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California Church Shooting Leads to One Dead, 4 Critically Wounded; Buffalo Shooting Suspect Claims He Targeted the Community; Sheriff: One Dead, Four Critically Wounded in California Church Shooting; PA Senate Candidate John Fetterman Recovering from Stroke. Aired 7-8p ET

Aired May 15, 2022 - 19:00   ET

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

[19:00:00]

PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: A grocery store in what police call a racist shooting. But we begin tonight in Southern California where one person was shot and killed inside a church. At least four others are critically wounded tonight. An official news conference is expected in about an hour.

CNN's Camila Bernal is following the story for us. So, Camila, any word on who did this and where that person is now? What is the latest?

CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Pam. Well, we know that one suspect, possible suspect, is in custody at the moment and that authorities did recover a weapon so we're waiting to hear if that is the suspect or the only suspect, but authorities say they are going to update us in about an hour there in Orange County.

According to the sheriff's department they do say that this happened at around 1:26 p.m. local time. This was the Geneva Presbyterian Church. I want to read part of that tweet because as you're seeing there the video first responders were on the scene very quickly thereafter trying to help these victims. But the sheriff saying that the dispatch received a call inside of the Geneva Presbyterian Church at 1:26. They say four victims were critically wounded and one had minor injuries.

All victims were adults and en route to the hospital. One victim is deceased at the scene. That's according to the Orange County sheriff. As I mentioned one person is in custody. They've recovered a weapon. As you're seeing there, emergency personnel responded to Laguna Woods, California, shortly after this shooting doing anything they can to help everyone at the church. And at the moment authorities are asking everyone to stay away from the church if you are in that area.

We are waiting to hear from them in about an hour or so but in the meantime, this is of course an active scene and the site of a new investigation in this country. I also want to read a statement from the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, who said, "We're actively monitoring the shooting at a church in Laguna Woods and working closely with law enforcement. No one should have to fear going to their place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, the community and all those impacted by this tragic event."

And as I mentioned before it's not just the governor who is feeling this. I think everyone around the country is really hoping that something changes because no one should fear going to church, no one should fear going to the supermarket. And as we've said unfortunately this is the reality this weekend here in California and in New York. So we are just waiting for updates and hopefully we hear about those victims and hopefully they do recover but at the moment we know they are at the hospital -- Pam.

BROWN: Yes, one dead, four critically wounded there from that church shooting in California. Camila Bernal, thank you. We'll check back in with you later in the show to see if any more details are coming in.

And just a short time ago we learned that President Biden will travel to Buffalo, New York, on Tuesday to meet with the families of the 10 people killed in that racially motivated shooting rampage, authorities say. Buffalo's mayor says an 18-year-old man scouted the community for targets the day before opening fire at the Tops Friendly Market. New York's governor says the suspect chose the specific zip code hours from his home because it has one of the highest African American percentages in the country.

And we're learning that almost a year ago he had made some kind of a threat at his high school and was sent for a mental health evaluation.

CNN's Victor Blackwell is there. So what is the latest, Victor?

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Pamela, we know that there were comments that were made by this suspect right after he was arrested. It's according to officials who were talking to CNN, who say that he made some comments that were hate filled, that described his motive and his state of mind related to this attack. That he actually targeted this community.

As we are learning more about this suspected shooter, we're learning about a manifesto. We're learning also about that recording, the live stream actually that was posted online as this happened. That is the investigation. We'll get back to that in just a moment. But also, there is the pain of this community, the pain that people here are feeling as 10 people have been killed.

I spoke with the mayor, Byron Brown, who's represented this community for more than a quarter century as a city council member, a state senator and now his fifth term as mayor. And he says that yes, people are hurting here and they cannot let one racist teenager, one 18-year- old divert them from what he called a renaissance that is coming to this part of buffalo. Watch.

[19:05:03]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BYRON BROWN (D-NY), BUFFALO: We're heartbroken. Many people with tears in their eyes. Families that have lost loved ones. I'm telling the community to grieve but let's stay strong. Let's stay together and let's get through this as a community. We're at the point where the community is about to see a renaissance where millions of dollars are slated to flow through this community and other parts of the city.

