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New Day Saturday
Cops Charged in Boy's Death; Officials: Bomb on Jet; Carson Fires Back; DHS: Security to Increase for U.S.-Bound Flights; Police Hunt for A Child's Killer; Protest Group Offers Reward to Disrupt SNL. Aired 7-8a ET
Aired November 07, 2015 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: He released a statement saying, "While we did not have access to the photos that came public today.
[07:00:01] We have given Greg a second chance. He is a member of our team and someone who is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to move forward with his life and his career," end quote.
So, very disturbing indeed with the release of these photos, something else for the Cowboys to think about moving forward.
CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Hey, Coy Wire, thank you so much.
WIRE: You're welcome.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Coy.
PAUL: Appreciate it.
And the next hour of your NEW DAY starts now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's one of the most disturbing things I witnessed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: That's a description of images caught on an officer's body cam. A 6-year-old boy shot and killed during a police chase.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He didn't deserve to die like that. That little boy was buckled in the front seat of that vehicle and that is how he died.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Two Louisiana police officers now charged with murder in that young boy's killing. PAUL: European authorities now believe that, yes, a bomb most likely
caused that deadly jet crash in Egyptian. New information this morning about a U.K. flight close call with a missile on its way to Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There's got to be a scandal, some nurse he's having an affair with. There's got to be something. They are getting desperate.
When I go to these book signing to see these thousands of people, they say, don't let the media get you down. They understand that this is a witch hunt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Ben Carson like we have never seen him before on the campaign trail, agitated, animated, aggressively rebutting media reports questioning his past.
(MUSIC)
PAUL: I always appreciate our weekends with you. Good morning. I'm Christi Paul.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Good to be with you.
Breaking overnight: Two police officers are under arrest, both charged in the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy. We have a picture of Jeremy here, Jeremy Mardis, killed by police while buckled into the front seat of his dad's car. Here he is.
The officers reportedly opened fire while in pursuit of that vehicle, that's according to our affiliate WAFB.
PAUL: Now, this happened in Marksville, Louisiana, that's north of Baton Rouge. But after a state police investigation, two of those four officers involved are now charged with second degree murder that happened overnight.
CNN's Nick Valencia joining us now with more.
Nick, what have you learned?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi.
The badge has been tarnished. Those are the words used by the superintendent of the Louisiana state police yesterday at a press conference, announcing charges against two local police officers. He went on to say that the body cam footage is disturbing, not only as a father but the head of the Louisiana state police.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VALENCIA (voice-over): Late last night, two police officers taken into custody, charged with killing a 6-year-old boy in Marksville Louisiana.
COL. MICHAEL D. EDMONSON, LOUISIANA STATE POLICE: Tonight, that damage has been tarnished by the following two individuals.
VALENCIA: City police officers Norris Greenhouse, Jr. and Derrick Stafford are facing second degree murder charges in the death OF Jeremy Mardis Tuesday night. They are facing attempted murder charges. Both were working secondary jobs as marshals.
Investigators say the two men were pursuing a vehicle driven by the boy's father, Chris Few. When a chase stopped on a dead end street, police say that's when the officers opened fire. The 6-year-old was apparently buckled in the front seat.
EDMONSON: Jeremy Mardis, 6-years-old. He didn't deserve to die like that. That's what's unfortunate.
VALENCIA: CNN affiliate WFAB says Mardis was hit five times in the head and chest. His father was critically injured. State police say no gun was found in his car. Circumstances surrounding the chase are unclear.
MEGAN DIXON, CHRIS FEW'S FIANCEE: I don't know what he was thinking. I don't know why he didn't stop.
VALENCIA: The incident was captured on police body cameras. Footage, which has not been released, left state investigators shocked.
EDMONSON: And I'm not going to talk about it. But I will tell you this, it is the most disturbing thing I've seen and I will leave it at that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VALENCIA: Officials did not say at that press conference last night what exactly led to the pursuit. But according to local media reports the father of this 6-year-old boy had an outstanding warrant. According to the local media, he reversed into those police officers which resulted in them opening fire. At least 18 rounds fired by two different guns according to WBRZ and WAFB there locally.
