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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Dallas Gunman Had Been Planning Bigger Attack; Obama To Attend Memorial In Dallas; Baton Rouge Protesters Clash With Police; Nationwide Protests Against Police Brutality; Assessing The Debate Over Race And Policing; Controversial Finish At U.S. Women's Open. Aired 5:00-5:30a ET

Aired July 11, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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

ALISON KOSIK, CNN GUEST ANCHOR: EARLY START starts right now.

Protests rage across the country. Hundreds arrested demonstrating against deadly police shooting of black men.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This as we learn disturbing new details about the gunman who killed fix police officers in Dallas. What else he might have been planning.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

KOSIK: Good morning. I'm Alison Kosik. It is Monday, July 11th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the east. There are new details this morning on the killer who murdered five Dallas police officers. Officials say the gunman acted alone and he had been practicing his attack for months.

Dallas Police Chief David Brown telling CNN that he believes the shooter had an even bigger, deadlier assault planned for the city.

Chief Brown also revealing disturbing details about the hours long standoff with the gunman. The chief describing the killer as obviously delusional and singing to himself and writing messages on the wall in his own blood. CNN's Ed Lavandera has more now from Dallas.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, in the CNN interview with the Dallas police chief, David Brown, provided some of the chilling and descriptive details of the standoff in the tragic shooting from last Thursday night.

The chief says that after the shooting erupted, his officers started following Micah Johnson inside the El Centro College Building and at one point following him through a stairwell before he was cornering inside the second floor of a building there leading to that multi-hour standoff.

The chief says that Johnson wrote on the ground or on a wall with his own blood the initials "R.B." Investigators are still trying to figure out what that is a reference to. They haven't figured that out yet.

There was also some other writing that he had left in his own blood as well. Then the police chief also says that Johnson requested that he would only speak with a black negotiator there at the scene. All of this while Micah Johnson continued to fire rounds of shots at the officers who were there inside the scene.

The police chief describes Micah Johnson as someone who is very much under control yet delusional at times singing and laughing at the officers, asking about how many of the officers he had been able to kill throughout of all that scene.

The police chief also says that there is clear evidence that Micah Johnson was mounting an arsenal and perhaps had an even bigger planned attack, but for some reason switched and decided to make his attack last Thursday night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID BROWN, DALLAS POLICE CHIEF: It appears that our search of the suspect's home in Mesquite leads us to believe based on evidence of bomb making materials and journal that this suspect had been practicing explosive detonations and that the materials were such that it was large enough to have devastating effects throughout our city and our north Texas area.

We are convinced that this suspect had other plans and thought that what he was doing was righteous and believed that he was going to make law enforcement and target law enforcement and make us pay for what sees as law enforcement efforts to punish people of color.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: Those are some of the details revealed by the police chief in an extraordinary interview with CNN -- John and Alison.

BERMAN: Ed Lavandera, thanks so much. It was an extraordinary interview between the chief and Jake Tapper.

All right, President Obama and former president, George W. Bush, will be in Dallas on Tuesday to speak at the interfaith memorial service for the slain officers. The president cut short a European trip to be in Dallas. He will also meet with the families of the fallen officers.

Before leaving Spain Sunday, the president condemned attacks on police officers physical and verbal as a disservice to the cause of criminal justice reform.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: First of all, any violence directed at police officers is a reprehensible crime and needs to be prosecuted. But even rhetorically, if we paint police in broad brush, without recognizing a vast majority of police officers are doing a good job and are trying to protect people and do so fairly and without racial bias, if our rhetoric does not recognize that, then we are going to lose allies in the reform cause.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSIK: Breaking overnight, protests in Baton Rouge are growing bigger and more violent six days after the fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling.

[05:05:01]Forty eight demonstrators were arrested last night for blocking streets and throwing chunks of concrete at police in riot gear. None of the officers were hurt. More than 130 protesters in Baton Rouge have been arrested since Sterling's death.

BERMAN: The most violent protest over the weekend happened in Minnesota where demonstrators were trying to shut down an interstate clashed with police leaving 21 officers injured. More than 100 protesters were under arrest. This was just miles from the place where Philando Castile was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop. CNN's Rosa Flores has more for us from St. Paul.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Alison, for the most part, this is what protests have been like here in Minnesota after the death of Philando Castile. Very peaceful. People coming together to express their concerns because of officer involved shootings.

Now all of that changed overnight, 21 police officers were injured according to authorities and 102 protesters were arrested. Now here is how the situation escalated. There were multiple protests happening at the same time.

Now the situation escalated overnight when we're told by police that protesters threw Molotov cocktails at police officers, rocks, pieces of rebar, pieces of concrete. Now that injured multiple police officers.

