Return to Transcripts main page

New Day Saturday

U.K. Ramps Up Terror Alert To "Severe"; Obama Knocked For "No Strategy"; Putin: Don't Mess With Russia; Report: "Laptop Of Doom" Recovered; Joan Rivers' Condition "Remains Serious"; Rainy Weather for Labor Day; Nine-Year Old Losing Control of Uzi and Accidentally Killing Shooting Range Instructor; Christi Paul Getting Ride from Danica Patrick

Aired August 30, 2014 - 06:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: It's 6 a.m., maybe dark and early where you are, but we're glad that you're with us. I'm Christi Paul.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. It's NEW DAY SATURDAY. This is a long weekend for a lot of people. Labor Day weekend and security is being increased across the U.S. Now, U.S. officials say this is not because of the growing terror threat posed by ISIS.

PAUL: Yes, we're actually going to the White House here in just a few minutes. But first across the Atlantic, the ISIS threat is prompting Britain to ramp up its terror threat levels.

The militants have stormed huge swaths of territory, as you know, in Iraq and Syria, they've brutally beheaded an American journalist. U.K. isn't taking any chances. They've raised their terror level to the second highest, severe, which means a terror attack is highly likely.

BLACKWELL: CNN's Karl Penhaul joins us now from London. Karl, tell us more about the precautions the U.K. is taking and is there intelligence that there is a specific threat against the U.K.?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Victor and Christi, no, that's the amazing thing. There is no specific threat of any imminent attack. That according to British Prime Minister David Cameron.

All this heightened terror alert seems to be based on the fact that there are 500 plus Britons suspected of fighting in Syria and Iraq alongside ISIS. But that's something we've known about for a long time and in fact, the years even since Afghanistan, Britons have been heading off to conflict zones of the world to fight along Jihadi groups.

Some people are saying why now precisely. And there is an idea that maybe British Prime Minister David Cameron has to be seen to be standing tough particularly in the light of that brutal execution video of the American journalist, James Foley. PAUL: All right. Karl, do we know how concerned the U.S. is about Jihadists coming back to the U.S.?

PENHAUL: You know, I think both Britain and the U.S., do, of course, share their intelligence. They are aware and they are worried about the prospect that any Britons or U.S. Muslims or Muslims converts that head off to combat zones coming back potentially will have learned the skills to fight on home turf, laying bombs and that kind of terrorist attack.

Although there aren't huge numbers either Britons or Americans believed to be fighting alongside ISIS, nevertheless, it's only going to take a few of those launch devastating attacks. That's why the intelligence services have got to keep an eye on this.

Although some British lawmakers say that neither government really has any idea how many are actually fighting and it's very difficult to keep track on them.

BLACKWELL: Karl, what's the mood there, I mean, even the use of the word "severe" creates a certain atmosphere. How are the people there accepting this elevation?

PENHAUL: Well, absolutely, I mean, you look at some of Britain's daily papers this morning screaming headlines, Britain under the threat of Jihadi attack. I can tell you here on the streets of London, there doesn't seem to be any sign of panic.

A lot of people shrugging their shoulders and saying what it all looks normal to us. We have seen heightened police presence at strategic points like the airports and at train stations. The police also saying they may be doing some armed patrols down some of the Britain's streets.

That is kind of an unusual sight. We're not used to the British Bobby having a gun with him. So some people will raise their eyebrows there, but a lot of people saying, you know, this is business as normal.

BLACKWELL: All right, the threat level there raised to the second highest level there. Karl Penhaul reporting for us from London. Karl, thanks.

PAUL: Let's get to the White House now. President Obama expected to spend a good chunk of the weekend focusing on the ISIS threat.

BLACKWELL: Now he has taken political heat for coming out and saying that he does not have a strategy yet for dealing with ISIS in Syria. And the president is sending his top diplomat, John Kerry to the Middle East following the NATO summit next week.

PAUL: Let's go to Jim Acosta at the White House now. Good morning, Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christi and Victor, right now, the Obama administration is not following Britain's lead in guarding against a terrorist attack saying there's no imminent ISIS threat to the U.S.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA (voice-over): One day after President Obama admitted he doesn't have a strategy for hitting ISIS in Syria, there's a new sense of urgency in Britain.