CNN has not been able confirm that. We are still reaping out for more information this morning -- Victor, Christi.
PAUL: Nick Valencia, thank you.
VALENCIA: You bet.
BLACKWELL: Just a couple hours away from a news conference by Egyptian officials on the crash of a Russian airliner in the Sinai, Peninsula, last weekend. Now, preliminary analysis of the block boxes seems to support the theory of a catastrophic explosion aboard the plane, possibly a bomb, rather than mechanical failure.
[07:05:08] Egyptian officials may also need to explain an incident over the Sinai reported back in August. British media reports that a missile narrowly missed a passenger jet from London, as that jet approached Sharm el-Sheikh, the airport there.
CNN's Erin McLaughlin joins us now from Sharm el-Sheikh.
Erin, how are the Egyptians reacting to the French media reports that data from the black boxes has convinced investigators that this was, indeed, a box?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Egyptian authorities are reacting with outrage, Victor. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry gave a press conference earlier today. He says information -- critical information to this investigation was shared with the media instead of with Egyptian authorities.
Now, this investigation is international. It's surprised of German officials, French officials, officials from Ireland, Russia, but it's led by Egypt. So, why that information hasn't been shared with Egyptian authorities is unclear.
Shoukry also very critical of the international community, saying it is not heeded Egypt's warning when it comes to terrorism. I just read a quote of what he said. He said, "They did not show a level of cooperation and direct targeting of these organizations that we hoped for. I can say these calls were not heeded by many of the parties who are now working to protect the interests of their citizens."
Now, he's, of course, referring to the evacuations that have now been ordered by Russia, by the United Kingdom, thousands of tourists stranded in Egypt today. We are expecting nine flights out of the Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, back to the United Kingdom. But their luggage will not be going with them him that will be loaded on separate cargo flight, 20 empty flights coming into Russia to evacuate their citizens.
Now, we are expecting later today a press conference from Egypt's civil aviation authority. They are spearheading this investigation. It will be interesting to see if they have any information about those black boxes -- Victor.
BLACKWELL: I also wonder, Erin, if you are hearing anything about this obvious report that this airliner was narrowly missed by a missile? Are the Egyptians saying anything about that, classifying or characterizing that in anyway?
MCLAUGHLIN: Yes, well, Egyptian officials have yet to react to that. We've made repeated calls to various government authorities. But, you know, that report certainly is alarming. It happened back in August, a British passenger plane flying over Sinai. British media reports it came within a thousand feet of a missile.
Now, the government spokesperson, British government spokesperson confirming of a nature of that incident, saying that an investigation followed. But they determined the missile was not from militants in the area. It was rather a part of an Egyptian military exercise. It's raising plenty of concerns now about the general safety of the airspace over Egypt. BLACKWELL: Indeed. Erin McLaughlin, thank you so much. Of course,
we'll look ahead to that news conference at 10:00 a.m. Thank you so much, Erin.
PAUL: CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen is joining us now from Washington to talk a little more about it.
So, one of the things I think that is striking to a lot of people, when you hear this, Peter, is this -- why would the U.S. and Britain share intelligence with Russia but not with Egypt, if that is, indeed, the case?
PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, I mean, it's not -- I think it's not out of the helm of possibility. The intelligence has been shared with Egypt and not necessarily been very clear about it.
You know, Egypt's record of sort of veracity when it comes to air disasters is not that great. I mean, you recall the Egypt air crash into the Atlantic, which was determined by American investigators to be a case on behalf of the pilot, who was Egyptian. You know, Egyptians have always denied that case, even though it's pretty universally recognized to be so. So, I just -- I have some skepticism of about the statements the Egyptians have made.
