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At Least 12 Killed In Colorado Movie Theater; Suspect Identified As James Holmes

Aired July 20, 2012 - 10:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again everyone, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, Carol Costello is off today. This hour we have team coverage of breaking news.

We now know the name of the suspect blamed for the movie theater shooting spree. He has been identified as 24-year-old James Holmes.

Here is what we know about him. The suspect threw a smoke bomb and then opening fire during an early morning screening of "The Dark Knight Rises". Police say 12 people were killed, 38 more wounded. A three-month-old baby is among the wounded.

James Holmes, the suspect, surrendered to police in the theatre's rear parking lot. A witness to the shooting described what he saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody kicked the emergency exit and started throwing gas grenades and started shooting something people at random.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is that movie theatre number 9?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Number 9, which is the one I was in?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what did you do?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At first it took me a second to realize what was actually going on and as people were running away, I hit the ground so I wouldn't be hit. All I saw was -- I heard the sound of metal canisters clinking around and then I saw plumes of smoke.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: A federal law enforcement official says the suspect had four weapons a rifle, a shotgun and two handguns. Officials say he acted alone. Police searched the suspect's residence believing there may be explosives there. No explosives were found.

We expect to hear more from police at a news conference roughly three hours or so from now. So for more on the suspect, 24- year-old James Holmes, let's bring in Susan Candiotti in New York who will tell us more about how he was apprehended and what investigators have uncovered so far. SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, according to federal law enforcement officials are trying to piece together exactly what happened not only from their own investigation, but also what they're getting from witnesses who were inside the theatre.

So they're saying that when he showed up inside the theatre, officials are telling us that he went to the front of the theatre, propped open an exit door and then began to gear up with the weapons that he had with him as you already talked about some of them already having been recovered.

Geared up then threw that canister, which appeared to be a smoke bomb of some kind and began shooting before eventually surrendering to authorities.

Now among those weapons, he had what is being described to us by officials and sources as an AK-47 type weapon that would be able to fire off multiple rounds one right after another and have a magazine containing obviously a lot of bullets.

In addition to a rifle and two handguns that were also located. And of course, the search of that important -- the search of his apartment also very key to this investigation, there was initial concern that it might have been booby trapped and the finding of chemicals and additional weapons inside that apartment.

So they had to be very careful as they were making approach. As you heard so far, no explosives have been found, but that search of course still being conducted -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And Susan, there have been, you know, eyewitness accounts, people who have been described, you know, very similar to what officials are now concluding that tear gas was used, there was a loading and reloading and firing of weapons.

What more can police, I guess, kind of extrapolate from this scene as to what they may have been able to locate in his apartment or maybe in that vehicle?

CANDIOTTI: Well, of course, a key question is did he act alone. And it appears that is the case at this time, but one of the things they'll be looking at very important here are those weapons as they begin to trace back where those weapons came from.

How did he acquire them? Were they stolen? Where did they originate? Where were they purchased? These are the kinds of things that will help provide more clues about how he was able to get a hold of these weapons to carry out this attack.

WHITFIELD: All right, Susan Candiotti, thanks so much for that update. Appreciate that.

All right, so moments after the shooting, eyewitnesses started taking video and pictures on their cell phones and the images started going up online right away. Check out this video from inside the lobby of the theatre. We're also hearing more from the people who were inside that very theatre where the shooting took place, including one woman who described the scene, the shooter and what she did in an attempt to stay safe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He came in and he started lighting a gas can and he threw it into the crowd. At that point, he shot his first fire into the ceiling to scare everybody and they just start scattering and mass chaos just happened.

At that point, he went from here to here and he just pointed the gun at me. I was terrified so I just dove down into the aisle. And at that point, he started shooting people behind me and I had bullets that were, you know, on my forehead, burning my forehead.

And I just told myself. I need to get out of here. I need to get out of here. So I just like stood there for a second, I crawled on the ground and I just laid in a ball and waited for him to go up the stairs.

And I said the second he goes up the stairs to my friend, we got to crawl. We got to out of here. At that point, you know, I was trying to crawl out, but then everybody was crawling back in.

