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New Day

Police: Movie Theater Attacker Had Psychological Issues; GOP Rivals to Faceoff in First Debate Tonight; Report: New Plane Debris Found on Reunion Island. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired August 06, 2015 - 06:30   ET

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

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[06:34:01] DON AARON, NASHVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT: We actually had altercations with some of the movie patrons. He doused a couple of women significantly with pepper spray and used his ax to cut the shoulder of one male moviegoer. Those persons were scrambling out of the theater as the police officers were arriving.

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CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Those are new details of what happened inside that movie theater in Nashville. However, the more that we learn that is new, the more we hear the familiar. This attacker had been committed four times in 11 years. His family had reached out for help, saying that he didn't manage his treatment and didn't know what to do. We have heard these things and have not acted on them.

Let's bring in CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem, former assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.

The fact that it's another movie theater involved. The fact there seems to be somewhat of a similarity of M.O. Let's leave the mental illness to the side for a second, although I think it's the biggest factor.

[06:35:00] When you look at it as a threat and the profile, is there a way to protect against this reoccurring?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: The short answer is no, because it's just simply too many soft targets in the United States. So, even if you could harden or fortify every movie theater, just think of how many places there are that are open, that we need them to be open in which there are large quantities of people. In fact, in this movie theater, I think there were only four to six people, so that was relatively lucky. But this notion that we can harden all soft targets, it just -- I think it's -- I mean, I wish we could do it but we simply can't.

CUOMO: Also, you know, Israel comes to mind. There's a cultural awareness there that, yes, bad things can happen. But we will not stop living our lives for fear of the possible. Is a little bit of that just the reality that you can't make everything safe? KAYYEM: I think that's right. And I think -- you know, I mean,

Israel is such a different example because it is such a small population. But you -- we simply have to live with a level of risk in this country. We'll talk about guns and mental health issue, but we have chosen to live vulnerable. This is true whether the threat is terrorism or the threat is mentally deranged criminal.

And we like living vulnerable. We like going on our subways. We like going to movie theaters without a lot of secure. And that is just -- that simply means that in some instances, not a lot, but in some instances, you're going to have incidents like this.

CUOMO: All right. So, feel free to say that this is a silly notion. But I believe we are at the point where our lack of management of the mentally ill who do not take their own treatment seriously or who can't, not that mentally ill by percentage are more likely to be victims of crime than they are perpetrators, so it is not all mental ill, but I believe we are at the point where this is a significant factor in our domestic security that we are ignoring. Is that going too far or is there something to it?

KAYYEM: Not at all. I mean, people are trying to figure out if there's a linkage between the incidents. And once again, whether it's terrorism or ISIS or these kinds of cases, the linkages in most instances, there are some mental health issue related to the culprit. And then there's access to weapons. And so, the challenge for the mental health issue vis-a-vis the violence is either we ignore it or in a lot of cases we incarcerate people.

And I think what you're starting to see is this is not a public safety problem. This is a health problem and getting the public health agencies to engage better, give them more resources so that they can deal with this and then lower the public safety threat.

But, you know, Chris, one of the challenges we have with the caustic gun debate is that it's viewed as political these days. It's not political, it's a public health issue at this stage, given the number of people who die from guns, far more than any other illness.

CUOMO: That's true. But the gun debate has been politicized to the point right now in our cultural development where it is almost frozen. Mental illness has been ignored. It hasn't been owned politically.

You know, Representative Tim Murphy, we don't endorse candidates or politicians on this show, or any of the CNN shows, but you've got to read his bill, because families do not have the legal ability to help those who don't want to help themselves or who can't. And that's about law, and not just about culture or not just about policy.

But, Juliette, thank you very much for taking us through the steps of the reality of the situations like this. And, you know, we just keep hitting on this because it matters too much. These crimes are a small percentage of overall gun crime and overall percentage is very small that we deal with. But there is an answer, and we ignore it.

Alisyn? ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Chris.

Donald Trump, as you know, is surging to the top of the polls. But stick around for this next segment, because how are his supporters feeling today before the debate? What do they want to hear him say? We will ask our panel of Trump supporters live when NEW DAY continues.

