Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Warning Signs for Las Vegas Shooters; Americans Die in Friendly Fire Incident in Afghanistan; Iraqi Insurgents Seize Mosul; School Shooting in Troutdale, Oregon; Congress Briefed Again on Bergdahl Swap; CNNMoney Rings Closing Bell at NYSE

Aired June 10, 2014 - 15:30   ET

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

JOINED IN PROGRESS

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: They saw police as the enemy, a Las Vegas couple who turned their extremist views into violence. Jerad and Amanda Miller carried out a horrific ambush, taking the lives of two police officers at a pizzeria and a bystander at Walmart.

And today we're learning the warning signs were there. Postings on YouTube reveal the ramblings of an angry man.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JERAD MILLER, ACCUSED LAS VEGAS SHOOTER: I know it feels like me and you versus the world. And it kind of is.

You know, a bunch of zombies out there, a bunch of sheeple, just ignorantly working to their deaths, they don't even care where their money goes or nothing.

I'm so glad you're like that, baby. I'm so glad that I found you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Among the clues found at the crime scene, a "don't tread on me" flag, and a Nazi swastika the couple placed on one of the police officers they killed.

Friends of the fallen officers held a vigil Monday night.

We're also hearing from gunman Jerad Miller's mother today, telling CNN's Dan Simon this -- "We're profoundly sad, confused and shocked over the senseless actions of our son and his wife."

Let me bring in CNN's Stephanie Elam. Stephanie, you talked with the family and friend of one of the victims. What are they telling you?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Randi. I spoke to the family and friends of Joseph Wilcox.

He's the man who was inside the Walmart, and when other people heard gunshots and were running out of the store, he ran toward it. He was intent on trying to help stop these two gunmen.

And with that, his friend tells me, who was actually in the store with him, exactly what happened. Take a listen to what he has to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEREMY TANNER, VICTIM'S FRIEND: When the gunman came in, they started yelling, this is a -- this is the beginning of the revolution, everybody get out, you will be shot.

Joseph had the option to go left and exit the store to safety, but he -- instead he went into the store and chased after the gunmen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: And when they took a look at what they saw, Jeremy Tanner telling me that they were armed, that they looked like they had gear on, that they had guns, they had ammunition, and they looked like they were coming in and were very much prepared for heading into a very big battle.

But he said that one look in seeing the man with the gun, he ran out, and his friend, he said he looked at his friend to get an idea of what he was going to do, and he said he did have a conceal and carry license. He did have a gun on him, and Joseph Wilcox thought it was his duty to go stop him.

But what he did not know was Jerad Miller's wife Amanda was part of the scenario. He walked right by her and then after that she turned the gun and shot and killed him.

It took hours before they heard anything about what happened to Joseph that day. I also spoke to Joseph's younger sister, C.J., and she told me what it was like waiting to hear about her brother.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

C.J. FOSTER, VICTIM'S SISTER: We were just waiting for a call saying he's alive, he's at a police station. And we got the call that he was the one victim inside Walmart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: At this point, the family says they believe that their loved one, who they said he put family first, was acting heroically, that he is a hero, and that he died believing in something -- or acting out something he truly believed in, and that it was the right for each person to carry a gun.

So they say he is a hero in their mind. Randi?

KAYE: Stephanie, I'm just curious. What did Jeremy Tanner think or do when his friend didn't emerge from Walmart right after him?

ELAM: He said he wanted to stop him, say, no, come with me. He said, I didn't have a gun, but I wanted him to come with me. But I knew this was something he cared about.

He had not done anything like this previously, and these two had been friends for a long time. So when Jeremy ran out of the store, he was waiting to see Joseph emerge as well.

And when that didn't happen, he was out there for hours. He called 911 and told them, there's a civilian in there with a gun. He has a conceal and carry license. He's trying to help out.

But it took hours, well into the night, before he found out what happened to his friend.

KAYE: Some terrifying moments and a terrifying wait for sure.

Stephanie Elam, thank you.

Coming next, losses in two countries Americans fought and died for, in afghanistan, five American special forces are killed, apparently in a battle gone wrong.

And in Iraq, a state of emergency is called after a deadly militant onslaught, an airport seized, TV stations and government offices taken over, a special CNN report, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Shocking losses today for the U.S. cause in Afghanistan and for the free Iraq that more than 4,000 Americans died for.

In southern Afghanistan, five Americans special forces have died in what an Allied statement calls "possible fratricide," an apparent reference to so-called "friendly fire."

