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Grieving Town Begins Preparing Funerals for 21 Victims; Messages Gunman Sent Ahead of School Massacre; Zelenskyy Blasts Kissinger Idea for Negotiations with Russia; Ukraine in Focus on Final Day of World Economic Forum; Damning Report Cites Many Instances of Drunken Parties at Downing Street; Family Remembers 10-Year-Old Jose Flores, Jr. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired May 26, 2022 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: He still managed to get inside with a powerful rifle and then began firing. Authorities say he was barricaded in the classroom for at least 40 minutes before border patrol agents moved in and ended the rampage.
We are also learning more about messages the gunman sent just minutes before his rampage. CNN got an exclusive look at a series of text messages to a girl the gunman met online, telling her exactly what he was about to do. Details now from CNN's Drew Griffin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is the text conversation captured just moments before the 18- year-old shooter would attempt to kill his grandmother, then, in his words, shoot up an elementary school.
You know what I'm going to do right now, he writes. Tell me, is the response. I can't since my grandpa hasn't left. I'm waiting for this dude to leave.
Shortly after 11:00 A.M., Texas time, the suspect then complains about his grandmother and his phone bill.
I'm waiting for this bitch. I'm going do something to her right now. She's on with AT&T about my phone. It's annoying. Five minutes pass, then, I just shot my grandma in the head. I'm a go shoot up an elementary school right now.
That last message sent at 6:21 p.m. German time, which would have been 11:21 a.m. in Uvalde, Texas. Eleven minutes later, police received their first call of a shooting at Robb Elementary School. The person on the receiving end of the text, a 15-year-old girl in Germany. She had never met him in person. They connected through a livestreaming app called Yubo, then Facetimed, texted, and he sent her videos of himself. She says the shooter told her he had bought some ammo Monday but she told CNN she had no idea what he was planning.
She's not the only person he was communicating with. The shooter's Instagram account showed a photo of two AR-style weapons and tagged another young woman who he messaged the morning of the shooting, saying, I'm about to -- but didn't finish his sentence, and then, I got a little secret.
GRIFFIN: The teenage girl who spoke to CNN from Germany with her mother's consent tells us her only connection with the shooter had been through texting, with what was somewhat innocuous conversations. But she did tell us about one conversation she had in which the shooter did alarmed her. When he said he liked to throw dead cats at people's houses. There was no explanation.
Drew Griffin, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And we'll have much more on the school shooting in Texas. But first, Ukraine's leader has some heart criticism for a former U.S. Secretary of State over a suggestion regarding negotiations with Russia. We'll have the details in a live report from Lviv in Ukraine next.
[04:35:00]
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SOARES: Now, sources tell CNN a former White House staffer testified for the January 6 Committee that then President Donald Trump suggested he approved when rioters who stormed the Capitol chanted, hang Mike Pence. The account comes from an aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. d She also testified that Trump complained about Pence being rushed to safety while the president's supporters breached the Capitol.
Oklahoma's Republican Governor Kevin Stitt has signed into law one of America's strictest abortion bans on Wednesday. The new law bans abortions from the fertilization state with exceptions for the medical emergency, rape, sexual assault and incest. The law is a clear rebuke of the landmark Roe versus Wade case. And abortion rights advocates are vowing to mount a legal challenge to it.
Unprecedented, dry conditions are forcing the state of California to limit the use of water from the supply that services two-thirds of the state's residents and millions of acres of farmland. California is in its third year of drought and extremely dry conditions this past winter will likely lead even more cuts in water supplies.
And The Los Angeles City Council approved a move to restrict residents from watering lawns to only twice a week. The conservation rule will take effect next Wednesday on June 1st.
Now, Ukraine's foreign ministry has condemned a move by Moscow, which makes it easy for Ukrainians in some occupied regions to obtain Russian citizenship. Ukraine calls it a gross violation of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
This as the fighting on the ground rages on. Ukraine reports an intense offensive by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine as they attempt to seize the key town Lyman in the Donetsk region. In the Luhansk region Ukraine says there's been fierce battles around the city of Severodonetsk with one military official saying shelling has increased exponentially.
And in the Kharkiv region, officials say two people were killed and seven injured by Russian shelling in the town of Balakliya on the front line.
Ukraine has been the focus really at the World Economic Forum as we have been reporting here, which wraps up today in Davos, Switzerland. In the last hour, the Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko took part in a discussion about rebuilding the city after the war and what international aid will be needed.
Well Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is lashing out at a former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger over a suggestion on peace negotiations with Russia. In remarks made to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Kissinger said negotiations should begin in the next two months. And that, quote, the dividing line to be a return to the status quo. And he apparently suggested Ukraine agreed to give up much of the Donbas as well as Crimea.
