy, did they played to win. Also marking the 4th in Iraq, Vice President Joe Biden. Among his official duties today was presiding over the Naturalization Ceremony for 237 service members, swearing them in as American citizens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: On this 4th of July, I'm reminded that you're carrying the torch of our founding fathers of 233 years ago. And, yes, as of today, they're your founding fathers. So get used to it, guys. They're your founding fathers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Adding to the symbolism, the ceremony was held in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces.
In Afghanistan, fierce gun battles today in the eastern province of Paktika claimed the lives of two U.S. service members. Military official say at least 42 Taliban fighters were also killed as they launched two separate attacks on American posts.
To the south, thousands of U.S. Marines this week moved into the southern province of Helmand, one of the largest military operations in the region to date. Helmand is more than a Taliban stronghold. It was once the bread basket of Afghanistan with bumper crops of wheat and corn. Well, today, those crops have been largely replaced by opium poppies, the raw material for heroin, morphine and other narcotics. Ninety percent of the world's Opium comes from Afghanistan. And Helmand is the center of opium production in Afghanistan.
Fireworks are a joy to watch, but they can also be deadly. Fourth of July turns deadly in the south.
Also, the queen speaks out about her idol.
Queen Latifah remembers Michael Jackson.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The annual Essence Festival is under way this weekend in New Orleans. It has become the premier showcase for African-American art and culture in the country. Take a look at these live pictures coming from there.
Is that Bootsy Collins I see on stage?
And this year, due to the untimely death of Michael Jackson, nearly every musician and performer are paying their respects.
All over the big easy, Jackson's signature songs are being performed through the unique filter of New Orleans jazz. Not a mourning, but a celebration of his life. Organizers believe this year's festival will set a record crowd. It is a veritable who's who of African-American celebrities, movie stars, musicians and performers. And all of them seem to be struggling to understand the death of Michael Jackson.
Listen to what singer and actress Queen Latifah had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUEEN LATIFAH, ACTRESS AND SINGER: It's just such a -- I don't even -- every time I try to figure out how I feel about this, I don't know how to feel, because it happened so suddenly.
He is the greatest entertainer to ever live. He's the greatest entertainer ever. I grew up with this guy. You know, little kid, me and my brother in the kitchen, you know with the Jackson 5, you know, trying to robot and all this kind of stuff when we're little kids. You know, I mean, there's so many memories that you have of him, and they all reflect so many of the songs that he created.
His work with Quincy Jones, this is the way they lined up together and just made magic happen. His dancing, how natural he was. I was just watching "Thriller," and I'm like, how many people who are out there can dance as good as the train dancers in their own video? Michael. Janet.
You know what I mean, they can definitely do it. Justin maybe. Usher. There ain't too many of them. But definitely nobody like him, you know, who today -- until today, these choreography, these routines stand up. There's nothing like it. Again, there's never been anything like it. But I think one of the beautiful things -- I mean, I hope that he's remembered for that beautiful spirit, that fun, mischievousness that you see in the "Scream" video. That you see and remembered at time.
You know, I love that side of Michael, when he's just being bad and just tricking somebody or running, you know, just doing something really funny, being like playful. But also that he really cared about people.
He seemed to always care all his life about other people. And as much as he was in front of the camera, it just didn't -- he didn't seem like the kind of person that would just take from someone or do someone wrong. He seemed like he genuinely cared about other people. I hope that people remember him for that and his music.
And how basically, you know, he opened up the world to people like me. He was international. I never saw a black man really who wasn't in politics travel the world like he did, getting the love that he did from all kinds of people who couldn't even speak English, who would dress like him and sing his songs and cry at the sight of him. He brought that kind of joy, that kind of emotion out of people.
To this day, you know, when you see a whole prison full of Koreans, you know, dancing, doing his -- I mean, it's awesome. It's really awesome. And that's what I hope people really, really remember about him. Just how great he was as an entertainer. And how much he did for us. He definitely did that much for us as black people because he showed a different version of who we were seen as around the world.