And they're saying don't go over there. He's going to shoot everybody that's trying to get out of the main doors and he was. And all I hear was just gunshots after gunshot and just women and children are screaming and you know, and he had a gas mask so I couldn't see his face.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: President Barack Obama will be discussing today's tragedy at his first event in Florida today. It is scheduled for 11:20 Eastern Time and of course, we'll be bringing that to you live.

Meantime, the president did release a statement earlier today. Dan Lothian is traveling with the president in Fort Myers with more on what the statement says and how that might differ from what we're going to hear the president say later on today.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The president was scheduled to make two campaign shops on the second stay of his Florida trip.

This one where we're at now in Fort Myers and the second one just outside Orlando, but the Obama re-election campaign saying that event just outside of Orlando has been cancelled so President Obama can head back to Washington.

The remarks that the president will make here at about 11:20 or so, so a little bit more than an hour from now will be the first public remarks that the president has made in reaction to the shooting in Colorado.

But earlier this morning, the White House did release a statement from the president saying that the president and the first lady were saddened and shocked by the tragic events.

The statement also saying in part, quote, "My administration is going to do everything that we can do to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time."

And the president going on to say that we are committed to bringing whoever was responsible for this to justice. Now President Obama according to White House aides was briefed this morning by John Brenna who is his assistant for Homeland Security.

Obviously the White House staying on top of this situation and again, expected to hear the president's first comments, public comments on this a little bit more than an hour from now -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Dan Lothian, for bringing that to us. And of course, then after that, as you just reported, the president then heading back to the White House.

Let's talk with U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter. This is his district in which the shooting took place in Aurora, Colorado just after midnight, Colorado time.

Where a suspect walked into a movie theatre where everyone was expecting to enjoy the premier of "The Dark Knight Rises," the latest Batman movie opened fire killing 12, injuring 38.

So Congressman, I understand that you've just talked to law enforcement authorities. What are they telling you?

REPRESENTATIVE ED PERLMUTTER (D), COLORADO: I have been on the phone with the chief of police and the United State attorney there as well as some city council members.

It's a scene where I think the Aurora police responded quickly and apprehended this crazed character, I have called him a cuss word a few times. I'll try to keep my words cleaner.

They responded quickly. There were so many people that were shot. The police officers were taking folks in their cars to the neighborhood hospitals.

We have a number of hospitals in that region and, you know, here's a young man who obviously is -- he had access to some very high powered weapons and he hurt a lot of people and it's terrible.

WHITFIELD: And those are some of the questions that are going on asked, just how long ago might this gentleman have received these weapons, how did he get them.

We are talking about a state, a place in which people are allowed to carry their weapons in their vehicles. That's not unusual.

But now when we talk about some of the weapons being described, AK-47, possibly, a rifle and two handguns that this suspect may have had when opening fire in that movie theatre.

What does that tell you about the direction in which these discussions or investigations will go as it pertains to the weaponry involved?

PERLMUTTER: Well, there's going to be time to figure out exactly what kind of weapons he was using, where he acquired them? Whether he should have ever acquired them?

I mean, right now it's about, you know, making sure that the people who were shot and are alive get the best medical care possible and that we pray and do our best to console folks who have been hurt by this tragedy.

We'll figure out, you know, whether this was somebody who was crazy who should never have had access to these kinds of weapons, that we'll find out.

You know, I -- personally, I got a -- the White House called me about 5:00 east coast time. We had boats last night. I got texted about 5:00 this morning, from the White House alerting me to this.

And then a short while later, I got a call from one of my kids, who, you know, was planning to go to the movie tonight, not at this theatre, but one nearby.

You know, for every parent, for every citizen, for everybody who enjoys the great things that we have in this country, and certainly we have in Colorado, this kind of thing sets you back.

But we'll figure it out and we'll pick ourselves up. And we will console and sympathize and we'll pray for everybody and then we'll come together and move forward.

WHITFIELD: Congressman Ed Perlmutter, thanks so much for your time. Appreciate that. And of course, our hearts go out to all those victims involved in this tragic occurrence taking place in that Aurora movie theatre after midnight time.

