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Three Officers Killed, Three Injured In Baton Rouge Attack; Baton Rouge Killer Lured Police And Shot Them With AR-15; Police "Confident" They Can Secure Convention; Republican National Convention Begins Today; How Will Baton Rouge Ambush Affect RNC? Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired July 18, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:02] BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right now, obviously, except for camera crews, you could not tell that anything happened here yesterday. The scene is mostly clear.

But the investigation is still unfolding. We're told that last night officers detained two people and questioned them for several hours. No charges were filed, though, this goes in line with what officials told us that the suspect was not alone here in Baton Rouge.

It was unclear if the people he was with knew the extent of the plot that he was about to undertake. A plot that has rattled this community and shocked the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: Shots fired. Officer down. Got a city officer down.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): Three officers ambushed and gunned down in Baton Rouge Sunday morning with three other officers wounded. At 8:40 a.m., officers spotting a man dressed in black wearing a mask and holding an AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle near a convenience store.

A law enforcement source says the killer, 29-year-old Gavin Eugene Long, a former Marine was intentionally trying to lure in police.

UNIDENTIFIED OFFICER: I'm hit. Left arm.

SANCHEZ: Two minutes later, gunshots rang out. The killer out gunning the officers at the scene and the hail of bullets, three of them lost their lives, 41-year-old Matthew Gerald, 32-year-old Montrell Jackson and 45-year-old Brad Garafolo. Police ending the rampage by shooting the gunman.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't think that this can't happen in your city. We never would have thought that this could have happened in Baton Rouge, but it has.

VALENCIA: The attack coming just ten days after five officers were killed in the Dallas ambush by another former military veteran, 25- year-old Micah Johnson. Gunning down officers protecting a peaceful protest to the police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castille.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want the prayers from around the country. You know, we are mourning just like Dallas. I mean, my two partners, my two brothers right here, I was in the hospital with them. I saw firsthand the grief on their faces as they were trying to talk to the families. You know, this has got to stop.

SANCHEZ: Law enforcement sources tell CNN that the Baton Rouge killer rented a car from his hometown in Kansas City stopping in Dallas where he shot this video on his cell phone before carrying out the attack.

The five-year veteran was discharged as a sergeant and spent about six months in Iraq. He tweeted about the Dallas killer calling him, quote, "one of us." In a YouTube video urging viewers --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You got to fight back.

SANCHEZ: Tensions high in Baton Rouge since Alton Sterling's death nearly two weeks ago. Sterling's aunt pleading for peace.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These people call these families. They tell them their daddies and moms are not coming home. I know how they feel. I got the same phone call. Stop this killing. Stop this killing.

SANCHEZ: One of the slain Baton Rouge officers posting this plea on Facebook after the Dallas ambush, quote, "Please don't let hate infect your heart." Montrell Jackson wrote. "If you see me or need a hug or want say a prayer, I got you." President Obama yet again forced to address a mass killing.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We need to temper our words and open our hearts. All of us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Until we come together and this madness continues, we will surely perish as a people.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: Now there were three other law enforcement officials that were injured in this attack, two of them had non-life threatening injuries. One of them we are told is in critical condition. Nicholas Talier (ph), he is 41-year-old who served 18 years for the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office.

He is fighting for his life. Officials yesterday pleading with the community to send their thoughts and prayers to he and his family and the families of all the officers affected in this attack -- Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Boris, and just to make sure people understand, three officers lost their lives here, Montrell Jackson, Matthew Gerald, and Brad Garafolo. Those are the names that matter most in this situation.

You will hear a lot about the murderer in this situation. He will provide an unusually complex character portrait. You will hear a lot about him and his different names and affiliations and ideas and books.

At the end of the day, he was one very simple thing. He was a murderer, who came here with military training. He was in the Marines. He had gone to infantry school. He had an AR-type semiautomatic rifle.

He drew police to a location, police officers and sheriff deputies, and tried to kill as many as he could. Now this man, this murderer stands in stark contrast to one of the officers, Montrell Jackson. Why are we pointing him out?

[05:05:02]Well, his name came out early. He is an African-American officer and what you heard Boris Sanchez there report was just part of what his drawing people to the Facebook post.

In it, he talks about what happened in Dallas and how hurtful it was to him a police officer to be second guessed after all the work that he had done to help secure tough communities.

But he also identified as knowing the problem in uniform as a cop and the issues as a black male as well and yet he found a way to look past all of the negativity towards something else, which he saw the hope for something better in humanity.

