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CNN This Morning

Police Search For Suspects After 12 Shot Near Ohio Festival; Missing American Student Found Dead In Japan After Dayslong Search; U.S. And Iran Exchange Strikes, Peace Talks At Stalemate; Pakistan Delegation Arrives In Tehran For Peace Talks; Iran Demands U.S. Unfreeze $24 Billion In Iranian Assets; Trump: War With Iran Will Be Over Soon; Pope Leo Leads Holy Mass On Second Day Of Trip To Spain; State Rests In Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial, Defense Continues Monday; Trump To Attend Game Three Of The NBA Finals; World Cup Security In Focus As Host Cities Prepare For Crowds; Mexico City Sports Fans Attempt Record For Largest Wave. World Cup Kickoff Nears As Fans Bring Energy Worldwide; 1 Killed, Several Hurt In Suspected Terror Attack In Israel; Friday Marks 10 Years Since Mass Shooting At Gay Club; Thousands Without Power Across Northeast; "UFC At The White House" Airs Tonight At 8PM ET/PT On CNN. Aired 6-7a ET

Aired June 07, 2026 - 06:00   ET

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

[06:00:37]

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN THIS MORNING. Here's what's happening now. Police are on the hunt for at least two people who started shooting at each other at a festival. Twelve people were hurt in the process.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We went to the restroom in the church, and then we just heard shooting. Like shooting. We thought maybe it was fireworks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: What we know about the conditions of the victims and how this all started. In Japan, search and rescue volunteers have now found the body of that missing American student. New details are coming of what we're learning about where he was found, and what we're hearing from his family.

Also, Pope Leo just held the first mass of his trip to Spain. Our Chris Lamb was there and has more on the pope's message.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VINCE VELAZQUEZ, RETIRED ATLANTA POLICE OFFICER: The fans are going to come here and enjoy this World Cup experience and not have an idea of all the security measures that are going on.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BLACKWELL: The World Cup kicks off in just a few days and security, you know, will be tight in cities hosting matches. A look at the preparations and which teams are early favorites.

It's Sunday, June 7th. Welcome to a brand new week. I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to have you along.

Happening now, police are searching for two suspects after at least 12 people were shot. This happened at a festival in Toledo, Ohio. Here's the moment that sparked the chaos there. Watch.

(VIDEO PLAYING)

Now, police say the two shooters appeared to have been shooting at each other. Neither suspect is in custody. Twelve people were hurt in the crossfire, two of them critically. All of them are expected to survive.

Now, police say they spoke to victims ages 14 to 61. Investigators said that they were shocked by what they saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN GERKEN, INVESTIGATIVE LT. TOLEDO POLICE: As far as violence, this is over the top, right? So, 12 people being shot. That's the most I've been to a scene. I've been to a lot of scenes. But this is -- this is way over the top.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Now police are asking people to avoid the area while they continue this investigation, but they want to hear from people if they have any information. Also to send in cellphone video from the scene. The shooting is just one of at least 170 mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year.

Search and rescue volunteers have now found the body of an Auburn University student who was missing during a family vacation in Japan. James Weston Higginbotham disappeared after leaving his family to explore parts of Kyoto on his own after a disagreement with his mother. CNN's Hanako Montgomery has more.

HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is an extremely tragic end to a dayslong search for Weston Higginbotham. His mother, Nancy, posted on Facebook that his body was found on Saturday in a mountainous area just outside of Kyoto by a volunteer search and rescue party.

Now on Facebook, his mother said, quote, "the grief we feel is impossible to put into words. We are forever grateful for the time we had with our sweet, precious Weston, but cannot begin to understand what life without him will be like."

Local police have told CNN that the cause of death is still under investigation. And in terms of what led up to this tragedy, we know that the family originally from Alabama, first got to Japan on May 22nd to celebrate their younger son's high school graduation. Now, after exploring other parts of the country, they got to Kyoto on May 29th. One of their last stops.

And on that day, Weston and his mom had a small disagreement over ChatGPT and its environmental impact. Weston is a passionate naturalist and is very much passionate about the environment.

Now, after this small disagreement, the family decided that they needed to take some space to cool down, and Weston chose to split off from his parents and from his brother, and he explored the city on his own.