Meantime, that theatre, Century 16 is owned by Cinemark Theatres and they have since released a statement about all that took place. His Timothy Warner is a representative of Cinemark Theatres.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIMOTHY WARNER, CEO, CINEMARK THEATERS: Our thoughts, prayers and focus are on the families and their victims and our employees and the Aurora community. We're also very, very grateful for the quick response of the police department and the emergency response teams, which undoubtedly saved a lot of lives by their quick response.

At this time, we really don't have a lot more facts or information than is out there in the public press. As we get more information, we will issue an additional press statement, but for right now, our whole focus and concerns are on the victims, their families and our employees. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Again, that comment coming from Timothy Warner who represents Cinemark Theatres, which owns that Century 16 Theatres, which just endured this horrific shooting just after midnight.

So there's a name to the suspect, James Holmes, 24 years old. It's believed according to authorities that he was armed with an AK-47 like weaponry, a rifle, and two handguns.

Our Joe Johns is looking into that end of the story and how investigators proceed with how James Holmes may have obtained these weapons, how long ago, and really some more specificity about the weapons in and of itself -- Joe.

JOE JOHNS, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Fred, that's right. This is the kind of situation that puts authorities around the country on the spot, because they obviously don't know who might think of some type of a copy crime, if you will.

We're beginning to see some fallout in other parts of the country already. We've heard about New York, now in Montgomery County, Maryland, which as you know is a suburb of Washington, D.C., which is a place where a number of the beltway sniper shootings occurred many years ago.

The police chief here, Tom Manger, out of an abundance of caution is saying he is planning to step up the presence of police officers at movie theatres this weekend.

Meanwhile, all this in the wake of the notion that federal authorities on the ground are telling us in Colorado that after they have secured the crime scenes and the suspect's home, which is still a work in process.

They are going to have to start tracing these firearms. I heard you talking to congressmen just a few minutes ago. These firearms, at least we know right now.

There are at least four of them, an AK type weapon described as an assault weapon, if you will, assault rifle, two handguns and a shotgun.

Now the question for authorities as we talked to them in Colorado is where do these things come from? How did this alleged shooter get a hold of them?

Were the firearms legally registered and was the alleged shooter properly allowed to get control of such weapons and that's the kind of investigation that we have seen before after you have had one of those mass shootings -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Joe, while we're talking, we're also seeing images that were taken earlier and this when authorities raced to the apartment complex where James Holmes, the suspect lived. At first they were told there might be explosives there, it might be booby trapped. We since learned from authorities it wasn't booby trapped, but they continue to combed through the apartment complex, which is only about two miles or so from the Aurora, Colorado movie theatre where the shootings took place.

So I'm wondering if authorities are hoping that some of the answers to the questions that you were talking that they'll be exploring might be located right in that apartment as they look through any personal fire, look for receipts, look for computer records et cetera, right at his place of residence.

JOHNS: Absolutely, the other thing I think you have to say at this stage. It's been several hours and people are all assuming that it's all over, the shooting is done. The alleged shooter has been taken into custody.

But for the authorities, at this stage, there's still a question of whether the crime is actually ongoing, and what I mean by that is whether there's something inside the apartment that might be dangerous to them.

That might somehow hurt the first responders, the people who are showing up and trying to go through all of that stuff. So as they get to the point where they're certain the crime is over and get to the investigation phase.

They can certainly go through everything in that apartment and find out whether there was something that could be used to track back and find out actually what happened.

WHITFIELD: All right, their job really just beginning. Joe Johns, thanks so much in Washington. Appreciate that.

Let's go to the place of the attack where it all happened. That Century 16 Movie Theatre there in Aurora, Colorado just about 20 miles or so outside of Denver, Colorado.

That's where we find our Ed Lavandera. He's on the phone with us. You're just getting there, but give us an idea of the scene right now roughly eight hours after that crime occurred.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Good morning, Fredricka. Well, we have just -- we've got here as you mentioned in Aurora, Colorado and just landed and trying to get a sense of the scene here.

We're standing about 200 yards away from the movie theatre and law enforcement here has completely cordoned off the parking lot surrounding the movie theatre where the shooting took place last night.

