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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

2 Gunmen Killed at Mohammed Cartoon Event; Baltimore Returning to Normal; Obama Seeking "Truth" in Freddie Gray Death; Tiger Woods & Lindsey Vonn Separate. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired May 04, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: 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.

[05:00:04] The men jumped out of the car, they started shooting. A security guard was wounded before two police officers shot and killed the gunmen.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Garland, Texas with 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: All right. CNN's Ed Lavandera on the scene right there in Garland, Texas.

Authorities were worried that the suspects' car contained an explosive device. The FBI did a controlled detonation of its electromagnetic pulse device. That happened around midnight local time. The goal was to disable any possible bomb in the car.

Now, as Ed mentioned, those attending the contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed claim it was not anti-Islam. They say it was pro-speech. Even so, local police say they did have officers and a SWAT team at the event. Obviously, they thought there could be trouble.

(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 his thanks to police saying, "Thank God the heroes of SWAT prevented the worst." The mayor of Garland says most of the people at the event were out of

state. We have no sense of who was behind the attack. We know it was controversial before the event even started. Many residents of Garland unhappy that it was coming to their community.

CNN political commentator Ben Ferguson who lives in this area told us what he was hearing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, there's many people in the community that did not want this event anywhere close to their homes. I mean, this area is an area that is -- I'm right now probably 12 miles way from it.

You have a Walmart. You have a Sam's Club. You have grocery stores. You have houses. It's close to a school.

This is a convention center for the community, on a much smaller scale than major city's convention center. So, this is more of a mom and dads come together, have little events, art shows, galleries and basketball games. This is a true community and the vast majority of the community very conservative, by the way, community, as well, they did not want this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Now, we don't know who the two gunmen who were killed are just yet. But this does come after similar incidents overseas in France and Denmark, and the perpetrators of those attacks both had links to terror groups.

[05:05:04] CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson joins us this morning.

Nic, this is something we have seen in Europe. We see this tension in particular over depiction of the prophet Mohammed, unusual to see this in the United States.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And the experience in Paris in January this year was precisely that, that a person who was on an al Qaeda hit list, who was a controversial figure to a certain radical Islamist because he had drawn a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed, that he and his coworkers were targeted from the satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo." That was in January.

The two gunmen there appeared to be associated with al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. That's al Qaeda in Yemen. But the scenario that we saw in Copenhagen about a month later has striking similarities to what we've seen happened here in Texas. There was a cartoonist attending a freedom of speech event.

Lars Vilks, who's also drawn a picture of the Prophet Mohammed, he was also on an al Qaeda hit list. The gunmen there pulling a weapon and trying to shoot into an event that he was attending. What saved up him potentially and the people at the event there whether the security who were with him, both the Danish and the Swedish security, he was in Denmark, but he's Swedish himself, they returned fire. The gunmen chased off later in that day, the gunman turning outside a synagogue where a Bat mitzvah was underway and killing a guard on duty outside there.

So, the scenario of gunmen showing up and being chased off or shot at by security is what prevented further casualties. That gunman in Copenhagen later we found out he had associated himself with ISIS, pledging allegiance to al Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, John.

BERMAN: Again, we have to find out who the gunmen are in Texas this morning.

Nic, thank you so much. But it does raise questions about free speech and also the issue of provocation. Thank you, Nic.

BERMAN: New this morning, the people of Baltimore, it is the first morning without a curfew that they are waking up to this morning. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake lifted the curfew that was in place after these riots of more than a week ago right now, or one week ago on Monday. These were the riots that followed the death of Freddie Gray who was seriously injured in police custody.

The mayor said the National Guard will now spend days winding down its operations in Baltimore. She joined in celebrating the reopening of a shopping mall that was closed after 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: I want to get the latest from the streets this morning. Let's go to CNN's Rene Marsh in Baltimore.

Good morning, Rene.

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

You remember what the scene was like just days ago outside of city hall, while the show of force has drastically diminished here. We don't see the National Guard and the police presence is quite small. You talk about, this was the first night last night with no curfew. It was very calm.