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We will always take whatever action is necessary to keep the British people safe here at home.

ACOSTA: British Prime Minister David Cameron cited the dangers posed by ISIS for his nation's decision to raise its terror threat level to severe, which mean an attack on its homeland is highly likely. The killing of American journalist, James Foley, Cameron said may just be the beginning.

CAMERON: It was clear evidence not that any more was needed that this is not some foreign conflict thousands of miles away from home that we can hope to ignore.

ACOSTA: By contrast, the White House is downplaying the threat in the U.S.

EARNEST: The most detailed intelligence assessment that I can offer from here is that there is no evidence or indication right now that ISIL is actively plotting to attack United States homeland.

ACOSTA: But both governments share the concern that Jihadis can travel from the U.S. and the west to ISIS battlefields and back again with ease. Britain believes 500 of its citizens are fighting with ISIS, while the U.S. has identified roughly a dozen.

Both countries are stepping up airport security and taking a harder look at the passports of western ISIS radicals. As for striking ISIS on its own turf in Syria, the White House is still trying to explain the president's candid rationale for why he isn't ready for such a mission.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We don't have his strategy yet.

ACOSTA: The president's aides say because the military is still developing Syria options, but the Pentagon insisted it's prepared.

REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: I think anybody who has any knowledge of the United States military knows that we're ready.

ACOSTA: Ask whether there is a debate over hitting ISIS in Syria --

(on camera): Is the president on the same page as his cabinet when it comes to dealing with this?

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think the more important observation, Jim, is that the cabinet is on the same page as the commander-in-chief. I am fully confident if that's the case. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is the Pentagon on the same page as the White House in terms of the threat posed by ISIS?

KIRBY: Yes, next question.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: The White House announced some last minutes changes to the president's weekend schedule. He had planned to spend much of this weekend doing some fundraising and attending a wedding in New York.

Now, he plans to be back at the White House Friday night and Saturday morning aides say to get some work done. Don't be surprised if some of that work is on ISIS -- Victor and Christi.

PAUL: All righty, Jim Acosta, thank you so much. Jim, we appreciate it.

BLACKWELL: Vladimir Putin has a message for the U.S. and the west, don't mess with Russia.

PAUL: The Russian president says he's ready to repel any aggression against his nuclear arms country. Now this comes as the White House says Russian troops are inside Ukraine that they've fired on Ukrainian military positions.

BLACKWELL: Senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance, joins us now from Moscow. Matthew, Russia is denying its troops inside Ukraine, but the White House says those denials are completely without credibility. Explain for us.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right. We've seen this all along, since the onset of the Ukrainian crisis, accusation are being racheted up now by President Obama, by the NATO military alliance and European leaders as well.

That Russia is increasingly engaged, not just in morally supporting the rebels in Eastern Ukraine, but actually giving them material, giving them weapons and actually moving regular forces into Ukraine and fighting alongside the rebels against the Ukrainian government.

There have been satellite images released by NATO indicating there was evidence for this. Even last week, you may remember that the Ukrainian government detained ten Russian paratroopers in full uniform inside Ukraine.

The explanation from that from the kremlin was that they accidentally ventured across the border in a border patrol. So there were these increasingly implausible explanations from the Kremlin, but the line is still the same.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian foreign minister, every Kremlin official that talks about this essentially says the same thing, categorically denying there are Russian troops engaged in combat on the ground in Ukraine. Again, you know, the believability of that, if it exists at all, has become increasingly stretched. PAUL: You know, Matthew, Putin spoke to a youth forum yesterday, and he said I want to remind you that Russia's one of the most powerful nuclear nations. This is a reality, not just words. I think a lot of people read that and they thought, is he goading the world? I mean, what is his end game here?

CHANCE: Yes. It's a nuclear superpower. I mean, it's still got thousands of nuclear warheads, and Vladimir Putin very much likes to remind the world of that. He was speaking to a youth forum outside of Moscow, pro-Kremlin youth groups.

He said, I hope everyone understands it's better not to mess with Russia. It's a classic Putin line. I'd like to remind you that Russia is a nuclear superpower. He's not directly threatening the use of nuclear weapons against the west.