An Afghan official tells U.S. troops under enemy fire called for air support, triggering Allied strikes that hit their own position. If that turns out to be true, it is the worst case of friendly fire in America's longest war.

In Iraq, the second largest city, Mosul, has fallen to Sunni insurgents.

Reports say Iraqi troops cut and ran after militants stormed the city in makeshift pickups mounted with automatic guns. Bodies littered the streets after days of savage fighting, including mortar attacks on civilians.

The fall of Mosul casts a string of rebel successes and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is now asking for a state of emergency.

More now from CNN's Nic Robertson.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Randi, this isn't just a psychological coup for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria that this group, this al Qaeda splinter group, calls itself, ISIS. This is a military victory as well. They've not only taken control of parts of the second largest city in Iraq, the main highway to the north of the country linking Iraq to Turkey, but they have, by taking control of police stations, they've got control of a large amount of weapons, of ammunition stockpiles, of military -- of armored military vehicles, they've got control of the international airport that until just a few years ago was controlled by the U.S. Military.

What has happened here is that the Iraqi security forces, trained by the United States, put down their weapons and ran away when these ISIS militants were approaching the city. This is what we've heard from the speaker of Iraq's parliament. He should know. His brother is governor of the province where Mosul is the capital.

We've also heard from the prime minister of the neighboring Kurdish region saying Iraqi security forces didn't do enough to secure Mosul. That's why it's overrun.

We're hearing from the U.N. that half a million people have put to flight from Mosul in the last four days.

This has been something that has been coming for some time. There is sectarian warfare going on in Iraq. It was the bloodiest year in five years, last year, according to U.N., 8,800 people killed, most of them civilians.

What has been happening? ISIS has been taking control of more areas in Iraq, towns in the west of the country, earlier this year.

The government, the Shia-dominated government of Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad, hasn't been able to take those towns back. They've essentially lost control of large parts of the west of the country.

ISIS has bases in Syria. It's exploiting the weaknesses of the civil war there, attracting a lot of foreign fighters. That gives them extra firepower when they take their fight across the border into Iraq.

And the Iraqi government hasn't been able to stop this, hasn't been able to stop their advance.

Now ISIS have control of significant parts of this major city, and there doesn't seem any ability at this time to stop their gains in the country, Randi.

KAYE: Nic Robertson, thank you very much.

Yet another American community is in shock today after a deadly school shooting. With only days left in the school year, Troutdale, Oregon, is stunned. The shooter is dead, along with another victim.

More on this tragedy, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: For teenagers at Reynolds High School outside Portland, the school day started just like any other. That changed rapidly and violently, yet another school shooting leaving a student dead and a teacher injured.

The gunman is dead. Police are in the process of notifying the families. Now here is the chief of police for the city of Troutdale.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF SCOTT ANDERSON, TROUTDALE POLICE: Unfortunately, we had a very tragic incident this morning at Reynolds High School. One student is deceased as a result of a lone gunman who entered the school. The lone gunman was also deceased at the scene.

We are in the process of notifying the next of kin for both. We have tentatively identified the shooter, but we're not confident enough at this point to reveal the details.

I can tell you that the weapon that was used is a rifle. In addition, one teacher was injured, with non-life-threatening injuries. The teacher was treated at the scene.

Not related to this incident, and during the evacuation process, a gun was found on one person. This is not believed to be a part of the incident. That person was taken into custody.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Anxious parents depended on social media to communicate with their children inside that school. Some used Facebook while others managed to exchange some cell phone text messages with their children.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just texted him to know if he's OK. And he said we're inside. Their own teacher took them to the room and locked the room. So they're just waiting there to see what's going on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He said that there had been -- the shooting originated in the weight room, in the gym, and that one teacher and one student had been shot.

And then he said he could hear police fire. And then afterwards, we were told that the shooters had been neutralized.

He only thought there was only one, but everyone through here say there is possibly three, but all he told us was that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Certainly a terrifying time there earlier today.

It was one of Washington's best-kept secrets, the plan to trade five Taliban prisoners for a U.S. soldier.

Congress told about Osama bin laden's impending takedown but kept in the dark about Bowe Bergdahl. Why? And what does this say about the trustworthiness of Congress?

Jake Tapper, joining me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Members of Congress are getting briefed yet again on the exchange of five Taliban militants held for years at Guantanamo Bay for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl.

