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Virginia State Senator Stabbed; George Zimmerman Charged With Assault

Aired November 19, 2013 - 15:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: This gruesome scene at the home of a state senator today in this remote area of Virginia.

Senator Creigh Deeds stabbed multiple times in his torso, in his head. He is now fighting for his life in the hospital in Charlottesville. His son, 24-year-old Gus Deeds, was found with gunshot wounds, ultimately died. Police say there is no search for a suspect, but I just talked to Jim Nolan, who is in Charlottesville. He's a reporter with the paper out of Richmond, "Richmond Times-Dispatch."

They are reporting this son, Gus, had a mental evaluation yesterday, went to this Bath County Hospital in Virginia, but he was released, according to "The Times" Dispatch," because there were no psychiatric beds available.

Joining me from Charlottesville is Chris Lawrence, our Pentagon correspondent.

And, Chris Lawrence, I know we any minute should be seeing state police for new information here, hopefully, on the condition of the senator and also what more happened. But just set the scene for me.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Brooke.

Basically, we're expecting an update here in the last couple minutes. It's been pushed back, but we expect to get more details issue probably in the next 20 minutes or so.

But we're already getting a little more fuller picture of what happened in those crucial minutes after this stabbing and the shooting at the house. Police have now confirmed that Creigh Deeds walked out of that house after the stabbing. He walked down to the main road where he was then picked up by his cousin and driven to a local farm at which point that's where he placed that 911 call.

They got to the home and took him by ambulance and then flew him out to a regional hospital, where he could get trauma care. Again, I think, Brooke, you hit on the key point that police are not looking for any outside suspects. That suggests that there was some sort of altercation between Creigh Deeds and his son in that home.

Police are right now trying to piece together exactly how it happened and what happened. I think like so many of these cases of violence, this one seems to be coming back with undertones of mental health issues. As you mentioned, "The "Richmond Times-Dispatch" reporting that an executive director of a local mental health board basically evaluated the son, Gus Deeds, on Monday.

It's called an emergency custody order, a four-hour review to see if the person might need -- needed to be sort of admitted for a longer period, up to 48 hours. Unfortunately, in this case, the executive director was telling "The "Richmond Times-Dispatch" that across the western part of Virginia, there were no available psychiatric beds. And so Gus Deeds was then released, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Let me ask you a little bit more about his father, Creigh Deeds. We know you're in Charlottesville, home to University of Virginia, the medical center there.

In speaking with "The "Richmond Times-Dispatch" just a couple minutes ago, Chris, this reporter was telling me that Creigh Deeds, despite the stab wounds to his head and torso, is expected to be OK. Is that what you're hearing?

LAWRENCE: Yes, because again what we heard from the police earlier is they have spoken with him, not only when they first responded to the 911 call, but at the hospital as well. That suggests for a period of hours that he was alert and at least communicating with the police to tell them what was going on.

Now, we will have to check with the hospital. Conditions can change. That's something we will have to keep an eye on. But again when you talk about learning more about him, nationally probably not a name a lot of people know. But in Virginia, he is well known in Virginia politics. This is someone who ran for governor on the Democratic ticket back in 2009. He was defeated by the current sitting governor, Bob McDonnell.

But he received a presidential endorsement from Barack Obama, who came out and, you know, made fun of his name and said, you know, I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how to spell it. We have both got very unusual names. So this is someone who's been involved in politics and is well known in this state, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes, and according to the "Richmond Times-Dispatch" reporter, when Creigh Deeds was running for governor, his son Gus took time out of school out of William and Mary to be with his father. They were very, very close. At least they were some years ago. Chris Lawrence, thank you. We're going to stay close with you because as soon as we see police there in Charlottesville, we want that new information, we will bring it to you live here on CNN.

Now, you know his name. George Zimmerman, the self-styled neighborhood watchman who was acquitted in the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, he is back in the headlines today, back in a courtroom. Zimmerman faced a Seminole County Florida judge just an hour or so ago after being charged with felony aggravated assault for allegedly pointing a shotgun at his girlfriend.

Police arrested Zimmerman at the home of this woman. This is Samantha Scheibe. This happened yesterday. A 911 call from her set the scene.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP) SAMANTHA SCHEIBE, GIRLFRIEND OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: He's in my house breaking all my (EXPLETIVE DELETED) because I asked him to leave. He has a freaking gun breaking all of my stuff right now.

You're doing this again. You just broke my glass table. You just broke my sunglasses and you put your gun in my freaking face and told me to get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out. This is not your house. No, get out of here.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BALDWIN: In a separate 911 call, a man believed to be George Zimmerman gives his version of events.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, DEFENDANT: My girlfriend has, for lack of a better word, gone crazy on me, just started smashing stuff, taking stuff that belonged to me and throwing it outside, throwing it out of her room, throwing it all over the house. She broke a glass table because she threw something on it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BALDWIN: When deputies arrived at that house, they found Zimmerman sitting there. They say he was unarmed. Police say he was passive, that he was cooperative.

