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American Morning
Investigators Work Crime Scene; Victim's Prognosis Fair
Aired October 21, 2002 - 9:03 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Two fronts to cover this for us now.
I want to go to the hospital, in a moment, where Jason Carroll is standing by gauging the progress of that 37-year-old man shot on Saturday night. And so, too, is Ed Lavendera. Ed's at the scene near the Ashland scene, about 15 miles north of Richmond.
Let's start with you, Ed. What are you finding out this morning? Good morning to you.
ED LAVENDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, since we last talked to you, we changed up locations here. What you are seeing here behind me is the Ponderosa Restaurant. This is the parking lot area where the 37-year-old gentleman was shot down. We've been talking so much about the wooded area that investigators spent so much time looking through yesterday. This is the entrance into this wooded area and to kind of give you an idea of what it's like back here, very dreary day, very wet, and kind of dark and nasty back here.
You can see the crime tape from where investigators were working the area. And perhaps this is one of the locations where this information and this message to authorities was left behind. If you continue to walk past this way, a trail leading to the back part of the woods and throughout the morning here, we'll kind of take you back in here and show you a little bit of exactly what investigators might have been seeing out here yesterday. All of this area had been roped off.
We saw a line of cadets and investigators combing through this area, picking up all sorts of evidence. There is a lot of trash mostly, so what we're seeing through here -- investigators finding what they needed to find clearly.
That's what's generated so much news over the last 24 hours -- Bill.
HEMMER: Very interesting look. Thanks, Ed. Ed Lavendera in Ashland, Virginia.
Further south now in Richmond, Jason Carroll gauging the progress of the latest victim.
Jason, good morning.
JASON CARROLL, CNN REPORTER: Good morning to you, Bill.
That 37-year-old man is doing well, according to his doctors. He is responding to his wife by opening and closing his eyes. He was in surgery last night for about three hours. He's still in critical but guarded condition.
Doctors who operated on him last night were able to remove the bullet. They say that the bullet was removed mostly intact. Doctors have been commenting on how strong this man is, but they also want to give credit to the man's wife. She's been by his side throughout this entire ordeal, holding his hand.
She did release a statement through the hospital, and this morning, the nurse read part of that statement for us to hear. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY MARTIN, PROGRAM TRAUMA DIRECTOR, MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA HOSPITAL: "This has been a frightening and difficult time, where I have feared for the loss of my husband, friend, and soul mate. The support I have gotten from this community, my home community, and my family have seen me through this difficult time. The hospital has taken care of all our needs, so there is no need to send anything other than continued prayer. Please pray also for the attacker and that no one else is hurt."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Again, reading a statement there from the victim's wife. This man has gone through two surgeries; we can expect many more surgeries to come simply because this man is dealing with extensive internal injuries to his stomach, to his pancreas, and to his spleen.
But doctors say that he was very healthy before the shooting, and they say his prognosis is fair to good -- Bill.
HEMMER: We will keep our fingers crossed there.
Thank you, Jason. Jason Carroll in Richmond. Ed Lavendera in Ashland, Virginia, south of here.
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 October 21, 2002 - 9:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Two fronts to cover this for us now.
I want to go to the hospital, in a moment, where Jason Carroll is standing by gauging the progress of that 37-year-old man shot on Saturday night. And so, too, is Ed Lavendera. Ed's at the scene near the Ashland scene, about 15 miles north of Richmond.
Let's start with you, Ed. What are you finding out this morning? Good morning to you.
ED LAVENDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, since we last talked to you, we changed up locations here. What you are seeing here behind me is the Ponderosa Restaurant. This is the parking lot area where the 37-year-old gentleman was shot down. We've been talking so much about the wooded area that investigators spent so much time looking through yesterday. This is the entrance into this wooded area and to kind of give you an idea of what it's like back here, very dreary day, very wet, and kind of dark and nasty back here.
You can see the crime tape from where investigators were working the area. And perhaps this is one of the locations where this information and this message to authorities was left behind. If you continue to walk past this way, a trail leading to the back part of the woods and throughout the morning here, we'll kind of take you back in here and show you a little bit of exactly what investigators might have been seeing out here yesterday. All of this area had been roped off.
We saw a line of cadets and investigators combing through this area, picking up all sorts of evidence. There is a lot of trash mostly, so what we're seeing through here -- investigators finding what they needed to find clearly.
That's what's generated so much news over the last 24 hours -- Bill.
HEMMER: Very interesting look. Thanks, Ed. Ed Lavendera in Ashland, Virginia.
Further south now in Richmond, Jason Carroll gauging the progress of the latest victim.
Jason, good morning.
JASON CARROLL, CNN REPORTER: Good morning to you, Bill.
That 37-year-old man is doing well, according to his doctors. He is responding to his wife by opening and closing his eyes. He was in surgery last night for about three hours. He's still in critical but guarded condition.
Doctors who operated on him last night were able to remove the bullet. They say that the bullet was removed mostly intact. Doctors have been commenting on how strong this man is, but they also want to give credit to the man's wife. She's been by his side throughout this entire ordeal, holding his hand.
She did release a statement through the hospital, and this morning, the nurse read part of that statement for us to hear. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY MARTIN, PROGRAM TRAUMA DIRECTOR, MEDICAL COLLEGE OF VIRGINIA HOSPITAL: "This has been a frightening and difficult time, where I have feared for the loss of my husband, friend, and soul mate. The support I have gotten from this community, my home community, and my family have seen me through this difficult time. The hospital has taken care of all our needs, so there is no need to send anything other than continued prayer. Please pray also for the attacker and that no one else is hurt."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: Again, reading a statement there from the victim's wife. This man has gone through two surgeries; we can expect many more surgeries to come simply because this man is dealing with extensive internal injuries to his stomach, to his pancreas, and to his spleen.
But doctors say that he was very healthy before the shooting, and they say his prognosis is fair to good -- Bill.
HEMMER: We will keep our fingers crossed there.
Thank you, Jason. Jason Carroll in Richmond. Ed Lavendera in Ashland, Virginia, south of here.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