Hope and opportunity that people have been waiting for for a long period of time is within our reach. Let's not let a racist madman take that from us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: The message of holding on to hope while grieving was what he shared this morning. It is Sunday here in this community. There were people at the True Bethel Baptist Church including the mayor, Governor Hochul, the New York attorney general, as well spoke to a packed congregation.

Let's talk now more about the investigation. CNN's crime and justice correspondent Shimon Prokupecz is here.

I mentioned the manifesto. 180 pages. What have you learned about it?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: Yes. So, so far as they've been going through much of it, you know, everything is adding up. They've been able to learn though the manifesto where he purchased some of the weapons, the days which he was planning to come here and these days surrounding the day of the shooting and then also before because they've also learned now based on information that he himself has provided and other information that he was here the day before the shooting kind of casing the place out, kind of on a reconnaissance mission to see, to learn more about this location.

They've also learned a lot about where he purchased the weapons and then as well as from his parents. They've been cooperating with investigators. So they have a lot of his own words and they have his family now cooperating with them as well. But, you know, we're learning so much more about the day of the shooting as the police officers rushed to the scene within moments after the first 911 call.

Take a listen to some of that audio that we obtained of the police responding here on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Possible active shooter at the Tops. There are still shots being fired.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This might be an individual with body armor. PD have him about 40 feet out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At least three down inside.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three down inside so far, two outside radio.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to need some officers inside of Tops because we have numerous bodies and we have magazines and bullets and everything so we need to keep the evidence secure.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is employees that are by the customer service. They're in a room. Locked in a room.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PROKUPECZ: And then you hear there, employees were running for their lives in there, and then we heard about the security guard, right, retired police officer, the lieutenant, who actually tried to take the gunman out but because he was wearing that body armor, he couldn't do anything. He fired at him. It didn't so anything and then sadly he was killed by the gunman.

So of course, this community obviously dealing with that. Everyone seems to know this lieutenant but there are still a lot more that the investigators want to know so they're continuing to go through a lot of the information that they've obtained and then also the big question now is for the federal hate crime charges. You know, the U.S. attorney here today told me that that's coming. It's just going to take a few days as they work through the process but that's going to tell us a lot more about the information and the evidence that the investigators have obtained. So we're going to learn a lot more.

BLACKWELL: Yes. The Erie County DA told me that potential terrorism related charges, charges related to the gun, although the gun used was purchased legally, that extended magazine and the adaptations could make -- add to the list of charges which right now it's just one count of first-degree murder.

Shimon Prokupecz, thank you so much.

Pamela, the investigation continues here physically collecting evidence both outside, we know that four people were shot outside of the grocery store, another nine shot inside. So the collection of this pretty large crime scene here, but the investigation online and to social media accounts, cell phones, computers as well, collecting as much information as possible digitally and of course the interviews with the family of this suspect back in Conklin about 3 and 1/2 hours away by car from where I am right now.

I'll send it back to you.

BROWN: All right. Thanks so much, Victor. We appreciate it.

And America's gun violence epidemic is on full display this weekend. The country has seen at least four major shootings, leaving more than a dozen people dead. It started Friday night in downtown Milwaukee. More than 20 people were shot in three incidents. Downtown was packed with people for an NBA playoff game. And then hours later in Buffalo 10 people were killed and three others injured in a racially motivated shooting at a grocery store, the authorities say.

[19:10:02]

And then earlier today five people were shot at a busy Houston flea market. At least two died. And then just a short time ago in California the sheriff out there says at least one person was killed and four critically injured at a church in Orange County.

I want to bring in CNN national security analysts Juliette Kayyem and CNN law enforcement analyst Anthony Barksdale.

You know, here we are again. Right? Talking about another shooting. It's just -- it's so sad. It really is. And Anthony, let's start there, let's start with the latest one in Orange County. One dead, four injured according to the sheriff. It is still very early. What is your initial reaction to this shooting? I mean, these people were in a house of worship.

ANTHONY BARKSDALE, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: This is another tragedy but law enforcement has to focus now on the case. We have to, you know, hope for the best for those victims that have survived. Hope they can pull through. And the police, the federal investigators have work that they must -- they have to get this right.