But as NATO gathers for an emergency session for its summit actually in Wales, to discuss what response they should offer to this increased military activity, alleged military activity by Russia in Eastern Ukraine. Vladimir Putin coming out and saying, look, there is no way that you're going to be able to confront this militarily.

Of course, that's what many people in NATO and around the world think as well and know. So this is unspoken sort of knowledge between the two various parties standing off over this. There's not going to be a conflict between NATO and Russia. The stakes are far, far too high.

BLACKWELL: All right, Matthew Chance there for us in Moscow. Matthew, thank you so much.

PAUL: Joan Rivers, this was surprising news this week. Her daughter says that her mom is still in serious condition, and she's asking for your prayers. We're going to take you to Mt. Sinai Hospital where family is surrounding the comic legend this morning.

BLACKWELL: And the family of this gun instructor. Yes, here he is with this 9-year-old girl. She accidentally killed that man. Well, this morning, you're going to hear his family's message to that 9- year-old, who killed their loved one with an Uzi. You're watching NEW DAY on CNN. We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we're facing in Iraq now with ISIL is a greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: The president reported the terror level in Britain has been raised from substantial to severe. That's the second highest level. You see the chart on your screen. That means a terrorist attack by Islamic extremists in this case is considered highly likely because of ISIS essentially. PAUL: Yes, at the end of the day. And listen to this "Foreign Policy" magazine reports, quote, "laptop of doom" as it's been dubbed has been found abandoned in Syria that purportedly belonged to ISIS and contains files of biological attacks.

So we want to bring in Professor Peter Neumann, who is in London with us. Peter, good to see you. Peter Neumann, we appreciate you being here. Have you seen being in London any signs of stepped-up security there and how people might be reacting to it?

PETER NEUMANN, INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF RADICALISATION AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE: No, and this particular threat level, the additional measures are usually behind the scenes so you would not be able to walk around London and, for example, detect increased numbers of police officers or see additional surveillance.

It is behind the scenes because it is not the highest threat level. The highest threat level would mean there is an imminent attack. They know about a particular plot that is being planned. That is not the case right now. It is a general impression because of the situation in Syria and Iraq and because of the threat, generally speaking, the threat level is increased.

BLACKWELL: Professor, in this laptop of doom, it sounds like a cartoon phrase, but from "Foreign Policy" magazine. But it is quite serious and it talks about, at least there are files that suggest the planning of weaponizing the bubonic plague and using chemical weapons.

How likely is it that ISIS could get their hands on those types of chemical weapons and then bring those plans to fruition?

NEUMANN: Usually, the response by experts is that it is not very likely. However, what you have to consider is that ISIS is now holding territory, it is holding territory in Syria and Iraq. These are places where we know chemical weapons have been present.

And even though they have been removed to some extent, it may well be that there are some leftovers and there are some materials that allow an organization like ISIS, which does have qualified engineers and people inside its ranks able to handle these things and to be able to develop this. So it is not completely unlikely, even though I would consider the risks to be very low.

PAUL: You know, the U.S. and the U.K. work very closely together. And I think a lot of people are wondering if we're going to see the U.S. up its terror threat level here as well. I'm wondering if the U.K. and the U.S. really do merge forces in some way to fight ISIS, would that encourage other countries to get mobilized as well?

NEUMANN: I think absolutely it will and I think America is looking for partners. America clearly looks for ways in which to increase its activity in the region without necessarily having a visible presence in the region.

Having boots on the ground, as President Obama says, would probably be kind of counterproductive in the sense that people would say, this is America against any Muslim lands fighting against Muslims. And that would not be -- that would not be productive.

What they are seeking to do is to increase the capacity, especially of Arab countries of Arab countries, to do this fight on their own. That is the priority. And if European countries come in and support that message, that would definitely be helpful.

BLACKWELL: Yes, we're going to talk a little later on the show and ask the question, where's Jordan? Where's Turkey? Where are the countries that are directly enabling Syria? This has so far stretched east but, it could easily go north and south. Professor Peter Neumann in London there, thank you so much.

NEUMANN: Thank you.

