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Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is Interviewed about Gun Control; Anguish Sweeps the Nation after Texas Shooting; Thomas J. Nordwick is Interviewed about the Texas Shooting. Aired 8:30-9a ET

Aired May 26, 2022 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:00]

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): And with that worry I hope that it's a motivation for us to finally get off the dime and do something to make America safer.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Senator Sinema is talking to Republicans. What are you hoping might come of that?

DURBIN: Well, I can't say what her agenda is or what she's doing. People are reaching out. All of that is a positive thing from where I'm standing. If -- just stone silence and no response at all, it would be discouraging. But the fact that there is a genuine effort for conversation may lead to something positive.

I'm keeping an open mind. I'm reading some Republican bills that have been rejected before and saying, well, is there a germ (ph) of possibility here where we can really move to something that gives parents and families across America a sense of security.

KEILAR: Which bills? Which Republican bills?

DURBIN: Well, I'm not going to get into specifics. You'd like me too, I'm sure. And the media always wants to know, well, what is the specific and how soon will you bring it to us.

This is a -- is going to be a painful process. It is slower than it should be. But I hope it's a good faith process. And I hope that some Republicans will join us publicly in saying they're willing to try.

KEILAR: Yes. I mean the media shares the impatience, I think, of parents and families across the country, understandably so here.

Senator Markey says Republicans are just playing rope-a-dope. That they're running out the clocked here. Might he be right?

DURBIN: Well, he could be right. And I hope he's not. Ed's a buddy of mine and a friend and I know he looks for legislative solutions. But we'll know soon whether this will passes or sadly be forgotten for the most part. It shouldn't be.

I mean when you look at the paper, "The New York Times" did this profile on the kids, the pictures and the stories and the families and the quotes. And you read it and you think, my God, as I said before, these poor little children will never see another birthday. What was that first night like at home when those parents when that -- they looked into that empty room and realized that little boy or that little girl was never coming home. I mean that's the reality of what happened in Texas. But it happened before. And it should inspire us to get off the dime and do something.

KEILAR: So then why go on break? Why add times to the clock?

DURBIN: Listen, I can tell you that, I would like the solution to come tomorrow, but it's naive to believe it's going to. That we can just sit down in the matter of a few hours, put together the answer to this. It's going to take more time than that.

We have a vote today I'm bring to the floor on domestic terrorism to gather information about the extreme conduct that is leading to violence. It relates specifically to what was written by the gunman in Buffalo. It's a chance for us to have a vote. And I hope it is bipartisan in support of it.

But whether it is or isn't, we've still got a job to do. And over the course of this break for the Memorial Day to honor our veterans, our staff will be working together, I hope, to find some solutions.

KEILAR: But they are talking in person. And just -- that bill you referenced today, like you said, it pertains to Buffalo, right, not to this particular shooting. I believe right now it is not expected to prevail.

And so, they're talking in person, Democrats and Republicans, right now. They go away. They're not talking in person. In person, sitting down across from each other, having a discussion at this time where we've been seeing mass shootings going on now for -- of little kids now for more than a decade at schools.

DURBIN: Well, I understand your feeling. I've -- since this morning, when my own daughter texted me, sending her kids off to school in New York City, and asked me, what -- what are you doing, dad? How are you responding to this? There's an impatience. And it's -- it's natural, because everyone wants to protect these kids. And I feel the same way about it. Trust me, work will be started. It has been started really. And will continue throughout this break, the few days that we're going to be gone. And a week from now, a little more than a week when we return, I hope that they -- we've got something to work with.

KEILAR: What did you say to your daughter when she asks you that?

DURBIN: I'm going to try my best. I love those kids. And she does, too. And it's just painful to think the fears that families have across the country after what happened in Texas and Florida and Connecticut and so many other places.

KEILAR: Why not have a vote right now on background check legislation that was previously acceptable to a bipartisan group?

DURBIN: I'm not opposed to that. I -- KEILAR: But at this -- at this moment, like immediate?

DURBIN: Well, that isn't the way the Senate works. What Senator Schumer has done is to set this bill before us. It is a motion to proceed, which means we're putting a bill on the floor and it's open to amendment. So I hope some Republicans will see this as an invitation to bring their ideas to the floor and offer them as amendments.

I think this is a good faith effort on our part to open the door and say, come join us in a bipartisan fashion to solve this problem.

[08:35:02]

The American people want to see that happen. And perhaps today will be the beginning.

If we pass this motion to proceed that I'm going to offer today on this bill, we can return to specific proposals in just a few days, maybe ten days, they will be on the floor of the Senate. And that, I think, is an opportunity we shouldn't waste.

KEILAR: Well, I mean, nothing happens, right, today in the Senate. We're all certainly well aware of the clock. But if you do start the clock, it can happen sooner than later.

