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4 Dead After Gunman Opens Fire at Tulsa Hospital Building; Mayor Reveals "Negotiator" Tried to Call Gunman Inside School; British Royal Family Celebrates 70 Years Queen Elizabeth II on the Throne; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Not Present on Royal Balcony During Celebration. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired June 02, 2022 - 08:00   ET

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

[08:00:00]

EMILY NASH, CNN ROYAL CONTRIBUTOR: -- the queen played a part in. So for her this is a real moment of reflecting on something she's done pretty much every year of her reign.

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: She looks really well, Bianca, doesn't she? Bianca Nobilo is with me as well. There they are, the kids as well. Louis is waving madly at the helicopters. What a moment for him. He's the youngest of the Cambridge children, and they're looking out there and seeing what the future holds for them, a whole lifetime of royal engagements ahead for them and for George in particular, knowing he'll be king. Charles, to the left to of the queen will be the next king. We've seen so many optics about his transition in the primary role. But, still, this is really, isn't it, Bianca, wouldn't you say looking back on the queen's reign and celebrating all the positive parts to it.

BIANCA NOBILO, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: She's provided an incredible, an unparalleled source of continuity for people in Britain and across her realms through extremely turbulent times through more than cultural and political changes. And she has remained constant. And I think the respect and adoration that remains for her, and it is widespread throughout all those huge upheavals, is really testament to the way that she's carried herself and responded to people throughout her reign. And there never really is a more effective representation of the monarchy's role to be custodians of the past but look towards the future than that balcony that we've seen.

FOSTER: We've come some historic aircraft coming over as well, representing the Battle of Britain. We've also got very modern aircraft as well. The military very keen to emphasize that everyone you see involved in the military today are working members of the military. And the ones that are on it in particular, the Irish guards, have been heavily involved in the COVID response. The queen is head of the armed forces, so this is a very much a tribute to her and is quite something.

This aircraft coming over us today, Emily, I want to bring in a couple of absences on the balcony today. When we talk about the core monarchy, 10 years ago Prince Harry was very much part of that. And he's not part of that today because he resigned his royal duties, as has Meghan, as has Prince Andrew. But we're seeing a slight distinction between Andrew and the Sussexes today. Just explain that.

NASH: What we have seen today, we haven't actually caught a glimpse of them, is the Sussexes attending trooping of the color, watching the parade from over the parade ground, not making a public appearance, but very much part of the family unit, whereas Prince Andrew is not making an appearance.

FOSTER: He's been cast out altogether.

NASH: We're not expecting to see him over the course of the next few days. And that's a huge moment, as recently as Thanksgiving for Prince Philip, he escorted his mother, the queen, down the aisle of Westminster Abbey. And I think the reaction to that was such that a decision has been taken that he is not going to make an appearance.

FOSTER: This is what the queen wants to see as the public representation of her monarchy, people who work, who contribute to represent her as she is in the twilight of her reign. But she is in fine spirits as ever. She has had mobility issues. She has had to strip back some of her engagements recently. She was planning to go to the races tomorrow up at Epson. She's not going to do that anymore. Look at Charlotte covering her ears. Isn't that's lovely, to protect her ears from the noise.

NASH: And a lovely interaction there between the queen and Prince Louis. She seems to be explaining to him what's going on.

FOSTER: And this is just the first day of four days of commemorations, how many public figures can command two days of the public holiday to give thanks really for their work to the nation. We're all building up really to the spitfires. That's always a big crowd pleaser. You'll see the smoke rising up behind them, and they'll finish off this part of the commemoration. Tonight, they'll be lighting beacons around the commonwealth. There will be a concert tomorrow night here at Buckingham Palace, and street parties. Louis there really enjoying the moment, I think. What do you think, Emily?

NASH: He's a boy of four. What's not to like about this aerial display? But standing next to the queen, the most famous woman in the world and great grandmother, getting a commentary from her, that is going to be a very memorable thing for him.

FOSTER: That's a dream come true, isn't it?

Bianca, what do you think people who aren't necessarily signed up to monarchy make of what they're seeing today?

NOBILO: Well --

FOSTER: The palace is trying to drown you out.

