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CNN This Morning

Person Of Interest In Custody In Connection With Brown University Shooting; Officials Give Update On Brown University Shooting. Person of Interest in Custody in Connection with Brown University Shooting; Two Killed in Brown University Shooting; 11 People Killed in at Sydney's Bondi Beach; Shooting at Jewish Event at Bondi Beach a Terror Attack. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired December 14, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:01:01]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Good morning and thank you for joining us. We're following several breaking stories this morning. I'm Victor Blackwell in Atlanta.

We begin in Rhode Island. U.S. Marshals tell CNN, and told us just minutes ago, that they now have a person of interest in custody in connection with last night's deadly shooting on the Brown University campus.

The CNN saw at least 20 members of law enforcement going into a hotel room. This is near the Providence Airport this morning. In that shooting, two students were killed, nine other students were hurt.

We just learned that the shelter-in-place order has ended for the Brown University campus. We showed you this security camera video of a person of interest, taken at the time of the shooting, or just moments after this person leaving near that building. We don't know if this is the same person have -- that authorities have in custody.

Students were in the middle of a final exam review session when the shots were fired. The mayor of Providence says the timing likely made it easier for the shooter to get inside the building.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BRETT SMILEY, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND: Because there were exams taking place, the doors would have been unlocked. Maybe not every door inside the building, but the exterior doors. And they have badge access to the building after hours. But since it was during regular hours and there were exams taking place, the exterior doors were unlocked. And so, based upon what we heard from officials at Brown, anybody could have accessed the building at that time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Take a look at this cell phone video. Police cleared the buildings on campus. One of the first witnesses to call police said that she was walking through a hallway when she first heard those shots.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SOPHIA HOLMAN, WITNESS, BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: When I first heard them, I thought it was, you know, as a college student would in an engineering building, I thought it was just maybe something from the wood shop, or it was something, you know, it was an experiment gone wrong. But once I continually heard them and I heard someone and I saw someone run past me, I thought it, you know, I thought it was better to be safe than sorry. So I started running behind the girl that ran by me.

I could tell she was a student by the athletics parka that she was wearing. So I ran out of the Hope Street exit. I ran one block east and then I called the police at 4:04 p.m.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: All right, let's get right to CNN's Brian Todd, who is in Rhode Island. Brian, what have you learned?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, an intense flurry of activity here at this hotel where I'm standing in the overnight hours. A member of our CNN team witnessed this law enforcement activity. CNN witnessed a heavy police activity here at this hotel that officials at the scene say was connected to the shooting at Brown University.

CNN witnessed at least 20 FBI officials, U.S. marshals and local police converging into a room at this hotel in the overnight hours. When pressed, if this was connected to the Brown University shooting, a U.S. Marshals official told us that they had detained someone connected to the incident.

When our team member pressed that U.S. Marshals official again on this, the U.S. Marshals official said it's a small state. Put the dots together. Multiple law enforcement officials at this hotel have told us that this hotel is a crime scene. That's what we can tell you.

Also, what we can tell you is that according to Brown University, the shelter in place at the university has been lifted as of this morning. And we can tell you that according to a city official in the city of Providence, there is a person of interest in custody in connection with the shooting. That's what I can tell you from this scene here where someone was apprehended a short time ago. Victor?

BLACKWELL: So, Brian, you're at a hotel and we've said that it's not far from the Providence Airport. But how far are you from the Brown University campus?

[07:05:03]

TODD: We believe, Victor, it's about a 25-minute drive from the Brown University campus. So, you know, that you can put all that together and, you know, that's what we can tell you. It's about 25 minutes. And the weather is a factor. Of course, it's been snowing here in the overnight hours.

They expect, I think, at least an inch of snow. So that's could be a factor in it, you know, in any, you know, travel issue between Brown University and this hotel.

BLACKWELL: Sure. And we are going to now go to Rhode Island. And this is the mayor, Brett Smiley.

SMILEY: -- it's to share. I'm Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. In a moment, we'll hear from Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, followed by Providence Police Chief Colonel Oscar Perez. And then Ted Docks from the FBI will share a few words. Then we'll take your questions.

We are able to report that we have detained a person of interest involved in yesterday's shooting. Colonel Perez will speak in a minute about that update. Second, I want to let the Providence community know that effective immediately, we are lifting the shelter in place for Brown in the related area.