Want to take you to just outside the jail in Sanford, Alina Machado working this one for us.

We know bond, Alina, set at $9,000. When will he be released? What are conditions of release?

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, Zimmerman's attorneys say their client could be released by tomorrow morning.

There are several conditions that were set with this $9,000 bond. He's to have no contact with the alleged victim in this case, his girlfriend, Samantha Scheibe. He also cannot go to two locations. He has to stay away from the house in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and he also has to stay away from the house where this alleged incident happened in Apopka, Florida.

Zimmerman has several belongings, several items still inside this house where he shared with his girlfriend. The judge told him he could not go back to this house to retrieve those belongings. He has to have a third party go back with law enforcement to get them. Zimmerman also has to stay in Florida. He cannot have any weapons or ammunition or be in a house where there's weapons or ammunition.

He also has to be subjected to electronic monitoring. Prosecutors talked in open court about an incident in which Zimmerman allegedly choked Scheibe about a week ago. This incident was never reported to police. Zimmerman's attorneys say they hadn't heard about it until today. Prosecutors also talked about how Zimmerman was suicidal. That claim, however, was disputed by Zimmerman's attorneys. Take a listen to what they had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL MEGARO, ATTORNEY FOR GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: I think any time someone is arrested for charges, it brings a certain level of anxiety and stress. My impression, again, of speaking to Mr. Zimmerman, he didn't appear to be a danger to himself or a danger to anybody else.

Is this a stressful event for him? Probably, as it would be for anybody here. But I didn't see anything, and I don't believe Mr. Dowdy saw anything that causes any immediate concerns for safety. I don't think he's going to hurt himself or anybody else

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MACHADO: Now, Zimmerman's attorneys say he has two places in the area where he can stay at while he waits for a trial -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Alina Machado in Florida, Alina, thank you.

Coming up, much more on George Zimmerman. Earlier this year, you know the story. He was acquitted of the murder of Trayvon Martin. Now he can't seem to stay out of trouble. What is going on here? We're going to talk about that next.

Also, a couple of things we're watching right now. First up, we are watching for the president, who will be speaking in New York. He will be speaking to a CEO council held by "The Wall Street Journal," so we're expecting that any minute. Also, if we have them in Charlottesville, here we go, live pictures. You see all those mike flags. We're awaiting an update from state police there on the condition and any new details about the stabbing of a state senator there and what happened as his own son was found and later died of a gunshot wound.

Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Just wanted to flash this live picture on your screen. Just remind you we are waiting for a state police news conference in Charlottesville, Virginia, to get an update on the condition of the state Senator Creigh Deeds, who was found early this morning stabbed, multiple times.

He, according to folks we're talking to, should be OK, but his son was found in that same home as well and ultimately died from gunshot wounds. We will watch for that, take that live, I promise, as soon as we see that happening. New information from Virginia.

But I want to turn our attention here to Florida. So, this latest episode with George Zimmerman, it begs the question, which came first? Did the Trayvon Martin trial make George Zimmerman a person prone to altercations, or is this really who George Zimmerman is, who he has always been, even before he ever came across this teenager he shot and killed?

Here's what we know. After Martin's death in September, Zimmerman had a confrontation with his now ex-wife. That month and in July, he was also pulled over for speeding. Before the shooting in 2005, he was arrested for resisting an officer. That very year, according to "The Orlando Sentinel," he and his girlfriend obtained domestic violence injunctions against one another.

What is going on here?

Wendy Walsh, psychologist Wendy Walsh, lots of questions for you. First, do you think this trial made Zimmerman prone to this recent reported behavior, or is this who this guy has always been and we're just watching closely?

WENDY WALSH, FAMILY THERAPIST: Personally, I don't think the trial made him behave this way.

I think that, you know, people who know how to manage their emotions, who have good coping strategies, when bad things happen to happen to them, they find ways to negotiate it. But here we're seeing example after example of somebody who's losing self-control, who's not good at managing their feelings, and, in fact, being destructive and externalizing his anger, leading to anger -- certainly anger issues, if not a full-blown personality disorder.

BALDWIN: So here he is. This is a man who, you know, despite what the jury found, he is a hated man by so many. He is under a microscope. He makes the news when he's pulled over for speeding. How does a person function? How might that affect behavior day in and day out knowing that?

WALSH: Well, it depends what circle you're running in, of course. Maybe the liberal media hates him, but there may be another group of gun supporters and conservatives who think he did the right thing and the stand your ground law is important and they're maybe supporting him.