Well, joining me now from Lviv in western Ukraine is CNN's Suzanne Malveaux and here in London is our Anna Stewart. Suzanne, let me start with you this hour. And those comments really from former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger who had suggested that Ukraine should be really prepared to seize some territory to Moscow in order to reach a peace deal. What has been the reaction from Ukraine to these comments?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, President Zelenskyy emphasizing, he says that this is going to be a war of bloody battles. That victory will be bloody. But he says that the war will end the diplomacy. And what is he talking about. He says that there will be no concessions to Putin as conditions of those talks. And that that is the critical time and this is the critical message to deliver this at Davos. He outright rejects Kissinger's approach to these negotiations, characterizing them as going back to this 1938-style appeasement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Let me remind you, it's 2022.
[04:40:00]
And behind all these geopolitical reasons, those who had advise Ukraine to give something to Russia, great geopoliticians do not always want to see ordinary people, ordinary Ukrainians, millions of those who actually live in the territory, they propose to give an exchange for the illusion of peace. You always have to see people and remember that values are not just words.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And, Isa, the president underscoring this is a war that is impacting millions of ordinary Ukrainians, that those are the people that must be taken into consideration into account when you talk about these requirements for negotiations and ultimately the diplomacy, those efforts for peace.
And Isa, I have to say, that we've met many of those Ukrainians. It was just yesterday we met a chef who had come from Donetsk, who had set up a restaurant in Donetsk, with his wife. Had to flee there in 2014 because of the Russian invasion. Set up shop, his beautiful restaurant in Mariupol with his two young sons, had to flee that restaurant again just three months ago. He's now here in Lviv setting up his restaurant to open up once again. Really kind of demonstrating the spirit, if you will, of the Ukrainian people. The refusal of them to be held down in some sort of occupation but to be free -- Isa.
SOARES: Yes, incredibly defiant, indeed. Suzanne Malveaux do stay with us for just a moment. I want to go to Anna Stewart who joins me here in the studio. And Anna, throughout Davos, the west conference and what we've seeing, really Ukraine is being incredibly front and center. In the last few hours or so we have heard from Vitali Klitschko , the mayor of Kyiv. Give us a sense of what he said, because I only saw like a minutes or so, but he was very emotional.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: It was a really emotional address. He really spoke about the horrors of war and what it's like to live in a war and for people's lives to change in a moment. What it's like to live underground for months at a time. At one stage he actually played the sound of an air ride siren on his phone for the room to hear. And he had a warning. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VITALI KLITSCHKO, KYIV, UKRAINE MAYOR: We're defending not just our family and our children. We defend you because we have the same brothers. We were in the USSR, we don't want to beg to the USSR, we see the future of Ukraine as part of European family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: He said they are not just defending themselves, they're defending everyone in Europe. Do they think Russia will stop at Poland, he says. And he was also asked what he expects to hear from the last big address of Davos this year, which is from the German chancellor Olaf Scholz. And he said weapons. They need weapons. Now Germany has promised them anti-aircraft tanks. That those aren't expected to arrive until July. So, very much talking about the present day impacts of war and what they need on the ground.
SOARES: While we heard from Zelenskyy at the beginning of the week in his opening address. And he was very much saying, look, this could have all been avoided if we had done something when Russia really annexed Crimea.
STEWART: If sanctions had been introduced, tougher sanctions on Russia, prior to the invasion, could that have changed the situation? No one can possibly know. But that was certainly the line for President Zelenskyy and they want to see tougher sanctions. They want to see unity from the EU. We've heard from the EU Commission president of course yesterday and speaking to Richard Quest. And her line was, we are united for that sixth round of sanctions announced weeks ago now. Now they're still hasn't been implemented. No agreement on an embargo on oil.
SOARES: Anna Stewart, thanks very much. And Suzanne Malveaux, I should think actually, we've already lost her. Oh, you're there. Thanks very much, Suzanne, appreciate it.
Now, the British Prime Minister says he's not quitting despite the latest findings in the "Partygate" scandal. A damning report by senior civil servants investigated 16 events among Number 10 staffers that were in violation of strict COVID lockdowns. CNN's Bianca Nobilo has more now on the details of Wednesday's bombshell report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The seat of scandal within the heart of government.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The value symbolized by the door of Number 10 must be restored.
NOBILO (voice-over): Wednesday morning a damning report listing rules broken by Downing Street during one of modern Britain's darkest times hits the prime minister's desk and the newspapers.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I take full responsibility for everything that took place on my watch.
NOBILO: Alcohol-fueled parties until the early hours, sickness, brawling, karaoke and cleaners forced to mop up the splashed wine, while the rest of the country was banned from gathering with friends or relatives due to COVID restrictions imposed by the same government that's been fined 126 times for disregarding them.
[04:45:00]
Senior civil servant Sue Gray, the author of "The Investigation" criticized the senior leadership at the center of Johnson's administration which must bear responsibility for a culture that allowed parties to take place.
A message from Johnson's former private secretary boasted that they got away with a drinks event in May 2020. In one e-mail exchange staffer told to avoid walking around waving bottles of wine while reporters were in the building and to keep the sound down at gatherings when a COVID press conference was taking place.