And, by the way, the statement of the foreign minister just made I think indicates a bit of a shift, because, suddenly, now he's talking, he's alluding into a way to militant groups and the, you know, sort of saying that the British and the Russians haven't helped against these militant groups as much as they have, why would he be raising this issue if he didn't think it was at least plausible this action was taken by an Egyptian militant group?
PAUL: I want to ask you about ISIS because they have claimed responsibility to for this.
[07:10:02] Do you believe that ISIS is capable of an attack like this? And if so, what does it mean for their further capabilities?
BERGEN: Well, I don't think this attack was that complicated to pull off. I mean, it was, if indeed it was a bomb, it was not necessarily a very sophisticated bomb. I talked to British officials who have examined the security at Sharm el-Sheikh airport and, you know, this is not a flight getting a plane and at Atlanta airport. I mean, this is a place with security that is poorly supervised to quote this British official, is inconsistent again to quote this British official.
So, this was a very, you know, I'm not saying it was easy but I find it difficult to get a bomb on to a plane in the United States, for instance. And, of course, ISIS has, you know, sympathizers in Egyptian security forces. It also has hundreds of people in Sinai working with it.
So, you know, this is -- that was a relatively easy target of opportunity for them. I don't think it was a particularly sophisticated operation to do this.
PAUL: All right. Peter Bergen, we appreciate it so much. Thank you.
BERGEN: Thank you.
PAUL: He is sticking with us, by the way.
BLACKWELL: Yes, we'll be talking about changes to airport security and flights coming to the U.S. in just a moment as well.
Security now heightened because of the Egyptian crash. What you will be seeing at an airport potentially to keep travelers safe.
Plus, a different Ben Carson, firing back against the media for questions about his past. But could this help or hurt his run for the nomination?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARSON: There is a desperation on behalf of some to try to fine a way to tarnish me because they have been looking through everything. They have been talking to everybody who I have ever known and I've ever seen, there's got to be a scandal, there's got some nurse he's had an affair with. There's got to be something. They are getting desperate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:15:12] BLACKWELL: Fifteen minutes after the hour now.
Ben Carson shedding his mellow personality and coming at the media pretty hard. GOP candidate pushing back as questions arise over his past. The story that he introduced, the Carson disputing reports that he may have embellished or made up accounts in his life story.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARSON: As far as I'm concerned they are out of the way.
And let me just say one other thing. I do not remember this level of scrutiny for one President Barack Obama when he was running. In fact, I remember just the opposite.
I remember people just, oh, we won't really talk about that. We won't talk about that relationship. They don't want to talk about that. Bernadine Dohrn, Bill Ayers, he didn't know him. All the things that Jeremy Wright has said, oh, not a big problem.
He goes to Occidental College doesn't do all that well, and somehow ends up at Columbia University. His records are sealed. Why are his records sealed? Why are you guys not interested why his records are sealed? Why are you not interested in that? Let me ask that, can somebody tell me why? I'm asking you why it's sealed?
REPORTER: That gives the impression you think there is some nefarious reason.
CARSON: Can someone tell me why you have not investigated that?
REPORTER: Why are you raising it?
CARSON: One, because I want to know. You should want to know, too.
The president, wait a minute. Hold on one minute. One second. Now, you are saying that something that happened with the words a scholarship was offered is a big deal, but the president of the United States, his academic record is being sealed is not --
(CROSSTALK)
REPORTER: He's already president.
CARSON: Tell me how there's equivalency there. It doesn't matter where it is. This is a silly argument. Tell me how there's equivalency.
REPORTER: A silly argument?
CARSON: Tell me how there is an equivalent to there. Tell me somebody, please, because you see, what you are not going to find with me is somebody who is going to sit back and let you be completely unfair without letting the American people know what's going on and the American people are waking up to your games.
I don't think it's causing a complication. And here's my prediction. My prediction is all of you guys trying to pile on is actually going to help me, because when I go out to these book signing, I see these thousands of people, they say, "Don't let the media get you down. Don't let them disturb you, pleads continue to fight for us." See, they understand that this is a witch hunt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: All right. We got with us, political anchor for New York 1 News and CNN political commentator, Errol Louis.