You know, we're not the thug, we're not the criminal, which is what you would see a lot back in the days when you'd go overseas and you look at TV. It's always like black people being shown in some derogatory way. Or either we're starving, you know. Or either we're a dictator, you know. But Michael made us -- he showed what we could really be. How amazing we could be. How talented we could be. How smart we could be. What great business people we could be. You know, what family people we could be. So it's just like I'm really honored. And it's just sad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The queen talking about Michael Jackson. Queen Latifah.
Do do bop, ti di bop (ph) -- you know what that was. That was dancing machine that she was doing there. Great song.
Make sure you tune in for a CNN presents special on the life and music of Michael Jackson. "MAN IN THE MIRROR" airs tonight at 11:00 p.m. Eastern, only here on CNN.
Let's go back live now to New Orleans. I couldn't see the monitor earlier. I said, is that Bootsy? No, that is Charley Wilson. Charley Wilson, former lead singer of the Gap Band on stage. And a lot of people here paying tribute to Michael Jackson at the Essence Festival down in New Orleans.
Memories of Michael Jackson. We'll talk to music legend Dionne Warwick who just visited the Jackson Family.
Plus, a growing moment, a crowning moment on America's birthday. For the past -- for the first time since 9/11, the Statue of Liberty's crown is open to the public again. We'll take you to New York.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: A tragic start to the Fourth of July holiday today in North Carolina in the outer banks. A truck carrying fireworks blew up while being unloaded at the dock of the Okra Coke Island. Two people died and three were critically hurt. Ferry service to the island was temporarily shut down, but has since resumed.
Lightning is blamed for another July 4th tragedy in Florida. Sheriff's officials in Polk County say a church group had gathered to celebrate the holiday when the lightning struck. One person died. More than a dozen others were injured.
Investigators are on the scene of a plane crash in Southern California. The privately-owned aircraft crashed near an airport about 100 miles north of Los Angeles killing the two people onboard. A fire department spokesman says the crash sparked a large grass fire, but no one on the ground was hurt. The victims haven't been identified.
What was it like to work with Michael Jackson on one of his most personal songs? We'll talk to the man behind "Have You Seen my Childhood."
Also, Queen Latifah speaks out about her idol here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPEC. DANIEL CALKIN, U.S. ARMY, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN: Hi, my name is Specialist Daniel Calkin from (INAUDIBLE) Georgia. Just want to wish my family a happy Fourth of July. And special mention to my wife. I love you, babe. I'll be home soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. And a full transparency. I wanted to get this story earlier in our newscast, but we had problems with getting the video out of Iran. The government of Iran has successfully shut down most large street demonstrations, but the protests have not been silent.
For the 21st straight night, protesters have used rooftops at night to shout Allah Akbar. A vocal expression of their displeasure over last month's disputed presidential election. The former president Rafsanjani who backed opposition candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was quoted today in the Iranian media in support of the protesters.
Rafsanjani had been largely silent in recent weeks. Well, today, he said the election brought an awakened consciousness to the country, but the aftermath has left a bitter taste.
We tried to get that story earlier, but we had problem getting video out of Iran.
It is the Fourth of July weekend, and we are watching nature's fireworks tonight. So says our Karen Maginnis who joins us from the CNN severe weather center in Atlanta.
Karen?
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much for that, Karen Maginnis.
We want to get you now to Nashville, Tennessee, where a news conference is getting under way in the death of football player Steve McNair.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON AARON, METROPOLITAN NASHVILLE POLICE: I see everybody is still... UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're ready.
AARON: ...everybody ready?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're live.
AARON: All right. An examination of the bodies at the crime scene showed that Steve McNair was shot multiple times. His female friend, Ms. Kazemi, suffered one gunshot wound to the head, it appears at this moment. A pistol was found near Ms. Kazemi's body. Autopsies will be conducted in the morning, and we may be able to (OFF-MIKE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: OK. We're having some problems hearing there in Nashville.
Let's get back to it. Let's get back to it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AARON: Was found close to her body. As far as the circumstances of how the bodies were discovered, shortly before 1:00 today, Wayne Neely, a local sporting goods dealer who is a close friend of Steve McNair's, who co-rents this condominium with McNair, went by, again, shortly before 1:00.
