Return to Transcripts main page
Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Two Gunmen Killed at Controversial Event; Baltimore Returning to Normal; Israel Protest Against Police Abuse; Nepal Earthquake Death Toll Rising. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired May 04, 2015 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:31:54] ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Breaking news this morning: two gunmen killed. These gunmen apparently opened fire at an event in Texas -- a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. New information on this attack, new information on the investigation as well.
Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman. About 32 minutes past the hour.
And breaking overnight in Garland, Texas, a shooting that is raising serious questions and concerns. Two men -- they pulled up outside a venue holding this contest for people to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The men jumped out of their car and they started shooting. An unarmed security guard was wounded before two police officers shot and killed the gunmen.
CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Garland, Texas. He has the latest -- Ed.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, law enforcement officials here in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas, say that the shooting erupted just about ten minutes before the art Mohammed exhibit and cartoon contest was supposed to be wrapping up. It's not exactly known if the organizers of this event were the ones that were being targeted. But that is clearly the suspicion that law enforcement is operating under.
This is an event that had been in the works for sometime. It had gotten a great deal of publicity, and because of that, there was also a great deal of law enforcement present surrounding this event. In fact, we were told in the back of the building, there was a SWAT team on stand by just in case anything like this was to erupt.
But we're told by law enforcement that the whole event lasted or the whole shooting took place in less than about 15 seconds. That there were two men who drove up to the civic center here in Garland, Texas, in the dark colored sedan, jumped out, started shooting. They were able to wound a Garland independent school district officer. That officer was released from the hospital. He will be OK. But those two suspects were gunned down in the parking lot of the civic center here in Garland, Texas.
Law enforcement officials say they do not know the identities of these suspects, but, obviously, FBI investigators are on the scene, beginning the process of trying to figure out what the motive here was. This was an event that was highly controversial. The organizers described it as a free speech event. But those critics of these organizers which also included a keynote speech by a right wing Dutch politician who has been on the target list of Islamic groups around the world, they say that this was nothing more than an anti-Islam event.
So, a great deal of controversy surrounding all of this and many law enforcement officials here in Garland had worried about, John, has taken place.
John, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Thanks so much, Ed Lavandera.
Ed just told us from the scene by the way that there were concerns that the gunman's car might have explosive devices inside. So, the FBI did a controlled detonation of its electromagnetic pulse device. That happened around midnight local time, and that was meant to disable any possible, possible bomb that was in the car.
[04:35:04] Those attending the contest that was held to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, they say it was not anti-Muslim, but it was pro-free speech. Local police had officers and SWAT at the event just in case there was violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE HARN, GARLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT: We prepared for something like this simply because there were additional officers that were hired for this event by the school district. We had talked with them in preparing for this event in case something like this happened.
DORRIE O'BRIEN, ATTENDED EVENT: It is a pro-freedom of speech. Why would anybody have to describe it as anti-Islam? It's pro-freedom. That's what we're here for. We are freedom protectors.
JEFFERY MYERS, ATTENDED EVENT: This event was not anti-Koran. This event was not in any way disparaging of Muslims or the Koran, or Mohammed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The keynote speaker for the event was a controversial right wing Dutch politician named Geert Wilders. After the shooting, he tweeted to police, "Thank God the heroes of SWAT prevented the worst."
The mayor of Garland, Texas, told CNN that most of the people at the event were from out of state.
New this morning: it was the first morning or it is the first morning after the first night without a curfew since the violence broke out in Baltimore one week ago. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake lifted the curfew that she imposed following these riots. These are from last Monday.
All that unrest stemmed from anger over the death of Freddie Gray who was seriously injured while he was in police custody. These pictures are from one week ago.
The mayor also said the National Guard will now spend several days winding down operations in the city. She joined in celebrating the reopening of the shopping mall closed during the violence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE (D), BALTIMORE: Right now, I'm confident. What we saw over the past few days is not just the resiliency of our city, but also, our community is coming together. We want to heal our city.
We know we have challenges in Baltimore. We know that there is work to be done. But what you saw in these last few days with the peaceful demonstrations and people coming together to celebrate Baltimore is that will that we will get better, that we will get through this and we will do it as one Baltimore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Let's get more from the streets of the curfew-free Baltimore, CNN's Rene Marsh is there.
Good morning, Rene.
RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.
I know you were outside city hall. Things look a lot different than when you were here. We don't see a large presence of the National Guard. We don't see a large presence of the police officers just a few -- off to the side here.