So as we wait for more details they are in motion again. Preserving evidence, collecting evidence, witness interviews, trying to figure out a motive and of course we have to start thinking if things are linked. Is this connected to Buffalo or any other mass shootings? So there's work to be done and we can't, you know, discount any clues, any evidence. We have to be open to what we can gather, what they can process, and move forward because the victims deserve justice.

BROWN: And just for our viewers on your screen these are live pictures that we just had up there right outside of that church.

Juliette, we're expecting a press conference in about an hour at this stage. Just hours after the shooting obviously details are scant but what are you particularly listening for at this press conference?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, I think, as Anthony was saying, this is a church and so like other attacks on places of worship, in particular synagogues, which we've seen more recently, we are -- the first question one has is the motivation. Is the church targeted because of its religion, because it's a particular place of faith and the shooter doesn't like that faith?

So these would be rational questions that I'm hoping that the police answer so there's no -- is this a church as a place of worship or is this someone who knows the church and therefore is there for a variety of other reasons? So that's going to be the primary question because then that will go to motivation and it will go to what the prosecution will be. Is this a hate crime? Or whether by state law or federal law.

So I think that's going to be primary of course who the assailant is. What the motivation was? Did he know the people that he shot? And, you know, we have this tendency, Anthony will experience this as well where as an analyst on this stuff, you know, if 10 people are dead it's really bad but if only one person is dead it's, you know, not OK but it's just, we'll get less coverage and we are at that stage now where, you know, in my head I'm thinking only four people critically injured and I sort of apologize to viewers for that.

Like, I mean, that's horrible, right, that even in the way we think about mass shootings we're weighing sort of the quantity because one death isn't enough, and I think that's the success of our frustration at trying to do anything about gun control at this stage. BROWN: I think, though, too, if you take a step back and just look at

like this weekend overall, right, Anthony, there has been four mass shootings at a church, at a supermarket, outside of the -- on the streets of Milwaukee at the -- outside of the NBA playoff game. I mean, you know, when you put it in perspective it's so pervasive the gun violence in this country that really no one -- you could go out and do anything in your day-to-day life and be subjected to this. I mean, no one is protected essentially from being a victim in one of these shootings.

BARKSDALE: That's absolutely correct. I mean, you're in a church, you're in a synagogue. You're in, you know, an event and anything can happen. You're watching a movie. I mean, this is -- look. We need to acknowledge, the leadership in the United States needs to acknowledge this is a crisis. And now we're seeing that some of these individuals, you know, no lone wolf, you know, that Juliette is making very clear, some of these individuals have self-identified before taking lives.

[19:15:08]

And we really need to start looking at how our intelligence is collected and how we assign law enforcement resources to get to these individuals before they act because, you know, we have to cut down on being a step behind. We've got to get a step ahead of this problem. And, you know, we can do better. We can do better.

BROWN: Yes. I just keep thinking about the shooter in Buffalo, the suspect there. And to Juliette's point, how many other people was this person communicating with, who was like minded, who may have the same hateful ideology, the and same intent. It's really scary frankly.

Juliette Kayyem, Anthony Barksdale, thank you both.

KAYYEM: Thank you.

BARKSDALE: Thank you, Pam.

BROWN: And much more ahead tonight from Buffalo. Up next we're going to talk to the bishop from True Bethel Baptist Church. This morning service there brought together leaders from across the state. Plus, just days before the primary election Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman says he's recovering from a stroke. We'll update you on his condition coming up.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. KATHY HOCHUL (D-NY): This is a whole new dimension where you have attacked people because of the color of the skin, because you are a coward. And I want to silence those voices now and make sure that, yes, people will talk about Buffalo, but I want them to talk about Buffalo as the last place this ever happened.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: New York Governor Kathy Hochul there saying that Buffalo should be remembered as the last place this happens but, you know what, we heard something similar from officials in South Carolina seven years ago after the shooting at Mother Emanuel. We heard something similar from officials in Pennsylvania after the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue.

Same thing from Texas officials after a shooting at a Walmart that focused on the Latino community. Florida officials wanted that to be the last state that this happened, after the Pulse shooting. We've seen this over and over again and now it's happened here in Buffalo.

