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Six Killed, Dozens Injured After Gunman Opens Fire on Illinois Parade; Griner's Letter to Biden, I'm Terrified I Might Be Here Forever. Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired July 05, 2022 - 10:30   ET

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

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[10:30:00]

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: When shots rang out at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, people ran for their lives seeking cover, they sought cover in stores, behind dumpsters. One man actually brought his two sons to watch the parade, one of those sons has special needs, uses a wheelchair, and he shared with CNN the moments of panic as figuring out how he and his family would escape when those gunshots rang out. Take a listen.

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PAUL TOBACK, WITNESSED HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTING: For a second, everybody froze, literally like time stood still. And then we looked down the street right over there and we saw the crowd running toward us and screaming and it was like mass hysteria. And people were just running in droves across the railroad tracks, right behind you and we turned and ran. And I pushed my son's wheelchair and it collapsed on the pavement and he toppled over, and I fell and then it happened again. And then my young son picks up my older son and we ran. It was like we ran for our lives.

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HILL: Another witness, Illinois State Senator Julie Morrison, who is with me now. She was there with her children, her grandchildren, her husband. You were ready to ride in the parade in a convertible, which we are all so used to seeing in our communities on the Fourth of July when that shooting started. I want to get into what you saw. How are you doing today?

STATE SEN. JULIE MORRISON (D-IL): It still doesn't seem totally real even though I've talked about it and I have shared my experience with people and connected with people in the community. It is hard to believe it happened in Highland Park yesterday.

HILL: Yes. I feel like, you know, we've heard that same sentiment from so many people who were there, the fact that it happened in Highland Park, in their community, and, sadly, it's something we've heard in cities and towns across the country, how could it happen here. As you were awaiting to start the parade, we've heard so much about the police presence that was there. Were there any concerns that you knew of, any concerns of a shooter possibly being at the parade yesterday?

MORRISON: It is the last thing that crossed my mind or anybody's. We were just pulling into the parade line and had been -- we were on the street, I had probably 15 or 20 volunteers and family members walking with me, handing out candy to the kids on the side of the streets. And we heard these popping sounds. I honestly didn't think much of it. I thought it was probably firecrackers that somebody was setting off.

And then a couple of women ran back past me, screaming and crying, saying there is a shooter. And we did sort of -- as the other gentleman just said, we just kind of froze. It just didn't seem real. And then a wave of people were rushing back towards us, running away from the parade. Moms and dads carrying their kids, kind of weaving in and out of the cars, doing whatever they could to get away from that intersection, running down side streets.

[10:35:08]

My son took his family and ran down a side street. I don't think he even knew where he was, but he wanted to get off the main streets. Yes, it was -- you just can't prepare for it. You just can't.

HILL: Yes. I mean, it is so true. You see it and you see it playing out unfortunately far too often in this country. But yet in that moment, as we just heard from that gentleman, he said at one point, I couldn't remember if I was supposed to run or hide, so I just ran.

When we look at where we're at now, you tweeted that in the wake of all of this, the only way we can end this crisis for our state and federal government is to pass the laws we have all been demanding. What do you see realistically happening?

MORISSON: I hope that we will not add Highland Park to the long list of mass shootings and in a week or two forget this happened. I know here in the community we won't, but I hope across the state and even nationally that it is -- that it really does become a call for action.

The regulation of the sale of guns in our neighboring states is much different than what we have in Illinois. We do have pretty strict gun laws. But when people come from Indiana and surrounded areas with illegal guns, it is almost impossible for law enforcement to get their arms around it.

I'm hoping that we will both nationally and on a state level start looking at some of the common sense gun violence prevention methods that we know need to take place. Maybe it's a background check, a universal background check. That doesn't sound like the most onerous thing in the world. It would make a huge difference.

HILL: I'm curious, you talk about the local level and we look at the state level, we look at what is happening or not happening nationally, how difficult it has been to even get the reforms that we saw just a couple of weeks ago that were passed. I know you've spoken with the governor that he was in Highland Park last night.

What do you see? I mean, is that the route here? Is it having those conversations locally as well, because maybe these are people you know better, right? You know people in the community. You know your other state representatives in a way and in -- have an interaction that perhaps is different now than what we see on that federal level. Do you see a breakthrough possibility there? The governor said, get angry, this is a call it action.

MORRISON: He's absolutely right. And I'm furious that my family, my entire family was put in that position, so close to danger. That is what is inspiring me today. And, unfortunately, it is really personal now.

And I understand what other senators and representatives have talked about with gun violence being in their neighborhood, I guess I didn't really relate to it. Now, I see it in a very different light and that we have to do something now. And no community is safe. No community is safe.

HILL: Illinois State Senator Julie Morrison, thank you for being with us this morning.

MORRISON: Thank you, Erica.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN ANCHOR: We are also following developments in the plight of Brittney Griner, the WNBA star detained in Russia for months now. She is now pleading directly with President Biden for help. We're going to share her letter to the White House, coming up.

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SCIUTTO: WNBA Star Brittney Griner is reaching out directly to President Biden from her prison cell in Russia, pleading with him and the country not to forget her. In a letter to the White House, she writes in part, quote, as I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey or any accomplishments, I'm terrified I might be here forever.

HILL: CNN's Rosa Flores is following the story for us. The words in this letter are heartbreaking. They are meant to get attention. They are meant to get to the president. Is it working this morning?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, I really want to set the scene here because it is important, Erica and Jim, you got to put yourself in her shoes right now, because she's an American who has been in a Russian jail for months accused of carrying narcotics. She's going through trial right now, and if convicted, she could face up to ten years in prison. And so she is sitting in this jail cell by herself flooded with thoughts, and that's when she starts writing to President Biden.