[06:05:01]

Now, this was around 6:00 p.m. local time on May 29th he was found walking around Kyoto station. Two hours later, he was seen walking around the Yamashina area of Kyoto on a path that leads to a hiking trail. Now, this is the last known sighting of Weston.

And several hours later, when Weston still did not return to the hotel, his parents filed a missing person's report. Now, since then, the authorities have been combing through the Japanese forest to look for Weston. But a typhoon hampered the efforts somewhat. On June 5th, the authorities concluded their forest search for Weston, and that is when the family chose to organize their own volunteer search and rescue party.

Now, this is an unimaginable loss for the Higginbothams. I've spoken to the family several times over the past few days, and they told me just how close they are as a family, how they love to go hiking together, explore new cities and cultures together. And his mother also told me how Weston had a heart of gold.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY HIGGINBOTHAM, WESTON'S MOTHER: Like he's just this little, just amazing person that everybody loves, everybody loves. He's got a heart of gold.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MONTGOMERY: His parents have asked for privacy as they mourn their son and come to terms with their new reality.

Hanako Montgomery, CNN.

BLACKWELL: Thank you. The war that President Trump promised would only last four to six weeks has now reached 100 days and counting. Here's where things. The U.S. military reports shooting down six Iranian attack drones over the past two days that were targeting the Strait of Hormuz. Seven ballistic missiles were also fired at Kuwait and Bahrain, and most were intercepted.

Pakistan's interior minister has arrived in Tehran for a new round of peace talks. A top adviser to Iran's supreme leader tells CNN that the ball is in President Trump's court. He's demanding the U.S. unfreeze billions in Iranian assets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHSEN REZAEI, SENIOR MILITARY ADVISER TO IRAN'S SUPREME LEADER (through translator): If he wants to reach an agreement with Iran, this $24 billion is a test of trust that Iran wants to have with Trump. This is a test that America must pass, and the path will be opened. This is our own money, not America's money.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: CNN's Barbie Latza Nadeau is tracking the latest developments. She's joining us from Rome. Barbie, what do we know about these talks that are happening now?

BARBIE LATZA NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I think the fact that they're happening is giving a little bit of optimism. I think people are cautiously optimistic. They're meant to solidify the ceasefire, which of course started in April. But there are several points of contention. Now, that $24 billion worth of Iranian assets that the Iranians want to have unfrozen. That's a major, major point.

But also the freeing up of the Strait of Hormuz for commerce to flow through. And that will help, of course, the global economy. And one of the points that, of course, they're going to have to agree on is the stance on Iran's nuclear program. And of course, that's what started this conflict in the first place.

But U.S. President Donald Trump says he believes that the Iranians are ready to make a deal, even though we hear that cautious, cautious warning from the Iranian side. So, these talks are important. There is a sense of optimism, but there is also a sense of reality when you consider the amount of military back and forth going on in that region right now. And that's worrying, of course, to everyone in that region and globally, to be honest, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Indeed. Barbie Latza Nadeau, reporting live from Rome, thank you. And President Trump insists that the war with Iran will be over soon. As he puts it, one way or another. Let's get more now from CNN's Julia Benbrook.

JULIA BENBROOK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This recent exchange of fire leads to a lot of questions about the ceasefire and the peace negotiations, which seem to be at an impasse right now. As a top Iranian official tells CNN, those negotiations are deadlocked. Over 24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

Now, the most recent comments we've heard from President Donald Trump on all of this came in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, where he was asked if the Iranians are so desperate to make a deal, which he has said repeatedly, why have they not yet accepted his terms.

Take a listen to part of this exchange. This is with NBC's Kristen Welker.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KRISTEN WELKER, NBC HOST: You have been saying for months, Mr. President, that Iran is begging to make a deal.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: True.

WELKER: They are so desperate to make a deal, why haven't they made a deal with you yet?

TRUMP: Because they -- it's a very hard thing for them. They've had great independence. They've dealt with very weak and ineffective leadership on behalf of the United States and other countries, frankly, that were -- that allowed them to get away with murder. And I don't -- I think they can't believe they're in the situation where they've been virtually decapitated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[06:10:04]

BENBROOK: He went on to say that the Iranians are strong and proud. And while it may take time, ultimately, he believes that they will have no choice but to make a deal.