Campus communications pushed out an update to that effect a little while ago. And the city of Providence, through our official channels, is making that update now. Again, the shelter in place has been lifted for the city of Providence.

Finally, I'll note just an update on the individuals who are recovering at Rhode Island Hospital. There remain seven individuals in stable condition, one in critical but stable condition, and one has been discharged. Those are the nine individuals injured yesterday.

We talked yesterday multiple times about the tremendous cooperation and amount of law enforcement resources that were made available to us. And I want to offer my profound thanks to all the hardworking men and women in law enforcement who worked through the night to be able to get us to this point, where we can confirm that there is a person of interest who has been detained.

This is exactly the kind of collaboration that we train for and that we hope for. Our partnership with the FBI, with the state police, and obviously the heroic actions of the Providence police have brought us to this point. But it is with sincere gratitude (technical difficulty) so closely together, seamlessly, throughout the evening and into the morning.

At this point, I'll ask Governor McKee to say a few words, and then we'll hear from the Colonel and from the FBI, and we'll take your questions. Governor?

GOVERNOR DAN MCKEE, RHODE ISLAND: Thanks, Mayor. And we're going to continue to have our thoughts with the families and the individuals that have been impacted by this horrific event. And we're standing again with Brown University and, of course, the state of Rhode Island's resources will continue to be there, Mayor, as we proceed with the process.

We'll continue to have our state police fairly on alert for everyone out there so that there's a sense of calmness in the state. And I would just repeat what I said last night, the fact that the state of Rhode Island is in shock, but they're really responding as communities that we all love and that the communities that we are proud of, the fact that we live in a state that everybody comes together.

So, again, my thoughts are still centered on those individuals that have lost their lives. And I'm praying that the families will find the strength to be able to deal with this in a way that their lives are not disrupted as much as they probably will be.

So we'll keep our state police out there. We'll continue to work with the city of Providence and, of course, Brown University to make sure that everything is being done possible so people feel as though that we're responding in a way to help those who have been impacted by this event. And we'll continue to stand with you as time goes on.

SMILEY: Thank you, Governor.

Now we'll hear from Colonel Oscar Perez, Providence Police.

COL. OSCAR L. PEREZ JR, CHIEF OF POLICE, PROVIDENCE: Thank you, Mayor. And good morning. I'm going to be clear. I'm going to be very limited in what I can share with you all this morning. Again, my condolences and thoughts and prayers with the families that were impacted by these actions.

[07:10:06]

As the Mayor stated, we have detained someone of interest. But I respect and to protect the integrity of the investigation, I will only be limited in my details. The next process for us is what we do best in our detectives is to coordinate with the prosecutors, to collect evidence, to conduct interviews. And then from there, we'll be able to, when it's appropriate and accurate, to share more details with you all.

But I'm pleased to say that, as the Mayor stated, the collaboration between our federal partners, our different municipalities in the state is all hands on deck. And, you know, when there's incidents in the city that shock the conscious, we know for a fact that we just step up.

And the federal agents, our federal partners, I want to thank them for their assistance. But as well, every single municipality, the state police, and every other chief in the state. We came together as a small state. It impacted a lot of us, the incident that occurred.

And so, again, I'm just happy to share with you that we're in the process now of coordinating with prosecution, conducting interviews, and being able to collect evidence so that we can protect the integrity of the investigation. And that we can hold the individuals accountable for their actions, so.

SMILEY: Next, we'll hear from Ted Docks from the FBI, who was integral throughout the process, and especially early this morning.

TED DOCKS, FBI SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, BOSTON FIELD OFFICE: You know, hopefully, for the families, the victims, this community, having these leaders and law enforcement up here, and really a community as a whole, came together within 24 hours. We talked about a timeline. Within 24 hours, we were able to have a subject of interest that's in custody.

I will say that we could not do that without working seamlessly with our partners here. I tell you, not only the Rhode Island State Police, the Colonel has been great. HSI, DEA, also Rhode Island State Police as well. I mean, I tell you, just working with those partners, coming together in a way in which we should.

Literally not sleeping, working through the night to make sure that we can bring about some type of ease and calm to the community here. And so, I just want to thank all the partners here, the leaders as well, because I tell you, they did not sleep either. And we were on the horn, definitely gleefully, when we got a person of interest there. And so, that's what your FBI does.

