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Kalamazoo Shooting Suspect Denied Bail; Young Dems Support Sanders, Older Dems Support Clinton. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired February 23, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

[06:30:01] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: It was standing room only as the community of Kalamazoo, Michigan, gathered to offer prayers for the victims and families impacted by Saturday's shooting sprees. New details also emerging about the alleged shooter who stood stone-faced as he was charged with six counts of murder.

Ryan Young is live in Kalamazoo this morning with the latest for us -- Ryan.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Michaela.

I don't know what we were expecting yesterday when we watched him in court. I think people were expecting him to say something. That did not happen. We also did learn from investigators that there may have been a switch of a car. That, in fact, he may have wrecked one of his cars, made a switch in between the shootings. That still has a lot of people baffled as to what the motive is in this crime.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDGE: Are you Jason Brian Dalton?

JASON BRIAN DALTON, SUSPECT: Yes.

YOUNG (voice-over): Shackled wearing an orange jumpsuit, the 45-year-old Uber driver accused of killing six and injuring two appearing in court for the first time via video, showing no emotion as the judge read the 16 charges against him.

JUDGE: Is there anything you wish to tell the court?

DALTON: I would prefer just to remain silent.

YOUNG: At a probably cause hearing, detectives testify that Dalton admitted to, quote, "taking people's lives". For seven hours Saturday, investigators say Dalton roamed the streets, targeting his victims at random, gunning them down all while picking up fares between and even after the attack.

One of those passengers identified only as Derek was dropped off by Dalton just 20 minutes before he was arrested.

"DEREK", UBER PASSENGER OF JASON DALTON: I said you're not the shooter, are you? And he said no. And I said, are you sure? And he kind of just said, no. I'm just tired. I've been driving for seven hours.

YOUNG: His youngest victim, 14-year-old Abigail Kopf, clinging to life in a hospital. So critically injured, police initially pronounced her dead before she miraculously squeezed her mother's hand.

VICKI KOPF, ABIGAIL KOPF'S MOTHER: She is alive and she is fighting for her life. I want everybody to understand that. Abigail was strong and she was a vibrant, beautiful young lady and did not deserve this.

YOUNG: Law enforcement seizing 11 rifles from inside Dalton's home. According to Uber, Dalton had passed a background check and received favorable feedback. Investigators trying to unravel a motive for why the married father of two with no criminal record would carry out such a cold-blooded massacre.

DAVID PFAFF, PRINCIPAL, EASTERN HANCOCK HIGH SCHOOL: It was an awful, awful feeling to know that someone who you had once worked with and been relatively close to was capable of something like that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YOUNG: There was another vigil last night where so many people in the community came out to remember those who were lost.

As the community struggled, Dalton's family released this statement that said, "We express our love and support for everyone involved. We intend to cooperate in every way that we can to help determine why and how this occured." So, you can see, even Dalton's family has that big question about why this happened -- Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Ryan, it is so mystifying and we will have more on this case up next because the suspect has been talking to police. What he's saying about the rampage. A Kalamazoo police official here straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:37:08] CAMEROTA: We want to get the latest now on the search for answers in that Kalamazoo shooting massacre and whether Uber is doing enough to ensure passenger safety.

So, let's bring in Jeffrey Hadley. He's the chief of Kalamazoo's Department of Public Safety.

Chief, thanks so much for being with us.

CHIEF JEFFREY HADLEY, KALAMAZOO DEPT. OF PUBLIC SAFETY: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: We understand the suspect has made some incriminating statements to authorities in custody. What is he saying?

HADLEY: Well, I'm not at liberty to discuss the exact nature of those statements. What I can say is he made some incriminating statements that certainly gave us enough probable cause to submit to the prosecutor's office and for his arraignment yesterday.

CAMEROTA: Can you give us the nature of those incriminating statements? I know you don't want to taint your investigation. But the prosecutor himself has said that this suspect confessed.