Errol, it's important to point out here at the top that Ben Carson is the person who made his transformative years as a young person, as a teen, a prominent thread in the fabric of his campaign. So, we're starting there.
What do you make of these claims of a witch hunt and his response and the way he's responding?
ERROL LOUIS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The reality is that as somebody who has never run for office before, Ben Carson is learning the hard way that there is an old saying, if you are explaining, then are you losing. The time that he just spent in that press conference hide like to say, oh, yes, there will be some sort of jujitsu. This is all going to work to my benefit.
The reality is it does not work to his benefit, to the extent that he needs to get out, and try to make a case for why he should be leading the country, every minute that he spends trying to parse words from 50 years ago or explain why what he put in his book as you point out was maybe not quite accurate or maybe slightly misleading or maybe needs a clarification, that's a problem for him. That's not something he wants to be doing, obviously.
BLACKWELL: Ts this a problem, though? Because many of the people he's trying to convince for a nomination like this narrative of going after the media. I mean, they like someone who will put up a fight. And is this in some way a candidate who's been criticized for being too mellow, responding to that criticism and taking the right enemy?
LOUIS: Well, I mean, I suppose in the short term you might have a couple positive appearances, but there is kind of a long way between now and the Iowa caucuses. And I think some of the blue might come off the rose. I don't know if he loses his core supporters, absolutely not.
On the other hand, there are undecided people out there. And even his impressive 23 percent, 25 percent showing in Iowa, it might be higher than almost everybody else, he and Donald Trump are around the same level. What that also means is that something like 8 1/2, 7 1/2, to eight out of ten Republicans in Iowa don't want Ben Carson or have not decided on Ben Carson.
[07:20:02] So, he's going to need more. He's going to need more help in New Hampshire. He's going to need to do better in South Carolina. It's a long road to the White House so this definitely doesn't help.
Now it might in a way I suppose toughen up the candidate and the campaign to realize that part of what comes with being the front runner. Part of what comes with that position is a little extra scrutiny. He can call it a witch hunt. Others would just call it, you know, what happens when people start taking you seriously?
Believe me, Lindsey Graham would love to have supporters pouring over him and talking about what he said and did 50 years ago.
BLACKWELL: Let's talk about the general question here, trust, because although a supporter of the GOP primary electorate has decided that they will vote for him, more than that, twice that number, has decided that they trust him. Take a look at the numbers here.
The most trustworthy and honest candidate more than Trump, more than Clinton, how does this impact that number?
LOUIS: Well, I suppose that might come down a little bit. On the other hand, you're not going to the caucus to vote for who is most trustworthy, you're not going into the primary, into the voting booth to vote for who's most trustworthy, it is an admirable attribute. However, as those numbers also show, you can be the frontrunner, say, in the Democratic primary, and still not considered trustworthy. That's where Hillary Clinton is. You can be a frontrunner in a lot of states in a national polls like Donald Trump and not be considered trustworthy or even likable, you know, based on your business practices and your public presentation.
BLACKWELL: Yes, trustworthiness, though, most important to Ben Carson, considering that Donald Trump leads in many of the other categories, if that's the number of trustworthiness and honesty starts to erode, then what does the campaign have to go to after that?
Errol Louis, thank you so much.
LOUIS: Thank you, Victor.
BLACKWELL: We will have coming up, more on the GOP race, throughout the morning, including an update on Donald Trump's highly anticipated appearance on "Saturday Night Live."
PAUL: Meanwhile, the U.S. is ramping up airport security, people, for all planes coming into the U.S. from some international airports. So I know you are wondering what that means for passengers. We'll let you know.
Also, one country's security forces on maximum alert this morning as they hunt for the sky. A drug kingpin El Chapo.