DURBIN: Yes.

KEILAR: If the Senate didn't go on break, you could see something happen sooner than ten days, right?

DURBIN: Well, trust me, work will be done and should be done. The idea that it can all be solved by next Tuesday is wishful thinking. That isn't the way important laws addressing issues that have been debated for decades are really arrived at because doing it in a thoughtful, orderly way with a good faith approach. And I think the motion to proceed today is a good faith offer by the Democrats.

Do you know how many times we have brought a bill to floor and this is opened to amendment? I don't think it's happened at all this year. This is an extraordinary offer by Senator Schumer and the Democrats and I hope the Republicans will seize the opportunity to come together. The American people want us to. They desperately want us to do it and they want us to do it in a timely way. But timely in Senate terms is not a matter of hours, it's a matter of days.

KEILAR: It certainly is. A watch that has days on it perhaps is the way to do it in the Senate.

Senator Dick Durbin, I appreciate you being with us. Thank you.

DURBIN: Thanks, Brianna.

KEILAR: We do have some new details just coming into CNN on just how long the gunman was able to barricade himself inside that one classroom before law enforcement shot and killed him. And the chilling messages that he sent just minutes beforehand.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:40:49]

BERMAN: So, CNN has just obtained new video of the shooter outside the Robb Elementary School behind me. Let's take another look at this video here. You can see a little bit more clearly now. There is the shooter as he is entering the building. A building that we now know he entered through an unlocked door. We learned that just moments ago. Lieutenant Chris Olivares telling us that the door was unlocked as the shooter went in.

We were also told moments ago that there was a school resource officer outside, we knew that, who did engage with the shooter. And we now know the school resource officer was, in fact, armed. Not clear, however, whether or not he fired that weapon. At this point, there is no evidence that we have heard that he did. We are getting much more information about that as the morning progresses.

In the meantime, this is a community, a very close-knit community, that continues to grieve this morning.

I'm going to go to CNN's Rosa Flores, who is in the town's square.

And, Rosa, I know you've been talking to so many people in this community.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, John, and it's really difficult to have those conversations because there are so many mixed emotions right now. There's a lot of anger. There's also a lot of pain. And this community just trying to grapple with the idea of why them? Why this town? Why these children?

Now, this town square, where I'm at, we've seen people come together. We've seen people holding signs that say, Uvalde strong. We've also seen people prey together. There is a prayer circle that happened here. And you can just feel the pain. It's palpable here.

There are signs everywhere that this community is in mourning, not just the flags at half-staff. But you go to restaurants and there are signs that say that the hours have been scaled back because the owner of the restaurant is giving the employees time to mourn, to grieve as well.

I talked to one woman who was holding a sign here that said Uvalde strong, and she says that she just could not be at home anymore. She needed to come out into this community and feel that she was doing something.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's just really sad. Like I -- I do -- some victims, I, you know, I know of them. I know their mom. I'm a cousin, you know, distant cousin or my cousins are cousins to them. It's like just -- everyone is just, you know, coming together and just mourning.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: And in this town, everybody really does know everybody else. Everyone that I've talked to here say that they know of somebody or multiple individuals, John, who have either perished in this tragedy or they know of their relatives. And as you look at the list of the deceased so far, you see that a lot of them are ten-years-old, nine- years-old. And now those parents are planning their funerals. And this entire town is planning to mourn right there with them.

John.

BERMAN: Rosa, I think you bring a very important story to us. This is everywhere in this town. This community has been affected in so many ways. And you can't drive by a store without a sign. You can't talk to a person without a connection.

But, also, you know, you drive by the Wendy's where the killer worked. You drive by the store where we think he purchased the guns. Again, the reminders just everywhere.

Our thanks to Rosa for that story.

Eleven children were transported to the local hospital here in Uvalde. We're going to speak to a hospital official about what that was like as patient after patient came through the doors.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:49:01]

BERMAN: Emergency crews rushed many of the wounded from is shooting at the Robb Elementary School behind me to nearby Uvalde Memorial Hospital. According to hospital, 11 children and four adults were admitted to the ER. Four children and an adult were transferred to a larger hospital for further treatment. The remaining 10 were treated for their injuries and discharged. Two children had already passed away upon arrival.

Joining me now is the CEO of Uvalde Memorial Hospital, Thomas Nordwick.

Thank you so much for being with us. I know how hard this is for you as someone who is a member of this community here.

But just walk me through what those hours were like here as this was unfolding.

THOMAS J. NORDWICK, CEO AND ADMINISTRATOR, UVALDE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL: Well, there was -- just a lot of people in the hospital, a lot of parents wondering whether or not their children were here. Staff were, you know, anxiously trying to make sure that we could take care of the children that we had here, triage them and treat those that were of -- were of highest quety (ph) first and stabilize any that needed to be transported. [08:50:10]

So, the team worked very well together. They're very adept at working in these types of situations. We set up an emergency command center in the building. We called in additional staff. Law enforcement were very supportive, helping us with the crowds that were here, of people, waiting to see if their children were in the ER or other loved ones.