Republican senators left their briefing unconvinced.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SENATOR JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: I think it's at least as likely, in my opinion, more likely, that the release of these prisoners and the way it was done will embolden the enemy, and encourage them to not negotiate and not to reconcile and, in fact, weaken our ability to rally the people of Afghanistan and their military to achieve the mission that we have agreed to in a bipartisan way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Members are also grousing that the White House didn't brief them before the Bergdahl swap.

The Obama administration says it guarded the plan closely out of concern for Bowe Bergdahl's safety.

But several members say they were briefed in advance on the super secret raid to kill Osama bin Laden, so the question is why not Bergdahl?

Jake Tapper is with me now from Washington. He's next, coming up here, with "THE LEAD." Jake, nice to see you. It sounds like these Republican lawmakers are not letting up at all.

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: No, they're not. And it's true that many members of Congress -- not many but a few members of Congress were briefed on the bin Laden raid.

Here is a key difference between the bin Laden raid and briefing Congress on that and this prisoner swap, is that there are a lot of people in Congress, Democrats and Republicans, who on its face would have opposed the prisoner swap for many reasons.

And so the suspicion from the Obama administration, from the White House that if they had told Congress it would have leaked is not just based on the idea that Congress leaks, which it does, although the White House also leaks.

It is the suspicion that Congress would have leaked it in order to prevent it from happening, in order to have stopped it from happening because there is such opposition to it not just among Republicans but also among Democrats.

Both because, A, the White House is required by law to alert Congress about the transfer of any Gitmo prisoners with a 30-day leeway and also, B, because a lot of people feel, a lot of members of Congress, that this swap was not a particularly good swap and should have come in the context of a larger reconciliation with the Taliban.

KAYE: Yeah, but meanwhile the White House is getting hammered over this still. I guess hindsight is 20/20, but do you think that the White House saw this coming? And should they have seen it coming?

TAPPER: Well, I'm told -- and it's tough to say what they actually thought inside the White House, in retrospect, because not only is hindsight 20/20 but revision is 20/20.

I'm told that they expected that there would be some pushback on the swap itself, but they did not anticipate what the platoon mates of Sergeant Bergdahl have said about him, about the circumstances, or that the opposition would be so fierce to the swap itself, in addition to not notifying Congress.

But I have to say, as somebody who has known about the Bowe Bergdahl case for quite some time, I am surprised that they are surprised. There's been a lot of resentment towards Bergdahl from his former platoon mates for years.

It's been kept kind of quiet because he's been in Taliban custody, but it has not been secret.

And then obviously Congress always exerts itself when it comes to the separation of powers and the fact that they are a co-equal branch, entitled to be -- required to be notified by law with 30 days.

And then, thirdly, this swap, a lot of people say is simply just not a good swap, and negotiating with the Taliban, certainly not unprecedented in American history but something that would be a controversial decision, Randi.

KAYE: Certainly a lot of concern there, still.

Jake Tapper, thank you.

And "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts in just a few minutes from now, right here on CNN.

Up next, in just minutes, the team from CNNMoney ringing the Closing Bell, and that includes Richard Quest. Never a dull moment when he's around.

See what happens, live.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Today is a big day to keep close tabs on the New York Stock Exchange. Sure, the Dow is flirting with reaching a new record high of 17,000, but it also bears a close look because the CNNMoney team is standing by to ring the Closing Bell. There you see them.

And this is no small job, as Alison Kosik explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Ringing the Closing Bell here at the New York Stock Exchange is no doubt it's an hour and a privilege. It' really a once in a lifetime opportunity. You think about who's done it before, presidents and celebrities, and now I get to do it.

But I'm not going to be doing it alone. I'm going to join my CNNMoney colleagues up on the podium as well, ringing the Closing Bell today, along with CNN Worldwide president Jeff Zucker.

Why are we doing this? Because of the re-launch of CNNMoney.com. It's this great new Web site. It looks totally different. It's more interactive. It has a couple of sections, one on luxury, one on media. You've got to go to it.

OK, before I go, two quick reality checks about ringing the bell. The podium? Yeah, looks a lot bigger on TV. The second reality check about ringing the Closing Bell? It's actually not a bell. It's this green button. And then, of course, the gavel comes down to end the day of trading.

But here's the trick to ringing the bell here. You can't go longer than 10 seconds because, believe it or not, it's a really tough crowd out here. They will boo you if you go too long.

(END VIDEOTAPE)