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250 Detainees At "Alligator Alcatraz" Have No Criminal Convictions or Charges In U.S.; Interview With Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL); Judge Orders DHS To Stop Indiscriminately L.A. Area Immigration Raids; DHS Secretary Denies Cost-Cutting Measures At DHS Slowed Texas Flood Response; Death Toll In Gaza Rises As Ceasefire Talks Stall; Trump Defends Bondi Amid Maga Fallout Over Handling Of Epstein Case; Police: Four Shot, Two Dead At A KY Church After Suspect Shot Trooper. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired July 13, 2025 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:00]

ELIZABETH WAGMEISTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: In 2018 Nelson returned to play Hunt's father in a big generation version of the "Billionaire Boys Club." He says the new docuseries brings a timeless lesson to a new generation.

JUDD NELSON, "BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB" ACTOR: Hiding in plain sight are many things that are dangerous to us, so we are vulnerable to people that say good things to us, that compliment us, that like us or pretend to like us. It's a cautionary tale.

WAGMEISTER: Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: The new CNN Original Series "Billionaire Boys Club" airs tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific right here on CNN.

Hello again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this Sunday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

We begin this hour with breaking news on a controversial new detention center in the Florida everglades. According to new reporting from the "Miami Herald" and "Tampa Bay Times," more than 700 migrants are being -- currently being detained at the facility the Trump administration is calling "Alligator Alcatraz." The report says that more than 200 of those individuals are being held solely for immigration violations and have no criminal convictions or pending charges in the U.S.

CNN's Rafael Romo is joining us with more on what you're learning -- Rafael.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is very important information because it gives you context. There's been a lot of rhetoric on both sides of the aisle, and you may remember, Fred, when President Donald Trump toured the migrant detention facility in the Florida everglades earlier this month, he said that it would, quote, "very soon house some of the most menacing migrants, some of the most vicious people," he said, "on the planet."

But a new report published Sunday suggests that may not be the case. Hundreds of immigrants with no criminal charges in the United States are being held at "Alligator Alcatraz," according to an investigation by the "Miami Herald" and the "Tampa Bay Times," which obtained records about the migrants being held there. According to the report, there are more than 250 people who are listed as having only immigration violations but no criminal convictions who are being held together with those accused and convicted of crimes.

The report says only a third of the detainees have criminal convictions, with charges that range from attempted murder to illegal reentry into the United States, as well as traffic violations. The information comes from a list of more than 700 migrants who are either already being held at the tent facility, or are scheduled to be transferred there.

And for the first time since the facility opened earlier this month, Florida elected officials and members of Congress had access to the migrant detention center on Saturday, including Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who had this to say about the conditions for detainees she found there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL): What we saw, the conditions that we saw inside this internment camp, which it is nothing less than that description, were really appalling. In the medical intake area, it was 85 degrees. This is inside the so-called an air conditioned tent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: And Wasserman Schultz also said that migrants are packed into what she described as cages, with 32 people inside each holding unit and only three toilets available. In an interview on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" with Dana Bash, White House border czar Tom Homan dismissed the claims, suggesting the Democratic lawmaker's complaints about conditions at "Alligator Alcatraz" are politically motivated. This is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM HOMAN, WHITE HOUSE BORDER CZAR: I've been doing this job since 1984. Detainees complain about the conditions of detention, and I've said this many times, you can simply go to ICE.gov and look at the detention standards ICE has. They had the highest detention standards in the industry.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: And Fred, after touring the detention center Saturday, Representative Darren Soto, a Democrat, said lawmakers also witnessed evidence of flooding, highlighting serious concerns of what could happen to detainees if there is severe weather during what forecasters have said already may be a very busy hurricane season.

We were discussing this yesterday.

WHITFIELD: Right. Sure.

ROMO: They say they saw flooding, that's great cause for concern.

WHITFIELD: Certainly is. All right. Well, I'm going to talk with somebody who has a lot of other concerns as well.

Rafael Romo, thank you so much.

Joined now by Florida Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who toured that detention facility in the Florida everglades yesterday.

Congresswoman, great to see you. Well, your reaction to this new reporting in addition to what you saw at "Alligator Alcatraz." The reporting shows that more than 250 of those detained at the facility have no criminal convictions or charges in the U.S.

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, Fredricka, thanks for having me. And I'll tell you, I woke up to that "Miami Herald," "Tampa Bay Times" report this morning, and my jaw dropped because when we were touring, and by the way, this was a pre-arranged tour rather than an unannounced one, which members of Congress are entitled to under statute that I passed into law in the first Trump administration.