PAUL: Thank you, Professor. Nervous fans are awaiting any word at all on this point, on comedian, Joan Rivers, who is still in a New York Hospital this morning. Her daughter says she's receiving prayers from all over the world. We're going to tell you about what she's saying about her mom's condition.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: We say good morning to New York City this morning. Mostly sunny today. Look across Manhattan there, high of 78 degrees, and let's stay in New York, because legendary comedian, Joan Rivers. She's in a hospital there. She stopped breathing during throat surgery that was on Thursday.

PAUL: Yes, her daughter, Melissa says, I want to quote this and get it right for you. She says, "My mother would be so touched by the tributes and prayers that we've received from around the world. Her condition remains serious, but she's receiving the best treatment and care possible."

She goes on to say, "We ask you that continue to keep her in your prayers and thoughts as we pray for her recovery." As CNN's Alexandra Field has more for us.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Joan Rivers' daughter, Melissa, and her grandson, both flew from across country at her side now and they are asking everyone to keep Joan in their thoughts and prayers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD (voice-over): A health crisis for legendary comedian, Joan Rivers. The 81-year-old still hospitalized two days after she stopped breathing, going into cardiac arrest during a throat procedure at an outpatient clinic.

Rivers was then rushed to Mt. Sinai Hospital where according to the E- network, she's now in stable condition. The iconic comedian's daughter, Melissa says her mom is resting comfortably.

Rivers in a fine feisty form the night before during an hour-long stand-up event in New York. The Emmy-winning comedian showing no signs of slowing down.

According to her web site, rivers had 27 scheduled standup shows in the fall along with co-hosting E!'s "Fashion Police."

JOAN RIVERS, COMEDIAN: Her legs go on and on.

FIELD: Promoting her own jewelry line on QVC.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Talk on the phone, phenomenal.

RIVERS: And everyone talks on the phone. You know, in the old days, I was walking down the street, talking on the cell, you crossed over.

FIELD: And a weekly talk show on YouTube called "In Bed with Joan."

RIVERS: What would you do if you had a really hideous child?

FIELD: Rivers never wanted to mince words since her debut on the Johnny Carson show in 1965.

RIVERS: I figured if the Lord wanted a woman to cook he'd give her aluminum hands.

FIELD: The Tony-nominated funny woman in red carpet ruler has been in the spotlight for her controversial jokes ever since.

RIVERS: I look at this, look how nice -- I mean, my legs look good. The breasts are in the right place.

FIELD: Now, a serious turn for a woman who says she never wants to stop making people laugh.

RIVERS: Only time I'm truly, truly happy is when I am on a stage.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD: There's been a tremendous amount of support for Joan Rivers. A lot of it being shown on Twitter. Everyone from Larry King to Bravo's Andy Cohen to Ellen Degeneres, all wishing her well.

A lot of people acknowledging what a trail blazer Joan Rivers has been in comedy, particularly for women. Alexandra field, CNN, New York.

PAUL: That's a good point. So many thoughts and prayers go to her and her daughter. Thank you, Alexandra.

BLACKWELL: Two volcanos erupting thousands of miles apart. We talked about this one in Iceland. We're going to talk more about this, what it's doing to air travel. That's a major concern.

PAUL: Speaking of travel, do you ever wonder what it feels like driving 145 miles per hour on a controlled track, mind you. It was not like I was out running around on the highway.

BLACKWELL: I have not seen this.

PAUL: I haven't either. I was just there --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: My god!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sorry.

PAUL: No, you're good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: I love it. I love it.

PAUL: Ride along with auto racer, Danica Patrick, who is just so gracious. A little later now, we're going to tell you why she's in Atlanta. And, you know, how it was to be in there with her. She is one strong --

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: There's some new questions this morning that is surfacing about the shocking beheading video of American James Foley. Investigators say they're closing in on identifying his killer. But there are some new clues that have really complicated matters.

PAUL: One forensic expert now says there appear to be two ISIS militants in that video. Ross Patel joins us right now from Northwest England. Ross, so glad to have you with us. Thank you. Walk us through some of these clues here. The two voices, first of all, in this video we know that they sound different. The figures, though, as I understand it look aesthetically -- they're very different as well. What do you notice?