Also, a new photo scandal at a high school involving hundreds, yes, hundreds of students. And they're using a bit of a secret, a secret app, let's say, to do it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:26:06] BLACKWELL: Security forces in Argentina say that they are now on, quote, "maximum alert", because they believe a fugitive drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman might have fled Mexico, traveled to thousands of miles across Central and South America and crossed the border into their country. El Chapo made headlines when he broke out of a Mexican maximum security prison through a tunnel in July.
Hundreds of high school students, yes, hundreds, caught in a nude photo scandal, one that school officials warn is a nationwide issue. Colorado affiliate KRDO has more for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EMILY ALLEN, KRDO REPORTER (voice-over): Secret apps use to disguise nude photos on student's phones. And until this week, hundreds of people swapped like trading cards in and outside the halls of Canon City High School.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In order for us to educate the kids and give them what their consequences are if you act in this manner, this is what your consequence is going to be.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's very ridiculous, people need to go that far to try to hide things. ALLEN: The superintendent has worried parents, this isn't a school
district issue. This is a nationwide issue. School staff are now learning there are hundreds of apps keeping these photos from parents' preying eyes.
CHIEF PAUL SCHULTZ, CANON CITY, CO POLICE: Do I think parents should be concerned? Absolutely, yes, absolutely yes. As we all know, if images get out on the internet, they can go anywhere and live there for a long, long time.
ALLEN: Students swapping photos could face felonies for child pornography, if photos are on parents' technology, adults are also at risk.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL: That report from Emmy Allen, from our affiliate WRDO. And thank you for that, Emily.
She says the scandal even trickled down to 8th graders in middle school, nude pictures. The school district says it will develop an educational plan to educate students and their parents about responsible online behavior. But still, a lot of questions about how they're going to deal with those students.
BLACKWELL: Just about two-and-a-half hours away now from a press conference about what happened potentially to MetroJet 9268. The U.S. is becoming more vigilant. We will tell you what that means for travelers. That's still ahead.
Plus, officers say that this child, a 9-year-old was lured into an alley and then shot. He was killed. I'll tell you more about the hunt for his killers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:30:39] PAUL: You know, with all the talk about Fed raising its key short term interest rates, mortgage rates jumped. Here's your look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Two Louisiana police officers have been arrested and charged with second degree murder in the fatal shooting of a 6-year- old. According to affiliate WAFB, the child, Jeremy Mardis died while buckled into the front seat of his father's car. Now, the officers reportedly started while they were pursuing that vehicle. We'll have more details for you next hour.
Egyptian officials leading the investigation into the crash last weekend of a Russian airliner will hold a news conference in a little less than two-and-a-half hours. It's coming as the Egyptian foreign minister says technical information about the plane's data recorders, support the theory of a bomb, should have been handed over to Egyptian investigators instead of given to the media. We'll have a live report from Sharm el-Sheikh, that's next hour. PAUL: And new this morning, that theory about a bomb being a possible
cause of the crash of MetroJet flight 9268 is resulting in an increase in airport security for air travelers bound to the U.S. We're talking about random searches, extra hand swabbing, possibly more bomb squad dogs. Meanwhile, Russia, Ireland, Ukraine and Germany's Lufthansa Group have suspended all into its to Egypt.
I want to bring in CNN investigation correspondent Chris Frates.
Chris, we know Homeland Security Jeh Johnson outlined some of the new security measures other than what we talked about. A lot of people sitting at home going, OK, what does this mean for me? So, can you break it down for us, give us some specifics, please?
CHRIS FRATES, CNN INVESTIGATION CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Christi. So, what we are seeing is travelers from airports in the region with direct flights to the United States will likely see additional random searches, hands swabbing of passengers and possibly like you pointed out, more bomb-sniffing dogs.
Now, a source with knowledge of the situation tells CNN that Cairo, Oman, and Kuwait airports will see tightened security for U.S.-bound flights there. In all, the beefed up security will affect fewer than 10 airports.
U.S. Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said yesterday the precautionary measures included more screening of items on planes, assessing security at foreign airports and offers to help select foreign airports with their security. U.S. officials, of course, are stressing there are already multiple layers of security to screen passengers before they ever get on a plane bound for the U.S., that includes checking all passenger and crew against the U.S. terror watch list.