The National Guard will complete its drawdown according to the governor in 72 hours. It will take 72 hours because they brought in some 4,000 people. In the meantime, we are starting to learn a bit more about some of the six officers charged in Freddie Gray's death.

I was in the neighborhood yesterday of Officer William Porter. He is 25 years old. He was hired in 2012 to be a police officer with the Baltimore Police Department. He faces three charges, including involuntary manslaughter as well as second-degree assault.

Now, he is the officer who showed up to the van and called essentially to check up on Freddie Gray. When he got to the van, according to the state prosecutor, Freddie Gray asked for medical attention, but did not get that medical attention.

So, back in his neighborhood, this lady who lives doors away from him, not only his neighbor, but she's also a family friend. She says she has known Officer Porter for many years, since he was 10 years old.

Here's what she had to say about him.

(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.

[05:10:07] 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: Well, Baltimore police gave an overview just yesterday. They said since all of the protests and rallies began, some 486 people had been arrested, 113 officers were injured.

Now, as far as the economic impact, a lot of businesses suffered because of the looting and the violence. The governor saying some 200 businesses were lost as a result of the rioting, many of them minority-owned businesses. Many of them did not have insurance.

So, there's that, John. Although the tide feels like it is shifting here in Baltimore, you have some 200 businesses in the mayor's own words that are lost. A lot of work to be done in Baltimore.

BERMAN: A great deal of work. Thank you so much, Rene. I appreciate it.

Time for an early start on your money. Cristina Alesci is here with that.

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm keeping an eye on Europe, because we've got some action in Europe. Futures are up after a positive manufacturing report and U.S. stocks are following the lead. That is after the Dow gained 183 points on Friday. That pop helped stem the loss for the week.

Today, investors will watch earnings from Comcast and Tyson. But the real action will come later this week with the ton of economic releases and finally the jobs report on Friday.

On a sad note, Dave Goldberg, husband of Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg, died suddenly Friday. The couple was on vacation abroad. And the cause of death hasn't been disclosed. Sandberg calls her husband a true partner and said her career and marriage are inextricably intertwined. Very sad.

BERMAN: So sad. I mean, a towering, you know, in the tech world in his own right, and known as a progressive and a feminist in his own right. I mean, he may have been more out front before Sheryl Sandberg even wrote the "Lean In" book. All right.

ALESCI: That's right.

BERMAN: Very sad. Thanks, Cristina.

The race for president, the field is growing this morning. A new candidate declares himself overnight and another gets ready to make her announcement this morning. We'll have all of the details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:15:31] BERMAN: We have breaking news this morning: police in the Dallas suburb of Garland, shot and killed two men overnight. The men drove up to the venue of the organization of the contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

The men opened fire. They wounded an unarmed security guard police say. Police officers returned fire, they shot and killed the two gunmen. Now, organizers of the event claim it was designed to promote free speech. Critics say and said for sometime before the event, that it was provocative and anti-Muslim. We'll have much more on that 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, Dr. Carson will travel to Dallas to be with his mother who is seriously ill. He had to cancel a planned campaign, his first official campaign stop in Iowa that was scheduled for today.

Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO, former California Senate candidate is expected to join the 2016 presidential race today. Fiorina will be the first woman in the Republican field. After officially announcing her candidacy, she is expected to take questions in a live online town hall event.

Hillary Clinton goes to Las Vegas today. The former secretary of state will hold a round table with young people at the high school. The campaign says the focus is on fixing the nation's immigration system and strengthening families. More than 25 percent of Nevada's population is Hispanic, and that state will be a key battle ground in 2016, just as it has been the last few elecions.

President Obama will be here in New York City today. He'll be in the Bronx. He's launching an independent non-profit organization closely tied to an issue he has been dealing with for some time, to close the opportunity gap for young men of color.