From what we're told, those are non-life threatening injuries and they're expected to be OK. But as you imagine, community leaders here are very concerned. Here is what the police chief had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TODD AXTELL, ST. PAUL POLICE CHIEF: We had 21 police officers last night that were injured as a result of rocks, bottles, rebar, Molotov cocktails and other items that were thrown at our public servants. And I just can't believe that this occurred. This is something that just doesn't happen in St. Paul.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: Now protesters have been demonstrating in front of the governor's mansion since the killing of Philando Castile. They are asking for justice for Philando Castile. Now we know that the governor is also asking for the U.S. DOJ to get involved, to have a separate investigation other than the one that is being held by the state agency.

Now the latest that we know from the U.S. DOJ is that they are monitoring and assisting the state -- John and Alison.

KOSIK: Our thanks to Rosa Flores for that. In total, at least 300 people were arrested across the country this weekend protesting the deadly police shootings in Minnesota and Baton Rouge.

In Atlanta, a fourth straight night of demonstrations. Thousands taking to the streets with ten arrests there. Hundreds of protesters in New York marching through Midtown Manhattan on Sunday. Demonstrators holding signs, demanding change.

To the nation's capital that's where thousands turned out for several marches including one outside the White House. The protesters there telling reporters, I'm tired of being so sad.

Over 20 arrests this weekend in Chicago. Most of them Saturday night when demonstrators tried to disrupt the Taste of Chicago Festival. Several officers were hit by thrown bottles, but there weren't any serious injuries.

BERMAN: Protests revealing the communities deeply divided over race and policing. So what has to change before tragedy strikes again? We'll discuss.

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[05:12:37]

BERMAN: Hundreds of people across the country marched this weekend in Black Lives Matter protests. Vigils and rallies, the vast majority were peaceful, but a few did evolved into violence. All amid the escalating tension in the wake of last week's murder of five Dallas police officers.

KOSIK: Joining us this morning to assess this unprecedented moment in race relations, CNN law enforcement analyst, Cedric Alexander, Dekalb County public safety director and author of "The New Guardians, Policing in America's Communities for the 21st Century."

Thanks so much for coming on the show and waking up early with us. You know, one thing that came to mind. I don't know if you caught the interview this weekend with CNN's Jake Tapper.

The Dallas police chief, David Brown, saying this, "The law enforcement community is hurting. We are all grieving. Not just here in Dallas but all over the country. Words matter. We need to hear from you that you appreciate what we do for this country."

Are the police shootings that we have seen happened in this country, is it a fact sort of the actions of a few are looking to define entire police forces across the country and that is undermining the efforts of police officers across this country to try to keep law and order?

CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: There are a lot of great police departments across this country and communities that are working diligently every day to build relationships either for the first time or maintain great relationships they had over the years.

Of course, when you have an incident like we had outside Minneapolis and also in Baton Rouge, there is a sense that it sets us back. But at the same time, we have to remember those isolated incidents that have to be investigated and they are of concern to the American people across the country.

But we cannot take one broad brush and say that all police departments and all police officers are bad. That is not true. But this is a very challenging time for the American people. We have a lot going on in this country.

We are coming under attack by those who are trying to do hurt and harm to American citizens. At the same time, we are trying to deal with our own issues around race relations in this country. So we cannot give up on ourselves.

Because at the end of the day, we are all American citizens and we all live in the country. We all share more similarities than we do differences. But this is a hurdle that we will get past. It will take time in order to do so.

[05:15:02]But this is probably one of the most important times right now in American history for police departments and communities not to separate from each other in spite of these challenges, but really to move toward each other because police need community and community needs police. That is just so incredibly important to us right now.

BERMAN: Cedric, your voice is so important right now in this discussion. I certainly hope people do heed your advice going forward. When we see the protests like the ones we have seen over the weekend where police are having rocks thrown at them. Metal bars thrown at them. Bricks thrown at them.

What message do you think police are taking from that? Look, I have been on the streets during protests a lot just as you have and police know that this stuff happens during these events and they expect a certain amount of pushback, but how much?

ALEXANDER: Well, you know, look, I mean, police officers are human beings. They are out there trying to help us exercise our first amendment rights. The other night you saw there in Dallas, a peaceful protest that turned extremely violent based on one individual.

But five police officers in Dallas lost their lives so that others could have the right to protest. When shots rang out, those citizens fled, but hose police officers there in Dallas moved towards those gunshots.

Five were killed. Seven injured. A community that is traumatized just like the rest of this country. I would encourage during the time of the protests exercise your first amendment right, but coordinate and work with your local police department and see them as your partners.

Because they are there to help u. They are there to give you the opportunity that all of us as American citizens have and that is exercise our first amendment right. But work with them. The rocks and bottles, that has to stop. That is not a peaceful protest. That is not acceptable.

Work with your local police agencies. Plan your protests and those that come out and create problems for everyone else, help police identify them and support police when that arrest happens of those who are being violent or dangerous to the community at large.