[16:05:16]

But when we were touring and we were asking about the status of the detainees that were there, we were told that every single one of them. And he said there were 900, and the camp is currently built for 1,000, had -- were in the finished stages of their immigration process and criminal convictions, and were preparing and were in final stages of deportation within the next two weeks.

Well, we were very suspect of that because they have a bracelet system of red, yellow and green, I believe. And, you know, there were -- we could hardly get up close to any of them, but it was clear that there were not many with red bracelets. But then "The Herald" story comes out this morning and shows that hundreds of these 900 detainees have no criminal conviction. And that was our suspicion to begin with.

The detainees that are there now -- this is not a prison, this is an immigration detention center -- were packed into cages like sardines, eight cages per tent, 32 to a cage, as what you heard the reporter say, three very small toilets with sink -- sinks attached to the top of them so that you are literally defecating and urinating where you brush you -- in this same unit that you brush your teeth. And that's where their drinking water is.

The temperature, I brought a thermometer, was just at the threshold of the so-called air conditioned tent was 83 degrees. You go inside. They didn't let us. If you would go in further inside with those hundreds of bodies next to each other, then for sure it was much hotter than that.

WHITFIELD: So you mentioned that there were different color bracelets. What did the different color bracelets indicate?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Red was an individual that had been having -- had a higher level criminal offense that they were convicted of. Green was a medium offense, and yellow, which most of them appeared to be yellow, were, you know, minor to civil offenses. And "The Herald" story made it very clear for the hundreds of cases that hundreds of names that they reviewed, that most of those were not even stopped for any -- detained for any criminal offense.

I mean, we're talking about civil infractions, you know, a traffic stop. And these were also people who were transferred, already being detained and were moved to this essentially internment camp where the cruelty seems to be the point. I toured with an unannounced visit about six weeks ago, the Krome Detention Center, and they had a temporary tent facility there that did not have any of the detainees in cages.

Yet they told me the reason that they had to have them in cages at this camp was because it was temporary. Well, they don't have the same standards for this facility as they do for the ones that are in permanent sites but yet temporary structures. And that's because the cruelty is the point.

WHITFIELD: Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, was on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" today. He defended the facility. He's casting doubt on the claims about the conditions similar to what you're describing inside. Listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANA BASH, CNN ANCHOR: What these congresspeople described was sweltering heat, bug infestations, meager meals. They say they heard detainees crying out for help. The wife of one man detained there said he's not been given access to a lawyer. He's been in detention for about two weeks.

Is that acceptable to you? And is that what you're seeing when you go?

HOMAN: I have not been there yet, and I doubt a lot of that's factual. I mean, bottom line is, you know, from the day one, I've been doing this job since 1984, detainees complain about the conditions of detention. And I said this many times, you can simply go to ICE.gov and look at the detention standards ICE has. They have the highest detention standards in the industry, but these same congressmen are complaining about "Alligator Alcatraz." You didn't see them complaining about -- under Biden administration, people being held in a Border Patrol parking lot surrounded by a fence in the sweltering heat. Not a word.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So your reaction to all that he said in addition to what can or will Congress do?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: I came out of that detention camp and described exactly what I saw. I brought a thermostat in and measured the temperature, sweltering heat. We saw bugs, grasshoppers, the largest that I've ever seen, hopping along through the through the encampment. We were not allowed to see the medical clinic.

[16:10:04]

We were not allowed to see an actual -- we weren't allowed to go in where the detainees were in the cages. Just you outside the threshold. But we couldn't go see the actual toilets. We saw one that was in a tent under construction. But I'm telling you plainly exactly what I saw.

I had Tom Homan testify in front of committees that he is someone who is bound and determined to deport as many human beings as possible, no matter whether they were just coming here to make a better way of life for themselves.

And by the way, Fredricka, this facility was built with $450 million, twice the amount that detainees are usually detained for of state funds. No clue whether we're going to get any of that back in the state of Florida. And that's all while they have under the big ugly law taken seven cut -- 17 million people off of their health care, made the largest cuts to nutrition assistance in history.

But we can spend $450 million detaining people who apparently committed no other crime for the most part, except trying to make a better life for themselves here.

WHITFIELD: Will --

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: They're not telling the truth, and it's an outrage.

WHITFIELD: Will or can Congress do anything?