HADLEY: Well, I can't get into the exact language of the statements. I don't have those specifically. I do know in conversations with my detectives, that he made that put him at the time and place that these incidents occurred. That's all I'm at liberty to discuss right now and I apologize for that. But --

CAMEROTA: And also the weapon we understand matched the bullets. Is that right?

HADLEY: If that's the information you have. That's not the information I have. He was found in possession of a semiautomatic handgun. You know, all of our information leads us to believe this is the shooter. We have plenty of evidence to support that. But the exact ballistics test, if they're back, I'm not aware of that.

CAMEROTA: OK. Let's talk about what you've been looking into, and that is his background. What has his family said to your detectives about him?

HADLEY: Well, to them, as well -- as far as I know, this comes as a complete shock to them as well. It wasn't anything that I've been made aware that would indicate that this type of behavior, it appears he has no mental health history, not on any medications, doesn't abuse drugs or alcohol.

They are shocked and surprised at his behavior as everyone else. They have been very cooperative in this investigation. Our heart goes out to them as well, because to some degree they are victims in this tragic event as much as the folks that are deceased and injured.

CAMEROTA: Yes. Chief, this must just be your worst nightmare. There's no red flags. Nothing to trace it back to. There seems to be no reason whatsoever.

One thing -- there was a passenger who this suspect, this Uber driver had picked up. That passenger reported that the suspect got a phone call.

[06:40:00] After that phone call, he began driving erratically.

Do you know anything about what was said during that phone call?

HADLEY: I don't know what was said relative to that phone call. We are now in the process of doing some more complete and comprehensive work relative to the Uber passengers, what they heard, what they experienced with Mr. Dalton. And I think that will come in the days and weeks to come in terms of some of those specifics. We would like to know that as well in terms of what may have been said on that phone call and triggered his response relative to that.

CAMEROTA: Chief, let me ask you about Uber. Uber picks up a million rides a day around the country. Millions of people are using this service. Are you confident that Uber is doing enough to ensure the public safety?

HADLEY: Well, I think one important thing to note is none of the victims were shot in these incidents where Uber passengers or Uber customers. They had not called Mr. Dalton for a ride. So, I just wanted to clarify that note.

CAMEROTA: But clearly --

(CROSSTALK)

CAMEROTA: Chief, I'm sorry. He's a homicidal -- if he is guilty, he is a homicidal maniac. So should Uber have known somehow?

HADLEY: I don't know how they could have. I'm just being really fair to your question.

I certainly understand the question. And that's an obvious question that would come our way. I'm not sure what provisions or measures or systems they have in place to do background on their Uber drivers. I don't know how thorough that is or comprehensive.

With that said, he had no criminal history at all whatsoever. So, even if they had a very robust system in place, I'm not sure if that would have been able to capture or predict this type of behavior. It's just one of those anomalies. And that's the most baffling and bizarre piece of this and the most frustrating for everybody, including us.

CAMEROTA: Yes, we can imagine.

Chief Jeff Hadley, thanks so much for being on NEW DAY. We will talk to you again as we get more information.

Let's get over to Michaela.

PEREIRA: All right. Back to politics, Hillary Clinton connecting with African-American voters. Bernie Sanders connecting with young voters. Up next, we talk to a South Carolina family about the general racial divide and how it might play out on primary day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:46:19] PEREIRA: Protesters planning a show of support for Apple rallies today at Apple stores in more than 30 cities and one outside of FBI headquarters in Washington. The tech giant is fighting a court order to help the FBI by unlocking the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino terrorists. A few research polls shows 51 percent of people say Apple should comply with the court's order.

CAMEROTA: The teenager found unresponsive in a helicopter crash in Pearl Harbor has died. Hospital officials say two of the teen's family members remain in stable condition this morning. The sightseeing chopper's water landing before thousands of the USS Arizona last week is under investigation. One witness thinks the pilot chose water to avoid hitting hundreds of tourists.

PEREIRA: A fierce battle is unfolding in Charlotte, North Carolina, over which public bathrooms transgender people should use. The city passing a law allowing transgender citizens to choose bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity rather than the gender assigned at birth.