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[06:42:56] CAMEROTA: Well, we are following breaking news for you this morning because another potential breakthrough in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. Reports today that more debris has been found.

Malaysia's transport minister telling the AFP news agency that seat cushions, window panes and aluminum foil were found by a search team on Reunion Island. That, of course, is the same place where part of a Boeing 777's wing was found days ago. The Malaysian prime minister confirms that that was from MH370.

CUOMO: The 29-year-old Tennessee movie theater attacker was shot and killed by police in Nashville. This is important. He was committed for psychiatric treatment four different times dating back to 2004. The same year he was arrested for assault and resisting arrest, by the way. Police say this man was armed with an air soft pellet gun that he aimed at police. He also attacked moviegoers with a hatchet and pepper spray.

CAMEROTA: Well, the Republicans are getting ready to rumble. The first debate of the 2016 presidential race is tonight in Cleveland, Ohio. Donald Trump looking to maintain his frontrunner status with the whole field expected to attempt to one-up another. Seven candidates who did not make the cut will be in a forum ahead of the main event.

CUOMO: Severe storms and weather are going to make a bad impact. There are going to be wind, there's going to be hail, the threat of flash flooding and it's going to happen in several parts of the country.

So, let's bring in meteorologist Chad Myers to tell us.

Chad, who is going to deal and with what?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Chris.

Two separate storm systems, one across the Northern Plains, one across the Southeast. So, Atlanta, you're going to get severe weather today. If you're flying in or out of Atlanta, expect, especially by 4:00 or 5:00 today Hartsfield/Jackson to be certainly delayed, also up near Sioux Falls.

Here comes the rain, Huntsville, Birmingham, Atlanta, and some of those storms will contain hail, damaging winds and maybe even the upper part of the country could even be a tornado or two. It is going to be hot. It is going to be darn hot. It is going to be hot in Oklahoma City. It's going to be hot in Dallas. It's going to be hot all across the city.

Dallas, you get to 105 degrees. I know it's summer but that's just crazy. Shreveport all the way to 102, 102 tomorrow, even in Oklahoma City going to be in the hundreds for the next couple of days.

[06:45:05] Farther out to the Northeast, not hot. Beautiful here. This is the day to be in New York City. Get yourself a slice of pizza in the East Village -- 84, 81, 84 for the next three days in New York City.

Guys, you have the winner today, you have the winning forecast today of any place in the country.

CAMEROTA: That's great. We struck it rich. That's great. Maybe we'll go get that pizza. Thank so much, Chad. Thanks so much.

CUOMO: You don't eat pizza.

CAMEROTA: I do eat pizza --

CUOMO: Please?

CAMEROTA: Donald Trump is at the top of the polls. So, will tonight's debate help or hurt him? We will ask a panel of his supporters, that's next.

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DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not looking to hurt anybody. I'm not looking to embarrass anybody. If I have to bring up deficiencies, I will bring up deficiencies. But, certainly, I'm not looking to do that. I'd rather go straight down the middle. But you don't know what's going to happen.

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CAMEROTA: All right. That was Donald Trump promising not to lash out at his Republican rivals during tonight's debate unless he's attacked first. So, what are Trump supporters hoping to hear tonight?

Here to discuss is a panel of them. We have Trump supporters: Jesse Lopez, Susan Wampler and Paul DiBartolo.

Jesse is a Mexican-American who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, and spent time -- are you correcting me already?

JESSE LOPEZ, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: Yes, ma'am.

CAMEROTA: What?

LOPEZ: I'm an American with Mexican ancestors.

CAMEROTA: I like that. That is who you are. OK, I stand corrected.

Susan, as far as I know, is a stay-at-home mom from Missouri.

SUSAN WAMPLER, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: Yes.

CAMEROTA: Oh, very good.

Paul is a native New Yorker who created a Donald Trump support page on Facebook.

PAUL DIBARTOLO, DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTER: Yes, I did.

CAMEROTA: OK. It's great to have you all here.