KOSIK: Cedric, is there something that the police departments across the country have to do when looking at a pool of applicants for police officers in the way of looking to police in the community meaning hiring people who live in the community, who are from the community who walk the streets, who know the residents who live there?

ALEXANDER: Well, there are. There's been a lot of dialogue in terms of trying to recruit from communities in which people live and communities in which police serve. Sometimes that is often times that is really a challenge.

Here's the most important thing. We know that diversity is very important when it comes to public service. What is even equally important is having the right man or woman who serves regardless of race, regardless of gender, who is capable of serving from a guardian mindset.

Someone who has the ability and the willingness to want to be part of the community and serve a community and help defend the community when the need arises. It is about a partnership. We are all looking how we recruit going forward.

We are trying to recruit personalities of people who are not there to do no more than to serve. I'll tell you something. There are thousands of police officers right now across the country who are doing that every day.

Some have been in these departments for a long time. Some are new comers, but just like in any profession, we will have those challenges. We have to find those who are going out of bound and bring them back or either dismiss them. We have a lot of good officers, a lot of great departments. We need to support them right now.

BERMAN: All right, Cedric Alexander, as I said, your voice is so important in this discussion. Thanks for coming on this morning.

ALEXANDER: Thank you for having me. Thank you.

KOSIK: All right, time for an EARLY START on your money. We are seeing Dow futures up that follows the strong gains Friday after a solid U.S. jobs report came out.

European stock markets are posting gains as well. We are seeing a huge gain in Tokyo overnight. The Nikkei jumping almost 4 percent there. Investors in Japan cheering the U.S. jobs data and trading on hopes of more stimulus following elections there.

Oil prices are slipping now back below $45 a barrel. Thanks to the Friday's big jump, the S&P 500 is now just 1 point away from hitting an all-time closing high. Right now, the average at 2,129.

If we see any gains today, it will break the all-time record set in May of last year. Since the lows of February of this year, the S&P 500 has climbed 16 percent. It is up 4.2 percent for the year so far.

We are also seeing the Dow gain more than 4 percent in 2016 and also the Nasdaq which has struggled this year, now just 1 percent away from turning positive.

[05:20:10]So just when it looked so bleak after the Brexit freak out, things are looking up again. You can go ahead and look at your portfolio.

BERMAN: It is safe finally.

All right. Another controversial finish to the U.S. Open. A two stroke penalty assessed during the second playoff hole at the women's national golf championship. Coy Wire has this morning's "Bleacher Report" that's next.

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BERMAN: Now a playoff should have decided the winner of the U.S. women's open golf tournament, but it all came down to a controversial penalty.

KOSIK: Coy Wire has more on this morning's "Bleacher Report." Good morning, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alison and John. A tie after 72 holes set the stage for a three-hole playoff between American Brittany Lang and Anna Nordquist of Sweden. On the second hole at playoff, cameras caught Nordquist inadvertently letting her club touch the sand in a fairway bunker like a grain of sand.

Now by rule, that mistake calls for a two-stroke penalty. The problem was that the players were not told about the penalty until they were in the middle of playing the final hole. Talk about messing with your mindset. Lang seals the win with a par putt while Nordquist made bogey to lose by three shots.

Andy Murray is the king of the all England Club, he beat Milos Ronich (ph) in straight sets to win his second Wimbledon title. Murray is the first British man to win Wimbledon more than once since Fred Perry did in back in the '30s. So Murray having lost the grand slam finals at both the Australian and French Open this year, finally, it's the hoist that trophy from a major.

No Ronaldo, no problem for underdog Portugal in the European championship. The mega star goes down with an injury in the first half against France, the host nation in what is like the Super Bowl of European soccer.

The game was scoreless until the second period of extra time when Portugal's Adair scores a goal in the 109th minute giving Portugal its first ever major tournament title. You think Ronaldo's not happy? That's a celebration still going on in Portugal.

Finally, Kobe Bryant and gymnastics legend, Nadia Kolminich (ph) were at the U.S. Olympic trials last night. What a show they were treated to, Gabby Douglas, the darling of the 2012 London games finished in seventh place, but a couple of solid performances were enough for her to still be selected to the five-person squad representing the USA in Rio.

Meantime, America's new sweetheart, Simone Biles, straight up dominating. She has won the all-around title in the last three world championships and considered a sure thing to win gold in Rio. She could win as many as five of them. Olympic legend, Mary Loren (ph) has called her unbeatable. They say she is doing things other people don't think about doing. She's fearless.

BERMAN: Coy Wire, Adair will go down in history in the soccer world. That was awesome. Thanks so much, Coy.

KOSIK: All right, disturbing new details this morning on the gunman who killed five Dallas police officers. What else he may have been planning, next.

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