Listen to his own words. Read them for yourself. Sure, he was disappointed in being second guessed, but he always choose to look past it. That is something that's in short supply right now. It is worth reading Montrell Jackson's words if you haven't already.

Not just for his family's sake who lost of him, but for all of us in the dialogue. Let's discuss now what this situation means in terms of how we move forward.

We have David Klinger, Marc Lamont Hill, and Joseph Giacalone. Now Jo Giacalone, as you know, is a former NYPD sergeant. Marc Lamont Hill is a friend of the show and author and professor. David Klinger is a former LAPD officer. We relied on stories from him before. He is the author of the book "Into The Kill Zone."

David, it's good to see you. Horrible it is under these circumstances once again.

DAVID KLINGER, FORMER LAPD OFFICER: Good to be here.

CUOMO: Now you heard what is saying there, this murderer is different in terms of his complexity of character. But at the end of the day, he is one simple thing. What pops out to you when you see this shooting in terms of what people need to know?

KLINGER: I think they need to know that law enforcement is an inherently dangerous profession. For that, police officers are willing to go out and to protect people and put themselves in harm's way. That is what they are trained to do.

When you have murderers who are out hunting police officers, that's not what you sign up for. Everybody around the country needs to rally around these police officers, the police officers in Dallas, Texas.

The police officers who have been shot and fortunately survived around the country in the last week. Thank God that there are men and women who are willing to put on the badge to protect the rest of us.

CUOMO: Marc Lamont Hill, you have this situation. You have Dallas before it. There are some similarities not just in apparent motive, but also preparation of both killers. Both military trained. It seemed to give them a tactical advantage in both of these situations.

The frustration here will be balancing the absolute wrong of killing police with the need of so many to talk about the situation surrounding the policing of black communities. How do you balance the two or do you see any balance?

MARC LAMONT HILL, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I find it difficult to balance the two. Honestly, yesterday, in the aftermath of the shooting, I wasn't really thing about it at that level. I was thinking about it at the human level.

I was thinking about this officer who died. All three of these officers who died. All three of these officers who lost their lives tragically. That is always a problem.

You know, Black Lives Matter and the movement at the core has always been a non-violent movement. It's always been about demanding dignity and peace and demilitarization. It's not about reversing the relations. It is not about hunting officers. It's about nobody being hunted.

So when I see this, I feel very sad and disturbed because I think it actually compromises the movement and undermines the progress of everybody else. But of course, in the most human level, there are three fathers who did not make it home. Three spouses did not make it home.

There are three friends and brothers who did not make it home. That, for me, is absolutely tragic. As a nation, I do believe that we have to change our access to guns. We have to access mental health resources more deeply. Some of the conversations do need to change.

I think we can never stop demanding justice. We can never stop offering a critique of the police. What happened yesterday was deplorable, disgusting, indefensible, and it's absolutely nothing we should do, but try to come together and really heal.

CUOMO: Joe, what does this do to the mind and psyche of police officer in your experience? I mean, you know, what Marc Lamont Hill says is very appropriate and the right way to look at it. It is not the way everybody is looking at it.

As you know, when we were broadcasting here last night, there was a local resident who was intent on saying there is a reason that these cops get killed is because of what is happening to us.

Police officers are encountering a lot of that. How do you do the job when you are worried you could be a target all the time?

JOSEPH GIACALONE, LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINER: Unfortunately, I think things will slow down. The cops will always respond to 911. They have to make sure they are not walking into an ambush. They need to take extra precautions than they normally would.

And these are the things that I don't think the general public understands that for every action there is a reaction. The police officers are no good to anybody if they don't make it to the help that the people are needing.

So this is what happens now. I think we are going to see a situation where police officers are going to just slow it down. But you know what, listen.

[05:10:06]Good tactics is something that officers have to think about especially in this environment. Don't rush into things that they normally would. Take a step back and watch the whole thing unfold in front of their eyes so that they don't have to be another statistic.

CUOMO: David, let me end with you where we began in terms of looking at the shooting. It seems on set up simply. My sources at the FBI and police said warning us away from the word ambush. But whether this guy orchestrated the 911 call or whether he just knew one would come because he was dressed for battle in black with a mask on, carrying an AR-style rifle. The investigation to you, does this break down because he was trying to draw them on and kill as many as he could?

KLINGER: I don't know enough about the details of the investigation to say, but it strikes me that all of the elements are there for an ambush. And certainly when you go out after leaving a manifesto on a cell phone video talking about your frustrations and you are targeting police officers, I don't understand how you can call it anything but.