Not all of this letter was released to the public but that excerpt that you read is one of them and here are a few others. She says, quote, and this is to President Biden, I realize you are dealing with so much but please don't forget about me and the other American detainees. She goes on to say that she voted for President Trump and -- President Biden and she believes in him. Then she says, quote, I miss my wife. I miss my family. I miss my teammates. It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I'm grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.

[10:45:02]

Now, the White House has said from the get-go this is a wrongful detention, that she is wrongfully detained. The Biden administration issuing this statement yesterday saying, quote, President Biden has been clear about the need to see all U.S. nationals who are held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad released, including Brittney Griner. The U.S. government continues to work aggressively using every available means to bring her home.

Now, the head coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury said that she cried reading this letter and she mentioned that women's sports don't get the attention that men's sports get. Take a listen.

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VANESSA NYGAARD, PHOENIX MERCURY HEAD COACH: If it was LeBron, he would be home, right? It is a statement about the value of women, it is a statement about the value of black persons, it is a statement about the value of a gay person, all of those things, and we know it. And so that's what hurts a little more.

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FLORES: Now, as I said before, Brittney Griner is going through her trial right now. The next hearing is on July 7th, so this Thursday.

And, Erica and Jim, one thing that I wanted to mention is one of the thing that really stuck with me about her wife's interview with our colleague, Abby Phillip, is that she mentioned she was hoping to humanize Brittney Griner.

And when you think of it that way, I mean, just imagine what her family is going through when they're trying to humanize an American athlete who is probably the best women's basketball player in the world and here is her family trying to humanize her to make the White House care, to make President Biden care, to bring her home.

SCIUTTO: We should note, Russia has a long history of detaining foreigners and turning them in effect into hostages for propaganda value, also for potential trade for Russians held in U.S. custody. Rosa Flores, thanks very much.

HILL: Still to come here, we'll hear from a leader in the Jewish community in Highland Park who said she ushered people inside her synagogue, ushering them inside where they could shelter in safety as they ran from gunfire.

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[10:50:00]

HILL: In a matter of seconds, as you know by now, a gunman opened fire on the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, just north of Chicago. In those moments, six people were killed, dozens wounded, an entire community left terrorized.

SCIUTTO: Well, Michla Schanowitz, one of the witnesses, she was outside her synagogue at the heart of the parade route, just four blocks away from where the shooting focused when she saw crowds running towards her, she joins us now.

Michla, First, I want wonder, having been through this, on a day meant to relax and celebrate, how are you doing today?

MICHLA SCHANOWITZ, CO-DIRECTOR, NORTH SUBURBAN LUBAVITCH CHABAD - CENTRAL AVENUE SYNAGOGUE: It is difficult. It is very hard to process. There is a lot to process. It is unfathomable that something like this can happen in our country. But we have to bring more light and more goodness and more godliness into this world. It is the only answer to every people.

HILL: I know you had family with you there. This is a tradition for your family. Some of your great nieces and nephews had come, the oldest I understand, ten years old, and they learned so much from how we react, as you're pointing out, the goodness is so important. How are they holding up today?

SCHANOWITZ: I think they were holding up very well. We were sitting peacefully, enjoying ourselves. It was such a good feeling, the weather was nice, people were out, it was a very warm, connected, friendly community. And it was about ten minutes into the parade and it became clear that something really had gone wrong as police cars, which I will say, the law enforcement in this community have done an unbelievable job, the coordination, the quick response, they headed directly going east where the parade was supposed to go from east to west, and they were driving east.

And then I just see people a abandoning their chairs, their blankets, their strollers, and people just running, running towards where we were, which is along the parade route in front of the synagogue. So, calmly, I just said to the children, we're going to go inside the synagogue, it is a hot day, we're going to get a drink, and I just opened the doors and also invited anybody in the area who was sitting there because everyone was looking for shelter, just come inside, come inside, door is open, come in the synagogue, we'll be safe in here.

SCIUTTO: But, sadly, we're not showing some of the worst images from there, which is, of course, the victims of this. The mayor has said she knew the suspected gunman growing up, was a cub scout in her den.

Given what you say about this being a tightly knit community, what does it feel like to know that the suspect came from the neighborhood?

SCHANOWITZ: Well, I will tell you, which I didn't mention yesterday when I spoke to someone, this gunman lives around the corner about four houses from where I live, myself and the rabbi live. He lives down the block, around the block. So, this is a house I walk past every day. And this was -- it is really shocking.

HILL: Do you know the family at all?

SCHANOWITZ: No. They were very -- they never really -- they kept to themselves, no.

[10:55:01]

SCIUTTO: Goodness. Do you feel someone missed something here, right?

SCHANOWITZ: I don't know. I mean, I don't want to -- I really can't speak to that. I'm sure that, you know, in school, you know, things may have transpired. I really cannot speak to that. I think everyone is, you know, really doing the best they can, but I think children need to be brought up in our society today to know that life is valuable, that life has meaning, life has purpose, bringing more godliness. We think that maybe silent prayer in school, you know -- a moment of silence, I should say, a moment of silence in some cities it is being instituted, a moment of silence to start off the day where the children can contemplate and think about values and meaning it has in their life. But I can't answer that.

HILL: Michla Schanowitz, we appreciate you joining us today. And I'm sure there are many in your community who are running by who really appreciate you opening the doors and giving them shelter in the synagogue yesterday as well. Thank you.

SCHANOWITZ: Thank you.

HILL: Thanks to all of you for joining us today. I'm Erica Hill.

SCIUTTO: Yes, another difficult day. I'm Jim Sciutto. We do appreciate you being with us.

Our special coverage continues on At This Hour right after a short break.

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