So, but the team really pulled well together. I think we did an excellent job. This community is very supportive and strong and came together as I would (INAUDIBLE) think it would.

BERMAN: How much did you all know about what had actually happened?

NORDWICK: Well, you know, it is a small town. And with me out there, you do get little clips of things that were going on. We knew that a shooting was in progress. That we had an active shooter. They didn't know exactly how many they were going to transport, but we knew we had a bus load of children that were on the way and there was many of them that came in on that bus. A couple of them had to be carried out on stretchers off the bus. Several were in wheelchairs. There was one young man that actually was able to walk.

You know, obviously, some of them had taken the whole brunt of a round and some had probably shrapnel or something, and those were probably the ones that were able to be discharged home the same day. But we have --

BERMAN: I know obviously --

NORDWICK: Our emergency medical staff in (INAUDIBLE) --

BERMAN: I was going to say --

NORDWICK: Did an excellent job.

And we had physicians that came in from outside, from their private practices.

BERMAN: And it's got to be hard for them, right/ I mean how -- emotionally, how has this been on all of you?

NORDWICK: Well, you know, the aftermath's a little -- a little difficult to deal with, but, you know, we're healthcare professionals. We're used to dealing with life and death on a daily basis. It doesn't mean that it makes it any easier.

You know, we've seen a trend in our ER over the years of increased mental health in the youth. I'd like to see better infrastructure in the schools for protection of the kids and the teachers, you know. And if we don't do some of these things on a national basis with mental health, we're going to continue to see things like this. I think our law enforcement did an awesome job. So, we're just all -- we all work together about this and there's -- it's nobody's fault.

BERMAN: Right. Well, Thomas Nordwick, we're glad you and your facility were there for

this community. We thank you for the work that you're doing. Appreciate it.

NORDWICK: Thank you. And appreciate you giving me the opportunity this morning and just like to thank all my staff for their work in this as well. And my condolences to the people out there that lost loved ones. Thank you.

BERMAN: Thank you.

And, again, 21 families here in Uvalde are broken, struggling to make sense of the loss they are suffering. This morning we do want to remember them.

Jose (ph) Garcia's uncle described him as a great kid, full of life, who loved everything on wheels and video games. His grandfather said he was the sweetest little boy he had ever known. He had two sisters. He was ten years old.

Tess Marie Mata loved TikTok dances, Ariana Grande and the Houston Astros. Her sister says she was saving money so that the whole family could go to Disney World. She was 10 years old.

The father of Amerie Jo Garza says his daughter was trying to do everything she could to save her classmates. He says, his little love is now flying high with the angels above.

KEILAR: Eva Mireles taught fourth grade at Robb Elementary and she had been an educator for 17 years. She enjoyed running, hiking, biking and spending time with her family.

Irma Garcia, the second teacher killed in the shooting, had taught for 23 years. She is remembered as sweet, kind and loving. Her loved ones say that she sacrificed herself protecting the kids in her classroom. She was a hero. She was loved by many and will truly be missed.

Xavier Lopez's mother says she will never forget his smile, which could cheer anyone up. He was excited to start middle school in a few months. Xavier's mom was there to cheer him on as he received his honor roll certificate. He too was 10 years old.

Lexi Rubio was also a star student at Robb Elementary. Her parents were also at the school to celebrate her making the all A honor roll and getting a good citizen award hours before she was killed.

[08:55:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FELIX RUBIO, PARENT OF SHOOTING VICTIM LEXI RUBIO: We had a journal here recently of hers and she wanted to go it Australia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She wanted to go to Australia.

KIMBERLY RUBIO, PARENT OF SHOOTING VICTIM LEXI RUBIO: She wanted to go to law school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Law school.

K. RUBIO: Yes, at St. Mary's, because that's where I go.

F. RUBIO: All we can hope is that she's just not a number. Hopefully something gets resolved. That's all we ask. Hopefully something gets resolved.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know this is very difficult, but what would you like to get resolved? What would you like to see resolved at this point?

F. RUBIO: Damn (ph) violence, guns. I'm a cop. I'm a deputy here in Uvalde County. This is enough. This is enough. No one else has to go through this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: It is so difficult, and this community is processing so much.

Again, here at the Robb Elementary School, oh, you can see, there is a young girl now, two, at the memorial here. By the sign of the school, the balloons, the flowers, and now the crosses remembering the victims of this shooting. Twenty-one people killed.

This community still asking questions, looking for answers.

Our live special coverage continues right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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