The door was locked. He unlocked the door, went in, saw them on the sofa, saw McNair on the sofa and Ms. Kazemi on the floor. But at first blush, he didn't think anything was wrong. He walked to the kitchen. When he walked back, he saw the blood. He exited the condominium. He telephoned McNair's friend, Robert Gaddy. Robert Gaddy came over to the condominium. And it was Gaddy who called the police department at 1: 35 this afternoon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know when this sort of taken place from?
AARON: We know from a witness that McNair arrived at the condominium in the early morning hours of today, perhaps around 1:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. We know also from that witness that Ms. Kazemi's vehicle, the 2007 Cadillac Escalade, was already there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do we know if they were out at any point last night together, and if that sort of led to what later happened inside the condominium?
AARON: I do not know of where they may have been last night or whether they were together last night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What was their relationship? Do you know what their relationship was?
AARON: Well, from what I understand, she was a friend. She was a friend of McNair's. The vehicle, the 2007 Cadillac Escalade is registered to both her and McNair. And it gives an address of Jefferson Street. And I think he has a restaurant now on Jefferson Street.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was there any activity at the Blue Moon this morning with regard to a woman maybe confronting McNair, accusing her of anything and threatening his life? Have you heard anything about that?
AARON: I'm not aware of anything at Blue Moon.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you heard any reports of him being at Losers last night, the bar on Division?
AARON: I don't know that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Has his wife been investigated?
AARON: Sure. Look, his wife is being question.
Mrs. McNair obviously is very, very distraught by what has taken place. Police department chaplains did visit Michelle McNair at her residence. At this juncture, we do not believe that she is involved, but I need to say also that we have not ruled anything out. While we may be leaning certain ways based on evidence at the scene and wounds on the bodies, we have not ruled anything out. We may be able to make definitive classifications of this case tomorrow after the autopsy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was a note or anything like that left in the apartment?
AARON: I'm not aware of any note.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is she the daughter of A.J. Kazemi?
AARON: I don't know who that is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Even though y'all aren't ruling anything out, does this circumstance look like it could be a murder/suicide?
AARON: Well, I'm going to give you facts and then just let you all report the facts. And again for those who just arrived, let me give you the facts.
An examination of the bodies shows that McNair was hit multiple times including a gunshot wound to the head. An examination of Ms. Kazemi's body shows that she sustained one gunshot wound to the head and a pistol was found near her body. Both individuals were in the living room. McNair was found seated on the sofa. Kazemi was found on the floor very close to McNair.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Given those circumstances, are you all still pursuing, looking for any possible motive, pursuing other suspects? I know you're exhausting all avenues right now, but are you leaning towards one way versus the other or are you still very actively thinking suspects maybe out there?
AARON: The forensic evidence and testing by the medical examiner will essentially lead to the classification of this case. You all know the facts as I have presented them. The deaths are not being classified at this moment. The classifications will be made after the testing, the forensic testing, and the medical examiner's work.
(CROSSTALK)
I'm sorry?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What kind of time frame does that generally entail?
AARON: Well, I was just going to say that Dr. Levy did send a physician to the scene. A doctor from the medical examiner's office was present. He did the examination of the bodies at the condo and that doctor intends on doing the autopsies in the morning. So we would expect to have some classification detail perhaps in the morning or at least after the autopsies.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you know about Ms. Kazemi? Is she from Nashville? (OFF-MIKE)
AARON: Ms. Kazemi was arrested by metro police in the early morning hours of Thursday on a DUI charge. She was driving the Cadillac Escalade on Broadway. She was spotted speeding at 12th and Broad. The stop was actually made at 9th and Broad. At the time the stop was made on Thursday morning in the early morning hours of Thursday, Steve McNair was a passenger in the front seat.
She appeared to be under the influence of something and she was arrested for DUI. McNair was not deemed to be in violation of the law and he was permitted to leave the scene, which he did by taxi cab.
To the best of our knowledge, Ms. Kazemi does not have any family or relatives in the middle Tennessee area. The chaplain made contact within the past 30 minutes with a brother who lives in Florida.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do we know where she was staying in the Nashville area or where she lived? Did she live at that condominium?