I tell you, I want to give a personal thanks to not only the investigators, also the intel, the professional support that have been working around the clock, headquarters. We have folks that are actually coming in right now to help work with the victims. But I tell you, that's what your FBI does, and that's what we do with our partners and leaders within the community. Thank you.

SMILEY: Thank you, Ted. We'll take questions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was the person taken in custody last night or this morning?

PEREZ: He was detained earlier this morning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you tell us where and how it kind of went down?

PEREZ: I can't confirm that for you right now. Again, just to protect the integrity of this investigation, we're talking with the Attorney General -- speaking with the Attorney General's office, and we'll be able to provide that at a later date.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Outside of Providence?

PEREZ: Again, I can't confirm that for you right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you recovered weapon?

PEREZ: Again, this is still part of the investigation. We're collecting evidence, and we'll continue to do so. But when appropriate and accurate, we'll be able to share that with you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can we ask, President Paxson? Can you step to the microphone for us? What would you want to say to the Brown community, the Brown families, the Brown alumni, folks who are watching right now?

CHRISTINA PAXSON, BROWN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT: Well, you know, everybody is reeling, and we have a lot of recovery ahead of us. So my main goal in the coming days and weeks and months, it will take a long time, is to bring people back together and help them feel safe and secure on campus.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the resources that you have on campus today, President?

PAXSON: We have -- we pulled out all the stops. We have, you know, Religious Life, Student Services, everybody we can just to be there to support our community. And I do want to say, our DPS has been great, but the law enforcement, the Providence Emergency Management Service team, people from the Nonviolence Institute have been on call. They've been amazing. So just incredible support from the community.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. President --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Madam President, can we confirm now that the shooting happened inside a final exam review for the Principles of Economics class?

PAXSON: That's my understanding, yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the person of interest affiliated with Brown anywhere? Are there students, staff?

PEREZ: Again, I won't be able to confirm that for you right now. But again, we have somebody, and we have detained them, and we'll conduct our investigations. Our detectives will do, and I'm very confident on what they're going to provide for us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you looking for anybody else?

PEREZ: Not at this point, but again, we're still conducting our own investigations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you just sort of walk us through -- and I recognize you're not going to be able to say very much, but between the 11:00 press conference last night when you didn't have somebody, what happened in the hour or however long it took? Was there a breakthrough? Can you give us anything on sort of how you got to (INAUDIBLE)?

PEREZ: So our special agent from the FBI stated it's all collaboration, it's cooperation, it's all hands on deck. We're picking up on any leads, any peeps that come our way, and that's what we do. That's what this department has done for years.

[07:15:08]

And so when some incidents or horrific incidents like this occur, we step up, and we ended up with the results of detaining someone of interest. And again, at a later date when we update you, we'll be able to provide you with the rest of the details, how we came about to stop that individual.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did the video help at all? PEREZ: Again, this is all evidence that we collect, including the video and including all the items that we have, and again, tips. But I also like to commend the individuals and the citizens of this state. They come forward and provide -- and law enforcement officers as well, there's a passion. It's what we do.

We're fathers, and we really care. And so it's -- it doesn't matter if you're an officer in one point of the state or another. We all work together, and so that's what it comes about.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did more tips come in after you released the video last night? How did that play into the investigation?

PEREZ: Correct. It's all tips that we received, detectives followed up on a lot of them. And again, all the resources, the federal partners that we have also followed up on some of the tips. There's 400 police officers. A lot of them came to work.

We didn't even know that they were working. And so it all came down to collaboration, cooperation, and that's where we're at now, so.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you explain to us what police are doing right now? They've got streets still blocked off. Can you explain to us what --

PEREZ: I'm sorry, Molly (ph), say that again?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you explain to us what police are still doing? They're blocking off streets right now. Can you kind of explain? Should people stay clear of that area?

PEREZ: Yes, again, we're still in the process of collecting evidence. And so we're putting it all together. It's -- policing is very -- is a difficult job. We have to make sure that we protect due process and the integrity of the investigation. So we may collect other evidence, and that's why we're still out there. We haven't -- we're confident enough that we are able to say that we detained somebody of interest, so.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE), can you share if there's any updates on what's going to be happening with final exams or final projects beyond what you already did?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I mentioned last night that we had canceled the finals today. There were four finals. We're in the process of putting together some announcements and updates with guidance for the coming week.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chief, there's a question here.

