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Atlanta Gunman Appears in Court; Alarming Missteps
Aired March 15, 2005 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, a bomb scare topping our top stories at the hour. It's an apparent bomb threat at a hotel in Saint Louis, Missouri.
This is what we know. Maryland Heights police and Saint Louis County bomb squad are on the scene here at the Hampton Inn on Dorset (ph) Street in Maryland Heights, apparently responding to some type of threats by a man of interest. Police did find this pickup truck in the parking lot of the motel. The bomb squad has sent in its robot there, as you can see there, right in the back of the truck, and the robot has started going through and removing packages.
Sources indicate that they're worried the truck were may have explosives that could set off. There is a spokesperson at the scene right now. The only thing we can do is confirm the bomb squad was called in to assist Maryland Heights in this possible explosive incident. We'll bring you more information as soon as we get it, of course.
And, also, taking no chances this time around, Brian Nichols shackled for the first court appearance since Friday's rampage in Atlanta. We're going to live to Fulton County jail for details in just a few minutes.
Also, India is the first stop for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on a six-nation tour of Asia. She's going to meet with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf later in the week and is expected to promote peace between the rival nations. Later, in Beijing, Rice says that she will push the Chinese to reconsider a new anti-secession law aimed at Taiwan.
And Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan again warning Congress to do something to shore up Social Security before baby boomers retire. Appearing before a Senate committee today, he said inaction could lead to a bigger budget deficit and stagnant economy.
TiVo could be available to Comcast cable subscribers. Comcast has announced a new partnership with the digital recording service. New software under development now would make TiVo compatible with the Comcast's existing technology. TiVo shares rose on that news.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: More fallout today from the Atlanta courthouse killings. Today, law enforcement officials packed a makeshift court with 18 sheriff's deputies for the appearance of suspect Brian Nichols, extraordinary measures to prevent any recurrence of Nichols' last scheduled trip before a judge.
With the story live from Atlanta, CNN's Kimberly Osias -- hi, Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Tony.
Well, extraordinary measures indeed. Brian Nichols remains here in the Fulton County jail behind bars, this after his about a 10- minute status hearing. He came in front of a judge, Magistrate Judge Frank Cox, a very different man, a different picture than we have seen previously of Mr. Nichols, where he was running on the lam, caught on surveillance video.
Instead, this time we see him in prison garb, shackled, his arms tight to his waist and chained at his feet. A number of deputies, 18 in all, surrounded a windowless, cinder block room. And they surrounded him, keeping every eye on Mr. Nichols as he heard the charges against him. Now, these are not new charges that we heard today. These are the original charges of rape, aggravated sodomy and also false imprisonment.
He -- basically, what this does is, it allows prosecutors enough time to really develop a strong case and a murder case against Mr. Nichols. His defense spoke out to media briefly a little while ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS ADAMS, ATTORNEY FOR BRIAN NICHOLS: Brian has asked that we represent him, and we've agreed to do so. At this time, we're not going to make any further public statements. This is the time of grief and mourning for the courthouse community, for all the victims. We're going to respect that. There will be plenty of time for us later to lay out our legal arguments and motions and to examine the evidence and to search for understanding in this case.
But it's not the time now. And I appreciate you all respecting that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Of course, this has been a time of tremendous emotional outpouring in the city of Atlanta, as well as the southeast. There was a public memorial service held at the courthouse earlier today, a packed courthouse. There were was sort of a massive hug, as the victims that were slain there on Friday were honored -- Tony, Kyra.
HARRIS: Kimberly Osias live from Atlanta for us -- Kimberly, we appreciate it. Thank you.
Another report has surfaced of a possible lapse in security as events played out at the Fulton County Courthouse on Friday. Atlanta's WAGA reports the legal staff of Judge Rowland Barnes made a secret call for help that went unanswered, not for the first time, officials say. They're investigating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. CLARENCE HUBER, FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: We're going to determine what type of alarm it was. Was it an alarm activated with any particular room? Was it an alarm activated by radio? Something very bad did happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Officials also want to know whether the initial attack on a female sheriff's deputy fed in live as reported to central command posts.
