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The Situation Room
New Details on Minneapolis Suspect; No Clear Motive Determined Says Police Chief; White Housing Fires CDC Director; Minnesota Sports Community Rallies After Shooting. Aired 10:30-11a ET
Aired August 28, 2025 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:30:00]
DAVIN HUNT, FATHER OF TEXAS CAMP MYSTIC FLOOD VICTIM: -- you want to use as an example to avoid. Like we are suffering a hell right now missing our daughter. But what we are trying to do is turn her legacy into something bigger, turn her legacy into one that will save kids. I know my conscience, I was not there for my daughter when she died, but hopefully, my conscience will know that children will be safe and live because of this legislation that's passed.
PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: She's such a beautiful girl.
D. HUNT: And we are starting the --
BROWN: Go ahead.
D. HUNT: We do have the janiehuntfoundation.com, which is to which is to help the causes Janie loved, her schools, projects around here. It's to help kids find that joy inside themselves. And there's also the Heaven's 27 Fund, which is -- which goes to all the 26 families that lost a girl split individually.
BROWN: Wow. Well, I'm going to put a link to that foundation on my Instagram @PamelaBrownCNN so people can go there, donate for such a wonderful cause. Daven and Anne Lindsey Hunt, thank you so much for your bravery and your strength coming here today and your first interview since Janie's death to honor her and help save the lives of other children. We'll be right back.
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[10:35:00]
BROWN: Breaking news this morning, chilling details about the 23- year-old shooter who fired on a Minneapolis Catholic school yesterday, killing two children and wounding 14 others, and three elderly parishioners. We're learning more now about the bravery of bystanders and law enforcement at the scene.
And joining us now is the chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, Brian O'Hara. Chief, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. I know how busy you are. I want to go --
CHIEF BRIAN O'HARA, MINNEAPOLIS POLICE: Good morning. BROWN: -- what we heard from the FBI director, Kash Patel, who wrote that his agency is investigating the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics. Have you learned anything in the hours since that press conference that you held shortly after the shooting indicating that this could be a hate crime, specifically targeting Catholic?
O'HARA: Good morning. Well, I can tell you there's absolutely no question that this shooter intended to terrorize those children, those parishioners the members of the school staff that were in that building, as well as their parents and the larger community here. What we have found are really just hundreds of pieces of evidence that we continue to go through with our investigators, with the help of the FBI and all of our law enforcement partners.
What we have found so far, unfortunately, is what has been all too common in this country, is sort of a classic pathway to violence for an active shooter or a mass shooter. This is an individual that harbored a whole lot of hate towards many people and many groups of people and clearly intended to commit an act of violence with as much carnage and trauma as possible for the purpose of their own personal notoriety. So, that is what we have found so far.
There's obviously other writings and pieces of evidence that our investigators continue to go through with the help of the FBI. And we were open to every possibility in terms of what a potential motive may be. We're trying to see if there was some sort of triggering event that may have caused him to commit this act. But as of this time, we have not been able to narrow it down to one specific motivation, but our investigators are continuing on that path.
But I think what is unfortunate is the public is expecting answers and, in some way, expecting us to try and make sense of this. And the reality is this is completely senseless and just an unthinkable tragedy.
BROWN: It is. I mean, so often you want to have some clarity on a motive, but clearly, this was an act of cruelty and sickness. You have the manifesto, other evidence you've collected. I'm wondering, have you interviewed the shooter's parents to help put the picture together of the why?
O'HARA: So, there's literally dozens of interviews that have been conducted already. I know the FBI has been very helpful with that. There were attempts to interview a parent who lives out of state. I'm not sure if that occurred last night. I haven't gotten an update as to that specifically. But I know it has obviously been our intent to interview not just witnesses and persons associated with the tragedy that happened at the church yesterday. But obviously, everyone both related and associated with this shooter to try and uncover as much information as we possibly can.
BROWN: We're told the suspect attended this church and school and that his mother was also a former employee there. Do you know why the shooter chose this school rather than say the high school that the shooter attended? Was it so that younger children could be targeted, do you think?
O'HARA: We don't have specific information as to why this church was targeted other than the fact that he was a parishioner there. We believe he did -- the shooter did go to school there. We believe the shooter's mother did work for the parish. So, there's obviously a connection between the shooter and the parish. But in terms of why the shooter targeted the particular church, again, we don't have information about triggering event or some specific issue that would've led to that?
[10:40:00]
BROWN: The shooter barricaded the church door with two by fours, which you believe was intended to trap the victims inside the church. What does that say about the level of planning that went into this?
O'HARA: Well, certainly there was some degree of planning that went into that. I think that's obvious from what has been recovered already and things that have been, you know, available in the public domain. I can tell you that, you know, unfortunately the church, the school like so many other schools and -- had been prepared for something like this. Children had participated in drills in the past, and we believe that the church doors had been locked yesterday morning. And that's a procedure that they had in place.