Paul, let me start with you. What are you hoping to hear from Donald Trump tonight?

DIBARTOLO: Tonight, I'm looking to hear his honest opinion on where he wants to bring the country, you know? I love what I have heard so far.

CAMEROTA: What do you love?

DIBARTOLO: I love how -- you know, the main thing I love about him is he's so honest, you know? He's just sincere. He's really -- I feel like he's speaking for the people that can't speak, you know, that don't have the microphone. I really feel like he's saying what we -- a lot of people really feel, you know?

LOPEZ: I agree with that.

DIBARTOLO: And based on the commentary I've had on the Web site that I built, Donald Trump for President in 2016, Make America Great Again, I've had so much positive input and everybody is feeling the same way.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I mean --

DIBARTOLO: Let me tell you something, people may not realize, but everybody loves Donald Trump. They either love him or they respect him. Or they fear him in a good way, which is good, too, you know?

CAMEROTA: I can see you guys nodding along. Jesse?

LOPEZ: I agree completely.

I ran into some strange things that I thought -- right after he made the remarks about the Mexican immigrants.

CAMEROTA: Yes, and you're interesting to talk to because you said your --

LOPEZ: My ancestors are Mexicans.

CAMEROTA: Ancestors and relatives are from there.

LOPEZ: And a lot of them that immigrated legally. And I know some of them immigrated illegally. And they have different perspectives about how they felt about what he said. CAMEROTA: How did you feel?

LOPEZ: I would have recommended that somebody would have advised him to say it a little bit differently.

CAMEROTA: Not that Mexicans are all -- they are sending their rapists and criminals.

LOPEZ: Right. Not all of them are rapists and criminals and felons.

CAMEROTA: Right.

LOPEZ: However, with my work with military police when I was in the Navy for 20 years, I worked as a Mexican liaison interacting with the Mexican government, extricating military personnel from the military jails. So I know who crosses and what they have crossed with and how they crossed.

CAMEROTA: So what he said spoke to you.

LOPEZ: So it spoke to me, because I said, that's true.

CAMEROTA: Oh, that's interesting.

Susan, what do you want to hear Donald Trump do tonight?

WAMPLER: The thing I guess I like the most about Donald Trump is that he -- he's not going to be bought out by lobbyists and special interest groups. So he's really looking out for the American people and what is best for us. So, nobody can talk him into something else.

DIBARTOLO: Yes, he's not bought or paid for, you know?

CAMEROTA: What do you think he should avoid tonight? Is there anything that could trip him up?

LOPEZ: The only thing that I would think that would trip him up is if he came on too strong. Like he says, I'm not going to attack anybody. One of the things that I have noticed, and I even wrote to all the other GOP --

CAMEROTA: Candidates.

LOPEZ: Candidates.

CAMEROTA: To give them advice?

LOPEZ: I told them, I said, you people are thinking that Donald Trump is a passing fad. Let me tell you, I have thousands of veterans, thousands of active military people that I know that are not -- they are there to prove that he is not a passing fad.

CAMEROTA: Got it.

LOPEZ: We are vowing for a leader that will save the troop today, tomorrow, and whenever we ask for the troops. We are looking for transparency, not a lead wall.

CAMEROTA: Susan, some pundits say tonight he's to look presidential. What does that mean to you?

WAMPLER: I think he naturally looks presidential. I would think he's positive, confident, straight-forward. That's who he is. I think that's why he does good business.

DIBARTOLO: Yes, I think that a lot of people mistake confidence with arrogance, OK? Donald Trump is very confident. I mean, he's super confident. OK? So I think a lot of people mistake that for arrogance.

I think that he's confident. He knows what he's doing. I mean, let's face it, he's one of the most successful people in America. He knows what he's doing. And he knows how to turn America around financially.

CAMEROTA: He knows how to turn America around financially because he himself is successful.

[06:55:02] Do you need to hear him tonight giving specifics of how he would do that?

DIBARTOLO: Probably not at this point, you know? I think it is a little early in the game. I think he just needs to solidify his position where he's at right now. And I think we can -- I think we can wait for more details. I don't think details are that important right now.