NOBILO: They are. Some of the pilot are from countries within the commonwealth, such as New Zealand, Australia, who are not as enthusiastic and less support for the monarchy then, for example, the United Kingdom. But it is this element that Queen Elizabeth II transcends republican sentiment. There really aren't many leaders that are pushing to try and remove her as head of state while she's still in place. There's a lot of movement and agitation potentially after that Australia and the new government appointed just yesterday, specifically for the republic of Australia to pursue that agenda. So it's a turbulent moment. It's a challenging time for the future of the British monarchy.

[08:05:08]

FOSTER: And, these things are carefully laid out, thought about every single moment of them. So obviously, to her right is her heir, Prince Charles, but also to his right is Camilla, who we recently found out will be, well, she will be queen consort whatever happens. She's going to be known as queen consort. And this is a representation, I think, probably of the fact that the public are ready to accept her as Charles's queen, with Diana obviously in the background.

NASH: Absolutely, and I think you have to look back to the --

FOSTER: Sorry, I'm just to catch up. They just launched the 70 planes. This is the Red Arrows.

The queen loved that 70, and here come the Red Arrows, which will finish off this incredible 70 aircraft, absolute tribute to the pilots and everyone who put so much planning into that.

(MUSIC)

(APPLAUSE)

FOSTER: I don't think Prince Louis is going to have any issues with his public role going forward.

NASH: Very comfortable. Very comfortable indeed.

FOSTER: Let's just take a moment, though, to really sort of digest what we have seen. We're not going to see another moment like this, certainly not in our lifetimes. A British monarch who has served 70 years on the throne. Her next two heirs, it's unimaginable they're going to be able to achieve that. Who knows what is going to happen in the future? But this was a crowd pleaser. If you look at the aerial views, there are huge crowds here. And this is really the only time the queen gets a real sense of her doing things right. This is how she can measure how popular she is. She can see it in the eyes of her subjects. So this was a big moment for the queen and for the country. And Bianca, would you say this is a big moment for the British people across the board as well as we come out of a difficult period of modern history?

NOBILO: Yes, I have been surprised by the level of cut through that this had and people who are making jubilee plans. To put it in perspective, I was at a spit and sawdust boxing gym yesterday and I was shocked that all those people were making plans for the jubilee as well. Whether it is cake competitions, drinking parties, street parties, it's something that the country needs. It has been a difficult time with the pandemic, Brexit, and the cost of living crisis.

But I would say, Max, something that struck me seeing the queen on the balcony there, it's quite famously noted that Winston Churchill when he met Queen Elizabeth II, when she was just a very little child, I think at two, noted that she had an uncommon authority and presence to her. And it is staggering it see at 96 she still commands that balcony.

FOSTER: She really does. And we will have more events now coming up, Emily. What are going to be the highlights for you and the world?

NASH: Well, coming up next is beacon lighting, which I think is going to be very moving indeed because the queen is playing a dual role with Prince William at that. She will be lighting the beacon symbolically from Windsor while he does it at the Tree of Trees down the way here. I think the Thanksgiving service will be very moving for her. That's something that matters a great deal to her.

FOSTER: That's where we might see the Sussexes as well.

NASH: That's where we're expecting to see the biggest contingent of the royal family all side by side for the first time --

FOSTER: And the street parties, and Bianca has been talking about that.

[08:10:03]

Let's just talk briefly about the challenges that have faced the monarchy in recent times. Apparently -- yes -- I heard word we're going to see Harry and Meghan, but I don't think that's possible. But let's just talk briefly about the challenge that they face, because obviously there have been these massive rifts behind the scene, and there is the Prince Andrew scandal as well. And the queen does survive these things. She had worse before. Is an event like this, a massive P.R. event, effectively, enough to heal that and make us push forward and potentially look ahead to successful reign of King Charles or whatever he'll be known as at the time?

NOBILO: That will be the hope. And the queen has successfully managed to remain above the fray through most of the scandals that we've seen. And it's interesting, because even her reign itself was born out of possibly the greatest scandal of the British monarchy, which was the abdication crisis. She wouldn't be queen today had that not happened, most likely.

And she has an incredible way of weathering this. I think she has learned from what happened, and whether it was the Welsh mine disaster or Princess Diana that often people want more from her than she may have anticipated. And it's sometimes the British, or perhaps her personal instinct to be a bit more withdrawn, cannot always be well received. And she is definitely adapted to that as time has gone on, and had to respond to not only the scandal surrounding the Sussexes leaving for America, but I think a lot more crucially here in terms of British public opinion, Prince Andrew and his civil sexual assault case, excluding him as -- FOSTER: We don't think we're going to see him at all during any of

these ceremonies, but we'll wait to see.