But, of course, vulnerabilities still exist. The insider threat is a major concern.
[07:35:04] And intelligence officials say if the downing of MetroJet was, in fact, an inside job, Christi, authorities worldwide has to zero in on airport and airline workers with secure access who can come in and out with their badges.
PAUL: All right. Chris Frates, we appreciate it so much. Thank you.
BLACKWELL: Let's bring in CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen.
Peter, I want to kind of flesh out something that you brought up in the last segment. You mentioned Egypt Air Flight 990 back in 1999. The NTSB determined that was the result of a deliberate act inside the cockpit.
That plane crashed, 217 people were killed. The Egyptians said it was mechanical failure.
Now, we understand that Mubarak was president. Let me put a few facts up on the screen for our viewers. But I wonder, do you expect there is anything that the international community will be able to take to the Egyptians that will convince them, that, indeed, if this is an act of terror, that there is a bomb here, that they will, indeed, agree with that?
PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, I don't know. But, I mean, the record on Egypt air speaks for itself. The NTSB is the leading, you know, investigator of airline accidents and crashes around the world and offer a very thorough investigation. They concluded that it was not mechanical failure when Egypt Air crashed. It was, indeed, a pilot who wanted to commit suicide and bring and kill all these people.
So, Egypt has always rejected. That you know, that was sometime ago, have they changed? I mean, clearly, you know I think it would be ultimately in their interest if indeed this is an act by militant group to admit it and also to -- I mean, you know, unless they change the way that they do business, it's going to be very hard for them to sustain their tourist business, which, after all, is one of the few things that's actually functional in the Egyptian economy.
BLACKWELL: Let me ask you to respond to something we are hearing from the Egyptian foreign minister. You mentioned it. But we got the quote here, in which he says that, quote, "They did not," speaking of other country, "show a level of cooperation and direct targeting of these organizations that we hoped for. I can say these calls were not heeded by many of the parties who are now working to protect the interests of their citizens," speaking about international partners not heeding to Egypt's call to seriously deal with terrorism.
Your response?
BERGEN: Well, I think that's a kind of grudging kind of admission by the Egyptian foreign minister that militant groups may well have been involved in the MetroJet crash, because after all, why would he be bringing this up as an issue if he didn't think there was at least a possibility that this was a bomb. It's an inexplicable statement, otherwise.
BLACKWELL: What's your degree of confidence in this tightening of security at airports that will send flights into this region alone to the U.S.?
BERGEN: Well, I think, Chris, in his discussion with Christi, I think underlined the real issue here, which let's say you go to Dubai airport and you taken an American flight home to the United States, you're going to get already a very kind of serious -- every passenger will be given an extra level of screening and all the hands likely will be looked at. And there is a great deal of scrutiny.
But what there isn't is scrutiny of the people who actually work at the airport, the people that work in the baggage handling, the people who work in the concession stands. As far as I'm aware, that is not something done in any systematic way at Middle Eastern airports. That's really the issue here, the insider threat. It's not giving extra levels of security screening to passengers who are getting on the plane. That's a good thing. But at the end of the day, if the theories are true about the
MetroJet, it's somebody inside the airport, itself, who managed to get this bomb on the plane in some manner. That's really, you know, that's a big issue that need to be looked at. I don't think that the measures that we got to be discussed at least publically really address that right now.
BLACKWELL: And, hopefully, we will learn more as the days and weeks go on the there will be a greater scrutiny for some of those airline workers and security at airports as well.
Peter Bergen, thank you so much.
BERGEN: Thank you.
PAUL: A 9-year-old lured, then shot and killed by gang members. What we've learned this morning about this case and the killer. Look at that little guy there.
Also, Donald Trump hosting "Saturday Night Live." Not everybody thinks this is a good idea for the presidential candidate.