PHILLIPS: Investigators say he cooked the books, leading to the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history. Now former WorldCom chief executive Bernard Ebbers faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars. It took a jury eight days of deliberations to convict Ebbers of nine federal fraud and securities charges. He will be sentenced June 13. Ebbers maintains that he was unaware of the accounting irregularities that led to the company's collapse.
The worst is over for Michael Jackson's accuser. Jackson's attorney finished his cross-examination of the boy who is accusing the pop star of molesting him. Prosecutors followed up with some questioning of their own to try to blunt the defense's assault. Yesterday, the boy admitted that he told a school administrator that Jackson did not molest him.
Today, he told the court he said that so the kids at school wouldn't tease him. Jackson denies all charges.
Guilty or not guilty, the answer to that question still eludes jurors in the Robert Blake murder trial. The jury is in the midst of its seventh full day of deliberations. Blake is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, almost four years ago. He says someone else killed her. If convicted, Blake could face life in prison.
HARRIS: The FBI and the Justice Department say 18 men were arrested overnight for alleged participation in a weapons import racket. Officials say the purported plot involved Russian-made shoulder-fired missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. The year-long probe involved a civilian informant who posed as an arms buyer with ties to international terrorists. Most of the suspects are immigrants from former Soviet republics.
And we're waiting for a final round of test results after an anthrax scare at two military mail facilities in Virginia. Tests so far have turned up negative. The mailrooms were closed yesterday after sensors detected the bacteria in the mail. Today, authorities closed the Washington, D.C. facility that handled that mail. Employees were given antibiotics as a precaution. Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
PHILLIPS: Now to developments in Iraq. Italy could begin pulling its troops out of there in September. A spokesperson for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says that a partial withdrawal would be coordinated with U.S. and Iraqi officials. Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq.
The announcement comes on the eve of the first meeting of Iraq's new parliament. Kurds and Shiites say that they will convene the Iraqi National Assembly, even though they haven't agreed on everything for a new coalition government. And the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is urging Americans to be extra cautious ahead of the meeting. Officials warn that insurgents could try to disrupt those proceedings.
More news around the world now. Militant Palestinians are meeting with officials in Cairo, considering a plan to reduce attacks on Israel. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas wants a cease-fire. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is skeptical. He says the militants must first give up on terrorism entirely.
Egyptian Prime Minister Hosni Mubarak is back in Cairo, after traveling to Damascus, discussing the future of Lebanon with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Near Lebanon's capital city, Beirut, pro- Syrian demonstrators converged on the U.S. Embassy, but they were stopped by police and barbed wire 500 yards away from the embassy compound.
In the Philippines, a hail of gunfire brings a deadly end to a prison revolt. Most of the 22 inmates killed were members of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf separatists. The government says four separatist leaders are among the dead. President Gloria Arroyo is praising the raid, saying terrorism will never win in the Philippines.
Well, putting a human face on overwhelming tragedy, a new Holocaust museum opened today in Jerusalem. Dozens of world dignitaries were on hand. Even though the museum is huge, 45,000 square feet, exhibits weave in the personal stories of a handful of the six million victims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Today, our most fundamental task is to remember those who perished, the citizen cultures that were destroyed, to ensure their fates are recorded and that they are never forgotten.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The museum aims to provide a rare glimpse into Jewish life before the Holocaust. For example, one of the displays is a life-size replica of a street in the Warsaw ghetto.
HARRIS: A 5-foot female guard, a 6-foot male prisoner. What went wrong? Straight ahead on LIVE FROM, dissecting the security loop so it doesn't happen again.
Also:
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a massacre. He was very depressed and he just started shooting. We were sitting, all sitting during services.
(END AUDIO CLIP) PHILLIPS: It started as a church service and turned into a murder scene. Now the chilling 911 tapes from that Wisconsin shoot- out.
And, later, thousands of pennies for a priceless cause, how one kid is helping victims of the tsunami right here at home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER UPDATE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my, one of my friends is laying on the floor. I think she's dead.
Oh, this is awful. This is a massacre. He was very depressed. Oh, my. He just started shooting. We were sitting, all sitting during services.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HARRIS: That is a chilling 911 call made seconds after a gunman sprayed a hail of bullets during a church service in Wisconsin on Saturday. The bloodbath took place inside a Sheraton Hotel and resulted in the deaths of eight people, including the gunman, identified as 44-year-old Terry Ratzmann. Four other people were wounded. Politics are still investigating the motive.