PEREZ: Yes. Yes?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, Chief. Should students still expect to see police and other law enforcement officers walking through campus, knocking on doors, or? PEREZ: So absolutely, the command staff and obviously the patrol division, we spoke about this. So we have actually enhanced the presence in the staffing for the day just to make sure that people see us. And so, yes, we will be out there. And so just like we do, you know, on the weekends, especially like last night was extremely busy.

We have several events going on in the city. We have all, you know, 200,000 population of the city, but on the weekends it picks up. And so just today will be the same, especially with the snow coming down. So we'll have it enhanced. But up here we'll definitely have a presence.

SMILEY: Let me just add to that in a little bit. There are still a couple streets closed here approximate to campus as the investigation continues and evidence is collected and such. Throughout the city of Providence, proactively, individuals will see an enhanced police presence.

Not because there is particular cause for concern or evidence being gathered in another corner or another, but we know that it is a Sunday in the holiday season. And we want folks to feel safer knowing that there are people in a position of authority throughout the city today. We're receiving assistance from the state police to that effect.

And so we don't want that to be alarming. We want that to be reassuring to our residents, to our visitors and those who might be in Providence today. Right immediate to where the incident occurred yesterday, there might still be an enhanced police presence because the investigation is ongoing.

But if you see police elsewhere in the city of Providence, please know that we are doing that in a proactive manner for the comfort and reassurance of our community. Not because there was evidence there or any cause for concern in the other neighborhoods in Providence.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mayor, can you talk a little bit of the victims? There was nine. I know you gave us the conditions. Were they students? We're relaying to the public. Can you just kind of categorize them?

SMILEY: We are not releasing any information about the victims at this time. We fully expect to provide additional updates today. And in one of the successive updates in the hours to come, we will provide more details on the victims so that we can continue to have an opportunity to communicate with the families and such. So we just need a little bit more time on that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And two fatals.

SMILEY: Yes, it is still the case that there were two fatalities yesterday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mayor, you were saying, you know, there's extra police presence around the city today.

SMILEY: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We shouldn't be alarmed by that.

SMILEY: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But can people with this person in custody, you know, the city's been on edge all night, can people breathe a little easier right now --

SMILEY: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- given that news?

SMILEY: Yes, the people of Providence should breathe a little easier this morning. The reason that we are here, and as the colonel has said many times, the investigation with regard to the individual who has been detained is very much ongoing and in the middle of it right now.

[07:20:05]

But we're providing this update specifically so that the people of Providence can breathe a little easier this morning. That is also why we feel confident and comfortable to lift the shelter in place for the city.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mayor, notably, today is the 13-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook school shooting. How has that helped shape your response to a shooting like this, and what more do you need to do?

SMILEY: So, as I mentioned yesterday, our two priorities as of last night were to, one, bring the individual responsible to justice. And that investigation is ongoing, although we have a meaningful update that we've just provided. Two is our concern for the victims who, as I mentioned, are still -- most of whom are still hospitalized. That remains our priority right now.

But as everyone mentioned yesterday, the governor, President Paxson, and myself, and this is because of the times in which we live, Sandy Hook and many other instances of violence around our country, any of us in leadership capacities have had to think about this. We have a generation of kids who have done active shooter trainings.

That was not something I had to do when I was a kid. And we all -- I think maybe intellectually, we knew it could happen anywhere, including here, but that's not the same as it happening in our community. And so, this is an incredibly upsetting and emotional time for Providence, for Brown, for all of us.

I'm sorry to say we have thought about this. As we mentioned yesterday, we've all trained for this. This is not something we should have to train for. But we have, including very recently. And that's why we're here not, what is it, 16 hours later, 17 hours later?

In a positive way, with an update and an investigation, that has progressed very quickly. Part of that success is because of the collaboration that we've had between law enforcement agencies. They train regularly for that collaboration. That practice was already there so that we could work so well together with so many resources being offered, which is wonderful that those resources were offered, but they're only as good as you can use them. And we were able to use them because we had trained for this moment. But this is not something any community should have to train for.

And so, there'll be plenty of time to talk about what should happen, what should have happened in our society and in our community. But right now, our priorities remain the same as they were yesterday, which is to bring the individual responsible to justice. And there's an investigation that is ongoing but making good progress.

And to ensure the full and complete recovery of the survivors of this attack who are still at Rhode Island Hospital and whose status has not degraded. And we should all thank God for that. And so, we plan on providing additional updates throughout the day today. But to the earlier question, yes, the community in Providence should breathe at least a small sigh of relief at this moment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was going to ask a similar question that was asked. Unfortunately, they have Brown being listed, Sand Hook. The names unfortunately (INAUDIBLE), just what your reactions are.