When it comes to the timeline of all of this, following those first joint U.S. Israel strikes against Iran back in February, he said again and again that this conflict would end very soon. He's now pushing back against any criticism of how long this has gone on, saying that he believes he's moving quickly, that these things take time, sometimes even years to resolve.

Now, when it comes to the negotiations, one of the last major updates that we received from the White House officials told us that Trump had sent back changes to a proposed deal with Iran, and that he was asking for tougher language when it comes to Iran's nuclear commitments and its pledge to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. That was about a week ago now, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Julia Benbrook, thank you very much. Still ahead, we go live to Madrid, where Pope Leo is celebrating mass this morning. We'll have the latest on the huge crowds turning out to see him. The first American pope traveling in Spain.

Plus, the 2026 World Cup is about to kick off in 16 cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. What's being done to keep everyone safe.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:16:09]

BLACKWELL: New this morning, Pope Leo led holy mass on the second day of his weeklong visit to Spain. This morning, crowds greeted the pontiff with cheers as he rode in the popemobile through the streets of Madrid. Yesterday, while he was making a speech at the Royal Palace, the pope denounced populists who are, in his words, fanning the flames of polarization, and he called for peace.

Let's go to Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb now. Tell us more about what the pope had to say this morning.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Victor, there's absolutely huge crowd gathered here in Central Madrid for the mass led by Pope Leo. Around 1.2 million people are estimated to have turned out for it.

And Pope Leo had a strong message during the mass which saying that whilst Spain has this extraordinary Catholic history, that history should not be seen as a sort of museum or something to be looked at with nostalgia, but actually faith must mean something to people in Spain today and into the future, particularly in trying to build a better world.

Now, the mass is coming to an end. You can hear the processions coming to an end so you can hear applause. You know, Leo has really been greeted with great enthusiasm here in Madrid for what is going to be a six-day visit to Spain. He seems very at home in this country.

Of course, he's the first American Pope, but he is a fluent Spanish speaker who spent a number of years in Peru, and he's visited Spain many times. And he had these big crowds today for the mass and then the procession afterwards. And on Saturday night, a prayer vigil with around half a million young people.

So, I've been just about 600 meters from the mass that's been taking place. And, you know, the crowds have really been quite something. Families, young people here, huge numbers have turned out for Leo, and there's really very, very intense interest in his visit to Spain.

BLACKWELL: Christopher, you're competing with all the sound around you. So we're having a little tough time hearing you, but this is day two of day six. What else are we expecting from the pope?

LAMB: Well, the pope is on -- Monday, tomorrow, is going to be addressing the Spanish parliament. That's the first time a pope has done that. We're expecting him to talk about polarization and how to overcome that. And he's also expected, at some point during his visit to meet with abuse survivors. Of course, the clerical sexual abuse scandal has been a big thing here in Spain. And the Vatican has confirmed that he will be meeting with the victims of abuse.

And he's also going to be going to Barcelona to visit the Sagrada Familia Church, the iconic basilica, which was designed by Gaudi. And he will then finish his visit with a trip to the Canary Islands, where migration and the plight of immigrants and refugees is going to be front and center. And Leo is going to be meeting with migrants and those groups who are helping them.

So it's a visit with, obviously, you know, that strong faith element. Leo wants to encourage the Catholic church in Spain, but there's also a political focus. Leo wanting to bring a message of unity to what is quite a polarized society, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Every visit by the pope is historic, but this one especially.

[06:20:00]

So, Christopher Lamb from Madrid, thank you very much. So, it's the week the world has been waiting for. The World Cup tournament kicks off this week with two matches in Mexico. The teams to watch out for and what's new this year.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Police in Ohio are searching for two suspects after at least 12 people were shot near a festival in Toledo on Saturday. The victims range in age from 14 to 61. Two are in critical condition, but Toledo's mayor says they're all expected to survive.

[06:25:03]

Police say the two shooters appeared to be shooting at each other. This morning, there are no suspects in custody.

A new development in the murder trial of Karmelo Anthony. Prosecutors rested their case yesterday after calling 21 witnesses in the case against this Texas teenager. He's charged in the stabbing death of Austin Metcalf. Anthony's defense team started calling witnesses, Saturday, and set out to prove this was a justified killing in self- defense. Testimony resumes tomorrow.