AARON: The arrest report on Thursday morning gave an address of an apartment on Bell Road.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does she work here in town? And if so, do you know where?
AARON: To my understanding she worked at Dave and Buster's at Opry Mills mall.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was there any information on the gun, who it may have belonged to, anything at this time?
Can you tell us anything about the weapon?
AARON: No. You all -- when I told you earlier that the scene needed to be meticulously processed and it would take a long time, I meant exactly that. I mean, the gun was not readily apparent as officers first arrived at the scene. The scene was locked down and police department crime scene experts responded with the latest in technology to go over the scene. And it was later in the processing that the gun was actually discovered. The bodies were not moved until the medical examiner's staff arrived and that was about the same time as the torrential rain hit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is there -- are there still people being questioned by investigators tonight? Are you looking for anyone?
AARON: I think the best way to answer that, John, is at this moment, nothing has been ruled out. But as far as actively looking for a suspect at this moment tonight, the answer would be no. We'll be with the medical examiner tomorrow. The detectives will be with the medical examiner tomorrow as the autopsies are conducted. And I would suspect that we'll have something to say sometime tomorrow.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Certainly you guys are sensitive on any murder scene, but the fact that this involves a celebrity of this caliber, can you just talk about that?
AARON: Well, all murder scenes generate the same type of police response. The same experts who came to this scene come to all murder scenes, those including -- who are not well-known.
Mr. McNair's death is very tragic. Yes, he is a very familiar face in Nashville and across the country. But the crime scene experts, the detectives who are working this case, work cases day in and day out of persons who don't have that same notoriety.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. That is Don Aaron with the Metro Nashville police department. You hear him talking about this case involving former quarterback Steve McNair who was found dead earlier today by a friend.
I just want to go over some of the points here as I was taking notes. He's saying that he believes that McNair arrived at the home of this young lady, who are they only calling Ms. Kazemi, overnight about 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning.
This morning a friend telephoned the home, did not get an answer. Then went by the house, did not notice anything wrong at first. He saw one person on the couch and then, who would be Mr. McNair and then Ms. Kazemi on the floor. Police are saying that Steve McNair had multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
He was shot multiple times, including gunshot wounds to the head. She was shot once in the head. A pistol was found nearby. They're expecting to have an autopsy in the morning. And, again, also very interesting, they're saying on Thursday that this Ms. Kazemi who was found dead today was picked up on a DUI charge. She was speeding in Nashville. Mr. McNair left in a taxi cab. Of course, they took her away. They're not saying what the exact relationship was between the two. They're also saying at this point that they are not looking for a suspect. So you decide what is going on. They're saying that the Cadillac Escalade that was at the home that also she was driving on Thursday when he was picked up registered to both Ms. Kazemi and to Steve McNair, registered to a restaurant on Jefferson Street, which McNair co-owned.
They're saying that Mr. McNair's wife is distraught. They don't believe she's involved, but they're not ruling anything out. But, again, if you look at the circumstances here, you can make up your own mind as to what went on in this situation.
Police expect to have some sort of answer about how this happened tomorrow after forensics experts start looking into these two bodies and combing over them. We're going to have the very latest on this, including the very latest on the Michael Jackson investigation as well when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You know, it's been a tough week for Americans looking for work. The government says 467,000 more jobs were lost in June. The first time in four months that the number of job losses rose from the month before. Overall, we've lost 6.5 million jobs since December of 2007.
Maintaining any type of business in a recession is a challenge, but how about a small business offering products for less while also trying to turn a profit?
CNN's Stephanie Elam takes a look at one business that others can learn from.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
XAVIER HELGESEN, CO-FOUNDER, BETTER WORLD BOOKS: We thought, wow, like, there's all these books out there, that the bookstores would just say, no, I don't want it, but there's totally value in those books. You've just got to get them and efficiently get them up on the Internet, and then someone will buy them.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Building and maintaining a successful small business in this environment is a challenge, one that Xavier Helgesen and his partners Kreece Fuchs and Jeff Kurtzman know all too well.