So, things feel different here in Baltimore. They are different in the sense as you mentioned the first night where there was no curfew. It was another calm night. You talked about the National Guard and that drawback.
Well, we know that that's all happening this week. It could take about 72 hours before it is all complete pause they brought in 4,000 people.
This morning, we are starting to learn about some of the six officers charged in Freddie Gray's death. As you know, there are five men, one woman, three of them black, three white. And some of them are veterans, some were new to the force. I did spend some time in Officer William Porter's neighborhood. He is
25 years old. He was hired by the department in 2012. He is the officer who was called to the police van to check on Freddie Gray.
And as the state prosecutor said, Freddie Gray asked for medical attention and never got it. We do know that Officer Porter is facing three charges, which includes involuntary manslaughter as well as second-degree assault. So, I spoke to a neighbor who is also a family friend. She has known him since he was 10 years old. Here's what she told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARGARET MUSGROVE, NEIGHBOR: Just a very polite, very sweet young man, very innocent really. So, when I heard it was his name, I was kind of in shock and deeply saddened because I don't know what's happened, and I guess I know the world doesn't know what's happened at this point.
MARSH: You said when you heard the news, you almost didn't believe it because it doesn't match up with the character of the man you know.
MUSGROVE: Absolutely does not match up at all. He wouldn't hurt a fly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARSH: Yesterday, we also heard from Baltimore police giving us an overview of how things have shaped out in the last seven days. They say some 486 people were arrested during some of these rallies and protests. Also, 113 officers had been injured.
As far as the economic impact of the rioting, the looting and curfew, Governor of Maryland did say that as a result of the rioting, some 200 businesses have been lost.
[04:40:10] Many of them were minority-owned businesses. Many did not have insurance. So, a lot of rebuilding for those business owners, even though the tide feels like it is starting to change in Baltimore, John.
BERMAN: So many layers to this, Rene. It will take time before the city gets on its feet. Thanks so much, Rene.
Happening right now in Israel: Israel is facing its protests accusing police of racism. These became violent in Tel Aviv at a demonstration organized by Israel's Ethiopian Jews. This is an earlier peaceful protests in Jerusalem were sparked by a video showing police officers beating an Ethiopian-Israeli soldier for no obvious reason.
Let's go to Tel Aviv with the latest from Oren Liebermann.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, organizers of these large protests in Tel Aviv promised these demonstrations, the one here and the one in Jerusalem are just the beginning. So far, they have mended. There's another demonstration scheduled for right now in Jerusalem at a significant location since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with not only Ethiopian leaders, leaders of that community, but also the victim in this video that has gone viral and sparked this anger, this tension boiling up to the surface.
In that video, you see one Israeli police officer and then another walk up to an Ethiopian-Israeli soldier in uniform, and start beating him. That has sparked this anger.
Ethiopians we spoke to would say, the bigger issue here is years, what they see as decades of discrimination at the hands of police and authorities.
The video is what sparked the anger to boil over. We had the protest in Thursday night in Jerusalem, the one last night in Tel Aviv. Organizers tried to keep it peaceful and it was for many, many hours. About 500 or 600 protesters blocked off some of Tel Aviv's main streets. And police said, look, if this remains peaceful, we're OK with it.
And for hours, it was peaceful. But as it got later, as the protests reached the seven and eight-hour mark, that's when it suddenly changed and became the violent clashes between police and protesters.
Police said there were a number of protesters damaged shop windows, damaged police cars, even damaged a police motorcycle as police tried to disperse the crowd. They used tear gas, they used stun grenades, water cannon, officers on horses, to try to break up this crowd. But even at that point, it still took hours.
The numbers as they stand right now: 56 police officers injured lightly, one injured moderately and 43 people arrested. What started as a peaceful protest became violent clashes. We will see what happens with another round of demonstrations from an Ethiopian community trying to break what they see as decades of discrimination here in Israel. Those meetings between the prime minister and Ethiopian leaders could be the beginning of change. That's what everyone is hoping for -- John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Tumultuous history and some dramatic pictures from Israel. Thanks so much, Oren.
Time now for an early start on your money. Cristina Alesci is here with that.
Good morning.
CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
Futures are actually inching a bit higher right now. That's after the Dow gained 183 points on Friday. That pop helped stem a loss for the week. Now, today, investors will be watching earnings from a host of companies, including Comcast and Tyson. But the real action will likely later this week with economic releases and the jobs report on Friday.