PAXSON: Well, I mean, when something like this happens, as the mayor said, it's something we think about, we have prepared for in coordination with the local law enforcement. But you never -- when it happens, it's just hard to believe. And our community is strong and we'll get through it, but it's devastating. And I know it is for the entire Providence community, too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You all mentioned there were over 400 police officers last night. Has that number increased with this enhancement or stayed the same?

PEREZ: So we have reduced it at this point. And so, yes, but as the mayor stated, we'll make sure that just to enhance the law enforcement for the day and just because of the different events that are going on in the city, so.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have a number?

PEREZ: At this point? So we'll have 30 carpools that are working. And that includes, on top of that, we have detectives that are working. We have task forces that are working. I'm working, the commander, we haven't slept. So there will be a lot of us out there, so.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) Telemundo, audience online speaking in Spanish. Just a quick recap on safety to go outside.

PEREZ: Sure, thank you. Gracias.

(Speaking Foreign Language)

[07:25:24]

BLACKWELL: All right, we've been listening to a news conference out of Providence, Rhode Island, where officials there say that they have a person of interest in custody. Also, that they're not looking for anyone else. And the mayor there, Mayor Brett Smiley, says that the people of Providence, Rhode Island, can breathe a small sigh of relief.

So we have learned a lot in just the last 20 minutes or so. Let's go back to the news conference.

PEREZ: I'm sorry --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The person of interest may be on the (INAUDIBLE).

PEREZ: So -- correct. Yes.

SMILEY: We will keep you posted on additional updates. We do expect a brief throughout the day today as other relevant details become available. We will continue to notify you all through the same press list. Again, if you're not on the press list, please see Josh. He'll get you on the press list. But otherwise, we'll post with adequate warning when we plan on briefing again.

Thank you all very much.

PEREZ: Thank you all.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So Chief, one more thing --

BLACKWELL: All right, so they've wrapped up there -- I believe they've wrapped up there in Providence, Rhode Island. So let's bring in now CNN's Brian Todd, CNN Senior National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem, and former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis. Welcome back to you all.

Let me start with you, Juliette, and what we hear from officials there. They are not explicitly saying we have the shooter, but they are giving all of the signals of, they're not looking for anyone else, they've lifted --

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Yes.

BLACKWELL: -- the lockdown, and you can breathe a sigh of relief. What did you hear?

KAYYEM: Yes, that's exactly what I heard, that investigation felt over in the sense that now the school and university and the city are going to be looking to recovery. The students and the lockdown that has impacted areas around the university is now lifted, and the focus is now going to be who is the suspect, how did he plan it, and, of course, what was his motive.

On that, who he is, we did not get much information. We only know that they got a tip from the gun store, I believe, and that would -- that targeted the person. I'm in Rhode Island right now. I spend a lot of time here. It's the smallest state. Nothing is far. It's less than 40 miles across. This -- the shooter did not move very far. I was actually surprised that he was still in Rhode Island. Brown University is near Interstate 95. So based on what we know now, this is someone with strong ties to the state, and I think the question is, what were his ties, if any, to Brown.

BLACKWELL: Yes, that was a question that was asked, and the chief there, Chief Perez, would not answer that. And we understand at this phase --

KAYYEM: Yes.

BLACKWELL: -- of the investigation, there are some questions that will not be answered.

Commissioner, let me ask you this. Based on what we've heard from this news conference, this person is still being classified as a person of interest. Why is this person not a suspect?

ED DAVIS, FORMER BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER: Good morning. It's out of an abundance of caution. Under the old adage that all the information you get at first is wrong, public officials are very cautious to take it slow and not to be premature in announcing an arrest. But all the telltale signs are there.

They have this guy. He's in custody. It's unknown as to whether or not he's speaking to officials right now, but that's a really important consideration here. The police want to keep this man talking to them, and whatever it takes to make that happen is going to be put out publicly.

So a lot of considerations here, but the fact that they lifted that shelter-in-place warning and they had the press conference this morning telling people they can rest easy is a clear indicator to me that they have this guy.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Brian Todd, let me come to you. We heard from the mayor that there will be police presence throughout the city as the investigation continues. You were outside of a hotel that you're told is part of the investigation. Give us a description of that location and what is actually happening right now.