When they were in school, the bookstore wouldn't buy back their used textbooks, so they tried selling them on Half.com. It worked and the idea took on a whole new chapter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's some great stuff in there. That I promise you.
ELAM: With more than two million books at any given time in this Mishawaka, Indiana, warehouse, the owners of Better World Books think they have a book for everyone and a small business plan others can follow. HELGESEN: We bring a lot of stuff in, even in full truckloads, so we'll bring about 50,000 pounds of books in at once, drop it off in the bay here and then put it up on the shelves.
ELAM (on camera): After funding the business themselves for the first five years, the founders got a Small Business Administration credit line in 2004, followed by a $2.4 million venture capital investment in 2008. All to build up the Web site and the Better World Books brand.
As other small businesses have struggled, Helgesen and partners have seen their revenues grow from $4 million a year in 2005 to a projected $31 million in 2009 and all the time helping others buy books at a cheap price.
HELGESEN: The cheapest they find would be $3.48 with free shipping.
ELAM (voice-over): The books are donated by libraries, bookstores and college campuses from across the country. Every day, Better World brings in 40,000 to 50,000 books, sending just as many out.
HELGESEN: We've sold orders up to 5,000 books at once and we sell a lot of single book orders. So our average order is 3,000 or 4,000 books.
ELAM: The Better World founders built the company on the foundation of the broke college student. So textbook deals remain at the heart of the business.
HELGESEN: What's cool about us is we price them at market level. So you may be getting a $100 book for $10. That happens every day here.
ELAM: And Better World Books believes in giving back. It donates five to 10 percent of its revenue back into the hands of libraries and literacy programs around the world.
Stephanie Elam, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, Stephanie.
A family in mourning. Singer Dionne Warwick, a close Michael Jackson friend, spend the last two days with the Jackson Family. She tells us how they're doing.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Earlier tonight, we had a couple of very special interviews with people close to Michael Jackson.
First, I had a chance to talk with producer and songwriter Damon Elliott and his mom, the legendary entertainer Dionne Warwick, after learning of Jackson's death. Ms. Warwick went to California to be with the Jackson Family. She told me how they are coping.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DIONNE WARWICK, SINGER (via telephone): I flew out to Los Angeles a couple of days ago. And these past two days, I've been at the home and had time to spend with Katherine and the rest of the family. And this is -- it's a very difficult time for them as, you know, we all should understand that.
But I know that the family is strong enough. They'll get through this. It's going to take a bit of time. It's going to take a lot of time for a lot of other people who were dear to Michael, and thought of him as a loving, giving, caring, sharing person that he was. And he will be remembered for that, believe me.
LEMON: And Damon, I'll give you the last word about your friend, Michael Jackson.
DAMON ELLIOTT, DIONNE WARWICK'S SON: I just want to say, Mike, wherever you are, we all love you, the world loves you. We mourn together, and I just want to let the brothers and sisters know and Katherine know and Joe and everybody at the house that anything you need, we're there. We're there for you.
LEMON: Damon Elliott, who is a producer and a successful entertainer, entertainment person in his own right. And his mom, who just happens to be the talented Dionne Warwick, very close friends with the Jackson Family.
Can you please give them our condolences, OK?
WARWICK: Certainly.
ELLIOTT: Yes. Certainly.
LEMON: Thank you both very much. And sorry for your loss.
WARWICK: Thank you.
WARWICK: Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. Dionne Warwick and her son, Damon Elliott.
You can watch that entire interview, go to our blog. Go to cnn.com/newsroom. Click on Don. You can see that interview as well as the interview, a full interview with a record producer and songwriter, Bruce Swedien. He wrote with Michael, "Have You seen my childhood."
We have the very latest on the Michael Jackson investigation, plus Steve McNair's mysterious death after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: All right. We have some sad news to report. We have been telling you about the death of former quarterback Steve McNair, found mysteriously in a condominium in Nashville, Tennessee, earlier today. Police say that he was found with a woman. He was shot multiple times, including gunshot wounds to the head. They found a pistol on the scene. Details to come.
I'm Don Lemon. I'll see you back here tomorrow night. Good night, everyone. Thanks for watching.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
