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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
California Shooting Rampage: What was the Motive?; President Obama on San Bernardino Shooting; GOP Candidates on Mass Shootings. Aired 4-4:30a ET
Aired December 04, 2015 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:00:19] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: New information this morning into what could have motivated two shooters to kill 14 people at a California office party. What investigators have found at the crime scene, their ties to terrorists, and what those who knew the killers are now saying.
Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Berman. It's Friday, December 4th, 4:00 a.m. in the East.
Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world.
New information this morning in the mass shooting in southern California that killed 14, injured 21. Law enforcement scouring the home and rented car of Syed Rizwan Farook. They've uncovered well over 1,000 rounds of ammunition and dozens of pipe bombs. Police have also recovered two smashed cell phones and computer with a missing hard drive.
We're learning new details about the married shooters. Authorities say Farook met Tashfeen Malik two years ago on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. He was devout. He attended services at a local Islamic center twice a day. And law enforcement officials tell CNN it appears Farook became radicalized. He'd been in touch with at least one person that the FBI suspected of terrorism.
For the latest, let's bring in CNN's John Vause who's live for us in San Bernardino.
John, what's the latest on the investigation?
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCOHR: Well, John, they continue to search for that motive. And at this state they seem to be working on the theory it was possibly a hybrid between some type of act of terrorism and maybe even some kind of workplace dispute. The FBI, though, still not willing to call this terrorism, but they are investigating that possibility.
But here it has been a night of sadness and grieving. Hundreds have turned out for memorial services. There was a candlelight vigil at a sporting stadium and services at the largest mosque in the San Bernardino County.
And the coroner, too, has now named all of the victims of Wednesday's killing spree. They range in age from 26 to 60. And most of the victims we're told had some kind of personal connection to Rizwan Farook, 12 of the 14 dead, 18 of the 21 wounded worked with him at that county office.
And officials here believe that this could have been so much worse because Farook and his wife had that massive stockpile of ammunition. They believe there was a real possibility they were on their way to planning some other attack. Even so, the first responder who arrived on the scene described what was essentially carnage inside that conference center.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. MIKE MADDEN, SAN BERNARDINO POLICE DEPT.: It was unspeakable the carnage that we were seeing, the number of people who were injured and unfortunately already dead. And the pure panic on the face of those individuals that were still in need and needing to be safe. We asked -- we got as many people out as quickly as we could.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now, Lieutenant Mike Madden also went on to say initially those who were still inside that building would not come when they called. They would not leave that building because they were too scared. He had to call them a number of times before anyone would leave. Once the first person made that movement to leave then the rest came and the floodgates opened and everyone tried to get out of that building as quickly as possible -- John.
BERMAN: All right. John Vause for us in San Bernardino -- thanks so much, John.
ROMANS: Survivors of the massacre of told police that Rizwan Farook may have been set off by some kind of argument. They say he left angry and came back later with his wife, guns blazing. But so far, it's unclear what that fight was about.
The widow of one victim who died says her husband could have been involved. She tells CNN's Gary Tuchman her husband was an outspoken conservative Jew who was openly critical of Muslims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You've been open about this and so is your husband about what he's said about Muslims in the past. What has he said?
JENNIFER THALASINOS, WIDOW OF VICTIM NICHOLAS THALASINOS: He's very upset about what is has been doing and the radicalized Muslims, al Qaeda, the whole situation. He's upset about the fact that the majority of the Muslims, you know, it's like they won't come out and do something about it.
TUCHMAN: Do you think he talked to Farook about that?
THALASINOS: He might have.
TUCHMAN: And do you have any knowledge at all from anyone you've talked to what happened at the function yesterday with Farook?
THALASINOS: No, I just know that supposedly there was an argument and very as easily could have been an argument with my husband. I wouldn't be surprised.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: County health employees said the attack came as a complete surprise to them.
[04:05:01] They say he was well-liked, mild-mannered. Co- workers even threw him a baby shower. Now, they say they are shocked, they're angry.
Patrick Baccari shared a cubicle with him for three years. He says his life may have been saved by a well-timed trip to the bathroom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICK BACCARI, SHARED CUBICLE WITH SHOOTER RIZWAN FAROOK: They were giving us a 15-minute break so I went to the rest room. While I was in the rest room, I finished. I was going to dry my hands, and that's when the attack started.