Just trying to get a sense of where it is, it's in a massive parking lot that's connected to a large shopping mall and all of this, many of the streets for many blocks surrounding this movie theatre have been cordoned off as law enforcement again to process going inside the movie theatre and assessing the crime scene and gathering the evidence.

You see that they have set up a mobile crime lab in the parking lot. You see all different types of law enforcement officers that are going in and out of the theatre doing the work that they need to do in these hours.

We have had a chance to speak with a couple of witnesses, one gentleman who was inside the theatre when the shooting broke out and he described the chaotic scene. He was sitting in the back and he said he could clearly vividly remember the look of the gunman with the gas mask over his face.

And this cancer erupting and smoke filling up in the room and the chaotic scene describing the moments where the gun fire -- he said he heard at least 15 to 20 gunshots erupting inside that movie theatre.

So the theatre was packed. He had come with a group of friends to enjoy this evening, and it felt like they had been in there for hours after the shooting erupted.

Interestingly enough, we also spoke -- the movie was playing in a couple of theatres, and right next door, another of the Batman movies was playing as well.

And we spoke with the witness who was inside there who actually described that there was a point in the movie where there was a big gun fire scene so it was hard to differentiate what were real bullets and what was going on in the movie screen, which added to the chaos inside the theatre at that moment.

And what was incredible about the story is that the man in the theatre next door to where the shooting actually took place, he described that the bullets were actually going through the wall and actually had grazed the neck of a friend of his that's actually being treated in the hospital this morning.

So bullets according to this witness flying through the walls and hitting several people who were in the theatre next door where the gunman had originally walked in.

WHITFIELD: Horrible situation impacting so many lives. Again, as we understand, death toll 12, injured 38. Ed Lavandera, thanks so much for keeping us posted. We'll have much more on our continuing coverage after this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was this one guy who was on all fours crawling. There was this girl spitting up blood. There were bullet holes in some people's backs, some people's arms. There was this one guy that had stripped down to just his boxers. It looked like he had been shot in the back of something, it was crazy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The president of the United States extending his sympathies to the victims in that massacre taking place at a movie theatre in Colorado.

Our Dan Lothian is traveling with the president right now in Florida. And the president has just been briefed once again by some of these contacts, what are they telling him?

LOTHIAN: That's right. Getting a little bit more information, you know, initially we have reported that the president first got his briefing at 5:26 this morning by John Brennan, his assistant from Homeland Security.

Well, now we're hearing from Jay Carney during his gaggle on the way here to Fort Myers that before arriving at the airport to arrive -- to fly here to Fort Myers, the president was again briefed by the director of the FBI, Robert Mueller and also by John Brennan again, and his Chief of Staff, Jack Lew.

So the president very much staying on top of this situation. We have also learned that the first lady's event in Virginia has been cancelled and other events that were on the schedule for the vice president.

Those have been cancelled as well. In terms of how the president reacted when he was first told about this tragedy in Colorado, we're told that the president was at least relieved that the situation had ended.

That there were no additional threats to occur and then one final note, according to the White House, Jay Carney, the incident happened about three blocks away from the police headquarters and that's why officials were able to react in such quick fashion -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Wow, incredible. All right, thanks so much, Dan Lothian. Appreciate that.

Let's talk more about the direction of the investigation, the FBI is now part of it and they're looking into this shooting involving suspect 24-year-old James Holmes.

Tom Fuentes is a former assistant director of the FBI. He's also a CNN contributor and he's joining me again now from Washington. Tom, good to see you again. So what will be the priority for the FBI?

TOM FUENTES, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, the priority initially will be to determine whether he's a lone gunman or part of a terrorist organization or some other group of individuals deciding to commit violence acts against society.

As of now, the FBI has determined that he seems to be a lone gunman. He doesn't appear to be a member of any other organization, but that would be the primary focus and then to lend whatever other assistance can be lent to the Aurora Police Department.

And again, the local police department, the Aurora PD is the lead agency. Their chief is in charge this being assisted by the FBI, being assisted by ATF, of course.