TODD: Well, Victor, there's still considerable police activity at this hotel. We're roughly 17 miles from the shooting scene in the Providence area. We witnessed -- our team member witnessed a flurry of law enforcement activity in the overnight hours at this hotel, witnessing at least 20 FBI agents, U.S. Marshals, and local police converging in a room here.

When asked about what was going on, one U.S. Marshal said that they had detained a person connected to the Brown University shooting. When we pressed him further on this, this U.S. Marshal's official said, it's a small state. Put the dots together. We do know, of course, now that there is a person of interest in custody.

And Chief Perez, while they didn't give a lot of information in that news conference, did acknowledge that the person was taken into custody this morning. So that could connect what happened here to the person they have. And I think that when Mayor Smiley said, not once, but twice, that the community can breathe a sigh of relief, that was significant, as Chief Davis, I believe, alluded to a moment ago.

So, that's what we can tell you here, a flurry of law enforcement activity. This hotel, according to multiple officials who spoke to my team and I this morning, this hotel is a crime scene. We believe it remains that at this hour, but the activity here has tamped down a little bit.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Commissioner, let me ask you, I guess, a pedestrian question here. When this happened, it was a clear day. Does the weather impact the ability to collect evidence as these crews are working out?

ED DAVIS, FORMER BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER: It really does. And that usually comes into play in outside scenes. I can remember getting tarps or other things to cover a body or a piece of evidence left in the street when it starts raining, because it's very easy for the DNA and blood evidence to wash away when the weather is inclement. Not such a big deal here where the incident happened inside.

Now, there can be a blood trail as someone's leaving. There can be other things that they had a few hours to take a look at last night after that video came out. I'm sure that whole area of ground that the suspect was on was scoured very closely for any kind of evidence. Things as simple as a cigarette butt. If you can get them before the weather hits, your chances of recovering specific and important evidence is high.

BLACKWELL: One more for you before we go to break. You were the commissioner of the Boston Police Department during the Boston bombing 12 and a half years ago now. Talk about the scale of an investigation in a City of Boston, just up 95 from Providence, when you've got local, state, federal, we heard from the governor today of the investigation of this scale.

DAVIS: Right. I'm very familiar with Providence and Brown University. It's almost a suburb of Boston. We pulled together a coordinated response that has one person in charge, and it's based upon something called the National Incident Management System. All police around the country are trained on this, and it gives guidance to how the federal agencies and state agencies respond to a local jurisdiction, who is in charge, which is really the critical component. The last thing you want in an unfolding situation like this, where literally thousands of police officers are descending upon the location, the last thing that you want is an uncoordinated response.

The National Incident Management System sets out who's in charge and how that command moves from one place to another. Sometimes the FBI, because of the nature of the crime, will take it over. That's all laid out. We practice on it. We know it. Nobody's insulted when that happens. It makes all the difference in the world.

BLACKWELL: All right. Commissioner, thank you. Juliette Kayyem, Brian Todd, thank you as well. We're also following breaking news out of Sydney, Australia. At least 11 people killed there in a terror attack at a Jewish event at Sydney's popular Bondi Beach. The latest there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:35:00]

BLACKWELL: Let's get you more on the breaking news from Australia. 11 people have been killed in a terror attack at a Jewish event there. One of the gunmen is also dead. This is the moment when two men dressed in black fired in the crowds at the popular Bondi Beach in Sydney.

An interview with Sky News, Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said that the shooting happened at an event at the beach celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, which began at sundown.

CNN's Angus Watson joins us now from the scene. I understand police there, they have been giving more information. We all watched a live press conference on the shooting at Bondi Beach. Tell us what we know.

ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Victor, this has been declared a terrorist incident by police. A terror incident attacking the Jewish community here in Bondi. Anti-Semitic terror here in Sydney, Australia at the famous Bondi Beach on a Sunday afternoon. This area that we're in now, Bondi, has a strong and proud Jewish community. That community has been attacked today. At least 11 people killed, 29 people taken to hospital in ambulances and more people have presented to hospital themselves as the evening has gone on.

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Now, police here have updated us in the last little while to say that and in an IED, an improvised explosive device in a car linked to the gunman who was killed by police was found and that has now been resolved that's no longer a threat police have taken those items away the police bomb squad was here trying to secure the area after police found those bombs or those explosive devices in a car here. That's now been resolved. So, this behind me is a crime scene, no longer an exclusion area where police earlier just weren't able to tell the community that this place was safe at all.