I'm Victor Blackwell live here outside the Top's supermarket where 10 people were killed yesterday, shot and killed in the deadliest mass shooting of 2022.

Let me bring in now Darius Pridgen, he's the Buffalo City Council president, senior pastor at True Bethel Baptist Church.

First, thank you for your time.

BISHOP DARIUS PRIDGEN, PRESIDENT, BUFFALO CITY COUNCIL: Thank you for being here.

BLACKWELL: Governor Hochul was at your church today as well as the AG Letitia James. We heard also from Senator Gillibrand by Skype, the mayor as well. But I want to know what you tell this community the day after something like this happens.

PRIDGEN: You know, the day after some would think that it's easier and it's actually harder because you've had all night to realize that this is not a dream. And one of the most important things that I've been telling the community is not to tear up our old community, and to remember that this was one individual. One evil, racist individual and not a race of people. But make no mistake about it we are in the healing stages.

It were the grief stages right now. I don't even know if we're near the healing stages yet but saying to communities grieve and get help if we need it. This is a city that right down the street all day there's been mental health counselors on standby. Spiritual leaders on standby for people. So it is about grieving. And if we don't get past the grief, we can never get to the healing.

BLACKWELL: There's a woman Jennifer I met, who came here, a white woman from a different community, came here and I saw her standing in the middle of the street with yellow flowers and didn't know where to put them. And I walked up to her and I said why have you come here? She said I had to do something. And she said the yellow flowers were because the yellow represents hope. How do you get from the grieving to the hope? As the mayor says hold on to hope during the grieving.

PRIDGEN: You know, it's difficult to even think about hope when you're grieving and when you're trying to figure it out but there's never really been huge change in the country if not the world without there being some grief and some hurt so I do see the 10 and the other three that were wounded as a way that America begins to move in a different direction because it must face there are still racists out here and not act as if there are still people who have a hatred in their heart so bad that they would go into a grocery store, not into an illegal spot, not into something that's not wanted in the community.

You went into a grocery store. That's hatred. So the hope is that this won't be a conversation. Because what often hopes? It's a conversation for a minute then it's not a conversation anymore.

I was grateful for so many people coming to church today who I've never seen who, what from suburbs and other places to be there. But I was very clear, especially to my white clergy members. Don't tell me you're grieving with me if you didn't not address racism in your pulpit today. Don't tell me that. Don't tell me you understand my pain if you were silent in your houses of worship today or at your job tomorrow, or wherever you are. This is the time for people to say it's wrong.

BLACKWELL: Bishop Darius Pridgen, let's stop there. That's a good place to end. Thank you so much for your time.

PRIDGEN: Thank you. Appreciate you.

BLACKWELL: Thank you.

[19:25:01]

Pamela, I'm going to send it back to you. There's not much more I can say that the bishop didn't say there.

BROWN: Yes. He summed it up. All right, thanks so much, Victor. Live for us on the scene there in Buffalo.

And you're in the CNN NEWSROOM. The ATF is now on scene in Orange County, California, where one person is dead, four more are critically movement after a church shooting there. This is all according to the sheriff in Orange County.

Our Breaking News coverage continues after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:30:00]

BROWN: Another day, yet another deadly mass shooting in America, this time in Orange County, California. Sunday afternoon gun fire at a church leaves one dead and four others critically wounded, the sheriff's office says. And police say they have one person in custody and a weapon has been recovered.

CNN's Camila Bernal is following this story for us. So Camila so far, not a lot of information coming out these early hours, but what more are you hearing? CAMILA BERNAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Pam, yes. We're still

waiting for that press conference from the Sheriff's Department, that's expected to take place in about 30 minutes.

But I do want to go over what we know. The call to authorities went out at 1:26 PM local time, and the call reported shooting inside of the church. This is Geneva Presbyterian Church in Orange County in Laguna Woods and authorities responded quickly thereafter.

According to the Sheriff's Department, what they're telling us is that one person died out the church. There were four others that were critically injured, and one with minor injuries, all of those victims were taken to the hospital. We're still also waiting for an update on their injuries.