Because you're going to have record checks trying to trace the weapons and trying to determine if there are any other explosive devices. So the investigation will be going on in a very large scale for several days.

WHITFIELD: And how involve will the FBI be in determining how those weapons were retrieved, you know, the legalities or otherwise as to how, you know, this suspect may have gotten these weapons or is that another entity on the federal investigation?

FUENTES: No, all of the agencies will be working together. In that case of the weapons, the tracing of the weapons will probably be primarily done by ATF, trying to determine whether this individual, where Holmes acquired the weapons, from a gun shop, were it legal, determine whether he stole the weapons.

So that part of the investigation will be jointly done by a number of agencies. Again, one police agency or federal law enforcement agency is really never enough in this because they want to do as many interviews, cover as many leads as quickly as possible.

They can't do one and then when they finish that do the next one. They have to do as many as possible all at once in a very quick hurry. So they have to determine he's not part of a larger group and then of course, all the police all over the country are going to be watching out now for copycats in other movie theatres or other venues where a large number of people gather.

WHITFIELD: Of course, we're hearing about that setup security in New York at theatres and many of the boroughs there. Thanks so much, Tom Fuentes. Appreciate that.

So this clearly was a very well planned attack. The gunman, wearing a mask, wearing a bullet-proof vest and then we understand also using tear gas in this attack.

So it was that gas that distracted so many of the victims. We look closer into what impact that tear gas had in this situation.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back. And welcome again to our international viewers watching us on CNN International. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Carol Costello.

Updating our breaking news now out of Colorado, we now know the name of the suspect blamed for that movie theatre shooting spree. He has been identified as 24-year-old James Holmes. Here's what else we know.

The suspect threw a smoke bomb and then opened fire during an early morning screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" a new Batman movie. Police say 12 people are dead, 38 more wounded.

A 3-month-oold baby is among the wounded. James Holmes, the suspect, surrendered to police in the theatre's rear parking lot. A federal law enforcement source says Holmes had four weapons.

Authorities searched Holmes' apartment nearby for possible explosives. No explosives have been found, but they continue to comb it for any other type of evidence.

And before the suspect opened fire on that crowd of unsuspecting movie goers, federal officials say the gunman deployed this tear gas, which sent some of the victims to local hospitals for treatment of just that.

Here's how two of the people inside that theatre described that moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All I smelled was gunpowder in the air and I was just terrified and the gas was getting to me and I was having a hard time breathing and I told them I was like if we don't get out of here, I'm going to suffocate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It exploded underneath our seats and then we realize it's tear gas. Just right away our eyes were stinging and it was hard to breathe. And me and my friend here have asthma so it was even more difficult for us to breathe so we couldn't move anywhere if we wanted to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joining now with more on the tear gas, smoke gas. What it does to a body, how debilitating it seems to have been for so many eyewitnesses there.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I mean we just heard it from them. So tear gas is in the cyano-carbon family. So it's actually in the cyanide family. And so as you can hear how toxic that is and we think of tear gas and the indications are that this is tear gas as affecting the eyes, but it's so much more than just the eyes. It affects the breathing. It irritates the lungs. I mean it really is - it's debilitating --

WHITFIELD: Paralyzing.

COHEN: It's paralyzing especially because you think about it, it's a relatively small, enclosed space. You know we hear a lot about people disbursing tear gas like to -- to disperse crowds outside. That's not this, there's no wind, you're not outside, you're in a room.

WHITFIELD: So perhaps doing two things here presenting like a shield, you know, perhaps for this suspect, people can't really make out who this person is but at the same time keeping many people from moving, from running, going because it makes it difficult to breathe and see.

COHEN: Right, he wanted to multiply the damage that he was doing.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

COHEN: And he did that.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much. Elizabeth Cohen I appreciate that.

All right, this tragedy will no doubt stay with the victims and the witnesses for a very long time. So how can they cope with this? And what will the impact potentially be? We'll be looking at that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My friend sitting next to me turned towards me and she -- she got -- part of a bullet hit her in the mouth and she was bleeding through the mouth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Welcome back. More on our Breaking News coverage. News of this deadly shooting in Colorado spread quickly in the moments after it happened.