And a big story from McDonald's today. Its new CEO unveiling a plan he hopes will revive profit. In the first quarter, it fell about 32 percent. What will we hear? McDonald's may continue to cut back on the number of items on its menu. We might get an update on how all- daybreak fast is going in San Diego. That's the test market for the old day. But, apparently, no McGriddle.
BERMAN: Yes, that's what I heard. I'm OK, I'm not a McGriddle guy. I'm more a McMuffin and a biscuit guy.
ALESCI: All right. Well, then, you're all set.
BERMAN: McGriddle is too much of a good thing. Cristina, thanks so much. Appreciate it.
The race for president is growing this morning. A new candidate sort of declared himself overnight, and another is hours away from her big announcement. We'll break it all down next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:47:46] BERMAN: Our breaking story this morning, police in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas, shot and killed two men overnight. The men drove up to a venue that was holding a contest for people to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
The men opened fire, wounding an unarmed security guard. Police officers returned fire, shooting and killing the two gunmen. Organizers of the event claim it was designed to promote free speech. Critics called the contest anti-Muslim. A lot of questions surrounding that this morning. We'll have the latest on the investigation ahead.
It will be an emotional day for Dr. Ben Carson, the 63-year-old former neurosurgeon. He will formally announce that he is running for president this morning at an event in Detroit. He tipped his hand in a TV interview overnight. But just after the announcement in Detroit, Dr. Carson will travel to Dallas to be with his mother who is seriously ill. He had to cancel a scheduled campaign spot in Iowa.
Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, is also going to join the 2016 presidential race today. She will be the first woman in the Republican race. After officially announcing her candidacy, Fiorina is expected to take questions in a live online town hall.
All right. Desperately needed relief is slow to arrive following Nepal's devastating earthquake. CNN has been to the hardest hit areas. We will take you there live, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:52:52] BERMAN: Breaking news overnight: two gunmen shot dead by police as they attacked an event in Garland, Texas. Police say the men drove up, jumped out and shot and wounded a security guard before police killed them both and that happened in about 15 seconds. The event was a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Organizers describe the whole event as free speech. There are critics who say it was anti-Islamic and Muslim baiting. We'll have much more on that ahead.
Meanwhile, a grim scene in earthquake stricken Nepal. The death toll has now topped 7,200. The largest airport has been forced to turn away relief planes because the runways is too badly damaged.
One bright note, though, the miraculous rescue of a 101-year-old man allegedly trapped under his collapsed home for seven days.
CNN senior international correspondent Arwa Damon has been to the epicenter of the quakes and she joins us live now from Kathmandu.
Good morning, Arwa.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPNDENT: Good morning.
It is quite an intense journey, because as we undertook it, one point in the road that has been blocked off by boulders, so we continued on foot. You're really just walking past decimated village after decimated village. Heartbreaking stories of loss, even the stories of survival are also filled with desperation because the vast majority of the people in the remote parts of the country have been left to fend for themselves.
You come across individuals sifting through the rubble trying to salvage what it is that they can. People still living in brutal conditions. It rains every other day. It is fairly cold on all of those mountain tops.
Those who have homes standing, and the vast majority don't, they too are not living inside them, instead choosing to live in tents because of the ongoing tremors. And I can tell you, John, we felt one of those tremors, we were on the side of the mountain, and the entire ground beneath is absolutely terrifying and understandable why these people still continue to live in such fear.
[04:55:03] As we continue towards Barpak, and that is the earthquake's epicenter, you are really struck by the power of it. We had to climb over fallen down trees that were just tossed aside, massive crevasses in the landscape, climbed up landslide in some areas that were happening in multiple locations. The government says that it doesn't have the capacity to get aid out into these areas. But aid is arriving there in small quantities. So, if they're able to do it, it's really inexcusable that the government is not, John.
BERMAN: Arwa Damon in Nepal where there is still so much need this morning. Thanks so much, Arwa.
Our breaking news this morning: two gunmen killed after they opened fire at a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. We have information about the attack and the investigation, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
BERMAN: All right. The breaking news this morning: two gunmen killed after they opened fire on a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. What we are learning about the attack this morning and why police say they were ready for disturbances.
Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman. It is Monday, May 4th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the east. Christine Romans is on assignment this morning.
And breaking overnight from Garland, Texas: a shooting raising serious concerns and questions. Two men, they pulled up outside a venue that was holding this contest for people to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The men jumped out of the car, they started shooting.