ROSS PATEL, AFENTIS DIGITAL FORENSICS: That's correct, one of the first things we did when we were studying the footage, looking at forensic evidence, setting aside the gruesome (INAUDIBLE). You look at the physical build --

BLACKWELL: Ross, we're having some audio problems. I think we're going to probably try to fix that, because you're on Skype. And sometime, these things happen.

PAUL: Skype is not always our friend.

BLACKWELL: It is not always our friend. It is economical, but it does not always do the job in the studio.

PAUL: Right. Right.

BLACKWELL: So, you guys want to take a break and come back to Ross?

PAUL: No --

BLACKWELL: Or to top five?

PAUL: OK. BLACKWELL: All right, let's take top five.

PAUL: All right. Number one, a key part of an anti-abortion law in Texas. That has been struck down. A federal judge ruled that it is unconstitutional to close a number of abortion clinics in the state. The law required clinics to operate at hospital level standards or shut down completely. So this was considered one of the strictest in the country. Texas officials have vowed to appeal, by the way.

BLACKWELL: Number two, a Missouri police officer has been fired over comments he purportedly made on Facebook about protesters in Ferguson. Officer Matthew Pappert made comments that his chief called very concerning and inappropriate about the demonstrations that sparked the killing - sparked, rather, by the killing of a black teenager by the white officer. Pappert's attorney said his client is, quote, deeply remorseful.

PAUL: Number three, 20 miners have been rescued from a mine collapse in Nicaragua, but there are still five more trapped underground. Rescue workers have been racing to dig them out since that mine caved in. That was on Thursday. The silver and gold mine is located in the country's northern mountains.

BLACKWELL: Number four now, Ebola has now spread to a fifth African nation and affected university student is in quarantine in Senegal after crossing the border from Guinea. Senegal closed its borders to Guinea last week. But officials there lost track of the young man and he somehow got to Senegal. Now in West Africa more than 1500 people have died from Ebola.

PAUL: You know, and Victor talked about it earlier. There's two volcanos that are erupting right now. More than 8,000 miles apart. They are interfering with international flights in Papua, New Guinea, Mount Tavurvur is spewing ash and ties 60,000 feet above sea level. We know the flights around Australia had to be diverted, and in Iceland, an aviation warning has been downgraded now after a volcano there rumbled back to life. More eruptions are possible.

BLACKWELL: And again, our thanks to Ross Patel for being willing to join us this morning. Hopefully, we can get that working again if we can. We'll have a back in the show.

Let's talk about closer to home here. Labor Day weekend, a lot of people are just exhaling, kicking shoes off and enjoying a three-day weekend. But when you kick your shoes off, put your galoshes on. Do people still wear galoshes?

PAUL: Yeah, and we wear them quite stylishly, I should add.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: Or try. Jennifer Gray is going to tell us why we need to watch out for this weekend. Stay close.

BLACKWELL: I'll try to do a turn there with the shoes, the --

PAUL: It was very good.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: That's how we like to start.

PAUL: OK. I was going to say tell me if this is not going to get you toe-tapping this morning even if you're still lying in bed, right?

BLACKWELL: Somebody is swinging their legs alongside the bed and gets up this morning --

Thank Cedric in audio for picking that song.

PAUL: Ced, you are the best. Good morning, all you waking up in Boston, Raven Shine. You got sunny skies and 79 degrees today. Oh, people, can I come visit you today?

I would kill for some 79 degrees. I think it was 76 coming in today, in Atlanta.

BLACKWELL: Warm and beautiful. Anything from 75 to 78, perfect for me. But you know, you know, what I say, there's never a bad time for roasted meat.

PAUL: Roasted meat.

BLACKWELL: Never a bad time.

(LAUGHTER)

PAUL: I put that in my phone. There's never a bad time for roasted meat.

BLACKWELL: Never a bad time for roasted meat. And you know, this weekend is as good as any to get out and grill. However, there's a chance you'll be doing it under an umbrella.

PAUL: No, say it isn't so.

BLACKWELL: Maybe.

PAUL: Maybe.

Jennifer Gray!