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Well, when we had -- if you remember back in the first term for President Trump, you had the Homestead Detention Center that had unaccompanied minors, and we were able to inspect that eventually when we changed the law that I sponsored unannounced and we continued and protesters continued to demonstrate and oppose the inhumane conditions there.

We will get in because this is a facility being managed through -- that ICE policies and members of Congress are going to get in for an unannounced visit. And we will -- we will not stop until we make sure that, look, that people are treated humanely, that they are not being treated humanely in this facility. And at the end of the day, if you're a criminal and you've been convicted through due process in this country and you're an undocumented immigrant, you should be deported.

But if you're someone like who had TPS revoked or humanitarian parole revoked, and you followed our laws and the process and you're -- and you're facing deportation now, that's outrageous. And we need to make sure that we are prioritizing the worst of the worst. Donald Trump and his cronies are not telling the truth. And our Republican colleagues are just going along with it because they care more about supporting the MAGA movement than they do about taking care of the human beings and that constituents that we represent and their families.

WHITFIELD: All right. Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, thank you so much for being with us today.

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Now to more developments on the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, we're learning today a California farm worker who fell from a greenhouse roof during a chaotic ICE raid on a legal marijuana farm this past week has died from his injuries.

Jaime Alanis is the first person known to die during the Trump administration's immigration sweeps of undocumented migrants. His family says Alanis worked at the farm for 10 years and was their only financial provider. Family members, along with hospital and government sources, say he may have been running from ICE agents during a raid on Thursday when he fell about 30 feet from the greenhouse roof, broke his neck.

President Trump's border czar, Tom Homan commented on the incident this morning on CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOMAN: It's sad. It's unfortunate. He was in ICE custody and ICE did not have hands on this person. But it's always unfortunate when there's deaths.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Julia Benbrook is joining us right now.

Julia, this death comes as a federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to stop indiscriminate immigration raids in Southern California. So what more is the administration saying?

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that judge's order is a setback for the Trump administration's largescale immigration operations. A federal judge on Friday granted a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit requiring federal authorities to have reasonable suspicion before making immigration arrests in California's Central District, which includes Los Angeles.

Now, that area, of course, has become a key area of focus over the last several weeks, as we have seen chaotic immigration raids take place in public and in workplaces. The judge ruled that the Department of Homeland Security must find reasonable suspicion outside of apparent race or ethnicity, spoken language or accent, presence at a particular location, or the type of work that someone does.

Earlier today, speaking on CNN, the president's border czar, Tom Homan, said that there are a variety of factors that are considered before detaining someone.

[16:15:04] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOMAN: Every officer has to, you know, bring articulable facts to raise reasonable suspicion. And then it can briefly detain. I don't know how she knows that, but I don't think any federal judge can dictate immigration policy. That's a matter for Congress and for the president. The administration is never going to go against the judge's order. We'll litigate it. We'll win it.

BASH: OK.

HOMAN: Then we'll get back to doing what we're doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BENBROOK: Now in that same interview, Homan said that every officer, every specific situation is different but that ICE officers do go through Fourth Amendment training every six months, and they are reminded what their authorities are when it comes to arrests, to questioning, to detention.

So, Fred, we'll keep people up to date because the administration is promising to appeal here.

WHITFIELD: All right. Julia Benbrook, thanks so much.

All right. More now on this breaking news. Multiple people have been injured at a church in Lexington, Kentucky, after a suspect shot a state trooper. The incident happened around 11:30 this morning when the unidentified suspect shot at a trooper and fled the scene before ending up at Richmond -- a Richmond Road Baptist Church. That's according to Kentucky State Police. They also say the suspect is dead and the injured trooper is receiving medical attention.

We're expecting Lexington Police to hold a news conference about the incident in just a few minutes. And of course, we'll bring you that as soon as it happens.

As officials in Texas face questions about the emergency response to those deadly floods that devastated the state, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is defending FEMA's speed and denying claims of deadly delays.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:21:22]

WHITFIELD: All right, this just in to CNN. A fast-moving wildfire has destroyed a historic lodge on the Grand Canyon's North Rim. The park superintendent says it was one of the 50 to 80 structures lost. No injuries have been reported.

Two wildfires are burning at or near the North Rim. One of them was initially a controlled burn, but quickly spread because of the hot temperatures, low humidity, strong wind, according to fire officials. Millions of people visit Grand Canyon National Park every year, with most heading to the more popular South Rim. The North Rim was evacuated last Thursday due to fires.