Our affiliate KUSA talked to one man about how he learned his friend was one of the people shots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My friend Paul got a text. And he just said that my friend had gotten shot. And so I was like wait, what, like what's going on? What's going on? And he's like you know pushing all of us away and so my friend Steve, he was like yelled he got shot. So we all run down to his house and you know I'm here, I'm not going to leave.

I don't care, I'm not supposed to be at work at 10:00 in the morning, I'm not going. You know what I'm saying because that's irrelevant to me. You know what I'm saying, I'd rather be at my friend's side and make sure that he's all right.

I'm furious about the person that done this, like I don't understand why people do things like this. You know it's -- it's crazy. It's disgusting. You understand, I'm angry about it. And I'm a firm believer in God and so all I can do now is pray.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And we're learning a lot more now since that shooting taking place more than eight hours ago of the suspect taken into custody by police. He is James Holmes, 24 years old, born on December 13, 1987. He lived in an apartment just about four miles or so from the theater according to KUSA.

And police have been searching his apartment. But they have not found any explosives inside. The suspect apparently told them that they might. Aurora police spokesman, Frank Fania gave some of the details of James Holmes capture to CNN's "EARLY START".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK FANIA, AURORA POLICE SPOKESMAN (via telephone): He did not resist, he did not put up a fight. I don't know the exact details if the officers surprised him or how it actually happened, but I know some of the first officers that arrived within, I don't know if it was seconds, maximum a couple of minutes, found him behind the theater at his car and took him into custody there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Now, we can't forget about the victims in all of this. At least 12 lives lost, 38 people injured, including a three- month-old baby. Of course this can be an incredibly traumatizing and it is a traumatizing experience.

The Red Cross is in Aurora offering mental health professionals as well for counseling. Jeff Gardere is ringing us right now from New York. He's a clinical psychologist and a forensic psychologist. It's good to see you, Jeff.

JEFF GARDERE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: Great to see you Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: So you know we're hearing from these witnesses recall and kind of recount over and over again what happened. I wonder just for starters how helpful that might be for some of those eyewitnesses to such a tragedy to kind of articulate while it's fresh in their minds what happened.

GARDERE: Well, that -- it is extremely helpful to do that. In law enforcement we call that debriefing. With psychology we call that of course a catharsis, being able to talk through what it is that they're experiencing, being able to share it with other people instead of internalizing it.

And what we need to realize, Fredricka, is that all of those people are still in a state of shock, so they should also be given some time to compose themselves also.

WHITFIELD: And so that's going to be difficult for those who are loved ones of those victims, who they may not really sure -- be sure how to approach them because some people, you know, handle tragedies like this in a very didn't way, they become much more reclusive or withdrawn. How do you know what kind of space in which to give a victim of an attack like this?

GARDERE: Well, certainly the family members know of the history of people who may be involved as far as victims of that shooting, so they'll better know how to the approach them. But I think you have to make the overture to begin with. To ask them how they're feeling, to ask them what happened, to ask them what they are experiencing. And if they back up a little bit, if they withdraw, allow them to do that so that they can go through that period of shock.

But you should not leave them alone, there should be someone with them, if nothing else just being in the same room, keeping them company. You don't want to isolate them.

WHITFIELD: And if you're a survivor of a tragedy like this, I mean clearly this is a memory that really will never leave you.

GARDERE: That's right.

WHITFIELD: In many ways it's a kind of crossroads of your life, isn't it?

GARDERE: I like that term crossroads because too many times when people go through trauma, we look at it as something that has damaged them, and they carry that emotional baggage. As psychologists, social worker, psychiatrists -- what we want to do is take that traumatic situation and help them work through it and then take them to the next step of their psychological evolution. In other words making them stronger than when they -- before they went into that situation where they were traumatized.

WHITFIELD: Clinical psychologist Jeff Gardere, always good to talk to you. Thanks so much --

GARDERE: My pleasure.

WHITFIELD: -- sadly under these circumstances, though.

GARDERE: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Joining us from New York.