However, North Carolina's governor calls that a, quote, calls that a, quote, "threat to public safety" and warning the state's general assembly may have to step in.

That's your headline right now.

Oh, is that chaos in Columbia, South Carolina, where Chris is? Are you instigating? What's going on? What's going on, Christopher?

CAMEROTA: I see. Pleading the fifth.

PEREIRA: Oh, he's not.

CAMEROTA: Strangely silent.

PEREIRA: I think he's in the middle of his breakfast.

Still ahead, we're going to talk to him or he's going to talk about this topic of African-American voters. They are the strength for Hillary Clinton. Young people, well, Alisyn not so much, in South Carolina. The two factors may combine.

And Chris is gong to speak with a black family about the apparent generational divide in their very own family and how that could impact the primary vote Saturday.

CAMEROTA: All right. Later on NEW DAY, sisters in solidarity with Donald Trump. Their support has gone viral taking on the likes of Megyn Kelly, in videos like this one. Let's watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You have something you want to tell him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Run it by us first.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's right.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Run it by me first and I'll let you know whether you have permission to come to him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:52:15] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Just three states down for the Democrats. But already, we're seeing really interesting patterns. Let's say here in South Carolina.

You have a great mix of two different strengths from two different candidates. Hillary Clinton, there is a heritage, a legacy of working within the African-American community for her, and certainly her husband. And her numbers are very big with African- Americans, especially here in South Carolina. It matters because the black vote will be 50 percent plus expected in this state.

However, then you have Bernie Sanders, very big with the young. Not only does it cut into the Clinton's lead with African-Americans, but he is crushing her with young voters in general.

So, what happens when you combine those two? You have one of the families we're about to talk to right now.

Joining us and meet Marcurius Byrd. He is a first year law student in South Carolina and he is using his early lawyering skills to corrupt his family in favor of Bernie Sanders. He swayed his mom Gwen to support Sanders as well, even though Gwen and Bernard traditionally support the Clintons, especially Hillary Clinton.

And the Byrds are with us right now.

Gwen, nice to meet you.

GWEN BYRD, BERNIE SANDERS SUPPORTER: Nice to meet you.

CUOMO: Bernard, thank you very much. Veteran of two different wars. Thank you for your service.

And then you, counsel.

Let's look at the situation here. Let's start with what the tradition is and then moving to what's going on right now. There is a presumption, Gwen, about the Clintons and African-Americans.

You're from South Carolina. You know the community well. Why is there an investment in the Clintons here among blacks? What do you think it's about?

G. BYRD: I think it's about when Bill was president he to have more connection with African-Americans in general and is kind of a pay forward.

CUOMO: You feel that in Hillary as well? Does she pay attention or is it she benefit from the pay forward?

G. BYRD: For me, I jokingly said I voted for Bill because I wanted Hillary.

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: The better woman behind every man theory. Yes, yes, very good.

G. BYRD: She presented herself as a really strong woman. And I can envision a future of her being president.

CUOMO: Now, is Marcurius, the baby, you have two kids.

G. BYRD: No, he's the oldest.

CUOMO: He's the older one. So, you work your fingers to the bone, you and Bernard, to send him to law school. And he rewards you by coming back and preaching the gospel of Sanders to move you away from Hillary Clinton. What happened exactly?

G. BYRD: What happened exactly, he said Bernie Sanders is coming to town. Come go with me

CUOMO: What did you feel? You hashtagged felt the Bern when you went to the event. Why?

G. BYRD: He seemed sincere. For a long time, you see the political TV version of a candidate.

[06:55:03] He just seemed like an every day ordinary person. What he is saying is stuff I have already thought about and think about on a daily basis.

CUOMO: No stronger influence on a man than the woman in his life. Yet, Bernard, you stand steadfast and true when it comes to Hillary Clinton, despite what your brainiac son comes home with from law school. Why?

BERNARD BYRD, HILLARY CLINTON SUPPORTER: Yes, because I always supported the Clintons. And I think Hillary is the stronger candidate.

CUOMO: Because?