And we have more breaking news out of Central Texas. Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect in parts of the region due to a flash flood emergency that is happening right now. Just a week after devastating flooding ravaged parts of the state, heavy rain and rapidly rising rivers are impacting many of the same areas. The weather also forcing ground search operations to be suspended in Kerrville due to ongoing danger there.

The Guadalupe River near Hunt, Texas, is expected to reach over 14 feet this afternoon. Kerrville and places downriver will feel the impact sometime after that.

Let's bring in CNN correspondent Julia Vargas Jones, who is live for us there in Kerrville, Texas.

So, Julia, we also have new reporting about FEMA's response to the disaster. What more can you say?

JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, yes, that reporting, Fred, that it took about 72 hours for any movement to be made on those search and rescue teams. They weren't cleared to leave for this disaster area in Central Texas for that long because of new rules in place by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, where she has to personally approve any expenses that go above $100,000.

Now, generally, when there are disasters like this, when there starts to be heavy rain and waters begin to rise, what happens is that FEMA would send teams before a real authorization, a formal authorization to just be pre-positioned in the area in case they are needed. What these sources are telling CNN is that that did not happen this time, and that is what caused this delay in the response from FEMA side.

Now, the DHS secretary pushed back on this. Take a listen to what she said this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KRISTI NOEM, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: You know, those claims have -- are absolutely false. Within just an hour or two after the flooding, we had resources from the Department of Homeland Security there, helping those individuals in Texas. It was a heartbreaking scene. And I think it's been well-covered about what the Coast Guard did, how they were deployed immediately and helped rescue so many individuals from those floodwaters.

And we had Border Patrol down there with their tactical teams, and FEMA was there just within a few hours as well. So those claims are false. They're from people who won't put their name behind those claims. And those call centers were fully staffed and responsive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: And what she's referencing there at the end of that soundbite, Fred, is the call centers that would take in those disaster assistance calls. So those were contractors that were taking most of that -- most of those calls up until July 5th when the contracts expired and it wasn't until five days later that DHS renewed those contracts, which led to many of those calls, thousands of those calls, according to reporting from "The New York Times," to go unanswered.

Now, today, here in Kerrville, as you mentioned, we do have rains. There were flash flood warnings earlier in this morning.

[16:25:05]

But that means, even though those have already been lifted, that search and rescue teams have not been able to go out there. And we've spoken to some of those commanders of units here that have been going out, and they're saying that because it is still too dangerous to go out there, those search and rescue operations will have to wait to resume -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Julia Vargas Jones, thank you so much.

All right. Straight ahead, Israel and Hamas both speaking out about the state of negotiations for a ceasefire and hostage deal. Hear why they are saying the talks have stalled.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:30:02]

WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Today, hopes are dimming for a new ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hamas has rejected the latest plan put forth by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff but Hamas says Netanyahu is to blame for stalling the talks by continually adding new conditions. The latest setback comes as Israel escalates its attacks on Gaza.

New video obtained by CNN, which some viewers might find disturbing, shows the heart-wrenching aftermath following an airstrike at a water distribution site. Gaza health officials say ten people including several children were killed as they tried to collect water.

I want to go straight to CNN's Nada Bashir now in London. Nada, what more can you tell us?

NADA BASHIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, the situation on the ground in Gaza continues to deteriorate as we continue to see those ceasefire discussions and negotiations faltering yet again as you mentioned we have seen that statement put out by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just today claiming that the obstacle in the way of securing a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages as part of that deal is in fact Hamas.

He has said that Hamas is determined to remain in Gaza and that that is something that Israel will not allow for, that that is one of Israel's main military goals, that it wants to see the entire destruction of Hamas and that it will continue to pursue that military goal.

But of course we've also been hearing from other officials from Hamas as well as officials from Egypt's own mediating team, officials familiar with the talks ongoing in Doha. They have accused Israel of putting up new obstacles to those discussions and negotiations.

One Hamas official saying that Israel had introduced new conditions around the redeployment of Israeli troops in Gaza once a ceasefire takes effect. That's something that has been echoed by one Egyptian source familiar with those discussions. It's also something that has been echoed just last week to CNN by an Israeli source familiar with those talks as well.

So, clearly there is still some daylight between Hamas and Israel and when it comes to those negotiations. But as I mentioned that need for a ceasefire could not be more desperate as we see the situation on the ground in Gaza continue to deteriorate. We've heard from the Trump administration's special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, today telling reporters that he is hopeful for a ceasefire.