JENNIFER GRAY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Depending on where you are.

Depending on where you are. You showed that shot from Boston. It was gorgeous. All up and down the East Coast. You're going to be good to go. Until we get into Monday, and then you are going to see some showers move into your area. But we are going to be focused on the Midwest. The northern plains over the next couple of days. The Dakotas on into Montana today. You do need to be on the lookout for damage events, large hail. A slight possibility of an isolated tornado. As we get into tomorrow, the threat moves farther to the East. That will include Des Moines, Lincoln, Sioux Falls, Minneapolis. And then on Labor Day, places like Chicago, Kansas City will also be under the gun for severe weather. So that's just going to march right across the country to the East over the next three days. We'll be on the lookout for that.

The other big story this Labor Day weekend, the rain across the Gulf Coast, anywhere from south Texas, from Houston, Charles, all the way through New Orleans, needs to be on the lookout. We could see anywhere from three to six inches of rain across portions of the Gulf Coast. There is a flood watch in effect of course for portions of southeast Texas. And that does include southwest Louisiana. These are your rain totals, these are through Monday. And you can see central Louisiana, three to five inches including places like Alexandria, also Lake Charles included in that. It could see a little bit more, up to five inches. And then New Orleans could even pick up possibly three inches of rain. So this is going to be a huge deal across the Gulf Coast. Of course, this does all push to the east, guys. So, by Labor Day Monday, we could see rain in places like New York City and Boston. So get those grills fired up early in the northeast.

PAUL: Enjoy your 78 and sunny today, Boston.

GRAY: Yeah.

BLACKWELL: Enjoy today. Jennifer, thanks so much.

PAUL: Thanks, Jennifer.

So this is something, that as soon as I heard about it, I thought not only about this man, but this poor girl, this nine-year-old who loses control of an Uzi at a gun range, killing her gun instructor. This was a freak accident. It was all caught on camera. The question is, is it possible for a fourth grader to even comprehend what just happened. And what recovery for something like this is going to be like for her. We're going to talk about that.

BLACKWELL: And you're going to hear what the victim's family is saying about their loved one and what they're saying to the 9-year- old. Keep it here. You're watching "NEW DAY SATURDAY."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY GRACE, HLN ANCHOR: This little girl, 9 years old is going to know the rest of her life that she shot somebody dead with an Uzi.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: That's HLN's Nancy Grace talking about that 9-year-old girl who accidentally. This was an accident, accidentally shot and killed a gun instructor with an Uzi.

BLACKWELL: You know, when I talk about the story to people, and I tell them a 9-year-old girl shot and killed a man with an Uzi. The question I'm asked immediately after every time, did you say nine years old?

PAUL: Why does a nine-year-old have an Uzi?

BLACKWELL: Right.

PAUL: That is I bet the first question that I think most people ask.

BLACKWELL: This is cell phone video here, it shows the moments before this girl lost control of this 9 millimeter submachine gun at this gun range in Arizona. The Mojave County sheriff's office here calls this ghastly when you see the whole video.

PAUL: Which, we, of course, are not going to show you. The kickback on the gun turned out - it was just too much for her to handle. And here's why - I don't know here where is this. But Uzis can pump out some ten to 15 bullets every second, which is more than 600 per minute.

BLACKWELL: The prosecutors do not anticipate any criminal charges here. The girl was there with her family. And the gun range lets anyone 8 to 80 and beyond to fire weapons, if they are accompanied, of course, the kids have to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

PAUL: Right. Well, let's talk about this with the clinical psychologist Jeff Gardere.

Jeff, I have to tell you, I've got a ten-year-old, and the first thing I thought of besides the fact that this poor man is dead is this poor nine-year-old. So, Jeff, we know that the gun instructor's family is publicly showing sympathy for this girl. In fact, here's what his daughter told NBC's "Today" show. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASHLEY VACCA, DAUGHTER OF GUN INSTRUCTOR: She was a good person, but we know there as well, and we just want to make sure that they understand that we know it was a tragic accident and that it's something that we're all going to have to live with.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: So, from an emotional standpoint, a psychological standpoint, how important is it, Jeff, for the family and this child to know that the grieving family really wants her to move on?