And as we wait for that press conference, we know authorities are investigating. There are Federal agents as well as local agencies responding to this shooting and they're asking everybody to stay away from the church.

Many of the roads around the church have been closed at the time. We also know that they were able to arrest the suspect at the scene. We also know that authorities recovered a weapon, and again, we are just waiting to hear more from that press conference in about 30 minutes -- Pam.

BROWN: All right, Camila Bernal, thank you.

And new tonight, Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman says he is recovering from a stroke. He put this video on Twitter today, two days after he went to the hospital.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GISELE FETTERMAN, WIFE OF JOHN FETTERMAN: Hey, everybody, it's John and Giselle. As you can see, we hit a little bump on the campaign trail.

JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA), SENATE CANDIDATE: It was on Friday. I just wasn't feeling very well. So I decided, you know what, I need to get checked out, so I went to the hospital.

G. FETTERMAN: I made you get checked out.

J. FETTERMAN: Yes.

G. FETTERMAN: Because I was right, as always.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: CNN's Jessica Dean joins me now. So, what political impact could this have just days before the Senate primary on Tuesday?

JESSICA DEAN, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Right, we're 48 hours out. So this timing, while everyone is very happy to hear that he is recovering, well, this timing is not great, because we are in these closing hours of this primary.

Of course, he is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat. It's an open seat this year in Pennsylvania and very critical. So it was interesting timing, very scary timing for the campaign. Again, we're hearing more details about his condition. Let's listen to his wife, Gisele.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

G. FETTERMAN: Okay, so I told John, he needed to get some rest now. But there are a couple more things we wanted to let you know.

John had a stroke that was caused by a clot from his heart being in an irregular rhythm for too long. Fortunately, the amazing doctors here were able to completely clear the clot and entirely reverse the stroke. They also got his heart under control.

The good news is, he is feeling much better, and the doctors say, he is well on his way to a full recovery. I guess when your heart is that big, and it carries so much love for his state, sometimes it asks for a rest.

They are keeping him here for now for observation, the doctors have assured us that he'll be able to get back on the trail. But first, under doctor orders and my orders, he needs a minute to rest, to recover.

We want to thank the amazing professionals here at Lancaster General Hospital and all of you for your support. It means the world to us. And please get out and vote on Tuesday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEAN: And of course, this coming after he canceled his events on Friday and then again on Saturday and then again today, just saying he wasn't feeling well. Now we know a lot more detail. But there are some key pieces of information missing. Mostly we don't know when we will see him again, how long this recovery will take.

You'll notice that they used some very vague language as these medical emergencies go. Sometimes you just don't know how long it will take for somebody to recover.

So will he be able to make his event in person in Pittsburgh on election night like he planned? We just don't know at this point. And certainly, in the closing hours of a primary, being able to get out, talk to voters as they really are in that critical window of going to the polls is so important.

He is, we should note, the front runner right now. He is expected to win on Tuesday, but it's just going -- we're just going to have to see how this all plays out. Pam, will it be virtual on Tuesday? Will he still be in the hospital at that point? We're just going to have to wait and see as I said, as it goes with medical emergencies.

BROWN: Yes, it was interesting. She said he says, we will be back on the trail. Well, if it's for the primary, not much time.

DEAN: Right. That's right.

BROWN: It's on Tuesday and said that he is well on his way to a full recovery. Clearly, he is not fully recovered then at this point right, and a stroke is very serious so we're glad that he is doing well, but certainly the timing makes all of this very interesting.

Jessica Dean, thank you.

And you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

We are getting new details tonight on the buffalo shooting suspect. Could he face even more charges soon?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:39:54]

BROWN: We're learning more this evening about the teenager who opened fire with an assault rifle Saturday at a supermarket and Buffalo, New York including his movements before the attack. Police say he staked out the supermarket the day before.

And now, authority say he's had run-ins with the police in the past. While in high school he made a quote, "generalized threat" and was brought in for a mental evaluation.

Joining me now is CNN senior legal analyst, Elie Honig. So unfortunately, Elie, this is a pattern we're seeing with these shootings, these hate, racism-motivated shootings. You had, of course, the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, shootings in El Paso and Charleston that claimed so many innocent victims.