CUOMO: All right, David Klinger, Joe Giacalone, Marc Lamont Hill, thank you for your perspective on this. It is the murder of three police officers. There are three others who were injured, two of them still in critical condition. We will get more information on the investigation throughout the morning.

But right now, let's get to Alisyn in Cleveland with the big RNC getting ready to go there -- Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: And of course, Chris, we will be talking about how everything that's happened in Baton Rouge and Dallas, how it affected this convention. Because the ambush killings of these police officers in Baton Rouge are raising security concerns here in Cleveland.

Of course, this is where the Republican National Convention begins today. The city's police union was calling on Ohio's governor to suspend the state's open carry gun laws to try to make it safer and more manageable for police. That hasn't happened.

So CNN's Ryan Young is along the protest route along downtown Cleveland. What are you hearing and seeing, Ryan?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That hasn't happened just yet, Alisyn. You know, there is a lot of talk about it that especially after we saw someone walking through the crowd in Dallas with that weapon. That is something that police officers here have been talking about that.

To show that official route, you can see the officers are behind those making sure they are watching the route and keeping it safe. There are rules up here. We actually participated in the parade and walked behind it yesterday as we covered it, and saw how they were making sure the parade route stayed safe.

And the officers stayed behind the people who were protesting, but you know people want to make sure that this remains calm. So there are obviously rules in place to make sure that all this goes smoothly.

We know that the government has provided Cleveland with some $49 million to make sure the event stays safe and the police chief is talking about the measures they are doing to keep everyone OK through the next few days.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CALVIN WILLIAMS, CLEVELAND POLICE: Of course, some anxiety to make sure that the things we put in place were actually going to work the way we planned them. We always know in an operation this big that there will be some adjustments.

Our plan is made so that we can adjust on the fly. We've made some tweaks here and there. I'm sure throughout the week, we will make adjustments also.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YOUNG: Alisyn, you know, people were talking about tweaks. Making sure people don't bring things they are not supposed to. You can see drones or fireworks or any kind of audio, loud audio equipment. Those are things that are posted.

But there's really a sea of blue throughout the city. You can't tell through here because obviously we are about a mile away from downtown, but when you are closer to town as you are, you can just see the gates up.

You can see all the people who are set up for security. We have been talking to the officers to make sure this route stays safe throughout the night -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Right, Ryan. I mean, it is interesting to see all those prohibited items, but to know that the open carry gun law continues around the perimeter where we are right now. So thank you for that reporting.

So this convention itself begins officially in just a few hours. The next four days here will be a Trump family affair beginning tonight with Trump's wife, Melania. She will be speaking in primetime.

Meanwhile, the Trump/Pence duo giving their first joint interview and downplaying their differences. CNN's Phil Mattingly is live at the Quicken Loans Arena with more on that. Hi, Phil.

PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Alisyn. Well, party unity showcasing Mike Pence, that new running mate perhaps pivoting towards the general election. These are all key components the Republican officials say Donald Trump has to achieve in the next four days.

But rising above all of it, today, in this stage behind me, where you will hear about is security both at home and abroad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our world is spinning out of control. Our country is spinning out of control. That's what I think about and I'll stop that.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Donald Trump pledging strength ahead of the first day of the Republican National Convention.

TRUMP: Obama is weak. Hillary is weak and part of it is that. A big part of it. We need law and order.

MATTINGLY: Weeks of national and international turmoil heavily impacting today's events. Coincidently themed make America safe again. Trump slamming President Obama's response to Sunday's killing of three officers in Baton Rouge saying the president doesn't have a clue.

Tweeting that the country is, quote, "a divided crime scene and it will only get worse." As all eyes are on the presumptive GOP nominee to see if he is ready to pivot to a more presidential tone.

PAUL MANAFORT, TRUMP CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN: It is not a change of pivot. It is a showing of the rest of the person. That hasn't been done in the campaign. The Trump that I see on a daily basis is more than just a Donald Trump sitting out in campaign rallies.

MATTINGLY: The campaign touting a different type of convention. One featuring fewer politicians and more voices with a personal connection to Trump.

MANAFORT: Often times other than the wife of the candidate, you don't see any glimpse into the personal life of the person being nominated for president. This convention is going to show Donald Trump from the viewpoint of his children.

MATTINGLY: Trump balking tradition as he is expected to introduce his own wife, Melania, for her primetime speech tonight.

TRUMP: The next vice president of the United States, Governor Mike Pence.