PHILLIPS: Well, the Wisconsin rampage took place just as the manhunt for the Atlanta courthouse shooting suspect was ending. That suspect, Brian Nichols, was found in an apartment complex in nearby Gwinnett County. A police department radio captured how it all went down.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The suspect is coming out with his hands up. He's got a white towel. The suspect is laying down in front of the doorway of the apartment. He's about six feet out. His hands are clear, no visible weapon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Confirmed his name was Brian Nichols.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, there's plenty of talk over whether the Atlanta courthouse killings could have been prevented if better security had been in place.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen examines a timeline of events that preceded the shootings and what some people are saying was an alarming misstep along the way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a 6'1'', 33-year-old former football player. His guard, a petite 51-year-old grandmother. That was one of the first problems.
CHARLES STONE, FORMER GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS SUPERVISOR: Political correctness aside, you have to look at the physical strength of the inmate or the defendant. The person guarding him has to be of somewhat equal strength to him.
COHEN: Charles Stone, a retired supervisor with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Brian Nichols should have been escorted by at least two guards his own size since he was a known security risk.
According to his own lawyer, Nichols had previously been found with two pieces of metal fashioned into weapons inside the courtroom.
BRIAN HAZEN, ATTORNEY FOR BRIAN NICHOLS: We know he at least had it on Wednesday. That would have been two days before the shooting. It was discovered on Wednesday...
NANCY GRACE, GUEST HOST, LARRY KING LIVE : Where was it? In his shoe?
HAZEN: One in his shoe. And Judge Barnes brought it to our attention on Thursday morning, the day before the shooting.
COHEN: And a few other simple security procedures might have saved lives.
As Deputy Hall escorted Nichols, she took his handcuffs off so he could change out of his jail uniform into civilian clothes for his courtroom appearance. That's when he struck her in the head and knocked her down.
Other courthouses have special doors where the defendant puts his wrists through an opening and the cuffs are removed from the other side.
STONE: He's basically locked in a room by himself.
COHEN: Another procedure that would have helped: after knocking her out, Nichols took Deputy Hall's keys and used them to open the lockbox where deputies keep their firearms.
An alternative used in many courthouses: no lockboxes. Handguns are checked in and out with a guard whose assignment is to protect the weapons.
STONE: It works well. The guns are always under the control of the marshal service or whatever entity is doing it. Inmates don't have access to this particular area.
COHEN: The ultimate irony: Judge Rowland Barnes, who was killed by Nichols, knew Nichols might be trouble and talked about it with lawyers the day before.
HAZEN: He indicated that he was going to put what he said was more beef in the courtroom. But for -- and other things, he was going to take the pitchers off of the counsel tables.
COHEN: Judge Barnes was concerned Nichols might use a water pitcher, which you can find in any courtroom, as a weapon during the trial. But as we now know, Brian Nichols' choice of weapons was far more lethal.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: All right, just want to clarify a story that we brought you just a few minutes ago. Whatever -- if you can, stop calling Governor Sonny Perdue's office, please. We had come forward and told you that Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue said that he is giving $10,000 to Ashley Smith, $10,000. There was a $60,000 reward out there. He is giving $10,000 because that's the maximum the state can give.
So, he's coming forward. He's the first one to come forward and say she's getting the money, $10,000. So, for those of you calling the office saying, why aren't you giving more, that's why. That's all he can give. So, here's the breakdown. Sonny Perdue's office has come forward, good on his word; $20,000 was offered up from the FBI, $25,000 from the U.S. Marshals office, and $5,000 from the Georgia Sheriff's Association. So, there's your $60,000 reward. We're still getting word on if the other money is coming through. But, so far, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue giving $10,000 for Ashley Smith for her help.
HARRIS: Because that's all he could do.
PHILLIPS: That's all he could do, state maximum.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: I feel terrible. The office got flooded with calls. I apologize personally.
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: Sonny called and said, Kyra, please, save me here.
PHILLIPS: Help me out.
HARRIS: Help me. Oh, man. OK.
A check on the markets is straight ahead.