And I thought somebody booby trapped the towel dispenser because I was being pummeled as I was pulling the paper towels dispenser. So, I looked back and the minute I can see, I was bleeding in my temple, my nose. And then there's other little fragments that hit me all over the place. They're so tiny that unless they start to fester, they'll probably remain there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Wow. Overnight, thousands of people attending memorials across the San Bernardino area like this one at a stadium and at churches, schools and mosques. We're learning more this morning about the victims. Many who lived through the horrific experience now sharing their stories of survival.
We get more this morning from CNN's Dan Simon. He's in San Bernardino.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, you still have a number of people at area hospitals, two people in critical condition. But the others are either in fair or stable condition, which is pretty remarkable considering what some of these people had to go through.
Take the example of 24-year-old Kevin Ortiz. He was shot five times. I spoke to his aunt who told me exactly what he had to go through.
ROSA ORTIZ, AUNT OF SHOOTING VICTIM: He was sitting down with several of his co-workers and there was a break. And several people stepped out into the hallway. He heard gunfire but wasn't sure if it was gunfire. He assumed it was a drill of some kind.
The doors opened, and he saw two masked people dressed in black. And he still thought it was a drill. He felt his first shot on his leg but he said he felt more like if someone just threw something at him. It wasn't really sharp pain immediately until a few seconds later.
And then he ended up sustaining another shot on the shoulder. So his reaction then, this is real. Let me get under the table. He got under the table and according to Kevin, the gunman came back and shot him again.
SIMON: How many times was he shot?
ORTIZ: Five times.
SIMON: He was shot five times.
ORTIZ: Five times.
SIMON: Did he think he was going to die?
ORTIZ: Absolutely. That was one of his shots he shared with us. He was able to make two phone calls. One to his wife and one to his father, and to both of them, he said that he had been shot, but he was going to be OK and that he loved them.
SIMON: We've heard several other stories like that. People who after being shot were able to pick up their cell phone and call loved ones making what they thought might be good-bye messages. Obviously, there's going to be many surgeries over the next several days but hopefully many recoveries.
John and Christine, back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: Dan, thanks for that.
BERMAN: The names of all those victims, people coming from all walks of life there in that community grieving this morning.
President Obama and Republicans running for president now very much discussing the issues surrounding these mass shootings. Different ideas about even how to talk about it. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:12:40] ROMANS: As federal investigators move closer to determining whether the San Bernardino massacre was a case of terrorism, President Obama is trying to reassure Americans in the wake yesterday another mass shooting. He's ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half staff through Monday to honor those victims in California.
The president said to be considering executive orders in an effort to keep guns off the streets, targeting the so-called gun show loophole that allows people to buy firearms without a background check.
CNN senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the president appearing in the Oval Office for a meeting with his national security team, then appearing before the cameras to talk about San Bernardino, appearing just a bit tentative as well as muted. Tentative talking about the investigation because his national security team was only able to give him tentative information, not conclusive. Muted in talking about policy because the White House said the president had so many times had to talk about mass shootings before.
Listen.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think so many Americans sometimes feel as if there's nothing we can do about it. We are fortunate to have an extraordinary combination of law enforcement and intelligence and military that work every single day to keep us safe.
But we can't just leave it to our professionals to deal with the problem of these kinds of horrible killings. We all have a part to play. And I do think that as the investigation moves forward, it's going to be important for all of us, including our legislatures, to see what we can do to make sure that when individuals decide that they want to do somebody harm, we're making it a little harder for them to do it, because right now, it's just too easy.
JOHNS: A predictable back and forth in the White House briefing room over measures the president says would help keep people safe and whether they would have made any difference in San Bernardino. The White House is considering executive action to put some new measures in place. No timetable on that from the White House -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. Joe, thanks so much.
[04:15:00] The shooting is a major issue for Republican presidential candidates who were courting Jewish voters at an event in Washington. They expressed outrage over the string of mass shootings in the country, but they said extremism, not gun laws to blame and the White House has not done enough to fight extremism.
Let's get more now from CNN's Jeff Zeleny.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: John and Michelle, as investigators in California continue to search for a motive in this latest mass shooting, it's already playing out on the presidential campaign.
Speaking in Washington on Thursday, several Republican candidates drew attention to this shooting.
Senator Ted Cruz said the country is at war and accused the Obama administration of not taking seriously enough radical Islamist terrorism in the United States.