LOPEZ: And I will give you an example of going along with that. In the military, in any military organization, any organization, in CNN, for example, a new CEO comes in. He is the new leadership. The rest of the company or country or unit will follow the lead of that leader. If that leader is presenting himself as weak, unethical, untruthful, unprofessional, inconsistent and unbelievable --

CAMEROTA: It doesn't work.

LOPEZ: That is going to affect the rest of the organization.

CAMEROTA: So, you see a lot of leadership qualities.

LOPEZ: He's already a leadership. Presidential will come when he goes to the White House. As a leader, he's already a leader. He's proven it. His track record has proven it. His bank account proves it.

CAMEROTA: Susan, do you need specifics from him tonight?

WAMPLER: I think that it would be nice if he did talk a little bit more about how he can bring us back. And get jobs back to the count industry. I really am excited the plan of cutting taxes on things that come into the country.

So that China is not just sending everything over but when we send things over we get taxed. You know, the American people, I don't think everyone knows that that was going on.

CAMEROTA: We are going to talk about issues with you all in our 8:00 hour. Thanks so much for sticking around. Go help yourself to some coffee in the green room because we do want to know where you think Donald Trump is on some of the hottest issues today.

So, thanks a lot.

DIBARTOLO: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: We'll see you shortly. You're great.

We are following a lot of news this morning. So, let's get right to it.

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CUOMO: New plane debris may have been recovered in the Indian Ocean.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are talking about window panes. We're talking about strips of aluminum and seat cushions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a game-changer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This confirms that the plane is in the ocean.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Families are demanding answers.

(GUNFIRE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shots fired, an officer involved.

911 CALL: He pulled out a, like a hatchet and started attacking this family and then pulled out a gun.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The biggest day in the campaign so far.

TRUMP: The poll numbers are not only good, they are phenomenal.

GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R-NJ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Anybody can do well for a month.

GOV. SCOTT WALKER (R-WI), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm a new fresh face versus a name from the past.

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's about record and accomplishment.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Republicans spent a lot of time attacking each other. I'm not going to spend a second making life easier for Hillary Clinton to get elected.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will she be the real target at this debate?

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Alisyn Camerota and Michaela Pereira. (END VIDEOTAPE)

CAMEROTA: And good morning, everyone. Welcome to your NEW DAY.

And we do begin with breaking news for you. This is about MH370 and this could be a game changer.

We're getting reports that new debris possibly from inside a plane has been recovered in the Indian Ocean. And we'll tell you why this could provide our best clues yet as to what went wrong.

CUOMO: Malaysian officials are telling CNN the debris was found on Reunion Island. That's the same place where that part of a wing was found from the Boeing 777.

So, let's get right to CNN's Andrew Stevens live in Kuala Lumpur with breaking details.

What is this stuff and why do they believe it comes from a plane, let alone maybe MH370?

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Chris, I just got off the phone from senior people inside the Malaysian transport department. And they say that they do think, they are sure that it is related to a plane. They are not saying it is related to 370 at this stage, but they are saying it is definitely related to a plane.

What I was told is that they have found cushions, window parts of a window and other metal material as opposed to aluminum foil that has been reported. Those are the three items specifically mentioned by the transport minister, which he says are related to an aircraft, as I say, not 370, certainly not 370 at this stage. We don't also know when.

The minister didn't say when they found this debris. It will be sent to Toulouse for a further investigation. The transport minister getting his information from the head of the Civil Aviation Department from Malaysia who's currently in France. So, that's the chain there.

So, they are confident it's from an airplane. Whether or not it's MH370 remains to be seen.

But, Chris, I also have other information they gave me because this is critical as well. I asked about why the Malaysians are so confident that the flaperon we have been talking about is actually a part of 370. You remember that the Malaysia prime minister said last night that the Malaysians are convinced it is a part of 370. And I was told that the transport minister has been told that there is a maintenance seal on that flaperon which belongs to MAS, Malaysian Airlines Systems, as it used to be called.