JEFF GARDERE, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST: I think it means everything in the world clinically. Because, yes, of course, she's going to get the support of her own family. But to know that the victim's family, and she's a victim too. But to know that the deceased instructor's family is actually saying, it's OK. You didn't do anything wrong. We forgive you. It was not your fault. I think that will help her just as much, if not even more than the support of her own family.

BLACKWELL: You know, I'm not a parent. We've talked about, you have three daughters, Christi, I do have a goddaughter who is eight years old. But I don't think you really need to be a parent to understand the severity of the situation for this girl. But do nine year olds actually have the capacity to understand something like this? To understand the death? To understand that this was not her fault?

GARDERE: Well, by the age of 8 or 9, maturationally, children do understand the finality of death. And, therefore, this young girl does understand what happens. Now, Victor and Christi, what we're now talking about is the horrific visualization that she has of this thing. We don't know what happened to this instructor. What the damage may have been to his face or his body, whether it's more than one shot. And she saw that. And the screaming and the yelling from the people that were around. And so all of that adds to the shock that she is in. And as she begins to come out of that shock how she'll have to process what happened, the horrific scene that she was part of.

PAUL: That's what I was, I think, most concerned about, too, when it came to her, was, you know, we're always told, you've got to be careful what you let your kids see. And she didn't only this isn't something she saw on television. This was something she saw in person. And something, you know, she - I'm sure anybody would internalize on some degree. Will her trauma, do you think -- what is the process, will it get worse before it gets better for her?

GARDERE: Sure. Sure. And what we're talking about here is PTSD. Posttraumatic stress. So, she's going to have nightmares. She's going to have flash backs. She's going to try to avoid any situation that reminds her of that, and so the graphic that you just showed, is very important for people to understand. She'll get the support of her family, the support of the instructor's family. It's also important, the story that we tell the media. And the media, and, of course, CNN has been telling a good story that it was no one's fault. Not trying to place blame anywhere. And of course, she will need years and years of counseling, but she's young, and she'll be able to get through this in her life. So I think it's important for her later in life to actually be an advocate for gun safety. And this turns her from a victim into someone who is empowered. She can make it through but it's going to take a lot of work.

BLACKWELL: You know, we heard from just a few words there from the instructor's family. They are grieving, too. And they had this message for her. They say they're going to write her a letter. But do you think that there should be more communication? Should she sit with the family? I don't know with a nine-year-old what the healing process is should there be more interaction than just a letter to this girl?

GARDERE: Victor, now, that is an excellent point, and I think sometime, when she's more stabilized because right now she's still in shock, in seclusion, which is what she needs and to be supported by her family. It is important that she develop a relationship with the family of the instructor. So, it's not just a letter with some empty words. It's actually showing her, as she gets older, as she deals with this, that they do understand it's not her fault. It's not his fault. Even though some people have talked about maybe he handled this the wrong way. We should not place blame anywhere. But it's important that she develop a relationship with them so she knows on a day-to-day basis that there is now a connection for evermore between these two families and certainly between these young girl and that family.

PAUL: And I would think not only healing for her, but healing for them, too.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: I would think, you know, for them to be able to show that emotion to her and that forgiveness, that's going to strengthen and heal them as well. Clinical psychologist Jeff Gardere, we are so grateful to have you here. Thank you.

GARDERE: Always a pleasure. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Such a tragic situation on both sides.

And another tragedy, and there is some healing that will soon come out of this as well. Three weeks ago he hit and killed a fellow race car driver. Well, now for the first time since then, NASCAR's Tony Stewart is returning to the track. You're going to hear why he's making that decision.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CATHERINE BELLIS: I'm feeling amazing. I'm still speechless. I'm still in shock.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was Cici Bellis on Tuesday after becoming youngest player in 18 years to win a first round match at the U.S. Open.

With that, the 15-year old from San Francisco with a bubbly personality that came to talk of the tournament.

BELLIS: I love when people watch me and support me like that. So, it really - you know, helped me a lot. But this whole experience has been unbelievable like mind-blowing. It's been crazy. It's been like the best couple of days of my life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On Thursday, Bellis played before a packed house. And though she lost the match, it didn't prevent fans thinking she could be the future of U.S. tennis.