President Trump is expected to be in Madison Square Garden tomorrow to watch the Knicks take on the Spurs in game three of the NBA finals. Trump says he was invited by Knicks' owner James Dolan. The Knicks' lead, two-zero.

The FIFA World Cup is now just four days away, and security is a big part of the preparation. With matches across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, host cities are working to handle large crowds and keep everyone safe. Officials are also looking at recent incidents and how transportation systems and venues will hold up. CNN's Ryan Young takes a closer look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARKWAYNE MULLIN, DHS SECRETARY: Through 11 different cities. And we're going to have 78 Super Bowls in 38 days.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Across the U.S. and Canada and Mexico, this year, FIFA World Cup on tap to be the largest tournament in history. With stadiums averaging nearly 70,000 seats, organizers expect the event to draw 5 million fans. That will also mean intense security. Some recent unprovoked attacks give people reason to worry.

In Los Angeles, where the U.S. tournament kicks off, police say someone stabbed and beat a 70-year-old woman back in March, leaving her with a broken neck. Not far away in Long Beach, California, last month, police say another woman was stabbed and left hospitalized. And last week in Atlanta, police say a woman was fatally stabbed on a train operated by MARTA, the city's public transportation line. In months past, the Transportation Department called for improved safety measures in cities to include Chicago, D.C., New York, L.A., Charlotte and Philadelphia. Now, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wants an investigation in Atlanta saying, every American should be disturbed by the horrific crimes we have seen on MARTA in the last month.

(on camera): There's a big focus on safety and whether or not MARTA can meet the need when it comes to all the international guests that will be coming to town. And some things have really frightened people in the city, especially a deadly stabbing that happened just last week, having people asking questions, is MARTA safe enough and ready for the World Cup?

GARY GALE, ATLANTA TOURIST FROM CALIFORNIA: I think there should be extra security for sure on a day to day basis, especially with the World Cup coming up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Traveling alone would not be an option right now for me on MARTA.

MORGAN BANDERLINDEN, ATLANTA RESIDENT: Safety is an issue for sure --

YOUNG: OK.

BANDERLINDEN: -- based on what happened last week. So, definitely hesitant but still doing it. It'd be great to see a little bit more security on the trains.

YOUNG (voice-over): MARTA continues to tell its riders the system is safe.

SCOTT KREHER, MARTA POLICE CHIEF: This was a senseless crime and violence will not be tolerated on MARTA.

YOUNG (voice-over): Atlanta police recently ran a mass casualty training exercise showing the public just how prepared they are. And from the Feds --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: FBI Atlanta will lead drone ground intercept teams around stadiums and fan fest locations.

VELAZQUEZ: All the fans are going to come in and enjoy this World Cup experience and not have an idea of all the security measures that are going on.

CHIEF JIM MCDONNELL, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: Let me be clear. Anyone who seeks to turn the celebration into chaos, who threatens the safety of our residents or visitors, or who comes here intending to commit crimes, you will find no refuge in this city.

YOUNG: Yes, safety is going to be real concerned. MARTA will be key, especially because traffic in the city normally is terrible. So you understand why MARTA is going to be needed to move all these international fans from the MARTA line to the FIFA World Cup here in Atlanta. This will be a big event. This won't be like the Super Bowl where it's just one weekend. You're talking about a month-long worth of events that will test law enforcement, the transportation and the city over a long period of time.

Ryan Young, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: Thanks, Ryan. The opening match of the World Cup between Mexico and South Africa, scheduled for Thursday. Mexican fans, they are ready. Yesterday, thousands of people in Mexico City were there for the wave.

Now the fans there made this famous 40 years ago, the '86 World Cup, one of soccer's most recognized traditions. Officials think they set a new Guinness World Record for the largest human wave ever performed. Watch.

(VIDEO PLAYING)

BLACKWELL: Love a good wave. Seth Vertelney, soccer editor for "USA Today," is with me now. Seth, good morning to you. So you've got all these thousands of people who are out for the pre-events, who will be around in these cities, but we've covered the ticket prices for some of these matches.

[06:30:07]

They are really expensive. Are these matches selling out everywhere?