Of course, behind me the police cordon is still very strong, people aren't allowed to go anywhere near this crime scene, members of the public as police try to piece together what happened. At least two gunmen were involved we see them in social media videos firing into a park where this Hanukkah event was ongoing. This event called Hanukkah by the Sea where children and their families were celebrating this beginning of the festive season.

Now, here, you'll see video, extraordinary video where a man appears to attack the gunman, wrestle him and take away his weapon and then begin to defend the public with that weapon. Now, extraordinary video there. That man's actions praised by officials in that press conference that you just mentioned there, an extraordinary feat. Thereby that man that police and politicians in charge of saying he certainly saved people's lives.

But here a tragic day for Australia and more importantly for the Jewish community here in Sydney and across the country, 11 among them killed today, 29 people injured. Those injuries range from serious to critical. Surgeries going on in hospitals around Sydney tonight. People unsure of just who has been hurt as well. So much concern here in the community, so much nervousness and a terribly sad day for the Jewish community and for the country at large, Victor.

BLACKWELL: This video, Angus, is stunning that this man just jumped up and grabbed that rifle as the man was shooting Chris Minns, the New South Wales premiere, calling him -- look at this. It is unbelievable -- calling him a hero deservedly. We also know that there are two police officers who were in surgery. Was there any update on those police officers, Angus?

WATSON: We know that they have serious injuries and that will require surgery. We haven't heard an update on their condition now. But earlier I was speaking to police, now their condition was serious to critical, the police told me. So, concern over those police officers hurt in the line of duty.

But as you say there, an absolutely extraordinary act of bravery by this man who tackles the gunman, takes away his gun and then appears to defend his community using that weapon. Extraordinary scenes, Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Angus Watson reporting from Bondi Beach where this is a very active investigation. And again, this stunning video of a man who jumped in to snatch the rifle from one of the shooters, unbelievable video.

Let's bring in now Alex Ryvchin joining me now. He's the executive council -- with the executive council of Australian Jewry as I discussed earlier. Alex, first my condolences for what is happening there what happened today, the attack on the Jewish community in Sydney celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. Do you know anyone who was there at this event?

ALEX RYVCHIN, CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN JEWRY AND FRIEND KILLED IN BONDI BEACH SHOOTING: Yes. Look, I know everyone who was there at that event. That's an event where I attend with my family every single year. I've spoken at that event for the last probably 10 years. I was scheduled to speak again tonight. But in the last minute I was contacting the rabbi and saying, I had a bar mitzvah to attend, maybe we could bump me from the run sheet a little bit forward and that rabbi who is a dear, dear friend and one of the kindest and most beautiful human beings I've ever known is among the dead.

One of my colleagues was there and he's wounded and he's in hospital at the moment. I've just heard that, again, a friend has lost his 12- year-old daughter who succumbed to her wounds in hospital.

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We're a very close-knit community. And this event is kind of the gem of our year. It's something we look forward to every year. It's when we gather on Bondi Beach with families and we have face painting and jumping castles and petting zoos and we mark the beginning of the Festival of Lights. It's a joyous day. And here in Australia, it's the beginning of the summer holidays. It's the beginning of the school holidays. It's right on the beach. It's a beautiful day.

This is one of the most cherished events in our communal calendar. And the fact that it's turned into a bloodbath, the fact that people plotted, acquired weapons, came there knowing that there would be children there, that there would be elderly people, families, defenseless people just gathered there in peace and they slaughtered them in cold blood. This is something that will transform our country. This is something that will crush our community and we'll have to rebuild from this.

Tomorrow, we'll be burying our dead and we'll be comforting each other. I don't know how we recover from this.

BLACKWELL: Alex, I am so sorry that you lost your friend at this event tonight and so many people you love were impacted by this terror attack. Talk to me about the climate for Jews in Australia. Again, I said earlier that we've covered here in the U.S. the increase in attacks, the increase in vandalism and harassment of Jews. What is happening there?

RYVCHIN: It's been a rough two years since October 7. You know, in January of this year, my home was targeted in a firebombing attack. There were attacks on synagogues, on childcare centers, the prevalence of street abuse, of vandalism, of people being spat at, of children being attacked and victimized. It's become a part and parcel of Jewish life in this country, which is a devastating thing to even talk about because we have such deep roots in this country. We adore this country. This is a place that has earned a reputation as being a successful multicultural society, a place of equality where people treat each other with dignity and respect. And it deserves our reputation. But what's happened here in the last two years has shattered that.