I can tell you, speaking to the Sussex team last night, they are here, they're here with the kids, they were due to be at horse guards today in the building with the rest of the royal family. We didn't see them, but I've been told they were there. Emily, my understanding really is they have come over here to stick to the script, and they are only going to be going to official engagements. They're not going to be organizing any parallel engagements. Do you think this is them reaching out, trying to heal the rift, potentially finding a role in the family if not the working monarchy?

NASH: I imagine that that has been an agreement made between their team, between the royal household and members of the family. This is very much just about the queen, and it's about showing a united front. It is very important to the queen that her family is seen to be one whole unit, difficult as the last couple of years have to have a line drawn over them, I think. And they're absolutely going to stick to that script.

NOBILO: It might be the first time I believe that Queen Elizabeth would meet Lilibet, her namesake, after her pet name when she was a child.

NASH: That's a huge moment for her.

FOSTER: For the kids to meet, the Cambridge and the Sussex kids.

NASH: Absolutely. Who doesn't want to see those photographs?

FOSTER: I don't know what photos we'll see. We'll take it as it goes, Brianna. But certainly, the atmosphere here is buzzing. I think people are excited about having some good news, and I think they're pretty excited about seeing the queen look so well. She was beaming during that fly past.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, she was. And look, who isn't a big fan of an air show? So thank you for sharing that with us, all of you, really appreciate it.

Now back here in the United States, there is new information on the botched police response to the Uvalde school massacre. What the town's mayor just said about an attempt to negotiate with the shooter.

And new shipments of baby formula about to arrive in the United States as President Biden makes a surprising admission.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And for first time, we are hearing from someone on the inside of the January 6th investigation, why he says he is horrified by what he found.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:17:19] KEILAR: Just nine days after the school massacre in Texas, this morning a community in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is reeling, after a mass shooting at a hospital complex. Four people died. Several more were injured. And police say the gunman opened fire with a handgun and a rifle before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. RICHARD MEULENBERG, TULSA POLICE DEPARTMENT: This is not a random event. It is not as if he went to a hospital and was indiscriminately shooting at people. He very purposefully went to this location, went to a very specific floor and shot with very specific purpose.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: CNN's Lucy Kafanov is live for us in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with details.

Lucy, what can you tell us?

LUCY KAFANOV, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Brianna, you heard the police captain there, the gunman knew exactly where he was heading, the orthopedic center at St. Francis Hospital behind me, dispatchers receiving a call shortly after 4:50 p.m. local yesterday, initially about someone with a rifle, when officers responded to the scene rather quickly, they heard gunshots. That's what directed them to the second floor.

Now, according to Captain Richard Meulenberg who you heard in your intro, he told CNN that officers ran up the stairs, the shooting stopped at that point, they entered the facility, they saw one victim, the first victim, then they found the next victim and then they found the shooter, the gunman who had apparently shot himself with a pistol, police say.

One person was also shot at the medical facility behind me transported out and died. So, five people losing their lives in total, including the gunman. The suspect was found with two firearms, described as a semi-automatic rifle and a semi-automatic pistol. Police say both weapons appear to have been discharged at some point or another.

Now, it was unclear whether the four people killed were medical staff or civilians, we know that authorities are still notifying the victims or were as of yesterday evening. No officers were injured at this time. Police telling CNN multiple people were wounded, witnesses describing chaos, hundreds of rooms there, multiple floors, police having to search the facility, room by room, floor by floor, but at this point, five people dead, including the shooter -- guys.

KEILAR: All right. Lucy, thank you so much for the very latest from Tulsa, we appreciate it.

BERMAN: In Uvalde, Texas, four more young victims being laid to rest today. And CNN has new details about the initial response to the shooting at the Robb Elementary school. [08:20:01]

Uvalde's mayor says a would-be negotiator frantically tried to get the gunman on the phone, but he didn't answer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR DON MCLAUGHLIN, UVALDE, TEXAS: The only person I have communication with when the negotiator was trying to get the shooter on the phone and so forth, I was in the room. The moment he went in that classroom, they started calling for him. I wasn't there at the initial, but at the moment he went in that classroom, they were trying to get numbers and call.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Joining us now from Uvalde, CNN's Shimon Prokupecz.