And he's been collecting pennies most of his life, but now he's emptying out the bank. Later, how one kid is proving a penny saved can provide something priceless. And that's hope.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Georgia's governor said thanks.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: My buddy Sonny.
HARRIS: Your buddy Sonny.
(FINANCIAL UPDATE)
PHILLIPS: Well, you know a penny isn't really worth much anymore, but don't told 9-year-old Cameron McAllister, OK, because the Seattle, Washington, youngster has been collecting pennies, trying to raise thousands of dollars for tsunami aid.
HARRIS: Yes, you can't forget. You can't forget about that.
A look at his progress from photographer Ron Sanford of CNN affiliate KING-5 in Seattle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, here we go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had the opportunity to meet Cameron when his mom brought his first assortment of pennies, $40.88, over to the bank.
CAMERON MCALLISTER, DONATED PENNIES: I didn't with one penny at a time, because that would take a little too long.
SHELLY MCALLISTER, MOTHER: And he had seen a commercial about the devastation the tsunami caused. And he told my husband and I that he wanted to give his penny collection to the tsunami relief.
C. MCALLISTER: And so, I turned it into a money drive.
S. MCALLISTER: They get heavy, though, bringing them over to the bank. It takes about six pounds of pennies to make $10.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cameron's total pennies donated to the Salvation Army's Habitat for Humanity has totaled $6,128. 16. And Cameron now needs to sign this check.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The important thing here for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is that one house will be built thanks to the courage of Cameron and everything what he has done.
Thank you very much. I appreciate it for everything you have done.
C. MCALLISTER: No. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: No. Thank you. You go, Cameron.
HARRIS: Man, you can't forget. You know, December to March is a lifetime for a lot of folks.
PHILLIPS: That's right.
HARRIS: With everything going on in everybody's life. And our thanks to KING photographer Ron Sanford for that story. We're done.
PHILLIPS: That's right. That wraps up our day.
HARRIS: I'm going to take a couple days off. I'll see you on Friday.
PHILLIPS: Sounds good. I'll see you then. Thank you. You'll be in again for Miles.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 15, 2005 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now in the news, a bomb scare topping our top stories at the hour. It's an apparent bomb threat at a hotel in Saint Louis, Missouri.
This is what we know. Maryland Heights police and Saint Louis County bomb squad are on the scene here at the Hampton Inn on Dorset (ph) Street in Maryland Heights, apparently responding to some type of threats by a man of interest. Police did find this pickup truck in the parking lot of the motel. The bomb squad has sent in its robot there, as you can see there, right in the back of the truck, and the robot has started going through and removing packages.
Sources indicate that they're worried the truck were may have explosives that could set off. There is a spokesperson at the scene right now. The only thing we can do is confirm the bomb squad was called in to assist Maryland Heights in this possible explosive incident. We'll bring you more information as soon as we get it, of course.
And, also, taking no chances this time around, Brian Nichols shackled for the first court appearance since Friday's rampage in Atlanta. We're going to live to Fulton County jail for details in just a few minutes.
Also, India is the first stop for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on a six-nation tour of Asia. She's going to meet with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf later in the week and is expected to promote peace between the rival nations. Later, in Beijing, Rice says that she will push the Chinese to reconsider a new anti-secession law aimed at Taiwan.
And Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan again warning Congress to do something to shore up Social Security before baby boomers retire. Appearing before a Senate committee today, he said inaction could lead to a bigger budget deficit and stagnant economy.
TiVo could be available to Comcast cable subscribers. Comcast has announced a new partnership with the digital recording service. New software under development now would make TiVo compatible with the Comcast's existing technology. TiVo shares rose on that news.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: More fallout today from the Atlanta courthouse killings. Today, law enforcement officials packed a makeshift court with 18 sheriff's deputies for the appearance of suspect Brian Nichols, extraordinary measures to prevent any recurrence of Nichols' last scheduled trip before a judge.
With the story live from Atlanta, CNN's Kimberly Osias -- hi, Kimberly.
KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Tony.
Well, extraordinary measures indeed. Brian Nichols remains here in the Fulton County jail behind bars, this after his about a 10- minute status hearing. He came in front of a judge, Magistrate Judge Frank Cox, a very different man, a different picture than we have seen previously of Mr. Nichols, where he was running on the lam, caught on surveillance video.