But there is certainly mounting pressure. We are seeing rallies and protests being held in Israel, pressuring the Israeli Prime Minister to secure a deal to secure the release of hostages. And as you mentioned Fred, another devastating attack in Gaza today.

This time an airstrike on a water distribution point where several children were killed. The Israeli military has acknowledged the strike. It said that it was in fact claiming to target an Islamic Jihad terrorist, but that munitions fell several meters away from that target. And as a result, civilian casualties were of course seen.

Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: All right. Nada Bashir in London. Thank you.

All right. President Trump is telling his MAGA supporters to back off their attacks on U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi over her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. The President making a public gesture of loyalty to Bondi at a high-profile event today. Details straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:38:04]

WHITFIELD: Embattled U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi joining President Trump in his box at the FIFA Club World Cup final today. This sign of support comes after sharp criticism from some and his base over how she has handled the Jeffrey Epstein case.

CNN Senior White House Reporter Betsy Klein is joining us right now from New Jersey where the president has been spending the weekend. What more can you tell us?

BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR REPORTER AND WRITER: That's right. A notable show of force at that stadium in New Jersey, but for years President Trump has made big promises about Jeffrey Epstein, and a memo released by his Justice Department and the FBI on Monday is directly at odds with the conspiracy theories pushed by Trump and some of his top lieutenants.

Now, that memo concluded that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no evidence of any so-called client list, but MAGA world is now in revolt, pitting some of Trump's closest allies against each other and all of this essentially setting up a loyalty test between President Trump and that MAGA movement that he created.

The infighting between the DOJ and the FBI came to a head on Wednesday at this explosive meeting where FBI Director Kash Patel and his Deputy Dan Bongino were confronted about whether they were behind a story that said the FBI wanted more information on Epstein's release, but was ultimately stymied by the Department of Justice. And then after that meeting Bongino told people close to him he was considering resigning. He did not come to work on Friday and his status in the administration remains uncertain as of now.

Patel for his part posted to social media on Saturday that he would continue to serve in the Trump administration and even though he was among those fanning the conspiracy flames, Patel said in that post, quote, "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been."

[16:40:00]

Attorney General Pamela Bondi, meanwhile, has really borne the brunt of the frustration from MAGA supporters that was clear this weekend at the conservative Turning Point USA summit where both speakers and attendees directed their anger at Bondi and the administration more broadly.

But President Trump clearly trying to rein in this infighting. He sent a post to social media. They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi who is doing a fantastic job. We're on one team MAGA and I don't like what's happening. The president has privately doubled down on Bondi with some of his aides telling her detractors to cool it. Her job is safe for now, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Betsy Klein. Thank you so much.

All right from updated evacuation plans to lifeguard drills, health summer camps across the country are racing to reassure parents following the Texas flood tragedy.

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[16:45:31]

ANNOUNCER: CNN Breaking News.

WHITFIELD: We want to take you straight to Lexington, Kentucky, where press conference is underway after a shooting that took place at a Richmond Road Baptist Church there. The police chief is now -- the Police Chief is Lawrence Weathers. He's now talking about the sequence of events that led to this. Two people were shot. A state trooper was also shot by a suspect. Let's listen in.

CHIEF LAWRENCE WEATHERS, LEXINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT: I thank all of you for being here. And like Sergeant Towery said, it's ongoing investigation, so there's not really a whole lot of questions I'll be able to answer. But I will give you the statement that I have here.

There's days like today that are extremely difficult. And before I begin, I would like to extend my condolences to the victims, their families and everyone impacted by today's violence.

I would also like to wish a quick recovery to the Kentucky state trooper who was shot. On July 13, 2025, around 11:36 a.m. Lexington police officers were dispatched for a shooting involving Kentucky state trooper on terminal drive. The trooper had pulled over a vehicle on terminal drive after receiving a license plate reader alert in the area of the sales road. The trooper was shot and the suspect fled.

While that shooting occurred on terminal drive, it was unrelated to the Blue Grass Airport and did not occur inside the airport terminal. The troopers in stable condition and receiving treatment and receiving medical treatment. A short time later, the suspect carjacked a vehicle in the 3700 block of Bellwood Drive before fleeing the area. No injuries were reported during that carjacking.

With the assistance of the department's air support unit and real time intelligence center, officers were able to track the vehicle to the Richmond Road Baptist Church and the 500 or 5800 block of Old Richmond Road.