Johnson said he was surprised, disappointed and appalled by the revelations laid out in the 60-page report.
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: When the dust settles and the anger subsides this report will stand as a monument to the hubris and the arrogance of a government that believed it was one rule for them and another rule for everyone else. JOHNSON: There was no party.
NOBILO (voice-over): Having repeatedly told parliament that no parties or rule- breaking ever took place, Johnson was eventually forced to concede he had in fact broken the law, the first sitting British prime minister to do so. Censured but unbowed.
JOHNSON: Sue Gray's report has emphasized that it is up to the political leadership in Number 10 to take ultimate responsibility and of course, I do.
NOBILO (voice-over): MPs including one of the prime minister's own called on him to resign.
TOBIAS ELLWOOD, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MP: Can we continue to govern without distraction given the erosion of the trust with the British people.
CHRIS BRYANT, BRITISH LABOUR MP: Does he show no contrition, no sense of shame that Downing Street under him has been a cesspit, full of arrogant, entitled narcissists.
NOBILO: The British constitution is uncodified, historically it's been upheld by the tradition that senior politicians will resign from office over principle, scandal, error or if they've misled Parliament.
Bianca Nobilo, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Now a community in Texas is mourning 21 lives. Well, now we're hear from the family of one of the young victims, coming up, how they and their community are dealing with this unimaginable tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our community may have differences, but in a time of need and time of crisis, people of Uvalde unite. And that's what's good about this. If there's anything good about this, it's going to I think bring our community together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[04:50:00]
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SOARES: Irma Garcia was one of the two teachers shot dead at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday. A wife and mother to four children, she's described as sweet, kind, loving as well as fun. Garcia's nephew told "The Washington Post" that Irma died shielding her students from gunfire.
We are remembering the 19 children killed in the deadly shooting. Among the dead is Jose Flores Jr., a 4th grader described as an amazing kid and the kind of big brother every kid would want. CNN's Gary Tuchman spoke with his family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): 10-year-old Jose Flores Jr. had a huge smile on his face when he received this honor roll certificate at school on Tuesday. Just a few hours later the world changed.
This is his mother, father and three siblings. Jose Flores, Sr. went to the hospital hoping his son was a patient there. He says a nurse took him into a hospital chapel.
TUCHMAN: What did the nurse tell you?
JOSE FLORES, SR., FATHER OF JOSE FLORES, JR.: I mean as soon as they took me to the room, I already knew what it was about. She didn't have to say much because of the way she took me in there. The way she said have a seat, we're going to talk to you, we got to tell you some things. I mean I already knew what was next.
TUCHMAN (voice over): Jose Jr., a loving son and big brother did not survive the gunman's rampage. Jose Sr. called his wife Cynthia.
CYNTHIA FLORES: He just said my baby didn't make it.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): It seemed like a nightmare. Jose, Sr. and Cynthia just couldn't comprehend their eldest child was gone. Jose, Sr. asked some Texas Rangers at the hospital if he could see his son.
FLORES, SR.: One of the rangers told me, came to me. He's like as a father I wouldn't let you go back there and see him because he was not recognizable.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Jose Jr.'s five-year-old brother Jaden took us into his bedroom that he shared with his big brother. On Jose Jr.'s bed all of his favorite stuffed animals from when he was a little boy and a set of clothes that his parents say he will wear in his casket.
FLORES, SR.: So, I didn't get to hold him no more. I didn't -- I didn't get to see him anymore. Just at the funeral might not be an open casket for the same reason.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Jose Jr. wanted to be a police officer when he grew up. He wanted to protect others, especially his baby brother Jace.
C. FLORES: When it was just me and he was so good, he's helpful, helping here around the house. Like he would just help me like my little shadow. Like he'll just be helping me and stuff, like with the baby -- he had a thing with babies. Like my friends' babies, and like, he's just very good with babies. He was always nice.
TUCHMAN: When Jace grows up, your little baby, what do you tell Jace about his brother Jose?
FLORES, SR.: He really loved his little brother. He loved him. He was a little helper.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Andrea is nine months younger than Jose, Jr.
TUCHMAN: What did you like most about your brother?
ANDREA FLORES, SISTER OF JOSE FLORES, JR.: That he really supports me and he would always play with me.
TUCHMAN (voice over): Andrea and Jose, Jr. were both in fourth grade in the same school. She lived through the same horror but was in a different fourth grade classroom.
A. FLORES: There was just a bunch of gunshots going through the windows and doors. And a bunch of knocking and banging.
[04:55:00]
TUCHMAN (voice-over): The emotional challenges are many for this family. They have lost their son and brother. But their memories of a sweet boy who wanted to be a policeman because he wanted to protect others will live on forever.
Gary Tuchman, CNN, Uvalde, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Just devastating. My heart goes out to the Flores family. And if you would like to offer support for those involved in the Texas school shooting, please go to CNN.com/impact. There you will find several ways you can help their community. And we'll have much more after a very short break.
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