Instead, this time we see him in prison garb, shackled, his arms tight to his waist and chained at his feet. A number of deputies, 18 in all, surrounded a windowless, cinder block room. And they surrounded him, keeping every eye on Mr. Nichols as he heard the charges against him. Now, these are not new charges that we heard today. These are the original charges of rape, aggravated sodomy and also false imprisonment.
He -- basically, what this does is, it allows prosecutors enough time to really develop a strong case and a murder case against Mr. Nichols. His defense spoke out to media briefly a little while ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS ADAMS, ATTORNEY FOR BRIAN NICHOLS: Brian has asked that we represent him, and we've agreed to do so. At this time, we're not going to make any further public statements. This is the time of grief and mourning for the courthouse community, for all the victims. We're going to respect that. There will be plenty of time for us later to lay out our legal arguments and motions and to examine the evidence and to search for understanding in this case.
But it's not the time now. And I appreciate you all respecting that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OSIAS: Of course, this has been a time of tremendous emotional outpouring in the city of Atlanta, as well as the southeast. There was a public memorial service held at the courthouse earlier today, a packed courthouse. There were was sort of a massive hug, as the victims that were slain there on Friday were honored -- Tony, Kyra.
HARRIS: Kimberly Osias live from Atlanta for us -- Kimberly, we appreciate it. Thank you.
Another report has surfaced of a possible lapse in security as events played out at the Fulton County Courthouse on Friday. Atlanta's WAGA reports the legal staff of Judge Rowland Barnes made a secret call for help that went unanswered, not for the first time, officials say. They're investigating.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. CLARENCE HUBER, FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: We're going to determine what type of alarm it was. Was it an alarm activated with any particular room? Was it an alarm activated by radio? Something very bad did happen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Officials also want to know whether the initial attack on a female sheriff's deputy fed in live as reported to central command posts.
PHILLIPS: Investigators say he cooked the books, leading to the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history. Now former WorldCom chief executive Bernard Ebbers faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life behind bars. It took a jury eight days of deliberations to convict Ebbers of nine federal fraud and securities charges. He will be sentenced June 13. Ebbers maintains that he was unaware of the accounting irregularities that led to the company's collapse.
The worst is over for Michael Jackson's accuser. Jackson's attorney finished his cross-examination of the boy who is accusing the pop star of molesting him. Prosecutors followed up with some questioning of their own to try to blunt the defense's assault. Yesterday, the boy admitted that he told a school administrator that Jackson did not molest him.
Today, he told the court he said that so the kids at school wouldn't tease him. Jackson denies all charges.
Guilty or not guilty, the answer to that question still eludes jurors in the Robert Blake murder trial. The jury is in the midst of its seventh full day of deliberations. Blake is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, almost four years ago. He says someone else killed her. If convicted, Blake could face life in prison.
HARRIS: The FBI and the Justice Department say 18 men were arrested overnight for alleged participation in a weapons import racket. Officials say the purported plot involved Russian-made shoulder-fired missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. The year-long probe involved a civilian informant who posed as an arms buyer with ties to international terrorists. Most of the suspects are immigrants from former Soviet republics.
And we're waiting for a final round of test results after an anthrax scare at two military mail facilities in Virginia. Tests so far have turned up negative. The mailrooms were closed yesterday after sensors detected the bacteria in the mail. Today, authorities closed the Washington, D.C. facility that handled that mail. Employees were given antibiotics as a precaution. Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
PHILLIPS: Now to developments in Iraq. Italy could begin pulling its troops out of there in September. A spokesperson for Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says that a partial withdrawal would be coordinated with U.S. and Iraqi officials. Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq.
The announcement comes on the eve of the first meeting of Iraq's new parliament. Kurds and Shiites say that they will convene the Iraqi National Assembly, even though they haven't agreed on everything for a new coalition government. And the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is urging Americans to be extra cautious ahead of the meeting. Officials warn that insurgents could try to disrupt those proceedings.
More news around the world now. Militant Palestinians are meeting with officials in Cairo, considering a plan to reduce attacks on Israel. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas wants a cease-fire. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is skeptical. He says the militants must first give up on terrorism entirely.