What he is more than anything is a controversial figure and there's some celebrity attached to this. This can cause people some kinds of stress as well. But, again, somebody who knows how to manage their feelings, who is good at controlling their emotions is not going to have the problems George Zimmerman is having today.

BALDWIN: And then what do you think of the fact that we have this 911 call who we believe is George Zimmerman, as police are banging on the door? This was just from this altercation where this girlfriend said, listen, he's shoving a shotgun in my face. To have the -- I don't know if self-awareness is the right word, but to think in that moment to pick up the phone and call 911 and tell your side of the story, what do you make of that?

WALSH: Well, this is a guy who's been dealing with the legal system for a very long time. He knows all evidence is going to be taken into account. He's got to put his piece of evidence in there. Now, I might remind you that when the police did arrive, he had barricaded himself inside her house with furniture. They say he was very compliant once they entered. But, you know, all she was asking him to do was leave her house. In the end, he was the one who was arrested. Enough said.

BALDWIN: Wendy Walsh, thank you, ma'am. Appreciate it.

WALSH: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Coming up here, we're watching -- let's take a look at those live pictures -- watching Charlottesville, Virginia, awaiting police to give an update, to give some new information on the condition of state Senator Creigh Deeds found stabbed, his son, 24-year-old Gus Deeds, ultimately dead after gunshot wounds. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We are getting some new information here out of Virginia on state Senator Creigh Deeds. We are awaiting a state police news conference, pushed back just a little bit.

So, any minute now, we should be hearing from police on what exactly happened in his home. But I have to tell you, just a couple minutes ago , I talked to Jim Nolan of "The Richmond Times-Dispatch." They're breaking news in this story here. And he shared with me some pretty key information that his paper is reporting, specifically about Creigh Deeds' son, 24-year-old Gus Deeds. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Jim Nolan with "Richmond Times-Dispatch," you all are reporting something new and pretty key with regard to this son. Tell me what you have learned, what happened to him Monday, yesterday.

JIM NOLAN, "THE RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH": Well, we're reporting today on our Web site, timesdispatch.com, that Gus had been evaluated Monday for a mental health issue under what's called an emergency custody order.

And that basically is a determination as to whether he should be held for an additional period of time, up to two days under a temporary detention order. Unfortunately, after the evaluation, it was found that there were not enough psychiatric beds available to accommodate him.

So Gus was released, apparently, into his family's custody. And then some hours later, approximately 7:30 this morning, there was a report of this assault on his father. And when authorities arrived, they found him suffering from a gunshot wound from which he ultimately did not survive.

BALDWIN: Walk me back. So before he went to this -- it was the Bath County Hospital, the son, Gus, on Monday, do we know about any kind of specific event or events that led to him doing that, A, and, B, bigger picture, what can you tell me about just the relationship between father and son?

NOLAN: Well, in the bigger picture, I had a chance to meet Gus when his father, Senator Deeds, was campaigning for governor in 2009.

Of course, as a student of Virginia politics would remember, Creigh Deeds lost a heartbreakingly close race for attorney general to the current governor, Bob McDonnell. Bob McDonnell, then he later went on to challenge in 2009 for the governorship and was soundly defeated.

But during that campaign, Gus had left school to campaign with his father full-time. When I observed them, they always seemed to be very close. They spent a lot of time together. And after the campaign -- and the loss was a humiliating loss for Senator Deeds -- Gus took some time off from school and had recently returned, but we were told that he had withdrawn from school early October.

What happened and has transpired since that time is unclear. And authorities are trying to determine the exact sequence of events now, Brooke, about what happened inside the house. Clearly, Senator Deeds was assaulted, stabbed in the head and torso by his son. How the gunshot wound took Gus' life is still undetermined.

BALDWIN: But when you say by his son, I have yet to hear that specifically from police. I just know that they're saying they're not looking for a suspect. So, just to be clear, that's what I have. Is that what you have?

NOLAN: Our understanding is that Senator Deeds was stabbed by his son.

What investigators are still trying to determine is how Gus Deeds died. And they're not releasing information yet about whether the gunshot wound was self-inflicted or not.

BALDWIN: And just finally...

NOLAN: So, clearly, Gus had some mental health issues in recent times. And that's certainly an area where the authorities are looking very hard.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: That was the voice of Jim Nolan with "Richmond Times- Dispatch."

I can tell you that CNN, we can update state Senator Creigh Deeds' condition. He's at the hospital, University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. His condition has been upgraded to fair. That's some positive news for Creigh Deeds.

Again, live pictures. We're awaiting a state police news conference. It keeps getting pushed back. Any minute, we could be hearing from them a little bit more as far as what happened in that home that led to one 24-year-old man's death and a stabbing of his father.

Still ahead here on CNN, though, Google Maps makes an unprecedented change all at the request of a grieving father. We will explain. We're "On the Case."

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