Let's get more now from CNN national correspondent Sunlen Serfaty.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

President Obama will travel to the Bronx in New York today. He is relaunching his My Brother's Keeper initiative into a non-profit foundation. This is a program that was first started by the president in the wake of Trayvon Martin's killing, with the goal of trying to help support and empower young minority men. White House officials say the president will use this as contest to speak to the unrest in Baltimore and broader, systemic issues that are still in so many neighborhoods across the country like Freddie Gray.

As the charges against the six police officers were brought on Friday, the president said it is absolutely vital that the truth about Freddie Gray's death comes out.

Meanwhile, as the national conversation continues into this week, Speaker of the House John Boehner was asked on "Meet the Press" if he believes the nation is in a national crisis when it comes to law enforcement and African-Americans. Here's how he responded.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: I do. I think that if you look at what is happened over the course over the last year, you have to scratch your head. Public servants should not violate the law. If these charges are true, it's outrageous and unacceptable.

SERFATY: And the move today by the president to launch the separate foundation to help young minority boys. It's a big hint what he'll likely do after his presidency. White House officials do expect the president to be focused on this issue long after he has left Oval Office -- John.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Clearly one very close to his heart. Sunlen Serfaty, thank you so much.

So say it ain't so. Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn splitting up. Why the power couple says it is time for them to go separate ways.

Andy Scholes will be singing "Separate Ways" and many other journey songs in the bleacher report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Our sports report is a dating column this morning. Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn, they broke up over the weekend. Dr. Romance, Andy Scholes, has more in the bleacher report.

Good morning, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

Yes, we shed a sports tear for Tiger and Lindsey Vonn. You know, they've been dating for nearly three years. But they say their busy schedules is what in the end doomed their relationship. Both of them released a statement on the breakup saying it was mutual and they would always cherish their time together.

After finishing 17th at the Masters, Tiger has yet to play another tournament. But he will be back on the course for these players championship, which gets going later on this week.

All right. The second round of the NBA playoffs. Warriors having no problem in game one against the Grizzlies. Steph Curry was great again, 22 points, to go along with 7 assists, as the Warriors took game one, 101-86. According to reports, Curry is going to be named this year's league MVP later today.

The NFL draft wrapped up this weekend, but one of the coolest stories is about a player who went undrafted. Seahawks signed 34-year-old free agent Nate Boyer, a U.S. Army veteran and former Green Beret. Boyer served three tours of duty to places like Afghanistan, and Iran, earning a bronze star along the way.

Afterwards, he joined the University of Texas to play as their long snapper. He started for three years for the Longhorns. He will get a chance to compete for a roster spot.

All right. It turns out Manny Pacquiao had a tear in his right shoulder on Saturday night's huge fight against Floyd Mayweather. He injured it while training, leading up to the fight. The Nevada commissioner would not let him take a shot pre-fight to relieve the pain.

Now, that injury has some Pacquiao fans asking for a rematch. Will that happen? Probably not, but you can rewatch the big fight on has been Saturday night at 9:00 Eastern.

John, a lot of people bummed it did not live up to the hype. I will say, it was an electric atmosphere. It will go down as the biggest most star-studded event of all time.

[05:25:01] BERMAN: It may go down the last big boxing match of all time the way the sport is going.

SCHOLES: More than likely.

BERMAN: It could be historic.

All right. Andy Scholes, thanks so much.

We do have breaking news this morning: gunmen killed after they opened fire on a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed in Texas. New details about the attack and why police were so ready to respond.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BERMAN: Breaking news this morning: two gunmen are dead after they opened fire at a contest to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. I'll tell you what we're learning about this attack and the men behind it, and why police were so quick to respond.

Welcome back to EARLY START, everyone. I'm John Berman, about 29 minutes after the hour. Christine Romans is on assignment this morning.

And breaking overnight, this happened in Garland, Texas, just outside of Dallas, the shooting that is raising serious questions and concerns this morning. Two men pulled up outside a venue that was holding this contest for people to draw cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. The men jumped out of their car and started shooting.

An unarmed security guard was wounded. Then, what happened, police officers opened fire and shot and killed the gunmen.

CNN's Ed Lavandera on the scene in Garland, Texas, with the very latest -- Ed.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: 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.