Egyptian Prime Minister Hosni Mubarak is back in Cairo, after traveling to Damascus, discussing the future of Lebanon with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Near Lebanon's capital city, Beirut, pro- Syrian demonstrators converged on the U.S. Embassy, but they were stopped by police and barbed wire 500 yards away from the embassy compound.
In the Philippines, a hail of gunfire brings a deadly end to a prison revolt. Most of the 22 inmates killed were members of the al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf separatists. The government says four separatist leaders are among the dead. President Gloria Arroyo is praising the raid, saying terrorism will never win in the Philippines.
Well, putting a human face on overwhelming tragedy, a new Holocaust museum opened today in Jerusalem. Dozens of world dignitaries were on hand. Even though the museum is huge, 45,000 square feet, exhibits weave in the personal stories of a handful of the six million victims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Today, our most fundamental task is to remember those who perished, the citizen cultures that were destroyed, to ensure their fates are recorded and that they are never forgotten.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The museum aims to provide a rare glimpse into Jewish life before the Holocaust. For example, one of the displays is a life-size replica of a street in the Warsaw ghetto.
HARRIS: A 5-foot female guard, a 6-foot male prisoner. What went wrong? Straight ahead on LIVE FROM, dissecting the security loop so it doesn't happen again.
Also:
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a massacre. He was very depressed and he just started shooting. We were sitting, all sitting during services.
(END AUDIO CLIP) PHILLIPS: It started as a church service and turned into a murder scene. Now the chilling 911 tapes from that Wisconsin shoot- out.
And, later, thousands of pennies for a priceless cause, how one kid is helping victims of the tsunami right here at home.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER UPDATE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my, one of my friends is laying on the floor. I think she's dead.
Oh, this is awful. This is a massacre. He was very depressed. Oh, my. He just started shooting. We were sitting, all sitting during services.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
HARRIS: That is a chilling 911 call made seconds after a gunman sprayed a hail of bullets during a church service in Wisconsin on Saturday. The bloodbath took place inside a Sheraton Hotel and resulted in the deaths of eight people, including the gunman, identified as 44-year-old Terry Ratzmann. Four other people were wounded. Politics are still investigating the motive.
PHILLIPS: Well, the Wisconsin rampage took place just as the manhunt for the Atlanta courthouse shooting suspect was ending. That suspect, Brian Nichols, was found in an apartment complex in nearby Gwinnett County. A police department radio captured how it all went down.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The suspect is coming out with his hands up. He's got a white towel. The suspect is laying down in front of the doorway of the apartment. He's about six feet out. His hands are clear, no visible weapon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Confirmed his name was Brian Nichols.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, there's plenty of talk over whether the Atlanta courthouse killings could have been prevented if better security had been in place.
CNN's Elizabeth Cohen examines a timeline of events that preceded the shootings and what some people are saying was an alarming misstep along the way.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a 6'1'', 33-year-old former football player. His guard, a petite 51-year-old grandmother. That was one of the first problems.
CHARLES STONE, FORMER GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS SUPERVISOR: Political correctness aside, you have to look at the physical strength of the inmate or the defendant. The person guarding him has to be of somewhat equal strength to him.
COHEN: Charles Stone, a retired supervisor with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation says Brian Nichols should have been escorted by at least two guards his own size since he was a known security risk.
According to his own lawyer, Nichols had previously been found with two pieces of metal fashioned into weapons inside the courtroom.
BRIAN HAZEN, ATTORNEY FOR BRIAN NICHOLS: We know he at least had it on Wednesday. That would have been two days before the shooting. It was discovered on Wednesday...
NANCY GRACE, GUEST HOST, LARRY KING LIVE : Where was it? In his shoe?
HAZEN: One in his shoe. And Judge Barnes brought it to our attention on Thursday morning, the day before the shooting.
COHEN: And a few other simple security procedures might have saved lives.
As Deputy Hall escorted Nichols, she took his handcuffs off so he could change out of his jail uniform into civilian clothes for his courtroom appearance. That's when he struck her in the head and knocked her down.
Other courthouses have special doors where the defendant puts his wrists through an opening and the cuffs are removed from the other side.
STONE: He's basically locked in a room by himself.