The suspect fired his weapon at individuals on church property. Preliminary information indicates that the suspect may have had a connection to the individuals at the church. Four individuals were shot on church property. Two female victims were pronounced deceased at the scene. The other two victims, both male, were transported to a local hospital. One victim was reported to have sustained critical injuries, and the other was reported in stable condition.

The suspect was shot by responding law enforcement and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspect's information will be released after their family is notified. Three Lexington police officers fired their service weapons in accordance with the Lexington Police Department's policies.

The officers had their issued body worn cameras activated. The incident is being investigated by the Kentucky State Police Critical Incidents Response Team, and the department's public integrity unit will conduct an internal review of the incident. As per policy, the officers will be placed on administrative assignment pending the outcome of the investigation.

I want to thank all the officers and employees of the Lexington Police Department who have been working on this investigation. There were also community -- community members who stopped today to assist the Kentucky State police trooper, and I want to thank them for their courage and support to help.

We also want to thank all of our partners who have been assisting in the investigation, including Kentucky State Police, Fayette County Coroner's Office, Fayette County Sheriff's Office, Fayette County Public Schools Police Department, the ATF. The FBI, Department of Emergency Management and our partners at the Lexington Fire Department, our E911 personnel and the mayor's office, with -- I mean, all of our other partners, something like this has a huge impact on our community.

[16:50:13]

I know when people hear about stuff like this, they won't maybe need some kind of understanding, and I think the city is going to stand ready with one Lexington to help provide assistance to those who are struggling with it.

Sometimes things happen. We just don't have a reason why, but we're going to be here for the people of Lexington. All of these people up here didn't hesitate to come out, didn't hesitate to call and check on the family members and didn't hesitate to come out and provide support and their service. So, I appreciate all of that. And thank you for all of that.

With that being said, I'm going to ask Colonel Garrigan (ph) to step up.

COL. GARRIGAN (ph): Thank you, Chief. So, my office was called at 12:56. We responded to 58:99 Old Richmond Road, which was the Richmond Road Baptist Church. This, like the chief said, this is an ongoing active investigation. There are literally a few 100 people that are working this crime scene as well as myself and deputies.

This church was a small church, and the majority of the individuals that attend the church there are related biologically some way or another. If not, they've been friends for many, many years. So, it's a very tight knit group of people at the Richmond Baptist Church because the family was there and our Lexington police as well as the KSP conducted interviews about what happened in this investigation.

I was able to notify a family of two deaths. And I can report that Beverly Gum, she is a 72-year-old female member of the church. She sustained gunshot wounds that caused her death. And Christina Combs is a 32-year-old lady who also received gunshot wounds which caused her death.

We have identified the shooter, and the shooter, as the chief said, was shot by Lexington police, and we have not notified the shooters family. Typically, in a case like this, we will notify the family as soon as we can. And once that notification has been made, then we will identify the shooter to the media. Thank you.

WEATHERS: As I said, there's not a whole lot of questions I'll be able to answer. I will take a couple. And if I can't answer them, I will. If I can't, I'll just let you know. But only a couple. If anybody has any questions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What can you tell us about shooter, did he had a criminal record?

WEATHERS: At this time, I'm not at liberty to discuss that. Those details will probably be released later. But at this time, I won't -- I can't discuss it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It appeared on scene that after the shooting that happened, someone else was arrested. Can you confirm that? And if so, why was that case?

WEATHERS: I don't have any information on anybody being arrested.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chief Weathers, could you please recount what you said that took place on Terminal Drive with the state trooper and the individual? Did the state trooper pull over the suspect because of a hit for a license plate reader?

WEATHERS: That -- that is my understanding. Yes, ma'am.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do we know if any of the shooting victims were related? Possibly spouse?

WEATHERS: I'm not going to discuss that right now.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do we know whether or not the shootings at the church happened inside or outside the church?

WEATHERS: That's part of the investigation, and I think they're still looking into that.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then as far as at the airport --

WHITFIELD: -- saying to the Lexington Police Chief and questions going to the police chief there about a horrible shooting that took place at a church there in Lexington. Two people have been killed a 72-year-old woman and a 32-year-old woman and the suspect. The suspected shooter was killed by Lexington police.

[16:55:17]

Also, a state trooper has also been injured after a sequence of events. But the bottom line, it all ended at the church in a deadly way. Thank you so much for joining us today. We're going to continue to stay on top of that story throughout the evening. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. The CNN NEWSROOM continues with Jessica Dean in a moment.

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