Donald trump, however, had a bit of a different take. He says voters are looking for someone of strength. Whenever there's a tragedy in the country, his numbers go up. Let's take a listen.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm going to get people jobs and I'm going to protect people. That's why every time there's a tragedy, everything goes up. My numbers go way up because we have no strength in this country. We have weakness. We have weak, sad politicians.
ZELENY: Even as we learn more about this latest mass shooting, it is clear that these mass shootings that have taken place across the country are becoming part of the soundtrack of this presidential campaign. Democrats are calling for more gun control. Republicans are saying this administration needs to take seriously the threats facing the country.
No matter which side you're on, voters will be sorting this out in the next two months before voters start casting their ballots in 2016 campaign starting in Iowa in less than two months.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: Jeff, thanks for that.
Speaking at a campaign event in New Hampshire on Thursday, Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton expressed confidence in the San Bernardino investigation, but said it's painfully obvious to her what drove the two shooters to kill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We will learn more about what went on and who these people were, and what their motivations were. But it's becoming clearer that we are dealing with an act of terrorism, something that included bombs, luckily one that didn't go off, but pipe bombs that were found through a search of their home, lots of weapons, and just a deliberate, hateful murder of all those innocent people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Clinton has called for immediate action on gun safety reform in the wake of that massacre.
BERMAN: Intelligence now indicating that ISIS is ready to attack in Europe again. This following the massacre in Paris. We're live with what investigators are now saying the new city in the crosshairs. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:22:10] ROMANS: European intelligence suggests the United Kingdom could be ISIS' next target after Paris and that ISIS is planning an attack. The intelligence suggests British ISIS fighters have been instructed by senior ISIS operatives to attack and that several senior ISIS figures involved in the Paris plot are also involved in a U.K. plot. The concerns compounded by the vote in the House of Commons Wednesday, authorizing British airstrikes against ISIS in Syria.
BERMAN: German lawmakers set to vote this morning to ramp up the country's military operations against ISIS in Syria, a measure that's considered very likely to pass, though the German constitution bars most combat operations on foreign soil. So, air strikes themselves are out, but the country can expand its military support role. One possibility is deploying high tech reconnaissance jets to help other countries pinpoint targets in Syria and Iraq.
ROMANS: In an historic move, Defense Secretary Ash Carter is opening all jobs in combat units to women. No exceptions. Prior to his order, some 10 percent of military positions were still closed to women. The services must have plans in place by April 1.
BERMAN: The Senate passed legislation to repeal provisions of Obamacare. The bill would also strip federal funding from Planned Parenthood. Now, they still must be approved by the House, which passed a different version in October. And the White House says if the bill does reach the president's desk, he will veto it.
ROMANS: All right. Twenty-three past the hour, time for an early start of your money this Friday morning.
U.S. stock futures looking a little upbeat right now. European shares are down. Asian stocks joined yesterday's global sell-off this morning after the European central bank failed to deliver more dramatic stimulus measures than expected. That sent stocks tumbling yesterday.
Look at the Dow, it dropped 252 points. The S&P 500, its worst day since September. There's much more to keep investors on high alert today. The big jobs report due in just a few hours. It is the final jobs report before the Federal Reserve decides whether to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly a decade.
Here's what CNN Money's forecast is, 192,000 jobs added. Down from 271,000 in October. Unemployment rate steady at 5 percent. That's a seven-year low.
Even if the jobs report is less than great, just mediocre, investors are expecting rates to finally start going up next month.
BERMAN: It's going to happen soon.
ROMANS: It's going to happen.
BERMAN: All right. Twenty-four minutes after the hour right now.
Armed with a dozen pipe bombs, thousands of bullets and in contact with at least one suspected terrorist. New information about the shooter at the California office party, that's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[04:29:03] BERMAN: New information in the investigation into the California shooting: the stockpile of weapons, possible ties to at least one terrorist and what some who knew the shooters are now saying about them. This as the community mourns the loss of 14 lives.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday. It's about 30 minutes past the hour. We welcome all of our viewers in the U.S. and around the world.
The new information this morning on the mass shooting in southern California that killed 14 and injured 21. Law enforcement scouring the home and the rented car of Syed Rizwan Farook. They've uncovered well over 1,000 rounds of ammunition, a dozen pipe bombs. Police have also uncovered two smashed cell phones and a computer with a missing hard drive.
We're also learning new details about the married shooters. Authorities say Farook met Tashfeen Malik two years ago on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