We'll have much more of our continuing coverage after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. The President of the United States is scheduled to comment live from a campaign stop in Florida about that tragedy in Colorado roughly 40 minutes from now.

Our White House correspondent, Dan Lothian, is traveling with the President. So Dan, is the President still on that schedule or has anything changed?

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, the situation is fluid here so it's always possible that the President could be moving up the time. He was initially supposed to come out and speak about 11:20 but it could happen much sooner than that. We're told by a campaign official that the President when he comes out will make remarks about remembering the victims of that tragedy and trying to figure out what happened in the shooting. Gone will be the typical stump speech.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Dan Lothian, sorry -- I want to interrupt you, I know you're traveling with the President but the President has walked in right now there in Fort Myers. We're going to listen to his comments.

(BEGIN LIVE FEED)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Well, let me first of all say -- let me first of all -- let me first of all say how grateful I am for all of you being here. And how much we appreciate everything that you have done. I know that there are a lot of people here who have been so engaged in the campaign, have sacrificed so much. People who have been involved back since 2007. And so I want all of you to know how appreciative I am.

And I know many of you came here today for a campaign event. I was looking forward to having a fun conversation with you about some really important matters that we face as a country and the differences between myself and my opponent in this election.

But this morning, we woke up to news of a tragedy that reminds us of all the ways that we are united as one American family. By now many of you know, many of you have heard that a few miles outside of Denver, in a town called Aurora, at least 12 people were killed when a gunman opened fire in a movie theater and dozens more are being treated for injuries at a local hospital. Some of the victims are being treated at a children's hospital.

Now we're still gathering all the facts about what happened in Aurora, but what we do know is that the police have one suspect in custody. And the federal government stands ready to do whatever's necessary to bring whoever's responsible for this heinous crime to justice.

And we will take every step possible to ensure the safety of all of our people. We're going to stand by our neighbors in Colorado, during this extraordinarily difficult time. And I had a chance to speak with the mayor of Aurora as well as the Governor of Colorado to express -- not just on behalf of Michelle and myself, but the entire American family -- how heartbroken we are.

Even as we learn how this happened and who's responsible, we may never understand what leads anybody to terrorize their fellow human beings like this. Such violence, such evil, is senseless. It's beyond reason.

But while we will never know fully what causes somebody to take the life of another, we do know what makes life worth living. The people we lost in Aurora loved and they were loved. They were mothers and fathers, they were husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. They had hopes for the future, and they had dreams that were not yet fulfilled.

And if there's anything to take away from this tragedy, it's a reminder that life is very fragile. Our time here is limited and it is precious. And what matters at the end of the day is not the small things, it's not the trivial things which so often consume us in our daily lives. Ultimately it's how we choose to treat one another and how we love one another.

It's what we do on a daily basis to give our lives meaning and to give our lives purpose. That's what matters. At the end of the day, what we'll remember will be those we loved and what we did for others. That's why we're here.

I'm sure that many of you who are parents here had the same reaction that I did when I heard this news. My daughters go to the movies. What if Malia and Sasha had been at the theater? As so many of our kids do every day. Michelle and I will be fortunate enough to hug our girls a little tighter tonight and I'm sure you will do the same with your children.

But for those parents who may not be so lucky, we have to embrace them and let them know that we will be there for them as a nation. So, again, I am so grateful that all of you are here. I am so moved by your support, but there are going to be other days for politics. This, I think is a day for prayer and reflection.

So what I would ask everybody to do, I would like us to pause in a moment of silence for the victims of this terrible tragedy, for the people who knew them, and loved them, for those who are still struggling to recover and for all the victims of less publicized acts of violence that plague our communities every single day. So if everybody can just take a moment.

Thank you, everybody. I hope all of you will keep the people of Aurora in your hearts and minds today. May the Lord bring them comfort and healing in the hard days to come.

I am grateful to all of you and I hope as a consequence of today's events, as you leave here, you spend a little time thinking about the incredible blessings that God has given us.

Thank you very much, everybody. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America. Thank you. Thank you.