MATTINGLY: Indiana governor and Trump VP pick, Mike Pence, expected to speak on Wednesday. He and Trump giving a preview of their chemistry acknowledging their differences in an interview with "60 Minutes."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What about the negative side? He apologized for being a negative --

TRUMP: I understand that. I'll give you an example. Hillary Clinton is a liar. Hillary Clinton -- that was just proven last week.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is negative.

TRUMP: Hillary Clinton is a crook.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's negative.

TRUMP: I call her crooked Hillary. She's crooked Hillary. I didn't ask him to do it, but I don't think he should do it because it's different for him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MATTINGLY: Alisyn, two very different politicians in Donald Trump's case, not a politician that will be hitting the campaign trail in the weeks and months ahead. Now worth noting, as the Republicans all descend on Cleveland today, Democrats keeping a very close eye on things.

Hillary Clinton's campaign is not backing off at all even jabbing at that whole unity idea. Putting out their own list of speakers for the Republican convention with strikes through all of them.

Republicans who will not be attending this convention, most notably, of course, 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush. So keep an eye on Democrats as they will ring around this convention as well and continue to attack even though this is a very Republican event -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: All right, Phil, it will be very interesting to see what happens here today and all this week where we will be. Thanks so much for that.

So the police ambush in Dallas and Baton Rouge have, of course, made a big impact on the campaign and the Republican convention not just in terms of security, but also in Donald Trump's message. We talk about how that's changed next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:21:57]

CAMEROTA: The police shootings in Dallas and Baton Rouge changing the tone of this convention, certainly here in Cleveland. Trump now casting himself as the law and order candidate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: You need toughness. We need strength. Obama is weak. Hillary is weak and part of it is that. A big part of it. We need law and order. We need strong borders. Our world is spinning out of control. Our country is spinning out of control. That's what I think about and I'll stop that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: All right. So how will the tragic stories, the murder of police officers impact this convention? Let's talk to our panel. We have CNN political analyst and host of "The David Gregory Show Podcast," David Gregory, CNN political commentator and political anchor of Time Warner Cable News, Errol Lewis, and CNN politics executive editor, Mark Preston.

Guys, great to have you here with me in Cleveland. So it is changing the tone of the convention. It is more law and order. Does it change the tone of the entire campaign?

DAVID GREGORY, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think for a period of time, but I think it is in keeping with what we heard from Donald Trump for a long time. He is a strong man candidate. That's what he's offering. That there's chaos in the world. That he can bring strength. That he can bring order.

That he can fix these problems that have befallen America over time. I think Hillary Clinton (inaudible) is much more aggressive and less specific, but I think as he is speaking to supporters. He is speaking to people in the party (inaudible) America is weak in the world. I'll make us strong. Don't ask me how (inaudible) projects that.

CAMEROTA: Errol, Twitter does not (inaudible) specifics --

(AUDIO OUT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:27:43]

CUOMO: We're here in Baton Rouge. Six police officers shot. Three murdered by one man who was carrying a long gun and dressed for battle. Baton Rouge, Louisiana, once again, reeling from violence.

We all know about the situation that happened here involving Alton Sterling that is still being investigated. Now we have this. For perspective on how not just this community, but the national community should respond to violence against police, we have General Russell Honore.

Not only of Army greatness and status, but also an author who wrote a book called "Leadership in the new normal." General, I wish we did not have to call on you in situations like this, but we need a leader like you.

The title of your book, "Leadership in the New Normal." When you look the numbers or you look at the social reality, violence seemed on the uptick. Whether it's police versus the communities they police or on the police themselves. What is the right leadership in this situation?

LT. GEN. RUSSEL HONORE, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED): We have to keep the ship steady. We don't overreact. At the point in time with a shooting, we have to deal with it and we have be more proactive in seeking out these individuals.

I don't think citizens in their right minds do these. We have some pattern. Now we have two former military men who used their skills to go out and attack police. I think we need to identify them and who will do that? Friends, relatives, people in the community.

They can see something is going different. This pattern of getting a high-powered rifle. This pattern of going out and you have to practice to do that. Somebody else around these men knew something was going on.

And using that as and encouraging the community to reach out through mental health through police and wellness checks on them. Other than that, the response. I think police will adjust tactics as we talked about early yesterday, maintaining a little standoff. In the military, we call that develop the situation.

CUOMO: Develop the situation.

HONORE: You don't send ten soldiers forward, you send a couple forward, see what the situation is and develop the situation.

CUOMO: How will that manifest itself in policing in your opinion?

HONORE: It's going to slow it down.