SETH VERTELNEY, SOCCER EDITOR, USA TODAY: Yes, it's hard to say exactly what the ticket sales are for each match. FIFA doesn't release that data, so you kind of have to just follow the prices on the secondary market as well as in FIFA's website. And right now, the prices are holding pretty steady, both on the secondary market and on FIFA's website.

And so I would imagine that as we get a little bit closer to the games, if there are any inventory of unsold tickets, that you will start to see the prices drop maybe within 24 to 48 hours of kickoffs of these games. However, I would imagine that a lot of the seats, if not most of the seats, for all of these games are going to be filled. Of course, the prices have been a huge complaint ever since they came out in the fall. FIFA has decided to try to extract as much money from these games as possible.

And unfortunately, these price points are pricing out a lot of fans from going to these games. You know, even games between two lesser- heralded teams will be $200, $300 a ticket. And that's tough for a lot of people to justify.

BLACKWELL: And so there will be more games, more matches. So the World Cup is 48 matches instead of 32, or teams, rather, I should say. Forty-eight teams instead of 32 teams this time around. More than just more matches, what does that mean for the fans, for the players? VERTELNEY: Yes, the World Cup has a much larger footprint this time around. The tournament has been increased by a week, from four weeks to about five weeks. The games have gone from 64 to 104.

For the teams, it means that anyone who wins the tournament is going to have to win one additional match because the knockout round starts at the round of 32 instead of the round of 16. And there are also going to be more teams advancing to the knockout round. The last World Cup, like I said, there were 16 teams that made it. This time, 32.

So it changes the way that the group stage is going to look because previously, only the top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout round. This time around, you're going to have not only the top two teams from each of the 12 groups, but you're also going to have the eight best third place teams.

And so it offers an opportunity for teams who, in the past, wouldn't have had good enough performance to advance to make it. And, you know, it kind of remains to be seen how that's going to play out in terms of the games and the group stage. You could see teams that play a little bit more for a draw as opposed to a win, knowing that maybe that one point will be enough to get them through.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

VERTELNEY: But certainly, it's just going to be a much bigger and more expanded tournament.

BLACKWELL: We just reported a few moments ago about this being day 100 of the U.S. war with Iran. And back in April, President Trump said of the Iranian team coming to the U.S. to play, let them play. Those were his words.

But you've got new reporting about some visa rejections. Tell us what you've learned as it relates to Iran.

VERTELNEY: Yes. Yes. I think, first of all, you just have to take a step back here and say that this is completely unprecedented. You've never in the history of a World Cup had a host country that's at war with one of the participating nations.

And so it's really a situation that none of us have ever seen before. But yes, right now, Iran is either en route to Mexico or they have arrived in Mexico where they're going to hold their base camp in Tijuana. That was a last-minute change. They were initially planning on holding their base camp in Arizona. And then a couple of weeks ago, they shifted to Mexico, I believe, to reduce the amount of time that they're going to be spending in the U.S. at a really sensitive time.

But the visa situation was one that we were following closely because some Iran players and members of Iran's traveling staff have been involved in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, which the U.S. considers to be a terrorist organization. And so all of the players and coaches have received their visas to enter the U.S., but a number of the support staff, including reportedly the president of Iran's soccer federation, were denied entry into the United States for this tournament, which is not something that pretty much ever happens.

[06:35:24]

BLACKWELL: Yes.

VERTELNEY: And Iran's embassy in Turkey came out with an angry statement. And so it remains to be seen if Iran's going to have their whole traveling delegation.

BLACKWELL: Well, we will be watching. The world will be watching.

Seth Vertelney, thanks so much for being with me this morning.

This week marks 10 years since the deadly Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando. How the city is remembering the victims and what next is planned as a memorial there.

And if you're heading out, you know, I'm down for the ride. You can stream my show from anywhere in the U.S. right now from the CNN app. You can also go to CNN.com/Watch.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:40:43]

BLACKWELL: Breaking news now. At least one person was killed. Several others hurt. This happened during a suspected terror attack in central Israel.

Police say that they neutralized the suspect after tracking down the vehicle he was driving. Officials say the shooter was an Israeli citizen. So far, no other suspects believed to be involved. But as soon as we get more information, we'll bring that to you.