BELLIS: I always wanted to since I was a little kid. Definitely that makes me want to, you know, work really hard and try to become that. This is what I want to do. So if it's what I'm supposed to do, that will be, you know, even better.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: This one is tough. Venus Williams was the first former champion to fall at the U.S. Open happened on Friday. The 34-year-old lost in a tiebreak. And really if you watched it, heartbreaking third round with Italian player Sara Errani. Williams said she played a doubles match with her sister Sarina the day before and that the quick turnaround really was draining. And you may have remembered the announcement that Williams suffers from an autoimmune disease which causes severe fatigue.

Tony Stewart is due to return to NASCAR racing tomorrow, here in Atlanta, actually. It will mark his first race since hitting and killing fellow driver Kevin Ward Jr. during a dirt track race earlier this month. And Stewart opened up about this accident yesterday. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY STEWART, NASCAR DRIVER: This is something that will definitely affect my life forever. This is a sadness and a pain that I hope no one ever has to experience in their life. That being said, I know that the pain on the morning that Kevin Ward's family and friends are experiencing is something that I can't possibly imagine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: You know, the day this happened, we were live on air. And, Christi, you asked an expert how often does this happen that a driver gets out of the car in Dallas. She said it happens often.

PAUL: I know. And that shocks the heck out of me.

BLACKWELL: Yes, so after the accident, NASCAR has now instituted a rule that requires drivers to stay in the car during a race. Sounds like common sense now. But it's now an official rule. This crash is under investigation.

PAUL: Yeah, yeah, in fact I was at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and thank you, folks, out there for being so gracious and to Danica Patrick who we spoke with. She, of course, is on the team with, you know, on his team, and she said she knows him on the field and off and he's a really great stand-up great guy. And she can't imagine what this has been like for him. So, we talked about him, we talked about track safety. And also talk about something really important to her. And I just realized I'm wearing the right color for this.

(LAUGHTER)

BLACKWELL: Yes.

PAUL: Breast cancer awareness. And then she decided to give me a run for my money, let's say.

BLACKWELL: Uh-huh.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: OK. So talk to me about why this breast cancer awareness campaign is so personal to you?

DANICA PATRICK, NASCAR DRIVER: Well I've been fortunate enough, and I really mean that to do this in Atlanta every year where I get to meet a bunch of guys and girls that have been either had breast cancer or been affected by it. And they're just such a - such a positive group, it's so amazing how something that is trying to take your life and make you miserable can make them so happy. They really are. There's such a positive group. There's such a community around them. And this is one example of the things that they do to create community around breast cancer.

PAUL: We know they have eased new regulations out that you can't get out of the car anymore after the whole thing with Tony Stewart. I was shocked that we were on the anchor desk that weekend and we had a gal from radio come on and say that happens all the time that they get out of the car.

PATRICK: That's true.

PAUL: It's - how is that?

PATRICK: Well, I mean I think that, you know, you get out of the car when the car is stopped. And you have time to get out. But NASCAR has implemented rules to try and make it -- give the emergency vehicles more time to get there.

PAUL: Have you talked to Tony? How's he doing?

PATRICK: I heard from Tony last weekend. Told me good luck. And that was the first time I'd heard from him. And, you know, going through what he's had to go through, you know, the incident, the tragic accident, was who knows how long it takes to digest it, to work through it. And I'm sure it will always, to be honest, be something that he will deal with the rest of his life.

PAUL: Do you think this is a good move that they mandated these changes?

PATRICK: I think that anything that's done with our best interest at heart is a good thing for the sport.

Buckle up, baby. Buckle up.

PAUL: All right. Here we go!

Oh, Lord have mercy. Danica, I'm scared to death.

PATRICK: How are you?

(LAUGHTER)

PATRICK: Uh-oh.

PAUL: Ah! I don't know how you do this so much. Ah! Oh, my god. I'm sure- don't do that.

Holy -- that wall's close. Danica - that was - my kids, OK, this is (INAUDIBLE) my kids.

PATRICK: Yeah.

PAUL: Oh, my god! Oh, my god!