So, this coward committed this act by shooting from outside the church through the windows into the church. The shooter was never able to get inside of the church because the church doors were locked. And so, we think that action in and of itself, in addition to what we will believe will be countless stories of heroism from children, from staff members, from parishioners, all of that combined ensured this tragedy was not far worse, because it certainly could have been a whole lot worse than it already was.
BROWN: Because according to our reporting, the shooter had the layout of inside the church. Do you believe the shooter had intended to go inside?
O'HARA: Well, certainly the shooter had been inside the church. And it would seem from his intention to -- on the side that the shooter did intend to get inside. But ultimately, they did not. And again, it just shows yes, how disgusting and how cowardly it is to try and commit this act of violence from an outside, not even going inside.
BROWN: One more question for you quickly. Minnesota passed the so- called red flag law last year. Do you think that there were any missed warning signs that could have prevented this from happening?
O'HARA: Well, the shooter did purchase the weapons lawfully within this state. That's what we believe. We have not found any other information to suggest otherwise other than receiving a parking ticket. We don't -- or some sort of traffic ticket. We do not believe there had been any previous arrests or any civil commitments for mental health issues. So, at least as it stands now, there's nothing in the evidence to suggest that the weapons or anything other than purchase lawfully.
But you know, this is not what is typical for community violence, for shootings and murders inside, not just cities in this state, but in cities around our country. Typically, you know, our community is affected by gun violence from people who are not purchasing guns lawfully and possessing them unlawfully. So, we will provide all the information and follow the evidence where it leads and try and identify any potential gaps that could have prevented something like this in the future. But at this time, it does not appear that anything out of what is typical occurred.
BROWN: Chief Brian O'Hara, we appreciate your commitment to getting the facts out there. Thank you so much for your time.
O'HARA: Thank you for having me.
BROWN: Coming up right here in the Situation Room, chaos at the CDC. The head of the agency ousted, several high-level leaders resign. What's next for one of the nation's leading health agencies?
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[10:45:00]
BROWN: And new this morning, turmoil at the CDC. The White House has fired. The agency's director and other top officials have quit as tensions rise over the Trump administration's vaccine and public health policies. CNN Health Reporter Jacqueline Howard is following all of the developments for us. Jacqueline, the now fired CDC director was just sworn in less than a month ago, right? What is the administration saying?
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Pamela, you're right. And right now, it is chaos at the CDC. We did hear from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. just this morning on Fox and Friends. Here's what he had to say when he was asked about this exodus of officials that's happening at the CDC.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: No, it has not caught us at surprise -- by surprise. Again, I cannot comment on personnel issues, but the agency is in trouble and we need to fix it, and we are fixing it. And it may be that some people should not be working there anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWARD: And, Pamela, this comes after Just last night, the White House said this in a statement, quote, " Susan Monarez is not aligned with the president's agenda of Making America Healthy Again," end quote. But Dr. Monarez's attorneys had this to say in response, quote, "As a presidential appointee, Senate confirmed officer, only the president himself can fire her. For this reason, we reject notification Dr. Monarez has received as legally deficient and she remains as CDC director. We have notified the White House counsel of our position."
And, Pamela, all this is happening as sources have told us there are have been clashes between Dr. Monarez and HHS Secretary Kennedy Jr. Dr. Monarez says she has been following the science. And again, we're waiting to see who is going to steer the ship at CDC now moving forward.
[10:50:00]
BROWN: All right. Jacqueline Howard, that is the real question, right? Thanks so much. And coming up right here in the Situation Room, how Minnesota sports teams are showing their support for a community rocked by tragedy.
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BROWN: Minnesota sports teams are coming together to support their community after yesterday's deadly mass shooting. The Viking saying in a statement, our hearts are broken for the victims, our families, and all who have been impacted by this senseless and cowardly act. Joins us now with more, Andy?
ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes. Pamela, the Vikings Twins, Timberwolves Lynx, and while they all put out statements saying that they were just heartbroken by the tragic shooting there in their community. And Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve when speaking about what happened at practice said, it's sad that nothing's ever going to change.
[10:55:00]
CHERYL REEVE, MINNESOTA LYNX HEAD COACH: It's such an indictment of our society and our lack of regard for the life. There are things that we can do about it and we know. But for some reason as Americans we value something different. It's sickening. It's sad for the kids, sad for the kids to grow up like this. Sad for kids to walk through the door and not know what's going to happen. Our hearts go out to obviously the -- I've lost -- kids that are hurt. You know, teachers that have to go through this, families that drop their kid off to school (INAUDIBLE). Our hearts go out to them. The sad thing is we can't sit here and tell them the help is on the way because we're not going to do a damn thing about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHOLES: And the Lynx, they host the Storm tonight in Minneapolis. And, Pam, they're expected to pay tribute to the victims prior to that game.
BROWN: Andy Scholes, thank you so much. Coming up, Minneapolis and morning, as we were just talking about, we are live as a community comes together after the unthinkable and investigators search for a motive into the school shooting that killed two children and injured 17 other people.
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