And a different Ben Carson, let's say, than we seen before on the campaign trail. Upset with the media for questioning stories from his past. We are playing a large portion of his comments before your top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:43:24] BLACKWELL: This is a tragic story this morning.
Chicago investigators, they're on the hunt for a child's killer. They say this little boy, Tyshawn Lee, he was lured into an alley on Monday and shot. Just 9-years-old.
CNN's Polo Sandoval has this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christi, Victor, good morning.
At this point the person that could provide crucial information to investigators simply is not talking to police. Investigators saying that that is a problem. Talking about Pierre Stokes. He is actually the father of little Tyshawn Lee.
The superintendent of Chicago police says that Stokes is a known gang member. He says that's likely why the nine-year-old boy was targeted, lured out to that alley and shot.
We did learn that Stokes was scheduled to talk to investigators Friday morning, but he was a no-show at that meeting. Again, that's according to police superintendent Gary McCarthy.
Police are still moving forward with their investigation, though. They have identified several criminal groups they say may have been involved in the shooting. They have identified potential suspects. They're missing a strong enough witness statement that would actually close their case and result from only arrests.
And that's one thing working against police the other is the fear felt in that community. People don't want to talk to authorities there. They're afraid of become a victim themselves.
However, there's one priest on the south side of Chicago, Father Michael Pfleger wants to see that change.
FATHER MICHAEL PFLEGER, SAINT SABINE CHURCH: Sometime doing the right thing has to overcome our fear. If somebody says, hey, I'll do it. I'll ID him, but I need to be able to move out of state, I will personally do that.
[07:45:01] I will help them relocate out of my own pocket, some other city, some other place, for their safety, if that's what it takes.
SANDOVAL: Again, that's a frustrated father, hoping to encourage people to speak up. He is very confident that someone knows something out there and is able to provide that crucial information to police.
Clearly, there's a community here extremely frustrated. We have seen this level of violence before, shots have been fired in Chicago. People have been injured and sadly people have died. But the actual targeting of a 9-year-old boy is something police there have not seen before -- guys.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL: All right. Polo Sandoval, thank you so much.
We will keep you posted on what's happening there.
Meanwhile, if you are planning on sitting in front of your night, it could be a big night on "SNL" with Donald Trump as host. One protest group, though, is offering a reward, an actual monetary reward to anyone who wants to disrupt the live show. We'll talk with an activist with that group next.
Also ahead at 8:00 a.m., more of Ben Carson's tirade against the media. Why he says the examination into his past is not relevant.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[07:50:16] PAUL: Fifty minutes past the hour right now.
And Donald Trump taking the stage tonight as he hosts "Saturday Night Live." The GOP candidate's appearance comes with quite some controversy, as you can imagine. Several groups planning to march from Trump Tower to "SNL" studios to denounce his stint.
Let's talk about this with political comedian and SiriusXM radio show host, Dean Obeidallah. Also with us, Luke Montgomery, he is a spokesman for deportracism.com, one of the groups protesting Trump's appearance tonight. So, thank you, gentlemen, both of you, for being with us.
Luke, I do want to start with you. Specifically, what is it that you're protesting?
LUKE MONTGOMERY, SPOKESPERSON, DEPORTRACISM.COM: Trump has called Mexican immigrants rapists, murderers and drug dealers. You could not get away with calling African-Americans rapists, murderers and drug dealers and be the Republican presidential front-runner. Everyone would clearly say that's racist.
But for some reason, it's open season on brown people. It's open season on Latinos and Mexican-Americans and immigrants. And that's wrong.
Trump has no place on that "Saturday Night Live" stage. Racism is not funny. And deportracism.com is all about we need to be deporting people -- I'm sorry, we need to be deporting racism, not people.
PAUL: OK. So, you are actually encouraging someone to disrupt the process tonight, is that right?
MONTGOMERY: Absolutely. Deportracism.com has a $5,000 bounty for anybody who will stand up live broadcast of "Saturday Night Live" tonight and tell Trump, and yell out, "Trump is a racist." or yell out "Deport racism".