Now this comes, this Friday, 10 years since the Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando. You remember that 49 people killed, nearly 60 others injured in this massacre at a nightclub. Omar Mateen started shooting there inside, barricaded himself inside with the victims before law enforcement shot and killed him.

The FBI called it an act of terrorism. This was a gay nightclub. The worst on U.S. soil since the September 11th attacks.

Joining me now to discuss a survivor of the Pulse massacre, Leo Melendez. Leo, good morning to you.

I remember, I was --

LEO MELENDEZ, PULSE SHOOTING SURVIVOR: Good morning.

BLACKWELL: -- I was there, and I just wonder, I read that you say you will never be able to heal. You don't think you will heal. Why?

MELENDEZ: Yes. Because fortunately, the bullet that went into my head, which I was very lucky or blessed, if I should say, that it came out, according to the doctor, it cut a vein. That's what connects the vein to go to your brain in order for you to be able to hear it. Unfortunately, I lost my hearing on the left side completely, 99 percent and 50 percent from the other side, which thank God I was able to use a hearing aid from the right side, and that's the only way that I would be able to communicate. Something that has been very, very challenging, something to have learned, something new, I mean, something, you know, coming from a person who was co-hearing 100 percent, it's been one of the most difficult challenges that I would say that I have faced besides other disabilities issues that I have now due to this, unfortunately, you know, massacre.

BLACKWELL: You're still living with the physical injuries and consequences of this massacre. Talk to me about emotional and psychological healing. Have you found that in the last decade?

MELENDEZ: It's been very challenging. To me, it's been like to reborn again. I mean, coming from a person who was able to hear completely, walk completely perfect, I've been through a lot of surgeries since then. I mean, at least about 10 total surgeries.

You know, I have a limp because, you know, I have a knee replacement, but the most challenging part has been the hearing situation, and also, I had some type of little brain damage due to the bullet impact.

So my life has changed completely since then. You know, I try my best because I'm a very positive, hopeful person, and I try, and the main reason why I'm here is to give people that strength that, you know, maybe are in the worst scenario that I am, to keep going, to keep up faith, to keep up hope, and to mostly know that there's a God out there. I know not a lot of people believe in God, which is fine. I'm the type of person that I'm very reciprocal and open to whatever you believe is, whatever you think. Just believe in something, though.

I believe in God, and I want everybody to know that I'm here because of the grace of God, not because I'm lucky. A lot of people said that, oh, you were very lucky because you were, you survived that. No, I was blessed, and I just want people that are out there that needs that extra push that I'm here.

I'm a walking miracle survivor that I can tell you, according to my mother, I wasn't aware, but supposedly I died for, like, I don't know, I think they said for, like, two or three minutes, five minutes, I don't know exactly --

[06:45:07]

BLACKWELL: Yes.

MELENDEZ: -- but they said that they revived me with the shocking machine.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

MELENDEZ: And they don't know how I survived. I lost men, you know, so much blood. Like I said, I'm basically a miracle walking and I just want people to know out there that there's hope and faith. If anybody -- BLACKWELL: Yes.

MELENDEZ: -- believe in something, believe it.

BLACKWELL: I read that you dream of writing a book to inspire people and I'm sure you are inspiring people even before you write that book. But I also read that when you were given an opportunity to go back to the nightclub before they demolished it, you declined.

We're now seeing some of the renderings of the eventual Memorial that will be placed there. They just started doing some of the work at the location there. Do you plan to go back to that that Memorial to go back to that place when it's complete?

MELENDEZ: When it's completely, I probably will like to go to maybe they'll do some type of closure for myself. I've been a person when something really traumatic happened in my life or it's really all I put it like a cut. You know, if you keep -- when you get yourself cut, you keep doing pushing that cutting keeps hurting. So, I try to put a band-aid on it and move on.

However, I think that's something that is you just do to try to cope with the pain. So I think once the Memorial is done, I will go just to see and come find some type of closure because also to do it for my friend who was there who died right next to me. I was one of my good friends/co-worker that I was there. He died right next to me.

So therefore, I want to do that closure. So yes, I will go once it's done.

BLACKWELL: June 12th, 2016, your friend Javier Jorge-Reyes. Leo Melendez, thank you so much for being with me and sharing your story.

And as we head to break, we leave you with a look at the victims who were killed in that shooting.