How do past investigations help us understand this one?

ELIE HONIG, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Well, Pam, it's a pattern. It's a trend that cannot be ignored. It's a reality.

One of the things that I found most chilling about this incident in Buffalo is CNN reporting on its website today that the shooter told police officers after his arrest that he studied -- studied -- some of these prior incidents, and so we see them building on one another.

And it's important to note, Pam, the F.B.I. has known this two years ago, the F.B.I. Director Chris Wray went in front of Congress, and he testified. Here is what he said. He said: "The greatest threat we face in the United States is that posed by lone actors radicalized online who look to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons, all of those criteria apply to the Buffalo shooting that we saw yesterday.

So our law enforcement authorities know this. It's so specific, it's so often repeated, sad to say, that we know it. We know it's a trend it keeps happening, and sadly, as we're seeing here, it feeds on itself. BROWN: Yes. And he also said that domestic terrorism under that

umbrella being a huge priority for the Bureau, a huge concern that these racially motivated extremist -- violent extremists are the biggest bucket under that umbrella is a big concern. And now we're seeing we're seeing it play out there in Buffalo, and we're waiting to find out more there was, of course, tonight a shooting in California.

We don't know the circumstances yet of that, but of course, we want to learn more. The New York Attorney General called this attack domestic terrorism. There is no Federal domestic terrorism charge. So, what are you expecting? What other charges might the suspect face?

HONIG: So on the state side, first of all, State of New York, the suspect already is charged with first degree murder. I expect to see hate crimes charges under New York State law added and there is a New York State Crime for terrorism. We'll see whether they decide that the facts meet that.

I also think it's virtually certain that we are going to see charges on the Federal side, given the statements that we've heard from the U.S. Attorney and from the F.B.I. Now, the hook there, the Federal hook there is going to be the hate crime law, which means prosecutors will have to prove that this individual conducted these acts because of racial hatred.

But given the reporting, we have so far on the Manifesto, on the shooter's statement to police, on the way he targeted this zip code and this supermarket that to me is an overwhelming case for a hate crime charged federally.

I should also add, we could see a Federal firearms charge. It is a Federal crime to use a firearm in the course of a hate crime. So, I'm looking for those additional charges, both on the state and Federal sides.

BROWN: And the shooter's Manifesto as you mentioned there, Elie says he was radicalized online. We also know he livestreamed the attack. There was clearly a larger community here. How do investigators determine if anyone else was involved?

HONIG: Yes, you have to go through all the steps here. You have to look at every piece of social media from the shooter. We've heard about the Manifesto, has he had other writings? You want to talk to everybody who has had any contact with this person at any time recently.

Has he talked about this kind of thing? What types of preparations did he do? There's no indication that we are aware of yet that anybody directly aided him. We know he was radicalized online, but you have to figure that out, you want to see if anyone else was involved, and you want to see what warning signs were there that may have been missed.

This is the only way law enforcement and the F.B.I. get better at what they do. You look at each case and you say, what did we miss here? I mean, there is some indication that there was some police involvement with this individual in the past year. So the F.B.I. and other law enforcement have to take a hard look at themselves on this.

BROWN: I certainly do. Elie Honig, thank you.

Still ahead on this Sunday night, we honor those 10 people gunned down at the supermarket this weekend in Buffalo including the store security guard and an 86-year-old grandmother of eight.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[19:49:01]

BROWN: In an all-new CNN Original Series "Nomad" with Carlton McCoy, the renowned chef, master sommelier and expert traveler takes us to his hometown of Washington, D.C.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARLTON MCCOY, CNN HOST, "NOMAD": My neighborhood was a tough place to grow up in, but there were a lot of positives. We had a strong connection to our community and culture, and part of that had been enjoying D.C. signature dishes.

D.C. Smokehouse has some of the city's best.

So half moo --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. This is like a very D.C. thing.

NATALIE HOPKINSON, HOWARD PROFESSOR AND AUTHOR: D.C. food is very American, but it's also influenced by like really every part of Black diaspora, so that's what makes it delicious.

MCCOY: That's Natalie Hopkinson. She's a GO GO Scholar and pioneer of Don't Mute D.C., an organization dedicated to keeping Black culture alive in the Chocolate City.