Shimon, what did we learn from the mayor there?

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, that is certainly interesting, it is not the first time, John, we're hearing about a negotiator being present. But it goes against all the protocols we have heard from law enforcement officials, from people who study and teach people to deal with active shooter situations. It just goes against it because you don't bring a negotiator into this. So, this is certainly something that we need more information on.

Obviously everything that we get here, John, as you know, has to be scrutinized now because the stories keep changing, the information keeps changing. The mayor obviously also talking about being in the room, being present during this time when the police were on scene during the moments of the shooting. He also talked about not hearing any of the 911 call dispatches, whether or not there is this question of whether or not the police officers on scene were getting real time information from the 911 calls that were coming from inside the classroom. We need to know more about that, John.

BERMAN: Yeah, and subject of what was going on inside the classroom.

CNN affiliate KSAT spoke to a DPS trooper who is at the scene and happened to be a good friend of Eva Mireles, the teacher, one of the teachers who died in the shooting. We're hearing more about her and the conversations she had.

PROKUPECZ: Yeah, look, this is obviously very emotional and very important part of this story. This DPS officer, friends with her, he says he was with her in the final moments. Also interestingly enough, her husband is a school police officer. She was on the phone with him, according to "The New York Times," spoke to a local official.

But, listen to the DPS officer here, describing the moments when he was with Eva Mireles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TROOPER JUAN MALDONADO, TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY TROOPER: It was an honor to spend the last moment with Eva as she left this earth and to a greater place. Eva is a fighter. And she did everything she could to protect her babies. And that's her students. So we know she did everything she could. And she protected them to her last breath.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PROKUPECZ: And, John, certainly by all accounts, you talk to people here, officials here who have been briefed and who know a lot about what was going on in those final moments in the classroom, they will tell you those teachers were heroes as they tried to protect the kids, the children from all the gun fire.

But, John, again, there is still so many questions here in the hour when all the teachers and all those children were inside the classroom, the 911 calls, what was going on, what were officers who were standing outside that door doing, what information was being relayed to them?

And, you know, what decisions were being made and why? We still don't know. It could become even more difficult to get that information now, John, because the district attorney here now is preventing officials from talking about this because she is launching sort of like her own investigation, and she's deciding on whether or not any criminal charges are going to come.

So now officials are telling us, well, we have to defer everything to the DA, so it could potentially become much more difficult to get information here, John.

BERMAN: Even so, I know you're pressing for answers. Shimon Prokupecz, thank you for being there for us.

PROKUPECZ: Oh, yes.

BERMAN: The January 6th committee obtains evidence of a separate plan to overturn the 2020 election, one that can be used as criminal evidence.

KEILAR: And coastal communities from Maine to North Carolina to Florida are spending millions of dollars to maintain their shores. See the devastating and costly impact of rising sea levels.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:28:21]

KEILAR: You probably remember the shocking videos of houses in the outer banks of North Carolina destroyed by rising sea levels, falling into the sea. And this is something that we're going to see more and more of as the climate crisis heightens.

CNN's chief climate correspondent Bill Weir is with us live from the outer banks, a beautiful day there.

But this is the challenge ahead for that area and others, Bill.

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. And it is beautiful days like this is what makes this problem so insidious, so easy to ignore. It comes up in just little increments, storms get a little more powerful, one after the other. Until a video like that goes viral.

Now, millions around the coastal residents around the world looking at that and thinking could we be next? How far away is this for us?

We came here to the gorgeous outer banks to try to get some context and it is, like walking through a slow motion disaster.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This home we have been notified by the Dare County building inspector is in a state of potential imminent collapse.

WEIR (voice-over): When these houses were built in the '80s, this beach ran hundreds of feet toward the horizon.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't believe it's even high tide yet.

WEIR: Now the water is at the doorstep in this part of North Carolina's outer banks and a beach is eroding by a dozen feet a year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You expect next year, it's going to be 12 to 15 feet back and the next year and the next year and the next year.

WEIR: I see.

And while most locals understand that barrier islands move over time, few imagined this would happen this fast. Especially the new owner of this $275,000 getaway, who never got a chance to sleep here, before a mediocre storm took it away, or the half million dollar place that collapsed a few days earlier.

[08:30:00]