We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:51:42]

BLACKWELL: More than 100,000 customers are still without power in the Northeast after Saturday's storm.

CNN meteorologist Melissa Nord is with me now. So, the storm threat moves where now?

MELISSA NORD, CNN METEOROLOGIST (on-camera): Moves to the midsection of the country.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

NORD (on-camera): But the storms really packed a punch coming on the heels of the heat yesterday afternoon. They had to postpone the Yankees Red Sox game. Look at this. Three hundred, over 300 different wind reports on the map just from yesterday alone there across the Midwest over to the Northeast. But today the storm threat moves to the midsection of the country. This morning, we still have some flash flooding ongoing. Now the Dallas- Fort Worth Metroplex there, they had a lot of water rescues just to the south of there on the eastern side of Austin.

Floodwaters remain there, but the threat of damaging winds and hail switches to the northern plains today. That's where we have a level three out of five risk of severe weather, more garden variety thunderstorms in the mid-south expected today. But that storm threat down through the Dakotas and out towards as well Wyoming where we've got the risk of damaging winds, some really large hail possible as well.

But that is just north of where this heat's going to be expanding and building this week. Each one of these circles on the map representing a potential record high temperature set this week. That heat wave starts in the midsection of the country by the end of the week though, racing towards the mid-Atlantic and northeast where we have got some FIFA World Cup games coming up next weekend with big heat as well.

Victor?

BLACKWELL: All right, Melissa, thank you very much.

The relationship between President Trump and UFC President Dana White has been decades in the making.

CNN's Sara Sidner got a rare behind-the-scenes access to find out what's behind that loyalty.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you are looking at the White House, you cannot miss the huge apparatus that is dwarfing it right now. They call it the claw.

Basically, all it is, is a lighting structure that beams down light onto the fighters who are going to be in that cage for UFC. The fighters, we're told, are going to be coming out of the White House. It is going to be quite a spectacle.

Love it or hate it, it's going to happen. And the reason why it's happening is because of a relationship that is decades long between two men, Dana White, the President and CEO of UFC, and President Donald Trump. And we did want to give you some idea of the confluence of the sport when it comes to politics, because there is a togetherness there, partly because or mostly because of the relationship, a friendship that has lasted so long between these two men.

Take a look.

SIDNER (voice-over): Since winning the 2024 election, the President has attended three UFC fights, each time after a politically explosive decision or incident.

On this night, for example, he made his first public appearance after being convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records just 48 hours prior to the fight.

Here he is after sending a large ICE presence to Los Angeles, sparking protests.

And again, as peace talks failed in the midst of the Iran war.

DANA WHITE, PRESIDENT, UFC: To look at us and say, oh, you're political, you're this, you're that. This man is my friend. Through wins, through losses, through ups, through downs, through things he says, things he doesn't say, this guy has been a really good friend to me. And that's the bottom line.

[06:55:00]

Donald Trump and I, who happens to be the President of the United States, is one of my very good friends.

SIDNER: There's a dual loyalty, do you think, there?

WHITE: A hundred percent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The UFC is Donald Trump's safe space. It is the place he can go where no matter how the world treats him, no matter how much his poles are collapsing, it is the place where he can go to feel like a champion.

SIDNER: Now Dana White says, look, this is not political. He wants everyone and anyone to watch these fights. It is a business and it is a real sport. I got to go into the UFC apparatus and just learn everything I could about it, how the fighters train, what their nutrition is like even, and this confluence between politics and sport, as well as the fans. This is the fastest scoring sport in the world. It exists on six continents.

So you can't just say, well, you know, I don't like it or I don't want it. This is going to be a part of society, a part of the culture. And now it's on the South Lawn of the White House. And by the way, they have torn this South Lawn up, as you can see. They say they're going to put everything back. And as far as the cost and who's paying for it, well, Dana White says it costs about $60 million to put this particular bout on. There will be several fights that you see.

Who's paying that bill? He says he is. The UFC is footing the bill, not the taxpayers. So there's that.

Sara Sider, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLACKWELL: "UFC AT THE WHITE HOUSE," airs tonight on "THE WHOLE STORY WITH ANDERSON COOPER" at 8:00 p.m. right here on CNN.

We'll be right back.

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