(END LIVE FEED)

WHITFIELD: All right, the President of the United States at a rather difficult juncture there in Fort Myers, Florida. What was to be a campaign stop, now it will be abbreviated, however he said he was excited about what would have been a fun conversation, in his words, on the campaign trail. But now an incident that, quote, "Reminds us of how we're united as a Americans" spending his focus on that massacre taking place in Colorado.

We're going to continue our coverage now. My colleague Wolf Blitzer is in Washington and will take it from here -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Fred, this is a real national tragedy. And the President has obviously underscored that by making this important decision that today is not a day to continue business as usual. It is not a day to go back out on the campaign trail, start firing up crowds speaking about the presidential campaign.

This is a day to reflect on the tragedy that has occurred in Aurora, Colorado. One of the worst shooting massacres in recent years here in the United States. Lots of unanswered questions, but the President, striking this very, very appropriate tone. Federal government will do whatever is necessary to help in this investigation and come to the bottom of what is going on.

Dan Lothian is our White House correspondent, he's watching all this unfold as well. Dan, the President I think has cancelled all of his activities today. He's about to leave Florida, fly back to Washington, get into the White House and begin some meetings on what's going on.

But set the scene for us, tell us what he's about to do.

LOTHIAN: That's right, well, you know, the President had two events here in Florida. It was this one in Fort Myers. The second one just outside Orlando. So the President shows up here; obviously the crowd was already gathered.

Shortly before he walked in, an official let them know that the President would only come out and make some remarks about the tragedy, but that he would not be having the typical campaign stump speech here. And then of course, the other event in Orlando or just outside Orlando has been cancelled so the President can go back to the White House to continue briefings from John Brennan, his assistant for Homeland Security.

But what you heard from the President is that this is not a day for campaigning. That you can do politics and campaigning another day, but this is a day for prayer and reflection. Sort of a difficult balance for the President here today showing appreciation to the folks who showed up, who have been supporting him in the campaign. But also trying to talk about the personal impact of this tragedy on himself, on his family.

You heard the President talk about how he thinks of his own daughters who could have been going to a movie and could have been caught up in something like this and encouraging the crowd to go home and hug their kids a little bit tighter.

I should also point out that the Obama re-election campaign has requested that all affiliates pull down their so-called contrasts as these ads that are pointing sort of sharp differences with the President's opponent Mitt Romney, so he's asked that those be pulled down off the air for the time being. Obviously this is something that will take some time to roll out. But that's what they have asked these affiliates to do.

And secondly, the first lady, she had a campaign event in Virginia. That has been cancelled and the Vice President's schedule today has also been cleaned -- Wolf.

BLITZER: I assume Dan at some point and maybe as early as next week, there will be a memorial service in Aurora, Colorado, and if the past is any indication of the future, I think the President of the United States would probably want to be there and I assume the folks in Aurora, Colorado would want the Commander-in-Chief, the President of the United States to be there.

But are you hearing anything at all about what's in the works? Is it too -- way too early to start speculating about that?

LOTHIAN: It is way too early, Wolf, but you're right. I mean these are the kinds of thing that Presidents tend to step up to when there is a shooting like this, when there are memorial services.

I did reach out to a couple of White House officials and also campaign officials to figure out if in fact there were any plans in the works for the President to go out to Colorado. And I was told by one official that it's simply too early to be discussing this. But no doubt this is something that they're looking into.

We'll have to wait to see if the President's schedule changes at all because he does have travel plans next week that take him to the West Coast and so it would be very easy for him to take a trip to Colorado. But so far, no mention of this being on his schedule -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, I assume he would do that, but let's wait and see. The Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, issued a statement around the same time just after the President's initial statement. Among other things saying how Ann Romney and he were so deeply, deeply saddened by the news of what he called the senseless violence that took the lives in Colorado and injured dozens of people.

He said "We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief. Romney adding, "We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice."

We know that Romney, Dan, is getting ready to make a statement on what has happened as well. But is there any word from the Romney campaign -- have they decided to follow the President's lead and stop campaigning at least on this day?

I guess Dan is not hearing me, but we'll continue this conversation. We're going to have much more on what's going on, the breaking news out of Aurora, Colorado, coming up in "NEWSROOM" right at the top of the hour.

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