BYRD: Even though her and Bernie have a lot of things similar is, but I think Hillary is better with education, gun control. And I just support Hillary.

CUOMO: You see Hillary as commander in chief?

B. BYRD: I do. As my commander in chief.

CUOMO: As your commander in chief, as a veteran yourself.

B. BYRD: Yes.

CUOMO: You do not see Sanders that way, though. You don't have a negative impression of?

B. BYRD: No. I don't have a negative impression. I don't want him to be my commander in chief.

CUOMO: So, you are raised by these good people. They killed themselves to send you to law school, and you turn on them and say that you are for Bernie Sanders.

I'm joking with you, of course. But let's talk about the difference between family and generation. What is it you're picking up on Bernie Sanders that leads you away from Hillary Clinton despite what your family feels about?

MARCURIUS BYRD, BERNIE SANDERS SUPPORTER: A lot of the issues that I see Bernie Sanders addressing is addressing them in a perspective that's more to the times we're actually living in at this moment.

CUOMO: How so? Put some meat on the bone.

M. BYRD: Put some meat on the bone.

Basically, I'm coming into a workforce age where people aren't retiring like they used to. Now the skills I need, what used to be -- you just need a high school education to be able to compete, get into the entry-level jobs and be able to move up. Since people aren't moving out of jobs, what you need to be an entry-level person, is to be on the same level as someone with 10 years of experience. But that means you have to have --

CUOMO: You need more education?

M. BYRD: Yes, you need more education. And at this point, you're looking like, you're going to need graduate level classes as well just get entry level.

CUOMO: Now, if you look at them on paper, policy for policy, other than the word free, you see a lot of similarities between Clinton and Sanders. But what makes you favor Bernie? I'm joking about the dynamic, because for me, Sanders and Clinton, pick whoever you want. I'm just talking about break with your parents, which is an interesting dynamic.

Why do feel comfortable doing that? What does the senator offer the secretary does not in your opinion?

M. BYRD: I would say, independence, which has come from him also being like an independent for so long. My parents taught me to be independent, which is why it's so easily --

CUOMO: It comes back to get you, Gwen. That's what happens.

M. BYRD: Break away from this.

But some issues I feel as if we have to toe the party line instead of address what the problem is. Sometimes a conservative view might be slightly more correct liberal view than vice versa. You have to be open enough and true enough to yourself to be able to address those problems.

CUOMO: Do you see Sanders as someone who would compromise to get things done when he gets into government?

M. BYRD: Yes, I do see him compromising -- fighting for what I see is like proper goals, like health care as a right, but making a compromise to move people towards that.

CUOMO: Can you be swayed?

M. BYRD: Can I be swayed? Because I've also done science, I would probably say I'm 99.9 percent sure I can't be swayed.

CUOMO: Political science is an oxymoron, by the way, Marcurius. Don't worry about the science.

(CROSSTALK)

M. BYRD: I did Biochem.

CUOMO: I know, I'm saying that's why there is no science in political science. We just throw the world around and it makes it look better.

Marcurius, thank you very much for laying out your views.

Bernard, again, thank you for your service and for bringing your family here.

Gwen, you have a soft spot for your son. That explains it. We don't need any science for that either. But thank you for explaining the dynamic within your family.

These dynamics are going on in a lot of families right now in South Carolina and across the country. We're seeing generational shifts. We're seeing a lot of different things moving around.

Now, here's what it is going to come down to tonight, I'm sure you'll all be watching -- the CNN town hall. Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton, are going to be talking to the good people of South Carolina like the Byrd family we just had here.

What will they offer? I will have the best seat in the house at 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN. See for yourself.

There is a lot of news this morning in the election, around the world. Let's get to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I am not a scripted candidate. I'm real.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This guy Cruz lies more than any human being I have ever dealt with.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If we nominate someone that half the Republican party hates, we will never win that way.

TRUMP: We're going to win, win, win.

SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We're going to win so much we will get tired of winning.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We aren't a single issue country. We need more than a plan for the big bank

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need to stand together and say, enough is enough.