But it's still a quantum leap from everything that I've described to a massacre on a beach at a Hanukkah event. And I still can't believe that we here in Australia, we are not a country that has mass shootings. We're not a country with a high rate of gun crime. These things don't happen here. And the fact that this has now occurred and the fact that it's my loved ones that -- you know, that have suffered in this way, it's very difficult to come to terms with.

I'm also thinking about the fact that, but for the grace of God, I would have been there on the stage speaking, standing next to the rabbi who was murdered, as I've done for every year for the past decade. And by some chance I wasn't there and I'm here speaking to you now, but there are people just like me who are dead now.

And the rabbi who I described as just an extraordinary human being, he became a father again a month ago. He bestowed a great honor upon me of holding his newborn son at the circumcision ceremony in the synagogue. This was a radiant, wonderful man that lived the best of Jewish life, of charity, of being good to people, of helping all Australians. He was so gracious and kind. And now his son and, you know, and his other children will be raised without a father. It's just devastating.

BLACKWELL: Alex, I am, again, so sorry for you and for your family. And now that you add that he's a new father again with a month, one month old, even greater tragedy for his family personally. I thank you for sharing your story. And I hope we can keep in touch as we learn more about what happened on Bondi Beach. Thank you.

RYVCHIN: Thank you so much. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: All right. breaking news this hour, also on the deadly shooting at Brown University, officials confirm a person of interest is now in custody in connection with that attack that killed two students, injured nine other students. The students were in the middle of a final exam review session when shots were fired.

CNN witnessed heavy police activity at a Providence area hotel overnight. Officials at the scene told CNN it was connected to the shooting and that the hotel is considered a crime scene. Now, the shelter in place order, that was in effect, that's now been lifted for the entire Brown campus. However, police activity will continue as it is considered an active crime scene. We'll take a break and we'll be back.

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BLACKWELL: America's Game did not disappoint. It came down to the very end in the annual Army-Navy game. Coy Wire out with his hat in Charm City. Hey, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, in snowy Charm City. Good to see you, Victor. As they do every year in this rivalry, they played with so much heart. They played tough and smart and it came down to the wire.

As you mentioned, Victor, Army had the lead most of the game. But in the fourth quarter, down 16 to 10, Navy's Phillip Hamilton pulls off a leaping interception, giving Navy a chance at the lead. They would then march down the field and running back slash receiver slash a little bit of everything. Eli Heidenreich catches the touchdown pass from Blake Horvath, and Navy would go up for good.

Navy winning the 126th edition of the Army-Navy game, 17 to 16. We caught up with some of the stars after the win. Listen to this.

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ELI HEIDENREICH, NAVY SLOT BACK: That was awesome. You know, I don't really remember too much of it. I think I was, you know, buzzing a little bit too much there, a little too much excitement. But, you know, a moment that I'll cherish for the rest of my life.

BRIAN NEWBERRY, NAVY HEAD COACH: Biggest game of the year for us, obviously, is a hell of a game. Hats off to Army. I'm so proud of our kids. The fight, the guts, the resilience. Be down, didn't look good. We didn't play great at times, but found a way to win. I'm so proud.

PHILLIP HAMILTON, NAVY CORNER BACK: It means everything. I love this team. I love the guys. I love this city. It's us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: All right. Indiana University's quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, has won the Heisman Trophy. Incredible journey. Graduated high school with a 5.2 GPA. Originally went to Cal. Interned at a real estate firm. Got admitted to Haas Business School.

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He'd wake up at 5:30 in the morning, take care of football, then his studies, then go to work, and then do more film study when he got home. Over and over and over. He graduated business school, Victor. Transferred to Indiana. Led his Hoosiers to the playoffs this season and became the school's first ever Heisman winner. Fernando Mendoza. They have a first-round bye in the playoffs there at Indiana. So, the first game will be New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl to get the winner of Alabama and Oklahoma.

BLACKWELL: All right. Coy Wire, thank you very much. I want to correct something that appeared on air early this morning. One of our graphics briefly mentioned death of nine at Brown University. As we said, two people died during that shooting. Stay with CNN. A special edition of State of the Union starts after a quick break.

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