We want to bring to the focus right back to the fact that NBC should not having a man who is calling Latinos and Latino Americans rapists, murderers and drug dealers, and particularly, he's been attacking children, American citizen children, calling them anchor babies. These are kids who are born in the USA, who have all of the rights of the Constitution. And yet he's saying to these kids, exploiting them for political points, he's calling them anger babies, and saying they're second-class citizens, and they deserve to have the Constitution change to tear up -- Donald Trump wants to tear up the U.S. Constitution to deny these children their rights.
PAUL: I want to get to you, Dean, because this is an interesting little a tidbit. You were an "SNL" staffer for eight years. So, we want to get your insight on this.
Trump admitted yesterday, we know on FOX News yesterday, that he did veto some skits that he wouldn't offend voters in Iowa specifically. How much leeway do guests have to come in and cut up those scripts?
DEAN OBEIDALLAH, COMEDIAN: Well, it's funny, I wrote an article for CNN opinion a couple of days ago about this very issue, predicting that there was a chance it's going to happen. The writer of "Saturday Night Live" was on my radio show a few weeks ago and talked about specifically what goes on.
The host can't veto, per se. But they have a lot of influence. Obviously, you can't force a host to go on the set and say things they don't want to say. And I thought this would be some kind of collision where Trump wants
to show to help his campaign, at least not hurt it, and the writers want the show to be as funny as possible. And you have this conflict contention. You saw it right here.
One thing about what Luke said. I agree with Luke 100 percent. Trump's comments have been despicable. I've denounce them.
But what I don't view "Saturday Night Live" as having them on is validating those views. And I think if you go down this slope where f people start yelling out at Trump, then they'll yell out at Hillary Clinton. People on the right like Brian Tucker said we're outraged that Hillary Clinton is on the first show of the year, meaning, we'll never have politicians on "Saturday Night Live" again, and I think that's unfortunate as a political comic, as someone who really values political comedy to lose that forum.
I think what Luke is saying is the right thing in political forum, yell out at his event. I don't think it's the right place on "Saturday Night Live", even though I think what Trump said is despicable and I agree with Luke 100 percent on what he's saying.
PAUL: So, what are you expecting from Trump tonight?
OBEIDALLAH: I think, if he does it, it's self-deprecating. He did that in 2004, people like it when you make fun of yourself. If anyone has a problem with thin skin is, it's Trump, who lashed out at John Oliver last week, lashed out at Seth Meyers a few years ago, lashed out at Bill Maher for making fun of them.
He needs to show he can laugh at himself. I think it would be smart. We'll do that. What else? I'm not sure. I think that's one key thing he should be thinking and one thing he should be doing.
PAUL: All right. Dean Obeidallah and Luke Montgomery, we appreciate you being here.
MONTGOMERY: Thank you.
BLACKWELL: At the top of the hour, a developing story in Texas. A judge shot outside of a home. The police are now searching for a shooter.
Also, staying with politics, agitated, animated, a new Ben Carson on the campaign trail.
[07:55:02] But will this tirade against the media win votes?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What you're not going to find with me is somebody who is going to sit there and let you be completely unfair of letting the American people know what's going on. And the American people are waking up to your games.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLACKWELL: That's coming up.
But, first, we want you toed me another one of the top CNN heroes. He's a Chicago surgeon. And for more than 20 years, he's provided medical treatment to thousands of patients who have no other way to get it. He shares why he does it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. DAN IVANKOVICH, SURGEON: There's over a million people in Chicago that are essentially invisible to the system. They're either uninsured or they're underinsured. But they're very important to me, and that's what I've dedicated my career to. My focus is to improve their lives, to break down the barriers and help them reach their potential with regard to their injuries.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: And for more on Dr. Dan, as he's known, go to CNNHeroes.com. Also check out all of this year's top ten and vote for your favorite to become CNN hero of the year. You can vote once a day at CNNHeroes.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is the most disturbing thing I've seen. I will leave it at that.