COHEN: Another procedure that would have helped: after knocking her out, Nichols took Deputy Hall's keys and used them to open the lockbox where deputies keep their firearms.
An alternative used in many courthouses: no lockboxes. Handguns are checked in and out with a guard whose assignment is to protect the weapons.
STONE: It works well. The guns are always under the control of the marshal service or whatever entity is doing it. Inmates don't have access to this particular area.
COHEN: The ultimate irony: Judge Rowland Barnes, who was killed by Nichols, knew Nichols might be trouble and talked about it with lawyers the day before.
HAZEN: He indicated that he was going to put what he said was more beef in the courtroom. But for -- and other things, he was going to take the pitchers off of the counsel tables.
COHEN: Judge Barnes was concerned Nichols might use a water pitcher, which you can find in any courtroom, as a weapon during the trial. But as we now know, Brian Nichols' choice of weapons was far more lethal.
Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: All right, just want to clarify a story that we brought you just a few minutes ago. Whatever -- if you can, stop calling Governor Sonny Perdue's office, please. We had come forward and told you that Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue said that he is giving $10,000 to Ashley Smith, $10,000. There was a $60,000 reward out there. He is giving $10,000 because that's the maximum the state can give.
So, he's coming forward. He's the first one to come forward and say she's getting the money, $10,000. So, for those of you calling the office saying, why aren't you giving more, that's why. That's all he can give. So, here's the breakdown. Sonny Perdue's office has come forward, good on his word; $20,000 was offered up from the FBI, $25,000 from the U.S. Marshals office, and $5,000 from the Georgia Sheriff's Association. So, there's your $60,000 reward. We're still getting word on if the other money is coming through. But, so far, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue giving $10,000 for Ashley Smith for her help.
HARRIS: Because that's all he could do.
PHILLIPS: That's all he could do, state maximum.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: I feel terrible. The office got flooded with calls. I apologize personally.
(LAUGHTER)
HARRIS: Sonny called and said, Kyra, please, save me here.
PHILLIPS: Help me out.
HARRIS: Help me. Oh, man. OK.
A check on the markets is straight ahead.
And he's been collecting pennies most of his life, but now he's emptying out the bank. Later, how one kid is proving a penny saved can provide something priceless. And that's hope.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Georgia's governor said thanks.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: My buddy Sonny.
HARRIS: Your buddy Sonny.
(FINANCIAL UPDATE)
PHILLIPS: Well, you know a penny isn't really worth much anymore, but don't told 9-year-old Cameron McAllister, OK, because the Seattle, Washington, youngster has been collecting pennies, trying to raise thousands of dollars for tsunami aid.
HARRIS: Yes, you can't forget. You can't forget about that.
A look at his progress from photographer Ron Sanford of CNN affiliate KING-5 in Seattle.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, here we go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had the opportunity to meet Cameron when his mom brought his first assortment of pennies, $40.88, over to the bank.
CAMERON MCALLISTER, DONATED PENNIES: I didn't with one penny at a time, because that would take a little too long.
SHELLY MCALLISTER, MOTHER: And he had seen a commercial about the devastation the tsunami caused. And he told my husband and I that he wanted to give his penny collection to the tsunami relief.
C. MCALLISTER: And so, I turned it into a money drive.
S. MCALLISTER: They get heavy, though, bringing them over to the bank. It takes about six pounds of pennies to make $10.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cameron's total pennies donated to the Salvation Army's Habitat for Humanity has totaled $6,128. 16. And Cameron now needs to sign this check.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The important thing here for (UNINTELLIGIBLE) is that one house will be built thanks to the courage of Cameron and everything what he has done.
Thank you very much. I appreciate it for everything you have done.
C. MCALLISTER: No. Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: No. Thank you. You go, Cameron.
HARRIS: Man, you can't forget. You know, December to March is a lifetime for a lot of folks.
PHILLIPS: That's right.
HARRIS: With everything going on in everybody's life. And our thanks to KING photographer Ron Sanford for that story. We're done.
PHILLIPS: That's right. That wraps up our day.
HARRIS: I'm going to take a couple days off. I'll see you on Friday.
PHILLIPS: Sounds good. I'll see you then. Thank you. You'll be in again for Miles.
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