The thing about the half smoke is, its ground and more, quarter than a normal sausage. There's a lot more texture, and it's a tons of spices. You and it is smoked.

HOPKINSON: Right.

MCCOY: And it's like super unique to hear it. And funny, it's like how do you have something like this delicious and like no one knows about it.

HOPKINSON: Oh nobody knows about it. That's part of the beauty of the Chocolate City, I think. What are those things that are beautiful, delicious, chocolate bubble that is D.C.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[19:50:16]

BROWN: Carlton McCoy joins me now. Hi there, Carlton. I have to say, I cannot wait to see your special tonight. I live in Washington, D.C. always looking for new places to go and eat and there are so many hidden gems in this area.

And I know that this was a homecoming for you, and also a little bittersweet.

MCCOY: Yes.

BROWN: Why was that?

MCCOY: Well, I think you know, it's something that we all have to deal with, which is that the place we call home, it changes all the time. As much as we don't like it to change, it does, I mean, on this trip, I discovered a lot. Things that I loved as a child that were ever gone, for better or worse, but change happens.

BROWN: That is -- that is true. And a lot has changed in Washington. Since I've been here, I've seen it happen.

When people think of Washington, something that hasn't changed, of course, is the thinking of politics, thinking Washington is about the White House, the monuments. What do you think of when you think of D.C.?

MCCOY: Well, I think one of the sort of sub-pieces of "Nomad" is to be able to tell, I'd say a more additional narrative to cliches that the place is known for. And D.C. is known for politics that's actually a very small part of the city and adds almost nothing to the actual culture of the city. So we wanted to take that opportunity to show that same piece and statements through the lens of D.C., and show them about the culture that really sort of build and continues to build the identity of the city that we all know.

BROWN: And tell us some of the quintessential D.C. food and culture viewers are going to experience this week.

MCCOY: Well, we try to show them things like the wharf, which is always, you know, a place that's a center of the community in a place where people gather, you know, we're so close to the Chesapeake Bay, that fresh seafood and crab has always been a staple in the cuisine there. But also understanding the impact of the great migration back in Americans north and the influence of southern ingredients, southern dishes in the food there, along with things like half smokes.

So you know, we only had an hour. It is my hometown, so I could have gone on for hours talking about the restaurants and the food that are unique there that prevail, but I would try to give people just a little taste just so, you know, they could go to D.C. and yes, the Smithsonian is fantastic, but you know go about five blocks the other way, and I guarantee you, there is a beautiful preclusive stand, a great Ethiopian restaurant that you can enjoy.

BROWN: All right, Carlton McCoy, looking forward to seeing it as I said at the top thank you so much.

MCCOY: Thank you.

BROWN: In the all-new episode of "Nomad" with Carlton McCoy, it airs tonight at 10:00 Eastern and Pacific only on CNN.

We'll be right back

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BROWN: And before we go tonight, you may have noticed, we have avoided saying the name of the 18-year-old man accused of the shooting rampage in Buffalo.

If his goal was infamy, he won't get it from us, but we do want to share more about the victims. Of the 13 people shot, 11 were African American and two were White. Four of the victims were store employees that includes a security guard, retired Buffalo Police Lieutenant Aaron Salter. He engaged the gunman and is credited with saving lives while paying with his own.

Eighty-six-year-old Ruth white Whitfield is among the 10 people killed. She was the mother of the city's retired Fire Commissioner. She had stopped by the store after visiting her husband in a nearby nursing home.

And this evening, the family of Pearl Young confirmed that she too was killed. The 77-year-old was a longtime substitute teacher and a devout woman of faith.

A 20-year-old store employee who was shot in the neck, Zaire Goodman is now home recovering. The bullet exited through his back and spared him all the worst-case scenarios.

We continue to follow the breaking news tonight.

Also, in California, one person was shot and killed inside a church, at least four others are critically wounded. An official news conference is expected shortly.

Well, thank you so much for joining me this evening. I'm Pamela Brown. I'll see you again. Next weekend.

The CNN special report "Inside the Mind of Vladimir Putin" is next.

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